Around the NHL - Part XLIII

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Playoff competition has helped our cause immensely this week. Gotta take advantage this weekend.

 

[noncents]

Playoff competition has helped our cause immensely this week. Gotta take advantage this weekend.

it would be fun to sneak in as an underdog.

goaltending being what it is, if we want to make the playoffs, let alone make any noise, the Bread line needs to stand up and find something. it's been all year. it's go time. make a difference.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

it would be fun to sneak in as an underdog.

goaltending being what it is, if we want to make the playoffs, let alone make any noise, the Bread line needs to stand up and find something. it's been all year. it's go time. make a difference.

For multiple reasons, im too old to root for a tank. I want to see them in the playoffs as much as possible. If Kreider/Zib/Panarin have a good playoff it raises their value. The east is week and Shesty has proven he can steal a series. Each round they win makes Penguins pick we traded worse and ensures we get our 1st in a deeper 26 draft.

 

[cheech70]

 

[n8]

Tampa Bay got blanked by Boston 4-0 with Vinni Letteri as Boston's 2nd line RW. That is a low I wish to never experience.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Lindgren first point as assist on Nichushkin goal. Lindgren and Manson a pair it seems. Both with the assists. AVS lead 2-1 early 1st

 

[RangersFan1994]

 

[NYR94]

Elliotte Friedman said Carolina wanted Marner for Rantanen, Leafs asked Marner to waive and he said no.

 

[80s Kid]

Dallas vs Edmonton is like warp speed compared to the Rangers...

The Rangers have a long way to go.

 

[Filip Chytil]

Sources: Hurricanes asked for Maple Leafs' Marner in Rantanen deal

Post-deadline, there are always stories seeping out … some things that don’t happen, some that did. One that continues to evolve is what happened before Mikko Rantanen was traded from Carolina to Dallas.

www.sportsnet.ca

"Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported Friday that Toronto offered Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten and two first-rounders to Carolina in exchange for Rantanen."

 

[80s Kid]

No clip because it just happened but McDavid may have just scored the goal of the year. Somewhat similar play to his first goal against USA in the Four Nations Tournament but down the middle of the ice. Unreal stuff.

Edit:

 

[RangerBoy]

Dallas vs Edmonton is like warp speed compared to the Rangers...

The Rangers have a long way to go.

The Rangers look like an AHL team compared to the Stars.

 

[RangerBoy]

Can Dallas get one more goal to force OT?

 

[wolfgaze]

These jerseys are awesome:

(Wisconsin Windigo of the NAHL)

 

[NickyFotiu]

View attachment 990197

KK skated a lot harder (more effort to break out) yesterday than I remember in the past. Brenier and Schwartz are really dangerous linemates. I think KK is understanding some things better and his assists are up as well. With that said if you minus out the empty net goal his goal scoring is basically the same as here maybe even less than previous seasons.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Devils are shelving Hamilton and Siegenthaler.

 

[Filip Chytil]

 

[Filip Chytil]

The Maple Leafs, Kings, Panthers, Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and others, including teams not currently in a playoff position (Montreal?), poked around on Rantanen – some more seriously than others, like Toronto and L.A., more on that shortly – but without an extension, it was almost impossible for some clubs to pay a premium to acquire him.

Kings GM Rob Blake is believed to have taken a solid swing earlier in the week, offering a significant roster player as part of a return, but Rantanen wouldn’t commit long-term and that forced the team to pivot. While they asked about Brad Marchand, it appears Rickard Rakell as the focal point and that clearly didn’t materialize.

Late Wednesday, word started to creep out that Carolina wanted Matthew Knies in a package for Rantanen, but the Leafs were hesitant to do that and ultimately went with their big futures package. Were they close? It didn’t sound like Rantanen was prepared to commit to Toronto, and like L.A., the Leafs moved on (unlike L.A., they made two great additions).

I have been consistent with my reporting on Marner’s future and the expectation that he will be hitting free agency this summer. I’ve written about it multiple times and spoke about it several times on air, including last night. He loves Toronto and won’t close the door, but he wants a competitive contract and one that starts at $104 million over eight years.

Several teams are going to be following the Marner situation closely. If he does in fact become an unrestricted free agent, I fully expect teams like Chicago, Utah, Los Angeles, Calgary, Philadelphia, San Jose, Pittsburgh and the Islanders to enter the chat. And I do wonder about Vegas, who expressed trade interest in him last off-season.

• Florida was in the mix for Rantanen, as well, but their asset pool was limited and that potential swap appeared to be a complicated one. Plus, they came out looking great by acquiring Marchand.
• The Hurricanes tried to make another move for a mid-six forward but ran out of time.
• It is my understanding the Islanders and Kyle Palmieri either have the parameters of an extension in place or have fully agreed to an extension, but when it gets filed is anybody’s guess. As of Friday morning, the offer presented by the club was two-years worth in between $4.25 million and $5 million per year.
• I first reported the Islanders pitched Brock Nelson a three-year deal. He wanted more term and after talks ended Thursday, Lou Lamoriello moved to trading him and pulled off a great deal. There are reports the AAV of the three-year deal was $7.5 million, but I can confirm the actual figure was higher.
• Tampa Bay was in on Nelson before they acquired Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from Seattle.
• The Kraken also generated interest in Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak – Jets were in on the defenceman before acquiring Luke Schenn.
• There was one team willing to trade for Evander Kane, but I believe that club was on his no-trade list. I haven’t confirmed the club, but word is he was not interested in signing off on the move.
• One more Edmonton point: Trade talks for Rantanen never materialized past a phone call or two. They didn’t have the assets to pull off a move and things never got serious.
• The St. Louis Blues didn’t get in on any action, but they maintained discussions about Brayden Schenn. Perhaps something they reexamine in the off-season.
• New Jersey was one of the teams in on Schenn and Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly. But it seemed like Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald wasn’t interested in paying a premium now with Jack Hughes out until next season.
• There was some chatter the Anaheim Ducks took calls on Ryan Strome. I don’t think anything ever got serious.
• It sounds like the contract ask from Fabian Zetterlund was significant. Sharks GM Mike Grier said contract negotiations didn’t influence his decision to move him to Ottawa, but it was certainly a big consideration.
• Utah was open to trading Matias Maccelli in a package, but only if the team was going to upgrade its roster. This may be revisited in the summer.