Jeremy Laura: Well Isle be darned, Boston is out. Cap space will force some changes

Wings could sign Reilly to a 2 yr deal on the cheap as a place holder. He was good this year. Or Stevie could go after Ritchie or Debrusk, as the B's have to clear some space if they wish to re-sign some FA's as in Hall, Krejci, Reilly, and a new guy. I wonder if they go after an Eichel, or Seth Jones, or even Reinhart......They need a jolt to their team in the way of some new blood, mainly at LD and possibly in goal.

Wings could sign Reilly to a 2 yr deal on the cheap as a place holder. He was good this year. Or Stevie could go after Ritchie or Debrusk, as the B's have to clear some space if they wish to re-sign some FA's as in Hall, Krejci, Reilly, and a new guy. I wonder if they go after an Eichel, or Seth Jones, or even Reinhart......They need a jolt to their team in the way of some new blood, mainly at LD and possibly in goal.
- HenryHockey

Agree with Reilly, solid defense. I would also keep an eye on Ritchie & Kuraly both bring toughness. All three of these guys have good size at 6’-2’’. Depth is important and the Wings sure could use that net presence in the bottom 6.
What happened to Hall? He started strong, i don’t think he’s a $8m player.

Great story title 👍🏻

Not a single player I would want from that team.

Not a single player I would want from that team.
- Feds91Stammer

Ok, but you gotta give me props for Ritchie’s helmet. It looks like a game of fluffy bunny gone horribly wrong

Wings could sign Reilly to a 2 yr deal on the cheap as a place holder. He was good this year. Or Stevie could go after Ritchie or Debrusk, as the B's have to clear some space if they wish to re-sign some FA's as in Hall, Krejci, Reilly, and a new guy. I wonder if they go after an Eichel, or Seth Jones, or even Reinhart......They need a jolt to their team in the way of some new blood, mainly at LD and possibly in goal.
- HenryHockey

If they could get Eichel, that would be something special. Jones I think will at least be discussed

Agree with Reilly, solid defense. I would also keep an eye on Ritchie & Kuraly both bring toughness. All three of these guys have good size at 6’-2’’. Depth is important and the Wings sure could use that net presence in the bottom 6.
What happened to Hall? He started strong, i don’t think he’s a $8m player.
- Tee56

That “new team boost” did a lot. Especially a winning team. Yeah, if he wants to stay he’s got to go lower than Pasta’s 6.6. No clue if he would

Great story title 👍🏻
- arichardson22

Thanks for that. I spend a ridiculous amount of time in word play options. My step dad kept a copy of “the limerick” in the den and loved Monty Python

There is no way Buffalo moves Eichel to Boston.

Also no way a team-first group like Boston adds a me-first whiner like Eichel.

I’m not sure if any equipment managers lost their high school sweetheart to the opposing coaches, but queue the 80s ending of long requited love.-J.L.

I really enjoyed this line. I think you could pitch this single sentence to Hollywood execs and get a movie deal.

Agree with Reilly, solid defense. I would also keep an eye on Ritchie & Kuraly both bring toughness. All three of these guys have good size at 6’-2’’. Depth is important and the Wings sure could use that net presence in the bottom 6.
What happened to Hall? He started strong, i don’t think he’s a $8m player.
- Tee56

Hall is a tosser. He'll be 30 next season and 1 or 2 more GM's will throw money at him on a belief that their club can provide the right environment to foster another 80+ points out of him, a PPG that won't be replicated in the post season. Steven Y. won't bite.

Pass on Boston. From the previous blog (sorry, a bit late), work a deal for Bean.

The upcoming blog for VGK or COL should be fun.

I really enjoyed this line. I think you could pitch this single sentence to Hollywood execs and get a movie deal.
- Only_A_Ladd

For sure Netflix…thanks for that! My wife’s love of the Brat Pack has been a solid secondary education

Hall is a tosser. He'll be 30 next season and 1 or 2 more GM's will throw money at him on a belief that their club can provide the right environment to foster another 80+ points out of him, a PPG that won't be replicated in the post season. Steven Y. won't bite.

Pass on Boston. From the previous blog (sorry, a bit late), work a deal for Bean.

The upcoming blog for VGK or COL should be fun.
- Only_A_Ladd

I’m chewing on those rosters right now. Bean, very doable. If they did move on Pesce (doubtful) I’d take a look

There is no way Buffalo moves Eichel to Boston.

Also no way a team-first group like Boston adds a me-first whiner like Eichel.
- Kooleus

That’s an interesting take. I haven’t really thought of Eichel in that light, but Boston for sure moves on from players who don’t go team first. Kessel, Seguin, Wheeler, Thorton, just moved without hesitation

boston is done. aging roster with window closed. theyll have some pieces moving forward (Pastrnak,McAvoy) but not enough to be a cup contendor.

they remind me a lot of the red wings with datsyuk/zetterberg at the end of their careers.

boston is done. aging roster with window closed. theyll have some pieces moving forward (Pastrnak,McAvoy) but not enough to be a cup contendor.

they remind me a lot of the red wings with datsyuk/zetterberg at the end of their careers.
- wingz4life

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I thought a bit about that too. They definitely have a lot more young guns, but how do you replace Bergeron? If they could get Eichel, they still don’t have a two way center (in my mind the best in the game). In fact, of the elite young centers (McDavid, Matthews, Draisaitl, Eichel) none of them play that game. They’re scoring machines, but almost zero interest in defense. Almost more like a third winger that takes faceoffs. (I know someone will argue calling Eichel elite).

When Crosby, Bergeron, Malkin, Kopitar are all gone, are other centers coming into the league that will carry that torch? Or is it all about scoring now? Just me being an old man I guess. O’Reilly certainly plays the 2 way game, just doesn’t seem to be the priority of top centers as much

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I thought a bit about that too. They definitely have

a lot more young guns, but how do you replace Bergeron? If they could get Eichel, they still don’t have a two way center (in my mind the best in the game). In fact, of the elite young centers (McDavid, Matthews, Draisaitl, Eichel) none of them play that game. They’re scoring machines, but almost zero interest in defense. Almost more like a third winger that takes faceoffs. (I know someone will argue calling Eichel elite).

When Crosby, Bergeron, Malkin, Kopitar are all gone, are other centers coming into the league that will carry that torch? Or is it all about scoring now? Just me being an old man I guess. O’Reilly certainly plays the 2 way game, just doesn’t seem to be the priority of top centers as much
- Jeremy Laura

Barkov is already elite at both ends.
Brayden Point
Scheifele
Barzal gets a lot of attention for scoring, but he's pretty solid defensively.
Horvat plays both ends well.
Elias Lindholm is unheard of in most parts but is very skilled at both ends.
Aho
Draisitl
Eriksson-Ek won't put up 90 points but may win a Selke one day.

\
I thought a bit about that too. They definitely have a lot more young guns, but how do you replace Bergeron? If they could get Eichel, they still don’t have a two way center (in my mind the best in the game). In fact, of the elite young centers (McDavid, Matthews, Draisaitl, Eichel) none of them play that game. They’re scoring machines, but almost zero interest in defense. Almost more like a third winger that takes faceoffs. (I know someone will argue calling Eichel elite).

When Crosby, Bergeron, Malkin, Kopitar are all gone, are other centers coming into the league that will carry that torch? Or is it all about scoring now? Just me being an old man I guess. O’Reilly certainly plays the 2 way game, just doesn’t seem to be the priority of top centers as much
- Jeremy Laura

You are aware that Matthews and McDavid have received selke votes multiple times in their careers already right?

You are aware that Matthews and McDavid have received selke votes multiple times in their careers already right?
- Feds91Stammer

When I watch them play, McDavid stays high in the zone, standing straight up waiting for a breakout pass. Matthews runs out of gas if the puck goes the other way. He looks like he’s playing half of the ice. They’re not even close to Crosby/Malkin/Bergeron. They’re not stopping goals. Draisaitl is focused on scoring too. If those guys committed to play like the top three they’d be elite 2 way forwards. That’s my perspective, I’ll respect you to have yours but I don’t see it. Not even close

Barkov is already elite at both ends.
Brayden Point
Scheifele
Barzal gets a lot of attention for scoring, but he's pretty solid defensively.
Horvat plays both ends well.
Elias Lindholm is unheard of in most parts but is very skilled at both ends.
Aho
Draisitl
Eriksson-Ek won't put up 90 points but may win a Selke one day.
- Kooleus

Barkov I’ll give you. Carolina teaches a 200 ft game. Scheifle is an elite 2 way for sure. I just don’t see it in most of the rest. Not anywhere near what the others I mentioned, Pav, Z, Yzerman late in his career

Barkov is already elite at both ends.
Brayden Point
Scheifele
Barzal gets a lot of attention for scoring, but he's pretty solid defensively.
Horvat plays both ends well.
Elias Lindholm is unheard of in most parts but is very skilled at both ends.
Aho
Draisitl
Eriksson-Ek won't put up 90 points but may win a Selke one day.
- Kooleus

Kopitar, Getzlaf, Crosby

You are aware that Matthews and McDavid have received selke votes multiple times in their careers already right?
- Feds91Stammer

And Subban won the Norris…

Kopitar, Getzlaf, Crosby
- HenryHockey

I mentioned kopitar and Crosby as part of the elite guys heading out. Getzlaf used to be a beast for sure

When I watch them play, McDavid stays high in the zone, standing straight up waiting for a breakout pass. Matthews runs out of gas if the puck goes the other way. He looks like he’s playing half of the ice. They’re not even close to Crosby/Malkin/Bergeron. They’re not stopping goals. Draisaitl is focused on scoring too. If those guys committed to play like the top three they’d be elite 2 way forwards. That’s my perspective, I’ll respect you to have yours but I don’t see it. Not even close
- Jeremy Laura

That’s odd considering they are 2nd and 4th in 5v5 takeaways the last 3 seasons. Seems a lot like your Vrana/Helm take on this one.