travel_dude

We can beat both teams in our barn. Both goalies that TO has can have really bad games.

Time for the Rocket Doctor streak to start again. Enjoy the game if you happen top be up early. Fans in the dome now allowed to drink again. Still just 50%, but let's rock the library.

It's either him or Werner in the ECHL. He needs starts, so better to get more now, even if at a lower level. Not exactly defense first league, so lots of pucks.

Yes, if we play the way we can and have seen.

I was shocked that they started Brossoit last night, since that means we get Lehner. Don't think it really changes anything since we struggle against Brossoit anyway. If we play the way we are capable, Vegas is no different than any other team. Vegas forced a poor defensive team to expose the goalie. We have a better structure and can shut down the best lines. Markstrom is the logical choice, but I wonder if it makes better sense to sacrifice Vladar. They don't have a book on him, and their goals last night were ones that Vladar can fight off.

The reality is that teams overpay in FA. With the Flames, you could argue that Neal was prime example that killed us. So bad that we had to trade for another overpaid player. If you look back to the Gio, Monahan, Gaudreau and Tkachuk deals, they were a result of cap crunch. We had the so-called Gio cap, but that was also a function of remaining cap. We could only pay so much and still ice a good team. The downside is that guys like Mange and Kylington were given meager raises. And we had to keep Gaudreau and Tkachuk shorter than we really wanted. Pitlick was a miss, but it was a miss on how he would fit the team. He's better than what we have seen. I don't know if some injury created the version we see or if he just doesn't fit. Richardson was a miss in that he isn't the player he was up to a year ago. Faded too fast. I like Lewis, but for the money I would prefer Galchenyuk over Ritchie. That assumes we still have Lucic and Guddy. For minimum wage, have no problem with Ritchie as a 14th F, but not at the expense of a prospect getting a look.

I'm not saying it doesn't. I was saying that it only makes the top half deeper. Johnny with pre-injury Eichel is llikely similar to Lindholn, except Jack scores more. More goals overall or the same just re-distributed; don't know. 3rd and 4th line no better. Also, depending on what goes the other way, perhaps holes elsewhere.

I'm not really sure that you could put him in a much better situation here. Lindholm is as easily impactful as say Bergeron. Tkachuk has his faults but score a ton. Would he have 130 points playing with McD? Yeah, but we aren't getting that level. Is there an argument for him to play with a top RW or top C? Yes, but I don't think that really makes this team that much better, except that it gives us depth. That depth is in the top 1/2 of the roster.

If it comes down to dispute of his impact to the team (not scoring in playoffs) or will we have to pay too much, then we should trade him now. If that's what we are talking about fine. He's a winger. I'm of the opinion that we need more players that can do what he does. Monahan clearly suffering from lack of a playmaker. Backlund's line has to generate from nothing at times. We don't have a true PP QB for each unit. The MO is to gain the zone and hold the puck to get set up. Hence the bump back.

I do like the 4th line, it's been one consistent line we have seen. Pitlick is a mystery to me. He's not listed on IR, not that that is key. But he hasn't been healthy or played more than Richardson. Ritchie is coming up to equal the games played after his one injury. I am a little greedy. I want to see a good player given a shot. There is no ELC slide issues, so it's a mater of choice. Do we want a playmaker or a play-killer?

BT in public just says hammer away at it. If it's just negotiation, fine. You only hold so many cards as the GM. JH isn't a greedy Gus, just wants what you suggest. The chance to win and be paid to his value. We have not yet seen whether he believes that we are fine the way we are or whether we need some help. I would think Johnny is a little sad that we didn't get Eichel. Grit and depth are fine, and a fabric of this team, but having scoring depth is also key.

I think there is some reluctance to bring up anyone right now. It may have to do with some trades that are being explored. Ritchie should not be 3rd line. He doesn't belong there. It's almost like Sutter doesn't want to ruin the line with Lucic-Ruzicka-Lewis. That line is doing pretty well. Sutter must see something I do not. I get that you may not want to bring up an AHL rookie, but the current options suck. Ruzie is not a LW, so can't elevate him. Bringing in Richardson to replace him on the 4th line makes no sense really, because he only is able to win faceoffs. If we apply logic, Phillips should be on the roster and Ritchie or Pitlick or Richardson waived. We have the option to play him in limited competition (not against Vegas). See if he can fit. Baring that, Pelletier is the next best choice. In fact I would argue that Pelts should be up. Won't ruin his confidence (like Sutter suggests), since he knows he has a path and needs to know what is in the way. He's smaller but not tiny. Same size as Johnny.

Some good points by both you and Cross. I think there was some reservation on BT's side to go long and big dollars. He wasn't sure that Sutter Johnny would be as good as BP Johnny. I don't think he was thinking 8 years at any point, but that is now the only way to reduce the cap hit. Johnny was probably advised to bet on himself. And that the best thing to do at his age was get max term. At worst, he would have to leave for a huge contract. At best, he gests to stay where he is comfortable and make bank. I'm comfortable with $10m x 8. I think there is a way to structure it to reduce the cap hit, but I don't think it's do or die. The difficulty is the bonus laden contracts. NTC or NMC? No big deal, you give that to get a minor savings.

Phillips? He would need to pass waivers to go back down. If they want to keep him, they only bring him up as a Black Ace. They could bring up another guy like Duehr, but what does that say to Phillips and Pelletier? You are good to great, but we want the big guy not having a great AHL season.

Every market is different. This isn't Ottawa being run by a tightwad. BT was allowed to spend to the cap to compete for the cup. Bringing in Sutter may have been an ownership decision, but that was only because the GM had to fire/replace BH, GG, and BP. Firing Wardo would mean another GM paid at the same time as a new one.

If BT is not given free reign, they they would not fire him. I believe it has been previously stated that he has free reign to negotiate all contracts and that anything above his authority (ie buying out Monahan) may need approval from the people writing the cheque.

No limit that I know of. They really just have their own and one of MTL's. It's at best a late top 10. Or it's CAR's if MTL is top 10. Or MTL's pick out of top 10. COL's is a late 1st. They have 5 x 2nd this year. We really have no idea the value of Monahan. They took a package of crap for OEL and Garland's rights. Really just a 1st. That worked out, but at what cost. If they trade Chychrun and Keller, it's to get rid of long term cap. I would suspect, we would need to send them a young D + Monahan + 1st in 2023 + prospect(s). Monahan could provide some onger term value if he can still score. Valimaki helps replace Chychrun. Maybe add Dube in the mix. Robs our depth and youth, but we get two players near the top of their games at a still young age.

IF Gaudreau is indeed trending to be the best player this team has since Iggy (if not already), then a trade needs to be far more than a 1st + prospect + depth player. You get that for a rental like Savard. Ok, a bit much, but the point is you don't trade for that little. The things keeping this team down are the mediocre play of Backlund and Monahan. For the money, they need to be playing like $6m men. If you sign both Tkachuk and Gaudreau to matching deals, then you cut bait and move out Backlund and Monahan. As long as you are not paying to do so. We won't need Zaddy next year, so he's replaced by Valimaki. Either live with Hanifin or move him and get Chychrun. Do it now and avoid the rush. Lucic isn't really a buyout savings, so put up with one year or ask him to allow a trade. Van for a lesser player. Or Pitts, where Burkie would be happy.

Tkachuk being born in Arizona is meaningless really. His may have some relatives there but mom and dad are in STL. If all they wanted for those two was Monahan + Hanifin + 1st + prospect, then yeah no brainer. Have to be a 2023 1st I think, since they have too many in one year so far. On one hand it doesn't solve their cap issues, but it does get them out of the Keller deal. Monahan is a short term pain. Zary gives them a young C, which helps their depth a bit. Send them Phillips because we are never going to use him.

TBH, I don't think Johnny wants the spotlight anywhere but on the ice. Doesn't like to lead anywhere but on the ice. He wasn't the A or C in Boston. He's not vain like some of the C's out there. Pay him or be ready to face the angry mobs.

And you are basing it on one game viewing? On team that is trying to tank, you expect him to be a plus 15? We are a diminant team on possession and getting chances, so it could have been 10-2. Put him on any team with more than a guy leading the team with 38 points. But anyway, he's up fro grabs so we can ether go in on him or not.

Both teams on the back half of a B2B. We diminated the team from start to finish, and yet he still managed to look good. Maybe not a game changer in this one, but what defenseman in this game was? Did he do some nice things with the puck? Yes. Is he an upgrade to Hanifin? Hard to tell from this game, but he looks steady.

https://dailyhive.com/calgary/flames-prospect-rory-kerins-lighting-up-ohl