Drag0nDan

You actually save more cap space by buying out eakin.

I mean zadorov played 5 seasons there. He was only a bottom pair defenseman basically who played some PK, but a bottom pair defenseman who keeps the puck out of the net isn't as easy to find as we thought. I still think it was a good trade for Buffalo though for sure.

They are consistently wrong though. And it seems like when they're right on an outside the 1st prospect, they trade him.

I assume he left Carolina because of money? So as long as the money's good i guess he probably sticks around. Could be helpful in keeping ullmark as well as he seems to improved working under Bales.

If Bales is brought back i think he worked with Mrazek in 2018-2019 for one of his best seasons.

Personally? I'd go just to check it out, I watch all the games anyway and it's something to do. I'm not paying extra for covid tests though, and my 2nd vaccine isn't until probably end of April though.

I think there is value in physical play, especially in the playoffs. You don't need a whole team of goons, but you can't be as soft as buffalo either. Risto is pretty much the only physical player on the team right now. McCabe is hurt, and Irwins too much of a liability for it to matter.

I'd rather save the cash and hire some scouts, AGM, advisors etc.

Seems like a waste of money imo. If another bad team has decided they don't want this guy around their team, why should we? Also, when you're the worst team in the league, you dont claim peoples garbage.

It's a pretty basic give and go play. The puck needs to get in deeper there.

They look considerably faster

His development curve was very strange though even before this mess of a year. I wouldn't worry too much about his birthday. Can you make him a functioning NHL player by 2022? To me that's what we need.

I'm not certain of taxi squad rules, but I guess that could've been an option.

Yeah, I agree. There are other forwards in the organization who deserve more ice time with the big club at this point. Ruotsolainen, asplund, murray should get longer looks.

Doesn't seem like it was an ideal path for one of the more raw prospects to be playing in the AHL. It's also been... an interesting season for the entire organization. All the line shuffling between injuries, covid, and the taxi squad - it's a lot to manage. Too early to tell if this has any effect on him, but i'd still probably throw him in the lineup for a stretch once they move hall.

I assume they'd have to move debrusk to make a Hall deal work. But i doubt they're packaging in a 1st. Closer to a hockey trade, and we can boost the pick value by paying some of halls deal.

And even then its like... 3-5 years later when that makes a difference.

i think we got dead last pretty well locked up. a few wins isn't going to move the needle much

He offers nothing on a backcheck or forecheck. He doesn't get to dirty areas. Not a great passer, or shooter for that matter. He can skate well, but tends to give it away more than make plays with it. I'm with you, i've seen enough. I don't care for his brand of hockey. I felt the same way about Kane honestly - he could skate well, and he shot a ton. But from terrible areas and often missing the net and opening up for a breakout. I think Kanes style is a bit more suited to the playoffs with size and willingness to get to dirty areas, but I don't think he's a building block (also the off ice issues).

Hall had no hustle... at all.. trailing on a 2 on 1. I think Mitts could've played his part better, but a forward is not usually in that position in a 2 on 1. I honestly felt like Mitts and Thompson carried the Hall line more than the other way around. Skinner and Okposo were like the best line on the ice for a stretch. Risto/Irwin on the other hand are an absolute train wreck.

I'm good with it - the entire scouting dept needs new blood and they shouldn't feel their jobs are safe because its a slimmed down group. They have done a poor job for a long time now.

I didn't mind firing a lot of scouts and staff when they leaned out the organization. The team was hemorrhaging money, and I don't personally believe that because you've had your job for 20 years that makes you qualified. I'm just not sure if the ones they kept are any good. Someone needs to be evaluating who they bring in, who should be let go etc. In 1-2 years they can really make some changes across the organization aside from specifically the players on ice in those seasons. Pro talent evaluation, true analytics department, scouting, and talent development all need to improve. Even some of the non-hockey things like PR, talent relations, marketing and gameday experience all need improvement.

Turned it off at 4-1, and put on nfl network replay of the bills-seahawks.

This was brought up during the offseason regarding Kahun and possibly non-tendering montour. The argument for montour was that so much was given up to acquire him. The argument against was that... he isn't good and he's getting 4 million dollars. We ended up paying him, and he's still not very good. You can dump him at the deadline but you basically bought a mid-round pick in 2021 or 2022 for 4 million dollars. Money/cap space is an asset too, and that was not a good use of it. Kahun was expected to get a decent sized arb. award, and they likely used some of that cash to sign hall. It didn't work, but i don't think anyone can argue that hall isn't a better player than kahun.

Whats the difference though? Usually you keep them in the minors to work through issues so they don't harm the big club. The big club hasn't won a game in forever anyway. Agreed. I saw enough from tokarski to know i don't want to watch him play much. If Ullmark comes back healthy and capable of multiple starts in a week I'm fine with sending him back down to get more game experience. But if ullmarks injury lingers or something - that game experience may as well come with the big club.