Maybe we will be playing AGAINST Runblad tomorrow night?
- Katana777

Ha, funny to consider. I just heard that IF AZ claims him, then it could have some implication regarding a subsequent deal.

I think a wild card in any trade talk right now is Columbus. They are a complete train wreck and Torts is still terrorizing Johansson (14 minutes last night), a big centerman with bite who will give you 70 points, almost pencil that in. And they need D worse than anyone in this league. I think Johansson is the big prize to acquire this season and he's available.......Anaheim and they are a fit, big time. Think the Ducks are bottom 2-3 in scoring with tons of Dmen at the NHL level and on the way. They gotta make room.

And I agree Nill and the Stars do need D help, and as a fan of the sport I hope they land a top 2 guy and see how far they can go.
- Mr Ricochet

Another #1 center having an off year. Wtf

Are hockey waivers like baseball waivers ?

Do all the west teams get 1st dibs on Runblad ?

(frank)ing finally!
- EKB13

A huge ray of sunshine on a horrible day. Gustafsson up makes it all the better........ But we'll read about this kid gambling and getting beat cuz of it within 2 weeks. But he's quite the skater/puck mover. ......I can see Q shortening to 5 Dmen midway through the 3rd period in games their ahead with the Swede taking a seat.

Now the 3rd pairing hopefully isn't ground to dust and the top 3 play reasonable minutes, the domino effect.

Are hockey waivers like baseball waivers ?

Do all the west teams get 1st dibs on Runblad ?
- mrpaulish

I always thought it was in reverse order of the current / up to the minute standings throughout the entire league.

This team under Q has done this every year since the first cup. A few years back I thought the team was tuning Q out, but that was shown to be wrong as they turn up the volume come playoff time.

I'm a season ticket holder and have been to ONE game this year. It's beyond old for me.

My hope was with all the turnover this year and rookies and new vets in the lineup it would cure this "regular season atrophy", but it doesn't look like it.
- Mr Ricochet

Problem is they do need a certain amount of points to get into the off season in a somewhat comfortable position and with the lack of scoring that means riding some guys harder.

And I think, and I do stress think, that the brass isn't necessarily happy with the quality of play.

Tough to charge top dollar and push a product that is less than entertaining most of the time.

I've turned more games off this year than I have in the past, or had it on as background noise because they have just not been great to watch. Plus Pat and Eddy try my patience, which gets exponentially worse when the game itself isn't very exciting.

I don't disagree with that. Sometimes a player is a nice piece at one price, and a terrible piece at another price. I think from the Coyotes perspective, they wanted a veteran presence to mentor their younger roster, and hoped that his decline would not be drastic. 3.75 / per for 2 years is too much for what they are getting in return, but they also had plenty of Cap space to fill (actually, they needed to get to the Cap floor if I remember correctly).
- Katana777

yeah, pretty much. i think his role was supposed to be take some of the pressure off of the young kids in what was expected to be a bottom feeding team.

i think the yotes are in an odd place because their division has been so bad. it just highlights the current deficiencies (spending $3.75M on a guy like vermette) because the playoffs don't appear to be out of reach yet.

I always thought it was in reverse order of the current / up to the minute standings throughout the entire league.
- Katana777

I know thats true but is it all teams ?

Problem is they do need a certain amount of points to get into the off season in a somewhat comfortable position and with the lack of scoring that means riding some guys harder.

And I think, and I do stress think, that the brass isn't necessarily happy with the quality of play.

Tough to charge top dollar and push a product that is less than entertaining most of the time.

I've turned more games off this year than I have in the past, or had it on as background noise because they have just not been great to watch. Plus Pat and Eddy try my patience, which gets exponentially worse when the game itself isn't very exciting.
- fattybeef

Pat and Wddie have been bad

I've turned more games off this year than I have in the past, or had it on as background noise because they have just not been great to watch. Plus Pat and Eddy try my patience, which gets exponentially worse when the game itself isn't very exciting.
- fattybeef

You don't like hearing Edzo saying "partner" every 10 seconds?

You don't like hearing Edzo saying "partner" every 10 seconds?
- Katana777

Or.when Pat is blowing him about him taking 1st clas flights all over the country to get paid a ton to call hockey games .


Plus , especially lately Eddie O seems to be really PC like he wwants to ge5 back into coaching and doesnt want to ofend anyone.

Spit balling but could Hawks and Habs swap failed prospects in McNeill and Tinordi?

I think Roszival and Scuderi are both veteran number seven defenseman cut from the same cloth. ic Scuderi as the next player traded or waived. I know that was something that was discussed last offseason you traded $3000000 player for a 2 million dollar player then that $2000000 player is easier to trade for a $1000000 player, etc etc

yeah, pretty much. i think his role was supposed to be take some of the pressure off of the young kids in what was expected to be a bottom feeding team.

i think the yotes are in an odd place because their division has been so bad. it just highlights the current deficiencies (spending $3.75M on a guy like vermette) because the playoffs don't appear to be out of reach yet.
- Tumbleweed

Truth be told, the best thing that could happen to the Yotes right now is a long losing streak. They are not really ready to compete for a deep playoff run, despite the opportunity in a terrible division.... and finishing lower would give them a better shot at Auston Matthews, the Scottsdale native and projected #1 overall pick. Landing him would be a marketing dream for that organization.

You don't like hearing Edzo saying "partner" every 10 seconds?
- Katana777

Stop it right there!

Truth be told, the best thing that could happen to the Yotes right now is a long losing streak. They are not really ready to compete for a deep playoff run, despite the opportunity in a terrible division.... and finishing lower would give them a better shot at Auston Matthews, the Scottsdale native and projected #1 overall pick. Landing him would be a marketing dream for that organization.
- Katana777

probably.

which is why they probably end up trading there leading scorer in the biggest tank job since buffalo tank of 2015.

Truth be told, the best thing that could happen to the Yotes right now is a long losing streak. They are not really ready to compete for a deep playoff run, despite the opportunity in a terrible division.... and finishing lower would give them a better shot at Auston Matthews, the Scottsdale native and projected #1 overall pick. Landing him would be a marketing dream for that organization.
- Katana777

Maybe they see that too and would be willing to take on Bickell and Runabad andanother Hawks #1 pick for MB

Maybe they see that too and would be willing to take on Bickell and Runabad andanother Hawks #1 pick for MB
- mrpaulish

bickell at $4.5M in actual salary next year is probably a non-starter for the yotes.

I know thats true but is it all teams ?
- mrpaulish

Yes

Maybe they see that too and would be willing to take on Bickell and Runabad andanother Hawks #1 pick for MB
- mrpaulish

hmm -- AZ stockpiling 1st rounders to trade up to pick home town boy Matthews-- does make a whole lot of sense-- and also helps the Hawks with their problem by adding Boedker now--

Spit balling but could Hawks and Habs swap failed prospects in McNeill and Tinordi?

I think Roszival and Scuderi are both veteran number seven defenseman cut from the same cloth. ic Scuderi as the next player traded or waived. I know that was something that was discussed last offseason you traded $3000000 player for a 2 million dollar player then that $2000000 player is easier to trade for a $1000000 player, etc etc
- ikeane

Highly doubtful they would waive Scuderi...

I don't think the Hawks see Boedker as a rental. He is impending RFA, not UFA. I think a longer term commitment is a real possibility.
- John Jaeckel

more like AA?

Bickell, TT, and Dano for Saad with CBJ retaining 1 mil of Saads contract.

Maybe they see that too and would be willing to take on Bickell and Runabad andanother Hawks #1 pick for MB
- mrpaulish

Yeah and I love this because not only does it invigorate Toews and Hossa, but the trickle down effect is in play..... it takes pressure off of the 72/15/88 line, and it also allows TT to drop down to the 3rd line where he is more comfortable, better suited, and likely produces more.
Now all of a sudden you are rolling 3 or 4 solid lines instead of an isolated scoring line.

Actually he hasn't been as bad as all of you Pens fans were making him out to be.
- Dabearshawks

Oh yes he is Give him time and you will find out he has no Skills

more like AA?
- stljam

Well, he's actually an impending UFA, but my understanding is the Hawks are exploring young, but good players and it would seem that would be to keep them around at a "reasonable" cap hit.

Bear in mind, if Brandon Saad would have signed for $5 million per or less, he'd still be a Hawk. But at that point, I think the hawks fought they'd get rid of Bickell too.