I've thought about a Slaggert-Hagel comparison. IMO during his 16 NHL games he was better than he was seeing hin with the NTDP and Notre Dame. Might be a guy so well schooled/coached/developed coming up thru The Mission, The Program and 4 full yrs at Notre Dame that the better the structure the better he plays.

Looking over is EP page the kid never put up many pts so I don't see him showing the offense Hagel does but like Hagel he's a high IQ guy that simply makes plays in all 3 zones, a lot of them.

Slaggert has a chance to be a difference making bottom 6 guy on a very good team. Competitive gamers with a high IQ carve out good long NHL careers.
- Mr Ricochet

Agree, and always find that interesting when that happens.

Same with Bedard (at least in first few games of the worlds until he became a bust) playing out there with real top 6 NHLers, you see even more so just how good he really is

Buffalo fan on capfriendly proposing a Skinner to Chicago trade.

Skinner and Buffalo's 1st to Chicago. Teams exchange their own 2nd rounders.

3 years of Skinner at 9M for the 11th overall? If Hawks are sellers in year 3, flip him for more assets at the TDL?
- boilermaker100

Its a very interesting proposal and something worth considering. The last year of the Skinner's deal is what concerns me.

While Foligno, D!ckinson and Murphy would be off the books after the 25/26 sesaon. Collectively that's $13.15 million off the books, before factoring in their replacements. Plus, the team will shed Hall and Donato after the upcoming season (collective $8 million). There's also another $3.1 million in retention/buy-out coming off the books after this season.

However, in 26/27 (the last year of Skinner's current deal) Bedard, Korchinski, Nazar, and Reichel will all need new deals. In 25/26 Kuraschev will need a new deal too.

KD would have to be comfortable that with all the various player development schedules and organic increase in the salary cap Skinner's contract (mostly in the last year) wouldn't impact the team's ability to re-sign their core/key young players.

Button has changed his draft list. Demidov is still #2, though Levshunov has dropped to #7

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/cr...h-into-top-five-1.2124326

I might be wrong but I think if we need to take Skinner, I'd push for more than the 1st round pick. Cap space is worth a lot these days. I'd like a youngish prospect or player included if it was me.
- breadbag

Lots of teams have cap space and the willingness to spend some of it. If you get the 11 pick without giving up much I think you have to do it.

Anybody figure out what TB is doing with that McDonagh trade? They are definitely adding to their defensive depth. Maybe it was a pre-emptive move if TOR was going to ask for him and Saros back in a Marner trade.

TB with 5M in cap space and need to sign a few players to fill out the roster. Stamkos will take up all that 5M if he re-signs there. Who gets moved?
Cirelli 7 x 6.25M, Sheary 2 x 2M, Paul 5 x 3.25M?
- boilermaker100

cirelli I know it a lot of term but he could solve that second line role reminds me of bigger version of danault be good fit for the Hawks. But I think it will be Paul and Sheary. Don't think have to give up much maybe a 2nd and 5th for cirelli

Lots of teams have cap space and the willingness to spend some of it. If you get the 11 pick without giving up much I think you have to do it.
- Ztra

If that 11th is Eiserman, I'd do it in a heartbeat

Wheeler has an article on Lindstrom,some info about his back injury:

When a back injury (and a minor hand injury) derailed his season heading into the Christmas break, he’d registered 27 goals, 46 points and 66 penalty minutes in just 32 games, a 68-game full WHL season pace of 57 goals, 98 points and 140 penalty minutes. He had a real chance to break 100 points (before the injuries, he was on a 12-game point streak that saw him score 13 goals and 21 points).
Months later, there are just two questions. The first isn’t whether he’s a first-round pick in the draft, but just how high he might go. On talent and upside, a consensus of NHL scouts believes he belongs in the top-five conversation. But the second question — the more pressing one for NHL clubs — is about the status of his health.
This week, his agency, Wasserman Hockey, is expected to deliver a pair of reports to NHL Central Scouting which outline everything they’ve gone through over the last several months. The reports will be made available to all 32 NHL clubs ahead of the upcoming Scouting Combine in Buffalo. One will be written by Lindstrom’s physiotherapist, Ryan Murray of the East Vancouver Sports and Rehabilitation Clinic. The other will be written by the doctor who has treated Lindstrom.
- captainserious

Hey Capn, your links and copy & pastes are really helpful.. Thanks......... What caught my eye in the piece said Lindstrom suffered a hurt back and a MINOR hand injury. I was under the impression it was the other way around.

If that 11th is Eiserman, I'd do it in a heartbeat
- vabeachbear

Button now has Eiserman ranked at 9 now. I'd like to snag him too, but not at 2. Iginla is at 4 now. I wonder if Calgary would move their 9 and 28 to move up to the top 5.

Related to Calgary, Gretz has an interesting Jones for Huberdeau proposal.


https://www.nhltraderumor...proposed-trade-sends.html

I'd pass. One year longer and more expensive contract. RHD are at a premium too.

Lots of teams have cap space and the willingness to spend some of it. If you get the 11 pick without giving up much I think you have to do it.
- Ztra

Personally I really don't agree that there are so many teams with space and willingness to take on the salary. It's not eating the cap for one season or two, but 3 years of 9 million, and 22 million real dollars paid out just to get one more draft choice. I think most teams would push for more than just an 11th overall pick.

Not to mention, once you work out a deal, Skinner has to agree to it with his full no movement clause, so likely the pool of teams shrinks even more. Even flipping him in the final year of his deal might be really difficult with that kind of AAV and his erratic production. He is the kind of player that really depends on others to be productive, I would ask for more or pass.

Button now has Eiserman ranked at 9 now. I'd like to snag him too, but not at 2. Iginla is at 4 now. I wonder if Calgary would move their 9 and 28 to move up to the top 5.

Related to Calgary, Gretz has an interesting Jones for Huberdeau proposal.


https://www.nhltraderumor...proposed-trade-sends.html

I'd pass. One year longer and more expensive contract. RHD are at a premium too.
- Popsghostly

Nope, I’d rather have Jones, like you mentioned, RHD’s and also centers are at a premium. Jones has definitely more value than Huberdeau.

Keefe coaching the Devils

Stan got the job because of Scottie. I heard a rumor that San Jose was looking at Colliton for coach.
Edit: That came from the Hockey news. Give Bedard a break. He has been playing a lot of hockey.
- bjphawkfan

Apparently he has had a few interviews.

Its a very interesting proposal and something worth considering. The last year of the Skinner's deal is what concerns me.

While Foligno, D!ckinson and Murphy would be off the books after the 25/26 sesaon. Collectively that's $13.15 million off the books, before factoring in their replacements. Plus, the team will shed Hall and Donato after the upcoming season (collective $8 million). There's also another $3.1 million in retention/buy-out coming off the books after this season.

However, in 26/27 (the last year of Skinner's current deal) Bedard, Korchinski, Nazar, and Reichel will all need new deals. In 25/26 Kuraschev will need a new deal too.

KD would have to be comfortable that with all the various player development schedules and organic increase in the salary cap Skinner's contract (mostly in the last year) wouldn't impact the team's ability to re-sign their core/key young players.
- DarthKane

Trading or buying him out in last year of his contract would be n option.

Well technically according to your logic they should move some of the picks they already made because future draft picks ELCs don't kick in until one they are signed, 2 they have to play in the NHL.

Honestly FFS let's stop with the immediate gratification and let this develop.

That's all i hear from many of you.
- BetweenTheDots

Philips, Crevier, EDM, Kaiser and Allen are all knocking on the same door. I think they should get value from at least 2 of them while they can.

They have a solid group to move forward with and a lot of talent that should be popping at the same time. So since they have a lot coming in - deferring some picks now so another big group doesn't roll through for 4 or 5 years may help soften the blow of their first cap crisis.

That keeps the pipeline rolling a bit longer and as surplus needs to be traded that allows them to restock internally and not necessarily have to trade two firsts for a Hagel type player down the road.

Or if they think they need to buy a player they have a surplus of futures available to do so.

Hahaha, I'm sorry, i feel like fans are hoping KD ruins this rebuild before it even starts.
- BetweenTheDots

I think he's done a good job accumulating talent which is why if they can bump some stuff down the road - when they have to pay a bunch of guys all at the same time and have cap casualties - there will be another wave of players coming through to replace cheaply for a few years.

This Mitch Marner for Seth Jones rumour isn’t going away, in fact it’s picking up steam. Of course it could be a case of everyone is picking a rumour and running with it as their own? I heard the rumour on the FAN yesterday. Today I heard Jeff Merrick from TSN is also talking about it. And a few weeks ago there was the attached article. During the discussion on the FAN the fact that Jones isn’t interested in playing for a Canadian team came up and he apparently doesn’t have the stomach for a rebuild. Not sure if he’s interested in the insane scrutiny he’ll be under with the Toronto media?

https://www.bleachernatio...05/06/mitch-marner-leafs/
- paulr

But he'd have a theoretical shot at a cup run the next half dozen years so that may appeal to him more than waiting for the rebuild to complete.

Why get involved with Marner unless the front office and the coaching staff have a burning desire to unload Jones? KD would definitely have to eat half of Jones' contract because not doing that would stick the Maple Loafs with $17M tied up in both Jones and Rielly for 6 more years. They are really stupid on a sunny day but even they are probably not dumb enough to do that.

Looks like Steven Stamkos is all done in Tampa. I'd rather overpay him for a couple years than get saddled with Marner. Bedard / Stamkos / Hall as 1st line would at least make the Hawks look like an NHL team. And then pick off a couple of Carolina free agents like Martinook and 1 of their UFA defenceman.
- RickJ

There could be a burning desire to unload Jones.

I don't think he fits into the higher pressure 1-2-2 they seem to want to play where the defenders need to be able to disrupt the blue line. He is very bad at that.

Certainly isn't at the PLD level but for Marner straight up I don't see what the big deal is. They could even let Marner walk after the next year and have a bunch of cap flexibility going forward.

Either way I don't think it impacts their ability to win in 4 or 5 years but probably has them in the lottery again this fall though they may be a little more entertaining with all the goals they'll score.

Did Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid ever play on the same line together?
- paulr

RNH was also criticized for being too soft in the playoffs at one point until he wasn't.

I'll go on record that I was hoping Seth Jones would have been available in free agency when his Columbus contract expired a few years ago. I remember that several OT game during the COVID playoffs in 2020 when he logged about 60 minutes of ice team. Torts sang his praises and I thought he would be a good add to Chicago since the play of Keith and Seabook were declining.

Then Seth said he wasn't re-upping in Columbus and Jarmo put him on the market. I didn't mind the 9.5M contract because I thought that was going to be his UFA cost anyway. I didn't like the trade because I thought at the time Stan overpaid and was bidding against himself. In hindsight Boqvist hasn't moved the needle, and Sillinger, one of the 1st round picks CBJ got, is meh up to this point. But that other 1st round pick traded turned out to be 4th OA and that's the one that hurts.

Now, I admit I'm in the trade Seth camp. I believe he is one of three players on the team along with Bedard and Vlasic that would get a decent return. Something like when a few weeks ago I speculated on a trade to Utah for a 1st (or maybe a young forward prospect).

I don't know how long it will be before the Hawks becomes a playoff contender much less a Cup contender. I would like to think 3 more seasons to make the playoffs, then experience a couple of years of growing pains while learning what playoff hockey is all about. If all the stars align - lack of injuries, puck luck, etc. - then maybe a Cup run. So at least 6 years, about the time Jones' contract expires. I don't know how much of a contributor he'll be in years 5 and 6, but I would rather trade him soon since I fear his play will fall off in a few years. I would even retain 2M on his contract. Yesterday I wrote about potentially expensive contracts facing KD in about 4-5 years. When that time occurs I'd rather have 2M on the books versus 9.5M.

End of dissertation.
- boilermaker100

I'd prefer the Utah scenario you describe but I think in terms of keeping him vs trading him it really doesn't impact their ability to win or not win when it comes down to it.

Buffalo fan on capfriendly proposing a Skinner to Chicago trade.

Skinner and Buffalo's 1st to Chicago. Teams exchange their own 2nd rounders.

3 years of Skinner at 9M for the 11th overall? If Hawks are sellers in year 3, flip him for more assets at the TDL?
- boilermaker100

He's still a decent player. I don't see any issue with that.

Yeah, we'd have to retain at least 20% of Jones salary for anyone to take him on as well as likely having to give up #20 and more I think as a sweetener. That's a hefty cap hit for a significant amount of time. We were able to get a 2nd for Johnson's 3 years at $5M. Add to the fact that while he's taking the heat for the playoff failure, Marner is still one heck of a player. He's able to put up 80-100 points a year and his plus/minus is very good showing his general skill without the puck. It was only last year where Leafs faithful were praising Marner over Nylander after their exit to the Cats. How quickly fortunes fade.

That said, Leyshunov at #2 and Marner would be a change of pace. Definitely improve the offensive output. Jones played well this year and think he'll get better in subsequent years up to a certain point as the team improves but eventually decline sets in. Jones is still a good defenseman, 25 minutes a night against the top opposition but not at his salary as many here have commented. Still I'd much rather have him than Nurse.
- Popsghostly

Why though?

He's a RHD who eats big minutes, puts up between 40-60 points every year probably more on a good team, and is mostly OK at defending and can efficiently move the puck forward.

It doesn't impact Toronto because Toronto isn't really standing up the blue line. They just kinda slide back and turtle.

And its a lot of appeal for a team like Utah because when he winds it up (even though its to mixed results) it looks like a thing is happening and that can be exciting.

Jones would not fit as well on Dallas or Florida, for example, because he sucks at standing up the blue line.

For the right fit - absolutely no reason to eat money or pay someone to take him. Absolutely makes sense for teams like Toronto who are desperate and Utah who want to move up in the standings and could use a proven veteran on the blue line. I think Seattle would make sense as well.

Button has changed his draft list. Demidov is still #2, though Levshunov has dropped to #7

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/cr...h-into-top-five-1.2124326
- wizardofi

So interesting how all of these are very divergent. Fun read.

Its a very interesting proposal and something worth considering. The last year of the Skinner's deal is what concerns me.

While Foligno, D!ckinson and Murphy would be off the books after the 25/26 sesaon. Collectively that's $13.15 million off the books, before factoring in their replacements. Plus, the team will shed Hall and Donato after the upcoming season (collective $8 million). There's also another $3.1 million in retention/buy-out coming off the books after this season.

However, in 26/27 (the last year of Skinner's current deal) Bedard, Korchinski, Nazar, and Reichel will all need new deals. In 25/26 Kuraschev will need a new deal too.

KD would have to be comfortable that with all the various player development schedules and organic increase in the salary cap Skinner's contract (mostly in the last year) wouldn't impact the team's ability to re-sign their core/key young players.
- DarthKane

Three players right now would be generous in calling them the core.

Why though?

He's a RHD who eats big minutes, puts up between 40-60 points every year probably more on a good team, and is mostly OK at defending and can efficiently move the puck forward.

It doesn't impact Toronto because Toronto isn't really standing up the blue line. They just kinda slide back and turtle.

And its a lot of appeal for a team like Utah because when he winds it up (even though its to mixed results) it looks like a thing is happening and that can be exciting.

Jones would not fit as well on Dallas or Florida, for example, because he sucks at standing up the blue line.

For the right fit - absolutely no reason to eat money or pay someone to take him. Absolutely makes sense for teams like Toronto who are desperate and Utah who want to move up in the standings and could use a proven veteran on the blue line. I think Seattle would make sense as well.
- fattybeef

Regardless of rumours in the Toronto media of the Leafs being interested in Jones it won't happen. They can't tie up $17M for 6 years on their blueline between Jones and Morgan Rielly. Thats the money part. The coaching part - I don't see Jones ever being a Craig Berube type player. And Berube is closer to being a Barry Trotz type coach who wanted rid of Jones in Nashville and got his way.

The Dman the Leafs will go after this summer is Chris Tanev - he matches the profile of the type of player they want and need more of.

Regardless of rumours in the Toronto media of the Leafs being interested in Jones it won't happen. They can't tie up $17M for 6 years on their blueline between Jones and Morgan Rielly. Thats the money part. The coaching part - I don't see Jones ever being a Craig Berube type player. And Berube is closer to being a Barry Trotz type coach who wanted rid of Jones in Nashville and got his way.

The Dman the Leafs will go after this summer is Chris Tanev - he matches the profile of the type of player they want and need more of.
- RickJ

It's not though. They need push from the blue line not defensive defensemen.