Michael Stuart: Mike's Mailbag, Extended Edition

Avs miss the playoffs? And bottom 5 talent pool?

/quit reading immediately

Avs miss the playoffs? And bottom 5 talent pool?

/quit reading immediately
- dan_77

Unless Varlamov is as good/better than last year, yes. Losing Stastny and Parenteau (two of the team's only decent possession players) hurts a lot. The 27th ranked FF% at 5v5 close speaks to a pretty big problem. That 27th spot was right between Calgary and Edmonton.

Who said bottom five talent pool? It's just that the young talent is all in the NHL.

That was a lot to read... good job. I would have condensed down all the Stamkos questions to one answer though.

If I am not mistaken Sustr is waiver exempt up until the 16 game of the year so I could see him start in the AHL as he doesn't have to clear waivers if that is true. But if they call him up after the 16th game he is with the big club to stay.

I still say Kucherov starts with the big club, don't see how sending him back to the AHL will do him any good since he already has 50 plus NHL games, yeah he went into a slump at the end but he will be better off because of it.

Still don't know what to say about Connolly as I am not sold on him, no idea where he starts but I think if you are going to play Drouin on the top line with Stamkos with no NHL experience you have to have Callahan on that line to help offset the rookie and in a way shelter him. I still can't say having Drouin on the 1st line right out of the gate is a good thing.

I see Stralman with Hedman for some reason, not sure why but preseason will give us that info.

Lastly I do think by the start of the 2015-2016 season everyone will know Steven Stamkos decision by his action to resign or not. If he doesnt resign prior to the season that means to me he plans to move on, can't see why he would wait to resign until into the season as that would be a huge distraction hanging over his season unless he plans to leave.

That was a lot to read... good job. I would have condensed down all the Stamkos questions to one answer though.

If I am not mistaken Sustr is waiver exempt up until the 16 game of the year so I could see him start in the AHL as he doesn't have to clear waivers if that is true. But if they call him up after the 16th game he is with the big club to stay.

I still say Kucherov starts with the big club, don't see how sending him back to the AHL will do him any good since he already has 50 plus NHL games, yeah he went into a slump at the end but he will be better off because of it.

Still don't know what to say about Connolly as I am not sold on him, no idea where he starts but I think if you are going to play Drouin on the top line with Stamkos with no NHL experience you have to have Callahan on that line to help offset the rookie and in a way shelter him. I still can't say having Drouin on the 1st line right out of the gate is a good thing.

I see Stralman with Hedman for some reason, not sure why but preseason will give us that info.

Lastly I do think by the start of the 2015-2016 season everyone will know Steven Stamkos decision by his action to resign or not. If he doesnt resign prior to the season that means to me he plans to move on, can't see why he would wait until into the season with that big of a distraction hanging over his season.
- stammerman

But by not condensing it all, I got to show you just how many times it got asked.

Q – usman asks: Solving the E. Kane problem.

To Nashville: E. Kane
To Winnipeg: F. Forsberg+

What the (frank)?!?! The Forsberg hype is so god damned ridiculous.

Good read eklund put out there we have interest in dion from the leafs ? I can't see it but any chance it happens ?

Good read eklund put out there we have interest in dion from the leafs ? I can't see it but any chance it happens ?
- todd1a

Don't think there's room. And certainly not at the price they were discussing on the podcast. Interest might be there, but I can't see a deal getting done.

Michael Stuart: Mike's Mailbag, Extended Edition
- Michael_Stuart

Good read, thats a lot of questions about Stamkos' future I'm sure he'll stay in Tampa Bay though.

Avs miss the playoffs? And bottom 5 talent pool?

/quit reading immediately
- dan_77

Avs are still a great team and very well coached but I can see them missing the playoffs. Only because you guys play in a very hard division where every team seemingly improved substantially and a lot hinges on Varlamov. I think he's the real deal but there's always a chance he has an off year. Also, your defense looks a bit suspect to me.

With that said, I do think you guys make the playoffs. You guys lost Stastny and Parenteau but you will have a healthy Tanguay now and Iginla. Barrie should take a step forward in his development and I'm really psyched to see MacKinnon develop. Sophomore slumps are common but for some reason I don't see this kid having one.

I think a few teams will surprise and make the playoffs next year. I think the Panthers, Oilers, and Islanders will all make it.

Unless Varlamov is as good/better than last year, yes. Losing Stastny and Parenteau (two of the team's only decent possession players) hurts a lot. The 27th ranked FF% at 5v5 close speaks to a pretty big problem. That 27th spot was right between Calgary and Edmonton.

Who said bottom five talent pool? It's just that the young talent is all in the NHL.
- Michael_Stuart

"you think my team isn't as good as I make the out to be in my head

/stops reading"

Don't think there's room. And certainly not at the price they were discussing on the podcast. Interest might be there, but I can't see a deal getting done.
- Michael_Stuart

Phaneuf would be a great grab for you guys. He gets a lot of poop but at the end of the day he's a top-pairing defenseman. You guys have only 1 true top-pairing guy with Hedman at the moment while Stralman, Garrison, and Carle are all better suited to be 2nd pairing guys. The price would be steep but you definitely have the assets to make it happen...2 first round picks next year and a ton of quality prospects.

Obviously you're really high on Drouin and this trade proposal would only happen in NHL 14, but would you consider dealing Drouin + Carle for Phaneuf + JVR? That might be a little lopsided in Toronto's favor so maybe Lupul instead of JVR?

What the (frank)?!?! The Forsberg hype is so god damned ridiculous.
- Blackstrom2

he was traded for Erat and now he's worth E Kane, hmmmm

he was traded for Erat and now he's worth E Kane, hmmmm
- TheNugeIsHuge

The GM that dealt Forsberg is now fired too

But yea, maybe there's something off about the kid. I bet nobody outside professional scouts watched the kid play in Sweden or wherever he was playing at the time of the trade...maybe he's just not good? People take the hype prospects get prior to the draft and pre-draft scouting reports from people who really write them more as a hobby than a professional career from sites like Hockey's Future and then call it the gospel. If you don't watch the kid play consistently, you really shouldn't comment on whether or not he's developing well.

The GM that dealt Forsberg is now fired too

But yea, maybe there's something off about the kid. I bet nobody outside professional scouts watched the kid play in Sweden or wherever he was playing at the time of the trade...maybe he's just not good? People take the hype prospects get prior to the draft and pre-draft scouting reports from people who really write them more as a hobby than a professional career from sites like Hockey's Future and then call it the gospel. If you don't watch the kid play consistently, you really shouldn't comment on whether or not he's developing well.
- rangerdanger94

Well, he ain't no Burakovsky.

it was a bad trade, in the sense of giving up one of your better prospects for a 1 1/2 year rental that went really south, really quick. The hype this kid gets, it's like he has the expectations of a 1st overall. If he never got traded, no one would think about him, and no one would certainly conclude that "Forsberg+" is a fair trade for Kane. Especially when you see other offers including a good roster body, prospect, and 1st round pick.

Forsberg will be lucky to be half as good as Kane is right now.

Well, he ain't no Burakovsky.

it was a bad trade, in the sense of giving up one of your better prospects for a 1 1/2 year rental that went really south, really quick. The hype this kid gets, it's like he has the expectations of a 1st overall. If he never got traded, no one would think about him, and no one would certainly conclude that "Forsberg+" is a fair trade for Kane. Especially when you see other offers including a good roster body, prospect, and 1st round pick.

Forsberg will be lucky to be half as good as Kane is right now.
- Blackstrom2

I don't know about that...he was seen as a top 5 pick that year but obviously he fell and now he was traded so again, there could be something to him.

The GM that dealt Forsberg is now fired too

But yea, maybe there's something off about the kid. I bet nobody outside professional scouts watched the kid play in Sweden or wherever he was playing at the time of the trade...maybe he's just not good? People take the hype prospects get prior to the draft and pre-draft scouting reports from people who really write them more as a hobby than a professional career from sites like Hockey's Future and then call it the gospel. If you don't watch the kid play consistently, you really shouldn't comment on whether or not he's developing well.
- rangerdanger94

Not sure what it was about him that made him ranked top 5 on a lot of draft lists. Boston's 25th overall pick this year outproduced Forsberg's draft season in the same league.

He's been decent in the AHL, but nothing to make him close to worth a guy like Kane.

Phaneuf would be a great grab for you guys. He gets a lot of poop but at the end of the day he's a top-pairing defenseman. You guys have only 1 true top-pairing guy with Hedman at the moment while Stralman, Garrison, and Carle are all better suited to be 2nd pairing guys. The price would be steep but you definitely have the assets to make it happen...2 first round picks next year and a ton of quality prospects.

Obviously you're really high on Drouin and this trade proposal would only happen in NHL 14, but would you consider dealing Drouin + Carle for Phaneuf + JVR? That might be a little lopsided in Toronto's favor so maybe Lupul instead of JVR?
- rangerdanger94

Drouin'll be having 80P seasons, maybe more next to Stamkos in due time. I don't know who I'd trade him for. He's the best prospect in hockey

I don't know about that...he was seen as a top 5 pick that year but obviously he fell and now he was traded so again, there could be something to him.
- rangerdanger94

I watched him on Leksand. I watched him with the Caps. I watched him with Nashville. I even went to try to see him live in the A, but he wasn't playing that game. I'm not saying his potential to reach top-6 potential isn't there anymore. But seriously, fans of other teams would not be (frank)ing talking about him at all if the trade didn't happen. At least not in the sense that he alone is worth E. Kane.

Avs are still a great team and very well coached but I can see them missing the playoffs. Only because you guys play in a very hard division where every team seemingly improved substantially and a lot hinges on Varlamov. I think he's the real deal but there's always a chance he has an off year. Also, your defense looks a bit suspect to me.

With that said, I do think you guys make the playoffs. You guys lost Stastny and Parenteau but you will have a healthy Tanguay now and Iginla. Barrie should take a step forward in his development and I'm really psyched to see MacKinnon develop. Sophomore slumps are common but for some reason I don't see this kid having one.

I think a few teams will surprise and make the playoffs next year. I think the Panthers, Oilers, and Islanders will all make it.
- rangerdanger94

You're more optimistic than me. I am hoping to be in contention for a spot up until the last week or so. If they can make it that would be a ridiculous improvement.

I actually read most of the Q&A, good job.
The bolts should have a good year, a definite threat in the east if they get the goaltending they need.

Unless Varlamov is as good/better than last year, yes. Losing Stastny and Parenteau (two of the team's only decent possession players) hurts a lot. The 27th ranked FF% at 5v5 close speaks to a pretty big problem. That 27th spot was right between Calgary and Edmonton.

Who said bottom five talent pool? It's just that the young talent is all in the NHL.
- Michael_Stuart

The Avs should make the playoffs. The young guys had a taste and adding Iggy will help. Agree though that their D is a bit suspect, so if Varly has a relapse, it'll be touch n' go for the post-season.

You're more optimistic than me. I am hoping to be in contention for a spot up until the last week or so. If they can make it that would be a ridiculous improvement.

I actually read most of the Q&A, good job.
The bolts should have a good year, a definite threat in the east if they get the goaltending they need.
- abware

Agree with you. The Oilers are too small on the top 2 forward lines. Purcell may be a bigger player but unless he changes his game, he's a soft player. D is still learning, goal is manned by 2 back-ups and our Coach is still too inexperienced. Add to that how tough the West is and we'll be out of the playoff picture by mid-February. So, I'm finding it very hard to be optimistic.

Not sure what it was about him that made him ranked top 5 on a lot of draft lists. Boston's 25th overall pick this year outproduced Forsberg's draft season in the same league.

He's been decent in the AHL, but nothing to make him close to worth a guy like Kane.
- TheNugeIsHuge

As a guy who has watched him a lot I can almost promise you that Forsberg will be a better player than Pastrnak! Here in Sweden he is compared to Peter Forsberg. I am not saying that he will be as good as Peter Forsberg was, maybe not even close but his play style similar to him. He is 6'2", 194 ibs and he uses his size to his advantage. He got great puckskills and passing. He is very creating and fun to watch too!

IMO he could be a 1st line forward in the NHL!

Phaneuf would be a great grab for you guys. He gets a lot of poop but at the end of the day he's a top-pairing defenseman. You guys have only 1 true top-pairing guy with Hedman at the moment while Stralman, Garrison, and Carle are all better suited to be 2nd pairing guys. The price would be steep but you definitely have the assets to make it happen...2 first round picks next year and a ton of quality prospects.

Obviously you're really high on Drouin and this trade proposal would only happen in NHL 14, but would you consider dealing Drouin + Carle for Phaneuf + JVR? That might be a little lopsided in Toronto's favor so maybe Lupul instead of JVR?
- rangerdanger94

Drouin + Carle for Phaneuf and JVR is lopsided in Toronto's favor?

I wouldnt even consider that kinda deal. Why trade the big young power forward we have craved for years, coming off a 30/30 season?

If Nonis refused to include JVR in a package to get #1 this year, why would he move him for a guy that was picked #3? It's not like JVR doesnt have room to improve, considering he was the #2 pick in the Kane draft