I'm not a big fan of Nelson and I have not seen much of Duchene. Duchene seemed invisible against the Isles. I'm just not giving up a lot for Duchene. Strome seems to be going good now and Barzal might be on the team next year. I rather try to bring in a nice two way forward for the top 6.
- ses111

I think Duchene would be a good fit here, but to give up Barzal or Pulock in a package wouldn't be smart imo. I'd rather just wait until the offseason to hope the prices come down. If they're going to trade Pulock for him (which I really hope they don't), then it should be done before the expansion draft so they can go 3D/7F.

I'm not a big fan of Nelson and I have not seen much of Duchene. Duchene seemed invisible against the Isles. I'm just not giving up a lot for Duchene. Strome seems to be going good now and Barzal might be on the team next year. I rather try to bring in a nice two way forward for the top 6.
- ses111

This team needs to add another scorer, big time. Everyone is playing good right now but I refuse to believe that the recent month or so of strong play and production is going to be how things are going forward.

We've seen this at numerous points in the past, where some/all of Nelson/Lee/Strome/Bailey get hot and look great and every time they come crashing back down to earth. The secondary scoring on this team is unreliable and adding a player that will support Tavares' production is priority #1 as far as I'm concerned. We need to add a consistent ~60pt player. Not another 40pt guy like 29/27/18.

I don't know how to feel, honestly. Yeah, I want Duchene pretty bad but I'm not so sure I'm ready to trade away the pieces necessary to get him. The Avs really don't have to move him, so I highly, highly doubt they are going to sit back and take anything less than a large haul for him. That's the big problem here, is that there is no real pressure to move the guy.
- eichiefs9

I think there might be bc all reports are that Duchene is a happy-go-lucky kid with a smile and now becoming frustrated with the rumors and stuff, plus coming out to media that he'll except a trade, so doesnt bold well for organization..

but bc he's under term, theres no rush but it does damper the team/player/etc the longer this drags

It's not an easy call. No way of knowing if Duchene is going to like NY and if he fits in and if you give up a huge haul you are franked if he walks. Duchene should make a fine 2C, but the Isles still have a lack of grit and overall team defense even with Duchene.
- ses111

Gotta take a risk at some point and not making a trade because a guy may not like the city is at the bottom of the list of reasons of why you shouldn't.

I'm comfortable enough with the amount of guys voluntarily choosing to stay here that I'd risk it with Duchene. The risk I'm not willing to take is forking over a metric ton of valuable assets for him.

I think there might be bc all reports are that Duchene is a happy-go-lucky kid with a smile and now becoming frustrated with the rumors and stuff, plus coming out to media that he'll except a trade, so doesnt bold well for organization..

but bc he's under term, theres no rush but it does damper the team/player/etc the longer this drags
- Ur Not Me

Yeah but Duchene being a little unhappy with trade rumors isn't going to put any pressure on Sakic to move him for a crappy return. Unless there are other internal factors that are putting pressure on JS that nobody knows about, he has no real pressure to get rid of a guy like Duchene.

Yeah but Duchene being a little unhappy with trade rumors isn't going to put any pressure on Sakic to move him for a crappy return. Unless there are other internal factors that are putting pressure on JS that nobody knows about, he has no real pressure to get rid of a guy like Duchene.
- eichiefs9

Never said crappy return, mentioned more inclined to trade him now/deadline possibly instead of offseason, but wouldnt be shocked either if Duchene didnt get dealt with the season almost over for COL .....

So who has the better chance to make the playoffs Florida or the Islanders??

I read Tanners response and it was pure hilarity I love that guy his entertainment value is so high

This team needs to add another scorer, big time. Everyone is playing good right now but I refuse to believe that the recent month or so of strong play and production is going to be how things are going forward.

We've seen this at numerous points in the past, where some/all of Nelson/Lee/Strome/Bailey get hot and look great and every time they come crashing back down to earth. The secondary scoring on this team is unreliable and adding a player that will support Tavares' production is priority #1 as far as I'm concerned. We need to add a consistent ~60pt player. Not another 40pt guy like 29/27/18.
- eichiefs9

It's a good point. We've seen these players look good during the regular season and then nothing during the playoffs. Nelson especially never uses his size and disappears. No question the Isles could use that 2nd offensive player that can support JT. The question is whether the Isles can pull off a fair deal for Duchene?

Never said crappy return, mentioned more inclined to trade him now/deadline possibly instead of offseason, but wouldnt be shocked either if Duchene didnt get dealt with the season almost over for COL .....
- Ur Not Me

They might be more inclined to trade him, but getting anything less than a top-4 defenseman, top prospect, and a 1st rounder pick would be a crappy return for COL. Might be a steal for us or another team ,but I think Sakic will have done the Avs a great disservice if he doesn't get a major haul for a guy like Duchene.

I think Duchene would be a good fit here, but to give up Barzal or Pulock in a package wouldn't be smart imo. I'd rather just wait until the offseason to hope the prices come down. If they're going to trade Pulock for him (which I really hope they don't), then it should be done before the expansion draft so they can go 3D/7F.
- NYI44

It would be nice to have the president in place before any big deals are made, but it seems Garth has the green light. I keep Barzal and Pulock out of deals unless there is another Hall type player out there that is available.

I personally would like to have Landenskog. I think he is a great winger who can play with Tavares. Granted Bailey (I cant beleive I am saying this ) is having a decent season but I still dont trust Bailey at all going forward.

So who has the better chance to make the playoffs Florida or the Islanders??

I read Tanners response and it was pure hilarity I love that guy his entertainment value is so high
- kasperrko

The Panthers are the correct answer and the first comment from Todd Cordell points out exactly why.

The Panthers play in the worst division in the NHL. They will have a much more favorable schedule, in addition to still being able to get in as one of the top-3 teams in that division. The new playoff format is utterly terrible.

It would be nice to have the president in place before any big deals are made, but it seems Garth has the green light. I keep Barzal and Pulock out of deals unless there is another Hall type player out there that is available.
- ses111

Duchene is probably as close to a "Hall-type player" as you're going to see be available. They've had pretty historically-similar production.

Gotta take a risk at some point and not making a trade because a guy may not like the city is at the bottom of the list of reasons of why you shouldn't.

I'm comfortable enough with the amount of guys voluntarily choosing to stay here that I'd risk it with Duchene. The risk I'm not willing to take is forking over a metric ton of valuable assets for him.
- eichiefs9

I wish a big trade happened last offseason at the draft before FA. Sooner or later, Isles are going to have to make a big splash. Either at the deadline or the offseason. Duchene might really like it here and having JT would really help.

The Panthers are the correct answer and the first comment from Todd Cordell points out exactly why.

The Panthers play in the worst division in the NHL. They will have a much more favorable schedule, in addition to still being able to get in as one of the top-3 teams in that division. The new playoff format is utterly terrible.
- eichiefs9

Whoever finishes 7th will be in the ECF. None of those Atlantic teams are beating the Rangers or Columbus.

Duchene is probably as close to a "Hall-type player" as you're going to see be available. They've had pretty historically-similar production.
- eichiefs9

They seem to have similar type speeds and defensive ability. I just do not see enough of these other players until they play the Isles.

The Panthers are the correct answer and the first comment from Todd Cordell points out exactly why.

The Panthers play in the worst division in the NHL. They will have a much more favorable schedule, in addition to still being able to get in as one of the top-3 teams in that division. The new playoff format is utterly terrible.
- eichiefs9

NHL needs to end the 3 point games and go back to 1-8 playoff format.

Gotta take a risk at some point and not making a trade because a guy may not like the city is at the bottom of the list of reasons of why you shouldn't.

I'm comfortable enough with the amount of guys voluntarily choosing to stay here that I'd risk it with Duchene. The risk I'm not willing to take is forking over a metric ton of valuable assets for him.
- eichiefs9

I agree all the free agents except vanek have chosen to stay here, nabby, boychuk, leddy. And for your previous post i agree on Bailey, strome, nelson as being streaky, but lee has done it 2 out of 3 years and last year he hit about 15 posts and was in the right spots was just snakebitten. I think lee is a permanent on jts wing and with good reason hes gotten better each year.

They seem to have similar type speeds and defensive ability. I just do not see enough of these other players until they play the Isles.
- ses111

Hall is at about .86ppg and Duchene sits at about .76ppg.

Hall scores about .27gpg and Duchene actually beats him there, with around .31gpg.

They are both excellent skaters.

Hall is probably the better player, but Duchene is damn close to as good as him and has had a better rate of scoring goals over his career. Not to mention having been a lot healthier over the course of his career.

I agree all the free agents except vanek have chosen to stay here, nabby, boychuk, leddy. And for your previous post i agree on Bailey, strome, nelson as being streaky, but lee has done it 2 out of 3 years and last year he hit about 15 posts and was in the right spots was just snakebitten. I think lee is a permanent on jts wing and with good reason hes gotten better each year.
- Upstate_isles

I'm not worried about Lee at all. The other guys can all flake out at any time. Lee is built for the playoffs and the other guys so far do not seem to be playoff players at all.

The Panthers are the correct answer and the first comment from Todd Cordell points out exactly why.

The Panthers play in the worst division in the NHL. They will have a much more favorable schedule, in addition to still being able to get in as one of the top-3 teams in that division. The new playoff format is utterly terrible.
- eichiefs9

Panthers are going to finish 2nd in atlantic, Its boston or the leafs we need to beat out in my opinion

Panthers are going to finish 2nd in atlantic, Its boston or the leafs we need to beat out in my opinion
- Upstate_isles

Exactly plus I look at like this "Wasnt it the Islanders who beat the Panthers in the playoffs last year?".

I mean the Panthers are a great team but they are in a far more weaker division then the Islanders

Hall is at about .86ppg and Duchene sits at about .76ppg.

Hall scores about .27gpg and Duchene actually beats him there, with around .31gpg.

They are both excellent skaters.

Hall is probably the better player, but Duchene is damn close to as good as him and has had a better rate of scoring goals over his career. Not to mention having been a lot healthier over the course of his career.
- eichiefs9

If the Isles got Duchene, do you think the Isles have the proper wings to work with Duchene? They still seem to have too many setup players.

They might be more inclined to trade him, but getting anything less than a top-4 defenseman, top prospect, and a 1st rounder pick would be a crappy return for COL. Might be a steal for us or another team ,but I think Sakic will have done the Avs a great disservice if he doesn't get a major haul for a guy like Duchene.
- eichiefs9

Too much for any team to give up, plus having to sign him to an extension of maybe upward of $7-8m per
We may agree to disagree but a foolish team will pony up that offer ......
If that was the case of an offer, maybe a team would have done it already..??

NHL needs to end the 3 point games and go back to 1-8 playoff format.
- ses111

I agree the 1 - 8 format worked just fine for years. I think the way they are doing it now is just plain stupid and dumb. I think it is a way for the NHL to get the teams that will make the most money have a better chance oif making the playoffs. Its stupid to be honest.

I also feel this if you get to the shootout then each team gets a point. IF you dont then whoever wins in OT gets the two points and the other team gets nothing. I never heard of anyone who loses something who gets rewarded