Pre-Game Talk: Week of Drop the F'n Puck: @VGK(Wed 8PM), vCBJ(Sat 7PM)

[Pokecheque]

Certainly not the upcoming season indeed. They unloaded Laine for cap space they didn't need and replaced him with Aston-Reese (waiver claim). They also asked (and received) for the right to not meet the cap floor. Their only goal this year is to minimize expenses.

They are tanking harder than the former Coyotes on a bad year.

I mean, not much else they can do. Waddell's primary mission is probably trying to find a way to unload Merzlikins' contract. Not sure who they decide to part with in addition, maybe Werenski, who knows.

The rebuild they tried so desperately to stave off is finally here.

 

[Balthazar]

I mean, not much else they can do. Waddell's primary mission is probably trying to find a way to unload Merzlikins' contract. Not sure who they decide to part with in addition, maybe Werenski, who knows.

The rebuild they tried so desperately to stave off is finally here.

So many wasted years, players and opportunities. Oh well.

If they don't keep Werenski I hope they don't just use him to help getting rid of a contract. That'd be disastrous.

 

[Pokecheque]

So many wasted years, players and opportunities. Oh well.

If they don't keep Werenski I hope they don't just use him to help getting rid of a contract. That'd be disastrous.

We're seeing clubs do everything possible to avoid a full teardown, especially smaller markets like Lumbus and Winnipeg. It can be done IMHO but you gotta have a little luck and can't make any big mistakes. The Blue Jackets obviously had NONE of the former and a lot of the latter. Can't say I blame them for trying everything possible to keep butts in the seats but the execution could not have been worse.

Ironic that a big reason the Jax failed miserably during the Rick Nash era, Scott Arniel, is now in charge of the Jets.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843700673143271459

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843699588928286853

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843706831526605278

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Does Chris cut his own hair... in the mirror?

 

[Ceremony]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Him essentially being noncommittal on Georgiev after this year was interesting to hear.

 

[The Merchant]

Him essentially being noncommittal on Georgiev after this year was interesting to hear.

They're so desperate for cap space they probably already have Juice penciled in as starter

 

[Pokecheque]

Him essentially being noncommittal on Georgiev after this year was interesting to hear.

Not shocking in the least. Everyone knows he's gone unless he has some sort of weird miracle resurgence, in which case he might still be gone.

 

[Ceremony]

If we end up giving Fourgiev a raise after this season I'll eat one of my shoes

 

[expatriatedtexan]

If we end up giving Fourgiev a raise after this season I'll eat one of my shoes

I'll beat CMac with the other.

 

[Pokecheque]

If we end up giving Fourgiev a raise after this season I'll eat one of my shoes

Maybe you can parlay it into a documentary deal with Amazon to pair with "Faceoff"

 

[hockeyfish]

If we end up giving Fourgiev a raise after this season I'll eat one of my shoes

Left or right?

 

[henchman21]

If we end up giving Fourgiev a raise after this season I'll eat one of my shoes

I’m suddenly a big Georgiev fan.

 

[Leviathan899]

I know I’m not very popular around here these days but hypothetically speaking, say after the first 9 games Ritchie has 2-3 points, hasn’t really impressed defensively and is only getting 12-13 minutes a game and minimal PP time, but Lehkonen isn’t ready to go yet. Does he stay or go back to junior? I know his play is largely going to dictate what happens after those 9 games, but it is significant that all other 19 year old first rounders were sent back to their junior teams, including Easton Cowan, whose further ahead in development than Ritchie imo.

 

[Leviathan899]

I think the line-up is pretty decent considering how many are out.
Obviously have to wait to see how they look, but on paper it's not a disaster.

Do you guys still really consider Landy to be apart of the team? Hasn’t played a game in two years and still no timetable for his return. More than enough time for McFarland to have replaced him. So really it’s just Lehkonen and Nichushkin out.

 

[lionsDen]

Mikko UFA.. didn’t sound greatly promising .. what do I know