Drag0nDan

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.

They at least had Roy, Pominville, Connolly, Miller, Stafford - even guys like Hecht. They were competitive out there until they dismantled this group. The problem is they haven't had a remotely competitive team since Miller was between the pipes, and vanek was the top goal scorer.

a 3rd pairing defenseman who can actually help prevent the puck from going in the net. Plays a bit more physical than anyone else on the back end currently. He won't light up the stat sheet, and him and dahlin seem to have some chemistry.

I think this is probably an all sports thing. Umps with balls and strikes... Football and random procedural penalties or holding... i feel like everythings a foul in basketball.

At least he's moving his feet and trying to make plays. The lack of cohesion in transition is the biggest barrier to this team. Defensemen are constantly trapped cycling it behind the net and giving additional possession opportunities. They rarely gain the zone with speed either due to poor stretch passing, or the forwards hold the puck too long before passing. When you watch the islanders its a 1 touch pass to a forward with speed, with buffalo they hold it and wait to see a player. Night and day.

He doesn't seem to use his length well enough to protect the puck either.

Thats kinda neat. Does it adjust odds considerably with pai gow or baccarat?

They're different bads too. Jonas struggles with traffic and whats in front of him, and hutton is terrible moving side to side and on the short side. Huttons also just sloppy sometimes, gaping 5 holes, can't stop a breakaway.... ever. Worst goaltending in the league here.

O'reilly, Montour, Kane... Signing Skinner to that term. Quite a few poor moves

I was indifferent to firing him when they were like 6-8-2 I'll admit. But 10 straight losses, most of them giving up 5 goals. This team is fully broken. I'd consider Adams behind the bench at this point - get a closer view of the players you need to build around vs. trade. Get an idea on the locker room - whos stepping up, and who's just showing up. Team sucks anyway, may as well put players under the microscope a bit.

Yeah. Dahlin too. Dahlin at least looks confident on power play. But i think both have played with like 6 different partners this season, there's just no cohesion in the back end.

Aint gonna happen. Maybe you could find a buyer - but they dont want to sell. No one can really make them sell except the NHL, and they wont.

I feel like you rarely win trades like that. But to take on garbage salary in berglund and sobotka - both well overpaid and with term. And not get any of their top 3-5 prospects - I wanted kyrou, expected thomas... but tage thompson? Either our scouts are clueless, or he had his hand forced.