travel_dude

Talbot was probably the best one we had in that long stretch. BT didn't like him enough to bring him back.

TF that one never happened.

Well, maybe they wanted too much from a team that wasn't sure they could make the playoffs. Dumb thing is that at that time NJ had a higher chance of making it. Losing two in California to ANA and LA plus the FLA loss cratered them. I don't know how far back they first had discussions, but the runway was a lot longer. If all NJ was offering was Holtz and a 1st (likely lotto protected), and wanted retention, then it wasn't a solid offer. Mercer + 1st would probably be a done deal with no retention or a good asset. Bottom line today is we missed out on a TDL move that would improve our pick in 2024. And whatever the last offer made by NJ was. Time will tell if we blew it.

Leave it to Kenny to screw up a team not needing more forwards. Didn't trade away guys that suck, just added more of them. The D is a problem and they added Stecher, who is best known as an offensive D. They tried to trade Ceci for Tanev, which would have made too much sense for them. The fan base is as annoying as ours is at times, and on par with the Leafs fans. Either burn the jerseys or plan the parade. Blame the coach, praise him when he gets them into the playoffs. If you are stupid, the odds on favorite to win the cup. Spend 100 win 400, if you buy into that. Real contenders and teams that have played in the finals a lot better payout.

I think they want a read on the different pairings. They know what to expect in Kylington-Pachal. Gilbert likely not to play much the rest of the season.

Kaliyev + Turcotte or Clarke doesn't give them enough cap. They are the only F that they might trade, as they don't help a cap run with their relative struggles. At the very least they might have to add another contract. At least that's the way I see it. EDIT - forgot Rittich was an emergency loan, so dropping him maybe does it.

Unless a big surprise happens, we may be keeping the 2025 Vegas pick. I am sure that as soon as I post this, they will use their first.

LA strangely quiet. Talbot with Rittich as an emergency loan after getting the AHL boot. Both are UFA's. I am surprised that LA hasn't even thought about a goalie upgrade. Don't love the assets they would be (possibly) willing to trade. Maybe Turcotte and Kalyiyev and a 1st. Not near the equivalent from NJ. But they are a playoff team with ?? in nets.

Toffoli traded to WPG, so that may signal the end of the Markstrom noise, for now. If we were all in, we would do Markstrom, Mangiapane for Mercer, Holtz a 1st and Vanacek. Maybe one additional piece coming back. Mangiapane isn't living up to his contract year highs. By himself, he doesn't get you a ton. The interesting thing about Vanacek is that he has had 3 seasons sub 2.69 GAA. Horrible playoffs. This is not a trade that needs to happen now. If we covet the players and the pick, then the GM is interested.

We only have a few more hours of this discussion. When the season is over, we probably have it again. Unless immediately following the TDL, his game falls off a cliff. I will bring up last season as an example, post TDL: 5-4-2 and one game pulled.

I think they may even announce today or shortly after TDL as well. They like the player and the person. Untapped potential in their minds I think. Mange feels like a summer trade. If they go there. He's blocking that development spot and not really killing it. If not him, then who else in the top 9?

His first two years here, he strung together good to great seasons. 3rd season big regression. This season trending towards being his 2nd best season. It's a team game. Can't give him all the blame or all the praise. We paid the extra year to get him over other teams. He was the goalie to have when we were closer to being a powerhouse. I'm not sold on Wolf, since he can't overcome his size. He gives up the top 3rd of the net, so he needs to bulk up to fill up space. An inch taller than Saros and 20 pounds lighter. Markstrom at 6'6" still has to fight off players in his crease. So we are back to what makes sense to the team. Trade him now and expose both Vladar and Wolf to the roles they need to be in? Trade him in the summer with one last shot at making the playoffs this season? Keep him and eventually Ryan Miller him?

The goalie debate will outlast the TDL no doubt. Reasons to trade: - possible solid offer on the table, could get a little more now - 2024 draft pick may be part of it - Markstrom is playing lights out this year, but could regress next season or even in April Reasons to keep: - playoffs may still be possible, though we have little chance of even making the 2nd round - mentor for current backup and prospect G - may have a 2 year window or so at the level he played this year - trading him puts us back in the goalie market I haven't really gone into depth the reasons for or against, just some of what people have talked about.

Conditions are crazy. 2nd becomes a first if they reach the finals. 5th disappears if they don't win the cup. Pens GM, in the process, pisses off the captain. Well done.

Wow, ya beat me. LA Pays 1st and 3rd for Toffee at 50%; about what we paid for him, but he had time remaining. We send a 3rd this year and Markstrom. NJ gets Markstrom, our 3rd, LA 3rd for Toffee. We get Mercer and a 1st. Sounds like LA should pay us something. Alternate: LA sends Turcotte and a 1st to us. We send NJ Markstrom and a 3rd. NJ sends us Toffoli, Mercer. We send Toffoli at 50% to LA. We get Turcotte, Mercer and LA 1st. NJ gets Markstrom and our 3rd. LA gets Toffoli at 50%. Seems fair enough - 1st and Turcotte for Toffoli at 50%

Here's a crazy 3 way trade: Markstrom to NJ Toffoli to LA Turcotte, Holtz and a 1st to CGY. Does that even make sense? Maybe it has to be Turcotte plus a Kaliyev to NJ. Or Turcotte + 2024 1st to NJ Then it's Turcotte + Holtz + LA 1st to CGY. I don't know, just musing here. LA is more likely to pay a 1st now, where they are likely a playoff team.

And like clockwork, as soon as I post something, Weekes comes out with something interesting.... No eyes for it, but interesting comments (this came out at 11:20pm): Kevin Weekes @KevinWeekes As I’m working the phones, I’m told ; @NHLBruins, @NHLFlames ,@LAKings, @NJDevils are all in Goalie discussions, including some potential 3 way trade scenarios, it’ll be intriguing to see where this lands by deadline time. #HockeyX

NJ won for some reason tonight. 66 points, so down 6 from Tampa and DET. 8 back of 3rd in division, and Philly was a seller. Given the volitivity of the East right now, I don't think any WC team is safe. NJ is selling Toffoli, but wouldn't be crazy to trade for a top goalie right now. Connie could only sell it by taking Vanacek as part of the deal. Otherwise the players (owners really) would think it was taking away their toy. The players get over it. They have crystalized as a team through this. Markstrom still doing his thing but some suggest he has lost his desire to play for the team. He's a pro, so the only thing you would see is his stand-offishness. NJ gets their goalie now with a slim chance of making the playoffs. Slim is better than zero. They go into the summer not being concerned with goalies and address what they see missing in any run for the playoffs. Ha ha, who am I kidding. He played tonight and will Saturday, so unless NJ blows them away, there is no TDL trade.

Still part of the day left, right? On EST tomorrow, so any deals with eastern teams will get done early. I always felt BT worked the nights and slept in. Always on things after the deals were in final stages elsewhere. LOL There was some talk about moving Rooney, but that's minor stuff. Much like what BT used to bring in. I doubt many would call about him, but some teams already know about him. The other thing possible is waiver claims. CHI waived Katchouk, who is a 25 year old LW. A pending RFA with arb rights, but won't get much if he goes there. Hasn't managed to find his way. More of a project for us, and one that we have some luxury to look at. I don't think Connie is thinking playoffs, but won't say that out loud. He's building for next year. From the D out. D has been addressed a bit and lots of guns to choose from. Nobody else stood out for me today. One thing we may need to keep an open mind to is taking on a multi-year contract in a trade. Or a garbage pending UFA. Some minor return or future considerations for helping a cap team. Might be some gems.

Forsling vs Hanifin Forsling $5.75 x 8 years. I doubt Hanifin gets $7+ in Vegas, but who knows. Who'd ya rather?

Probably discussed but didn't want to mess with it during the main trade. I would like to see some minor moves, since we have so many freakin' D now. 10 in the AHL, 1 in transit, 6 others on the ice, 1 waived. And we were expecting to get Grush ready for the NHL. Maybe we drop Gilbert for Grush. Alternate him with Hanley. And the forwards are going to be full once we get back Pospisil and Zary. Forgot about Greer, who I would like to bring back. Just don't see the space. 15F with Greer and Zary. Rooney is keeping his spot becuase we have no other C's we are willing to use. Should be using the rest of the year to try out Zary. Or bring up Schwindt to replace him. My wish is that we had made one of the picks a prospect. Even in the VAN deal, we got back D prospects. Tanev deal, a D. Lindholm deal, a D. Maybe we can find something tomoroow, for a lesser pick. Not going for it, just reverse selling. Rooney and a 4th for a good prospect. Something like that.

That's odd, I could have sworn I watched him play as a C. Doesn't matter. Can use a C that is a C.

It's a sideways move. MEP never was able to crack the lineup. I don't know this kid will either. Both are listed as C's.

You are the new GM. LOL I don't really know at this point what happened to the workings on the trade. Not enough assets to retain salary. We are intending on making the playoffs. Owner wouldn't sign off. Return sucked.

Pre-TDL, it was probably obvious by now he wasn't. One suitor and that got messed up. In the summer? Hope that's still an option and not Maloney and co coming out and saying that he was great and we are going back to the playoffs. Like they did last summer.