Around the League - 2022 Off Season Edition

[ACC1224]

While it's early days, I'm really hope the Leafs are able to hold onto him.

Even as a player he always sounded pretty intelligent when talking about the game. Seems like a guy who could really go on to thrive in a front office role

Next GM?

 

[francis246]

Really happy Huberdeau resigned in Calgary

 

[BertCorbeau]

Really happy Huberdeau resigned in Calgary

Same.

Funny enough because of Sutter's defensive system and their weak division, the Flames may not drop off as much next year.

I mean they'll drop, but still probably top 3.

Their build very well on the back end and in goal:

Hanifin-Weegar
Kylington-Andersson
Zadorov-Tanev
Valimaki

Markstrom

No stout #1 d-man but a nice collection of #2-#4 guys that bring a nice blended skillset.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Same.

Funny enough because of Sutter's defensive system and their weak division, the Flames may not drop off as much next year.

I mean they'll drop, but still probably top 3.

Their build very well on the back end and in goal:

Hanifin-Weegar
Kylington-Andersson
Zadorov-Tanev
Valimaki

Markstrom

No stout #1 d-man but a nice collection of #2-#4 guys that bring a nice blended skillset.

They should try to get some more bottom 6 forwards though.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

They should try to get some more bottom 6 forwards though.

And a 2C because they won't go very far with Backlund in that role

 

[SeaOfBlue]

And a 2C because they won't go very far with Backlund in that role

At this point, their best bet is a long shot hope that Monahan gets his crap together enough to fill that hole again.

Maybe they PTO a guy like Rask, but he is not a great fit for their system (nor a guy who is going to help them at 2C anyways), and I doubt they can afford a Kerfoot or Stastny as a stop gap.

I can see a couple of bottom 6 LW signings to compete with Pelletier for an NHL job and to add some depth for their AHL team, like a Steel, Svechnikov, Sprong, or Dahlen.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Next GM?

A bit too old? I think we'd look at someone much younger.

 

[francis246]

Same.

Funny enough because of Sutter's defensive system and their weak division, the Flames may not drop off as much next year.

I mean they'll drop, but still probably top 3.

Their build very well on the back end and in goal:

Hanifin-Weegar
Kylington-Andersson
Zadorov-Tanev
Valimaki

Markstrom

No stout #1 d-man but a nice collection of #2-#4 guys that bring a nice blended skillset.

Plus they were able to acquire Huberdeau without giving up any of their top prospects like Conor Zary or Matthew Coronato.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Plus they were able to acquire Huberdeau without giving up any of their top prospects like Conor Zary or Matthew Coronato.

And while they'll try to win now, they have some good pieces to move if they need to retool within in the next year or so.

Huberdeau would have gotten a haul but nothing wrong with keeping him as a core piece to retool around.

Feel for Calgary, they keep getting these elite wingers and build around them (Iginla, Gaudreau, now Huberdeau). They just can't find that stout #1C yet. Lindholm is as good as they've had. Monahan had a nice run earlier in his career. But that's about it.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

And while they'll try to win now, they have some good pieces to move if they need to retool within in the next year or so.

Huberdeau would have gotten a haul but nothing wrong with keeping him as a core piece to retool around.

Feel for Calgary, they keep getting these elite wingers and build around them (Iginla, Gaudreau, now Huberdeau). They just can't find that stout #1C yet. Lindholm is as good as they've had. Monahan had a nice run earlier in his career. But that's about it.

Man saw Monahan when I was in Ottawa...what a fall

 

[ULF_55]

Man saw Monahan when I was in Ottawa...what a fall

Serious injuries.
Playing injured.
Off a cliff.

Two hip surgeries.
Before that in 2018:
Monahan first had left wrist reconstruction surgery, followed by two hernia surgeries and a groin procedure. The wrist injury in particular is something the 23-year-old said had been bothering him for a long time.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Serious injuries.
Playing injured.
Off a cliff.

Two hip surgeries.
Before that in 2018:
Monahan first had left wrist reconstruction surgery, followed by two hernia surgeries and a groin procedure. The wrist injury in particular is something the 23-year-old said had been bothering him for a long time.

yea it really derailed him...he was a BEAST on the ice and a great character or so i heard.

 

[stickty111]

Flames are a better team now than when the season ended. They lost Gaudreau but replaced him with Huberdeau, and got a top pairing d man in Weeger. They are a better team than the Oilers who marginally improved with Campbell all though once Woodcroft came in, their goaltenders were fine so maybe not even an improvement.
Markstorm handing the Oilers the series has clouded the reality of both teams. Flames are the superior team by a decent amount.

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

Flames are a better team now than when the season ended. They lost Gaudreau but replaced him with Huberdeau, and got a top pairing d man in Weeger. They are a better team than the Oilers who marginally improved with Campbell all though once Woodcroft came in, their goaltenders were fine so maybe not even an improvement.
Markstorm handing the Oilers the series has clouded the reality of both teams. Flames are the superior team by a decent amount.

I don't agree with that at all. I expect EDM to run away with the division.

Having a more steady goalie and Kane for the whole year is going to help them a lot.

I can see Calgary still being decent to slightly above decent, but to me, they are the inferior team.

Wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong though!

 

[ULF_55]

I don't agree with that at all. I expect EDM to run away with the division.

Having a more steady goalie and Kane for the whole year is going to help them a lot.

I can see Calgary still being decent to slightly above decent, but to me, they are the inferior team.

Wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong though!

McDavid is why they might run away with it.
Kane is a career high 57 point player who'll be the next one riding the McDavid train.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Worst case scenario this season is Montreal landing a top 2 pick.

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

McDavid is why they might run away with it.
Kane is a career high 57 point player who'll be the next one riding the McDavid train.

I think calling him a 57 point player while technically true, is doing him a disservice.

He was money for them in his short time last year and played *well* above that pace - and for sure, McDavid is the main reason for that.

He's the kind of player that they hoped Kassian would be next to McDavid, and I think his skill set is perfect for that team.

He may be riding the McDavid train, but he's the most skilled and best fitting passenger they have ever had on that train.

I say all this and absolutely hate the dude. Good hockey player, tho.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Flames are a better team now than when the season ended. They lost Gaudreau but replaced him with Huberdeau, and got a top pairing d man in Weeger. They are a better team than the Oilers who marginally improved with Campbell all though once Woodcroft came in, their goaltenders were fine so maybe not even an improvement.
Markstorm handing the Oilers the series has clouded the reality of both teams. Flames are the superior team by a decent amount.

I disagree Calgary is a better team.

Huberdeau replaces Gaudreau but they haven't replaced Tkachuk on that top line. That top line was one of the best in the league and Calgary's main source of offense. Their defense got a bit deeper but I think it will be marginally better.

I don't think they'll be as good as last season and because Edmonton does get a full season of Kane, that they'll push for the division. I don't think Campell will be the upgrade on Smith that Edmonton wants though.

The wild card is Vegas. They could challenge for the division if they stay healthy. Though losing Patches hurts their offense. They're a team that could go either way this year. Either rebound, or crash again

My sleeper team is Vancouver, who played well with Boudreau came into the fold.

 

[ULF_55]

I think calling him a 57 point player while technically true, is doing him a disservice.

He was money for them in his short time last year and played *well* above that pace - and for sure, McDavid is the main reason for that.

He's the kind of player that they hoped Kassian would be next to McDavid, and I think his skill set is perfect for that team.

He may be riding the McDavid train, but he's the most skilled and best fitting passenger they have ever had on that train.

I say all this and absolutely hate the dude. Good hockey player, tho.

I agree Kane should pile on the points this year.
Kind of like Bunting with Matthews, but Kane is a better player with higher pedigree.

Leafs need one for the Tavares line.

 

[ULF_55]

I disagree Calgary is a better team.

Huberdeau replaces Gaudreau but they haven't replaced Tkachuk on that top line. That top line was one of the best in the league and Calgary's main source of offense. Their defense got a bit deeper but I think it will be marginally better.

I don't think they'll be as good as last season and because Edmonton does get a full season of Kane, that they'll push for the division. I don't think Campell will be the upgrade on Smith that Edmonton wants though.

The wild card is Vegas. They could challenge for the division if they stay healthy. Though losing Patches hurts their offense. They're a team that could go either way this year. Either rebound, or crash again

My sleeper team is Vancouver, who played well with Boudreau came into the fold.

I wonder about Markstrom's recovery from the playoffs.

 

[stickty111]

I don't agree with that at all. I expect EDM to run away with the division.

Having a more steady goalie and Kane for the whole year is going to help them a lot.

I can see Calgary still being decent to slightly above decent, but to me, they are the inferior team.

Wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong though!

I don't think so. Assuming Markstrom is fine, Flames D and goaltending is superior to Edmonton's. Oilers best d man is still Nurse and that only takes you so far. Oilers may have the 2 best players and they have shown they can take a poorly built team far(well when they face weak competition in the playoffs, Flames win if Markstrom doesn't have an Oilers jersey on or hurt in the series). Having Kane helps for a full season but can you really trust him? It's only a matter of time he gets himself in trouble again.

I disagree Calgary is a better team.

Huberdeau replaces Gaudreau but they haven't replaced Tkachuk on that top line. That top line was one of the best in the league and Calgary's main source of offense. Their defense got a bit deeper but I think it will be marginally better.

I don't think they'll be as good as last season and because Edmonton does get a full season of Kane, that they'll push for the division. I don't think Campell will be the upgrade on Smith that Edmonton wants though.

The wild card is Vegas. They could challenge for the division if they stay healthy. Though losing Patches hurts their offense. They're a team that could go either way this year. Either rebound, or crash again

My sleeper team is Vancouver, who played well with Boudreau came into the fold.

I could see an argument for Edmonton with their 2 stars but Flames have them covered everywhere else. Tkachuk hurts but I don't think Flames will miss him as much as we think. Both should be good but I'm not ruling out the Flames. I could see Oilers taking a step back.
Vegas is interesting. I think having an elite coach in Cassidy could help but we'll see.
I'm not sure what to think of Vancouver

 

[Stephen]

While it's early days, I'm really hope the Leafs are able to hold onto him.

Even as a player he always sounded pretty intelligent when talking about the game. Seems like a guy who could really go on to thrive in a front office role

I could see him taking the Shanahan role one day.

 

[Stephen]

I hope the Bruins Bergeron-Krejci project is as successful as the Tuukka Rask reunion tour last year.

 

[Fogelhund]

I hope the Bruins Bergeron-Krejci project is as successful as the Tuukka Rask reunion tour last year.

They are going to be in a weird spot going forward. With just 5 forwards signed for next year, and it's likely that a couple retire, or decline, they are headed into no mans land, of not going to qualify for the playoffs, but not bad enough to draft very high. They have a decent D core locked up, and a couple of good players up front, but it won't be enough to be good enough, or bad enough to rebuild... barring some weird UFA luck or something.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I have no idea if it will work out for the Bruins, but the risk/reward equation is hugely in their favour. Damn, they could be really good.