Around the League Thread | Holiday Season!

[StreetHawk]

Depends on how the NMC is worded. You can have an NMC with partial trade protection, for instance. NMCs always protect against being sent to the AHL, though.

From what has been said, sounds like agents are going to start demanding NMCs from the Rangers but will be open to partial trade protection.

Waivers have been a way for teams to get rid of a player to a lower ranked team, if that lower ranked team will want them.

Those clubs have trouble finding vets to sign with them, so adding someone, even with a higher cap works for them. Issue is whether that vet goes in with the right mindset to help that team or not.

Trouba had a NMC for 5 out of 7 seasons. The max protection typically drops in the final year or 2. Blues and Isles Dmen have full NTC until the final 2 years of their deals for example.

Like on the Trade board with MacTavish. An Ana poster said PV tried to sign guys in 2024, but they wouldn't sign with them. Well, you can't have both a low 60 point season and top 3 pick and then expect free agents to want to sign with you when they have options. Your club is over 30 points away from making the PO. Going to be like year 3 of their contract before they make it with you. Unless you are going to pay guys like Guentzal an extra $5 mill over what he got to bring his cap hit to like $9.7 from $9 even. But, it's also not enjoyable to lose.

 

[vancityluongo]

krieder is down to a 15 team NTC - would assume he gets moved in pretty short order

drury is getting a lot of hate (and moving kakko might earn it), but this could be a short term implosion that puts them in a better spot long term, if he doesn't fully butcher it. cashing out on kreider now while the perception is "rift with management" means that some dummy GM (maybe even the benning trophy favorite in trotz) will still pay the asset return of a top line winger for a guy who could fall off of a cliff anytime.

meanwhile 22 year old will cuylle is just outplaying kreider in every sense of the word and has effectively already replaced him in the lineup. if they can get rid of lindgren and find a proper partner for fox as part of the kreider disposition, they're in a great spot.

 

[StreetHawk]

krieder is down to a 15 team NTC - would assume he gets moved in pretty short order

Kreider like Trouba has no NMC. Just a MNTC to half the league. NYR operating within the confines of the contract and CBA.
Player may not like it, but very few ever have a full NMC throughout their contract. You need to be good enough to have the leverage to get it. He wasn't.

 

[Hodgy]

krieder is down to a 15 team NTC - would assume he gets moved in pretty short order

drury is getting a lot of hate (and moving kakko might earn it), but this could be a short term implosion that puts them in a better spot long term, if he doesn't fully butcher it. cashing out on kreider now while the perception is "rift with management" means that some dummy GM (maybe even the benning trophy favorite in trotz) will still pay the asset return of a top line winger for a guy who could fall off of a cliff anytime.

meanwhile 22 year old will cuylle is just outplaying kreider in every sense of the word and has effectively already replaced him in the lineup. if they can get rid of lindgren and find a proper partner for fox as part of the kreider disposition, they're in a great spot.

Ya, its obviously bad for them that they are having such a poor year, but the contracts for Kreider and Trouba were going to hurt them in the long run, and its doubtful that they would trade either if they were playing well.

 

[StreetHawk]

Ya, its obviously bad for them that they are having such a poor year, but the contracts for Kreider and Trouba were going to hurt them in the long run, and its doubtful that they would trade either if they were playing well.

Hard cap so always going to evaluate player’s production to cap hit.

 

[F A N]

He can be a play driver to an extent and at his best he has been.

Let's not forget that his last two 'full' years he was almost a point a game on a terrible team while sorting through injury and mental health stuff.

Well that's the thing. His last full year was 6 years ago. It's like if we ignore what Boeser did last season then we'll be looking at his best years being 6 and 7 years ago.

And he did this as a winger on a team that lacked elite centers or D (since Werenski was hurt a ton) and without finding chemistry with Gaudreau (RIP).

Dictating play as a winger is the hardest position to try to impact a game from in hockey. For better and for worse.

I think he gets underrated.

But even if you believe he can't get back to that. I mean, he could basically be a slightly light version of late career (like the last 10 years lol) OV and notch 35-45 goals a year on the back of his absolute rocket of a shot.

I don't disagree with that. My point is that it's too early to tell given that he does get injured and is prone to bad stretches. If he stays healthy enough to put up 35-45 goals a season then ya we're talking about a star winger. If not, you're getting that ~24-26 goals over ~55-57 games and he'll be looking for Guentzel money in his next deal (he makes $8.7M currently).

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

Well that's the thing. His last full year was 6 years ago. It's like if we ignore what Boeser did last season then we'll be looking at his best years being 6 and 7 years ago.



I don't disagree with that. My point is that it's too early to tell given that he does get injured and is prone to bad stretches. If he stays healthy enough to put up 35-45 goals a season then ya we're talking about a star winger. If not, you're getting that ~24-26 goals over ~55-57 games and he'll be looking for Guentzel money in his next deal (he makes $8.7M currently).

Right, but he put up basically a point a game (while only playing 50+ games, but still) on a bad team only like 2 and 3 years ago.

And there's reason to think that his mental and physical challenges have been mitigated since then.

He's come into the season late after injury and I wouldn't be shocked to see him hit a wall with fitness, etc.

But I think he was a really astute pick up for Montreal and I'm excited for their fans who really appreciate the artistry of hockey and have been almost completely starved of star offensive talents since like 1985 (Kovalev and...?).

 

[F A N]

Not sure I would target Chris Kreider. You sort of expect players like him to rapidly fall off once they reach their 30s...

I think Kreider is and will age well. It's not like he's useless right now. His 11 goals would tie for 2nd on the team. Plus he has a history of coming up big in the playoffs. But that's wearing a Rangers jersey. Unless he plays for the Bruins or something, he might not have the same drive playing for another team.

 

[StreetHawk]

I think Kreider is and will age well. It's not like he's useless right now. His 11 goals would tie for 2nd on the team. Plus he has a history of coming up big in the playoffs. But that's wearing a Rangers jersey. Unless he plays for the Bruins or something, he might not have the same drive playing for another team.

That would be the main risk of a team willing to claim him if he was waived. Does he have the desire to help a bad team in the "intangible" department or would he check out mentally because he's not on a good team like he's been on for most of his career in NYR.

 

[Nuckles]

Ouch. Tkachuk needed help off the ice and to the locker room

 

[Quinning]

God, I would do illegal things to draft Gavin McKenna. Kid looks better than Bedard.

 

[valkynax]

Ouch. Tkachuk needed help off the ice and to the locker room

Yikes.

Think Kucherov will get a hearing?

 

[Kryten]

Yikes.

Think Kucherov will get a hearing?

Yea he will get 5 games. That will line up with the first ever female forward player Nikki Kucherovas debut

 

[Jerry the great]

i had no idea Kucherov was such a f***ing C*&$

 

[VanJack]

The implosion of the Rangers is the story of the NHL season so far.

 

[DFAC]

i had no idea Kucherov was such a f***ing C*&$

He always has been. I am not remotely surprised.

 

[EpochLink]

Outside of the Rangers imploding, what the hell happened to Seattle?

Team looks like ass

 

[Quinntessential]

God, I would do illegal things to draft Gavin McKenna. Kid looks better than Bedard.

Landon Dupont

 

[Vector]

Outside of the Rangers imploding, what the hell happened to Seattle?

Team looks like ass

I’d argue that they’ve always been extremely middling. Have been built that way because that’s Francis’ strategy.

 

[StreetHawk]

Yikes.

Think Kucherov will get a hearing?

Kind of why the nhl prefers not to go very long on suspensions in the event a star like Kucherov commits an offense.

Surprised so far up to Xmas break through about 34 games on average for teams. Bottom 5 of Chi, SJ, buf, Mon, Det. Man, just goes to show how hard it is to get out of being terrible bottom 3 bad. Yet we have the mai thread with this team should tank….

It’s a long hard road back for Buf and Det. So many right moves plus luck are needed.

Rangers do not know how they go from president trophy to 10th worst.

Surprise CALGARY is hanging around the WC still.

 

[orcatown]

Thought Prime did a good job. Unlike local broadcasts when they have things like Murphy putting you to sleep with his monotone pre camp talk or playing the anthems to kill time, they kept things moving. Visually the production was super. Be hard to go back to the old 20th Century type clarity. One drawback was you couldn't record and then fast forward the commercials and intermissions. Also couldn't look back over plays although I thought they did a good job on the their replays. Lots of good detail.

Far as the game was concerned it wasn't any kind of classic. Canucks saved by that late second period explosion. Third was a gong show by our defense. This team is far away from being anything like a playoff lock and unless they can shore up their backend and get more out of the likes of Miller, they might regret wins like this one come draft time.

Good

Pettersson - just when you reach the point of unremitting despair you see glimpes of what he used to be. Obviously his scoring was critical in this game.

Sherwood - nice goal that got the rally started. Has turned out to be a key player on this team.

Garland - Up to 23 mins, Sometime I wonder if he might a better d-man than some of the butchers we got back there now.

Hughes - better with one hand than anyone else we got. Deserves another Norris (or maybe Hart) since there can be little doubt he is the most valuable to his team. I don't know how many team we beat without him being a star.

Bad

Forbert - It's been close race between Juulsen - Forbert and Desharnais as to whose worst. After watching Forbert stumble around tonight I think Forbert is pulling ahead. About as bad a skater as there is in the League. Would take anyone off the San Jose defense ahead of him or just about any defenseman in the NHL above him. Just terrible.

Juulsen has given the team patches of good play lately but can't sustain it. Looked awful in this game.

Soucy - play continues to fall off. Taking more and more penalties.

Heinen - just not very good. Was always fringe up to last year where he kind of broke out with Boston. Was a passenger again tonight

Joshua - just got no wheels. Lunging at the puck b/c he doesn't have enough speed to get to the play quick enough. Getting caught standing still too much.

Others

Miller - Hasn't been on top of his game all season and wasn't tonight. Too many poor passes (especially on the PP) and truly never in sync with his line mates. Still forcing the play too much.

Hoglander - good effort but the missed goal typifies his season. Maybe over trying - needs some calmness in his play. Team desperately needs someone like him to start to produce.

Demko - wasn't brilliant but had lots of shots and, in most cases, his rebound control kept the team out of even more trouble. Had the defense backed up into face nearly all game.

Desharnais - continues to show improvement (needs recognition however he is starting from a very low base). Team might try him again with Brannstrom. Pair looked ok, at certain times, this season.

Like to go into Christmas with a little more positivity but the Canucks don't look like they have it this season. The off season by Allvin now must be seen as largely a failure.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Yeah, hard to argue against wanting less games on Prime. They really give you a better experience as a fan. Buy AMZN shares, for all I know. They are going to be bigger than netflix.

 

[sting101]

Buy a clue Laine you idiot. Classless floater with arguably the best shot in hockey...what a shame it didn't go to someone worth celebrating.

Does he even remember what that team has gone through...disgusting

Big contract year coming and then the worst contract in hockey is my prediction

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Buy a clue Laine you idiot. Classless floater with arguably the best shot in hockey...what a shame it didn't go to someone worth celebrating.

Does he even remember what that team has gone through...disgusting

Big contract year coming and then the worst contract in hockey is my prediction

Either that or...maybe...
Just maybe...

He had serious mental health issues?

I'm guessing you must be older than me. I don't mean that as an insult, it's just...there are things that happened maybe you wouldn't understand about kids like Laine (and really, they are kids).

Dude, these guys don't have anything figured out. They just shoot good. They can't f***ing spell for all we know. Why? You can pay someone to spell for you. How many of these kids sacrificed their damn education for the game?

You know the Tkachuks and their ilk are so good? They are f***ing trained like lab rats to love the game. Some of them turn out like their parents, some turn out like Patrick O'Sullivan.

 

[F A N]

Right, but he put up basically a point a game (while only playing 50+ games, but still) on a bad team only like 2 and 3 years ago.

Montreal isn't a good team yet either.

And there's reason to think that his mental and physical challenges have been mitigated since then.

He's come into the season late after injury and I wouldn't be shocked to see him hit a wall with fitness, etc.

But I think he was a really astute pick up for Montreal and I'm excited for their fans who really appreciate the artistry of hockey and have been almost completely starved of star offensive talents since like 1985 (Kovalev and...?).

I'm not saying it wasn't a good pickup for Montreal. They are obviously in a good position to do so (they have the cap room, they could use a scoring talent up front, and they had an abundance of young defenseman to make the trade).

All I'm saying is that I do think his pace will slow and there's past precedence to suggest that could very well happen. In 18-19 he had 18 goals in 12 games in November. He had 12 goals in the next 70 games. In the covid year he had 8 goals in his first 11 games. He finished with 12 in 46.