So with Hellebuyck seemingly off the market, it now seems that Boston is going to keep both of Ullmark and Swayman. After the Sway arb case they're only ~350k over the cap, and can easily get under by sending someone like Ian Mitchell to the AHL. So barring something unexpected, it seems more and more likely that we move into next season with Vanecek and Schmid as the tandem, and Kallgren as the 3rd if someone gets hurt.
- vlongo4419

I am OK with this for sure. Also think VV will be better this year than last year. I'd imagine he's got a chip on his shoulder after seeing how he was a bit outplayed by AS in the playoffs, plus all the naysayers in the media. I expect him to come back with a vengeance!

I can count 6 players immediately just from looking at the draft board that i'd much rather have over Stillman. Zach Dean the very next pick is a much better prospect, he has the potential to be a 2nd liner. Olen Zellweger 5 picks after is a great pick, he has a chance to be very good for the Ducks and could be one of the steals of that draft(the way we think of Casey is the way they think of Zellweger). Shai Buium and especially Daniil Chayka are promising potential middle pairing D. Scott Morrow is potentially a top 4 D for the Canes. Zack Ostapchuk could become a middle 6 forward with scoring upside. They're all in the next 11 picks after Stillman and all have significantly higher upside. A little further down, a guy like Logan Stankoven who went middle of the 2nd is looking like he is going be an absolute stud(he was projected to be a 1st round pick). Todd Cordell's discord was screaming their heads off for us to take him or Zellweger when the Devils were on the clock at that pick.

I'd rather always take a swing on upside(like Mukhamadullin) and potentially miss then take a safe 4th line grinder with zero upside, with literally any pick, let alone a late 1st. You can sign 4th line grinders every single year in free agency or trade for one for a middle round pick. You need to be drafting to try to hit gold and find gems. Which is what the team has typically done recently. But Fitz made a bad pick there, it is what it is. There's no need to try to defend him and justify it. It wont change that it was, and still very much is, a bad pick.

You saw it this year with our draft. Someone like Hameenaho as an example, who was our 2nd round pick, is instantly a better prospect in our pipeline than Stillman. He has skating issues but you can clearly see the upside and see the path to him being a middle 6 forward for this team if he can improve his skating at all.
- vlongo4419

Meh stillmans the better pick. He’ll be a solid nhl’er those other guys just ahl tweeners

I am OK with this for sure. Also think VV will be better this year than last year. I'd imagine he's got a chip on his shoulder after seeing how he was a bit outplayed by AS in the playoffs, plus all the naysayers in the media. I expect him to come back with a vengeance!
- Crushers68

For sure, I agree. Gotta remember that Vanecek was a .920 goalie through most of last season until he hit a rough patch at the end of February and most of March, which tanked his stats a bit. I believe he can rebound. I definitely buy into the 'vitek got burned out' theory that people have been talking about, so if that was the case hopefully he's able to learn from it. But theres also some valid concern that he isn't able to handle the pressures of the playoffs. We'll see though, him and Schmid is a solid tandem! Let's hope they stay healthy!

I am OK with this for sure. Also think VV will be better this year than last year. I'd imagine he's got a chip on his shoulder after seeing how he was a bit outplayed by AS in the playoffs, plus all the naysayers in the media. I expect him to come back with a vengeance!
- Crushers68

Yeah if NJ is going to add a goalie at all, they need to wait til the trade deadline. Our goaltending was not a problem for the regular season last year. I don’t see that being any different this year’s regular season.

Andy Strickland on Cam and Strick today said it’s likely “5 players” will be facing NHL suspensions for their involvement in the 2018 WJC sexual assault scandal. Said he knows the names but won’t say them now.

“Some significant names” 👀

https://twitter.com/Lalim...JFIID9TWf9u378NWxNUg&s=19

McLeod?

you really got to hand it to reports these days. nothing really gets the severity of sexual assault allegations like speculating who did it and putting eye emojis in your tweet.

A few yrs ago we were one of the worst. Now legit Cup contenders. Amazing stuff.
- Leniwm1

I still have tankathon in my favorites

Andy Strickland on Cam and Strick today said it’s likely “5 players” will be facing NHL suspensions for their involvement in the 2018 WJC sexual assault scandal. Said he knows the names but won’t say them now.

“Some significant names” 👀

https://twitter.com/Lalim...JFIID9TWf9u378NWxNUg&s=19

McLeod?
- dmarsden2988

WE NEED TO SIGN A FEW REPLACEMENTS FOR HIM

Andy Strickland on Cam and Strick today said it’s likely “5 players” will be facing NHL suspensions for their involvement in the 2018 WJC sexual assault scandal. Said he knows the names but won’t say them now.

“Some significant names” 👀

https://twitter.com/Lalim...JFIID9TWf9u378NWxNUg&s=19

McLeod?
- dmarsden2988

Yikes. "There's 5 names and I know them but i won't say" and then tease that they're "significant names" is something you report about trade rumors, not possible sexual assault perpetrators. Bad look from Strickland there.