Jan Levine: Vitali Kravtsov to remain in KHL for completion of Traktor's season ...then should join the Rangers...

From last blog (Jan snaked me while I was typing!):

way to just ruin the excitement we had lol
- TPC

Not for me!
Aside from being a gentle giant, which is completely dependent on demeanor, BB was a model 4C. Good on draws, played in all areas, defensively sound and high hockey IQ.
I'd take that from Barron in a heartbeat.

We have to many damn wingers

Zib, Strome, cyhtil, Howden, Rooney, and Baron.

Center spots after 1&2 gonna be a battle

Really think the final 2 center spots are Chytil, Barron with Howden on a wing somewhere

We have to many damn wingers
- mdw7413

We finally have some depth! If/when injuries occur, we now have players to potentially step into lineup.

Really think the final 2 center spots are Chytil, Barron with Howden on a wing somewhere
- 2sticks1puck

This wouldn't be so bad. Especially if Howden can improve on faceoffs. Give us another person to be on the ice in critical moments for the inevitable tossing out of the center!

From last blog (Jan snaked me while I was typing!):



Not for me!
Aside from being a gentle giant, which is completely dependent on demeanor, BB was a model 4C. Good on draws, played in all areas, defensively sound and high hockey IQ.
I'd take that from Barron in a heartbeat.
- Tonybere

(frank) you!!! Way to ruin the narrative.

From last blog (Jan snaked me while I was typing!):



Not for me!
Aside from being a gentle giant, which is completely dependent on demeanor, BB was a model 4C. Good on draws, played in all areas, defensively sound and high hockey IQ.
I'd take that from Barron in a heartbeat.
- Tonybere

Sorry man, Barron component of blog to be up tomorrow, so you can post this there as well

Sorry man, Barron component of blog to be up tomorrow, so you can post this there as well
- airjan23

Hahaha!!
I'm always facing the wrong way!!!!

Really think the final 2 center spots are Chytil, Barron with Howden on a wing somewhere
- 2sticks1puck

I feel like if Howden can't grab a center spot then his future here is very slim

from larry Brooks:

If the Blueshirts shift one of the left wings to the other side, Howden could compete for the third-line job on the flank. Morgan Barron, who has spent the majority of the offseason training with Chris Kreider at the Prentiss Academy in Connecticut, and who, we are told, is evolving into beast-body mode, will contend for that job, and so will Brendan Lemieux.


Morgan Barron BEAST MODE

here's is whole article

https://nypost.com/2020/1...ld-work-out-for-everyone/
- jimbro83

Ive been a big supporter of Barron, but the one knock on him that was brought up is his skating is not good. Which makes sense why hes spending so much time with Kreider. Not long ago I suggested that I think hes got the potential to be a Jordan Staal type player, he surely has the brains and skills for it. I could see him being a stalwart 3C, potentially a 2C net front presence. Just gotta get the skating sorted out. Cant see him making the lineup this year, but next year is a total possibility.

I could see us eventually trading Buch for the cap relief we will need at the end of the year and Kreider sliding into his slot with LAF and Zib.

So when are they going to announce something concrete for next season? If they want a Jan 1st start I feel like they need to announce something soon.

So when are they going to announce something concrete for next season? If they want a Jan 1st start I feel like they need to announce something soon.
- TPC

I'm with you. I'm not sure the league knows if the season can fesibly start on Jan 1st or not. There are numerous logistics that will come besides money.

One thing not being discussed: If there is massive realignment, how will the cup be decided? If you go back to say rules from olden times, one Canada team would make the semifinals, but we might be put in a meat grinder in a division that possibly adds Boston (I'm just guessing based on geography) while a California division plus Vegas, the Yotes, (Dallas and Colorado?) seems much easier.

I'm with you. I'm not sure the league knows if the season can fesibly start on Jan 1st or not. There are numerous logistics that will come besides money.

One thing not being discussed: If there is massive realignment, how will the cup be decided? If you go back to say rules from olden times, one Canada team would make the semifinals, but we might be put in a meat grinder in a division that possibly adds Boston (I'm just guessing based on geography) while a California division plus Vegas, the Yotes, (Dallas and Colorado?) seems much easier.
- 2sticks1puck

4 divisions including one Canadian division where the teams play a 56 game schedule against teams only in their division

and then they figure out how the playoffs are gonna work later, maybe by then things are cleared up, players all take the vaccine, etc

the biggest issue is Canada and United States doesn't have free travel to go back and forth and that isnt easing up anytime soon

4 divisions including one Canadian division where the teams play a 56 game schedule against teams only in their division

and then they figure out how the playoffs are gonna work later, maybe by then things are cleared up, players all take the vaccine, etc

the biggest issue is Canada and United States doesn't have free travel to go back and forth and that isnt easing up anytime soon
- jimbro83

One of the comments from EK's main thread for the day:

Great White North division:
Bubbles Vancouver & Toronto
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver

North/Central division:
Bubbles in Chicago & Philadelphia
Boston
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Chicago
Detroit
Minnesota
Columbus

Eastern/South division:
Bubbles in NY & TB as cup winners
NJ
NYI
NYR
Washington
Carolina
Nashville
TB
Florida

Pacific/West division:
Bubbles in Vegas & LA
-minimal travel
SJ
LA
Anaheim
Vegas
St Louis
Colorado
Arizona
Dallas

Anyone complaining about time zones gets free cheese to go with their _ _ _ _ _.

Season length TBD min 60 games.
Expanded rosters to 19/11/4

Top 4 teams each division make the playoffs.
1 week break before playoffs begin.
PO bubble cities Vancouver Toronto,Vegas,Chicago
Division winners seeded 1st
-1vs8,2v7,3v6,4v5 best of 7
-reseed after each round
-GWN & Pacific/West conference
-North/Central & Eastern/South conference

A quick rough off the top of my head idea
Blast away I’m ready lol
- Nighthawk

Most of the ideas put forth there were garbage, but I thought this one makes quite a bit of sense. Maybe some tweaking of teams here and there, but...

One of the comments from EK's main thread for the day:



Most of the ideas put forth there were garbage, but I thought this one makes quite a bit of sense. Maybe some tweaking of teams here and there, but...
- Tonybere

immediiately my first thought to this proposal is that they are going to configure the divisions in order to limit travel the best that they possibly can

so Philadelphia not being in the same division as the Rangers, Devils and Islanders seems to be extremely dumb

immediiately my first thought to this proposal is that they are going to configure the divisions in order to limit travel the best that they possibly can

so Philadelphia not being in the same division as the Rangers, Devils and Islanders seems to be extremely dumb
- jimbro83

Yeah, I thought the same about Boston.
But, your negativity is noted.

Compared to the other attempts to align divisions, this one was the only one worth giving the time of day, IMO.

immediiately my first thought to this proposal is that they are going to configure the divisions in order to limit travel the best that they possibly can

so Philadelphia not being in the same division as the Rangers, Devils and Islanders seems to be extremely dumb
- jimbro83

I just don't get it either. To me Buffalo, Boston, NYI, NYR, NJD should be shoeins for a NE division. Then you pick 3 of Philly, Pitt, Wash, and Columbus. I think they would put Columbus back with the midwest teams, but I could see them putting Washington with Southern teams.

I just don't get it either. To me Buffalo, Boston, NYI, NYR, NJD should be shoeins for a NE division. Then you pick 3 of Philly, Pitt, Wash, and Columbus. I think they would put Columbus back with the midwest teams, but I could see them putting Washington with Southern teams.
- 2sticks1puck

its very difficult

I can see

Nashville
Carolina
Dallas
Florida
Tampa
Washington
Columbus
Detroit

immediiately my first thought to this proposal is that they are going to configure the divisions in order to limit travel the best that they possibly can

so Philadelphia not being in the same division as the Rangers, Devils and Islanders seems to be extremely dumb
- jimbro83

Actually there is a scenario I'd think would make sense to spread pain out of the remaining teams. Seperating Columbus and Pitt might be sketchy, but here goes:

Our division
Buf
Bos
NYI
NJD
NYR
DET
CHI
CLB

Other
PHI
PIT
WSH
TB
FL
NSH
CAR
STL

Both divisions may not be great, but it probably spreads the pain out between midwestern and southers teams.

Actually there is a scenario I'd think would make sense to spread pain out of the remaining teams. Seperating Columbus and Pitt might be sketchy, but here goes:

Our division
Buf
Bos
NYI
NJD
NYR
DET
CHI
CLB

Other
PHI
PIT
WSH
TB
FL
NSH
CAR
STL

Both divisions may not be great, but it probably spreads the pain out between midwestern and southers teams.
- 2sticks1puck

I was thinking it's impossible to break up Stl and Chicago

its very difficult

I can see

Nashville
Carolina
Dallas
Florida
Tampa
Washington
Columbus
Detroit
- jimbro83

I don't think Dallas can be in that division because a west coast division would also need 8 teams. I think Dallas, Minnesota and Colorado would both default to that as the most "western" teams. Either Dallas or Minnesota is going to get a huge shaft in terms of geography. I can't see Minny being outside the western team conference unless you put STL there. Even then, you have some serious issues.

its very difficult

I can see

Nashville
Carolina
Dallas
Florida
Tampa
Washington
Columbus
Detroit
- jimbro83

That would blow for Dallas

I was thinking it's impossible to break up Stl and Chicago
- jimbro83

Somebody is gonna get split up. There's no real way around it. Separating Toronto, Montreal, and Boston is already a huge step.