So this whole Tavares thing, some people seem convinced that Montreal and San Jose are the front runners.

Outside of the cap space, is Montreal realistic?

I mean, they have Price and Weber, so Tavares would be the missing 3rd piece of any theoretical cup contender. But at the same time, from a managerial standpoint, Montreal has made some pretty bad moves over the last little while and if I was a player I'd be weary of being on a team whose only moves in the last 2 years outside of acquiring 4th liners are generally regarded as failures.
- TheMussel

I just cant imagine him going from an awful team to another awful team, and frankly, likely a worse team. Why bother? Does anyone think that the Habs will be a contender anytime soon? If anything, theyll be getting worse soon, with no prospects on the horizon.

Idk.. If the Leafs beat the Bolts first round I think you'll have a hard time convincing anyone.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I am not talking about now. just the point when Stamkos was a UFA

Idk.. If the Leafs beat the Bolts first round I think you'll have a hard time convincing anyone.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I think the Leafs could very well beat the Bolts. I wouldn't be betting on that series for sure.

As for JT, who knows. I suspect he leaves and it seems TOR might be the favorite to land him. You got to imagine some teams are going to make some really aggressive/desperate approaches, but wouldn't that just put him in the same situation he was before on the Island?

I just cant imagine him going from an awful team to another awful team, and frankly, likely a worse team. Why bother? Does anyone think that the Habs will be a contender anytime soon? If anything, theyll be getting worse soon, with no prospects on the horizon.
- Archaic

The Habs I think can put a decent top 9 together with the addition of Tavares.

Patches-Tavares-Gallagher
Drouin-Galchy-Scherbak?
Hudon-Danault-Shaw
Lehkonen and loose change

On D it's a bit of a different story but they could probably muddle through if they start scoring more.

its not hard to say.. last season the leafs basically just came out of a 10 year slumber to make the playoffs (barley). TB was farther along

If i was looking at the 2 teams as a UFA and wanted the better chance to win (at that point) TB looked like the better option
- senstroll

https://www.tsn.ca/final-home-game-for-tavares-i-don-t-know-1.1047635

Read between the lines people. I don't know=screw this franchise...I'm going home...
- Hockey_Reverend

That's the bleakest I've ever heard from him.

I wouldn't be too confident if I was an Islanders fan this morning.

The Habs I think can put a decent top 9 together with the addition of Tavares.

Patches-Tavares-Gallagher
Drouin-Galchy-Scherbak?
Hudon-Danault-Shaw
Lehkonen and loose change

On D it's a bit of a different story but they could probably muddle through if they start scoring more.
- TheMussel

That second line is quite the gamble

That's the bleakest I've ever heard from him.

I wouldn't be too confident if I was an Islanders fan this morning.
- Atomic Wedgie

He's gone.

Just to be safe, maybe tonight Freddie should stand behind the net.
- Atomic Wedgie

Isn't that what he's been doing the last 10 or so?

*runs*

- Garnie

Perron-Tavares-Tuch
Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith
Tatar-Haula-Suzuki/Glass/Neal
Nosek-Eakin-Bellemare

I'm a FA in NHL, and I'd be looking at


1st tier: Toronto, Montreal
2nd tier: Rangers, Boston
3rd tier: Chicago, LA, Detroit, SJ, Colorado, Vancouver, NYI

That's looking at hockey franchise status in combination with good cities (not too sure about Detroit, but ok).

I'd personally be very hesitant to look at Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Buffalo for the cities, and other teams just bc they lack 'hockey history' or a fanbase.

Still I guess Florida, Anaheim, Tampa, Arizona more interesting than Winnipeg, Edmonton..
- MaximusAurelius

1st tier: Toronto

2nd tier: Marlies

3rd: tier: Boston, Rangers, Tampa, San Jose, LA, Anaheim, Colorado (although I've never actually been to Denver), Vancouver, maybe Nashville.

Perron-Tavares-Tuch
Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith
Tatar-Haula-Suzuki/Glass/Neal
Nosek-Eakin-Bellemare
- AdamFrench

My guess is that Vegas tanks it HARD before the draft this summer and basically trades anyone worth a sniff of the Queens bean smell, that isn't under the age of 25

The Habs I think can put a decent top 9 together with the addition of Tavares.

Patches-Tavares-Gallagher
Drouin-Galchy-Scherbak?
Hudon-Danault-Shaw
Lehkonen and loose change

On D it's a bit of a different story but they could probably muddle through if they start scoring more.
- TheMussel

You really think that looks like a playoff team? The only way they make the playoffs with that roster is if Price is back to the best goalie in the league by a mile.

Islanders current roster is better then that lineup IMO. Add a goalie that can do anything and they are closer to a playoff team easily.

Lee-Tavares-Bailey
Beauvillier-Barzal-Eberle
Ladd-Nelson-Fritz
Johnston-Wagner-Clutterbuck

- senstroll

Grammar police at your service.

Perron-Tavares-Tuch
Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith
Tatar-Haula-Suzuki/Glass/Neal
Nosek-Eakin-Bellemare
- AdamFrench

I truly believe that VGK are going to take a step back next year. I think this is going to come crashing down around them. Just dont see the players putting up the same numbers again next year.

JMO

My guess is that Vegas tanks it HARD before the draft this summer and basically trades anyone worth a sniff of the Queens bean smell, that isn't under the age of 25
- TheMussel

Maybe. I'm very interested to see what happens next season. Basically every single player not named James Neal is having a career year.

I think the Leafs could very well beat the Bolts. I wouldn't be betting on that series for sure.

- RickJames77

The thing that fills my loins with hope is if you look at Tampa's results in March, they have been surrendering a poop-ton of goals. A lot of 7-6 games.

https://www.nhl.com/light...ng/schedule/2018-03-01/ET

Win or lose, I think it will be a hulluva series to watch - a throwback to 1980s hockey*.

*Yeah, ask your uncle what 1980s hockey was like.

My guess is that Vegas tanks it HARD before the draft this summer and basically trades anyone worth a sniff of the Queens bean smell, that isn't under the age of 25
- TheMussel

I have no idea what this means.

Like, none.

I have no idea what this means.

Like, none.
- Atomic Wedgie

It means that smelling Queen Elizabeth's farts probably has monetary value

It means that smelling Queen Elizabeth's farts probably has monetary value
- TheMussel

Thank you for the explanation, but now I'm more confused than ever.

Thank you for the explanation, but now I'm more confused than ever.
- Atomic Wedgie

You need to catch up with this brave new world that we live in old man

You need to catch up with this brave new world that we live in old man
- TheMussel

Dab that grandpa fellow young person!

Maybe. I'm very interested to see what happens next season. Basically every single player not named James Neal is having a career year.
- AdamFrench

david perron. someone is going to overpay him. probably bergevin.

lol @ habs.

david perron. someone is going to overpay him. probably bergevin.

lol @ habs.
- Tumbleweed