darksabre

Risto, I think, is less detrimental. He's probably a 3/4 D going forward and his lack of coachability doesn't sink him in that role. He's just a big dummy who plays his game his way and that's all there is to it.

I have heard some things that lend credence to the idea of Risto as uncoachable.

That sucks.

Can any of these guys we got make a pass? Because that would help a lot.

O'Reilly. This goes back to other things we've heard about how basically Ryan had beef with Jack but Jack didn't have beef with Ryan.

Looks to me like that's where he's headed.

It's possible he does. The roster should be able to make the decision for him this year and Pommers should end up buried.

Botterill needs to do some more work before I turn my attention back to Phil again.

Who else was going to play there? If Pommers can't play in the top 6 he's not worth having on the team. So they had to play him there. It's the only place he might have been useful.

I just can't imagine someone not beating Pommers out for a roster spot.

The more I think about it, the more I think Pommers gets buried like Moulson after the preseason. I feel like he's just got to get beat out by one of the kids.

I have a hard time thinking something won't happen with Minnesota. We're perfect trade partners.

So friggen true.

Do we have too many players? Like...way too many?

Pageau is absolutely who I would be targeting in Ottawa.

I think he'll trade at least one. He may trade two. He'll keep at least one. I think Ottawa, a team that is about to lose Karlsson and has no 2019 1st round pick, would be an ideal trade partner for one of those picks. A first for a prospect of some kind. Or a prospect and taking Okposo as a cap dump. I could see swapping one of the 2019 firsts for a 2020 first just to spread things out a bit. He has a lot of options. Those extra picks are great tools. Are there other teams that don't have a 2019 1st next year that might want one?

I agree with this.

Okposo, if he's done, might be #1 on that list. Pominville is a UFA after this year so I don't want to give anything up to make that happen. Sobotka isn't a long term problem. Another team might even take him. And Berglund's cap hit isn't atrocious even if the term is gross. Bogosian is (STILL) only 27 and he spends half the year on IR anyway. Plus we're not dying on Defense with respect to contracts, so he's really not a massive problem for me. We've got enough cap to sign Reinhart and Dahlin and that's all that really matters this year. So, Okposo if we think he's done.

I think if I'm Botterill I'm looking to a team like Ottawa to execute some cap dumps an maybe move one of our 2019 1sts.

Then let's hope Botterill finds a way to move him as a salary dump.

;)

San Jose has a veteran leadership group in place that is more established and mature. They can absorb Kane. This team could not.

It's possible he's done. If he is, then I expect Botterill to do something about that. I'm willing to see what he can do with the kids and possibly a good off-season.

You've gotta give Okposo a chance to redeem himself. Dude almost died last off-season and is hopefully going to have a much more productive off-season this year. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes in to camp lighter as has been the trend around the league.