French Collection

As Bieksa said last night on HNIC, it is a copycat league so expect some deeper analysis of the Avs roster from the media. The Avs we’re the 31st place team in the NHL six years ago. Only 5 guys remain from that roster. My quick takes: 6 of their own first round picks. Big part of their core ( Makar, MacKinnon, Landeskog, Rantanen) and 2 emerging players (Byram & Newhook). 7 of other teams’ first round picks. Kadri, Nichushkin, Burakovsky, Johnson &Johnson, Cogliano, Murray 4 second rounders, all by other teams. Girard, Compher, Lehkonen, Aubrey-Kubel 7 UFAs, Nichushkin, Francouz, J.Johnson and Helm being the most important. Trades bringing in Kadri, Toews, Kuemper, Girard, Lehkonen, E.Johnson, Burakovsky, Manson, Sturm and Compher. Most of those deals were won by the Avs.

With the amount of picks, the lack of signed goalie prospects and with the uncertainty in net, they need to draft a goalie. This should happen every draft so that they get an NHL caliber one every few years.

I’m very happy for MacKinnon. Joe Sakic was a great player and now adds to his legacy with solid management skills. Congratulations Avalanche.

I had a supervisor who was 5 years away from retirement who said his goal was to do as little as possible and cut that in half every day until retirement. Great way to motivate your staff.

As you say, wants to be there. He knows the organization traded a big piece for him, he has worked hard to develop and has become a key component of an emerging group of like minded individuals. Using my Ben Stiller voice to say Do it, do it, do it!

Trots is from Dauphin Manitoba, a few hours away. PLD is from Quebec, his Dad coaches the AHL Manitoba Moose.

Building a team of smurfs!

The Sabres will have one of the best D core in the league, shortly. This will elevate them to the top half of the league. The forward ranks will be good and possibly above average. Goaltending is the position that will put them over the top. I am thinking Levi will be the man but as we all discuss, there needs to be a plan now. The Red Wings won Cups and had deep runs with different goalies. If the team is elite, that position is not as critical. It is the opposite of Hasek carrying the team.

Like a good politician.

A team in the bottom third of the standings should always be looking for better players. Sabres priorities as we have all repeated is goalie (2), RHD (1-2) and 3/4 C. Anything else is gravy.

I think there is insurance coverage on his salary so the Sabres will only be on the hook for about $1M. Overpaid for what he actually does but the team got a 7th rounder and some cap flexibility.

He looks like Danny Briere. His facial features not his game. Nadeau knows his role and plays it well, net front presence, strong on the wall. If he improves his skating this guy could turn into a middle six winger.

The only thing that could become a problem is if you give cap space to a team that is competing with you for UFA goalie. For example, the Sabres take Kane and the Hawks turn around and sign Campbell and DeSmith. Sabres bringing back Anderson and promoting UPL leads to KA being tarred and feathered.

They seem more banged up than the Avs, they have blocked tons of shots and paid a physical price to make plays. I never count out Vasilevskiy but the Avs will bust their butts to close this out in front of a rowdy crowd. The altitude will also be tough on the Bolts, gasping for air now.

I can get behind having Kane in Buffalo to finish his career and help the team have some playoff runs. My preference is to get him as a UFA. He is still very productive and Chicago would want a similar return to what a top end rental would fetch. He is not a cap dump. Toews, on the other hand, is in cap dump territory. The Hawks need him to be more than a 3 or 4C, but that is what he is now. His illness and missing a season have taken a lot out of him. The Sabres have the cap space, but he would be very expensive for what he brings. He would be an upgrade from Eakin and brings leadership and a winning pedigree. He may be too “serious” for this dressing room but guys like Cozens and Krebs would benefit from his mentorship.

I don’t have a problem with giving Kyle the C, even for one year. If he chooses to stay longer then they will more time to see who emerges as the leader. The next C will probably wear it longer than KO, but benefit from the mentoring of a solid character.

Yeah, keeping Nylander instead was a great move.

I like those picks. I prefer Beck to Del Bel Belluz if they take a C with 28. Easier to pronounce too. Beck has more versatility.

Nadeau scores on a beautiful feed from Maverick Bourque to take the lead.

I guess it’s a price you pay for Cups and some playoff runs in the salary cap era. As some have hinted, watch them not re sign Malkin and Letang, trade Crosby for futures and tank to get Bedard.

They have not picked many early picks for a long time. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr00007475.html

How Colorado comes back from this game will dictate the series in my opinion. If they win the series is done. If they lose a close game but put in a good effort then they have home ice advantage in a best of three.

I listened to a podcast yesterday from Steve Kournianos (Draft Analyst) which focused on Russian prospects. He says this is the best group of Russians he has seen in a long time. The Dmen and wingers are especially solid. The political issues around Russia has meant less scouting and there are some teams who may avoid Russians altogether. This guy thinks those kids are undervalued and that there are some solid NHLers who will get passed over and picked late. The potential is there for some bargains.

I know the kid who plays Cory in Shoresy, one of the high school kids who chirp and get chirped. What Shoresy said about his mother is not true, LOL.

Habs get a 20 goal scorer for an LTIR contract, Sabres get a 7th round pick for taking on an LTIR contract. Could they flip Bishop to Vegas for an actual goalie like Brossoit? He will be behind Lehner and Thompson on their depth chart. He’s not a starter but has been a career backup at the NHL level. IMO it is better than an LTIR contract. Maybe there is another flip to be had?