The only team that really gave up a poop ton was MIN. I don't think we will really get a big difference say now or next March. Kovy would be older and May not want to be traded in the middle of the year.

SJ picks

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/sharks
- Devils9503

Martin Hanzal is no Ilya Kovalchuk. I don't think Kovy's age now versus March is a big factor.

Martin Hanzal is no Ilya Kovalchuk. I don't think Kovy's age now versus March is a big factor.
- MannySilvers

I don't his age matters either, but I would rather do it now instead of it lingering on the team all year.

I don't his age matters either, but I would rather do it now instead of it lingering on the team all year.
- Devils9503

I also feel like from a "the Devils are unwatchably boring" stand point it would be nice to have Kovalchuk on the team for a few months, on top of the fact that I do think we'd get better value at the deadline.

I also feel like from a "the Devils are unwatchably boring" stand point it would be nice to have Kovalchuk on the team for a few months, on top of the fact that I do think we'd get better value at the deadline.
- MannySilvers

Just imagine patrick on a line with Hall though. Apparently Patrick has a very good shot(very underrated) which is what hall needs in a linemates. Zajac didnt have the finishing and he really couldnt keep up with a guy like hall. Also i love the facts that patrick doesnt like to dump the puck, we need hall with a center that drives the play and can give him passes and not just make him chase. Patricks play driving ability and his great shot will really help Hall produce and have a nice option this season. As for Kovi I think playing him with Zajac will help with his transition back to the NHL. It'll be better for him to be playing with a familiar face.

Just imagine patrick on a line with Hall though. Apparently Patrick has a very good shot(very underrated) which is what hall needs in a linemates. Zajac didnt have the finishing and he really couldnt keep up with a guy like hall. Also i love the facts that patrick doesnt like to dump the puck, we need hall with a center that drives the play and can give him passes and not just make him chase. Patricks play driving ability and his great shot will really help Hall produce and have a nice option this season. As for Kovi I think playing him with Zajac will help with his transition back to the NHL. It'll be better for him to be playing with a familiar face.
- Krazykid

I don't understand putting Patrick on the 1st line right away. Even Matthews was on the third line.

I don't understand putting Patrick on the 1st line right away. Even Matthews was on the third line.
- Devils9503

Matthews was only on the third line to "earn" his spot. Plus with us its not about earning, if Patrick is the center that Hall needs then Patrick plays with Hall. We dont have the luxury of playing guys at lower lines because we dont want to make them feel privileged. We all knew matthews would be on their first line and he ended up there not too long after the start.

Matthews was only on the third line to "earn" his spot. Plus with us its not about earning, if Patrick is the center that Hall needs then Patrick plays with Hall. We dont have the luxury of playing guys at lower lines because we dont want to make them feel privileged. We all knew matthews would be on their first line and he ended up there not too long after the start.
- Krazykid

That's the point though. Let him learn and get better then as the year goes on put him on the first line. It's not about "earning," it's can developing him.

That's the point though. Let him learn and get better then as the year goes on put him on the first line. It's not about "earning," it's can developing him.
- Devils9503

I get your point but also we have to see how prospects camp and preseason camp goes. Im sure they wont start him off on the first line but if he shows a nice connection with hall(there play styles compliment each other very well) then i wouldn't be shocked to see him on a line with hall at the start of the season. I'm sure im not the only one but i cant see how Quenn doesn't make the devils next season and I know for a fact they'll put Quenn and Patrick on a line together just to see if there's chemistry which there will be. Quenn looked solid when he played wing for jersey and having Patrick on a line with him excites me.

Every day your going to be talking hischier/Patrick?

You should put up a poll question

Any of you guys see the Hockey News post about how Dallas should ship the 3rd overall pick for cory? Man I'd be super into that, adding Patrick and HIESKANEN/MAKAR would be so awesome. I really really like Makar's game. While Shero would likely jump on that, cuz it could also help us tank for Dahlin, do the stars realistically do it? It doesn't sound too ridiculous from the Stars standpoint, they need to win soon with Hitch looking for a last run and them running through that Benn/Seguin/Spezza prime. I think it's one of those things that might be hard to pull the trigger on both sides, but man would that set us up for the future or what

Any of you guys see the Hockey News post about how Dallas should ship the 3rd overall pick for cory? Man I'd be super into that, adding Patrick and HIESKANEN/MAKAR would be so awesome. I really really like Makar's game. While Shero would likely jump on that, cuz it could also help us tank for Dahlin, do the stars realistically do it? It doesn't sound too ridiculous from the Stars standpoint, they need to win soon with Hitch looking for a last run and them running through that Benn/Seguin/Spezza prime. I think it's one of those things that might be hard to pull the trigger on both sides, but man would that set us up for the future or what
- sendingSTRENGTH

Hell yes. Heiskanen though.

Hell yes. Heiskanen though.
- Devils9503

Def Heiskanen

Any of you guys see the Hockey News post about how Dallas should ship the 3rd overall pick for cory? Man I'd be super into that, adding Patrick and HIESKANEN/MAKAR would be so awesome. I really really like Makar's game. While Shero would likely jump on that, cuz it could also help us tank for Dahlin, do the stars realistically do it? It doesn't sound too ridiculous from the Stars standpoint, they need to win soon with Hitch looking for a last run and them running through that Benn/Seguin/Spezza prime. I think it's one of those things that might be hard to pull the trigger on both sides, but man would that set us up for the future or what
- sendingSTRENGTH

100% would do... doubt they would though... then I'd trade down with it + get more picks

Dallas needs competent d-men as much as they need a goaltender. If we absorbed some of their salary (ie take one of their bad goaltenders), they'd probably do this for sure.

100% would do... doubt they would though... then I'd trade down with it + get more picks

Dallas needs competent d-men as much as they need a goaltender. If we absorbed some of their salary (ie take one of their bad goaltenders), they'd probably do this for sure.
- archromat

As a hold over we could sign bishop to a 1-2 year deal until Wedgewood or Blackwood are ready

You guys are gonna feel so silly when Shero drafts Hischier.

one thing I just considered after reading all these blogs out about trading Cory is that what the hell if he doesn't want to be traded ? what if he is perfectly happy and has made NJ his home ? Hard to trade away really good players who want to be here.

100% would do... doubt they would though... then I'd trade down with it + get more picks

Dallas needs competent d-men as much as they need a goaltender. If we absorbed some of their salary (ie take one of their bad goaltenders), they'd probably do this for sure.
- archromat

What's the length on Lekhonen/Niemi's contracts? If it's 1-2 years I'd do it. We might as well use that cap space to the fullest but I don't want an abysmal contract like hat lingering for too long.

Hell yes. Heiskanen though.
- Devils9503

Really? I get Makar's size is concerning but man that kid can play. Love his attitude to, I think with Santini and Jacobs being more defense based prospects an exciting creative puck moving d-man like Makar would be an absolute slam dunk for us

You guys are gonna feel so silly when Shero drafts Hischier.
- CaptCrankypants

One thing to keep in mind. Patrick has been compared to Toews-lite. You know who Toews-lite is? Jordan Staal (or Travis Zajac)

Really? I get Makar's size is concerning but man that kid can play. Love his attitude to, I think with Santini and Jacobs being more defense based prospects an exciting creative puck moving d-man like Makar would be an absolute slam dunk for us
- sendingSTRENGTH

Heiskanen is playing in the Finnish league as a 17 year old and doesn't turn 18 until July.

What's the length on Lekhonen/Niemi's contracts? If it's 1-2 years I'd do it. We might as well use that cap space to the fullest but I don't want an abysmal contract like hat lingering for too long.
- sendingSTRENGTH

1 year both.

One thing to keep in mind. Patrick has been compared to Toews-lite. You know who Toews-lite is? Jordan Staal (or Travis Zajac)
- CaptCrankypants

That's one of the most unfair comparisons I hear about Patrick.

Toews is known for play in big games and his leadership. Patrick won playoff MVP in WHL last year, so there's that, then he put up one assist in 3 games in Mem Cup, so then there's that. We didn't get to see him play for Canada.

He has Toews size and probably is bigger in girth, or will be, but we can't call him Toews lite... Toews is the guy that scored three shootout goals for Canada in one game... when the team relied on him, he got it done. Even Chicago didn't know they were getting Toews when they drafted him because that feat was not accomplished during his draft year (when someone PPGs for a uni team, that's usually pretty good); he just turned out to be an extremely pleasant surprise. When someone asks you what marks Toews from other players, it's leadership, gutcheck. Patrick has really proven neither of these, yet... even winning playoff MVP, he was on a fairly strong team.

Patrick is a bumper car centerman with really good hockey IQ and a shot that suits his frame (I'd call it more accurate than hard, though it's hard... he probably can't wrist/snap it like Laine)... it'd be more accurate to call him Lindros-lite. (Except Lindros' 2.61 PPG sorta eclipses his 1.39 PPG during draft year). But what's his character like?

Someone talked about combine: they do the tests and what not and sometimes people stand out in those things for what they did or didn't do (Bennett with zero pullups)... but it's mostly for teams to interview players to tear their character apart in making sure they're not drafting a head case.

Any of you guys see the Hockey News post about how Dallas should ship the 3rd overall pick for cory? Man I'd be super into that, adding Patrick and HIESKANEN/MAKAR would be so awesome. I really really like Makar's game. While Shero would likely jump on that, cuz it could also help us tank for Dahlin, do the stars realistically do it? It doesn't sound too ridiculous from the Stars standpoint, they need to win soon with Hitch looking for a last run and them running through that Benn/Seguin/Spezza prime. I think it's one of those things that might be hard to pull the trigger on both sides, but man would that set us up for the future or what
- sendingSTRENGTH

I would do it in a heartbeat. The trick is getting Cory to give the ok to move to Dallas.

Every day your going to be talking hischier/Patrick?
- Just5

I mean if the organization you root for hadn't had a #1 overall pick since 1979, you talk about that too.