day 1 halfway done. Figured I''d start a thread for not just the Rangers games.
Rangers and Canes were rusty on specials (though CAR looked much better), 1 for 14 combined on the PP. Good intensity though, hard hitting game. I thought Hank was great.
I didn't see any of NYI vs FLA, but the score is about what I'd expect from a Trotz team.
PIT came out like a house on fire, Price stood tall and MTL's two youngsters, Kotkaniemi and Suzuki have the Habs with a 2 - 0 lead. momentum is starting to shift to MTL, but PIT can score quickly. MTL defense is a massive Achilles heel.
I doubt that happens, but he's being hailed as the best goalie prospect since Price (#5 overall).
In some (rare) scenarios Ottawa winds up with Byfield and Stutzle. If that happens OTT easily has the best prospect pool - better than NYR and LAK IMO.
I doubt that happens though, I think Byfield goes #2 (and he should).
Hall is the type of player MTL needs if they say they are in "win now" mode.
Hockey 24|7
@iamhockey1
·
19m
No one is really talking about Taylor Hall, #redwings #flames #gohabsgo are front runners.
to save you from reading the twitter thread, it basically says Eichel didn't demand a trade and the Sabres aren't shopping him, but they didn't hang up when called.
Bob McKenzie
@TSNBobMcKenzie
· 15m
Imagine my surprise when I started making calls today and heard Jack Eichel trade rumours, including unverified chatter he may have at some point recently requested a trade out of BUF and that NYR were amongst interested teams. This, of course, required further investigation.
to save you from reading the twitter thread, it basically says Eichel didn't demand a trade and the Sabres aren't shopping him, but they didn't hang up when called.
Bob McKenzie
@TSNBobMcKenzie
· 15m
Imagine my surprise when I started making calls today and heard Jack Eichel trade rumours, including unverified chatter he may have at some point recently requested a trade out of BUF and that NYR were amongst interested teams. This, of course, required further investigation.
Zibanejad, DeAngelo, and the second first rounder for Eichel. And another piece, I'd think. Do it.
Something like TDA and #1 for Eichel.
And don't forget Eichel is tied up long term at big $$$ - 6 more years at $10M per.
Everything I've read points to them being in range for a few centers.
Do you think Mysak could fall that far?
Something like TDA and #1 for Eichel.
And don't forget Eichel is tied up long term at big $$$ - 6 more years at $10M per.
No. Fantastic player, but impossible to fit him in in this flat cap era. Lafreniere is not only valuable as a player, but as a contract. I mean you would love to have Lafreniere reach Eichel's level of production, but 10M per is just unfeasible.
How do you afford them though?
Something like TDA and #1 for Eichel.
And don't forget Eichel is tied up long term at big $$$ - 6 more years at $10M per.
No, Lafreniere is probably the only untouchable for me. But even that's a tough no. I think Eichel is that good. It just seems like there's a high probability Lafreniere is an All Star caliber player - and we get that cost controlled.
Kakko is probably second closest to untouchable for me - it would have to almost be straight up for me to be okay with it.
I suspect I'm on the extreme side of what I'm willing to give up for Eichel, though.
How do you afford them though?
I think Zibanejad would have to go in an Eichel deal. Maybe to a third team.
Figuring out a way to parlay Zibanejad and some extra pieces into Eichel would be a huge win.
I think after the top two tiers (maybe 5 or 6 players) you have about 10 - 12 players who are interchanegable - making it seem "deep" all the way to 15 - 18 players. But some of those guys in the top 15 - 18 (and most after) are very polarizing. Some say "that guy should be top 15" and others say "I'm not taking him anywhere in the first round" for the same player.
Not having the showcases and tournaments has made this year more of a crapshoot IMO and hurt players who would have moved up from March to June. That development and growth for some players from 17 - 18 is significant.
So, for me, if I was NYR, I'd package the second #1 pick to bring in a top 4 D or 2C.
If Kravtsov is staying at wing, I'd look at acquire a 2c via trade.
If they do make the pick I'd absolutely take Mysak there or someone like Hendrix Lapierre (perfect example of what I mentioned above) - and I like Dawson Mercer and Dylan Holloway. Kaden Guhle if they go D (6' 2" LD).
This is from Pronman's athletic article on this topic about Lapierre (but almost all the players available at this spot will be in this category):
Scout in favor: “He has so much skill and he’s a very smart player. It’s first-round skill all day. At the Hlinka Gretzky, he looked like a top-10 pick. If he looks healthy again, I realize there’s some risk, but I think you got to go after him in the first round at some point; there’s too much player there.”
Scout against: “I wouldn’t use a top-50 pick on him. The injuries … the two goals in 19 games, his game lacks pace. He looks healthy now and then you use a high pick and in two or three years those issues always seem to pop back up again. At some point it becomes worth it, but that point will be later than where he’ll likely go.”
How do you afford them though?
Draisaitl and McDavid ($21M between the two for the next 5 years) - and then like the Oilers you struggle to field a team.
But the Rangers have a much deeper and better prospect pool and goalie situation.
Quote:
Eichel and Zibby as your top two centers? Wow. Can anyone top that kind of strength up the middle?
How do you afford them though?
Draisaitl and McDavid ($21M between the two for the next 5 years) - and then like the Oilers you struggle to field a team.
But the Rangers have a much deeper and better prospect pool and goalie situation.
And we're already paying Panarin like 12M per and we know he's not going anywhere.
That's why it's a risk. He had 3 concussions in 2019 alone.
There was an article about him being "the most unpredictable prospect" back in April.
That's a risk IMO, if they make the pick (which I probably wouldn't - depending on who falls), a team like the NYR can take.
Quote:
I mean I don't know him from Adam, but he had what? 2 concussions? And he's only 17/18?
That's why it's a risk. He had 3 concussions in 2019 alone.
There was an article about him being "the most unpredictable prospect" back in April.
That's a risk IMO, if they make the pick (which I probably wouldn't - depending on who falls), a team like the NYR can take.
I wouldn't. At least not in the first round. I don't care if he's the second coming of McDavid. 3 concussions is insane.
I think Zibanejad's great, but giving him $10+ million in predominately over 30 years scares me.
Quote:
Zibanejad plus for Eichel? That's one where my heart says no but my head says yes. I'm not sure Eichel is that much better than Zibby but he IS several years younger.
I think Zibanejad's great, but giving him $10+ million in predominately over 30 years scares me.
Same
If 2019-2020 is any indication of what you can expect from Zibanejad then it makes no sense you are not getting better IMO you're just shuffling players.
I do think Eichel is better or will be better (and is younger - Eichel is still just 23 years old), but then you still have no 2C and less money to get one.
If 2019-2020 is any indication of what you can expect from Zibanejad then it makes no sense you are not getting better IMO you're just shuffling players.
I do think Eichel is better or will be better (and is younger - Eichel is still just 23 years old), but then you still have no 2C and less money to get one.
I think Eichel is better than Zibanejad. I think Zibanejad is also mediocre defensively.
Age is the biggest factor, though.
I also think Chytil can fill the 2C position. More importantly, I think we need to figure out whether he can or not - you can address that the following off-season when you might be ready to actually compete if things go well.
Also, I think Greg feels strongly that Howden can fill in the 2C position just fine...
I think Chytil is more a 3C. And some people feel for a 1st round pick that's a bad outcome, if that is the outcome (and certainly it may not be), it's NOT a bad outcome.
Kravtsov can be the 2C IMO, but would need development time - and I think it's perfectly fine for a young guy to develop in the NHL, but try telling an NHL coach that. lol. It's why you see guys like Nate Thompson get rolled out on a regular shift by coaches like Julien and Vigneault while younger guys like Kotkaniemi are in the press box or AHL. What happened in the playoffs? Kotkaniemi skated circles around Thompson making both coaches look foolish.
And I hate the AHL for a young prospect. It's loaded with primarily (long term) bottom 6 NHL players or even career AHL guys who are generally much older and less skilled than the prospects.
Outside of those two if the Rangers can somehow get Eichel and keep Zibby and add a top 4 D, they're probably favorites in the Metro give or take with CAR and probably NYI depending on their off-seasons.
This is an area I'd love to be more educated on around prospect development. As fans we all bemoan the GM when someone like Lias Andersson doesn't perform to expectations right away or Ryan Poehling for a non-Rangers example, but what should the teams do with premium pick prospects to help them develop and as importantly protect your investment.
I feel like staying in country for non-North American prospects makes the most sense, the SHL (Sweden), SM-Liiga (Finland), KHL (Russia) are all better for development than the AHL IMO. The AHL reminds me of the Federal league from Slapshot and all the good prospects are Braden. If you want a guy to just learn defensive discipline or get used to the physical play of the NHL, sure, send them to the AHL, but don't look at their stat totals and judge their performance. I watched Kotkaniemi and Suzuki in the AHL last year or two and they had to slow down for their linemates.
For Canadian and American prospects, I think the NCAA and/or CHL makes so much more sense than going pro to play in the NHL (until players age out of the CHL at least at 21). You are going up against your peer group or only slightly older. Look at Jack Hughes last year - and most people weren't impressed, but he was 18 years old at 5' 10" (on skates IMO) 160 pounds playing hockey against men.
Only 9 career games.
A little like Kiviranta on the Stars.
Pronman had Stützle moving to 2nd off the board, ahead of Byfield in his draft issue late last week.
The NHL scouts' takes (vs. the team GMs' takes that formed the basis for the mock) were at some serious odds with some of the selections, as pj indicated on certain of the 'draftees'.
But later Klinberg tripped Volkov - Lightning back to the PP.
TBL up 1 - 0
Nice pass by Kucherov on the entry, no clue how Point had that much room, even on the PP
2 - 0 TBL, 13 left in the second.
Stars to the PP down 2
Dumb play
"Interesting" strategy by the Stars. They gave a grand total of 8 shots on net through 2 periods and half of them came on one PP.
Would be something to see them come out really aggressive in the 3rd as they lulled TBL into a false sense of security with the rope a dope
Or is this your run-of-the-mill snorefest Stanley Cup game clincher? Just like nearly every year.
Or is this your run-of-the-mill snorefest Stanley Cup game clincher? Just like nearly every year.
Nothing.
Dallas playing conservative, even down 2 - 0 halfway through the 3rd.
8 min left in the game
DAL to the PP still down 2.
Citrus & Smooth
Who is Conn Smythe?
It should be Point IMO - and maybe tonights goal shifts it to him.
Hedman next for me, Vasilevsky and Kucherov also have a case.
Seems like often there is a guy who plays on back to back championships with different teams.