Drag0nDan

Why is it also so hard to fathom that he won't? It's possible that he becomes a regular nhl goalie, but I didn't see anything in his game that indicated that he would - obviously I can be wrong. My guess is they want ullmark back, and another goalie in free agency (or 2 others). UPL gets more starts at the AHL level to try and continue his development, and you have tokarski to back up UPL, and be the call up if you have injuries. Johansson could be that tokarski type guy, but they're already saddled with tokarski.

You don't include that he got the #1 free agent to sign with a bad buffalo team on a low risk 1 year deal though.

Probably both. There really isn't tons of room for lazar next season to be a center. Bjork isn't expensive, and is a bottom 6 left winger. They have Eichel, Reinhart, Cozens, Eakin (shudder), and Ruots that can play center. The left wing has skinner, asplund, rieder, olof and now Bjork. Rieder wont be back. Hedging your bets at bottom 6 winger that he can contribute there after sheahan, rieder, departures. I wonder how it fits with the overall scheme moving forward but the bottom 6 for next season would include - Mitts, Asplund, Thompson, Okposo, Bjork, Girgensons, Olofsson, Ruotsalainen. Then cozens, reinhart, jack, skinner as your top 6ers. I think there will be more trades in the offseason, reinhart/olofsson being the 2 likely to be dealt from the forward group. I think there will be players available that teams can't protect, and buffalo should be aggressive in trying to acquire them. I'm curious how it shakes out with the expansion draft for buffalo honestly, but right now it's tough to project. Hall pushed for it because while he wanted to be in buffalo he didn't want to get dumped somewhere without his choice.

We watched the games though, did he suddenly stop kicking juicy rebounds? Is he now able to move side to side adequately enough to stop cross ice passes? Maybe he's hasek now after 4 games. Despite stopping like 88 percent of shots in buffalo... id certainly be surprised if he was though, wouldn't you?

He sucks - but he won a hart trophy so you should overpay for him. Unfortunately the GM's trading for him likely watched him play this year - and most of his most recent games were during a historic losing streak where he looked terrible.

He has to be involved in any trade discussions because of the clause. I can't negotiate a big deal with someone for Hall to just be like, pass. That's a surefire way to make other GM's not want to do business with you.

All it takes is a rumor trickle and him to decide where he wants to go for you to lose all your leverage. Full NMC so he can choose his destination, UFA next year and you aren't bringing him back, and once he's chosen his spot the compensation eventually gets to a "take it or leave it" situation.

Closer to thompson than eakin. The difference is he's this years thompson, not 3 years ago thompson where we thought he could be good. We are aware we are trading for a bottom 6 forward who struggles backchecking. On the plus side thats usually the last part of a skill players development.

The 2 wins over anaheim (worst offense in NHL), and a reeling Blues team make me think we could be looking at a small sample size.

I think Lazar was a kicker to make the bjork move. Lazar is fine for what he is - but i think it was going to be a challenge to fit him in next year? Jack, Sam, Cozens, Mitts, ruots, even girgensons in a pinch. He's had a good year, but most people expected him to be an extra skater on game days this season.

He still has no rebound control, and generally not very quick on cross ice stuff. I had seen enough to know he's not an answer in net - but who knows maybe he'll figure it out. Wins over Anaheim and a blues team that was struggling to score don't make me think that the guys just flipped a switch though.

Who knows? He could legit reject a trade to any team he didn't want to play for

I think with Montour there was a rumor floated that they may non tender him. Everyone lost their minds about poor asset management etc. Now u have an overpaid bottom pair d with a 4m cap hit. Not exactly ripe trade material. Basically bought this 3rd rounder for 3 million in cash/cap.

Whitner... With JP losman at QB, and the worst rush defense in the NFL and Ngata on the board. Youboty and Ko Simpson in the same draft too... Oh and starting offensive linemen including Mike Gandy, Melvin Fowler, Chris Villareal, and Terrance pennington. The offense is bad? Start right there... Jets grab ferguson and Mangold in the 1st - which are like franchise cornerstones for the next 10+ seasons.

Eakin screams buyout to me this offseason. Him being terrible, plus decent cap savings in year 1. The year 2 penalty is less than a million (and the cap should go up in 2022. You also save like 800K in cash. There is no reason he should be on the team next year imo.

It goes both ways - wait longer and someone might overpay out of desperation. Wait too long and there isn't a trade partner.

Him and risto - i watch a game like this one and wonder why anyone would ever trade anything for these guys. Miller is incapable of making a quick play in the offensive zone, and he's incapable of passing - its either up the wall or shot into shin pads. Risto just seems back to his old ways of freelancing and thinking too much. Their exit passes (if they can even attempt them) are brutal, and half the time they panic and throw it back into their own zone.

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.