I’m with you. I liked Pageau before his contract extension. He’s pretty mediocre value now and we’d be buying sky high. I’d skip.
- Victoro311

Yeah, I'd rather go after someone like Eric Staal who makes the same amount, is a better player, and is under contract for next season. This would also make Bjug expendable which I support (as opposed to getting rid of Rust).

MIN will be out of it soon and they won't need a 35 year old for the imminent rebuild. In fact, Bjug is from Minnesota and I'm sure he would love to "go home." Maybe a straight-up trade with a little extra.

Looking for that McCann line to do big things while Sid is out. After being very disappointed in him the first couple of games I’ve become a big Kahun guy and think he’s our best shot at a second bonafide top 6 winger behind G. McCann having more success at C would also make moving Bjugstad’s contract down the road a real possibility. I think this offseason we’ll have to pick between Bjugstad and Rust and Rust is obviously the better player there. Would hate to have to pick Bjugstad just because we don’t have another 3C.
- Victoro311

The way things are going with Bjugstad we might be eating salary to move him. I know he was injured early, but he's had one game where he's done anything of consequence. Mostly it's shift after shift of nothingness. I remember when the Pens got him, it seemed FLA thought he was a better wing than center. I'm starting to believe they should try him there.

I just read LeBrun's article on cap recapture penalties. I never realized how much the Preds were on the hook for: 24M divided over how many years were left.

How do you even plan for that if like Luongo, he does what's best for his current team and not his old one?
- Tojo.

Negotiate like hell and try to avoid too many NTCs

Yeah, I'd rather go after someone like Eric Staal who makes the same amount, is a better player, and is under contract for next season. This would also make Bjug expendable which I support (as opposed to getting rid of Rust).

MIN will be out of it soon and they won't need a 35 year old for the imminent rebuild. In fact, Bjug is from Minnesota and I'm sure he would love to "go home." Maybe a straight-up trade with a little extra.
- Hockey66

Minnesota’s main issue is pretty well documented and it’s not their lack of offense. I believe Tojo just reposted it this past week, their goalies are really underperforming. Near the bottom of the league. Insert Lehner or Markstrom next season and it changes everything. Can say the same for SJ for that matter

Hell no for Pageau. We cannot keep wasting assets for average pieces like this. We drafted two players this year that should crack the lineup and contribute within the next 1-3 years. That is a lot better than getting a guy for a few months, he adds nothing in those few months, and then the crowds cheer when he leaves.

Minnesota’s main issue is pretty well documented and it’s not their lack of offense. I believe Tojo just reposted it this past week, their goalies are really underperforming. Near the bottom of the league. Insert Lehner or Markstrom next season and it changes everything. Can say the same for SJ for that matter
- WSCTeton17

There are only 4 teams who have scored fewer goals, so I beg to differ.

They haven't got past the first round in 4 years and they missed the playoffs last year. 4 of their "core" players are 35+. They are currently tied for last place in the league. If that doesn't say "rebuild," then I don't know what does.

The obvious thing to do is trade Galchenyuk and Bjugstad for Anze kopitar, then Kopitar for Panarin once Sif comes back.

Wishing Sid a speedy and healthy recovery.

Also hoping for solid goaltending.

Flames reporting that TJ Brodie collapsed at practice and started convulsing on the ice. He was just standing by himself when it happened. Apparently he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
- burgh4life87

Sounds like a good time to kick the tires on him

Sounds like a good time to kick the tires on him
- 10inchTerror

Wow, really?

The obvious thing to do is trade Galchenyuk and Bjugstad for Anze kopitar, then Kopitar for Panarin once Sif comes back.
- Grinder47

Haha classic NHL trades

There are only 4 teams who have scored fewer goals, so I beg to differ.

They haven't got past the first round in 4 years and they missed the playoffs last year. 4 of their "core" players are 35+. They are currently tied for last place in the league. If that doesn't say "rebuild," then I don't know what does.
- Hockey66

You take these long averages as gospel so this is just par for the course. They’ve scored 17 goals in 5 games which is effective. As I said earlier it’s goaltending that has let them down. Two of those core players are on untraceable contracts that are buyout proof.

So you have 1-2 players sinking the ship but the answer is to blow it up? That just doesn’t make sense especially when you can quickly retool which many teams have done. Lots of goalie options this offseason

It really doesn’t matter how many old players you have as long as they’re performing. Staal has 14 in 18, Suter has 9 in 18. Parise isn’t performing and he’s not likely to get better over the remainder of his contract

Also, just because Minnesota has been putting the puck in the net doesn’t mean they’ll continue to do so. The point I was making is if they had an average or slightly above average starter then they’d like be .500 or better with the offense they’ve been putting up. Their D are also studs

Also, just because Minnesota has been putting the puck in the net doesn’t mean they’ll continue to do so. The point I was making is if they had an average or slightly above average starter then they’d like be .500 or better with the offense they’ve been putting up. Their D are also studs
- WSCTeton17

Better goaltending and maybe Minnesota is competing for a wild card, IMO. There's some offensive talent though too much is LW. It's a fixable team short-term because of how great the defense is.

Problem is, they're still better off rebuilding because too many key players are well into their 30s and they aren't Cup contenders. But most of them have a lot of term left, so they're pretty much screwed either way.

Better goaltending and maybe Minnesota is competing for a wild card, IMO. There's some offensive talent though too much is LW. It's a fixable team short-term because of how great the defense is.

Problem is, they're still better off rebuilding because too many key players are well into their 30s and they aren't Cup contenders. But most of them have a lot of term left, so they're pretty much screwed either way.
- Tojo.

I heard their sellout streak ended earlier this year. Attendance will suffer if they rebuild. I don’t think it’s a secret that they likely don’t compete for a cup while Parise is there. I think what they’re doing is the best course of action. Continue to build and bring in solid players, the Rask trade was definitely a setback though

Competing for a wildcard spot is just over .500 right now so it looks like we agree there as well. Koivu likely comes back at a much lower salary and maybe that gives them enough to bring in a new starter. Maybe they buyout Duby if he doesn’t rebound or get flipped. Time will tell but it’s not a garbage roster, it just has its blemishes

TSN also reporting JR has no plans on making any moves.

TSN also reporting JR has no plans on making any moves.
- Rinosaur

Smoke and mirrors

Haha classic NHL trades
- 668710

I mean if Kopitar finally got to play with the likes of Simon he’d put up the points.

TSN also reporting JR has no plans on making any moves.
- Rinosaur

If the Pens start falling 6 or 8 points out of a playoff spot, JR will have his flip phone surgically implanted in his ear trying to find a stopgap fix.

I mean if Kopitar finally got to play with the likes of Simon he’d put up the points.
- Grinder47

Hahahah it never ends

Simon has at least one more point so far (before the Kings game later this eve) this season than one of Kopitar's wingers.

Smoke and mirrors
- 10inchTerror

😂

You take these long averages as gospel so this is just par for the course. They’ve scored 17 goals in 5 games which is effective. As I said earlier it’s goaltending that has let them down. Two of those core players are on untraceable contracts that are buyout proof.

So you have 1-2 players sinking the ship but the answer is to blow it up? That just doesn’t make sense especially when you can quickly retool which many teams have done. Lots of goalie options this offseason

It really doesn’t matter how many old players you have as long as they’re performing. Staal has 14 in 18, Suter has 9 in 18. Parise isn’t performing and he’s not likely to get better over the remainder of his contract
- WSCTeton17

Uh, yeah, give me the larger sample size over the smaller sample size every time. We're almost 1/4 through the season and they are 5th worst in scoring and tied for the worst record in the league.

They don't just need goaltending to put them "over the top." Even when Dubnyk was lights out during the regular season and playoffs a couple of years ago they couldn't win more than two playoff games, and that was when their aging core was younger and that much better.

No, I say blow it up because they are more than one or two moves from competing for a playoff spot, let alone for the Cup. Or they can ride their aging stars into the ground and get nothing for them. Seems like an easy choice.

Maybe call Guerin to see if you can join their marketing team.

Uh, yeah, give me the larger sample size over the smaller sample size every time. We're almost 1/4 through the season and they are 5th worst in scoring and tied for the worst record in the league.

They don't just need goaltending to put them "over the top." Even when Dubnyk was lights out during the regular season and playoffs a couple of years ago they couldn't win more than two playoff games, and that was when their aging core was younger and that much better.

No, I say blow it up because they are more than one or two moves from competing for a playoff spot, let alone for the Cup. Or they can ride their aging stars into the ground and get nothing for them. Seems like an easy choice.

Maybe call Guerin to see if you can join their marketing team.
- Hockey66

So if they’re such a poor offensive team why are they putting up offense consistently now?

Ok so let’s play out your scenario: nobody is taking Parise or Suter and if you trade Zucc you now hurt your credibility to bring in other free agents. So now you have a terrible hockey team, you STILL have those aging players. You then still have to draft and develop and even when those players are ready you still aren’t competing because you’re saddled with bad contracts and your fan base is mad because you’ve been so bad for so long.

I said it earlier. If they’re not truly going to be a contender until after Parise and Suter is gone then you might as well be competitive while you can and try to appease your fans, continue to bring in revenue

Marketing has nothing to do with team direction and upper management decisions btw

So if they’re such a poor offensive team why are they putting up offense consistently now?

Ok so let’s play out your scenario: nobody is taking Parise or Suter and if you trade Zucc you now hurt your credibility to bring in other free agents. So now you have a terrible hockey team, you STILL have those aging players. You then still have to draft and develop and even when those players are ready you still aren’t competing because you’re saddled with bad contracts and your fan base is mad because you’ve been so bad for so long.

I said it earlier. If they’re not truly going to be a contender until after Parise and Suter is gone then you might as well be competitive while you can and try to appease your fans, continue to bring in revenue

Marketing has nothing to do with team direction and upper management decisions btw
- WSCTeton17

Most likely they will fall back to normal where the offense isn't as good. Even the real bad teams go thru a stretch where the puck just goes in more than often. And that's definitely a pure business way of thinking about it, nothing wrong with that.

Uh, yeah, give me the larger sample size over the smaller sample size every time. We're almost 1/4 through the season and they are 5th worst in scoring and tied for the worst record in the league.

They don't just need goaltending to put them "over the top." Even when Dubnyk was lights out during the regular season and playoffs a couple of years ago they couldn't win more than two playoff games, and that was when their aging core was younger and that much better.

No, I say blow it up because they are more than one or two moves from competing for a playoff spot, let alone for the Cup. Or they can ride their aging stars into the ground and get nothing for them. Seems like an easy choice.

Maybe call Guerin to see if you can join their marketing team.
- Hockey66

Wasn't one of the main reasons Guerin was picked was because he believed they didn't need to rebuild and other candidates thought they should rebuild? I think I heard that. If true it's looking like maybe those other candidates were right.