Reports are Pierre-Luc Dubois wants out of Columbus. He isn't denying it. Tortorella coaches this team and says he will address the situation in the room. It is not that long ago that Dubois was a shocking 3rd overall pick. This is all turning into a huge issue. Columbus doesn't need this, but they do have a GM and coach who can handle this.
Dubois just signed a two-year deal, making him both marketable and keeping his rights at the end of this deal with Columbus. This feels like a player who WILL be traded. But who can make that trade right now as we head into the pandemic shortened season without fans and without revenue? No one really.
The issue right now keeping UFA's from getting signed has more to do with what happens beyond this season...The teams feel that eventually they will be allowed to bring the fans back in...the question is more "When fans can come back, will they be willing to and what will they be willing to pay?"
No one knows. Everyone is worried.
Patrik Laine also wants out, but again....Who can take on his contract, give up what Winnipeg needs, AND sign him moving forward? The teams that can, the teams with obvious cap space, those teams have no idea what happens once the fans return.
So it is a BAD time to ask to be moved...
On Barzal...
He has been doing all the protocol stuff. He is home in NY. He is working out with teammates. Today, we see he is on the training camp roster. His GM is Lou Lamorello. He DOESN't have a contract for the coming season. He is the Islanders most important player.
No one appears to be worried. What is going on here?
In my opinion, a guy who has professed to being the "Lou-whisperer" this is not completely out-of-character. My guess is Lou has two scenarios based on something else he is trying to get done. That thing may be making a trade for a Laine, or it may be simply living it up to Matthew Barzal to take either the bridge deal or the long-term deal that they know about...
NOTHING is ever leaked when Lamoriello is involved...ok Toronto is Toronto, but in NJ and on Long Island, Lou has complete control of the pipeline.
More to come, including an amazing evening of WJC hockey starting at 5:30 ET with a game you'd have to be completely jaded to not be fired up about...Canada vs Russia. So pumped for this one!
Be sure to register your team for another season of the HockeyBuzz Super League Fantasy Game!
Sign up here: HBSL sign up
It's the best fantasy game every created! The HBSL is a hybrid between a salary cap game and a head-to-head fantasy game. Each week you create your 20 man roster based on the actual NHL salary cap and the actual salary cap hits. You then face-off with a fellow hockey fan. At the end of the regular season, we throw the best 128 teams into a 7-week playoff.
There is a Season Ticket Holder bracket and a Free bracket.
HBSL Season Ticket Bracket Entrants who were season ticket holders at the start of the NHL season are eligible for the following prizes:
Grand Prize: 4K ultra HDTV Runner-up: Replica Stanley Cup Semi-Finals Losers: Customized NHL Jersey Quarter-Finals Losers: HockeyBuzz Shirt & $25 Amazon.com Gift Card
HBSL Free Bracket Entrants that were NOT season ticket holders at the start of the NHL season are eligible for the following prizes:
Grand Prize: Customized NHL Jersey Runner-up: HockeyBuzz Shirt & $25 Amazon.com Gift Card Semi-Finals & Quarter-Finals Losers: HockeyBuzz Shirt
Good luck! HBSL sign up
Listen to the HockeyBuzzcast w/@Eklund @sportsology & @MikeInBuffalo on iTunes (https://t.co/yXakLaiyRy) & Tune In (https://t.co/O3Em8BtZ6W)
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) August 2, 2017