GDT: 2024 Summer Free Agency (July 1st)

[salbutera]

I would rather give the ice time on the pp to our younger players at this point. Prime pacioretty with slaf would have been something though.

Did something happen & Pacioretty all of a sudden lose his go to weapon …. his shot?

As long as his 5-on-5 TOI is properly managed, Pacioretty would only benefit the 2nd PP unit IMO.

 

[shamrun]

Did something happen & Pacioretty all of a sudden lose his go to weapon …. his shot?

As long as his 5-on-5 TOI is properly managed, Pacioretty would only benefit the 2nd PP unit IMO.

He has a great shot for sure. But he needs someone to fetch the puck and he needs to still be fast enough to get to the shooting areas. Not sure he can still do it. But at the right price i dont think its a horrible situation either. He did lose some shine because of injuries through.

 

[salbutera]

He has a great shot for sure. But he needs someone to fetch the puck and he needs to still be fast enough to get to the shooting areas. Not sure he can still do it. But at the right price i dont think its a horrible situation either. He did lose some shine because of injuries through.

I look at present day Pacioretty as a specialist player, give him 4th line 5-on-5 min w PP time kinda like Perry

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I look at present day Pacioretty as a specialist player, give him 4th line 5-on-5 min w PP time kinda like Perry

I don't even think he can be a 4th line player at this point. I'm not exagerating when I say he can't move, even working the cycle would be hard.

 

[Egresch]

I look at present day Pacioretty as a specialist player, give him 4th line 5-on-5 min w PP time kinda like Perry

Sounds like Tanner_Pearson.v2

 

[The Great Weal]

It is pretty infuriating that not only are Gallagher and Anderson outrageously overpaid and take up roster spots, but neither of them can PK or PP. A guy like Sprong would have been a nice add to help the 2nd PP unit, we need a player that can PK given how Suzuki/Dvorak/Evans/Armia are the only forwards that can PK, and we need a physical player that can step up for teammates instead of yapping from the bench like Gallagher/Anderson.

If they repeat the same year they had this past year (or even worse), and Hughes doesn't buy them out/trade them with retention next offseason, it would be a massive failure.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

It is pretty infuriating that not only are Gallagher and Anderson outrageously overpaid and take up roster spots, but neither of them can PK or PP. A guy like Sprong would have been a nice add to help the 2nd PP unit, we need a player that can PK given how Suzuki/Dvorak/Evans/Armia are the only forwards that can PK, and we need a physical player that can step up for teammates instead of yapping from the bench like Gallagher/Anderson.

If they repeat the same year they had this past year (or even worse), and Hughes doesn't buy them out/trade them with retention next offseason, it would be a massive failure.

When there are players ready for the roster spots they are taking up then it would be time to get rid of them one way or the other regardless of the cap hit.

 

[Tyson]

It is pretty infuriating that not only are Gallagher and Anderson outrageously overpaid and take up roster spots, but neither of them can PK or PP. A guy like Sprong would have been a nice add to help the 2nd PP unit, we need a player that can PK given how Suzuki/Dvorak/Evans/Armia are the only forwards that can PK, and we need a physical player that can step up for teammates instead of yapping from the bench like Gallagher/Anderson.

If they repeat the same year they had this past year (or even worse), and Hughes doesn't buy them out/trade them with retention next offseason, it would be a massive failure.

Maybe the current group of players make giant strides and the team automatically improves. I would rather keep a spot or two open for the young players to have a chance to make the team.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

It is pretty infuriating that not only are Gallagher and Anderson outrageously overpaid and take up roster spots, but neither of them can PK or PP. A guy like Sprong would have been a nice add to help the 2nd PP unit, we need a player that can PK given how Suzuki/Dvorak/Evans/Armia are the only forwards that can PK, and we need a physical player that can step up for teammates instead of yapping from the bench like Gallagher/Anderson.

If they repeat the same year they had this past year (or even worse), and Hughes doesn't buy them out/trade them with retention next offseason, it would be a massive failure.

Dach and RHP/Farrell play the pk as well.
Slafkovsky and Roy are two players that I think will become regular pkers.

Gallagher had a good season considering the role he had. Also Gally and Andy shouldn't be bought out until cap space is needed, and its not looking like we'll need cap space anytime soon.

 

[CHarlie]

Hughes is going to build this team through great drafting and trades. All of Bergevins junk contracts are going to have to slowly expire through this rebuild. I think this is a great time to be patient and build something special......I for one can wait another couple years....its going to be well worth it guys!!!

 

[GrandBison]

It is pretty infuriating that not only are Gallagher and Anderson outrageously overpaid and take up roster spots, but neither of them can PK or PP. A guy like Sprong would have been a nice add to help the 2nd PP unit, we need a player that can PK given how Suzuki/Dvorak/Evans/Armia are the only forwards that can PK, and we need a physical player that can step up for teammates instead of yapping from the bench like Gallagher/Anderson.

If they repeat the same year they had this past year (or even worse), and Hughes doesn't buy them out/trade them with retention next offseason, it would be a massive failure.

A lot of people here would complain about Sprong on PP, as it would be at the detriment of a youngster.

 

[SOLR]

It is pretty infuriating that not only are Gallagher and Anderson outrageously overpaid and take up roster spots, but neither of them can PK or PP. A guy like Sprong would have been a nice add to help the 2nd PP unit, we need a player that can PK given how Suzuki/Dvorak/Evans/Armia are the only forwards that can PK, and we need a physical player that can step up for teammates instead of yapping from the bench like Gallagher/Anderson.

If they repeat the same year they had this past year (or even worse), and Hughes doesn't buy them out/trade them with retention next offseason, it would be a massive failure.

I think Slaf should PK soon.

 

[The Great Weal]

Maybe the current group of players make giant strides and the team automatically improves. I would rather keep a spot or two open for the young players to have a chance to make the team.

Not really sure what youngster wouldn't be given the chance on the team.

Dach and RHP/Farrell play the pk as well.
Slafkovsky and Roy are two players that I think will become regular pkers.

Gallagher had a good season considering the role he had. Also Gally and Andy shouldn't be bought out until cap space is needed, and its not looking like we'll need cap space anytime soon.

Dach has barely PKed in the NHL, RHP was horrendous last year and Farrell should worry about doing well in the AHL before making the NHL. We will probably have Jake Evans and Joel Armia lead the league in shorthanded ice time for forwards again.

No Gallagher did not have a good season at all. Being -24 while averaging 13 minutes of ice time is impressively bad. His 16 goals don't make up for all his other flaws, he shouldn't be a regular NHLer.

I made it clear why Gally/Andy need to be moved next year, and it's not because of cap relief, it's because of the roster space they take up.

A lot of people here would complain about Sprong on PP, as it would be at the detriment of a youngster.

What young player is being ruined because of it? We had RHP/Anderson/Gallagher/Dvorak as the 2nd unit PP at one point.

Suzuki/CC/Dach/Slaf on PP1

Newhook/Roy/???? on PP2

Since we have nobody else, Gallagher and Anderson will probably be there to try and justify their dog shit contracts.

I think Slaf should PK soon.

Probably, but ideally you'd want your bottom 6 forwards to do the bulk of the PK so your top guys are more rested for offensive opportunities.

 

[Treb]

I think Slaf should PK soon.

I think we should get other players that can PK instead.

Keeps Slaf fresher for ES and PP.

 

[morhilane]

Dach and RHP/Farrell play the pk as well.
Slafkovsky and Roy are two players that I think will become regular pkers.

Gallagher had a good season considering the role he had. Also Gally and Andy shouldn't be bought out until cap space is needed, and its not looking like we'll need cap space anytime soon.

Last season, MSL wanted to get his top 6 players out of the PK, since they were the most effective at 5v5 and PP as well. The bottom 6 should take most of the PK minutes.

 

[SOLR]

Probably, but ideally you'd want your bottom 6 forwards to do the bulk of the PK so your top guys are more rested for offensive opportunities.

This is changing all over the league because if your top 6 stars can PK in the playoffs your +/- for SHG is often good.

Remember Sakic/Forsberg on the PK?

I think we should get other players that can PK instead.

Keeps Slaf fresher for ES and PP.

Yes and no, yes, probably true for at least another year.
But when we'll get closer to the playoffs having that star presence on the PK becomes strategically important. Demidov will get there as well.

 

[Treb]

This is changing all over the league because if your top 6 stars can PK in the playoffs your +/- for SHG is often good.

Remember Sakic/Forsberg on the PK?



Yes and no, yes, probably true for at least another year.
But when we'll get closer to the playoffs having that star presence on the PK becomes strategically important. Demidov will get there as well.

We already have Suzuki for that.

If Demidov takes ES1 and PP1 from Slaf then sure.

 

[WeThreeKings]

We already have Suzuki for that.

If Demidov takes ES1 and PP1 from Slaf then sure.

I think it's a matter of time.. but then again Dach might take PK duties too.

Plenty of chess pieces to move around.

 

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

Can one of our myriad extra left defensemen play as a fourth-liner who can also PK? Could a guy like Struble morph in to that 4th-liner, with his speed and truculent approach?

Seems to me that we plan on carrying a few extra centers, especially for our top-9. Why not innovate further by pressing into service a 5 or 6 defensemen as a fourth-liner? A Fedorov in reverse.

 

[Vachon23]

Dvorak-Armia
Evans-RHP

Can all play on the PK

 

[morhilane]

Dvorak-Armia
Evans-RHP

Can all play on the PK

And who play the PK in 2025-2026, because those 4 players are UFA and unlikely to be back after next season.

 

[WeThreeKings]

And who play the PK in 2025-2026, because those 4 players are UFA and unlikely to be back after next season.

Evans will be back.

 

[morhilane]

Evans will be back.

He's the UFA with the most value at the deadline after Savard...

 

[Vachon23]

And who play the PK in 2025-2026, because those 4 players are UFA and unlikely to be back after next season.

Beck
Evans or Kapanen

And some of the wingers that will play bottom 6

 

[WeThreeKings]

He's the UFA with the most value at the deadline after Savard...

They don't need more picks - they need a trustworthy 4th C who anchors their PK unit and takes big faceoffs, which is what he is. He isn't moving until someone supplants him and that won't happen any time soon.