if casey, or cozens cant's fill the second line center slot this fall, we need a new GM right now
- homiedclown

Mitts might be a miss
I think he’s gotta put in the work & he can still be good though
Don’t really see how that’s on Botts

Cozens is year2 post draft
It’s understandable if he isn’t a “2C” as a rookie

These guys aren’t busts yet
But Mitts better take a step up this season,
or be a part of a trade that gets us a good player

And he is going to hit a wall in 2 years

Do not want
- gerbe75pts

There is absolutely no evidence to back this theory that he's gonna hit this imaginary wall of yours. I would think you would be a fan of the care he takes with his body.

"When Canadiens sports science and performance director, Pierre Allard, was asked about which player always amazes him in the gym, his reply came rather quickly.

"Every year, I'm blown away by how strong Shea Weber is physically. He's a beast from a physical standpoint. Every year, when I see him arrive in the weight room, you see he's at another level," praised Allard, regarding the Habs' captain. "Shea has always taken his conditioning to heart."

And he is going to hit a wall in 2 years

Do not want
- gerbe75pts

Weber looked better last year than he has in a while
But he could take a step back & decline any day now

Risky player to acquire

Who’d have thought MTL actually got the better deal in that PK trade??
Crazy

Kesler
- homiedclown

LTIR?

Pegullaviles Dream World

Mojo-Eichel-Cozens
Skinner-Byfield/Rossi-Reinhart
Kahun-Bonino-Olofsson
Vesey-Larsson-Thompson

Brodin-Montour
Dahlin-Joker
Pilut-Miller
McCabe

Halak
Ullmark

Mitts, Asplund, Samuelsson, 2021 first for Brodin

Risto traded for picks and prospects to restock the cupboards. Some of which will be used to acquire Bonino.

Okposo compliance buyout.

I like to dream.

You don't think he would compliment Dahlin? He was averaging 24 minutes a night this season. I don't see his game looking like Seabrook's, but more like a Chara or Suter.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, if he retired early Nashville would take the hit.
- adambuffalo

I think at some point Weber will have a Seabrook like drop off
Impossible to say when

The Sabres could take a giant step next year with the right off-season moves. It's funny you mention and describe how the Sabres "play the right way". That is coach Q's go to phrase, "we wanna/we're gonna play the right way". Their forwards were/are a big part of their defensive struggles. Imo, it's big part of why Trocheck was traded. Getting Haula and Wallmark in return has given them two defensively responsible forwards. It took a few games after the trade, but their last several games before virus stoppage were the most solid teamwide defensive efforts to date. They played an impressive defensive game against Boston, losing 2-1 in OT. Then they smothered the Habs before going to St Louis and beating the Blues in another low scoring game. It seems they may have figured out how to play "the right way" that Q's been talking about all season. It sucks they had to stop, it was going to get very interesting.
- Ratsreign

What do u think of Hoffman & Dadonov?

Weber looked better last year than he has in a while
But he could take a step back & decline any day now

Risky player to acquire

Who’d have thought MTL actually got the better deal in that PK trade??
Crazy
- jdfitz77

NJ is a tire fire as well.

They aren’t going to full bore off the bat.
- dadeadhead

I don’t think they will either
I just don’t see how it’s “safer” to do so?
Ppl will still cluster at/near the bar
There will be plenty of person to person contact

Reinhart, Mitts and Montour
for
Domi and Weber

Who says no?
- adambuffalo

I'd do it if they take Okposo as well and they throw in a wing prospect

Pegullaviles Dream World

Mojo-Eichel-Cozens
Skinner-Byfield/Rossi-Reinhart
Kahun-Bonino-Olofsson
Vesey-Larsson-Thompson

Brodin-Montour
Dahlin-Joker
Pilut-Miller
McCabe

Halak
Ullmark

Mitts, Asplund, Samuelsson, 2021 first for Brodin

Risto traded for picks and prospects to restock the cupboards. Some of which will be used to acquire Bonino.

Okposo compliance buyout.

I like to dream.
- Pegullaville

Vesey could hold up in a defensive role,
but i don’t think Tage can
Asplund probably could though
So swap him & Tage in that trade imo,
and take out that 1st (or Mitts)
Brodin isn’t THAT good

If we are able to compliance buyout Okposo,
then we could take a shot at Hoffman or Dadonov as UFAs
With Florida supposedly having some salary restrictions, one or both should be available
And both are proven high 20s goal scorers

2C is a little trickier
A guy like Cirelli or Monahan would be great,
but IF (big “if” imo) a guy like that is available
it likely costs this year’s 1st
And i don’t wanna move that

Bonino is my ideal 3C that can play 2C for a year to ease Cozens in
Him at 4mil is a MUCH BETTER idea than his overpaid & overrated teammate Ryan Johansen for example (he’s frankly a buyout candidate)
Bonino is one of the better (middle6) 2way centers
Scores almost all his points 5v5, i think he had 1 pp assist
And does it against mostly top6 opponents &
63.3% Def zone starts this past season
All that & he had 1 less point than Johansen

If we can’t get a Hoffman/Dadonov type through UFA or trade, then a UFA like Bonino’s teammate
Craig Smith is an interesting target to me
He’s actually Bonino’s linemate
and like him, he’s a good 2way 20goal guy
Even if we get (example) Hoffman,
I’d be all for trading MoJo & signing Smith

Ideally, they’d move down to the 3rd line
Kahun-Bonino-C.Smith
would be a fantastic 3rd line imo (if Bonino is re-signed, or if Cozens is just killing it & moves up)
And by the end of the year, our 2nd line could be
Olofsson-Cozens-Hoffman

That would give us 2 good offensive lines
A good 2way line
And a good defensive line
That’s the ideal way to build a forward lineup imo

And we’d still have Mitts coming, who still has a high upside if he puts in the work
And our top5-ish pick this year as well

Guys like Asplund & especially Tage, I’d be more than happy to include in a package for a guy like Brodin to help on the left side of our defense
Include Montour, McCabe, Samuelsson, Pilut, etc
Would Montour, Tage, 2nd get it done?
Take out Montour & add McCabe + Samuelsson?
Idk... really tough to say

With the Cap likely not going up this year,
the off-season could end up being interesting for a bunch of teams
- jdfitz77

Even before the rumor from Toronto media about FL cutting back (fwiw, they are paying all of the Panthers employees throughout the stoppage), they were not going to have cap space to re-sign both Hoffman and Dadonov. It was widely assumed that Dads would be kept and Hoff walk away, with Owen Tippett replacing Hoffman. But idk, Hoffman has been one of their better players, while Dadonov has been quiet. And Tippett is out now with wrist injury, so the penciled in replacement for Hoff being ready is also in doubt. Either way, I think at least one of them will be available as a UFA, perhaps both if FL shies away from committing long term to 30yr old Hoffman.
Haula is also going to be UFA.

There is absolutely no evidence to back this theory that he's gonna hit this imaginary wall of yours. I would think you would be a fan of the care he takes with his body.

"When Canadiens sports science and performance director, Pierre Allard, was asked about which player always amazes him in the gym, his reply came rather quickly.

"Every year, I'm blown away by how strong Shea Weber is physically. He's a beast from a physical standpoint. Every year, when I see him arrive in the weight room, you see he's at another level," praised Allard, regarding the Habs' captain. "Shea has always taken his conditioning to heart."
- adambuffalo

He’s almost 35. How long does a guy with constant injuries play past then?

Even before the rumor from Toronto media about FL cutting back (fwiw, they are paying all of the Panthers employees throughout the stoppage), they were not going to have cap space to re-sign both Hoffman and Dadonov. It was widely assumed that Dads would be kept and Hoff walk away, with Owen Tippett replacing Hoffman. But idk, Hoffman has been one of their better players, while Dadonov has been quiet. And Tippett is out now with wrist injury, so the penciled in replacement for Hoff being ready is also in doubt. Either way, I think at least one of them will be available as a UFA, perhaps both if FL shies away from committing long term to 30yr old Hoffman.
Haula is also going to be UFA.
- Ratsreign

Hoffman & Dadonov have had similar stats for the past 3 years now, both 30

Sounds like you’d prefer Hoffman
Style of play? Or just a little better overall?
What do u think about their fit as a 2nd line scoring winger for us?

Vesey could hold up in a defensive role,
but i don’t think Tage can
Asplund probably could though
So swap him & Tage in that trade imo,
and take out that 1st (or Mitts)
Brodin isn’t THAT good
- jdfitz77

No, he is that good. Brodin has some of the best defensive metrics for d-men in the NHL. He isn’t a point producer but he is exactly what we need. He allows Montour to act as a rover.

If you like Jokiharju you’ll love Brodin.

I saw an article somewhere with a Dr affiliated with the NFL saying their season would be affected without the current situation drastically improving.
I just hope it's not too long before we can go out and resume normal lives. Where people can gather again for some brews at the bar and the People, with no fear of crowded places, can once again go shopping.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9QOiEOo6M
- Ratsreign

Good post

if he loses his wheels at 32, like many skaters do

he is an overpriced larsson on the last 2 years of the deal
- homiedclown

Good to have a solid discussion homie 👊

Tough to say, 32 for one guy is different for other guy's.

Okposo never really had the step to lose. Started slow.
Although I really liked his game this season

There's a chance the 2020-2021 season is interrupted or cancelled as well.

Probably help young teams like the Sabres .
Cozens might be a legitimate 2c when they play hockey again.

Bonino seems like a fit to me. Solid 3c , maybe a poor man's 2c
- Boss34

Hope you and the family are doing well.
You gave been noticeably absent over the past week...smart man.

I wonder how many will actually feel safe enough to come out of their homes and do everything they did before this shelter in place happened.

I'm guessing it's longer than June 1st.
- kingcong39

Imagine going to the Bill's home opener?

I'm a season ticket holder. I cant see that, not practical.

Hope so. Maybe everyone wears masks?

if casey, or cozens cant's fill the second line center slot this fall, we need a new GM right now
- homiedclown

Botts may get fired immediately after the nhl season gets officially cancelled

No, he is that good. Brodin has some of the best defensive metrics for d-men in the NHL. He isn’t a point producer but he is exactly what we need. He allows Montour to act as a rover.

If you like Jokiharju you’ll love Brodin.
- Pegullaville

I do like Brodin
Just think that’s an overpay
He’s not a Norris candidate

He’s almost 35. How long does a guy with constant injuries play past then?
- sbroads24

I was told wheels fall off at 32 years old.

I just learned that Brodin is a forward. Huh.

I do like Brodin
Just think that’s an overpay
He’s not a Selke candidate
- jdfitz77

That’s because the Norris always goes to the best offensive d-man. Brodin isn’t a point producer but if your top 4 consists of Dahlin (who is going to improve exponentially it’s only a matter of time), Joker (who will also improve greatly), Brodin and Montour that’s the best if not one of the best d-corps in hockey.

Hope you and the family are doing well.
You gave been noticeably absent over the past week...smart man.
- IonSabres

Thanks pal. 👍
I appreciate the kind words