Around the League Thread | November Rain

[Mr. Canucklehead]

After spending 2/3 of his icetime in 20 games with at least one of Draisaitl/McDavid, Podkolzin finally scored a goal

Nothing against Podz, and nice to see him finally bag one. More than a full calendar year between NHL goals, good lord. That celebration says it all.

 

[Ernie]

Montgomery hired in St Louis. Didn't take long.

 

[Hodgy]

I wouldn’t have taken that job if I was him.

 

[Josepho]

Montreal really needed to open the wallet for him, given their french coach rule.

 

[ManVanFan]

He’ll be a Penguin as long as he wants to be. He’s competitive, but I have a hard time picturing him asking to leave Pittsburgh.

Yeah and if he did it would be to a team that has a very good chance of multiple cups.

 

[ManVanFan]

I'm not sure about the effectiveness of Washington's "soft reset." They aren't winning another Cup with Ovechkin. Aside from possibly Leonard, they don't have a Backstrom/Kuzenzkov/Carlsson calibre player, nevermind an Ovechkin. Strome is a good 2nd line C but he's not a star 1C. PLD sucks or isn't a star. A few of their younger (i.e. under 30) players including Chychrun and Thompson are pending UFAs. They'll need new contracts. Washington won one Cup and that's with Ovehckin, who regardless of what you think of him, was drafted #1 overall and one of the two best players to of his generation (his contemporaries won Cup(s)).

I'm not sure what the Penguins are doing. They aren't even making moves like the Benning Canucks where they attempt to aquire younger core players while drafting high.

 

[StreetHawk]

I'm not sure about the effectiveness of Washington's "soft reset." They aren't winning another Cup with Ovechkin. Aside from possibly Leonard, they don't have a Backstrom/Kuzenzkov/Carlsson calibre player, nevermind an Ovechkin. Strome is a good 2nd line C but he's not a star 1C. PLD sucks or isn't a star. A few of their younger (i.e. under 30) players including Chychrun and Thompson are pending UFAs. They'll need new contracts. Washington won one Cup and that's with Ovehckin, who regardless of what you think of him, was drafted #1 overall and one of the two best players to of his generation (his contemporaries won Cup(s)).

I'm not sure what the Penguins are doing. They aren't even making moves like the Benning Canucks where they attempt to aquire younger core players while drafting high.

I think the Caps moves in the off-season were mainly to secure Ovy's goal scoring record without giving up high quality picks. He needed 41 goals to tie Wayne. He had a horrid start to 23/24 season and was pacing for 20 goals before picking it up in the second half. Wanted to make sure he had a good enough team to replicate the 31 goals or better this season so that he would need about 10-12 to break/tie the record in 25/26.
Insane start for him of 15 goals in 18 games, so only needs 26 to tie. 26 in 62 games or so would be a 33 or so pac for the rest of the season had he not gotten hurt. So, now to get those 26 goals he'd have under 50 games left, so just over 0.5 goals per game pace needed.

Dubas arrvied in June 2023. Made the EK move for a final PO runs for Crosby and co. But, they just don't have enough supporting cast. Sid at $8.7 and Geno and Letang in the low $6's is like $21 mill, and adding in EK at $10 mill. These 4 account for $31 mill of their $88 mill cap. They just wanted filled out the remaining $57 mill well.

Looking at the Guentzal deal, they went for prospects that were 19-21 years of age over taking draft picks.

 

[Jerry the great]

I wouldn’t have taken that job if I was him.

I don't disagree, it's an odd choice. They should have been big time sellers last year and instead they're firmly in "we're competing now mode"...despite having an unviable core, a shit prospect pool and limited draft capital.

 

[Bubbles]

Montgomery hired in St Louis. Didn't take long.

Has history there as an assistant. Wife is from St. Louis. 5 year guaranteed deal. Yeah, sounds like a perfect job to me.

 

[Jerry the great]

Has history there as an assistant. Wife is from St. Louis. 5 year guaranteed deal. Yeah, sounds like a perfect job to me.

as long as he's okay having a shit team with ownership that is in full denial mode.

 

[ManVanFan]

Carolina finally a starting goalie and now back to Spencer Martin

If Carolina offered a 2nd round pick for Silovs. I'd be inclined to take it.

 

[timw33]

Carolina finally a starting goalie and now back to Spencer Martin

If Carolina offered a 2nd round pick for Silovs. I'd be inclined to take it.

Looks very similar to the play that took out Roloson in Game 1 of the 2006, but upper body instead of lower body injury.

 

[ManVanFan]

Looks very similar to the play that took out Roloson in Game 1 of the 2006, but upper body instead of lower body injury.

So you're saying it's Karma 18 years later? Kidding.

 

[ManVanFan]

Mtl fans believe that Lane Hutson is better than Cale Makar. The depression in some of the fan bases.

 

[StreetHawk]

I don't disagree, it's an odd choice. They should have been big time sellers last year and instead they're firmly in "we're competing now mode"...despite having an unviable core, a shit prospect pool and limited draft capital.

Main board says his wife if from there and he has a home there still.

Blues from the 202X drafts:
Neighbours W
Kessel RD
Boulduc C

Are on the roster. Pending are:

Snuggerud - W 3rd year in NCAA
Dovorsky - C
Stenberg - C
Lindstein - D
Jiricek - D (top 3 picks from 2024 were all Dmen)

Plus added Broberg and Holloway for a 2 and 3 who were from the 2018 and 2019 drafts.

Blues are in the process of turning over their roster. Not a contender until the late 2020's. Do, they have an elite talent in their organization? I would say no. Thomas is their best player.

What would the Blues sell? Saad, probably will try to unload him with retention if needed at the TDL or off-season. Schenn including this season has 4 years left and is beginning his decline. 65 points in 22/23, then 46 in 23/24. 9 in 22 games in 24/25. Becoming a 0.5 PPG guy down from a 0.75-0.8 PPG guy. Krug is out LTIR with arthritus in his knees. Leddy, Faulk, Parayko have term and some NTC protection. I think one may get moved in the off-season. Leddy has a full NTC and 1 year left but drops to a MNTC for half the league in July. Faulk the same, NTC this year and half the teams MNTC in July and he has 2 years left. Parayko has the most proctection as he is in year 3/8 of his deal. Years 4-6 still a full NTC. Half the league MNTC in years 7&8. So, don't expect him to be moved unless it's a contending type team call for him.

 

[wetcoast]

as long as he's okay having a shit team with ownership that is in full denial mode.

The blues are a decent team, I wouldn't call them shit and they also have some decent players in the pipeline as well.

 

[Jerry the great]

Main board says his wife if from there and he has a home there still.

Blues from the 202X drafts:
Neighbours W
Kessel RD
Boulduc C

Are on the roster. Pending are:

Snuggerud - W 3rd year in NCAA
Dovorsky - C
Stenberg - C
Lindstein - D
Jiricek - D (top 3 picks from 2024 were all Dmen)

Plus added Broberg and Holloway for a 2 and 3 who were from the 2018 and 2019 drafts.

Blues are in the process of turning over their roster. Not a contender until the late 2020's. Do, they have an elite talent in their organization? I would say no. Thomas is their best player.

What would the Blues sell? Saad, probably will try to unload him with retention if needed at the TDL or off-season. Schenn including this season has 4 years left and is beginning his decline. 65 points in 22/23, then 46 in 23/24. 9 in 22 games in 24/25. Becoming a 0.5 PPG guy down from a 0.75-0.8 PPG guy. Krug is out LTIR with arthritus in his knees. Leddy, Faulk, Parayko have term and some NTC protection. I think one may get moved in the off-season. Leddy has a full NTC and 1 year left but drops to a MNTC for half the league in July. Faulk the same, NTC this year and half the teams MNTC in July and he has 2 years left. Parayko has the most proctection as he is in year 3/8 of his deal. Years 4-6 still a full NTC. Half the league MNTC in years 7&8. So, don't expect him to be moved unless it's a contending type team call for him.

Last year they could have moved Buchnevich who still had a year on his deal and would have returned a haul. Trade protection for a lot of other guys was/is an issue, but it usually is when you're dismantling a team and it doesn't usually completely prevent the dismantling from occurring. Instead they give him a massive extension, offer sheet Broberg/Holloway and add kick the can of medicine down the road.

 

[ManVanFan]

 

[StreetHawk]

Last year they could have moved Buchnevich who still had a year on his deal and would have returned a haul. Trade protection for a lot of other guys was/is an issue, but it usually is when you're dismantling a team and it doesn't usually completely prevent the dismantling from occurring. Instead they give him a massive extension, offer sheet Broberg/Holloway and add kick the can of medicine down the road.

But honestly, you are getting a 1st in the 20's and non Wallinder prospect like Bruz or someone for Buch who was approaching UFA. Really doesn't change anything since the Blues can't move off more from their team due to full NTC. So, they won't bottom out.

And have enough talent in Thomas, Kyrou, Neighbours, etc. to keep them out of bottom 3 anyways.

 

[archangel2]

Oilers do not have anything the Jackets would want. they have nothing outside of two kings that any team would want

 

[StreetHawk]

Not sure what Edm has that would interest CBJ? And for Jiricek, that could be career suicide to land in that dysfunctional structure in EDM.

Of the 2, Nash is the better option to get to. Plus, they have picks/prospects that they could move.

 

[Ernie]

Not sure what Edm has that would interest CBJ? And for Jiricek, that could be career suicide to land in that dysfunctional structure in EDM.

Of the 2, Nash is the better option to get to. Plus, they have picks/prospects that they could move.

I hope he goes to the Oilers. They'll play him up the lineup with Draisatl and McDavid, he'll get a ton of points despite a ton of defensive lapses, and then they'll extend him for $$$$ like they did with Nurse and are about to do with Bouchard.

 

[ManVanFan]

Not sure what Edm has that would interest CBJ? And for Jiricek, that could be career suicide to land in that dysfunctional structure in EDM.

Of the 2, Nash is the better option to get to. Plus, they have picks/prospects that they could move.

Nashville >>>>>>>> Edmonton

 

[Jerry the great]

But honestly, you are getting a 1st in the 20's and non Wallinder prospect like Bruz or someone for Buch who was approaching UFA. Really doesn't change anything since the Blues can't move off more from their team due to full NTC. So, they won't bottom out.

And have enough talent in Thomas, Kyrou, Neighbours, etc. to keep them out of bottom 3 anyways.

they could have retained to increase the return and if nothing more it signals their intent to the rest of the team. With the cap going up guys like Faulk, Binnington, Schenn, Parayko etc. have digestible cap hits and (if willing) can now fairly easily be moved along.

now they're neither good enough to legitimately compete nor bad enough to give themselves a shot at a quick retool. Mushy middle mired in mediocrity.

 

[HairyKneel]

The blues are a decent team, I wouldn't call them shit and they also have some decent players in the pipeline as well.

Yeah I see no downside for Mongomery. They have had a couple important injuries. They have a solid farm system. They have some young players already on the squad. I can see them challenging for a wildcard this season.