What is your excitement level for 24/25 season ?

[thebus88]

Thinking we will be a playoff contender is foolish.

What is a “playoff contender” to you?

This team could absolutely be batting for a wildcard spot at the end of the year. The defense isn’t even (playing) that bad. They play very good AS A TEAM.

The team is literally missing 2 of its most important/valuable forwards they will eventually get back. Elvis is a problem. Tarasov is a question mark, admittedly.

And since he’s now in Cleveland, people have somehow forgotten that Mateychuk is literally better than Provorov. We will be BETTER whenever he is added to the team.

 

[koteka]

Anyone? Care to list who you are talking about so we don't talk past each other on this.

the UFAs - Provorov, Kuraly, Olivier (if he doesn’t extend), Danforth (if he doesn’t extend), ZA-R if he draws interest

I don’t expect there will be any demand for the old dudes like JVR or JMFJ.

Olivier has been a needed piece on this team since he got here, but if he wants to hit free agency, then we have a hard decision to make. Especially if Gudbranson is still out. I wouldn’t let him go for a late pick, but if someone needs toughness and offers a 2nd or two 3rds, then I think you pull the trigger.

If Boone comes back before the tread deadline, it might be time to listen to offers for him. He is an UFA next year.

 

[koteka]

What is a “playoff contender” to you?

In the top 10 or 11 in the Eastern Conference and within a few points of the 8th place team in February. And playing well.

As I have said, I don’t trust the goalies or defense. I don’t believe Mateychuk is some savior this season. (Not saying he won’t be a really good defenseman someday.)

It is the beginning of the season. There are teams with playoff hangovers that aren’t even trying yet (like the Oilers who also sucked at the beginning of last season). Boston is a last place team right now. I don’t expect that continue. We have a new coach and are working hard in a new system. We are over performing.

I am enjoying this season, but I am being realistic. If we finish 12th in the East and improve by 15-20 points, that is a great season.

 

[stevo61]

If Olivier wants to stay for a reasonable rate there would not be a chance in hell I'd want the team to move him for a pick that more likely than not becomes nothing. Danforth I'd slightly be more ok with just due to age but even then, assuming he stays healthy he will add value for a few more years

 

[cbjthrowaway]

If Olivier wants to stay for a reasonable rate there would not be a chance in hell I'd want the team to move him for a pick that more likely than not becomes nothing. Danforth I'd slightly be more ok with just due to age but even then, assuming he stays healthy he will add value for a few more years

danforth is a prime flip candidate given his age and the amount of guys coming up behind him (brindley, lindstrom, etc) in the org.

of the two, i'd prefer to keep olivier, but i think that they end up getting an offer they can't refuse. buffalo gave up a top-45 pick in the draft to get beck malenstyn, and i think olivier is a better player. a contender at the deadline may very well offer up a 2nd round pick or a nice prospect to add that kind of grit.

 

[stevo61]

danforth is a prime flip candidate given his age and the amount of guys coming up behind him (brindley, lindstrom, etc) in the org.

of the two, i'd prefer to keep olivier, but i think that they end up getting an offer they can't refuse. buffalo gave up a top-45 pick in the draft to get beck malenstyn, and i think olivier is a better player. a contender at the deadline may very well offer up a 2nd round pick or a nice prospect to add that kind of grit.

Or, we just keep the grit and don't have to look for it later. He's 27, Is pass up a 2nd for what he brings easily

 

[cbjthrowaway]

Or, we just keep the grit and don't have to look for it later. He's 27, Is pass up a 2nd for what he brings easily

on one hand, he's had a nice improvement curve since jarmo traded for him. he's clearly a well-liked guy in the room, and as you said, they'd have to replace that toughness.

on the other hand, guys who build their game on speed and physicality don't tend to age all that well. this may well be his peak. they have tough guys in the pipeline (lindstrom, malatesta) too. may be a good sell high opportunity.

 

[stevo61]

on one hand, he's had a nice improvement curve since jarmo traded for him. he's clearly a well-liked guy in the room, and as you said, they'd have to replace that toughness.

on the other hand, guys who build their game on speed and physicality don't tend to age all that well. this may well be his peak. they have tough guys in the pipeline (lindstrom, malatesta) too. may be a good sell high opportunity.

if he were 5 or 6 years older maybe Id start to agree but I don't at his current age. Malatesta has heart but he's not a heavyweight, hes more like a Danforth. Lindstrom will hold his own but not a guy you want doing that stuff all the time. Even a few games ago when Reaves tried to jump on Jiricek after a clean hit, we have noone else to do what Olivier does. Gudbranson is tough but he's not out there fighting all the time, much more selective. Olivier steps in every single time he's needed

 

[majormajor]

The way Marchenko and Chinakhov are playing i wish Don took a risk to lock them up longer to save $$$$ in the long run.

100%.

Yay I guess that they're so cheap. But we don't need it now. We need those cap savings in 3-5 years. And those guys are going to get paid big time, at the same time a lot of other guys are getting big raises.

danforth is a prime flip candidate given his age and the amount of guys coming up behind him (brindley, lindstrom, etc) in the org.

of the two, i'd prefer to keep olivier, but i think that they end up getting an offer they can't refuse. buffalo gave up a top-45 pick in the draft to get beck malenstyn, and i think olivier is a better player. a contender at the deadline may very well offer up a 2nd round pick or a nice prospect to add that kind of grit.

Why get a 2nd rounder to develop a guy to do what we need in five-ten years when we have a guy to do it now? It's penny-wise and pound-foolish. We're not at the start of a rebuild. For that same reason it makes no sense to me to not re-sign Danforth. Taking all of what Danforth does together, that is not an easy to replace player. He's not interchangeable with prospects or cheap UFAs.

 

[Napoli]

You resign Danforth and Olivier. Both of those guys will be heavily sought after and there's a reason for that. Both offer something every playoff team wants.

If there are ever any plans to go deep in the playoffs, you might as well keep them.

 

[Viqsi]

You resign Danforth and Olivier. Both of those guys will be heavily sought after and there's a reason for that. Both offer something every playoff team wants.

If there are ever any plans to go deep in the playoffs, you might as well keep them.

And even if we don't expect to go into the playoffs during that time, having guys like that around sets proper expectations for our kids.

 

[EspenK]

I have never been a big believer in the we need vets to show the kids stuff. I am doing a 180. Keep Olivier and Danforth for sure. They are still very serviceable players at ages that should allow them to continue to be positive on ice guys as well as good locker room guys for the foreseeable future.

 

[Xoggz22]

I want to believe that the fact they are 4th in goals per game and 5th in the league in goal difference is the team we will see all year. They are in the top half of shots allowed per game, so much better defensively. The goalies have not had to stand on their heads once this year.

But they are dead last in expected goals 5-on-5, that's a lot of bad goals allowed by the other team so far. Only Vegas has scored more "bad goals" so far this year. (per Moneypuck)

I think it will take 15 games or so for me to say the quiet part out loud about the team.

That's great because I'm going to see the CBJ vs Vegas in JAnuary. That could be a 9-8 game is what I'm hearing!

 

[Xoggz22]

I see a bit of discussion on Olivier and Danforth... i would absolutely love to see an extension announce for Olivier. This system is built for him and the guy works his ass off, is tough and has some skill. Said that when we acquired him. Just needed to get time and something that allowed him to play his game. give me another 3-4 years of that guy. I like Danforth too, but I'm not sure he's that urgently needed. If I'm choosing it's Olivier every day and twice on Sunday

 

[spintheblackcircle]

never heard of this podcast before but it came up on my suggested YouTube videos

 

[Cowumbus]

I see a bit of discussion on Olivier and Danforth... i would absolutely love to see an extension announce for Olivier. This system is built for him and the guy works his ass off, is tough and has some skill. Said that when we acquired him. Just needed to get time and something that allowed him to play his game. give me another 3-4 years of that guy. I like Danforth too, but I'm not sure he's that urgently needed. If I'm choosing it's Olivier every day and twice on Sunday

Keep both. Let Kuraly go.

 

[alphafox]

Really promising start to the season. I still think we will eventually fall towards the back of the pack as the season wears on, but the Coaching change has done wonders and the team coming together and winning through the losses both permanent and temporary is going to be a big positive for the growth of the team. I'm actually really excited to see what the future holds as it looks like forward group has some real potential to be special in the next 3-5 years and we have more than enough cap room to keep the team together and add pieces. Maybe 1 high end trade and 1 more top draft pick and we could be in the contender conversation in a few years if things come together.

 

[Forepar]

Keep both. Let Kuraly go.

I was in the camp that Kuraly was fine. I think MM indicated in a post somewhere that not one GA has been scored with Kuraly on the ice. That's pretty stout.

But Kuraly also has become one of the most frustrating players. I'm conflicted over Kuraly. Maybe my increased frustration is solely a function of the fact that my prior causes of frustration are no longer on the roster (i.e. Laine & Bean).

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

We try not to over-legislate (despite what you or others might believe) discussion in various threads but what happened to "your excitement level"? Is the topic played out? Is it just a rule that all threads must eventually become roster management/decisions threads?