Nashville doesn't have to move Subban this year to get under the cap, but they do have to move salary to add up front, with Subban being the main name in the rumor mill to though I don't think they're set on trading him. And Duchene seems to be their main target.

Supposedly Zucker was almost traded for Frolik and a pick but they missed the deadline. Since then, the rumor is they want a RH RW so Fiala and Donato can play on the left.

Yeah, trading Zucker to make room for Fiala and Donato. Fenton seems like a GM we should trade with.
- Tojo.

Lol at your Fenton comment. Imagine how many other GMs are thinking the same thing.

Sportsnet had an article on cap teams not long ago. They said Smith would likely be moved up front. Aside from him, it’s unknown but assumed that Poile wouldn’t be happy with the early returns from Granlund and of course they’d like to get out from Turris if they could. Could be some buyers remorse there. Looking at Turris’ career he’s always done well when playing closer to 19 minutes. Not sure where else he would get that. Dallas makes sense but I’ve got them Pegged for Hayes.

If Duchene is going to Nashville it wouldn’t surprise me to see Turris end up in Columbus or possibly Buffalo, only if they’re buying at a discount of course

Yeah I don’t know. Phil seems like a stubborn dude and I think that kills his working relationships with his coaches. Like I said it’s never the players. Mackey has said on several occasions that the players all love Phil and accept his weirdness. He’s just not a management type of guy like the Matt Cullens and Craig Adams of the world.
- Victoro311

It’s really not that much to ask of a hockey player to do what the coach asks. Sure Kessel has great personal success, but him being and acting above the team isn’t great for anyone. Crosby plays within the system so I think Kessel could do the same.

Phil negotiated his limited NTC in good faith. He probably left $ on the table for that option. I hope it works out for all. But i really hope johnson goes.

I stopped paying to DK... something about threesomes with him and his wife to be a female writer there... and his poop is mediocre most the time.
- Guile

I think his journalistic standards are pretty high. He's not a rumor guy. I don't know anything about a threesome with his wife, but I thought the writer he fired pretty much sucked. Not saying he's a great guy or anything.

Phil negotiated his limited NTC in good faith. He probably left $ on the table for that option. I hope it works out for all. But i really hope johnson goes.
- i'mjustafan

Honestly... I'm willing to take the downgrade at forward to get rid of Johnson.

I think his journalistic standards are pretty high. He's not a rumor guy. I don't know anything about a threesome with his wife, but I thought the writer he fired pretty much sucked. Not saying he's a great guy or anything.
- madmike71

https://deadspin.com/pitt...a-meat-grinder-1821797940

For the threesome topic.


However, I do not believe his writing or standards is high. He had so many 'how dare you dislike JJ, he has heart' mentions in his writings for the entire season. Constantly argued in the comments unprofessionally. To me, he is hardly different than Tanner, except Tanner understands that a poop player, is poop.

Honestly... I'm willing to take the downgrade at forward to get rid of Johnson.
- madmike71

I agree, lesser of two evils. But I'd like to avoid Rask if possible. He would take over as the worst contract and we need to trim about 3M already and that swap makes it close to 4M.

I agree, lesser of two evils. But I'd like to avoid Rask if possible. He would take over as the worst contract and we need to trim about 3M already and that swap makes it close to 4M.
- Tojo.

I think (hope) he bounces back from his surgery. I could see him putting up 35 points if he played on a line with say Bjugstad and Hornqvist/Rust with some PP2 time

It’s really not that much to ask of a hockey player to do what the coach asks. Sure Kessel has great personal success, but him being and acting above the team isn’t great for anyone. Crosby plays within the system so I think Kessel could do the same.
- Grinder47

The constant insistence that Phil be a two way player because "that's the right way to play" when back checking is literally not in his skill set is stupid. Being told to be a different player, especially when you are an established great player at what you do, gets (frank)ing old. It would be the equivalent of if my boss told me to run regression analysis in my day to day when I am very clearly not a math guy, and then got constantly pissed off at me because there are a ton of errors in my math. I'd check out and start circulating my resume within months if I were in that kind of situation.

The issue with Phil is that coaches have never liked his process because he is an offensive one way player and hockey coaches can't (frank)ing deal with a guy that has no defensive acumen whatsoever, damn the elite-level results.

https://deadspin.com/pitt...a-meat-grinder-1821797940

For the threesome topic.


However, I do not believe his writing or standards is high. He had so many 'how dare you dislike JJ, he has heart' mentions in his writings for the entire season. Constantly argued in the comments unprofessionally. To me, he is hardly different than Tanner, except Tanner understands that a poop player, is poop.
- Guile

He used to be good before his site started doing really well. His success stroked the worst parts of his personality and his ego shows through the writing. He's a POS and he sounds like a condescending POS through his style.

He used to be good before his site started doing really well. His success stroked the worst parts of his personality and his ego shows through the writing. He's a POS and he sounds like a condescending POS through his style.
- Victoro311

While he might be a POS, I still don't believe he fabricates his reporting. He definitely grew more arrogant as the success of his site took off.

FWIW he said Phil has been nothing but professional with him.

While he might be a POS, I still don't believe he fabricates his reporting. He definitely grew more arrogant as the success of his site took off.

FWIW he said Phil has been nothing but professional with him.
- madmike71

I don't think Djan is a hack like, say, Rossi. I just think that the quality of his work is subpar and he rarely ever adds anything interesting to the conversation. Djan's not really a beat guy when he writes, he's an op-ed'er and I find his opinions tired. At least with good beat guys, even when their opinions suck, they provide interesting glimpses into the locker room if they're doing their job right. DK barely does that anymore.

While he might be a POS, I still don't believe he fabricates his reporting. He definitely grew more arrogant as the success of his site took off.

FWIW he said Phil has been nothing but professional with him.
- madmike71

I never said he fabricated, just skewed and slighted for his bias. He could have pointed out the numerous missed assignments and gaffs of JJ... but instead suckles on his teet for the 1 play of every 10 he didnt whiff.

The constant insistence that Phil be a two way player because "that's the right way to play" when back checking is literally not in his skill set is stupid. Being told to be a different player, especially when you are an established great player at what you do, gets (frank)ing old. It would be the equivalent of if my boss told me to run regression analysis in my day to day when I am very clearly not a math guy, and then got constantly pissed off at me because there are a ton of errors in my math. I'd check out and start circulating my resume within months if I were in that kind of situation.

The issue with Phil is that coaches have never liked his process because he is an offensive one way player and hockey coaches can't (frank)ing deal with a guy that has no defensive acumen whatsoever, damn the elite-level results.
- Victoro311

How do you know this is the situation?

It seems to me that there is more to it than he doesn't want to take care of his defensive assignments. He soon will have been given up on by three teams, 4 if you count Team USA. It sounds to me like a chronic issue with him and he thinks like you, that his skill is such that he is above the team.

And you analogy is nonsense, back checking is not a learned skill, its effort and in team players a source of pride that you wont let your team down by letting your defensive assignment have free access in your zone. By not covering his assignment he is putting added stress on the defensive pairings and hanging his goalie out to dry.

Sucks that JJ had to get saddled with this defensive no show all year.

How do you know this is the situation?

It seems to me that there is more to it than he doesn't want to take care of his defensive assignments. He soon will have been given up on by three teams, 4 if you count Team USA. It sounds to me like a chronic issue with him and he thinks like you, that his skill is such that he is above the team.

And you analogy is nonsense, back checking is not a learned skill, its effort and in team players a source of pride that you wont let your team down by letting your defensive assignment have free access in your zone. By not covering his assignment he is putting added stress on the defensive pairings and hanging his goalie out to dry.

Sucks that JJ had to get saddled with this defensive no show all year.
- stackthepads

I mean I’m speculating but I’m pretty confident in my assumption that that’s what’s happening.

I don't think Djan is a hack like, say, Rossi. I just think that the quality of his work is subpar and he rarely ever adds anything interesting to the conversation. Djan's not really a beat guy when he writes, he's an op-ed'er and I find his opinions tired. At least with good beat guys, even when their opinions suck, they provide interesting glimpses into the locker room if they're doing their job right. DK barely does that anymore.
- Victoro311

That's fine. I disagree to a point. This is journalism as a whole these days. Opinion/Columnists do some legit reporting, while "reporters" freely offer opinions. There's no strict dividing line like there used to be.

Like I said before, I don't think he fabricated his report. People are asking why the Penguins are going down the road of trading Phil. As far as I can tell, DK is providing the most plausible insight.

Who says Phil isn’t a backchecker?!

https://gfycat.com/negligiblevastfrillneckedlizard

Seriously though, the dude has come a LONG way from where he was as a Leaf. Miles better now than he was then

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9S0Rw9Uvjdo

Come on, we all know why Phil nixed the trade to MIN; because JJ would be coming with him. How is he supposed to believe MIN is serious about putting together a contender if they willingly trade for JJ?

Phil was just the legit mvp for the cup win where he was at the forefront of the team's run... Why keep a guy like that around?

How do you know this is the situation?

It seems to me that there is more to it than he doesn't want to take care of his defensive assignments. He soon will have been given up on by three teams, 4 if you count Team USA. It sounds to me like a chronic issue with him and he thinks like you, that his skill is such that he is above the team.

And you analogy is nonsense, back checking is not a learned skill, its effort and in team players a source of pride that you wont let your team down by letting your defensive assignment have free access in your zone. By not covering his assignment he is putting added stress on the defensive pairings and hanging his goalie out to dry.

Sucks that JJ had to get saddled with this defensive no show all year.
- stackthepads

😂 Great line! It's true though, JJ got all the blame, but Kessel, Malkin, and Scultz all had poor defensive years on their own merits.

Phil was just the legit mvp for the cup win where he was at the forefront of the team's run... Why keep a guy like that around?
- kaptaan

He wasn't the MVP. They gave it to the guy who played great at both ends.

He wasn't the MVP. They gave it to the guy who played great at both ends.
- Tojo.

It's pretty much been a fan-wide and media-wide consensus that he was robbed.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...y-reaches-brayden-schenn/

- glove_was_stuck

Soooo.. does that mean E4 Phil back to Toronto?

Soooo.. does that mean E4 Phil back to Toronto?
- leafsfann

It's just a matter of time before EK posts, "Kessel heading back to TOR?"