yave1964

LAST SEASON 47-22-13 107 points 3rd in Division. Lost heartbreaking series to the Devils in first round costing Coach Gallant his job. PLUS 58 GOAL differential, 4th least goals against in Hockey.

ADDITIONS New coach Peter Laviolette continues his assault on his attempt to coach every team in this Division. Blake Wheeler brings skill and experience to the third line. Bonino is an underrated 4th line pivot and penalty killer. Gustafsson can score 50 points if the Rangers can hide his defensive deficiencies on the back end. Quick is the new flavor of the day as the backup goalie.

DEPARTURES Gallant is a favorite of mine but in spite of 107 points never seemed to be a great fit. Halak is done. Deadline adds Kane, Taresenko and Motte were not welcomed back.

PROSPECTS I like Will Cuylle as a forward prospect but he is stuck behind a logjam and will have to hope for injuries to get a shot. Zac Jones seemed a shoe in to bring his offensive game to the back end in Broadway before the signing of Gustafsson, he will still make a push. Brennan Othmann is a 3rd line heat seeking missile waiting to happen but needs to earn a job. All three are impressive prospects with no clear path to an NHL job on a team that prefers veteran players. All may find a home- or be part of a package at the deadline for more veterans.

SO ARE THEY CONTENDERS? They have the best goaltender in Hockey. The veteran players are hungry and wanting to win. They are deep and talented everywhere.

  They win the Divison. Caroline will take a step back, Jersey is the future but what goes up usually finds its level the next year and i am still not sold on their goaltending. Rangers win the Division, beat Toronto to advance to the Stanley Cup finals in the ECF. In the same way that Tampa was embarrassed by a 4 game sweep to Columbus and learned from it to win back to back cups and make three straight finals, the Rangers are ouching from losing to the Devils and 23-24 will be their revenge tour. 

FINAL RECORD 38-37-7 83 POINTS, 11th in conference, 12 points out of a playoff spot. Minus 22 goal differential

ADDITIONS Rich Tocchet comes aboard as head coach to apply triage to a unit in disarray. Beaulivier and Hronek came to the club late in the year. Pius Suter is the new 3C. Soucy and Ian Cole join the defensive core. Demko had a lost year, hopes to rebound and stay healthy. 

DEPARTURES The long national nightmare is over as the OEL debacle is finished. Dermott and Bear are also out on the back end.  Tyler Myers is due a bonus first part of September, open secret he is being dealt to the Coyotes right after. 

PROSPECTS Arturs Silovs should beat out Martin as the backup goalie and if Demko is injured may surprise. Honestly as far as NHL ready players that is about it. Raty is decent but nowhere near ready. Rathbone was expected to make the jump to top four defense but cannot stay healthy. not much here.

SO SKY HIGH EXPECTATIONS LAST YEAR, WHAT ABOUT THIS SEASON?  I look at this roster and see absolutely nothing that i like. Even the players whom i like have significant holes. Miller is hated by the fan base because he is a floater, Pettersson is a center who cannot win faceoffs or play defense. Kuzmenko quietly had nearly 40 goals but is soft as 20 ply with 18 blocks and 15 hits for the season making Johnny Gaudreau look like a goon. Boeser is always the subject of trade rumors for the same reason. Beaulivier fits in so well as a 20 goal scoring winger with holes in his game just like Boeser, Garland, ect....

  The defense, dont get me started. Hughes can move the puck but wont play defense. Hronek can do both sometimes, but seldom does both in the same game. Matt Irwin is being counted on to be the primary penalty killer from the back end. Really.

  Goaltending, i like Demko but after last season there are many more question marks than answers.

 Love the coaching hire, Tocchet has a solid rep but he has now made the playoffs exactly once in his nine years as an NHL head coach. 

  Pettersson has made it clear that he will not be resigning unless there is significant improvement on the ice this season. Unless they manage to move out either Miller or Boeser they likely cannot afford him anyway, and if they move one of those two the product on the ice slips so he likely wouldnt want to stay.

  I see them in seventh place nestled between the Ducks in sixth and the Sharks dead last. Just an awful organization. 

LAST SEASON 47-21-14 108 POINTS SECOND IN DIVISION. Beat the Wild in six relatively easy games, bested the Kraken in a tough seven game series, lost the conference final to eventual cup winner Vegas in six hard fought games. Plus 67 goal differential the best in the Western conference

ADDITIONS Matt Duchene came aboard after being bought out in Nashville. Sam Steel joins the bottom six, Craig Smith provides depth. 

A quick aside, one thing about this Jim Nill team that strikes me is how many players can play not only up and down the lineup but can play center or wing as well. Hintz, Pavelski, Steel, Duchene, Seguin, Benn, Dellandrea. It gives coach Deboer so much flexibility when it comes to setting lines. In an age when teams are desperate for center help they have seven or eight guys who can plug into the middle or on the wing giving them a massive advantage over most other teams.

SUBTRACTIONS Domi and Glendening moved on after the season, Domi to Toronto and Glendening to Colorado. About it.

IN THE PIPELINE Dellandrea is a sure fire real deal forward who played in the NHL al year last year and is a very real possibility to have a breakthrough season. Kid Logan Stankoven may play in the AHL this year but with a great showing could crack the team and is a fantastic playmaker and a top notch prospect. Thomas Harley will be a top four defender this year and if he gets a chance to work the first power play will surprise with his offensive talent. Matej Blumel is a real deal scorer but has been in and out of the doghouse in the AHL because he is a bit of a floater but the talent is certainly there. Mavric Bourque may have to return to the AHL because there is simply no room for him at the NHL level but the kid is a fantastic pivot who should slot into a 2C role in the NHL for a decade or more.

  Usually when a team drafts so late as Dallas always seems to do they slip into mediocrity because of it but Nill was the true brains behind the great Redwings drafts that Holland always got the credit for (this as soon as Nill left, Holland crapped the bed with his picks for years before moving on) and he contnues to bring his fantastic drafting skills with him to Dallas. Jason Robertson 39th, Oettinger late in the first, Hintz a second rounder. The new batch of kids is talented and pushing up against the older players. This team is very talented top to bottom.

SO, ARE THEY CUP CONTENDERS? God yeah, no doubt about it. I think they win the Division this year and battle Edmonton into the final days for the best record in the West. Top flight goalie? Check. Elite minute munching defenseman and defensive depth? Check. Forwards coming out of the woodwork, throwing four lines at you? Absolute check. There is no reason that this club cannot contend for years to come. Even with Pavelski, Seguin and Benn being much closer to the end than the beginning the organizational depth is astounding, all three could call it a career right now and the team might slip a bit for a year while the kids acclimated to the NHL but then they would be right back on top. I have crazy mad respect for Nill and think this is one of the very best organizations from top to bottom. They very easily could win a cup this year. 

4 hours ago, Math said:

I think there are significant reasons to be optimistic. Still a major painpoint in goaltending (at least they didn't overplay for Korpisalo) but my major concern is the hire of Babcock as coach: I'm really not sold on him.

Agree to disagree on Babs, one hell of an in game coach, probably the best in the game at thaaspect if not certainly on the very short list. Bowman was the best counting everyone at getting an edge by switching lines around and searching for the correct combo in a particular situation, Al Arbour was right there as well. Of modern coaches i have never seen anyone capable of getting the edge in game as well as Babcock. The off ice stuff, yeah a big issue as his ego grew. Hated by his Toronto players, Mike commodore makes a living talking about what a piece of Sheeat Babs is/was. Franzen says that Babcock is the worst human he has ever met in or out of hockey. But he won, the Ducks became a power under him. Detroit won a cup with him and were right there year after year. Toronto didnt climb all the way up the mountain but they became a huge contender under him. We have gone soft in this Country. Give me a coach who is a jerk but wins over a kinder gentler hugging type who doesnt. Leo Durocher was despised by his players but he won and famously said "nice guys finish last." That is Babcock. If he wins in Columbus I wouldnt care if he kicked a puppy every day on the way into the arena. Winning is the only thing that matters and he wins. 

1 hour ago, Brewin Flames said:

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

I think better. By far. 

  I can think of no coach more over his head as a head coach than Brad Larsen. He never established a regular lineup, he was unable to adjust on the fly and reset during a game. Just dreadful. IMHO Larsen gone is 5 points, Babs coming in is 5 points. Normally I think coaching changes are only good for a few points but following Babs for years, he is an incredible on game coach, compared to Larsen who never made in game adjustments. Ten points better IMHO with the coaching change. 

FINAL RECORD 25-48-9 59 points dead last in the East. Whopping minus 116 goal differential.

ADDITIONS Werenski essentially missed the whole season, great having him back. Stevenson was a cap casualty in Jersey fits in nicely on second paring. Texier returns after a season of self imposed exile in France. Provorov also fits in nicely in the top four on blueline. Fantilli slipped to them and gives the CBJ their first ever true 1C. High first rounders Mayeychuk and especially Jiricik will push for roles on the back end. Babcock returns from exile as a quality coach 

SUBTRACTIONS none. Oh some very minor junk pieces but nobody they really wanted.

IN THE SYSTEM Fantilli, Jiricik, Mayeychuk will all be quality regular performers for years. Sollinger and Ceulemans headline a second tier of quality prospects. The Jackets have quite a few ready now good to excellent prospects.

SOO, ARE THEY READY TO COMPETE? No, too young and too raw but the talent is there. Fantilli could and should push Jenner to the 3c spot where he belongs behind fantilli and Kent Johnson, the defense is a strength, Gaudreau and Laine warts and all are quality scorers. 

  What holds them back is awful netminding with Elvis as the lead arsonist, inexperienced kids in key roles as well. I like their future but this year I expect a modest turnaround with around 80 points battling Washington for the cellar. Lots to like here tho.

FINAL STANDINGS 42-32-8 92 POINTS 3 POINTS OUT OF A PLAYOFF SPOT. minus 9 goal differential

ADDITIONS  Luke Schenn brings grit to the back end. Nyquist if healthy is a 50 point a year steady winger. Ryan O'Reilly is the catch here, the desperately needed number one center.  Guryanov is a low risk, medium reward signing from Montreal. 

DEPARTURES Ryan Johansen takes his hot one year, cold the next body to the avalanche. Duchene was bought out and let leave for Dallas. Cal Foote and Zach Sanford were not resigned and went elsewhere.

TOP PROSPECTS The elephant in the room is that Nashville has one of the games best goalies in Saros but the absolute top goalie prospect in terms of ready now elite level talent in Askarov and failed to move one out to fill needs. They begin the year where they were all of last year with Saros in net and Askarov trapped in Milwaukee.

  Other prospects, Joakim Kemell is a real deal scorer but young and raw and will likely begin at the AHL level but if he is hot will get a legit shot at the age of 19 of being a difference maker. Luke Evangelista is a name who i have been hearing about for several years who is ready to join the middle six and put up decent numbers. A wildcard is Zachary L'Heareux, a little ball of hate on the wing who loves to hit and to score. Some scouts are calling him Marchand'ish, i think more Marchand-lite but still one to watch for. 

SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ARE THEY READY TO CONTEND OR ARE THEY FOOLS GOLD? I see them as neither really.

  Not ready to contend because their kids are just that, kids, too young to make a difference this year, but very talented and truthfully a year or two away. This list does not even include 18 year old Matthew Wood, huge scoring winger who IMHO was one of the steals of this years draft. I think the 18-20 year old talent in the system ranks up there with just about anyone, but that will not translate to this year.

  So for this year O'Reilly relaces Johansen (win) Nyquist replaces Duchene (loss) andSchenn brings grit while kids get their feet wet at the NHL level but are not really ready to make a big difference. I really was stunned that Saros was not dealt to the Kings, it still might happen mid season. One way or another Askarov will have to be given the keys to the Kingdom or moved out to fill holes. It is an aging blueline which by the time the kid forwards are ready in a couple of years will be a major problem if not addressed.

  So also ran, 90 points give or take a couple, flirt with playoffs but not getting there. They are two years from possibly having the best offense in team history but the defense will be aging and out of date by then. I am bullish on the kid forwards and Askarov but truth is something i doubt that i have ever said before, more than a bit worried both mid and longterm about the aging back end. I see the next three or four years being more of the same as weakness becomes strength and strength becomes weakness. Just a lower middle of the pack team that in a great year makes the playoffs and loses first round in six but most years wont even do that. 

6 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

So without Nylander you think they can get there now?

 

I can't see it.

IMHO if they dump Nylander and get picks back, yeah they are done. However if they trade him for a hanifin or pesce, someone who changes the dynamic of the back end they still might win. I am very skeptical of both Robertson and Knies but if either go for 20-30-50 it would go a long way. I still think they are capable but every year gets harder and harder.

  Coming in a bit shy of the long predicted 13.5 million AAV Matthews signed with the Leafs for 13.25 million AAV on a four year deal. 

  Love it for Matthews. With the cap almost certain to go up before his next deal, he may parlay the next deal into an eight year extension or go to market still close to prime. Kudos.

 Don't hate it for Toronto. Yeah Allison they did was kick the can four years down the road rather than sign him to a max term deal, but it resolved the Matthews situation before camp. Nylander rumored to be good as gone but that is for another day.

FINAL RECORD 50-21-11 111 points 2nd in division. Made short work of Bolts before being bounced by Panthers

ADDITIONS Domi and Bertuzzi bring scoring and grit to the middle six. Klingberg hopes to rediscover scoring touch on the second power play. Martin Jones hopes to be adequate backup goalie. Ryan Reaves brings grit.

  Youngsters, a lot of folks are really high on Matthew Knies, I think it is just Leaf fans overrating prospects again. Speaking of which this is make or break year for Nick Robertson. 

DEPARTURES whipping boy Holl takes his game to Detroit. Simmonds likely retiring. Both easily replaced not so much Ryan O'Reilly or Michael Bunting.  Schenn, Astin-Reece and Kerfoot are depth losses.

  The hope is that Bert, Max and Klingberg can replace O'Reilly, Schenn and Bunting. Yikes. 

 Matthews and Nylander need new deals, both sooner than later so it is not a distraction throughout the season.

SO THE QUESTION, CAN THE LEAFS WIM IT ALL?  IMHO yes, absolutely. A ridiculous amount of talent but every year that they don't is more pressure. Even a great season and defeating Tampa in the first round did not save Dubas job. Marner and Tavares locked up long term Matthews will be key. Nylander with no trade protection may be dealt for defenseman, Carolina seems a natural fit. I believe they win the division with around a 110 points and have the best record in the East. How it translates come postseason, I see them losing in the conference final to my pick to win it all who I haven't written up yet.

8 hours ago, radoran said:

 

It's like a fan base obsessed with the achievements of a team from the early 1970s...

 

No, not the Steelers.

 

Hey why do you gotta pick on my big Red Machine lol

FINAL RECORD 35-37-10 80 points, 12th in conference, 12 points out of a playoff spot

ADDITIONS  Max Pacioretty  will spend much of his time on IR for the Capitals this season. He is the only addition. Oh I guess boring third pair defender Edmonson coming over from Montreal might count

SUBTRACTIONS  Depth forwards Sheary, Craig Smith and Connor Brown all left, depth defenders Irwin and Pilon as well. At the deadline they dealt key players Hathaway, Orlov and Eller.

IN THE SYSTEM Connor McMichael and Beck Malynstyn are nhl depth forwards, Alexander Alexyev will be handed a third pair spot on the blueline with no evidence that he is much of a player.

  IMHO this is the worst farm system in the game today which bodes poorly for an aging Capitals team.

THE QUESTION, ARE THEY A BOUNCE BACK CANDIDATE?  no, not much of a chance. They are an aging club with very few NHL ready depth players and no impact players in the organization. Ovie is in the middle of his drive towards breaking the all time goal record held by Gretzky, At least the Cap fans have that to watch nightly. Backstrom is getting old and fragile. Mantha is doing the same even moreso. Tom Wilson just missed 49 games and is on the wrong side of 30 so they signed him to an extention thru 2031, because of course they did. They fired a coach who always gets the most out of their players Kuznetsov asked for a trade then angrilly denied that he did and then said well, i sorta asked for a trade. Oshie is a shell of his former self because of his hard style of play. Carlson is 33 and breaking down. Kuemper at 33 in the first year of a five year deal actually was surprisingly good but is aging, Lindgren his backup came out of nowhere to play very well last year but is no kid, it took until he was 29 to establish himself as a fringe backup goalie.

  Things could break right, all of these guys could stay healthy and rediscover the touch that they once had but it is son extremely unlikely. I have them with around 82 points, 7th in the Division.

14 minutes ago, JR Ewing said:

I couldn't care less if players would prefer to play in the United States, for a lot of the reasons outlined by @yave1964. I get it and it doesn't bother me. The only time I have something against them is in the case of Canadians who would push their grandmother into the street to play for Team Canada when the Olympics/World Cup/etc comes along.

  Agreed. one hundred percent.

LAST SEASONS RECORD 38-27-17 93 points 2 points out of a playoff spot, plus 8 goal differential.

 STAT OF THE YEAR, NOT JUST FOR THE FLAMES BUT FOR ANY TEAM They became just the 3rd team EVER to lose 30 games or more by one goal, their 31 one goal losses is the second most in history. On top of that they shattered their own team record with 17 overtime losses. This team simply did not know how to win.

ADDITIONS Sherengovich came over from the Devils. They brought in long time assistant and player friendly Ryan Huska to be the head coach and longtime Flame alum Craig Conroy to be the GM. Retread Oesterle will serve as the 7D. 

SUBTRACTIONS Sutter is out as coach. Treliving is gone as the GM. Toffoli wanted out, he was dealt to New Jersey. Spare parts Lucic, Michael Stone, Ritchie, Trevor Lewis and Troy Stecher were all shown the door.

KIDS IN THE SYSTEM Lots. Matthew Coronato is going to be a very good goal scorer for years to come. Walker Duehr is a fantastic forward prospect. Jakub Pelletier is going to be a middle six winger for a decade. Dustin Wolf has pushed himself into the conversation for top young goalie prospects with a second consecutive fantastic season with Stockton. A good four or five other kids will be fighting for ice time this year.

  I was a Sutter apologist for much of last year, i like a tough coach who isnt afraid to put the fear of God into a team but sutter lost the room completely. His biggest failing was giving guys like ritchie and Lucic top six minutes at various times throughout the season and not trusting the kids. It cost him his job and will likely tarnish his hall of fame resume a tad. 

  SO THE QUESTION, ARE THEY STILL CONTENDERS? I give new President of hockey operations Mloney and GM Conroy so very much credit, they didnt panic sell. Rumors were that Lindholm, Hanifin and Backlund all wanted out, none have (so far) been dealt. They have taken it slowly, assessing where they are as an organization. I give Treliving credit for last season as well, he lost Guadreau for nothing, instead of doing the same with Tkachuk he dealt him for Huberdeau, Weegar, and signed Kadri. It didnt work out but he went down swinging.

 SO THE ANSWER, ARE THE FLAMES IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM A CONTENDER? Absolutely yes, YES, A THOUSAND TIMES YES. 31 one goal losses will never happen again. If they slip back into the middle of the pack with that number this year, league average last season was 17, that bumps them to 107 points.

  Losing Toffoli hurts, plain and simple he was lights out last season. Sherengovich is a solid hard checking 3rd line winger who can sneak a goal in every now and then, nothing more. He along cannot and will not replace the offense. But man the kids, led by Coronato can and will score. clearing out the deadwood, Ritchie, Lucic, Lewis were not very good or interesting. By not panic trading as Treliving did, they have kept the core of a damn good team that was snakebit and couldnt get catch a break all year. The kids, a fresh new front office with an optimistic outlook IMHO many folks will look past the club and forget that two years ago they were one of the leagues darlings. Not me, i am going to buck that trend. I have them second in their division with 105 points and a damn fine year.

Higher tax rates. IDK if you make 40 grand or 40 million you wanna keep as much as you can.

Fam pressure. Any member of the Panthers can walk down any street without being known. The lowest least known leaf would be swarmed in Toronto.

Media pressure. Ducks lose, it's fifty seconds tops on the nightly news. Oilers or Senators lose it gets directed ad nauseum until the next game.

It's freaking cold.about half the USA teams play in warm weather and about half of those have lower taxes.

2 hours ago, NHL HHOF said:

92-261-353 and 5-8-13 career numbers for Petry.

I am not expecting a 50 point season or anything, at 35 this is what I think.......

 70 games

Steady unspectacular defense

35 points, some play on second pp unit

For a bit over two million and two years that is a value signing. 

1 hour ago, pilldoc said:

How many times can I agree with you !!!

 

My only concern will be Korpisalo as he is grossly overpaid.

Man Korpi was a bad signing proof that Ottawa will continue to shoot themselves in the foot lol. But wow those top three lines are beyond scary and their fourth line will just hit everything that moves. 

Same basic question as Buffalo.

LAST SEASON 39-35-8 86 points, 6 points out of a playoff spot. Minus ten goal differential

ADDITIONS. Taresenko came aboard on a one year deal. Chychrun added at the deadline solidifying the back end. Korpisalo signs five year deal to fix the net. Kubalik helps in middle six. Very gifted Norris missed most of season will fill top six role at the pivot. Zach McCewen brings grit to Fourth line.

SUBTRACTIONS Debrincat traded to Detroit. Talbot left for Los Angeles. 

PROSPECTS Jake Sanderson will have a breakthrough season on the back end.

MAIN Question will they make the playoffs?

 God yeah, this team is simply stacked. Stutzle, Tkachuk, Chychrun, Sanderson, Norris, Batherson, Pinto i submit no team anywhere has a better young core. None. Add vets such as Giroux and Taresenko and Kubalik they will dominate many nights. They are real and dangerous.

  They waaaaay overpaid for Korpisalo and most of the blueliner is young and raw but talented so they will win or lose a lot of 6-4 games with lots of fights from Tkachuk, McCewen,  Kelly and Grieg among others. 80s style hockey. Imho they will possibly contend for the Division and be as fun as team to watch in all of hockey.

Love the defense, Edvisson coming off hip

surgery needs to start the year in the AHL to rehab will be first callup when injuries occur. Glad petry gets a chance to play for hometown Detroit. 

Yeah that was pathetic defense, only thing as bad was our forward crew lol.

My first memory of Petry the youngery was watching a Wings/Oilers game, Petrys first game Dan was in the Tv booth as the proud papa reminiscing about the 84 Tigers and talking about his son when BOOM Jeff scored an own goal by misplaying a puck badly and tipping it into his own net. The wings announcers were tripping over their own words trying not to embarrass his dad who was sitting with them while explaining what an awful play had just occured. About five minutes later he almost tipped another one in. I remember thinking that this would be a short career lol. 

6 hours ago, pilldoc said:

LA meet Edm ….. Edm meet LA

 

2 teams that could legitimately go far IF they had steady goaltending…

 

the Achilles heel for both teams….

True. Kings drafted extremely well retooled rather than a full rebuild, then aggressive with free agents and through trades, put a deep solid team together hired a great coach for a young team and Petersen was the ultimate flop. He signed for 5x5 and was supposed to take the net from Quick, failed so spectacularly that he was demoted to Ontario and damn near had a shrink for a roommate because he lost his game so badly.  Reminds me of Mason in Columbus when he fell apart, both even finally donated to Philly. Anyway, if Petersen had lived up to the hype they would be cup contenders for five years instead, up against the cap they have a career minor leaguer who misspells his own first name and a 36 year old retread who cannot stay healthy playing key positions on a great roster. 

FINAL RECORD 47-25-10 104 points, 2nd in Pacific, Lost in first round to the Oilers. plus 23 goal differetial

ADDITIONS They seemed to bid against themselves, but added their man in Pierre Luc dubois and signed him to an eight year deal. Gavrikov who came over at the deadline signed a long term deal. Cam Talbot came aboard to be part of the goalie tandem, bringing not so big game Dave Rittich with him. Trevor Lewis returns to the place where he won a couple of championships. 

DEPARTURES Korpisalo traded places with Talbot, going to Ottawa. Quick was dealt right before the deadline and is this years long term King who has moved on. Durzi lived in Scott Stevens doghouse for two years because of defensive lapses, in spite of enormous potential he was dealt to Arizona. Edler is likely retiring. Iafallo, Lizotte and Kupari were dealt for PLD. They found a team willing to take Petersen. Zach McEwen has moved on.

ROOKIES AND PROSPECTS Remember the name Brandt Clarke, he is a real deal puck mover on the back end who has all the tools in his toolbox, he is the primary reason Durzi was dealt, he is my darkhorse candidate to win the Calder trophy this year. Jordan Spence and Moverare are decent defensive prospects, both will be given a chance to stick when/if injuries occur. Alex Turcotte will finally be given a chance to win a middle six winger spot. Samuel Pagemo has quietly thrust himself into the conversation as a 4th line body who can score a tad. Deep bunch of prospects of mixed pedigree who will all stick within the next year or so.

  SO, ARE THEY A CUP CONTENDER? No team in the game is deeper down the middle than the Kings with Kopitar, PLD, Danault and Byfield. If doughty continues to age like fine wine and Clarke explodes on the scene the defense could be fantastic. They have three legit scorers on the wing. Lots to like.

  STOP BEATING AROUND THE BUSH, ARE THEY LEGIT CONTENDERS OR NO? I love Scott Stevens as a coach, love half the team but they have a bitter poison pill which will leave them an also ran. I see them with 98 points, 3rd in the Division and a first round out because of their goaltending. Does anyone seriously think that Pheonix Copley who came back from the ashes of a less than mediocre career is going to repeat and go anywhere near 24-6-3 again? It is never in a million years going to happen. Cam talbot was good at his best, that was years ago. He is 36 coming off a mediocre at best season, he is capable of putting up slightly better numbers with a very good team around him, but he will doom the club to a first round exit. 

Wow that was quick.

  Detroit just add d Jeff Petry for Gustav Lindstrom and a 4th rounder going the other way. Term of money retention was not announced.

  Wow the Wings bluelne. Lindstrom was expected to be a the 7th D playing as an injury filler. Now Detroit has to sit one of

Seider. No way no how

Petry doubtful. Great get

Chiarat 2 years remaining grit Damn

Holl the new toy fresh three year deal

Maatta resigned two years was damn solid last year 

Wallman was fantastic last year

Ghostisbehere gonna play every night. 

 Who sits? Which of thes is the nightly healthy scratch? Do you rotate the vets to stay fresh?

 Love adding Petry. Middle pair damn solid puck mover, responsible in his own zone. His dad Dan pitched for a decade for the Tigers.

Edvisson is a lock for another year in Grand rapids, same with Wallinder and Johansson, all great bluelne prospects. Wings back end depth out f this world. Tatar rumored to be going to either Pittsburgh or Detroit this week as well. 

4 hours ago, ruxpin said:

Do you keep the GM?

 

From my vantage, they won the Cup because they accidentally tripped over it. I've never been an Armstrong fan.

Again,we share a braincell