Todd Cordell: Four bold predictions for the 2021 NHL season: North Division edition

I predict there will be a lot of locked threads and need for more referee´s on hockeybuzz. Thats my hot take for this year. I am thinking Lucic will thrive at face punching as well.

Pure nonsense.

I predict there will be a lot of locked threads and need for more referee´s on hockeybuzz. Thats my hot take for this year. I am thinking Lucic will thrive at face punching as well.
- DuranDuran

Yup! Whipper doesn’t have a chance!! Lol!

Why does everyone in the media keep going on about the defensive weakness of the North division? It's pretty exaggerated. The West division has 5 garbage teams. So a guy like MacKinnon will pile up points. Or what about Tampa running up the score on teams like Detroit and Florida, and Chicago starring Malcolm Susan in net.

Yup! Whipper doesn’t have a chance!! Lol!
- Clyde334

Whipper is a relic from times past. The current world is too sensitive for the cold hard truth the Whipper dealt.

You forgot, Leon Draisaitl will repeat as Hart Trophy winner, or McDavid will win his second.

Whipper is a relic from times past. The current world is too sensitive for the cold hard truth the Whipper dealt.
- DuranDuran

I can't seem to get past the fact that Laine apparently wants out of Winnipeg. Wouldn't he be the perfect fit as RW on Calgary's top line? When a player of that caliber is available, I believe you have to do your damnedest to put a package together to get him. The Flames currently have an abundance of centers - if you subscribe to the thought that Lindholm will be the #1 centre. If so that weakens our RW position again and presents us with a problem of too many centres. Winnipeg needs help at the centre position. So - how about this?

To Calgary:
Laine


To Winnipeg:
Monahan (Centre)
Matthew Phillips (Centre)
Oliver Kylington (Def)
3rd Round pick (we have 2 of them) in 2021

I know this is a lot to give up - but you have to give - to get.

Picture Laine (ultimate shooter-goal scorer) on a line with Gaudreau (ultimate passer) and Lindholm in the middle providing that #1 Centre role that he seems more suited to than Monahan. Our Centre depth would be (1) Lindholm (2) Backlund (3) Ryan or Bennett (4) Gawdin, Ryan or Bennett.

In return, Winnipeg gets the #2 centre they want (and an A+ #2 centre at that), they still have Stastny as an A+ # 3 centre. They also get centre depth with Phillips (A- prospect) and a young smooth skating NHL defender that will likely see more ice time and better development in Winnipeg than in Calgary.

The $ in and $ out should also work as Monahan and Laine are roughly even. Kylington is signed on a 2 way contract for under 1 mil at the NHL level and under $100,000.00 at the AHL level.

I would love to hear some thoughts on why this would, or would not work.

I can't seem to get past the fact that Laine apparently wants out of Winnipeg. Wouldn't he be the perfect fit as RW on Calgary's top line? When a player of that caliber is available, I believe you have to do your damnedest to put a package together to get him. The Flames currently have an abundance of centers - if you subscribe to the thought that Lindholm will be the #1 centre. If so that weakens our RW position again and presents us with a problem of too many centres. Winnipeg needs help at the centre position. So - how about this?

To Calgary:
Laine


To Winnipeg:
Monahan (Centre)
Matthew Phillips (Centre)
Oliver Kylington (Def)
3rd Round pick (we have 2 of them) in 2021

I know this is a lot to give up - but you have to give - to get.

Picture Laine (ultimate shooter-goal scorer) on a line with Gaudreau (ultimate passer) and Lindholm in the middle providing that #1 Centre role that he seems more suited to than Monahan. Our Centre depth would be (1) Lindholm (2) Backlund (3) Ryan or Bennett (4) Gawdin, Ryan or Bennett.

In return, Winnipeg gets the #2 centre they want (and an A+ #2 centre at that), they still have Stastny as an A+ # 3 centre. They also get centre depth with Phillips (A- prospect) and a young smooth skating NHL defender that will likely see more ice time and better development in Winnipeg than in Calgary.

The $ in and $ out should also work as Monahan and Laine are roughly even. Kylington is signed on a 2 way contract for under 1 mil at the NHL level and under $100,000.00 at the AHL level.

I would love to hear some thoughts on why this would, or would not work.

- hags11

Winnipeg traded for Stastny. They don't need Monahan anymore.

Also, 3 of the 4 pieces you offer are worthless.

And with the realignment, no chance they trade Laine within the division this year.

I can't seem to get past the fact that Laine apparently wants out of Winnipeg. Wouldn't he be the perfect fit as RW on Calgary's top line? When a player of that caliber is available, I believe you have to do your damnedest to put a package together to get him. The Flames currently have an abundance of centers - if you subscribe to the thought that Lindholm will be the #1 centre. If so that weakens our RW position again and presents us with a problem of too many centres. Winnipeg needs help at the centre position. So - how about this?

To Calgary:
Laine


To Winnipeg:
Monahan (Centre)
Matthew Phillips (Centre)
Oliver Kylington (Def)
3rd Round pick (we have 2 of them) in 2021

I know this is a lot to give up - but you have to give - to get.

Picture Laine (ultimate shooter-goal scorer) on a line with Gaudreau (ultimate passer) and Lindholm in the middle providing that #1 Centre role that he seems more suited to than Monahan. Our Centre depth would be (1) Lindholm (2) Backlund (3) Ryan or Bennett (4) Gawdin, Ryan or Bennett.

In return, Winnipeg gets the #2 centre they want (and an A+ #2 centre at that), they still have Stastny as an A+ # 3 centre. They also get centre depth with Phillips (A- prospect) and a young smooth skating NHL defender that will likely see more ice time and better development in Winnipeg than in Calgary.

The $ in and $ out should also work as Monahan and Laine are roughly even. Kylington is signed on a 2 way contract for under 1 mil at the NHL level and under $100,000.00 at the AHL level.

I would love to hear some thoughts on why this would, or would not work.

- hags11

My thoughts are that this makes no sense. If the Jets move Laine it's going to be for a top pair d-man or A+ prospect on D. Not another center. So maybe they ask about Carolina's surplus of d-men. Maybe they ask about Lindell with the emergence of Heiskanen. Dumba+. If the Flames are interested then you package starts with Rasmus. Add from there.

My thoughts are that this makes no sense. If the Jets move Laine it's going to be for a top pair d-man or A+ prospect on D. Not another center. So maybe they ask about Carolina's surplus of d-men. Maybe they ask about Lindell with the emergence of Heiskanen. Dumba+. If the Flames are interested then you package starts with Rasmus. Add from there.
- Kooleus

Makes sense - I just don't want to include Rasmus. I still believe though that they want/need another centre

Would rather see the Flames take a run at Dubois.
Monahan for Dubois

Winnipeg traded for Stastny. They don't need Monahan anymore.

Also, 3 of the 4 pieces you offer are worthless.

And with the realignment, no chance they trade Laine within the division this year.
- redseerpf

Worthless? I disagree

I also believe that they might be open to a Centre of Monahan's calibre. I know that it is not as glaring a need since they got Stastny - but Scheifele (sp?), Monahan, Stastny as your 1, 2, 3 Centres would be pretty sweet.

I never thought of the realignment angle, you may be right about that.

Is this blog just not a extension of the last one? Need to step up your game there Todd.
So many other things to write about.

Would rather see the Flames take a run at Dubois.
Monahan for Dubois
- K-man25

So would I - but I don't see the Jackets trading a # 1 Centre for a perceived # 2 centre (even though he has been playing as a # 1 for years)

Makes sense - I just don't want to include Rasmus. I still believe though that they want/need another centre
- hags11

Ok. Well call me back when you are serious. Bye.

So would I - but I don't see the Jackets trading a # 1 Centre for a perceived # 2 centre (even though he has been playing as a # 1 for years)
- hags11

Agree no way CBJ trades PLD for Mony straight up.
Maybe Mony and Hanifin for PLD and Kukan.
Vali takes 2nd pair LD spot and Kukan is our 3rd pair RD playing with Kylington, Nesterov or maybe Mackey.

Not sure CBJ takes that offer either though as Hanifins value has likely dropped in the last couple years and the Cap difference is 5.6m on this deal.

Worthless? I disagree

I also believe that they might be open to a Centre of Monahan's calibre. I know that it is not as glaring a need since they got Stastny - but Scheifele (sp?), Monahan, Stastny as your 1, 2, 3 Centres would be pretty sweet.

I never thought of the realignment angle, you may be right about that.
- hags11

Well, you might disagree, but they still are wortless. Every team has approx. 17 copies of Matthew Phillips in their prospect pool, Kylington can't even be counted on (so far) as #7 d-man and a 3rd round pick is...well...a 3rd round pick 😂

Those 3 pieces might get you Nathan Beaulieu lol.

Sure, having Stastny as a #3 would be sweet. Then what are you doing about Andrew Copp? Adam Lowry? The recently signed Nate Thompson? Jets are pretty obviously not looking to add another center at the time being.

Cordell and Maloughney are ‘boldly’ predicting that their respective goalies and D-Men will with the Vezina and Norris. I better not see complaints when Tanner predicts Leafs win the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold!

Cordell and Maloughney are ‘boldly’ predicting that their respective goalies and D-Men will with the Vezina and Norris. I better not see complaints when Tanner predicts Leafs win the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold!
- Turnitaround

Is Tanner still a thing?

Is Tanner still a thing?
- DuranDuran

He stepped up the buzz-ladder: https://editorinleaf.com/author/jtanner/

I can't seem to get past the fact that Laine apparently wants out of Winnipeg. Wouldn't he be the perfect fit as RW on Calgary's top line? When a player of that caliber is available, I believe you have to do your damnedest to put a package together to get him. The Flames currently have an abundance of centers - if you subscribe to the thought that Lindholm will be the #1 centre. If so that weakens our RW position again and presents us with a problem of too many centres. Winnipeg needs help at the centre position. So - how about this?

To Calgary:
Laine


To Winnipeg:
Monahan (Centre)
Matthew Phillips (Centre)
Oliver Kylington (Def)
3rd Round pick (we have 2 of them) in 2021

I know this is a lot to give up - but you have to give - to get.

Picture Laine (ultimate shooter-goal scorer) on a line with Gaudreau (ultimate passer) and Lindholm in the middle providing that #1 Centre role that he seems more suited to than Monahan. Our Centre depth would be (1) Lindholm (2) Backlund (3) Ryan or Bennett (4) Gawdin, Ryan or Bennett.

In return, Winnipeg gets the #2 centre they want (and an A+ #2 centre at that), they still have Stastny as an A+ # 3 centre. They also get centre depth with Phillips (A- prospect) and a young smooth skating NHL defender that will likely see more ice time and better development in Winnipeg than in Calgary.

The $ in and $ out should also work as Monahan and Laine are roughly even. Kylington is signed on a 2 way contract for under 1 mil at the NHL level and under $100,000.00 at the AHL level.

I would love to hear some thoughts on why this would, or would not work.

- hags11

You’re basically trading Laine for Monahan. Not even close to realistic. Geez, the least you can do is throw in a Dube.

So would I - but I don't see the Jackets trading a # 1 Centre for a perceived # 2 centre (even though he has been playing as a # 1 for years)
- hags11

Perception.
Monahan has better offensive numbers than Dubois, both have played with superstar wingers. There may be some others added to the trade, but at least I didn’t throw a Kylington into the trade and call it even.

He stepped up the buzz-ladder: https://editorinleaf.com/author/jtanner/
- VeryModernMan

Happy New year VMM!

How you liking your new division?