Just saw that the Oilers loss Klefbom for 'several weeks ' last night due to a hand injury. I know RNH has been in the rumor mill, but likely not someone we would go after. Now Puljujarvi might be more available and could benefit from a change of scenery. What LD would be an option to trade? Edmonton doesn't have much cap space, so it would have to be close to his $975k salary. Puljujarvi, 20 y/o RW who is an RFA at the end of the season.

Oh god, I hope not. I think 32 is going to water it down enough. Until Bettman is gone and they get someone in who actually knows how to market their young stars, they need no more expanding.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Yeah, i think most would agree with you
But supposedly the NHL has been eying up Houston bc of the market size & $$$ down there
They’re looking at the business of it,
whereas you’re talking about the overall product on ice
I guess they’re thinking they can get away with it
And they might be right
Youth hockey has gotten pretty big in Texas, and has been growing other places in the South
They’re producing talent like Seth Jones & Matthews already
In their mind,
The NHL is expecting it to continue to the point where they’re getting a new supply of talent to some degree from down South,
and even out West from Cali

I'm sure Girgs will be qualified. If he can come up with 8-10 goals this year, I'd be ok with him going forward on the 23-man roster
- jcragcrumple

Especially if he can slide back to Center
But they could always use Sobatka or E Rod at 4C until Asplund is ready

In football news, the Bills are favored this week. Most experts said they wouldn't be favored all year after week 2 against the Browns.

In football news, the Bills are favored this week. Most experts said they wouldn't be favored all year after week 2 against the Browns.
- adambuffalo

I will start watching when the coaches are fired

Haven't they talked about moving it?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Discussions, law suits etc. Last plan I heard of they were looking at building one on the ASU campus and share it with the Sun Devils. Another had them building in Scottsdale next to Talking Stick resort and Casino I think. Either would have been great.

https://youtu.be/jaBB0nmBpnM

This came out 2 years ago. Timing is perfect for it now. Wish I could post the video and not just the link, but I'm on my phone.

I wouldn't mind trying Tage on the top line just to spread out the talent more. Maybe he turns into our Tom Wilson without the suspensions.

Skinner Eichel Thompson
Mitts Reinhart Okposo
Sheary Rodriguez Pommers
Sobotka Larsson Girgs

The 2nd line could have Casey and Sam either at wing or center whichever works. Rodriguez may benefit playing with Pominville and Sheary and our 4th line(some nights 2nd or 3rd line) would still be able to handle the defensive minutes.
- adambuffalo

I’d still keep Mitts at Center
He’s mostly played well enough that he looks like he’s gonna break out at some point
Just gotta find guys he clicks with

Jack, Mitts & Sam at Center could leave us pretty deep & talented at the position of it works out
Gotta fill in the wings though
So go after Stone as a UFA
And hope guys like Nylander & Olofsson are ready to contribute next year

Roll 3 “scoring lines” and form up line 4 as our defensive unit

Skinner-Jack-Thompson
Sheary-Sam-Stone
Nylander-Mitts-Olofsson
*hopefully moving out Okposo
*shield that 3rd line with heavy O-zone time

Then some combo of:
Girgs, Sobatka, Berglund, E Rod, Larsson, Pommer, Wilson, Asplund, etc
for the 4th line

Discussions, law suits etc. Last plan I heard of they were looking at building one on the ASU campus and share it with the Sun Devils. Another had them building in Scottsdale next to Talking Stick resort and Casino I think. Either would have been great.
- Pope of Pucks

ASU bailed outta that though right?
From what I’ve heard,
there’s not really any public or govt support to use tax $$$ for another arena

Yeah, i think most would agree with you
But supposedly the NHL has been eying up Houston bc of the market size & $$$ down there
They’re looking at the business of it,
whereas you’re talking about the overall product on ice
I guess they’re thinking they can get away with it
And they might be right
Youth hockey has gotten pretty big in Texas, and has been growing other places in the South
They’re producing talent like Seth Jones & Matthews already
In their mind,
The NHL is expecting it to continue to the point where they’re getting a new supply of talent to some degree from down South,
and even out West from Cali
- jdfitz77

True to a degree. CA, AZ, TX, are all starting to produce. Lots of retired NHL in Scottsdale and LA. The gene pool and money is growing in youth hockey. I think ASU hockey will catch on from a recruiting standpoint. ASU's recruiting mantra is what do you want? UGG's and beanies or flip flops and bikini's?

ASU bailed outta that though right?
From what I’ve heard,
there’s not really any public or govt support to use tax $$$ for another arena
- jdfitz77

I know it died but not why. The only things the governments in the valley want to build are Soccer Fields.

True to a degree. CA, AZ, TX, are all starting to produce. Lots of retired NHL in Scottsdale and LA. The gene pool and money is growing in youth hockey. I think ASU hockey will catch on from a recruiting standpoint. ASU's recruiting mantra is what do you want? UGG's and beanies or flip flops and bikini's?
- Pope of Pucks

Thing is that doesn't work with most hockey guys. I would miss pond hockey to much.

Thing is that doesn't work with most hockey guys. I would miss pond hockey to much.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Walk around the campus. It works. Lemieux's kid is playing there. Those were the exact words the Coach told my kid when they were recruiting him for football.

True to a degree. CA, AZ, TX, are all starting to produce. Lots of retired NHL in Scottsdale and LA. The gene pool and money is growing in youth hockey. I think ASU hockey will catch on from a recruiting standpoint. ASU's recruiting mantra is what do you want? UGG's and beanies or flip flops and bikini's?
- Pope of Pucks

ASU is a really fun area to hang around if you’re younger

But yeah,
I think the NHL thinks that they’re starting to expand their talent base enough to justify what they think will be good business by going to 36 teams

Houston is the next target
KC has been trying for a team and seems like a market that’s worth a shot
Quebec is still there, but that might be where Ottawa moves if they can’t figure their sh!t out (gotta get a new owner ASAP)

Not sure where else they’d be looking,
but speculation generally swirls around places like San Antonio or Portland (and other NBA cities) where an arena can be shared

And at some point they’re probably gonna do another Southern Ontario team- just makes too much sense not to
And also... F the Leafs

we will know a lot about this team from the next 11 games

yotes
@caps
@bruins
panthers
@caps
ducks
@blues
bruins
islanders
panthers
@bruins

5 tough games
if they want to have a shot to get a top 3 spot, have to come out ahead in the bruins series, and win the easier games on this schedule


if they get 15 points out of 22, I will be very happy
if they get 10 points out of 22, they really are only a fringe playoff team
- homiedclown

I could be wrong but I believe we were 6-4-1 after the month of October. We were 11-3-2 after the month of November and 1-2-1 in the month of December so far. The playoff teams win 6 games out of 10 game stretch with a loser point in one of the 4 losses. So we have to go 5-3-1 over the next 9 in order for it to be a good month imo.

I guess hockey is really big in Houston and Thurman Thomas has been trying to get an ownership group together to bring an NHL team there. Their minor league team is very popular in town.

They would undoubtedly have the worst ice in the league.

Just do right by NHL fans and move the Panthers to Quebec and idgaf what they do with the Yotes.

I know it died but not why. The only things the governments in the valley want to build are Soccer Fields.
- Pope of Pucks

My uncle was saying there’s no way they’ll get the support for a new arena when the current one is only 15ish years old,
and the team is doing so poorly that there’s constantly a threat that they could move

Seemingly, the only option COULD be to move back in with the Suns
But i guess the setup of that arena made it so difficult that that’s why they built the new place
Was just a HUGE error to build it where the Cards play
Much easier to travel to & from on a Sunday
During the week,
it’s just too much of a hassle for ppl to bother

I guess hockey is really big in Houston and Thurman Thomas has been trying to get an ownership group together to bring an NHL team there. Their minor league team is very popular in town.

They would undoubtedly have the worst ice in the league.

Just do right by NHL fans and move the Panthers to Quebec and idgaf what they do with the Yotes.
- BeadyEyedDouche

If it wasn't for Quebecs government they would probably already have a team. Until that corruption stops they are out.

My uncle was saying there’s no way they’ll get the support for a new arena when the current one is only 15ish years old,
and the team is doing so poorly that there’s constantly a threat that they could move

Seemingly, the only option COULD be to move back in with the Suns
But i guess the setup of that arena made it so difficult that that’s why they built the new place
Was just a HUGE error to build it where the Cards play
Much easier to travel to & from on a Sunday
During the week,
it’s just too much of a hassle for ppl to bother
- jdfitz77

The other problem with the Sun's arena was the the Suns. I think all of the concession money went to the the Sun's and they may have had a % of the ticket sales.

Anyone notice Jack Dougherty in the minors?

10gp 1g 4a 5pts, +11

He's the guy we got for Bapper if I remember correctly. Does anyone know about him? Is he a legit prospect or was that AHL transfers?

Add this to Arizona's sports problems:

UPDATE: City official tells me Suns owner Robert Sarver is threatening to take Suns to Seattle or Las Vegas. https://t.co/SLHEwpbpL7 via @azcentral

Just saw that the Oilers loss Klefbom for 'several weeks ' last night due to a hand injury. I know RNH has been in the rumor mill, but likely not someone we would go after. Now Puljujarvi might be more available and could benefit from a change of scenery. What LD would be an option to trade? Edmonton doesn't have much cap space, so it would have to be close to his $975k salary. Puljujarvi, 20 y/o RW who is an RFA at the end of the season.
- adambuffalo

Wanna give up Risto for a guy with 2pts in 20g? McCabe won't get you a 20 year old top5 pick, even though he's struggled. Not even out of Chia Pet.

Wanna give up Risto for a guy with 2pts in 20g? McCabe won't get you a 20 year old top5 pick, even though he's struggled. Not even out of Chia Pet.
- RhinoFan

No but if McCabe+ can get us RNH then I’d listen forsure.

Add this to Arizona's sports problems:

UPDATE: City official tells me Suns owner Robert Sarver is threatening to take Suns to Seattle or Las Vegas. https://t.co/SLHEwpbpL7 via @azcentral
- adambuffalo

Fine by me. It would open up the Sun's arena for the Yotes. Win Win.

No but if McCabe+ can get us RNH then I’d listen forsure.
- Pegullaville

The + would be a 1st and probably more. Just a guess.

Still down?

Honestly, Samson is my guy. But if we want another center, if Mitts won't do for some time, trade Samson for RNH straight up, or with a small add, and save the picks. We can send a defender out for a pick and save a contract.

Edit: Not trying to jump on ya. Just think people are shooting for the stars with our TDL or trade targets.