Brewin Flames

Exactly, just some hack looking to stir up s%&t

I miss the old metroboards/sudden death hockey forums. I thought e had a solid community, good hockey banter and good times, but after awhile attracting new members became hard and the site slowed, combined wuth the explostion of FB hockey groups that are rum amok, it's hard to convince anyone to join a forum/message community. But, i like it here, was never a fan of HFboards.

Babcock talks Blue Jackets offseason improvements in Part 3 with NHL.com Coach discusses plans to fix defense issues, expectations for No. 3 pick Fantilli © Columbus Blue Jackets ByNicholas J. Cotsonika Mike Babcock, one of the most accomplished coaches in hockey history, is taking over the Columbus Blue Jackets this season in his first NHL job since the Toronto Maple Leafs fired him Nov. 20, 2019. This is the third story in a three-part series. (Part 1 | Part 2) BRIGHTON, Mich. -- When Mike Babcock looks at the Columbus Blue Jackets, the coach doesn't see the team that finished 31st in the NHL last season and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third year in a row. He sees young players like defenseman Adam Boqvist and forwards Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko. He sees difference-makers like defenseman Zach Werenski and forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine. He sees a leader in forward Boone Jenner, the captain. And he sees a team that improved in the offseason by selecting forward Adam Fantilli with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and trading for veteran defensemen Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson. "They have, in my opinion, lots of kids," Babcock says, "and they have lots of things that I think you can fix quickly." How does Babcock plan to fix the Blue Jackets? He decided against studying last season after he took the job July 1. Injuries were a big reason the Blue Jackets didn't play up to their potential. Better to have fresh eyes and give the players a fresh start in training camp. "It was going to be no good to anybody," he says. "Why would I catch them doing it wrong? Let's catch them doing it right. We're going to camp, we're going to get to know each other, and we're going to work." The Blue Jackets have been doing R&D to prepare for camp, except Babcock doesn't call it "research and development." He calls it "rob and do." "Take the best from the best teams," he says. "What are they doing? What leads to winning? Take it. Make it your own." Babcock is realistic. He knows the Blue Jackets can't, say, mimic the Edmonton Oilers power play that set an NHL record by clicking at 32.4 percent last season. They don't have forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. That said, they have studied the top four teams in each category tracked by the analytics firm Sportlogiq, and they've studied the final four teams in the playoffs. "I've gone to our analytics people, and I've said, 'What's the No. 1 indicator of being in the playoffs?'" Babcock says. "They tell me. I look at it. That's our No. 1 priority for our team." Of course, that's classified. "You can guess anything you want," Babcock says with a smile, "but I ain't telling ya." But Babcock will tell you this: "Our ability to play with structure is going to be real important for us, so the way we backcheck, the way we stop on defense, the way we compete there," he says. "But we've got to be way heavier in the offensive zone. We've got to spend way more time in the offensive zone. And so, I have a plan in every area, obviously. I've spent a lot of time." The players sound primed to buy in. Babcock ranks 12th in regular-season wins (700) and eighth in Stanley Cup Playoff wins (90) in NHL history. He has won the Stanley Cup (2008 with the Detroit Red Wings) and been to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final twice (2003 with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and 2009 with the Red Wings). He coached the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015-16 until he was fired 23 games into the 2019-20 season. His first season, they finished last in the NHL, but had pieces in place and selected center Auston Matthews No. 1 in the 2016 NHL Draft. By 2017-18, they had 49 wins and 105 points, team records at the time. He also has won the IIHF World Junior Championship (1997), the IIHF World Championship (2004) and the Olympics twice (2010 and 2014) with Canada, and he has won the World Cup of Hockey (2016) with Team Canada too. "You know his pedigree and what he has done in this league and through a number of years of coaching," Jenner says. "He brings that experience to us. He's obviously very intense and knows exactly how he wants to play, how he wants us to play and what we're going to get out of each guy, so very exciting for us players." Werenski grew up in the Detroit area watching Babcock win with players like defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. "He was a big reason for their success," Werenski says. "Just excited to get it going and see what he's all about. I think he's going to get this team moving in the right direction quickly, and I'm excited for that." * * * * * Let's start with defense and goaltending. The Blue Jackets ranked 31st in goals against per game (4.01) and 30th in 5-on-5 shot-attempts percentage (44.9) last season, and tied for 30th in 5-on-5 save percentage (.901). They were 25th in penalty-kill percentage (75.1). But, again, injuries were a big reason, and now they're healthy and have added Provorov and Severson. Babcock wants to add structure and more puck possession, and he wants goaltending coach Niklas Backstrom in each meeting for defensive-zone coverage and the penalty kill. That should help goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who went 7-18-2 with a 4.23 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage last season. "Suddenly, he's a way better goalie because he knows where [the shots are] coming from," Babcock says. "Then the other thing that happens to him is confidence. "Confidence and mental health, they're not the same thing. But once your confidence is shaken, how are you feeling? So now, how do you get your confidence back? It's interesting. When you look at the teams that play with good structure in their own zone, how come their goalie's save percentage is where it's at?" The Boston Bruins, who set NHL records for wins (65) and points (135) last season, led the NHL in 5-on-5 save percentage (.939). Linus Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy, voted as the NHL's best goalie, after going 40-6-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .938 save percentage. The Vegas Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup, had a 5-on-5 save percentage of .940 in the playoffs. Adin Hill, their third- or fourth-string goalie at the time, depending on how you look at it, played 16 games (14 starts) and went 11-4 with a 2.17 GAA and a .932 save percentage. "Know where the shots are coming from," Babcock says. "There's a reason guys go someplace and suddenly they're a way better goalie. That's just the way it is. I think that in itself gives us all hope." Having Werenski back does too. The 26-year-old played 13 games last season before having shoulder surgery. He has trained hard with the goal of being among the best defensemen in the NHL. "You can't be one of the best guys if your engine doesn't allow you to," Babcock says. "You can have all the skill in the world, but your engine's got to allow you to. He's put in the work to have the engine ready to go. And so, to me, he now has to be a driver, a leader. … He's at that age too. It's time, and he knows it." The Blue Jackets ranked 30th in goals per game (2.60) and 26th in power play percentage (18.3) last season. But they have weapons, starting with Gaudreau, who shocked the hockey world by signing with Columbus as a free agent before last season, and led the Blue Jackets with 74 points (21 goals, 53 assists). He had 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) with the Calgary Flames in 2021-22 playing for a structured coach in Darryl Sutter. Not bad for 5-foot-9, 165 pounds. "He's freak of nature at that size to be as good as he's been, and he's competitive on the ice," Babcock says. "He knows how to play. He's a one-man entry machine on the power play. He can flat-out find you. And he wants to be good. He's not going to have any trouble." Laine had 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 55 games last season. His NHL career high is 70 points (44 goals, 26 assists) in 82 games with the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18, his second season in the League. A big question entering camp is whether Laine will move to center from the wing, but it might be moot. Babcock says he wants two 200-foot players on each line. Ideally, he'd like a right- and a left-handed face-off guy on each line. When he coached Canada in the Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey, he had eight centers on four lines, because they were the best players. When he coached the Red Wings, Datsyuk wanted to play with a center like Zetterberg or Valtteri Filppula so they could create offensively and be responsible defensively. Laine was the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and is a right-handed shot. Fantilli shoots left. "It would be really good for me -- really good for me -- if Laine and Fantilli could play together," Babcock says. "That would be really good for me. Two, big talented guys, high picks that can push each other. Right-, left-hand shots. "I don't know if that's going to work. I have no idea. But the idea is that. And because we have so many guys who have played in the middle … Great. I love it. I want two on every line, so it works out perfect. It's an easy, easy thing." How Babcock handles Fantilli is going to be fascinating. Matthews won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year in 2016-17 with 69 points (40 goals, 29 assists) in 82 games, and Babcock helped develop him into a two-way player by showing him video of centers like Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Babcock coached center Patrice Bergeron on four gold-medal teams (2004, 2010, 2014 and 2016). Bergeron set an NHL record by winning the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward six times with the Bruins before he announced his retirement July 25. Fantilli told Babcock that Bergeron is his favorite player. "That was a home run for me, because if you're thinking like that, you like the things he did," Babcock says. "[Bergeron is] as good a two-way player as there ever was. So guess what I got? Bergeron clips coming out the wazoo. Why wouldn't you?" It won't necessarily be easy, though. Fantilli led NCAA men's hockey with 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) in 36 games as a freshman at the University of Michigan last season and won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player, but he didn't have to face McDavid or Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon or Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby. "You've had the puck your whole career," Babcock says. "Why? You're better than everybody else. But now some nights they're putting this guy out against you called McDavid or MacKinnon or Crosby, and you know what they're going do to you? They're not going to let you have the puck. They're just going to take it personal. They'll show you who's boss here." How will Babcock start off with Fantilli? "I'm going to put him on a line, and I'm going to watch him," Babcock says. "I'm going to watch him in training camp, and I'm going to do everything I can to set him up for success. This kid is ultracompetitive -- like, ultracompetitive -- so I don't have any concerns about that part at all. "Now, some nights in the National Hockey League, you get your lunch fed to you, even when you're a good player. But if you're fortunate to have confidence, just breathe. You come back the next day." Babcock brings up Steve Yzerman, who played his final NHL season for Babcock with the Red Wings in 2005-06 and worked with him as an executive with the Red Wings from 2006-09 and as the general manger of Canada in 2010 and 2014. "He'd say to me, 'All you got to do in this game is get ready for one shift. Take a deep breath, go for one shift, come back, take a drink of water, take a deep breath. If you have one bad shift, you can stop it right now. Get it fixed,'" Babcock says. "Well, that's the process for this guy, is we've just got to keep helping him, keep helping him, keep helping him." * * * * * Werenski notices something when he sees Babcock at the rink. "He's full of energy," Werenski says. "I think that goes a long way throughout a long season, in the cold months, when games might not be as exciting, when you still have half the season left. … I have appreciated that part so far, just the energy he comes to the rink with." Babcock is full of energy even when relaxing at what he calls his "tiki bar" on the lake down the hill from his house, wearing flip-flips, shorts and a Blue Jackets hoodie. The 60-year-old who promised his wife he'd retire at 60 will talk hockey for hours when he could be doing anything else. He makes no promises or predictions. He gives no timelines for turning around the Blue Jackets. But he's back in the NHL, he has a new challenge and he's as fired up as always. "We're going to be ultra-prepared, ultra-organized, and we are coming to work, so if it doesn't go our way on the scoreboard when we walk out of the rink each night, we're going to be proud," Babcock says. "And that's everybody, and it's going to be led by Werenski and Gaudreau and Laine, and they're going to do it right. We know Jenner's doing it right. The big boys are pulling, we've discussed that, and that's going to be our approach. "And then we'll see what happens."

Yep, another insane contract handed out...

Sanderson signs 8-year, $64.4 million contract with Senators Defenseman had 32 points as rookie last season; deal begins in 2024-25 Jake Sanderson signed an eight-year, $64.4 million contract with the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. The contract, which has an average annual value of $8.05 million, will begin next season. The 21-year-old defenseman had 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) in 77 games last season and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. Sanderson was selected by Ottawa with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Sanderson joins forwards Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk, and defenseman Thomas Chabot as those committed to the Senators at least through the 2027-28 season. His contract includes a 10-team no-trade clause, which will be applicable to the final three seasons. “Jake’s transition to the pro game has been flawless,” Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion said. “He’s a very mature young man who demonstrates a routine and skillful ability to play important minutes with poise. An effortless skater who holds himself to a high standard, he has the talent to be one of the best all-around defensemen in the NHL for years to come. “We’re very pleased to have another significant member of our core group of players under long-term contract.” Sanderson’s 28 assists and 32 points last season each ranked third in Senators history by a rookie defenseman, behind only Andrej Meszaros (29 assists, 39 points in 2005-06) and Karel Rachunek (30 assists, 33 points in 2000-01). He was also second among all rookies in total time on ice (1,687:52), average time on ice (21:55), power-play assists (15) and power-play points (17), fourth in assists and fifth in shots on goal (132).

David Quinn was just on NHL radio an hr ago, and even he stated that while he projected the offense to be a strenth, they were really going to have to tighten up netminding and play solid in front in order to have a playoff shot...

How much could the Blue Jackets improve this season? It’s no secret that the Blue Jackets had a bad season due to injuries and players not playing to their abilities, but will a healthy roster and players performing well push the team into the playoffs? JASON NEWLAND 1 HOUR AGO23 edition of the Columbus Blue Jackets saw them ice 46 different skaters and six goalies, that’s not a recipe for success. In fact, it was so bad at one point, the team would’ve been disallowed from competing in an exhibition game per NHL rules. The Blue Jackets lost 545 games due to injury, and yet somehow that wasn’t tops in the league. Jake Voracek only played in 11 games, Zach Werenski in 13, Justin Danforth in 6, Jake Bean in 14, and Daniil Tarasov in 17. Countless other players only played less than half the season, surely that will be better this season, right? According to @NHLInjuryViz on X, the CBJ lost 545-man games, second behind the Montreal Canadiens. The Cap hit of the injured players was also second at $25.84m. The average minutes of the injured players was 116:58, third in the league. There’s no way a team can have back-to-back bad luck injury years, right? Simply having a healthy roster could add many more points to the final standings, but how manyThe goalie situation in Columbus last season was not good. No Blue Jacket goalie had a winning record, the closest being Joonas Korpisalo who went 11-11-3. Korpisalo also led the team in GAA and save %. Korpisalo was later traded to the Los Angeles Kings and then signed with the Ottawa Senators in the off-season. Daniil Tarasov was supposed to play last season in Cleveland and get in approximately 55-60 games. But with injuries to Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo, he was forced to play in Columbus and only played in 28 total games between Columbus and Cleveland. This next season, the goalie tandem will be Merzlikins and Tarasov unless something bad happens. Tarasov will need waivers to go down to Cleveland and it’s doubtful Jarmo chances him being claimed. PTO signing Aaron Dell very well could be the third goalie in the organization, being that guy who comes up and plays in case there is a need. Surely there’s no way the goalies play as badly as they did last season, right? Good goalie play could add at least another 10 wins. But they must play well for that to happen, this is no secret. The CBJ front office revamped the blue line when they went out and got Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson. That, coupled with the fact that Zach Werenski, Jake Bean and Adam Boqvist are all coming back healthy should be a huge shot in the arm for the team. Werenski, Bean, and Boqvist are all very offensive-minded, and if the three play in all 82 games, we easily see 40 to 50 goals and 50 assists. Having the defense play like they’re expected to, while chipping in offensively could add another few wins as well. The Jackets had 59 points last season which led to an unintentional tank, resulting in the third pick, but this next season they will be expected to be much better. But can they be "make the playoffs" better? That would most likely require 40 to 45 more points in the standings. Is this possible with this roster? They Have Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, and Boone Jenner to pour in goals, with young players like Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko, and Adam Fantilli to do the same. Bottom 6 scoring will be extra important if they want to move up in the standings and that includes guys like Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Yegor Chinakhov, and Sean Kuraly needing to step up. Are the playoffs an option this season? With teams like the Flyers, Islanders, and Capitals all expected to be in the bottom 4 of the Metro, the Jackets could finish as high as 5th, maybe even 4th if the Penguins decide to take a step back. The difference between 3rd and 4th in the Metro last season was 14 points, with the difference between 4th and 5th being two points. Do they have enough as constructed to make it into the postseason? Written BY JASON NEWLAND Jason Newland is the Site Editor and Reporter for the Columbus Blue Jackets team site with The Hockey News. A resident of Columbus, Jason has spent 10 years writing about the Blue Jackets and in his spare time hangs with his son Trevor, plays softball, and watches all sports. You can follow him at @F1reTheCannon.

Over the years DS has made some solid moves, but some head scratchers as well, his draft record is spotty and up for debate, and we don't have a first rounder til christ comes again.

2023-24 NHL PROSPECT POOL OVERVIEW: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS The Vegas Golden Knights won a Stanley Cup partly by shipping out prospects for immediate NHL stars. Tony Ferrari analyzes what that means for their prospect pool. TONY FERRARI AUG 22, 2023 INTRODUCTION When you’re the Stanley Cup Champions, you don’t have much to worry about. The Vegas Golden Knights certainly aren’t worried about their prospect pool. They managed to add a few solid prospects at the draft, but Vegas has been more than willing in recent years to sell its prospects to bolster its NHL lineup. That said, the Knights still have a few solid prospects in their pipeline who could help bolster the lineup over the next few years. Pavel Dorofeyev played in 18 games with the Knights last season, scoring seven goals in the process. He is a goal-scorer with excellent hands, and he’s proven to be a very good AHL scorer. Dorofeyev has the ability to cut and dash through the defense, using his hands and feet in cohesion. He could fill one of the few vacancies coming into Vegas’ training camp this fall. Brendan Brisson is a wicked shooter who had a very good rookie year in the AHL with 18 goals and 19 assists. The former Michigan Wolverine should take a big step in the AHL this upcoming season, challenging a point per game and earning some NHL reps. Brisson has some flaws outside of the offensive zone, such as lacking defensive effort, but the offensive tools are impressive. On the flip side, Matyas Sapovaliv is a defensive specialist who has been an impressive international player for Czechia. His ability to take it up a notch for his country has been impressive, as he has routinely been one of their best all-around players. The 6-foot-3 center has the intelligence to play a sound defensive game. His hands around the net are very good, elevating the puck from in tight, and he's shown he can be a capable facilitator as well. His upside is limited by his skill, but he remains a very good third- or fourth-line center. On the back end, Daniil Chayka is a defensive transition stopper. He uses his length effectively and does everything he can to thwart chances against him. Chayka’s first year in the AHL was decent, but he certainly struggled to produce anything offensively. He isn’t a guy who plays with a dynamic flair or attempts to make highly skilled plays. Rather, he settles for simple, effective plays that get his team out of trouble and mitigate the damage. Lukas Cormier is the polar opposite, playing a game predicated on pushing the pace and creating offensively. His rookie AHL season was impressive in that regard, posting 10 goals and 35 points from the back end. Cormier showed an efficient passing game on the breakout, using his feet to get out of trouble and then getting the puck up ice in a hurry. Cormier does a great job of slipping down into the zone to get himself into a scoring position as well. His defensive play needs to catch up, but he should take a step in that regard this upcoming season. Kaedan Korczak has had cups of coffee at the NHL level and found success playing his physical brand of hockey. He isn’t one to overcomplicate things, engaging with his 6-foot-3 frame, gathering the puck and moving it to the nearest open teammate to allow them a clean break up ice. He could see a longer look in the NHL this upcoming season, especially if the wear and tear from the long playoff run this past year has any lasting effects. 2023 NHL DRAFT CLASS Round 1, 32nd overall - David Edstrom, C, Frolunda J20 (Sweden Jr.) Round 3, 77th overall - Mathieu Cataford, C, Halifax (QMJHL) Round 3, 96th overall - Arttu Karki, LD, Tappara U20 (Finland Jr.) Round 6, 192nd overall - Tuomas Uronen, RW, HIFK (Liiga) The Stanley Cup Champions had the last pick in the first round and selected big Swedish center David Edstrom. With a developed defensive game and a sneaky good offensive toolset, Edstrom quickly rose up boards at the end of the season. His shot is heavy, and he gets to the middle of the ice with a quickness you don’t always see from bigger players. Edstrom processes the game quickly, finding teammates in great positions to score and moving the puck methodically all over the ice. Mathieu Cataford seems to have just about everything you’d want in a player skill-wise, but nothing he does is exceptional. He is a tenacious player who never gives up on a play and outworks everyone. He has a good shot and funnels pucks to the center of the ice in the offensive zone. His defensive reads could be a bit better, but that should come in time. Cataford’s next step is finding what makes him special and leaning into that at the pro level when he gets there. After a very solid year in the Finnish junior league, Vegas drafted Arttu Karki in Round 3. He is a very good shooter, and his playmaking ability is impressive. Karki is a shifty defender who can flash some impressive evasiveness. The biggest issues with Karki’s game come in his own end, where he often doesn’t seem interested in playing the game with any intensity, often giving the inside lane far too easily. Vegas capped their draft with Tuomas Uronen, a winger who was once regarded as a top-50 player in the class. He seems to understand the process of the game by finding teammates in good offensive spots with his good vision, but he lacks high-end tools. Even then, having the opportunity to add Uronen at 192nd overall was excellent value for Vegas. STRENGTHS Vegas has been more than willing to trade future assets for immediate impact, sending out seven of the nine first-round picks it’s had over its seven drafts. That said, the Golden Knights have managed to build a solid stable of potential depth centers. Edstrom and Sapovaliv look like NHL players with excellent defensive habits and developing offensive games. The latter looks like a bottom-six center that plays on the penalty kill and pivotal depth minutes. Jordan Gustafsson missed time on a couple of occasions this year, but he has intelligent habits at both ends of the ice. Add in Cataford from this year’s draft, and they have a number of prospects down the middle that could be NHLers in a few years. WEAKNESSES The Golden Knights could use some depth just about everywhere in their pipeline. The right wing is particularly an area of concern, though. While Jakub Demek and Uronen are solid prospects with some NHL upside, they really lack an impact player at the position. None of their right-wingers project to play top six minutes with any certainty, and they may have to rely on centers moving off to the wing or free agents in hopes of filling those gaps. NEXT MAN UP: PAVEL DOROFEYEV, LW After a few cups of coffee in the NHL over the last couple of years, Dorofeyev could be ready to step into the lineup on a more consistent basis in his age-23 season. His offensive skill is intriguing, and it could provide scoring depth with a blend of skills that Vegas could certainly use. Dorofeyev has incredibly slick puckhandling ability, and he can maneuver around the ice with agility. If he can find a more permanent spot in the Vegas lineup, his flashy skill could provide a new dynamic to the middle six. PROSPECT DEPTH CHART NOTABLES LW: Pavel Dorofeyev, Brendan Brisson, Jakub Brabenec David Edstrom, Matyas Sapovaliv, Jordan Gustafson, Mathieu Cataford RW: Jakub Demek, Ryder Donovan, Tuomas Uronen LD: Daniil Chayka, Lukas Cormier, Layton Ahac, Arttu Karki RD: Kaedan Korczak, Connor Corcoran G: Isaiah Saville, Jiri Patera, Carl Lindbom

Bingo @yave1964 Bingo @pilldoc Too much gone, not enough coming in.... Lost two top centers, no depth in pipeline and to be quite honest, i'm looking at a trainwreck dumpster fire, non playoff team, esp now that Pasta got paid and his two binkies are gone, he's gonna be a lazy sack o Sh$t floater. I hope i'm wrong but i'm looking forward to a high 1st round pick in 2024....wait, dammit Sweeney sent them all packing. Still my team though....

I mean, i don't doubt that Bedard will be a solid, if not spectacular NHL'er, but let's not label him baby McJesus just yet...

A liner should help prevent it.... Keep fingernails trimmed.... Get a manicure, see a doctor.

The Babcock factor could make them slightly better, or slightly worse....

Meh....I hate the term, but respect the value. Since his ELC, he has commited to The leafs x's 2, and they get him in his primes years, which is also adventageous for both the leafs and Matthews, but does this mean Nylander is gonna be shown the door ? How can they afford to keep Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Tavares ? Defense and Netminding still suspect....

Yep, easily, (IMO) far and away the best voice in the NHL, always unbiased and on point.... Sad day indeed.

Perfect as usual.... Caps are getting old, and not much depth in the system, just here to watch Ovey make history....long cup run days are over.

I actually have a bad feeling about Pasta.... His two binkies are gone in Bergy and Krejci, you watch him play lazy, unmotivated hockey after getting that fat pay day. A floater in the making perhaps, and i hope I'm wrong.

Flyers sign No. 22 overall pick Oliver Bonk to 3-year deal Reuters Aug 21, 2023, 01:21 PM ET The Philadelphia Flyers signed defenseman Oliver Bonk, their first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The team did not announce any financial terms. Bonk, 18, was the No. 22 overall pick in the June draft, and he took part in the team's development camp the following month. He spent the 2022-23 season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League and posted 40 points (10 goals, 30 assists) in 67 games. A native of Ottawa, Bonk has 43 points (10 goals, 33 assists) and 44 penalty minutes in 77 games with the Knights over two seasons. Bonk added 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) and eight penalty minutes in 28 playoff games with the Knights.

Great pickup, rotating solid D Corps not a bad problem to have....

2023-24 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Boston Bruins Steven Ellis Jul 19, 2023 Credit: (Photo by Steven Ellis) Let’s be frank: Boston has one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL. That’s the price you pay to stay competitive, and the Bruins have been among the NHL’s best teams for well over a decade. Not many teams can start and end a decade playing in the Stanley Cup final, but that’s exactly what the Bruins did in 2011 and 2019. That sustained level of competitive play meant moving draft picks and selecting low when they didn’t. That’s why the Bruins have one of the worst prospect pools. That’ll change once the team starts to drop off, but if the Bruins have their way, that won’t be for a few years. Fabian Lysell and John Beecher are the only first-rounders on this list, with the team moving most of their first-round picks in recent years. In fact, they’ve only had four picks total in the top 85 over the past four years. This is a team that understands what it takes to remain competitive, and that often means depleting resources. Lysell is still the top prospect in the system, even if the past year wasn’t a huge success. The 2022-23 season saw Matthew Poitras and Brett Harrison post tremendous major junior seasons, while Mason Lohrei finished off a tremendous two-year run at Ohio State. And then there are the two undrafted free-agent signings, Brandon Bussi and Georgii Merkulov, who took huge strides this year. The emergence of both in Providence was an excellent sign. Biggest Strength What this group lacks in skill, they gain back in hard-working, energetic skaters. And you need guys like that – you can’t win with 12 shoot-first, worry-later scoring options out there. The Bruins have an abundance of players that bring skill, grit and speed in depth positions, including some who aren’t far away from stepping into full-time roles. Biggest Weakness There isn’t a real game-breaker in the pool. Nobody appears to be a high-impact first-liner, top-pairing defender or a top-flight goaltender. I had mixed opinions on Lysell’s high-end potential – he didn’t have a great year, but I still think he’s a capable middle-six player. After that, Lohrei looks solid, but I don’t think we’re going to see him play 18-plus minutes at the next level.TOP 10 PROSPECTS Grade: D 1. Fabian Lysell, RW, 20 (Providence, AHL) Drafted: No. 21, first round in 2021 Lysell was a divisive prospect during his draft year, with many wondering what his NHL future would look like. He played his first season in the AHL with Providence but didn’t light things on fire with just 14 goals and 37 points in 54 games. Mix in an awful world junior performance and Lysell definitely didn’t do himself many favors. The skill is still there, but he’ll need to take a big step forward with Providence in 2023-24. That being said, he’s still young, so it’s all about putting everything together. 2. Mason Lohrei, D, 22 (Providence, AHL) Drafted: No. 58, second round in 2020 There’s an argument to be made that Lohrei is the best prospect in the system right now. The 22-year-old was a bit of a surprise to go at No. 58 at the 2020 draft, especially since the NHL’s Central Scouting Service had him as the 132nd-ranked North American skater. But ever since, Lohrei has looked like an absolute gem, putting up fantastic numbers during his two-year tenure at Ohio State before turning pro late last season. Lohrei got his first taste of professional hockey to close out the year, and now he’s ready to take his career up another step. 3. Matthew Poitras, C, 19 (Guelph, OHL) Drafted: No. 54, second round in 2022 Poitras was a bit of a revelation last season, recording 79 assists (second in the OHL) and 95 points to lead Guelph in scoring. Poitras is among the most effective passers in major junior, and all he’s missing is a few extra goals himself. Poitras projects to be a solid middle-six playmaker in the NHL, which would be an excellent value find after the team selected Poitras later in the second round in 2022. 4. Georgii Merkulov, C, 22 (Providence, AHL) Undrafted free agent signing, 2022 What a find Merkulov was. Undrafted to the NHL, Merkulov had 24 goals and 55 points in his first season of pro hockey. The 22-year-old has done nothing but excel since coming over to North America in 2019-20, but nobody could have expected the offensive explosion this past season in Providence. It was interesting that Merkulov wasn’t part of the call-up group this year, but that should change in 2023-24 and beyond as the team looks to the post-Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci era. 5. Dans Locmelis, C, 19 (Univ. of Massachusetts, NCAA) Drafted: No. 119, fourth round in 2022 Locmelis is another great value find, coming off a fantastic season for the 119th pick from 2022. The Latvian-born center had 59 points in 44 games with Lulea’s U-20 squad, but it was his play at the IIHF World Championship in May that really caught everyone’s attention. He had just three points, but they came in the final three games, including a goal that helped lead Latvia to its first-ever appearance in the final four. The NCAA will be a significant change for Locmelis, but he’s ready for the challenge. 6. Jakub Lauko, LW, 23 (Boston Bruins) Drafted: No. 77, third round in 2018 If Lauko is going to the NHL, it has to be soon. He finally got into his first NHL action this year with seven points in 23 games, giving the team a decent, hard-working depth piece with good straight-line speed. Offensively, that’s where Lauko falls flat. He’s a strong forward that can land hits, but he isn’t more than a 15-point player in the NHL. Still, you need guys that work their tail off like Lauko. 7. John Beecher, C/LW, 22 (Providence, AHL) Drafted: No. 30, first-round in 2019 A big, 6-foot-3 forward, Beecher turned pro last year and put up a respectable 23 points in 61 games. When it comes to Beecher, though, it’s not the offense you’re looking for. He’s a good skater, tough to take the puck off of and reads the ice well, while also being defensively responsible. If the team is looking to have more of a youth presence, Beecher could be a solid bottom-six option. 8. Brandon Bussi, G, 25 (Providence, AHL) Undrafted free agent signing, 2022 It’s hard to classify Bussi as a prospect given his age. But the 25-year-old was one of the best goaltenders in his first year of pro hockey, going 22-5-4 with a .924 save percentage in 32 games. An undrafted free agent signing last year, Bussi was named to the AHL’s all-rookie team, beating out some younger competition. The Bruins have a busy pipeline with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, but Bussi is ready for a call-up if needed. 9. Frederic Brunet, D, 19 (Victoriaville, QMJHL) Drafted: No. 132, fifth round in 2022 A fifth-round pick in 2022, Brunet had one heck of a campaign with 73 points this year between Rimouski and Victoriaville. Brunet was an overage prospect when he was taken, but his development over the past two years alone looks promising. Brunet very well could be one of the better steals, but his defensive zone play still needs improvement. 10. Brett Harrison, C, 20 (Providence, AHL) Drafted: No. 85, third round in 2021 Harrison is ready to go pro in 2023-24 after finishing off his OHL career with the Windsor Spitfires. Harrison never exploded offensively in major junior, but he brings a solid mix of hockey sense and physicality that’ll allow him to play some NHL games. Harrison could be a solid complementary scorer one day, but adjusting to life in the AHL is the next stop in his journey.

2023-24 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Montreal Canadiens Steven Ellis Aug 4, 2023 There’s never a dull day in Habs Land. Remember when the Montreal Canadiens made the Stanley Cup final in 2021? It feels like yesterday, honestly. But so much has changed since then: Carey Price and Shea Weber have effectively ended their careers due to injury, there’s a whole new coaching/management staff in place and a never-ending roster rehaul. Add in what felt like injuries every other night last year, plus some bad contracts, and it’s no wonder why the Habs have finished near the bottom of the standings the past two years. The diehard fans knew the Cup appearance wasn’t going to be sustainable, and, fortunately, it seems like the franchise has handled the rebuild as well as you’d expect. And that’s why the Canadiens have one of the best prospect pools in the league. It’s difficult to beat Columbus or Chicago, but the Canadiens come close, especially with two outstanding defensive prospects in David Reinbacher and Lane Hutson. The Reinbacher selection was a cause for major discussion in the days following the 2023 draft, but there’s a reason to get excited about him – more on that later. The Canadiens have struggled to succeed near the top of the standings for the better part of three decades. They’ve had some great runs along the way, but actually remaining a top contender year after year has been a challenge. With the prospect pool they have now, plus at least another year or two of drafting near the top, that’s going to change sooner rather than later. And, hey: there’s still Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and a healthy Juraj Slafkovsky to get excited about. Biggest Strength There’s depth up front too, but the defensive pipeline is stacked. Reinbacher and Hutson are two of the better young defensemen in the game today, and fans won’t have to wait too long for either. Logan Mailloux is set to turn pro this year, while Adam Engstrom had a mega season in Sweden. Add in Mattias Norlinder, Jayden Strubble, Dmitri Kostenko and Daniil Sobolev, and you have to love what you see. And that’s not factoring in Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Arber Xhekaj, Johnathan Kovacevic and Justin Barron, all of whom have NHL experience. At least a few of these young guys will get moved at some point, but it’s great to have options. Biggest Weakness I’m a big Jacob Fowler fan. I fully believe he’ll challenge for the No. 1 goalie spot after his college career ends. But what if he isn’t the long-term answer? Who’s going to be the true heir to Price’s throne? Jakub Dobes signed after his college run, but he’ll need time and likely projects to be nothing more than a backup. Is there any hope for Cayden Primeau after some mixed results in Laval? The team drafted three goaltenders this year, which is somewhat absurd. Goaltending is the hardest position to develop, but we’ll see who can shine through. TOP 10 PROSPECTS Grade: A 1. David Reinbacher, D, 18 (EHC Kloten, NL) Drafted: No. 5, first round in 2023 Habs fans already have high expectations for their players. So it didn’t help when the Canadiens took Reinbacher at No. 5, passing over the highly skilled Matvei Michkov. But it’s so easy to undervalue just how good Reinbacher was. Not many people had Reinbacher as a first-round pick heading into last year. By the end, he was the first defenseman taken. He put up excellent numbers in the top Swiss league, a division that hasn’t always been kind to younger blueliners. Reinbacher looked mature beyond his years, simple as that. Reinbacher will be a top-pairing defenseman for the Canadiens – but how soon? 2. Lane Hutson, D, 19 (Boston University, NCAA) Drafted: No. 62, second round in 2022 Count me as a Hutson believer way before his draft day. If I had my way, he was going top 15. I knew the size thing was a concern, but Hutson’s overwhelming skill with the puck was something we don’t see every day. Ever since that mid-July afternoon in 2022, all Hutson has done is dominate. With Hutson leading the way with 48 points, Boston University qualified for the Frozen Four before losing out to the University of Minnesota. Hutson wasn’t part of the Hobey Baker’s Hat-Trick finalist shortlist but was named to the top 10. He was also named Hockey East rookie of the year, was runner-up for Hockey East’s player of the year and was HE’s tournament MVP. They started to run out of awards for the 19-year-old, who played well above his smallish frame to record one of the most remarkable Draft+1 seasons by a defenseman in recent memory. Hutson is heading back to BU for another shot at a national title before likely turning pro. The biggest thing for me is Hutson showing better decision-making in his own zone and being less passive 1-on-1. But otherwise, Habs fans have every reason to hype him up right now. 3. Sean Farrell, C/LW, 21 (Montreal Canadiens) Drafted: No. 124, fourth round in 2020 Farrell turned pro after an electric college season that saw him put up 20 goals and 53 points with Harvard. He had just one goal in six games with the Canadiens before struggling at the World Championship with USA, registering just two points. It was a slow end in an otherwise great year for Farrell, who, if you remember, was USA’s best forward at the 2022 Olympics. The small forward has been a strong producer since leaving the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and in the right role with the Canadiens, that should continue. Some time in Laval to get used to bigger, stronger competition in pro wouldn’t hurt. 4. Owen Beck, C, 19 (Peterborough, OHL) Drafted: No. 33, second round in 2022 It was a crazy year for Beck, who started the year with Mississauga before getting moved to Peterborough for the second half. He helped the Petes win the OHL title and advance to the Memorial Cup while earning third all-star team honors for the season. When Colton Dach got injured at the world juniors, Beck was called upon to finish the last three games and won gold with Canada – a nice moment after originally getting cut in December. Beck made his NHL debut in January under emergency circumstances, adding to an already eventful season. Next year, look for the smart, two-way center to aim for around 80+ points with the Petes. 5. Joshua Roy, LW/C, 20 (Laval, AHL) Drafted: No. 150, fifth round in 2021 It might be understated just how underrated Roy is. Taken in the fifth round in 2021, Roy now has 297 points in 216 games over four QMJHL seasons with Saint John and Sherbrooke. He’s been exceptionally impressive in the QMJHL postseason, recording 51 points in 28 games over three runs – absolutely bonkers. Roy isn’t a great skater, so we’ll see how he adjusts to the pro game with Laval this year. But if there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that he can annihilate the competition with his shot. 6. Logan Mailloux, D, 20 (Laval, AHL) Drafted: No. 31, first round in 2021 Standing tall at 6-foot-3, Mailloux brings a ton of power to his game. He has an excellent shot he put on display often with the London Knights, and few OHLers were as confident rushing the puck as he was. In terms of big, skilled defensemen, Mailloux has what teams want – and it helped that he scored 25 goals, too. But the flaws are apparent, especially regarding his decision-making with the puck, pinching too much and his own-zone play under pressure. Plus, we’re still waiting for the NHL’s official decision on whether he’ll be cleared to play. If he’s given the all-clear, he’ll challenge for a spot on Montreal’s opening night roster – but time in the AHL is definitely needed. Filip Mesar (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff) 7. Filip Mesar, RW, 19 (Kitchener, OHL) Drafted: No. 26, first round in 2022 The 2022-23 season was an adjustment year for the high-speed, all-attack forward. He moved from Slovakia to Canada and made his AHL debut with Laval, but he spent the year as one of Kitchener’s most important offensive weapons. In 54 games, the hard-working winger finished with 51 points and another six en route to helping Slovakia put up a fight at the world juniors. Mesar should have an even better season with the Rangers before joining Laval for 2024-25. 8. Adam Engström, D, 19 (Rogle BK, SHL) Drafted: No. 92, third round in 2022 Engström moved from Djurardens to Rogle for 2022-23, and it paid off. He had a strong 16-point regular season and recorded another five points in nine playoff games to end the year off strong. The Swedish defender played anywhere from 16-19 minutes down the stretch as the coaching staff felt more comfortable with their junior-aged prospect. The Canadiens have a ton of young blueliners in the system so it’ll be interesting to see where Engström fits in. But as a third-rounder, there’s already been enough progress to get thrilled about. 9. Riley Kidney, C, 20 (Laval, AHL) Drafted: No. 63, second round in 2021 Kidney was the most productive player traded in the CHL this year, scoring 14 goals and an incredible 65 points in just 29 games in Gatineau. The Olympiques fell short in the playoffs, but he still managed to put up 22 points in 13 games. Clearly, offense isn’t a problem here. But that’s mainly as a passer – as a finisher, his shot isn’t NHL-level yet. It feels like he needs the puck on his stick to really be effective, and that starts to disappear once you get to the pro level. We’ll see how he transitions to the AHL, because it’s a whole other beast. 10. Jacob Fowler, G, 18 (Boston College, NCAA) Drafted: No. 69, third round in 2023 Take your pick: World Junior A Challenge champion. USHL goaltender of the year. USHL Clark Cup champion and MVP. It was an incredible season for Fowler with Youngstown, helping improve his draft standing all year. The statistical contrast between him and backup Colin Winn was quite staggering, with Fowler taking it to the rest of the league. Fowler is rarely caught out of position, tracks the puck well and has excellent rebound control. Fowler should factor into USA’s world junior team, especially after an excellent summer tournament.

Damn you......

Avalanche D Makar will be NHL 24 cover athlete Makar named cover athlete of EA Sports' NHL 24 00:17 / 01:50 TSN.ca Staff Published Aug 14, 2023 at 11:15 AM ET Share More options Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar will be the cover athlete of EA Sports' NHL24, per the company. Makar, 24, is a three-time All-Star and 2021-22 Norris Trophy winner as the best defenceman in the NHL. He won the 2022 Stanley Cup with Colorado. The Calgary native said he "couldn't be more excited to be on the cover for NHL24," and added that he is "honoured to have this opportunity." Makar takes over as cover athlete after Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks and Sarah Nurse of the Canadian women's team. Other players to receive the honour in recent years include the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (NHL22, NHL20) and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. Full information about the game will be unveiled in a presentation on August 16.

Not sure how most of you feel about this, but the dirty play and stick work will rise....

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Bans Fighting, Will Result in Automatic Ejection JULIA STUMBAUGHAUGUST 10, 2023 The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has banned fighting during the 2023-24 season. QMJHL players who fight during a game will be automatically ejected and face a potential suspension, according to new safety regulations published Thursday by the league. Any instigator of a fight will face an automatic one-game suspension, while any participant declared "the aggressor" will be suspended for at least two games. If a player has already been involved in a fight that season, they will automatically be suspended an additional one game for any other altercations. The QMJHL has been working toward eliminating fighting from the league since 2020, when the league added a 10-minute misconduct penalty to the usual five-minute major for fighting. Under those previous rules, players were automatically suspended for one game if determined to be the aggressor or if they had already been involved in three fights. That rule change already resulted in a sharp decline in QMJHL fights. There were 86 fights recorded during the 2022-23 season, a decrease from 188 fights in 2018-19, according to hockeyfights.com (h/t Daily Hive). QMJHL owners voted in February to ban fighting under pressure from Quebec sports minister Isabelle Charest, who told the league "all involved players be expelled from the ongoing game and be suspended for the next," The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari reported. Charest's office noted that she has the power to impose regulations on the QMJHL, but "would prefer to reach a consensus" with the league. The league's general managers and coaches generally understood the decision, league spokesperson Maxime Blouin said in March, per CBC's Cassidy Chisholm. "Some of them are actually former high-level hockey players," Blouin. "They understand the impact of injuries during their time in hockey, but [also] after their hockey career. Players who got 15-20 concussions, they understand the impact of it on their daily life. So, the mentalities are evolving, the sport is evolving, and I think it's evolving toward a safer environment." The QMJHL is the first of the Canadian major junior leagues to prohibit fighting. Ron Robison, commissioner of the Western Hockey League, told Sportsnet's Jeff Marek in March that the WHL has "no plans to change our fighting rules." Ontario Hockey League commissioner Dave Branch also did not commit to any rule changes, but said the QMJHL's rule change "will give us an opportunity to see the effect on the game in general." The OHL was the first major junior league to institute mandatory suspensions for any player totaling more than a certain number of fights in a season. Fighting is still allowed in the NHL. There were 558 fighting majors handed out in the NHL in 2022-23, compared to 532 in the WHL, 424 in the OHL and 147 in the QMJHL, according to Sportsnet Stats.