Shootica

Skinner - Eichel - Reino Olofsson - Staal - Cozens Kahun - XX - Fast Looks like a real nice top 9 depending on who we could grab at 3C. Obviously your point about cap space is valid. Without plugging it all into CapFriendly, I feel like they could make it work depending on 3C.

5 x 6.5 seems about right.

I'd have to think Willy Nylander's contract is an upper limit comp for Reinhart.

Kessel is the complete opposite of the type of player I want them targeting.

I'm getting a similar feeling, but I don't want to get my hopes too high. I think he's my fourth favorite player in the draft.

Reinhart, to me, either gets 5 years, 8 years, or traded. 5 would bring him to UFA at 29, which would be ideal for him if he wants to get that big UFA deal. 8 would be if he wants stability and to maximize his guaranteed money now. And a trade if they can't come to a reasonable agreement. I'd put my money on 5 years.

The NHLRumorsDaily Twitter account has linked him to Buffalo, for what it's worth.

Agreed. Although if they set an internal cap due to financial reasons but decide that they'd be willing to go over for a player like Pietrangelo, I can't fault them for that. Because realistically, signing him would immediately put us well over any internal cap.

Where did the rumor of Terry being enamored with Pietrangelo come from? Edit: Found it!

Oh he's probably pissed. He was settled down in Minnesota and very much poised to just coast into retirement. But he's a pro. I think he puts that aside and is a great player and mentor for us.

Agreed. It would be a perfect 'save money and improve the team' move. I'm a fan of the idea, cost permitting of course. Truthfully, I don't understand why the Leafs would be trying to move Freddy but I've definitely heard rumors that they're in the goalie market.

It's hard to say. I could very easily see another Staal situation. Andersen is a veteran goalie with one year til free agency. The Sabres aren't considered a contender this season, and we already have Hutton and Ullmark. You can easily find 10 teams his year who either have a bigger need in net or have a pending UFA who could walk on them. I can definitely see Andersen and his agent looking at us and thinking "why would they trade for me?"

Well I picked a bad time to criticize Cirelli... That didn't look pretty. Hope the kid is alright.

I'm honestly starting to think Cirelli is the most overrated of the three. Highest ceiling, but just so hyped up.

They'd still have to replace those players in their lineup. Unless they make a splash for Demko, they're going to be spending 3-4M at least for a decent starting goalie.

By 'all else' I truly meant everything else. Talent, compete, IQ, etc. Funny you mentioned compete because I'll absolutely overlook size if a player has great drive. I value size, but I value compete more. Completely agree that height doesn't equal size. I was simplifying there, I value strength more than height, which obviously is hard to judge with 18 year olds, but I think you can get an idea. I don't think there's much of a negative connotation between height and speed. Jack is one of the quickest players in the league and he's above average in height.

A bigger player, in general: -Has a greater reach on defense. -Will be able to hold their ground better in the corners and at the netmouth. Harder to push off the puck. -Will be a better screen out front. I'm not saying we should draft objectively worse players because they're big. But if all else is equal and I'm choosing between a 5'9 player and a 6'2 one, I'm taking the bigger player ten times out of ten.

They'd need to do a whole lot more than move Andersen to clear the space for Pietrangelo. Truthfully, the only way Pietrangelo makes sense for Toronto is if they move Marner or Nylander without getting any salary back. And even then, it doesn't help their topheavyness problem.

It can certainly be overstated sometimes, but size absolutely matters.

Sure looks like Reinhart+ for Monahan and Gaudreau. Copp wouldn't be pushing Staal to 3C.

Acquiring a 36 year old who is one year from free agency (and likely retirement) should have absolutely no bearing on who we draft.

To me, a Copp acquisition means Larsson walks. He'd have much better opportunities elsewhere to show what he's got than riding our fourth line. That being said, I'm questioning my judgement after today.

There is literally no downside to this trade. None. I'm amazed. Kevyn Adams, you have my attention.

He ain't a fighter and isn't going to run all over the ice hitting everything that moves, but he's strong in the corners and not afraid to throw his weight around. No need to take a Stastny cap dump now, Staal fits that bill perfectly. 😁

Yeah, you can't do both. Personally, I don't have much interest in Fleury. 36 years old, coming off an underwhelming season by the numbers, at a huge cap hit. Internal cap aside, having a spare 7.5 million on our books next year hurts a whole lot more than an extra 6.5 this year. He'd make a good 1B, but he's way too expensive. There will be better options available for cheaper. Stastny and Tuch is the ideal off-season trade package for me. 2C to cover for a year with the expectation of Cozens taking that role from there, and a long-term top 6 RW that has the truculence this team lacks. I know that's a cliche Brian Burke term, but it's true on this roster. Vegas objectively does not need to trade Tuch. That changes, however, if they bring in Pietrangelo.