Technically past the literal halfway point, but the AS break is over and onto the next part of the season.
Standings:
Biggest surprises to me are:
Islanders: even with a down year for the Metro the Islanders weren't supposed to be here, and they may not be at the end, but they are now. A +25 goal differential is not a fluke for the standings.
Canadiens: Bergevin takes a ton of shit for the failed Subban trade (and deservedly so), but his Galchenyuk and Paccioretty trades have worked beautifully and even though I was surprised to see Kotkaniemi taken ahead of Zadina and Tkachuk I see why, he's a better player. They left the world juniors with the best forward, best defenseman, and could have had best goalie. Things in hockey can turn around quickly. Unlike the Islanders I don't think the Canadiens can sustain their playoff spot, but I didn't think they'd be here either.
Avalanche:
We all knew MacKinnon was a superstar but that top line is flying, they have some good prospects, and they have a lot of youth, needle pointing up for the Avs, but didn't expect them to show results so soon.
could be more, but those to me are three of the biggest 1st half surprises.
Deadline:
Leafs acquired Muzzin from LA for a 1st. I don't think Muzzin is worth a 1st, he's solid, but not great, but Toronto needs D and he's better than most of their D other than Rielly. Makes them a contender if they weren't already. This is a trade if I am TOR I make every time.
Anakim will be happy (or not) that Panarin said he will not negotiate with the BJ's who had made public that they were willing to discuss a LT deal, so he's likely (if not guaranteed) to be traded. Downside for Rangers fans would be if he signs with his new team.
Other rumored names to be dealt:
Wayne Simmonds (and anyone on the Flyers not named Giroux or Hart)
Bobrovsky - should be a lot of interest, even in a down year for him
Here is a list from NHL.com:
FORWARDS
Mark Stone, RW, OTT
Current Yahoo rank: 37
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Chris Kreider, LW, NYR
Current Yahoo rank: 48
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2020
Artemi Panarin, LW, CBJ
Current Yahoo rank: 60
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Micheal Ferland, LW/RW, CAR
Current Yahoo rank: 84
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Gustav Nyquist, LW/RW, DET
Current Yahoo rank: 102
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Eric Staal, C, MIN
Current Yahoo rank: 105
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Matt Duchene, C, OTT
Current Yahoo rank: 123
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Evgenii Dadonov, LW/RW, FLA
Current Yahoo rank: 129
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2020
Kasperi Kapanen, RW, TOR
Current Yahoo rank: 131
Contract status: Potential RFA in 2019
Kevin Hayes, C, NYR
Current Yahoo rank: 157
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Jeff Carter, C, LAK
Current Yahoo rank: 174
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2022
Wayne Simmonds, RW, PHI
Current Yahoo rank: 189
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Brayden Schenn, C, STL
Current Yahoo rank: 194
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2020
Andreas Johnsson, LW, TOR
Current Yahoo rank: 254
Contract status: Potential RFA in 2019
Jordan Eberle, C/RW, NYI
Current Yahoo rank: 310
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Mats Zuccarello, RW, NYR
Current Yahoo rank: 350
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Jakob Silfverberg, RW, ANA
Current Yahoo rank: 376
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Jason Spezza, C, DAL
Current Yahoo rank: 395
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Derick Brassard, C, PIT
Current Yahoo rank: 420
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Nick Bjugstad, C/LW/RW, FLA
Current Yahoo rank: 423
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2021
Ilya Kovalchuk, LW/RW, LAK
Current Yahoo rank: 431
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2021
Brandon Pirri, C/LW, VGK
Current Yahoo rank: 477
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Marcus Johansson, LW, NJD
Current Yahoo rank: 515
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Andre Burakovsky, LW/RW, WSH
Current Yahoo rank: 570
Contract status: Potential RFA in 2019
Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, EDM
Current Yahoo rank: 644
Contract status: Potential RFA in 2019
William Nylander, C/RW, TOR
Current Yahoo rank: 712
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2024
DEFENSEMEN
Dougie Hamilton, CAR
Current Yahoo rank: 141
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2021
Justin Faulk, CAR
Current Yahoo rank: 155
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2020
Alexander Edler, VAN
Current Yahoo rank: 196
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Colton Parayko, STL
Current Yahoo rank: 207
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2022
Jake Gardiner, TOR
Current Yahoo rank: 241
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Alex Pietrangelo, STL
Current Yahoo rank: 364
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2020
Alec Martinez, LAK
Current Yahoo rank: 509
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2021
GOALIES
Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ
Current Yahoo rank: 191
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Jimmy Howard, DET
Current Yahoo rank: 170
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Semyon Varlamov, COL
Current Yahoo rank: 233
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Mike Smith, CGY
Current Yahoo rank: 389
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
Cam Talbot, EDM
Current Yahoo rank: 596
Contract status: Potential UFA in 2019
7th rounder is in 2020.
Nashville Preds PR
Verified account @PredsPR
2h2 hours ago
The #Preds have acquired forward Cody McLeod from the New York Rangers in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft >>
How would they have the ammo to land him?
Quote:
I wonder if they make a play for Bobrovsky to try and salvage another year of Sid/Geno/Philk
How would they have the ammo to land him?
Bobrovsky is a rental. Not sure what it would take to get him. I'm very bad at predicting trade value.
1st round pick I'm guessing. Maybe a bottom part of their top 10 prospects.
Quote:
In comment 14289152 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
I wonder if they make a play for Bobrovsky to try and salvage another year of Sid/Geno/Philk
How would they have the ammo to land him?
Bobrovsky is a rental. Not sure what it would take to get him. I'm very bad at predicting trade value.
1st round pick I'm guessing. Maybe a bottom part of their top 10 prospects.
Ya, I'm not too great either. They also seem to always make the cap work
big loss.
Not a huge point guy, but 55% on the dots, and #2C, #2 PP unit, and PK. Hard to replace that.
They are holding on to a WC spot right now, but I wonder if this makes them buyers or sellers (I doubt it changes nothing).
The Point
@ThePointHockey
2h2 hours ago
A big blow for the #MNWild as Mikko Koivu is done for the year with a torn ACL. Koivu is one of the top defensive centers in the league and has blocked more passes, per game, than any forward this season.
Quote:
I wonder if they make a play for Bobrovsky to try and salvage another year of Sid/Geno/Philk
How would they have the ammo to land him?
No, because when we play him in the playoffs, he already plays for us.
Arthur Staple
Verified account @StapeAthletic
Believe the #Isles are scouting at MSG tonight... Lots of #NYR players on the block
7:31 PM - 6 Feb 2019
Quote:
Arthur Staple
Verified account @StapeAthletic
Believe the #Isles are scouting at MSG tonight... Lots of #NYR players on the block
7:31 PM - 6 Feb 2019
Zuccarello in an Fishstick uniform would make me vomit. I mean still better than a Flyers or Penguins jersey, but still.
Plus if players like Duchene and Stone hit the market it could swing a little bit to a buyers market, right now it's not.
Elliotte Friedman
Verified account @FriedgeHNIC
There is word today Artemis Panarin has joined teammate Sergei Bobrovskys agent, Paul Theofanous. This is going to lead to plenty of speculation they could be a package deal in free agency. We will see how it plays out.
11:35 AM - 8 Feb 2019
Plus if players like Duchene and Stone hit the market it could swing a little bit to a buyers market, right now it's not.
Elliotte Friedman
Verified account @FriedgeHNIC
There is word today Artemis Panarin has joined teammate Sergei Bobrovskys agent, Paul Theofanous. This is going to lead to plenty of speculation they could be a package deal in free agency. We will see how it plays out.
11:35 AM - 8 Feb 2019
If it's a package deal, Carolina and the Islanders come to mind as teams that have needs there and would be able to fit both in. Rangers obviously would love Panarin and he would love to come to NY, but they obviously have no need for Bob.
Plus if players like Duchene and Stone hit the market it could swing a little bit to a buyers market, right now it's not.
Elliotte Friedman
Verified account @FriedgeHNIC
There is word today Artemis Panarin has joined teammate Sergei Bobrovskys agent, Paul Theofanous. This is going to lead to plenty of speculation they could be a package deal in free agency. We will see how it plays out.
11:35 AM - 8 Feb 2019
If it's a package deal, Carolina and the Islanders come to mind as teams that have needs there and would be able to fit both in. Rangers obviously would love Panarin and he would love to come to NY, but needless to say, they don't need Bob.
Quote:
I heard during Habs Jets intermission last night the asking price for Panarin is absurd. especially as a rental. Didn't get into details, but as the next two weeks go by I wonder if it drops.
Plus if players like Duchene and Stone hit the market it could swing a little bit to a buyers market, right now it's not.
Elliotte Friedman
Verified account @FriedgeHNIC
There is word today Artemis Panarin has joined teammate Sergei Bobrovskys agent, Paul Theofanous. This is going to lead to plenty of speculation they could be a package deal in free agency. We will see how it plays out.
11:35 AM - 8 Feb 2019
If it's a package deal, Carolina and the Islanders come to mind as teams that have needs there and would be able to fit both in. Rangers obviously would love Panarin and he would love to come to NY, but needless to say, they don't need Bob.
Maybe a 3-team trade. I don't think the Rangers will or should pursue Panarin as a rental, but in a 3-team trade they could get him without Bob.
Quote:
In comment 14290851 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
I heard during Habs Jets intermission last night the asking price for Panarin is absurd. especially as a rental. Didn't get into details, but as the next two weeks go by I wonder if it drops.
Plus if players like Duchene and Stone hit the market it could swing a little bit to a buyers market, right now it's not.
Elliotte Friedman
Verified account @FriedgeHNIC
There is word today Artemis Panarin has joined teammate Sergei Bobrovskys agent, Paul Theofanous. This is going to lead to plenty of speculation they could be a package deal in free agency. We will see how it plays out.
11:35 AM - 8 Feb 2019
If it's a package deal, Carolina and the Islanders come to mind as teams that have needs there and would be able to fit both in. Rangers obviously would love Panarin and he would love to come to NY, but needless to say, they don't need Bob.
Maybe a 3-team trade. I don't think the Rangers will or should pursue Panarin as a rental, but in a 3-team trade they could get him without Bob.
Right, but I'm talking about free agency. Rangers obviously have no need to rent Panarin until the end of the year.
Panarin's new agent also represents Kravtsov so the Rangers brass will be talking with the agent anyway.
too much competition in free agency.
Especially if it only cost veterans the Rangers weren't going to extend anyway (and picks).
Say Columbus wanted Zucc and 1st and a 3rd piece. Wouldn't that make sense for the Rangers if they could extend Panarin (obviously depending who the 3rd piece was).
Paying out a huge cap hit to Bobo would make zero sense for the Islanders given their other needs (#2 center and power play finisher).
I expect the Islanders to offer as much money and term for Panarin as anyone.
I see no way that makes sense.
probably just lazy pondering.
Eyes on the Prize
Verified account @HabsEOTP
26s26 seconds ago
TRADE: Montreal Canadiens acquire Dale Weise, Christian Folin from Flyers for Byron Froese, David Schlemko #Habs
Dennis Bernstein
@DennisTFP
Scouts listed for Kings-Bruins at TD Garden:
CGY MTL NYR NJD PIT WAS
Caps still on Kings beat....
12:20 PM - 9 Feb 2019 from Los Angeles, CA
Dennis Bernstein
@DennisTFP
Scouts listed for Kings-Bruins at TD Garden:
CGY MTL NYR NJD PIT WAS
Caps still on Kings beat....
12:20 PM - 9 Feb 2019 from Los Angeles, CA
Kovulchuck to either Pitt or wash would be interesting
Quote:
Dennis Bernstein
@DennisTFP
Scouts listed for Kings-Bruins at TD Garden:
CGY MTL NYR NJD PIT WAS
Caps still on Kings beat....
12:20 PM - 9 Feb 2019 from Los Angeles, CA
Kovulchuck to either Pitt or wash would be interesting
He looks like a PP only guy to me, not sure PIT needs him with Crosby, Malkin and Kessel, but maybe WAS is a fit.
He took a penalty in OT today that led to the Bruins winning goal.
I do think he could get moved though. He has a NMC but I suspect he wants to play for a contender.
Chris Peters
Verified account @chrismpeters
Wisconsins KAndre Miller (NYR) went coast to coast, lost his footing and slammed hard into the boards. Was down for a few minutes, putting no weight on left leg as he goes off. Does not look good for one of the best freshmen Dmen in the country. Headed to room.
10:23 PM - 9 Feb 2019
Chris Peters
Verified account @chrismpeters
Wisconsins KAndre Miller (NYR) went coast to coast, lost his footing and slammed hard into the boards. Was down for a few minutes, putting no weight on left leg as he goes off. Does not look good for one of the best freshmen Dmen in the country. Headed to room.
10:23 PM - 9 Feb 2019
hope for the best, hate to see the kids injured.
Link - ( New Window )
Link - ( New Window )
Twitter comment - ( New Window )
Thanks, SJG
Quote:
DAndre Miller will be evaluated tomorrow for lower body injury. Twitter comment - ( New Window )
Thanks, SJG
Meant KAndre Miller
Verified account
@FriedgeHNIC
LA/MON talking about a Nate Thompson deal. We will see where it goes
Quote:
Latest from Wisconsin on freshman D K'Andre Miller (NYR), after a hard crash into the boards Saturday, is that he is out this week, dealing with soreness. Due to be reevaluated later today. Sounds like it's not as serious as it looked like it could be Saturday night.
thats a relief. Thank you for the update
More news on K'Andre Miller
"The knee is fine," Granato said, "but he's banged up pretty good, so he's going to be reevaluated this afternoon."
K'Andre Miller news from University of Wisconsin - ( New Window )
McQuaid is on that list; so is Simmonds, As usual, they provide analytical rationale.
I wouldn't. A 1st isn't likely to be as good as Hayes, and B/C prospects are a dime a dozen. Get me a top 4 RH defenseman and a 1st and we can talk.
I'd trade both, but I can see a case made for keeping Hayes.
I think Zucc is gone and should be. Not saying he's a bad player by any stretch, but if you're going to rebuild you do it by getting younger and more flexible on the salary cap.
Mark Stone is apparently gone. No doubt will be moved.
They are deciding today (allegedly) if they will trade Matt Duchene too.
The reason the NYR veterans are tied to OTT and CBJ is b/c Panarin, Stone and Duchene would be option #1, #2, and #3 for any team looking for top 6 forward depth. All three are better than Hayes and Zucc and similarly aged to Hayes.
Panarin being shopped though is trickier since CBJ is still in the playoff race.