That fact that JB didn't foresee the global pandemic, economic recession and flat cap blows my mind.
Poor planning really.
We need to hire a real capologist.

- dbot

Hyperbole much? If none of those things had happened do you think this off season would have gone any differently?

Or was it his plan?????
- A_SteamingLombardi

Benning is patient zero...now he can sign Petey and Hughes at 7 and 6 mil for 10 years respectively

For sure.
I see the logic in poaching a Dman from another club and exposing Myers.
I actually like Myers myself and think it'd be 50/50 if Seattle would take him.
- dbot

I like myers as well but he will be our worst contract when Loui is gone. It would be fantastic if SEA took him

For sure.
I see the logic in poaching a Dman from another club and exposing Myers.
I actually like Myers myself and think it'd be 50/50 if Seattle would take him.
- dbot

I like Myers as well, but in a flat cap world I feel like we could get better value for that 6mil

Yes good point, we are in a great position to potentially steal better depth prior to the draft. Helps that Hughes and Rathbone are exempt
- CanuckDon

Could be a big year next year for JB to upgrade this team on the fly. Especially if he's somehow, somehow able to convince/trade LE to Seattle.

Hyperbole much? If none of those things had happened do you think this off season would have gone any differently?
- 1970vintage

I'm going to jump in for some realistic balance. Add in the f'n cap recapture to the equation.

So overpaying for Beagle, Roussel really stung with those events mentioned. LE mistake was all twin related. Would have hurt less now if JB knew 4years down the road the sh1tshow situation. Sutter's injuries caused him to not live up to potential that was seen at signing. But there was a 2lc hole with Kes gone so at least gave some time to Bo to develop into it.

Hyperbole much? If none of those things had happened do you think this off season would have gone any differently?
- 1970vintage

Slightly. I think there would be more trades league-wide, contracts wouldn't be as expensive to move, and he would have moved one person to resign TT.

Could be a big year next year for JB to upgrade this team on the fly. Especially if he's somehow, somehow able to convince/trade LE to Seattle.
- NewYorkNuck

You should MTA your trade LE hypos not going to happen in flat cap.

Hyperbole much? If none of those things had happened do you think this off season would have gone any differently?
- 1970vintage

Yes absolutely, if a pandemic never happened every (frank)ing thing would be different.

The cap would have increased to start with, we would never ever get Schmidt for a 3rd round. I would be in Italy drinking a nice Brunello or Amarone.

Yes absolutely, if a pandemic never happened every (frank)ing thing would be different.

The cap would have increased to start with, we would never ever get Schmidt for a 3rd round. I would be in Italy drinking a nice Brunello or Amarone.
- Makita

Yes absolutely, if a pandemic never happened every (frank)ing thing would be different.

The cap would have increased to start with, we would never ever get Schmidt for a 3rd round. I would be in Italy drinking a nice Brunello or Amarone.
- Makita

Harman Dayal and Drance (both of the Athletic) on Podkolzin:

Podkolzin's played a really polished game by all accounts, but the last two years would suggest that the coaching staff isn't particularly fond of him. Opportunity is certainly an important factor in judging the lack of production. At the same time, his minutes did rise when some of his teammates went down with COVID and the fact that he didn't produce points there was a little disappointing.

I still think Podkolzin can become a complementary top-six player. We know he can be a two-way force, it's just how high the offensive ceiling can get. I've always been lower than some on his offensive game (I posited that he had 50ish point upside in March) so to that degree, I still think that type of ceiling is attainable.

At the end of the day, if Podkolzin can become a 50-point, elite two-way winger he's going to hold tremendous value. But yes, we need to see some production soon here.

It hasn’t for me! The KHL isn’t a development league, and it’s really really hard for young players to get minutes.

Kucherov, for example, left for the Q in his draft +2 season after playing only 18 KHL games in his draft +1.

Guys like Buchnevich/Tarasenko that scored a ton in their Draft +2 KHL seasons played for like Sibir and smaller clubs. Podkolzin plays for SKA, the 2nd deepest team in the country...

Accounting for that context, and while you’d obviously prefer he be a worldbeater than not, I don’t have significant concerns with Pod’s lack of production/TOI. It says more to me that a top KHL team keeps him in the lineup, to be honest.

It is, however, just a tough development situation and doubly so this year with COVID and the other complications.

Yes absolutely, if a pandemic never happened every (frank)ing thing would be different.

The cap would have increased to start with, we would never ever get Schmidt for a 3rd round. I would be in Italy drinking a nice Brunello or Amarone.
- Makita

\My travels too have been curtailed but hey we got Nate. Maybe more steals in training camp cap scrambles and/or pre expansion.

But no worries if not the kids, and many of those right now, will get a chance to fill those needed roles.

Arbitrator awards Tyler Bertuzzi $3.5M
25 yr old.
71gp 21 g, 27a, 48pts and -23



Jake Virtanen 2.5m over 2 years.
24 yr old
69gp 18g 18a, 36pts and -4.

I think it makes the JV deal look pretty good.

Arbitrator awards Tyler Bertuzzi $3.5M
25 yr old.
71gp 21 g, 27a, 48pts and -23



Jake Virtanen 2.5m over 2 years.
24 yr old
69gp 18g 18a, 36pts and -4.

I think it makes the JV deal look pretty good.
- dbot

That's why you want to avoid arbitration.

Arbitrator awards Tyler Bertuzzi $3.5M
25 yr old.
71gp 21 g, 27a, 48pts and -23



Jake Virtanen 2.5m over 2 years.
24 yr old
69gp 18g 18a, 36pts and -4.

I think it makes the JV deal look pretty good.
- dbot

Maybe he got Tyler mixed up with Todd

You think Hoglander has a higher upside that Podz?
Bold.
I like it.
My gut disagrees, but i like it.
- dbot

Everything about him. His two way game is one of the very best in the SEL. He's excellent on the boards. Great instincts for playmaking. Excellent hands. Accurate shot. Great skater. Plays stronger than his size(which is average).

Podz on the other hand has lower level of offence instincts. He will need to develop those skills. They don't come natural.

What does Bo's line need more? A play maker or someone to retrieve pucks? They don't need more Bo and Pearson and that seems a better comparable to Podz type of game.

Maybe he got Tyler mixed up with Todd
- Shuswap Wap

Everything about him. His two way game is one of the very best in the SEL. He's excellent on the boards. Great instincts for playmaking. Excellent hands. Accurate shot. Great skater. Plays stronger than his size(which is average).

Podz on the other hand has lower level of offence instincts. He will need to develop those skills. They don't come natural.

What does Bo's line need more? A play maker or someone to retrieve pucks? They don't need more Bo and Pearson and that seems a better comparable to Podz type of game.
- boonerbuck

I think Podz will have a much higher ceiling than Hog boy, much higher.

Everything about him. His two way game is one of the very best in the SEL. He's excellent on the boards. Great instincts for playmaking. Excellent hands. Accurate shot. Great skater. Plays stronger than his size(which is average).

Podz on the other hand has lower level of offence instincts. He will need to develop those skills. They don't come natural.

What does Bo's line need more? A play maker or someone to retrieve pucks? They don't need more Bo and Pearson and that seems a better comparable to Podz type of game.
- boonerbuck

I don't think you get that Podz is replacing UFA Pearson. So Bo probably winds up with both of them. Unless JV proves he can stick in the top 6.

- dbot

3....Tag Bertuzzi, Todd's son went undrafted this year.........

Everything about him. His two way game is one of the very best in the SEL. He's excellent on the boards. Great instincts for playmaking. Excellent hands. Accurate shot. Great skater. Plays stronger than his size(which is average).

Podz on the other hand has lower level of offence instincts. He will need to develop those skills. They don't come natural.

What does Bo's line need more? A play maker or someone to retrieve pucks? They don't need more Bo and Pearson and that seems a better comparable to Podz type of game.
- boonerbuck

If Podz hits his peak as a two way force, he could play with Pettersson and Miller, drop Bo down to play with Bo and virt.

I don't think you get that Podz is replacing UFA Pearson. So Bo probably winds up with both of them. Unless JV proves he can stick in the top 6.
- NuckUp

I (frank)ing detest agreeing with you... but there it is...

If Podz hits his peak as a two way force, he could play with Pettersson and Miller, drop Bo down to play with Bo and virt.
- Pres.cup

Ideally Virt would be 3rd line

Miller - EP - Podz/JV
Hoglander - Bo - Boeser

Hoglander has very good play making ability and good two way play. He would slot there better than Bo IMO

Ideally Virt would be 3rd line

Miller - EP - Podz/JV
Hoglander - Bo - Boeser

Hoglander has very good play making ability and good two way play. He would slot there better than Bo IMO
- Retinalz

I like it