thewookie1

1. If UPL is the slated starter... no; I'd need a better backup who could be a 1B that could theoretically save our skin. But must be on a 1 year deal 2. If we move on from UPL to a guy like Demko, sure. He's a savvy vet that won't make a fuss and if Demko gets hurt wouldn't make a squawk if Levi hops over him or we acquire a rental starter. 3. If we move on from UPL for Levi... no; like with option 1, we'd need a solid 1B to save us if Levi struggles. However the backup wouldn't need to be on a 1 year deal. What we cannot do: 4. UPL and Levi straight up, this would be akin to throwing three go routes on a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd & 10 from your 10 hoping you succeed. Not impossible but very unlikely. 5. Another 3 headed monster situation

I agree

Yeah I can't do that, I have zero interest in having 2 defenseman at 10.5mil +

I'd imagine he signs for something akin to 5x7.5 or 8mil

Most notable was in the 3rd Dahlin tried to jump up on a play and Östlund not only covered for him but angled the Carolina player into the boards to force a slow attack allowing Dahlin to easily get back to his proper location.

WTF, that really is rough to see. 62 isn't old enough in my book. RIP

If there is one thing I would never do, trade next year's 1st unprotected

Again you can't lose a trade unless you get nothing in return; Thompson for instance saved us from that with the ROR deal. To win a trade you need to either get exactly what you needed lofty or otherwise, like a Stanley Cup, or the other side gained nothing or less than nothing in return. Otherwise they are merely shades of good or bad. For instance I'd say Vegas "Won the trade" because they got the piece they needed to win the Cup. But I wouldn't say we "lost the trade" because Tuch + Östlund + Krebs and Greenway have given value.

You're not far off but I can't exactly say we lost both trades. I would certainly say we haven't won either trade but I can't go to the level of a loss.

Oh of course they could but my money would be on either of the ones I named "winning" the lottery regardless

Yes but still it’s always those two bastards, them and the Isles occasionally pissing on our corn flakes

***** Montreal and Florida, always in our way for a playoff berth. Montreal screwed us now and in the CoVId year and Florida blowing a lead to Montreal this year as well as ***** Lyons standing on his head two years ago screwed us. Montreal might be the least deserving team to ever make the playoffs Great showing by Reimer and solid game generally by our players. God I wish they could find this level of play earlier in the year so they could make a legit run.

This time I'm going for a relatively realistic approach. UPL & Muel to Philly for Hathaway and a 3rd (maybe more?) Quinn for Demko; when healthy he's a juggernaut if not then likely Levi gets pushed into duty earlier than I'd like. Byram for Jared Spurgeon + pick - You'd have to convince Spurgeon to waive his 10 team NTC more than likely but he fits the perfect sort of vet defenseman that is aging gracefully and perhaps he could teach Power how to play defense. Plus Spurgeon plays bigger than he is while Power plays smaller than he is.

I don't get the interest in Dobson; he's just Byram with a slightly different color paint.

***** Montreal won yet again; of course they have to go on a 5 game win streak….. All the other teams around us have behaved and have been mediocre and yet the Canadiens have just refused to lose game after game. Now to get in, we must go undefeated and Montreal must not get more than 2 pts.

Do love winning, after a slow 1st the Sabres gave Boston a beating and that was fun to see. Zucker’s goal was hilarious

Tuch!

Tage, courtesy of Benson

Last time he was looked past for a "playoff race" was the year we fell 1 short and Levi stole the show. UPL did however come back gangbusters the following year.

Well either Pittsburgh or Boston will get McKenna. Pittsburgh will transition from Crosby to him Boston will draft McKenna and sign Eichel to some outrageous contract and bounce back. Because in the end regardless of what we do, we can't ever rely on getting any good luck falling our way and for it not to endlessly boost our peerage.

The latter part is luck

If your child wants to go, then any personal boycott should be void for those purposes

Goalies are young until 28/29; they're weird like that Wolf in CGY is a solid blueprint to run with for Levi. Small goalie who dominating in the AHL prior to coming to CGY. After Ullmark sure, but there aren't exactly starting goalies just raining from the heavens. Aside from Markstrom it has primarily been overpaid sieves and disappointing youngsters traded. Most goalies do from time to time, but I'd like him in Rochester most of next year anyway.

Florida ***** you

Seems to be a running trend, they take 50 to 60 games to get going and then they actually start playing. Now partly it’s the less stressful playing out the string but they did this during the year they barely fell short.