Seriously, a 3rd for Read would be a horrendous trade. I understand what have you done for me lately. But apparently 18 games trumps the past 3 seasons. Every player goes through a slump at some point. And I thought Read had a strong game last night.
- MJL

He'll come around and we'll all be like.. good thing we didn't trade him.

I agree. It's a simple slump that every player goes through at one point or another. It would have to be one hell of a deal for me to agree to trade Read.
- MJL

Read gets more leeway than 18 games for sure. Let's see how he looks when b schenn returns to that line

I'm a charter member of the MDZ fan club, but if his camp gives even the slightest inkling that he won't be an easy re-up, I'd move him at the TDL or the draft for something nice. The only way they can mess this virtual no-lose situation up is by paying him more $ than they should.
- Tomahawk

Agents for defensemen seem to have so much leverage nowadays in the marketplace, which makes it even odder than a guy like MDZ was out of work to begin with.

Interesting frivolity: If the top 15 point scorers this year kept up the points per game average they have now for all 82 games, the points race would look very different than from recent years:

1. Sidney Crosby, 125 points
1. Jake Voracek, 125
3. Tyler Seguin, 103
4. Claude Giroux, 102
5. Filip Forsberg, 100
6. Evgeni Malkin, 97
6. Patric Hornqvist, 97
8. Vladimir Tarasenko, 96
9. Phil Kessel, 95
10. Ryan Johansen, 91
11. Steven Stamkos, 90
12. Nick Foligno, 87
13. Rick Nash, 86
13. Mark Giordano, 86
13. Tyler Johnson, 86

Obviously, most of these players will see their numbers fall but it's cool to see the likes of Forsberg, Tarasenko, Johansen and Johnson emerging as legitimate NHL stars.
- NickTheKid87

Meh, happens every year. Very few players can sustain that level of play through to the end, as defenses tighten up around them as the season progresses. Just ask Alex Steen.

I'm a charter member of the MDZ fan club, but if his camp gives even the slightest inkling that he won't be an easy re-up, I'd move him at the TDL or the draft for something nice. The only way they can mess this virtual no-lose situation up is by paying him more $ than they should.
- Tomahawk

If you want to re-sign him long term, it's going to cost some coin. Another one year deal could be cheaper and less riskier. Could always play the RFA game, then he could be a candidate for an OS depending on how strong of an overall season he has.

Please tell me we are not talking about trading Simmonds.

Trading a piece like Simmonds is blowing up this whole thing. I get it. He's not the best 5 vs 5 but he has gotten better every year at it. His contract is fine, I don't care what anyone says, teams aren't going to take the liberties on our top players as long as he is with us

If your talking about trading him. You might as well open it up to jake and g, seriously
- Just5

I am not advocateing it but you have to be willing to make deals. If this team is out of it at the deadline and somone offers a 1st, prospect and roster player i have to think ahard about that. I understand his value but I also think this team is about 3 years from competing big time. Not just playoffs. Making noise in the playoffs.

Read gets more leeway than 18 games for sure. Let's see how he looks when b schenn returns to that line
- Just5

Not sure B Schenn will. It'll be interesting when Raffl returns.

I am not advocateing it but you have to be willing to make deals. If this team is out of it at the deadline and somone offers a 1st, prospect and roster player i have to think ahard about that. I understand his value but I also think this team is about 3 years from competing big time. Not just playoffs. Making noise in the playoffs.
- J35Bacher

Sometimes the best deals are the ones that aren't made. I would not be looking to trade Simmonds.

I am the other way. I think Simmonds would have value to a playoff team and i even think if MDZ keeps playing well he could be flipped for value to a playoff team needing some offensive dmen. I keep Schenn, Couturier, Giroux and Voracek. That;s the core pieces moving forward.
- J35Bacher

Wow.. you'd seriously trade Simmonds? I guess I would too if the return was great, but no way I'm shopping him... he's a key piece moving forward IMO

Meh, happens every year. Very few players can sustain that level of play through to the end, as defenses tighten up around them as the season progresses. Just ask Alex Steen.
- Tomahawk

I can still see jake and Giroux hitting about 90 pts though.

Meh, happens every year. Very few players can sustain that level of play through to the end, as defenses tighten up around them as the season progresses. Just ask Alex Steen.
- Tomahawk

Yup no doubt. Forsberg is only 5 points away from matching the amount of points Martin Erat had in Washington which is hilarious. He'll drop off but 60+ points is reasonable, maybe even 70. Crosby, Malkin, Seguin, Stamkos, Giroux will be on this list in April barring injury. The jury's out on a lot of others including Voracek. Foligno and Giordano are sure to dip below a point per game soon enough.

I can still see jake and Giroux hitting about 90 pts though.
- Hextall271

Probably. 125 is a bit crazy.

Not sure B Schenn will. It'll be interesting when Raffl returns.
- MJL

I think he will. Raffl gets on the forecheck and digs a bit better than b schenn. They just need a guy to pop the puck out to them and get to the net. B schenn really made that 2nd look good

Yup no doubt. Forsberg is only 5 points away from matching the amount of points Martin Erat had in Washington which is hilarious. He'll drop off but 60+ points is reasonable, maybe even 70. Crosby, Malkin, Seguin, Stamkos, Giroux will be on this list in April barring injury. The jury's out on a lot of others including Voracek. Foligno and Giordano are sure to dip below a point per game soon enough.
- NickTheKid87

I'm gonna book it.. He'll be there in the end. The work he's putting in this season, barring injury, he'll be there.

I think he will. Raffl gets on the forecheck and digs a bit better than b schenn. They just need a guy to pop the puck out to them and get to the net. B schenn really made that 2nd look good
- Just5

Did you see Brayden Schenn on the forecheck and getting to pucks last night? He was an absolute monster. Raffl has a track record with the top line, so that could happen. We'll have to see.

Sometimes the best deals are the ones that aren't made. I would not be looking to trade Simmonds.
- MJL

I wouldn't be looking but if they wow'ed me I wouldn't say no.

Listen I love they way he plays but i also see some limitations in his game. I know he has done better at ES and last year he had a career year but is last year going to happen again? I don't know. The offer has to be great for me to trade him, but he isn't untouchable or someone i just instantly say no.

Probably. 125 is a bit crazy.
- Tomahawk

just shows you how good Jake has been. consistent too.. always dangerous and never taking a shift off.. skate skate skate. He'll be an all star this year and I couldn't be happier for the guy.

I'm gonna book it.. He'll be there in the end. The work he's putting in this season, barring injury, he'll be there.
- WarriorHockey21

I think he could be in the top 15 too. Not 125 points though. Point per game? Sure. I think Giroux finishes ahead of him though.

Interesting frivolity: If the top 15 point scorers this year kept up the points per game average they have now for all 82 games, the points race would look very different than from recent years:

1. Sidney Crosby, 125 points
1. Jake Voracek, 125
3. Tyler Seguin, 103
4. Claude Giroux, 102
5. Filip Forsberg, 100
6. Evgeni Malkin, 97
6. Patric Hornqvist, 97
8. Vladimir Tarasenko, 96
9. Phil Kessel, 95
10. Ryan Johansen, 91
11. Steven Stamkos, 90
12. Nick Foligno, 87
13. Rick Nash, 86
13. Mark Giordano, 86
13. Tyler Johnson, 86

Obviously, most of these players will see their numbers fall but it's cool to see the likes of Forsberg, Tarasenko, Johansen and Johnson emerging as legitimate NHL stars.
- NickTheKid87

Remember when the caps tried to validate that Forsberg deal by saying his play had fallen off since being drafted? Good times

Did you see Brayden Schenn on the forecheck and getting to pucks last night? He was an absolute monster. Raffl has a track record with the top line, so that could happen. We'll have to see.
- MJL

He's starting to show his playmaking side a bit more in the past few games... lot of nifty touch passes and tape-to-tape lasers. He's got some old tools from junior he hasn't even broken out at this level yet.

I think he could be in the top 15 too. Not 125 points though. Point per game? Sure. I think Giroux finishes ahead of him though.
- NickTheKid87

If Giroux continues firing the puck at this pace, I think he could hit 100 points.

I wouldn't be looking but if they wow'ed me I wouldn't say no.

Listen I love they way he plays but i also see some limitations in his game. I know he has done better at ES and last year he had a career year but is last year going to happen again? I don't know. The offer has to be great for me to trade him, but he isn't untouchable or someone i just instantly say no.
- J35Bacher

If you feel any deal makes the team better, you make it. But I see Simmonds as one of the cornerstones and a part of the core.

I think he could be in the top 15 too. Not 125 points though. Point per game? Sure. I think Giroux finishes ahead of him though.
- NickTheKid87

Definitely not.. but I'm going to say he breaks 85 but shy of 95, with Giroux just slightly ahead of him..

Best part of the game was right before Giroux scored. He wound up and had the defender go down and was like OK I'm shooting anyway. The Wild blocked SO many chances including sure shot goals on more than one occasion. If these fools are gunna go down and block - then feed them the puck, hard!

He's starting to show his playmaking side a bit more in the past few games... lot of nifty touch passes and tape-to-tape lasers. He's got some old tools from junior he hasn't even broken out at this level yet.
- Tomahawk

He was tremendous last night. Overall, I just want to see this effort and intensity from the team on a regular basis. Would go a long way. They can drill out the coverage mistakes hopefully. Nothing will happen if they don't compete.