Arseni Gritsyuk is continuing his strong KHL season into the playoffs. 3 point game so far today(2g and 1a) as his team tries to force game 7 in the 2nd round. Up to 10 points in 12 games in the playoffs. Strong underlying metrics too, especially as a 20 y/o in that league.(just turned 21 two weeks ago)

I really hope we can get him over here asap. You can make the argument that he's made the leap to become our 3rd best prospect behind Hughes and Holtz.
- vlongo4419

I'm seeing people have move him up in their prospect rankings, which is promising. Unfortunately the political climate in Russian might make it difficult for players to come to North America to play. I've seen some of his highlights and he is a dynamic player for sure. You'd think he'd fit in well in our fast paced system.

Someone's always gotta show they don't know what they're talking about right?

https://www.nhl.com/player/dougie-hamilton-8476462 you're an idiot if you think that's worth $9M
- jtylerm

He's at .6 ppg on a bad team and has been injured half the season. Who is putting up .6 ppg from the Blueline for league minimum??

You're an idiot

You have no idea who will be available later on, that's the point. You're assuming Dougie is the best that will ever come along. Goaltending hurt us bad, but even if Blackwood and Bernier were healthy all year it wouldn't have made a huge difference.

This team needs some elite level snipers. All we ever do is cycle the puck over and over until there's a turnover. That's why our PP is absolute garbage. We're a team of playmaking pass first guys. I love Sharangovich and Bratt, but we need legit high end snipers in the top 6. Until that changes, they'll be playing golf every playoffs. Thus, no need to waste $9M on a guy that will be 30 next year.
- jtylerm

All your takes are horrendously bad and I am now more dumb for reading them. Be gone

Hughes is a top 10 player in the league. Get a goalie and some defense. Dont do what the rangers did to Hank
- nyrangers2

The Rangers didn’t do it to him, it was HEN-RIQUE

The Rangers didn’t do it to him, it was HEN-RIQUE
- Crushers68

It’s over, bches!

Capfriendly has us with about $22 million in space for next season assuming the cap stays flat. Bratt will probably get a raise of between 4-5 million over his hit this season. Other than that, we have Wood, Zacha and Boqvist as the only players of any consequence needing to be resigned. Dougies contract is far from a problem at this point.

The year after Sharangovich, Severson, Graves and Siegenthaler need deals, but Tatar, Johnsson and Bernier all expire. The cap shouldn’t be a problem for a while, just depends on what the owners are willing to spend.

Capfriendly has us with about $22 million in space for next season assuming the cap stays flat. Bratt will probably get a raise of between 4-5 million over his hit this season. Other than that, we have Wood, Zacha and Boqvist as the only players of any consequence needing to be resigned. Dougies contract is far from a problem at this point.

The year after Sharangovich, Severson, Graves and Siegenthaler need deals, but Tatar, Johnsson and Bernier all expire. The cap shouldn’t be a problem for a while, just depends on what the owners are willing to spend.
- smellmyfinger

And the cap is going to start increasing again every year starting this offseason, so we're in great shape cap-wise. Fitz has been fantastic managing contracts.

Hopefully we start seeing some more callups and giving the kids a look. This is the time to see if there's possibly anything at the NHL level there. Give some games to Zetterlund, Okhotiuk, Walsh, and Foote. Maybe Clarke and Holtz too, although Fitz said Holtz probably stays down the rest of the year.

No reason to not give them a few games to see where they're at, and to give them an idea of what they need to improve on this summer.

Hopefully we start seeing some more callups and giving the kids a look. This is the time to see if there's possibly anything at the NHL level there. Give some games to Zetterlund, Okhotiuk, Walsh, and Foote. Maybe Clarke and Holtz too, although Fitz said Holtz probably stays down the rest of the year.

No reason to not give them a few games to see where they're at, and to give them an idea of what they need to improve on this summer.
- vlongo4419

I wonder if Fitz has been trying to do his best job of not getting the kids out of whack down in Utica. I completely agree that I'd like to see some younger guys get action, but I think we may continue to see the mid 20's forwards like Greer and De Leo and let the kids continue to do their thing down there without disrupting their routines at the moment.

With that said, I'd love to get an NHL game in for a bunch of those guys you listed.

Hopefully we start seeing some more callups and giving the kids a look. This is the time to see if there's possibly anything at the NHL level there. Give some games to Zetterlund, Okhotiuk, Walsh, and Foote. Maybe Clarke and Holtz too, although Fitz said Holtz probably stays down the rest of the year.

No reason to not give them a few games to see where they're at, and to give them an idea of what they need to improve on this summer.
- vlongo4419

Would be nice but having them playing meaningful games down the stretch on a top AHL team is more important. An extended playoff run is better than a couple meaningless games. Should boost their confidence in the long run

Would be nice but having them playing meaningful games down the stretch on a top AHL team is more important. An extended playoff run is better than a couple meaningless games. Should boost their confidence in the long run
- justTHEtip1220

They will still be able to play in the playoffs and the stretch run while also getting a couple of game of NHL experience lol. Utica is practically locked for the playoffs, nothing is going to change rotating a few guys up to the NHL for a couple of games. Plus they will be getting reinforcements soon with Halonen and Thompson heading there soon. Zero reason to not do it tbh.

Unfortunately I doubt it does happen because our forwards are pretty jam packed now that everybody is seemingly back and healthy, so we already have too many(16 Fs were on the ice today). For this reason it probably won't happen.

Somebody other than Bahl deserves a look, that's all I'm saying.

Somebody other than Bahl deserves a look, that's all I'm saying.
- Pomegrant

I’d like to get a look at Bahl being moved for a second round pick.

Kinda hope we lose a lot of well-played 1 goal games. I’d much rather be picking 4th than 5 players later. .. thus increasing the chances we absolutely blow a 6-10th overall pick.. like that’s ever happened before ..

Kinda hope we lose a lot of well-played 1 goal games. I’d much rather be picking 4th than 5 players later. .. thus increasing the chances we absolutely blow a 6-10th overall pick.. like that’s ever happened before ..
- MartysBetter88

Hope they draft Slafkovsky, 2nd choice would be either Nemec or Jiricek

Hope they draft Slafkovsky, 2nd choice would be either Nemec or Jiricek
- justTHEtip1220

I got this gut feeling we are going to wind up with pick #2 out of the lottery and get Cooley.

I got this gut feeling we are going to wind up with pick #2 out of the lottery and get Cooley.
- smellmyfinger

Biggest reach at 2?

Biggest reach at 2?
- dmarsden2988

So far most rankings have Wright #1 and Cooley #2. Not sure who would be a reach there.

Savoie started the year at 2 I believe and seems to have fallen to #5 or below on a lot of rankings. I guess he could be a reach there. Kemal or Nemec could probably go #2, wouldn’t say they are reaches though. This year looks like a year where the top 5 might be the least predictable in a while.

So far most rankings have Wright #1 and Cooley #2. Not sure who would be a reach there.

Savoie started the year at 2 I believe and seems to have fallen to #5 or below on a lot of rankings. I guess he could be a reach there. Kemal or Nemec could probably go #2, wouldn’t say they are reaches though. This year looks like a year where the top 5 might be the least predictable in a while.
- smellmyfinger

Bust central

Biggest reach at 2?
- dmarsden2988

Depends on what you consider a reach in this draft, because its so wide open from 2 or 3 to like 12. Cooley *should* be the locked and loaded #2 pick but I can understand taking any of Slafkovsky, Nemec, or Jiricek. I personally wouldn't consider anybody else at 2 though, so I guess anybody besides those 4 is somewhat of a reach lol.

My top 5 is pretty locked at Wright, Cooley, Slafkovsky, Jiricek, then Nemec in than order. But there's 10 or so different guys who can mix into the 3-12 range in any order. It's like 2020 all over again after the top 3 from picks 4-13. Any of those guys could've gone in any order and it would've been a fine pick.

Bust central
- RubberBiscuitz

Totally

Daws in net.

who is Marchand elbowing in the head tonight?

Daws in net.
- vlongo4419

Lineup:

Sharangovich-Hughes-Mercer
Tatar-Hischier-Bratt
Johnsson-Boqvist-Wood
Vesey-McLeod-Bastian

Siegs-Hamilton
Graves-Sevo
Smith-Subban

Daws

Lineup:

Sharangovich-Hughes-Mercer
Tatar-Hischier-Bratt
Johnsson-Boqvist-Wood
Vesey-McLeod-Bastian

Siegs-Hamilton
Graves-Sevo
Smith-Subban

Daws
- vlongo4419

Johnsson is out and Geertsen goes in.