Hoss

On UFAs: the assumption on each trade is that you get a deal done. I didn't consider cap/contract necessarily because I'll just allow that to play out itself. I was just looking for pieces that make some sense. The Rangers deal would make more sense if you can get Lafreniere involved but I'm not sure if that's reasonable. The Hurricanes deal and the Avalanche deal are the most interesting in my book. I couldn't really find a whole lot that made sense. IF a deal were to happen I think the Rangers and Kings are actually the most logical destinations but if it's with the Kings I want a third team taking on one or two of the young pieces we'd get from the Kings and get some young vet pieces from the third team coming our way.

Gibson has one of the worst contracts in the NHL. He's been absolute dogshit for a couple years now. That may be a product of the system he's in but I'm not taking a chance on that. Especially not with maybe the best asset this team has ever had to offer. I'm also not placing huge importance on a goalie in a deal for a franchise center.

Yandle has played 908 consecutive games and has played in parts of 15 seasons in the NHL. An amazing career and he's still "only" 34 years old. In order to catch Patrick Marleau's record of games played he would need to play every single game for the rest of this season, every single game for nine more seasons.

Yea he’s one of a few FAs I’d have interest but I am generally out on big free agents. I do think he’s one that will serve out at least five years of a contract at a high level, though. I’d sign Antti Raanta as a stop-gap if we can’t re-sign Ullmark. RNH is a UFA which I actually thought he had another year but I’ve long been a fan of his. Landeskog is an obvious yes but he’s got such a good situation in Colorado. Jaden Schwartz yes please. Philip Danault is probably beyond that “maybe he breaks out” point but I’d have some interest if the roster gets shaken up and we need a middle sizer cheap.

Some names around the league I’m keeping an eye on after hearing their names out there: - RW Conor Garland (25) from Arizona - C Tyson Jost (23) from Colorado - D Dougie Hamilton (27) from Carolina - C Logan Couture (32) from San Jose - C Sean Monaghan (26) from Calgary - D Brett Pesce (26) from Carolina I honestly think we should try to take advantage of the expansion draft and find teams that try to move a few guys early to avoid losing anyone noteworthy. Then you either make a deal with Seattle to take a specific player or you accept that you’ll lose one guy and move on. This has to be a transformative offseason, though. You’re either trading Eichel or you’re doing a major revamp of the roster to avoid being in a bad position with him next offseason.

Building Eichel deals I would consider (that neither team involved would probably do - no cap work was considered in these deals): Jack Eichel and Rasmus Ristolainen to the Rangers for D Adam Fox, RW Pavel Buchnevich, C Ryan Strome and a 1st (tempted to add K’Andre Miller to this). Jack Eichel and Rasmus Ristolainen to the Hurricanes for C Sebastian Aho, D Brett Pesce, prospect Jack Drury and a 1st. Jack Eichel to the Islanders for C Mathew Barzal, Ilya Sorokin and a 1st. Jack Eichel to the Avalanche for LW Gabriel Landeskog, D Cale Makar and prospect Alex Newhook.

Marleau is about to do the unthinkable and break the record for the most games played in NHL history. He’s going to do it without a cup but the man is loyal as hell and has always been a pleasure to watch. This stat is bonkers.

I'm 100% willing to trade Jack Eichel is the right deal presents itself. The right deal won't present itself. Mostly because the right deal is NOT a couple firsts and a couple players who have not proven themselves on a meaningful stage. I need AT LEAST one (likely 2+) players who can play heavy minutes in the NHL RIGHT NOW then we can talk about the prospects/picks.

However many times Ted Lasso has been recommended on here is not enough so here's one more.

Huh?

Dom Kahun vibes with that 96 (I know DK was 95) and inspiring early play at the end of a lost year

Rangers fans are crying because one of their rookies (Kravtsov) scored his first career goal to make it 5-0 but Lindy challenged and won, taking it away. Rangers fans do not like Lindy Ruff and also appear to be extremely soft.

I don’t know if this would qualify as a breakaway but prior to this Taylor Hall had the most breakaways in the NHL over the last two seasons and had zero goals on them.

I think if he were fired back then we’d still be a bottom three-five team in the league.

We really can’t talk in absolutes prior to a draft (rare exceptions like McEichel). The PERCEIVED talent difference may be interchangeable in your eyes but teams may not view it that way (including our extremely deep and experienced scouting department) and it very likely won’t be how we view it a few years from now.

I don’t care about finishing last all that much anymore but I also don’t agree with this logic. You always want to be higher in the draft regardless of the talent pool. It’s an asset.

I’m protecting Borden hard. I’m trading Risto before the expansion draft.

If your test comes back clean you can’t post because where’s the fun in that? ^^^

Any chance Karmanos’ hiring was delayed to now because he had a contract and wasn’t permitted to go elsewhere until after the deadline?

Who are the more NHL-ready prospects at the top of this draft? Should we expect to see anyone step in immediately?

If I'm moving Reinhart it's for a piece that replaces him ... and Calgary is a spot with three guys to keep an eye on: Gaudreau, Lindholm, Monahan (listed them in order of what their value probably is right now). Gaudreau you'd probably be looking basically a one-for-one (we might have to toss in another piece there). Same for Lindholm. Monahan has struggled for two straight years so you might try to convince them to put a piece in there to sweeten the pot. (In a perfect world you actually keep Reinhart and then work a deal for one of those guys to add to the roster instead of just hoping a one-for-one "hockey trade" jumpstarts your offense).

Sabres "tragic number" is five - meaning any combo of them missing out on points or the fourth-place team in the division getting points that adds up to five eliminates them.

Anyone got fancy stats on Viktor Arvidsson from this season and last? I'm kind of curious about him because he was trending upward and then his production has dropped. He is a guy I have some interest in buying low on this offseason.

This is definitely an interesting breakdown. If I had more time on my hands I’d try to take your analysis and hit it with another level to see who is drafting the most productive players (and then likely list defensemen separately since their production isn’t exactly on the score sheet). Turns out having a lot of draft picks could be a valuable thing ... for other teams.

Tampa feels too obvious, even more so if Kuch gets healthy. I don’t know that I fully believe in them but I do like what Carolina has going on. Vegas feels like they’re bound to break through eventually. I would not mind seeing Colorado do it - they’ve got a ton of fun talent on that team.