Ben Pope column:
https://chicago.suntimes....yle-davidson-dallas-stars

Are they not the same things?
- fattybeef

Not to me. McGroarty's arrow is pointing straight up right now and Wright's not so much....... I'm not giving up on Wright yet but forced to choose today I'd take McGroarty.

I’m not sure who posted that on CF, but the guy sounds incredibly smart, handsome, and an all-around great guy.
- DarthKane

That would be me then

Edmonton trade Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio for Buffalo for Matt Savoie (9th overall pick in 2022).
- DarthKane

Bad trade need right handed d men to pair wit dahlin and power. They do get a 3rd line center with size and speed.

Saw this on armchair gm on capfriendly.com so I thought it was interesting proposal.
Reichel and 2nd for Shane Wright. I don't think it would happen but it was interesting imo. Two young players struggling to fine their way in the NHL
- Scott1977


Guess I haven't been following Wright real close. At 20 yrs old he's progressing just fine going by numbers. https://www.eliteprospect...layer/526239/shane-wright

Looking back that was a funky first yr after the draft they put this kid thru. NHL, AHL and jrs.

This is interesting and at face value might look to favor EDM. I watched Savoie play a yr in the USHL and he was good but didn't blow me away. At 5ft 10 in all he does is put up big points in 2 Major Jr yrs. https://www.eliteprospect...yer/476028/matthew-savoie

I had forgotten how young McLeod is. He's 24 yrs old. Showed a helluva game this yr with EDM. 6ft 3in, 210 the dude can fly, will hit, straight to the dirty areas, full on motor and compete and is showing some prowess around the net. Maybe a final 50ish pt piece kinda guy on a L2? https://www.eliteprospect...player/271502/ryan-mcleod

Something a bit off in BUF. With all that high draft pick talent that's playing just fine in the NHL, an absolutely loaded blueline and yet they don't win....... Maybe it's a 1st rate destroyer with speed and hunger they need in McLeod?
- Mr Ricochet

Sometimes McLeod gets flak for playing more like a 5'9'' more so than 6'3'' in his tenure as an Oiler, which is why I think he was moved.

Hoping Tinordi is next, before KD gets any ideas.
- Angotti

Tinordi is no longer under any cobtract and no takers.

This is interesting and at face value might look to favor EDM. I watched Savoie play a yr in the USHL and he was good but didn't blow me away. At 5ft 10 in all he does is put up big points in 2 Major Jr yrs. https://www.eliteprospect...yer/476028/matthew-savoie

I had forgotten how young McLeod is. He's 24 yrs old. Showed a helluva game this yr with EDM. 6ft 3in, 210 the dude can fly, will hit, straight to the dirty areas, full on motor and compete and is showing some prowess around the net. Maybe a final 50ish pt piece kinda guy on a L2? https://www.eliteprospect...player/271502/ryan-mcleod

Something a bit off in BUF. With all that high draft pick talent that's playing just fine in the NHL, an absolutely loaded blueline and yet they don't win....... Maybe it's a 1st rate destroyer with speed and hunger they need in McLeod?
- Mr Ricochet

They don't have any dominant forwards that can change the dynamic of a game. Dahlin seems like a pretty solid player but there really aren't any forwards that are special.

Florida, for example, Barkov, The Chuck, Reinhart (ironically) was okay in the playoffs but 50 goals is pretty cool.

Oilers - obvi who is on that team.

Buffalo doesn't have any forwards who can change the dynamic of a game and impose their will on it. Definitely no one on the level of Bedard. No dominating center. Gotta have at least one.

They pulled the same nonsense that Ottawa did by outsmarting themselves and paying guys for future gains rather than bridging to figure out what they are.

+7 million for Cozens is laughable. 11 Million for Dahlin is ridiculous and over 8 for Power is silly.

Maybe they win some games by committee this year but they're in the realm of Detroit without having anyone as good as Larkin. Ottawa is in slightly better shape because Stutzle is a very good player and the lesser the chuck may not suck. Competent goaltending and some improvement on their blue line should get them closer to 7 or 8.

Sometimes McLeod gets flak for playing more like a 5'9'' more so than 6'3'' in his tenure as an Oiler, which is why I think he was moved.
- breadbag

Does he? Did he raise his game in the playoffs cuz that dude was rocket fuel fast and was throwin his body around? I kinda always saw him that way but this yr even more and showed a maturity to his game I hadn't seen, at least in the playoffs.

Ben Pope column:
https://chicago.suntimes....yle-davidson-dallas-stars
- 35Tony0

Ben Pope bit and now the future of the franchise has been circumvented to a conservative original six type philosophy when the Hawks are simple saying come in don't exp-ect a job, just WIN one!

Anyboidy with a brain knows Lil Frankie will come in ready for an 80 game pro schedukle and that he can help at the NHL level.

There are 95 days untiul we start back up.

I am spending my free time reading Fredik Backman's swedish small toewn hockey novel, Beartown soon to be adapted for HBO, and the just released Lisa Jewell novel about suiper hero Jessica Jones in Breaking the Dark that takes place after the Purple Man messed with her mind in the Netflix series now on Disney?

I gotta read them before DeathSantis bans them. (that was reality not political, wads.)

Does he? Did he raise his game in the playoffs cuz that dude was rocket fuel fast and was throwin his body around? I kinda always saw him that way but this yr even more and showed a maturity to his game I hadn't seen, at least in the playoffs.
- Mr Ricochet

I'll put it this way, he was 15th on the Oilers in hits in the playoffs. Dylan Holloway had 3 times more hits playing fewer minutes per game.

They don't have any dominant forwards that can change the dynamic of a game. Dahlin seems like a pretty solid player but there really aren't any forwards that are special.

Florida, for example, Barkov, The Chuck, Reinhart (ironically) was okay in the playoffs but 50 goals is pretty cool.

Oilers - obvi who is on that team.

Buffalo doesn't have any forwards who can change the dynamic of a game and impose their will on it. Definitely no one on the level of Bedard. No dominating center. Gotta have at least one.

They pulled the same nonsense that Ottawa did by outsmarting themselves and paying guys for future gains rather than bridging to figure out what they are.

+7 million for Cozens is laughable. 11 Million for Dahlin is ridiculous and over 8 for Power is silly.

Maybe they win some games by committee this year but they're in the realm of Detroit without having anyone as good as Larkin. Ottawa is in slightly better shape because Stutzle is a very good player and the lesser the chuck may not suck. Competent goaltending and some improvement on their blue line should get them closer to 7 or 8.
- fattybeef

fatty, 7 foot centerman Thompson put up 47 goals and 94 pts 2 yrs ago. Cozens as a 20/21 yr old put up 68 pts 2 yrs ago. Have you watched Peterka and Quinn? Both were dangerous last yr when I saw them, especially Paterka ..... I think you're underestimating their NHL talent and there are many ways to skin a cat. I'd love for my GM to go 4 for 4 signing a core early with a savings of a mil or two a contract. Can't miss though.

I'll put it this way, he was 15th on the Oilers in hits in the playoffs. Dylan Holloway had 3 times more hits playing fewer minutes per game.
- breadbag

Maybe I stand corrected, BB, and thanks for the stats, but I very much liked what I saw from McLoed last yr. Kinda the opposite I saw with Vanacker. Watched him kinda closely when watching Lardis cuz he was draft eligible and I saw a perimeter reaching player who kinda was feeling his way over the surface.

Now I see clips of the kid into everything. I kinda saw him as a less Ryan Greene... My skills are waning unless I'm seeing these guys at their best and or worst.

And hopefully the switch has flipped for Halloway. Forget who but a poster here was calling to go get him all yr. Kid skated top 6 with EDM in much of the playoffs all the way to Game 7 of the Finals.

Never know when a switch flips for a player.

Tinordi is no lkonger under any cobtract and no takers.
- wiz1901

I hope Tinordi lands in a place where he can help somehow. Dude goes to the mat for his club every time out. He'll brawl first game back from a busted jaw. ....... At 32 yrs old with only 200 NHL games and 430 AHL games he's very easy to root for.

Saw this on armchair gm on capfriendly.com so I thought it was interesting proposal.
Reichel and 2nd for Shane Wright. I don't think it would happen but it was interesting imo. Two young players struggling to fine their way in the NHL
- Scott1977


Guess I haven't been following Wright real close. At 20 yrs old he's progressing just fine going by numbers. https://www.eliteprospect...layer/526239/shane-wright

Looking back that was a funky first yr after the draft they put this kid thru. NHL, AHL and jrs.
- Mr Ricochet

Just responding to propose trade proposal have to admit don't follow Seattle all that much.

Just responding to propose trade proposal have to admit don't follow Seattle all that much.
- Scott1977

For a guy like you who likes movement/trades the next 3-4 yrs aughta be fun for you. Pipeline full, legit NHL level talent battling for NHL roster spots and KD identifying holes that need to be filled.

fatty, 7 foot centerman Thompson put up 47 goals and 94 pts 2 yrs ago. Cozens as a 20/21 yr old put up 68 pts 2 yrs ago. Have you watched Peterka and Quinn? Both were dangerous last yr when I saw them, especially Paterka ..... I think you're underestimating their NHL talent and there are many ways to skin a cat. I'd love for my GM to go 4 for 4 signing a core early with a savings of a mil or two a contract. Can't miss though.
- Mr Ricochet

What did they do the other years?

I didn't say anything about their overall talent - I said they don't have high end talent. And they don't. They don't have any dominating players. They have a bunch of guys who are pretty good and were certainly disappointing this year.

There isn't anyone on that roster you'd take over Tkachuk or Barkov especially. Or MacKinnon or Rantanen.

If Thompson strings together 4 +PPG seasons between now and when he turns 31 that would be neat but there isn't a lot in his history to say he is anything more than an inconsistent big guy who would be great as a secondary player on a good team but I don't think is who you want as your No. 1.

Maybe Granato was a moron and some of that stuff improves with Ruff but I don't see any kind of top tier player there. Some pieces that would be nice secondary adds - Thompson is more at the Nichushkin level then MacKinnon. Which is fine - but thats a big part of why they're at where they're at.

Maybe I stand corrected, BB, and thanks for the stats, but I very much liked what I saw from McLoed last yr. Kinda the opposite I saw with Vanacker. Watched him kinda closely when watching Lardis cuz he was draft eligible and I saw a perimeter reaching player who kinda was feeling his way over the surface.

Now I see clips of the kid into everything. I kinda saw him as a less Ryan Greene... My skills are waning unless I'm seeing these guys at their best and or worst.

And hopefully the switch has flipped for Halloway. Forget who but a poster here was calling to go get him all yr. Kid skated top 6 with EDM in much of the playoffs all the way to Game 7 of the Finals.

Never know when a switch flips for a player.
- Mr Ricochet

I saw Vanacker allot last season, three times live and a dozen or more on TV. I said it when he was drafted, his back checking and ability to strip pucks was very similar to watching Hossa. His speed, hands, anticipation and ability to read plays help him catch and strip players heading down ice. He’s definitely not a perimeter player, he’s not physical but he doesn’t shy away from the hard areas on the ice and will in fact go there to make a play. He has good wheels, good hands, a pretty decent shot, a good passer and he’s always in position offensively and defensively.

https://youtu.be/jdHtwV4oAYg?si=IAHu3SSsFqYhdde4

What did they do the other years?

I didn't say anything about their overall talent - I said they don't have high end talent. And they don't. They don't have any dominating players. They have a bunch of guys who are pretty good and were certainly disappointing this year.

There isn't anyone on that roster you'd take over Tkachuk or Barkov especially. Or MacKinnon or Rantanen.

If Thompson strings together 4 +PPG seasons between now and when he turns 31 that would be neat but there isn't a lot in his history to say he is anything more than an inconsistent big guy who would be great as a secondary player on a good team but I don't think is who you want as your No. 1.

Maybe Granato was a moron and some of that stuff improves with Ruff but I don't see any kind of top tier player there. Some pieces that would be nice secondary adds - Thompson is more at the Nichushkin level then MacKinnon. Which is fine - but thats a big part of why they're at where they're at.
- fattybeef

No, and you did say they might get it done by committee. ..... Thompson might be a difference maker. Took him awhile to get his feet and then get moved to center by Granato for him to take off. The 94 pt yr may have been an outlier but you gotta have real talent to put up 94 pts in the NHL. ..... And he's a big guy, unusually so, and they take longer to develop.

And look at DAL, CAR, and maybe throw in WPG, as successful clubs without a Barkov or MacKinnon. With guys like Thompson, Paterka, Cozens, Quinn, Benson, that crazy good defense and guys like Ostlund, Rosen', Kulich in the pipeline I like this organIzation even if a Thompson never reaches superstar status...... That's a lotta talent.

I saw Vanacker allot last season, three times live and a dozen or more on TV. I said it when he was drafted, his back checking and ability to strip pucks was very similar to watching Hossa. His speed, hands, anticipation and ability to read plays help him catch and strip players heading down ice. He’s definitely not a perimeter player, he’s not physical but he doesn’t shy away from the hard areas on the ice and will in fact go there to make a play. He has good wheels, good hands, a pretty decent shot, a good passer and he’s always in position offensively and defensively.

https://youtu.be/jdHtwV4oAYg?si=IAHu3SSsFqYhdde4
- paulr

I know, Paul. You, Wiz and the whole hockey world were diggin Vanacher. I must be wrong, and thru no small sample size I didn't see what everyone else did. ... I do love his highlight clips, a lot.

Are the Bulldogs staying in Brantford next yr or are they going back to Hamilton? Cuz I know I'll be tuning into a good bit of Bulldog hockey to see Lardis and Vanacher.

I saw Vanacker allot last season, three times live and a dozen or more on TV. I said it when he was drafted, his back checking and ability to strip pucks was very similar to watching Hossa. His speed, hands, anticipation and ability to read plays help him catch and strip players heading down ice. He’s definitely not a perimeter player, he’s not physical but he doesn’t shy away from the hard areas on the ice and will in fact go there to make a play. He has good wheels, good hands, a pretty decent shot, a good passer and he’s always in position offensively and defensively.

https://youtu.be/jdHtwV4oAYg?si=IAHu3SSsFqYhdde4
- paulr

You are selling Vanacker short by NOT calling him a defensive player.

Sure he may not make his way all the way back on every transition, but I could each of the strips of pucks he consistently makes as defensive plays that turn the plays to the offensive.

I know, Paul. You, Wiz and the whole hockey world were diggin Vanacher. I must be wrong, and thru no small sample size I didn't see what everyone else did. ... I do love his highlight clips, a lot.

Are the Bulldogs staying in Brantford next yr or are they going back to Hamilton? Cuz I know I'll be tuning into a good bit of Bulldog hockey to see Lardis and Vanacher.
- Mr Ricochet

I was just rebutting your comment about him being a perimeter player. I like his two way game, the way he back checks is outstanding, I mentioned Hossa another example is Brandon Saad. I said he wasn’t physical I didn’t know he had a shoulder problem all season, what is he like when he’s healthy all season? And the fact he played in pain almost the whole year but put up over a point a game, played in all the tough areas on the ice and played a two way game so well says lots about his character. As the narrator of the clip I linked, Vanacker may be a top six forward or a third line winger, he has the versatility to play different roles utilizing great skating, a high motor and a solid two way game.

As for where the team will play out of in future, the owner doesn’t expect to leave Brantford however Hamilton is a bigger community, five times the population , and with the renovations at the First Ontario Centre in Hamilton it wouldn’t surprise me to see the team move back to Hamilton once the building upgrades are completed.

You are selling Vanacker short by NOT calling him a defensive player.

Sure he may not make his way all the way back on every transition, but I could each of the strips of pucks he consistently makes as defensive plays that turn the plays to the offensive.
- wiz1901

My point was to rebut Vanacker being a perimeter player. My post never really got beyond that. I did point out that his ability to back check was outstanding. And I have in the past described his two way game.

For a guy like you who likes movement/trades the next 3-4 yrs aughta be fun for you. Pipeline full, legit NHL level talent battling for NHL roster spots and KD identifying holes that need to be filled.
- Mr Ricochet

Shane Wright is a true center which would make sense for the Hawks but highly doubt Seattle would give up on him now. That's what Hawks need in there system true centers Boisvert and green seem to me the only two but I might be missing someone. And this whole thing winger/ center make my eyes roll your either a center or not same with a winger your either a winger or not. It's nice to have versatility but imo its one or the other.

I was just rebutting your comment about him being a perimeter player. I like his two way game, the way he back checks is outstanding, I mentioned Hossa another example is Brandon Saad. I said he wasn’t physical I didn’t know he had a shoulder problem all season, what is he like when he’s healthy all season? And the fact he played in pain almost the whole year but put up over a point a game, played in all the tough areas on the ice and played a two way game so well says lots about his character. As the narrator of the clip I linked, Vanacker may be a top six forward or a third line winger, he has the versatility to play different roles utilizing great skating, a high motor and a solid two way game.

As for where the team will play out of in future, the owner doesn’t expect to leave Brantford however Hamilton is a bigger community, five times the population , and with the renovations at the First Ontario Centre in Hamilton it wouldn’t surprise me to see the team move back to Hamilton once the building upgrades are completed.
- paulr

I understand. .... Believe when I tell you when I was at a Steel game over the last 15 yrs when a kid backchecked and stripped a puck or tied up a stick in the slot I was probably the only one who shot out of his seat and cheered. Same, but less so, when a kid takes a 45 second shift, rubs a guy out, took a good lane, had a nice read, just make plays.

I love the backchecking/tying up sticks/good reads part of the game. I'm a kid who bought into fundamentals as a 6 yr old in organized baseball. ..... I don't miss this stuff and I just did not see this outa Vanacker in the games I saw. I'd have remembered him after his FIRST backcheck, would have filed him in my mental archives.

But the film don't lie. Kid has a nice foundation to work from and I'm excited to have him.. And, much of that fine film he had a busted up shoulder. Kid is interesting for sure.