Elliotte FriedmanVerified account
‏@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR to sign Brandon Pirri. One year approx $1.1M
- DarthKane

It's nice when teams collect former Blackhawks, or in the case of the NYR, guys who disappointed the Blackhawks in one way or another Pirri, Hayes, Vesey, Raanta, Clendening. It makes me feel a little better when that team doesn't do so well. I know that is probably not the most enlightened perspective but, hey, it's the truth.

Great post as usual.

My info. is they see Lundberg making the team and contributing. What I hear is the guy is just tough and nasty to play against. Physically strong. We'll see because that's a scouting based on the context of the SEL and not the NHL.

But, because you are essentially swapping TVR out for Campbell and Kempny reduces the minutes of Rozy and likely eliminates those of Svedberg, the team should definitely be faster on the back-enbd, coming out of the zone, more good options for getting the puck up the ice. All good.

The other thing I see emerging is this. yes, they lost Shaw, but they have potentially added a lot of "miscreants":

Tootoo
Lundberg
Hartman
Add Panik in because he can deliver some big hits and agitate a bit
Even Campbell will occasionally light someone up, moreso than TVR anyway

I can actually see the lower lines being a bit nastier and tougher to play against than in some time.
- John Jaeckel

This is what I am hoping for. If there is a fear that the bottom 6 won't generate a lot of offense, then they need to do the opposite and keep the other team from scoring by playing solid defense and agitating the crap out of them. If the bottom 6 can do that without taking dumb penalties, then that's a plus for the team. Timely goals and opportunistic goals will make this a bigger plus.

It's nice when teams collect former Blackhawks, or in the case of the NYR, guys who disappointed the Blackhawks in one way or another Pirri, Hayes, Vesey, Raanta, Clendening. It makes me feel a little better when that team doesn't do so well. I know that is probably not the most enlightened perspective but, hey, it's the truth.
- matt_ahrens

That means one more Wing for Vesey to fight for minutes for. Pirri is a top 9 guy and that is it. and that is what Vesey wants as well. that signing cannot make him to happy unless they move a FR out.

It's nice when teams collect former Blackhawks, or in the case of the NYR, guys who disappointed the Blackhawks in one way or another Pirri, Hayes, Vesey, Raanta, Clendening. It makes me feel a little better when that team doesn't do so well. I know that is probably not the most enlightened perspective but, hey, it's the truth.
- matt_ahrens

Eh, that's a bit of a twist. Pirri, Clendening, and Raanta fit that narrative but the Hawks weren't disappointed by Hayes or Vesey though. I mean, they never got a chance to be disappointed by them but the Hawks were certainly high on both.

Eh, that's a bit of a twist. Pirri, Clendening, and Raanta fit that narrative but the Hawks weren't disappointed by Hayes or Vesey though. I mean, they never got a chance to be disappointed by them but the Hawks were certainly high on both.
- L_B_R

Not sure I'd even include Raanta in that narrative. He actually had a slightly better year with the Rangers than Darling did with the Hawks last year.

That means one more Wing for Vesey to fight for minutes for. Pirri is a top 9 guy and that is it. and that is what Vesey wants as well. that signing cannot make him to happy unless they move a FR out.
- kmw4631

Pirri is a 3rd liner with little to no defensive abilities. If the reports about Vesey are correct, he should be able to beat out Pirri for a role that plays against higher QOC easily.

Ranger are overloaded with forwards now, though. Other than Nash and Glass, they're on the younger side for a forward core too.

Not sure I'd even include Raanta in that narrative. He actually had a slightly better year with the Rangers than Darling did with the Hawks last year.
- walleyeb1

Yeah, I almost excluded him because he didn't really disappoint the Hawks - Darling just fit the style of the Hawks better and was cheaper.

Not sure I'd even include Raanta in that narrative. He actually had a slightly better year with the Rangers than Darling did with the Hawks last year.
- walleyeb1

Remember that sour grapes interview he gave last year? Then said the magazine didn't translate him right. Haha.

Yeah, I almost excluded him because he didn't really disappoint the Hawks - Darling just fit the style of the Hawks better and was cheaper.
- L_B_R

Darling is cheaper and both Darling and Raanta were not exempt from waivers so one of them would have been lost either way. Personally I think the club made the correct decision in keeping Darling.

My bad, I didn't mean that directed at you. I just meant it in general. I agreed with sitting Mash in favor of better alternatives. Not that I thought he was a detriment, but like you said he didn't bring much. We might not have better alternatives this year.
- Antz96

It's all good Antz. I may have taken that in a slightly negative way. Lot of questionable moves in the previous post season. 4 lines were rolled in game 6 in Chicago and look how that turned out. And, in all honesty, I'm excited to see the lower lines this upcoming season.

I'd say if he could contribute this year that would be gravy for them.
- Antz96

We agree.

Seeing Hudler and Pirri sign for a combine $3.1M per makes me want to repeatedly hit my head against the wall when I think of what Stan is paying Marcus Kruger.

Seeing Hudler and Pirri sign for a combine $3.1M per makes me want to repeatedly hit my head against the wall when I think of what Stan is paying Marcus Kruger.
- acmidd28

You wanted the Hawks to sign Pirri so Q could bench him every night?

Seeing Hudler and Pirri sign for a combine $3.1M per makes me want to repeatedly hit my head against the wall when I think of what Stan is paying Marcus Kruger.
- acmidd28

Pirri is literally the anti-Kruger. No defense at all. Hudler isn't comparable as a player either. Krugs contract is partially inflated because he gave the club a break in 2015 and took a 1 year low ball offer for cap reasons. It's not nearly as bad as everyone thinks.

Pirri is literally the anti-Kruger. No defense at all. Hudler isn't comparable as a player either. Krugs contract is partially inflated because he gave the club a break in 2015 and took a 1 year low ball offer for cap reasons. It's not nearly as bad as everyone thinks.
- JRoenick97

I'm not fond of the idea of either Hudler or Pirri in Chicago, but there is no escaping the fact that the Kruger contract is a gross miscalculation.

are there any proven LWs out there that are cap friendly or tradeable for?
i'm a little nervous with this roster.....

If McNeill is good at the dot, defensive minded, and a big body, why not put him between AP and PK. Then move AA to the 1LW. MM can at least win a draw and go to the net. Or am I way off???

If McNeill is good at the dot, defensive minded, and a big body, why not put him between AP and PK. Then move AA to the 1LW. MM can at least win a draw and go to the net. Or am I way off???
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Is he? Not sure where this is confirmed where he's a solid FO guy - EK you might now better than anyone.

I've seen McNeill 6+ times play live and not once has he played C, always on the RW.

Not disputing it... just wondering where this info of his faceoff prowess is coming from.

If McNeill is good at the dot, defensive minded, and a big body, why not put him between AP and PK. Then move AA to the 1LW. MM can at least win a draw and go to the net. Or am I way off???
- Matt_Foleys_bro

I think that's a possible scenario just as much as maybe McNeill at 1LW (keeping Anisimov at 2C). This would also keep Kruger at 3C. Lots of options to try out next month at camp and see what clicks.

Is he? Not sure where this is confirmed where he's a solid FO guy - EK you might now better than anyone.

I've seen McNeill 6+ times play live and not once has he played C, always on the RW.

Not disputing it... just wondering where this info of his faceoff prowess is coming from.
- TyCamScore

Can he be worse than AA? Just spitballing.

Is he? Not sure where this is confirmed where he's a solid FO guy - EK you might now better than anyone.

I've seen McNeill 6+ times play live and not once has he played C, always on the RW.

Not disputing it... just wondering where this info of his faceoff prowess is coming from.
- TyCamScore

McNeill spent almost the entirety of last season playing center. I don't have the stats, but from my seat in Rockford, he (and Dowell) were the two guys taking the important draws last season. Further, McNeill appeared to win more draws then he lost.

If McNeill is good at the dot, defensive minded, and a big body, why not put him between AP and PK. Then move AA to the 1LW. MM can at least win a draw and go to the net. Or am I way off???
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Way off in my opinion.

Honestly, McNeill is better suited for the wing than center, and that's because of foot speed. However, he would be effective sliding in and taking draws - much like Steve Ott typically does.

I would imagine that McNeill would fit best as a lower line wing - preferably on the right side. Also, he'd fit in on the PK as well.

I can see the sense of the idea of slotting McNeill on the LW with Toews/Hossa. However, I wouldn't bet money on him sticking there. I also wouldn't be shocked if that spot becomes a revolving door again this season, and McNeill will get a look there at some point...

...if McNeill doesn't crap the bed and is banished to the organ loft by Q...

I'm not fond of the idea of either Hudler or Pirri in Chicago, but there is no escaping the fact that the Kruger contract is a gross miscalculation.
- acmidd28

I would rather have Kruger than Hudler and Pirri.

Way off in my opinion.

Honestly, McNeill is better suited for the wing than center, and that's because of foot speed. However, he would be effective sliding in and taking draws - much like Steve Ott typically does.

I would imagine that McNeill would fit best as a lower line wing - preferably on the right side. Also, he'd fit in on the PK as well.

I can see the sense of the idea of slotting McNeill on the LW with Toews/Hossa. However, I wouldn't bet money on him sticking there. I also wouldn't be shocked if that spot becomes a revolving door again this season, and McNeill will get a look there at some point...

...if McNeill doesn't crap the bed and is banished to the organ loft by Q...
- EKB13

The prevailing opinion seems to be that McNeill has a shot to stick in the bottom 6 this season. It would be nice to see him stick with the big club and contribute, he'd paid his dues.

Their team is confusing. I honestly have no idea how they will do.

Bold move trading Brassard for Zibanejad. We'll see how that pans out.
- TyCamScore

I think if their star players are on their game, they will be a tough team in the East this year. i.e. Nash, Stepan, Lundqvist.... I know there are some questions about their D, but they might have enough to overcome it, especially if King Henrik is on his game.