And they would love to get rid of Kotkaniemi? Jordan Martinook, Seth Jarvis and Jake Guentzel need new contracts too.
- MjulQvist

I forgot about Jake but that's a guy they'll let hit free agency as well.

I will go ahead and predict the Stanley Cup match up

Florida vs Dallas

I am not totally confidant Dallas upends the Avalanche

I am unsure that Florida can stop the NYR as either team a strong argument for them to advance is meritorious. In fact the Vegas oddsmakers should have a very close betting line

Anyone not concur? What would be your reasons why?
- jhawk59

I took Dallas and Florida in the Finals with Dallas winning in my Bracket Challenge. My wife took NYR and Van in the Finals with NYR winning. It all came down to experience, predicting injury impacts(depth), and players who could step up under stress. Mine seem to be on thinner ice than hers.

Sorry if this has been posted but Bradford gathered a lotta thoughts from scouts/The Athletic with thoughts on Demidov and Levshunov. Good read if you don't have a subscription to The Athletic. ...... https://www.bleachernatio...awks-top-options-at-no-2/

I forgot about Jake but that's a guy they'll let hit free agency as well.
- BetweenTheDots

the story said Guentzal was the priority, that's why they could move Necas.

They have too many TT type forwards, a couple are OK, but a bunch of them leads to not going anywhere past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Doing the same thing over and over again each year (yes I'm also looking at you Leafs) is the definition of hockey insanity. And the Canes are Hockey insane.

Sorry if this has been posted but Bradford gathered a lotta thoughts from scouts/The Athletic with thoughts on Demidov and Levshunov. Good read if you don't have a subscription to The Athletic. ...... https://www.bleachernatio...awks-top-options-at-no-2/
- Mr Ricochet

Rico, does the item you posted earlier about Michkov give you pause about taking Demidov?

I took Dallas and Florida in the Finals with Dallas winning in my Bracket Challenge. My wife took NYR and Van in the Finals with NYR winning. It all came down to experience, predicting injury impacts(depth), and players who could step up under stress. Mine seem to be on thinner ice than hers.
- GreenJeans

Woo, that's' another one, to add to the list, Rangers beat Van in the '94 finals.


Very spooky its like we are living in the matrix, and the matrix has decided it likes 1994

And they would love to get rid of Kotkaniemi?

- MjulQvist

One of the most interesting things to me in these playoffs is how physical and gritty Kotkianiemi. playing. .. Never saw that coming completely outa left field. Kid has raised his floor IMO.

Even last year people were surprised when ANA took Carlsson instead of Fantili.
- Popsghostly

Yep, and this yr it's on steriods. Anyone in the top 8ish could go anywhere.

Nice shot from one of our young guns.

https://twitter.com/Mario...tatus/1791499783749705898

Hey scored twice today for Germany.

Yep, and this yr it's on steriods. Anyone in the top 8ish could go anywhere.
- Mr Ricochet

It's definitely possible.

Not aimed at anyone but I think what some fans forget is that the rankings people post aren't usually a prediction of the draft order. It's more the overall ranking of the players, but teams just have various criteria that they use to make their selection. So if player XYZ was ranked 2nd, but ended up going 5th, it doesn't mean the ranking wasn't correct, just that they didn't fit with the criteria for some reason or another.

I feel like you have to wait 5+ years in some cases to know who was the better pick to let things progress and find out just who lived up to expectations and who didn't.

the story said Guentzal was the priority, that's why they could move Necas.

They have too many TT type forwards, a couple are OK, but a bunch of them leads to not going anywhere past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Doing the same thing over and over again each year (yes I'm also looking at you Leafs) is the definition of hockey insanity. And the Canes are Hockey insane.
- vabeachbear

That sure don't sound like Carolina.

Rico, does the item you posted earlier about Michkov give you pause about taking Demidov?
- mohel

You just can not miss on the #2. Can't, not an option and managing risk enters into that equation. Way back when, last yr, I could not draft a Russian unless he slips badly and that would have to be with a 2nd first to grab a faller at 10ish.

Short answer, hell yes, it gives me pause in fact taking a Russian in the top 5 scares the hell outa me. ........ The great thing is after him the next 6ish are interchangeable in the same tiers, so to speak, so they're gonna get their pick of 6 really solid blue chippers.

Rico, does the item you posted earlier about Michkov give you pause about taking Demidov?
- mohel

I would think the risk is pretty high. Unless Kyle can kidnap Demidov or Silayev and hide one of them in the basement of the UC it’s probably best to pass.

I posted I thought Lindstrom reminded me a good bit of Krieder. Do not know if Lindstrom has Krieder's crazy top end speed but the stout kid has a burst Krieder might not quite have and can really skate in his own right. ... Both tough dudes who love playing net front with their size and quick soft hands.

Thought this was a good day to repeat that.

I posted I thought Lindstrom reminded me a good bit of Krieder. Do not know if Lindstrom has Krieder's crazy top end speed but the stout kid has a burst Krieder might not quite have and can really skate in his own right. ... Both tough dudes who love playing net front with their size and quick soft hands.

Thought this was a good day to repeat that.
- Mr Ricochet

If his back isn’t a chronic problem I’d have to think the Hawks go with him or Levshunov. Without assurances from Demidov or Silayev, KD has to steer clear of them.

How about those Vancouver Canucks who even outshot Edm 35-23 and are ahead 3-2 - will this series go to a seventh game?
- jhawk59

They're playing trash hockey; trapping and parking the bus. They're executing it extremely well but it does not make for a fun game to watch. Tocchet is really making Knoblauch look like a child who wanders into a move theatre with no frame of reference.

Though game 5 was the first one they were the better 5v5 team on paper as well aside from game 1. Also - JT Miller is a perfect example of why you lock up a solid veteran long term even if you aren't "ready" but pretty sure you will be soon.

For any soccer fans out there its like watching Greg Berhaulter stand on the sidelines with his hands in his sweatpants dumbfounded that a team would have a game plan that he doesn't have the depth (coaching ability not talent) to adjust to.

This is where the lazy hockey reporting irritates me to no end. It doesn't take that much effort to see that the 1-2-2 (which is more often a 1-1-3 with the way pressure breaks down) that Vancouver is playing is killing the Oilers ability to go with speed through the neutral zone. They're giving away the redline to jam things up so bad between the redline and blue line that it's impossible to carry the puck through at speed.

Has little to do with players not performing and more to do with the appropriate tactical adjustments not being made to break it down.

Dallas is trying to do a similar thing to the Avalanche (though they collapse two guys onto the attacker in the zone similar to how Boston plays rather than packing the front) but Bendar is at least making adjustments so no two of those games have been exactly the same.

The Vancouver their defenders aren't chasing but they're more or less playing a box and one with 4 guys between the dots blocking that cross ice pass with the closest defender putting some pressure on the puck.

No poop McDavid is quiet. I also don't think they will dump another doughnut on the power play. But they haven't really made any adjustments to try to break down the trap which is what happens when you have a mediocre coach in the NHL. Zero answers.

The Oilers need to figure out how to get McDavid through the neutral zone with speed more often and maybe put together a line of heavies (Kane, Ze German and Hyman) to muck it up and get some dirty 5v5 goals.

I also think there need to be more Patrick Kane shifts for ze German on the 4th line, especially with the last change. He shouldn't see less than 28 minutes in the next game unless they blow Vancouver out by some miracle.

Nurse and Ceci have been dreadful together so he's gotta figure out something there and he has to ride Ekholm and Bouchard a little harder. Probably more like 30 mins a night rather than 25.

While I agree with a high percentage of your posts, I’m going to disagree on Karlsson’s defensive ability. If my math is correct, he has averaged about 12 seconds of ice time shorthanded per game the last three years, what does that tell you? This is why I like Levshunov, he plays in all situations and is already very good defensively. I’ll take the all round defenseman, like a Seabrook over an offensive defenseman like Karlsson, because you win championships with the former and not with the latter.
- Angotti

I don't disagree and that why I said I prefer a player like Heiskanen who is going to do everything.

Can't deny that Karlsson has a special skillset though and it has impacts on the games he plays. He carried Ottawa to a conference final basically by himself which was amazing. He put up 101 points on a dreadful San Jose team. Pretty incredible.

Plus he's just a fun player to watch when he gets going. Entertainment value has value in itself. (again some purists would disagree with me but I'm tuning in to be entertained at the end of the day and I want to see players do amazing things not dry hump in the corner)

I think Vlasic is going to be similar in that regard to Seabrook. Solid defensively, big, moves well, exceptional first pass as well as being able to hit that home run one.

Still need a dynamic blue liner to break down the trap and keep teams honest in the D zone.

Hopefully Korch starts showing more of the attributes that got him drafted 7th next year.

This from Friedman via ProHockeyRumors site in regards to Necas.

Friedman also believes that forward Martin Nečas, now a restricted free agent after completing a two-year, $6MM bridge deal, could have his signing rights traded this summer, saying he doesn’t think Carolina will do “what Nečas wants to do.” The Hurricanes are expected to prioritize re-signing trade deadline pickup Jake Guentzel, the best left wing available on the pending UFA market. He also notes that Seth Jarvis, an RFA like Necas, has surpassed him on the depth chart internally and is more of a financial priority long-term.

Nečas is eligible for salary arbitration this summer, so they may need to execute a sign-and-trade or allow him to negotiate with other clubs. Opening the possibility for Nečas to force an acquiring team to arbitration could lower his trade value.

The 2017 12th-overall pick took a considerable step back this season, posting 24 goals and 53 points in 77 games after recording a career-high 71 in 82 last season. The Czech winger hasn’t historically been a positive possession force on a deep Hurricanes forward group, either, although he was good in playoff action this year with four goals and five assists in 11 games.

Any team acquiring Nečas would only be able to sign him to a seven-year deal if they wanted to go for the maximum term since he was on Carolina’s reserve list at the trade deadline, although it could be an eight-year deal via a sign-and-trade. Evolving Hockey projects that as the most likely outcome with a $7.5MM cap hit.

So for those who want him. is he worth 7.5M for 7-8 years plus the cost to obtain him in a trade?
- boilermaker100

Yes

I remember Keith thanking him when the Blackhawks won their 1st Cup.
I know he wasn't a great coach,but bring him back as an assistant?
- captainserious

I think Dean is doing an excellent job with the younger defenders and probably don't need to (frank) with what works.

I posted I thought Lindstrom reminded me a good bit of Krieder. Do not know if Lindstrom has Krieder's crazy top end speed but the stout kid has a burst Krieder might not quite have and can really skate in his own right. ... Both tough dudes who love playing net front with their size and quick soft hands.

Thought this was a good day to repeat that.
- Mr Ricochet

And that would be a slam dunk of a player to have with Bedard

Let me guess, he’s broken his left knee, his right knee and his wee knee?
- paulr

There's a classic! Shocked no one else commented up on it.

Our draft "selections" ideas might be a bit skewered if the Hawks make a trade or two before/during the draft. In any case, stay away from the Russians and take the sure thing from Michigan State....

Cam Robinson was with Zawalski and his homies and it started with who do the Hawks pick at 2 and should it be Demidov or Lushunov. Robinson does talk about a few players and he really digs Lindstrom and Frankie Nazar.

https://www.youtube.com/w...DBA&ab_channel=CHGOSports

There's a classic! Shocked no one else commented up on it.

..
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Me too. Thought it was damn clever and it was the first time I heard that.

I don't disagree and that why I said I prefer a player like Heiskanen who is going to do everything.

Can't deny that Karlsson has a special skillset though and it has impacts on the games he plays. He carried Ottawa to a conference final basically by himself which was amazing. He put up 101 points on a dreadful San Jose team. Pretty incredible.

Plus he's just a fun player to watch when he gets going. Entertainment value has value in itself. (again some purists would disagree with me but I'm tuning in to be entertained at the end of the day and I want to see players do amazing things not dry hump in the corner)

I think Vlasic is going to be similar in that regard to Seabrook. Solid defensively, big, moves well, exceptional first pass as well as being able to hit that home run one.

Still need a dynamic blue liner to break down the trap and keep teams honest in the D zone.

Hopefully Korch starts showing more of the attributes that got him drafted 7th next year.
- fattybeef

What Karlsson did/does is incredible no doubt. And it’s possible Parekh can do similar things, offensively. But the problem is that offensive output commands a crazy salary and I don’t think there’s value in a guy chewing up that kind of cap space when he has to be protected in defensive situations. And in the cap world it’s vital how that cap room is used. I see far more value in building a defense around solid defensive players who can move the puck out of the zone and chip in with more moderate scoring totals. When push comes to shove, and revising golf terminology, score for show defend for dough. I’d take a Keith, Seabrook, Doughty, Hedman or Makar over Karlsson any day. All of the aforementioned bring an element of defense that eludes Karlsson.

If his back isn’t a chronic problem I’d have to think the Hawks go with him or Levshunov. Without assurances from Demidov or Silayev, KD has to steer clear of them.
- paulr

Agree 100% and I think they take Levshunov cuz it's too hard to pass on blue chipper RS Dmen with size who have the tools to be a top pairing guy. ..... But man, if Lindstrom hits look out. A big skilled player who can go Beast Mode and plays center!!!

Loved that wrister from D!ckinson from the blue line in the London clincher. Thing was wizzin/biting, off in a flash after surveying for traffic to get the thing thru as it zipped into the upper corner.

Kid did show a few bad decisions/passes but I think he's underrated. Who knows, maybe he's KD's guy and I'd be ok with it.

Memorial Cup is gonna be a beauty with Moose Jaw, damn fun team who played 12 playoff games and 7 went to OT, making their 1st ever appearance. ...... Hopefully Parekh is all healed up and he can show what he did in the regular season.