I've warmed up to King quite a bit despite being not so high on him a year ago. He at least says the right things in interviews, seeming to be a straight shooter and doesn't get caught up in the clichés.

As for NHL coaching, yes, I can definitely see him as a head coach one day. This is going to sound like a dig at Colliton (maybe it is) but if he can be a head coach then King most certainly can.
- Theo Fox

Perfect! Send JC down for some more 'seasoning'. Promote King, he couldn't do any worse.

Bobby Ryan being bought out by Ottawa. Ottawa now needs $22 million in cap hit to reach the salary floor this year.
- LAHawk

Maybe we can trade Smith back to them.

https://theathletic.com/2...ars%20of%20his%20contract.

the wennberg article was in the athletic. the goalies are all try and be traded but who is going to take on those contracts even at 50% retained.

would you guys do CAT and STrome for Laine?

https://theathletic.com/2092472/2020/09/25/blue-jackets-considering-contract-buyout-of-struggling-center-alexander-wennberg/#:~:text=Because%20Wennberg%20was%2025%20years,three%20years%20of%20his%20contract.

the wennberg article was in the athletic. the goalies are all try and be traded but who is going to take on those contracts even at 50% retained.

would you guys do CAT and STrome for Laine?
- kmw4631

No, I don't think it helps the Hawks offensively, defensively or,being grittier, and then you have the headache that you are going to have to negotiate with him next year.

Montreal extends defenseman Jeff Petry 4 years @ 6.25M beginning with the 21-22 season. Guess they haven't heard about the flat cap for the next few years.

I don't know if a guy like Sikura, will ever make the big club. He has shown flashes of good two way play but he is not only small ... but plays small. Watching the playoffs, Sikura would be destroyed by the physical play. Now granted, you do not need to be big, but you have to know how to play big. Which makes me wonder .....
maybe it's better to draft a guy that maybe does not have as great a skill set as some, but is hockey smart, can play big, can play the 200 ft game, has desent hands and plays with determination and intensity. Maybe young guys like this can make it to the big club sooner and make an impact. Nylander has the skillset, but that's it. And without rest, you never see the skill set on display

Interesting move by Ottawa.

My guess, they'll look to take on bad contracts for a significant price.
- DarthKane

Especially front ended bad contracts.

Through the new owners of DraftSite.coom, I was given a premium Elite Prospects account so I went there today to start looking for any names eligible in this 2020 draft that I missed so I could add them to my 537 prospect list already there...anyway...I got sidetracked. I went to their 2020 draft scouting and started a puzzling examination of their rankings and such.
I am but one opinionated old fogey. I
I always thought they Elite was euro-based, and was really surprised at their mock and rankings that I THINK, THEY JUST RELEASED where so extremely different than mine and the majority of the second round guys I had they had as 4th rounders and my 4th rounders were their 2nd round. In general at the early guys the impressively scouted them, even have some grass and charts...there were some prospects with multiple scouts viewing buy it seems as if there was one QMJHL guy, writing over and over.
But I always start wondering when I see they put will Dufour in the late 3rd round and say he can't quickly get off shots, that I may be incorrect.

I think thuis agains speaks to the thick class where that layer that levels in the late second goes on and on with kids that need something, but all seem to have something that all these various draft guys like and elevate them above others.

I love the draft, and even though I will be working all day, I am gonna write extended profiles on the hawk prospects even if in slows the process on Draftsite...I dont think the people that make the server fail come to see the profiles not that I am a round behind the TV draft...

I don't know if a guy like Sikura, will ever make the big club. He has shown flashes of good two way play but he is not only small ... but plays small. Watching the playoffs, Sikura would be destroyed by the physical play. Now granted, you do not need to be big, but you have to know how to play big. Which makes me wonder .....
maybe it's better to draft a guy that maybe does not have as great a skill set as some, but is hockey smart, can play big, can play the 200 ft game, has desent hands and plays with determination and intensity. Maybe young guys like this can make it to the big club sooner and make an impact. Nylander has the skillset, but that's it. And without rest, you never see the skill set on display
- chuckdahammer

What you are describing is what Sikura has been working to change with his mindset about how he can contribute to the Blackhawks. Will he get there?

This season is likely his last one to prove that in Chicago. At least he knows what he needs to do. He just needs the chance to demonstrate he can meet the expecations placed on him.

What you are describing is what Sikura has been working to change with his mindset about how he can contribute to the Blackhawks. Will he get there?

This season is likely his last one to prove that in Chicago. At least he knows what he needs to do. He just needs the chance to demonstrate he can meet the expecations placed on him.
- Theo Fox

The Hawks already have Hagel, Highmore,Johnson and Entwhistle who already play that way. Sikura is nothing more than a call up if the Hawks have injuries to the forwards. If they need someone to call up for top 6, I think it will be Kurachev before Sikura

I don't know if a guy like Sikura, will ever make the big club. He has shown flashes of good two way play but he is not only small ... but plays small. Watching the playoffs, Sikura would be destroyed by the physical play. Now granted, you do not need to be big, but you have to know how to play big. Which makes me wonder .....
maybe it's better to draft a guy that maybe does not have as great a skill set as some, but is hockey smart, can play big, can play the 200 ft game, has desent hands and plays with determination and intensity. Maybe young guys like this can make it to the big club sooner and make an impact. Nylander has the skillset, but that's it. And without rest, you never see the skill set on display
- chuckdahammer

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I think Sikura could be a pretty good 3rd, or even 4th line player.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I think Sikura could be a pretty good 3rd, or even 4th line player.
- tvetter

in Rockford (summoning my inner Darth)

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I think Sikura could be a pretty good 3rd, or even 4th line player.
- tvetter

Too small in my opinion. After the past few years of frustration, I would like to see guys that crash the net ... are not afraid of traffic in front! Enough of the perimeter players and nobody goes or knows how to go to the net

https://theathletic.com/2092472/2020/09/25/blue-jackets-considering-contract-buyout-of-struggling-center-alexander-wennberg/#:~:text=Because%20Wennberg%20was%2025%20years,three%20years%20of%20his%20contract.

the wennberg article was in the athletic. the goalies are all try and be traded but who is going to take on those contracts even at 50% retained.

would you guys do CAT and STrome for Laine?
- kmw4631

No! His next contract he ll want and just guessing 8 to 10 milion per year. But my feeling is he ends up in Montreal.

@PuckReportNHL

Halifax Mooseheads announce 2020 #NHLDraft prospect D Justin Barron is out indefinitely following a medical procedure. A further timeline will be given after follow-up examination. Missed several months last season with a blood clot. Not clear if the procedure was related to it.

1). When a review makes too much sense, this is when you expect something will come as a surprise.............
So regarding wiz.draft rating HIS first round has a team (us) whom is drafting in a slot where just one early surprise leaves us with a very nice playet to draft.

My way of thinking all along was that we are going to get a really attractive skill player at #9 but the playoff triumph put us instead hopefully to draft exactly whom wiz projects - Holloway. He is the type style we need and we should hope for Holloway to become a top six.

Honestly a case of "you can't handle the truth" or "I'm not going to necessarily must draft top picks all whom are going to play physical brand" fits the Bowman scheme.

We do need to admit our top stars will not last forever. But we have to just be sure we draft first round success stories. We actually need top skill players too. Let's hope Boqvist can break out one of these years and never becomes inhibited by concussions.

Among the dmen prospects there might well be enough skill and we can hope enough all around good talent should many of the prospects come close to achieving.their ceiling. Big size guys whom handle physical aspect is the biggest concern. I suggest we have plenty of skill guys but we need to see players who compliment that skill with physical bruising willingness.

Carlsson is in. Hopefully Moberg will come along. A third player with physical capability comes from among a few players presently further away from NHL readiness. I am uncertain how a Rogula, a Vlasic and a couple collegiate prospects could turn out.

There appears a handful of third and fourth line forwards whom have the engine, some grit and will engage physically. But as playoff hockey proves each season, teams must have forwards whom cycle and play hard physical in your face sprinkled throughout the lineup. Holloway would be a good start for adding a hybrid skill/toughness but we really need one more forward among top six with some nastiness.

Goaltending is a big question mark. We will just have to see what goaltenders are available each season and whom Bowman targets. I do not have confidence that Bowman wheels in a top young goaltender

Veterans like the Osgood legacy
might be the way Stan goes in net.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I think Sikura could be a pretty good 3rd, or even 4th line player.
- tvetter

He might be but I just don't see where he fits on this Hawks team. We have enough players that are soft on the puck and/or can't maintain possession.

Sikura has shown some good on ice awareness and plays smart defensively but he can be easily moved off the puck and really isn't going to give you anything along the boards or down low.

I think his time is up with the Hawks.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I think Sikura could be a pretty good 3rd, or even 4th line player.
- tvetter

I think so, too, but more and more think he won't get that chance in Chicago.

Saw this on Twitter and found it amusing. For those who care to play: if you had a 5 or 10 team no-trade list, which teams would they be?

Saw this on Twitter and found it amusing. For those who care to play: if you had a 5 or 10 team no-trade list, which teams would they be?
- Theo Fox

Nashville
Arizona
St.louis
Ottawa
Detroit

Saw this on Twitter and found it amusing. For those who care to play: if you had a 5 or 10 team no-trade list, which teams would they be?
- Theo Fox

Florida - I can't stand Miami
Toronto - I like the city, but everything hockey-related is overblown
Seattle - In my opinion the most overrated US city.
Carolina - Out of sheer spite because I miss the Whalers
Minnesota - No matter what they change they are always a crap show
Ottawa - They have no interest in icing a competitive team.
Buffalo - See MN
San Jose - ... I had a bad experience...
NY Rangers - No comment
Detroit - Because Detroit Sucks!

Florida - I can't stand Miami
Toronto - I like the city, but everything hockey-related is overblown
Seattle - In my opinion the most overrated US city.
Carolina - Out of sheer spite because I miss the Whalers
Minnesota - No matter what they change they are always a crap show
Ottawa - They have no interest in icing a competitive team.
Buffalo - See MN
San Jose - ... I had a bad experience...
NY Rangers - No comment
Detroit - Because Detroit Sucks!
- Chunk

Sorry to hear about San Jose, I travelled there many times in the nineties for work, nice town. Although I don’t like the fan base in Nashville, I do like the town.

Question, was beating Edmonton worth it? I wanted them to get experience, but I don’t think winning the play in round was worth going from picking 9th or 10th to 17th. Losing a five game series with a couple of overtime games would have been okay by me.

Sorry to hear about San Jose, I travelled there many times in the nineties for work, nice town. Although I don’t like the fan base in Nashville, I do like the town.
- Angotti

I got shot at. It was just the one time, and admittedly, I was not in the best of places. Traveling for work, that is not what I signed up for. Still got the job, I just don't stay there anymore. I am not dumb enough to think that whole area is bad, and I don't begrudge the place. It's not like So Cal doesn't have its areas. Just not a place I'd choose for this exercise.

Question, was beating Edmonton worth it? I wanted them to get experience, but I don’t think winning the play in round was worth going from picking 9th or 10th to 17th. Losing a five game series with a couple of overtime games would have been okay by me.
- Angotti

I didn't care if they won or lost. I just wanted them to play the best they could. I think they did and they beat EDM. C'est la vie.

I think the "was it worth it?" question is a bit of a misnomer. What was the alternative? Tell the staff to put Quenneville AND Sikura, AND Gilbert out there? It's not like the team or staff was going to fold. That would have come from on high, and they are never going to do that (especially in this climate).