NFT: NHL to make formal return to play announcemen today at 4:30

In comment 14913062 Anakim said:

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Given his history with Quinn. I wonder if Chytil, DeAngelo and a first can get it done.

Everyone will, he's one of the few true #1C in the league.

I have to imagine he's getting pretty fed up with the level of play around him in Buffalo

In comment 14913119 Kyle in NY said:

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I have to imagine he's getting pretty fed up with the level of play around him in Buffalo

I think it's just that he publicly voiced his frustration with the losing.

at least that's all I've read

Think Anak's proposal is a bit light but a good starting point. Eichel's at $10m a season too, so some salary cap considerations. But he's worth it
Link - ( New Window )

Yes please

a player like Eichel in a trade.

Boy, would they be set up.. Panarin, Mika, Eichel and the lot of youngsters. Talk about a perennial SCF contender.

gets underrated a little because McDavid is on another level and Buffalo has been brutal, but the 2015 draft 1st round may go down among the best in history.

And Eichel is a big reason. I don't think he'll ever be McDavid, but as #2 overall picks go, that's a pretty damn good consolation prize.

I would trade a lot to get him and be happy to do it.

would be harder than players and prospect if the Rangers try and acquire Eichel.

I also think any Eichel trade with the Rangers includes Kakko probably.

But I certainly would do it if that's what it took. Eichel's only a few years older and at best Kakko *might* be close to his level as a player.

In comment 14913176 Greg from LI said:

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But I certainly would do it if that's what it took. Eichel's only a few years older and at best Kakko *might* be close to his level as a player.

Agree. I was shocked this morning when I read Eichel is only 23

In comment 14913176 Greg from LI said:

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But I certainly would do it if that's what it took. Eichel's only a few years older and at best Kakko *might* be close to his level as a player.

I agree, at Eichel's age, skill level, and the fact he's locked up I'd trade Kakko for him.

Eichel did play a year of college though. Now it was a monster year and he won Hobey Baker, but consider Eichel's 18 year old season was in NCAA and Kakko's was in the NHL.

Big difference (just in terms of saying look how great Eichel is now and some of what I've read on here about how Kakko was not impressive).

Not at all. True top line centers are so rare, though. I'll trade a great wing for a great center every time.

In comment 14913201 Greg from LI said:

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Not at all. True top line centers are so rare, though. I'll trade a great wing for a great center every time.

Yeah, I would too. I think there's maybe 15 legitimate #1 C's in the whole league. Add in the age and contract status. I'd overpay. Only concern up in my mind would be the contract. On one hand I love he's locked up long term on the other hand with the pandemic I wouldn't be shocked (in fact I'd probably expect) the cap to be reduced for a year or two. If the cap is reduced it's a big number. The Rangers may need to offload cap to make it work.

In comment 14913057 Giants in 07 said:

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that the Canes weren't at risk of missing the playoffs? Because they definitely were if the season played out as normal

You're not factoring in the games in hand they have/had. They'd have made it barring a 2007 Mets collapse ending. But regardless, the play-ins probably wont start until mid-August at this point so whatever at this point

Just saying

In comment 14913233 Greg from LI said:

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Just saying

meh... we're all putting way too much thought into this but i'm just procrastinating my workout and yard work i need to get to:

3 games with reeling Pitt
2 games with NJ
2 games with Buff
1 game with Ottawa and Columbus (decimated by injury at time)

...2 games with Boston, but both the last week of the season with Boston already wrapping up #1. Would have been a nice break

1 game w/ STL, TOR, NYI

Hardly murderers row. Plus they got Brady Skjei (/sarcasm)

at the time of the work stoppage, the Hurricanes had an 82% chance at the playoffs and the Rangers a 22% chance.

I'm not saying things could not have reversed if the season had played out, but odds are not in the favor of that happening.

It's hard to make up ground in 3 weeks with the point system even when it's two points.

Rangers had a better chance at knocking out CBJ than CAR because those two games in hand are huge.

had injuries to pretty much 2/3 of their top players

In comment 14911779 pjcas18 said:

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and I thought the NYR would be a team no one wants to face but I would love to see the matchups they had that produced this. 840 cup wins for the Rangers in 10,000 simulations? Just a hair below the Bruins? In any case will be fun to see TBL knocked out early again. Quote: SportsLine @SportsLine · 4m We simulated the #NHL playoffs 10,000 times and these teams won the Cup most often: TB 17.9% WAS 10.8% COL 10.4% BOS 9.8% NYR 8.4% STL 6.9% PHI 5.8% VGK 4.9% TOR 4.5% EDM 4.0% VAN 2.9% NAS 2.9% MIN 2.9% FLA 2.4% PIT 1.7% CAR 1.1% WIN 1.0% ARI, DAL, CAL, CHI, MON, NYI, CBJ < 1%

Not only because I'm a fan, but I like the Rangers:

1. Good potential for hot goalie

2. Getting Kreider back

3. Rest for the youngest team in the league with lots of guys obvious candidates for 'hitting the wall' now having had some time to recoup fro a grind they had little or no experience with.

In comment 14913176 Greg from LI said:

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But I certainly would do it if that's what it took. Eichel's only a few years older and at best Kakko *might* be close to his level as a player.

Same. I would do Kakko, Trouba (for salary purposes), Andersson, and maybe even Chytil for Eichel and Mittelstadt.

proposal seemed lopsided to me before I saw you added Mittelstadt too.

A 21 year old center who put up .70 ppg in the AHL.

I admit predicting trades is something I'm not great at so nothing would surprise me, but that seems off.

In comment 14913287 Jay in Toronto said:

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In comment 14911779 pjcas18 said: Quote: and I thought the NYR would be a team no one wants to face but I would love to see the matchups they had that produced this. 840 cup wins for the Rangers in 10,000 simulations? Just a hair below the Bruins? In any case will be fun to see TBL knocked out early again. Quote: SportsLine @SportsLine · 4m Not only because I'm a fan, but I like the Rangers: 1. Good potential for hot goalie 2. Getting Kreider back 3. Rest for the youngest team in the league with lots of guys obvious candidates for 'hitting the wall' now having had some time to recoup fro a grind they had little or no experience with.

I think what the NHL has going for them with this format is fans of (almost) all of the 24 teams can talk themselves into 'why not us.'

Should be a fun tournament, even if the winner gets an *

In comment 14913292 Anakim said:

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In comment 14913176 Greg from LI said: Quote: But I certainly would do it if that's what it took. Eichel's only a few years older and at best Kakko *might* be close to his level as a player. Same. I would do Kakko, Trouba (for salary purposes), Andersson, and maybe even Chytil for Eichel and Mittelstadt.

Na buffalo would have to send a pick back too

In comment 14913316 JayBinQueens said:

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In comment 14913292 Anakim said: Quote: In comment 14913176 Greg from LI said: Quote: But I certainly would do it if that's what it took. Eichel's only a few years older and at best Kakko *might* be close to his level as a player. Same. I would do Kakko, Trouba (for salary purposes), Andersson, and maybe even Chytil for Eichel and Mittelstadt. Na buffalo would have to send a pick back too

Yeah, I think it was heavy on the Rangers side, but BUF may also prefer a pick to Andersson.

So, again, not my forte but I think something like this:

NYR send:
Kakko
Trouba
2020 1st (maybe a 2021 contingent 1st /2nd depending on timing of the trade contingent on playoffs/results)

BUF send:
Eichel
maybe a pick back

I like Trouba but make no mistake he's included to make the salary work.

Re-seeding each round rather than a set bracket.

Only the play-in round will be best of 5, everything else will be best of 7.
lonk - ( New Window )

player had COVID, but has recovered, no idea why everyone is making such a big deal out of it.

anyway, some playoff odds from moneypuck. Golden Knights SC favorites. I think the Bruins should be but apparently these guys hate the West, Vegas has almost a 30% chance to make the WCF and they must think the East will be a dogfight...:

I meant to add NHL phase 2 reopening starts Monday when small groups of players are allowed to work out together I believe at team facilities.

I've been recording on NHLN. Watched game 5 of the 1984 finals tonight and, man, I had forgotten what an incredible skater Paul Coffey was.

In comment 14915596 Greg from LI said:

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I've been recording on NHLN. Watched game 5 of the 1984 finals tonight and, man, I had forgotten what an incredible skater Paul Coffey was.

top 5 best defenseman IMO, worst case top 10. So many people discount Coffey as a by-product of Gretzky, but it's not even remotely true. Skating wise he was second only to Orr.

but odds are making them the East favorite now?

thats surprising... Carey Price i guess, but still

In comment 14915684 MetsAreBack said:

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but odds are making them the East favorite now?

I like the Flyers chances, but I think the Bruins are being severely underestimated especially in a re-seeding vs bracket.

I would love to see Habs vs B's if the Habs can beat the Pens (no clue why MTL would be favored over the Pens).

but that MTL series shouldnt be happening. They were up 15 points on them with two games in hand on top of it. Now they play a straight best of 5? And Montreal is actually favored? I know they're trying to max out TV revenue, but it doesnt sit right.

Similar Edmonton-Chicago

but... go Habs go regardless - fuck Pittsburgh and it would improve the NYR/CAR draft pick if they lose

shouldn't be in the playoffs, and I agree money is the reasons why they went to 24 to get MTL and CHI in even though I wouldn't have included either.

I just don't see how MTL is favored especially at a neutral site. Carey Price is not Carey Price of 2014. He can't win a series and the MTL D is pretty brutal and they don't have any stars up front. Against Crosby, Malkin, and Guentzel? Not to mention the Pens were buyers at the deadline.

no way I'd favor MTL in that series and I doubt they win it.

but I can't change it, so I will hope for the best.

Does anyone doubt Lafreniere will be a penguin should they get in the lottery?

In comment 14915700 Diversify yo bonds said:

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Does anyone doubt Lafreniere will be a penguin should they get in the lottery?

no doubt in my mind. We discussed that earlier. Lemieux to Crosby to Lafreniere.

They are asking for our 24 year old net minder not named Georgie.

In comment 14915717 Carl in CT said:

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They are asking for our 24 year old net minder not named Georgie.

I would really think about this, but some of you guys would know better than I would when it comes to how our G prospects are doing.

We've lived through 10+ years of having one of the best goalies in the league and it hasn't gotten us anywhere.

I think I would do it, but it depends what other pieces BUF asked for.

the trend on goalies is they're being drafted much later (Shesterkin was a 4th round pick) and many are making it to the NHL later.

top line centers are going top 5 in the draft.

I don't think you necessarily need an elite goalie to win a cup, you need a hot goalie (sometimes it's the same sometimes not) but almost every cup winner has that elite 1C. Maybe it's Mika, he's certainly putting himself in that group with his play lately. The one-year jump from him has been remarkable. but you can never have enough C's.

In comment 14915657 pjcas18 said:

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Skating wise he was second only to Orr.

I've always heard Orr's skating described as so smooth that he seemed to just glide over the ice as if he weren't skating hard at all but no one could catch him, just effortless (as compared to someone like Bure, who was blazing fast but was all churning arms and legs as he did it). To me that desribes Coffey to a T, too - he looked like he was just cruising along but he'd blow right by people as he did it.

It's hard to compare eras, but man was that brand of hockey entertaining. So much more movement and pace than we generally see today, which is itself more than we saw in the dead puck era.

Igor looks incredible already, and there have been plenty examples of very talented teams who never won because of mediocre goaltending ('90s Flyers being the most obvious). I wouldn't reject it out of hand, but I'd be loathe to part with him.

In comment 14915717 Carl in CT said:

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They are asking for our 24 year old net minder not named Georgie.

I know its all rumor so probably not accurate, but who else are they asking for in the package?

And could we make that work salary cap wise?

trade.

on Monday.

In comment 14915773 pjcas18 said:

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I think I would do it, but it depends what other pieces BUF asked for. the trend on goalies is they're being drafted much later (Shesterkin was a 4th round pick) and many are making it to the NHL later. top line centers are going top 5 in the draft. I don't think you necessarily need an elite goalie to win a cup, you need a hot goalie (sometimes it's the same sometimes not) but almost every cup winner has that elite 1C. Maybe it's Mika, he's certainly putting himself in that group with his play lately. The one-year jump from him has been remarkable. but you can never have enough C's.

Points per game Mika is 5th in the NHL and Panarin is 3rd.

Mika is a NO doubt 1C - perhaps top 5 in the NHL, he plays on the penalty kill also.

In comment 14915949 JPinstripes said:

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In comment 14915773 pjcas18 said: Quote: I think I would do it, but it depends what other pieces BUF asked for. the trend on goalies is they're being drafted much later (Shesterkin was a 4th round pick) and many are making it to the NHL later. top line centers are going top 5 in the draft. I don't think you necessarily need an elite goalie to win a cup, you need a hot goalie (sometimes it's the same sometimes not) but almost every cup winner has that elite 1C. Maybe it's Mika, he's certainly putting himself in that group with his play lately. The one-year jump from him has been remarkable. but you can never have enough C's. Points per game Mika is 5th in the NHL and Panarin is 3rd. Mika is a NO doubt 1C - perhaps top 5 in the NHL, he plays on the penalty kill also.

Mika is good but top 5 is pushing it.
McKinnon
McDavid
Draisaitl
Stamkos
Pastrnak
Matthews

All easily ahead of him and I omitted a number of people because of age

isn't a center.

but whatever, rankings are opinions, so I don't get too hung up on my own or other people's.

Mika had a great year, and his improvement from last year to this one was enormous.

I don't think he's top 5 but yeah, he played like a legit 1C this year. I think he'd need to maintain this pace to show it's not an anomaly, but he's definitely on the right trajectory.

In comment 14916024 pjcas18 said:

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isn't a center. but whatever, rankings are opinions, so I don't get too hung up on my own or other people's. Mika had a great year, and his improvement from last year to this one was enormous. I don't think he's top 5 but yeah, he played like a legit 1C this year. I think he'd need to maintain this pace to show it's not an anomaly, but he's definitely on the right trajectory.

ah prob just misread top 5 as top 5 in general. Still don't agree but everyone's entitled to their own opinion

Don't know if you saw this speculative article re Canadiens possibility


Eichel - ( New Window )

In comment 14916279 Jay in Toronto said:

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Don't know if you saw this speculative article re Canadiens possibility Eichel - ( New Window )

Yeah, I've read it. Kotkaniemi and Domi plus a 1st is a no-brainer and I love KK and Domi, but man that 1C is elusive. I like Nick Suziki a lot too - he's a name to watch for non-Habs fans as a player who could emerge as a star. Such a smart player. Hate to say it, but he reminds me a little of Patrice Bergeron.

I read some people try and shoe horn a 2021 1st into that trade too, and I think that may be a little steep unless BUF sends Ristolainen back too.