Around the League 2020-21 Part 3, Trade Deadline Edition

[TruKingFan]

Contraction after Seattle just paid $650M to join the league? It'll never happen - not to say it shouldnt though.

 

[King'sPawn]

When people bring up contraction, my first thought is "would you feel the same way if it was your team being removed?"

Suddenly people aren't too excited about focusing the talent on fewer teams when they don't have a team to root for.

Which is why many of the Canadian fans drive me nuts when they offer it as a suggestion.

 

[Reaper45]

But would it be so bad if the Sabres played a season or two in the AHL and an AHL club was promoted?

 

[johnjm22]

Perhaps it is time for the NHL to consider contraction, rather than expansion.

The fans of the contracted teams wouldn't be large in numbers, and the hockey for the fans would be better with fewer teams and say the bottom 10% of NHL players sent back to the minors.

Wouldn't that be considered relegation though? Not contraction. My understanding is that's how the Euro soccer leagues do it.

 

[johnjm22]

Eichel is gone. You don't talk like that unless you want out.

Very few teams with have the assets and cap space to acquire him.

 

[King'sPawn]

But would it be so bad if the Sabres played a season or two in the AHL and an AHL club was promoted?

I wouldn't be opposed to some relegation system, although it wouldn't work with NHL/AHL. What if the Calder Cup champs was the Ontario Reign? LA couldn't play against its own farm team.

There would litetally have to be an NHL/NHLb type of setup, where every year, the top NHLb team gets promoted to the NHL, and the worst NHL team would get demoted.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Now imagine if the Oilers with McDavid were relegated when they stunk.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Eichel is gone. You don't talk like that unless you want out.

Very few teams with have the assets and cap space to acquire him.

Everyone run to your bunkers and start throwing bombs.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Coyotes are the only team I feel should be relocated. They can't fill the building ever and the team is perpetually awful. Elon Musk needs to move them to Mars.

 

[Reaper45]

I wouldn't be opposed to some relegation system, although it wouldn't work with NHL/AHL. What if the Calder Cup champs was the Ontario Reign? LA couldn't play against its own farm team.

There would litetally have to be an NHL/NHLb type of setup, where every year, the top NHLb team gets promoted to the NHL, and the worst NHL team would get demoted.

Right I get it, and it’s exactly why it wouldn’t work. But it works great in soccer. But no farm teams in soccer.

 

[Reaper45]

Now imagine if the Oilers with McDavid were relegated when they stunk.

Well if he’s really the best player in the world he’d pull them out of relegation.

 

[Stimpythecat]

he's gone.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Well if he’s really the best player in the world he’d pull them out of relegation.

He’s a hockey player, not Jesus Christ. I don’t think McDavid has ever had a respectable goaltender on any of those Oiler teams.

And are you going to promote a team that plays in an arena that houses 5,000 people? Relegation and contraction won’t be happening any time soon. When was the last time any of the four major professional sports leagues contracted?

 

[KINGS17]

Wouldn't that be considered relegation though? Not contraction. My understanding is that's how the Euro soccer leagues do it.

You delete the teams, not the players. My post assumed the bottom echelon of NHL players would end up in the minors.

The NHL would have to conduct a dispersal draft for the players of the teams being contracted.

 

[deeshamrock]

Man Buffalo is just in sad, sad shape. Those fans deserve better. What a shit show.

It is and they have been great fans for years...

Both Ristolainen and Eichel have expressed their concerns. This is another quote from Ristolainen

Rasmus Ristolainen Open To Trade

For me, I can’t go for another rebuild or wait multiple years. For me. I mean, we have to get to playoffs next year. For me, it’s either here or then somewhere else.​

Ristolainen has now been in Buffalo for eight seasons but has yet to step foot on the ice of an NHL playoff game. He has seen six different coaches behind the bench since his debut in 2013, but none of them were able to get the team to even a .500 record.


6 coaches in 8 years is brutal, esp for young defenseman trying to grow his game. No wonder he's frustrated.

 

[SFKingshomer]

It is and they have been great fans for years...

Both Ristolainen and Eichel have expressed their concerns. This is another quote from Ristolainen

Rasmus Ristolainen Open To Trade

For me, I can’t go for another rebuild or wait multiple years. For me. I mean, we have to get to playoffs next year. For me, it’s either here or then somewhere else.​

Ristolainen has now been in Buffalo for eight seasons but has yet to step foot on the ice of an NHL playoff game. He has seen six different coaches behind the bench since his debut in 2013, but none of them were able to get the team to even a .500 record.


6 coaches in 8 years is brutal, esp for young defenseman trying to grow his game. No wonder he's frustrated.

I think he would be a good target that wouldn't cost of a ton of assets.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Anyone cutting up onions in here!?

 

[Steve Zissou]

 

[deeshamrock]

Yeah, that seems steep. same goes for the Flyers apparently paying the same amount to Vigneault. Jeebus.

Awful, and it's why he won't be fired until end of next year, 5 x 5, terrible. Fletcher had his sights on Q and when Q signed with the Panthers, less than a week later he signed AV, who was on no one's list for coaches. The players tuned him out this year. And he's a poor decision maker who is outcoached in the playoffs. And is way too hard on young players, does not have a clue how to develop. Affected several players, esp Hart, this year.

I was furious when he was hired, can'at wait for him to go.

Given how competitive the Metro will be next year, I don't see the Flyers, esp with AV, in the playoffs. Too much talent in the way.

 

[deeshamrock]

I think he would be a good target that wouldn't cost of a ton of assets.

I agree, some GM should see past come of the Corsi stuff, which Ithink is tied to the team and revolving door of coaches/systems. On a good team, good coach, better support around him, he'd shine.

As far as Eichel, he's tried his best, but they need to cut ties and move on .They should get good assests/picks back for him

On the TSN podcast last week, they did mention the Kings as a team that could be interested and had the assets.

 

[johnjm22]

It sounds like Reinhart, Eichel and Risto all want out. What must Dahlin be thinking?

The Sabres might have the worst situation right now of any time I've ever seen in the NHL.

 

[DoktorJeep]

When it comes to bidding wars, the Kings never win. And Rob Blake isn’t the guy to change that around, unless Eichel says he’ll only be happy in LA. My guess is he ends up in Detroit or Vegas.

And I’m fine with him not on the Kings. My feelings are nothing will improve until we are led by talented 24-26 year old players who are the top paid players on the team.

Everyone hoping for Captain Jack to bring glory days to LA should mentally prepare themselves for Trent Klatt level moves.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Trent Klatt

Stop it.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Stop it.

What wrong with Trent Klatt? I could have said Randy Robitaille or Eric Bustmuffin if I wanted to be negative.

 

[deeshamrock]

Just wait until he gets dealt to that shit show as known as NY Rangers. Going from one horrible owner to another.

Actually Friedman just mentioned that on NHL Network. Said a lot of teams will be in on Eichel and have the assets. He said the Rangers gave the Sabres a significant offer last year that the Sabres liked but weren't ready to move Eichel yet. That said, he says now, he is not so sure they would want to move him to NY. Of course, if the Rangers want him that badly and are willing to overpay, hard to say no.