Ain't no sleep like a post-deadline sleep!
First off, I wanted to thank you all for coming to Hockeybuzz in record numbers this year. The fact that millions of you visit us over and over again means the world to me and everyone else who works here.
I am working on some stories about the deals that ALMOST happened as well as ranking the 31 GM performances this trading season...There are some who really hit it out of the park and a few who may learn that not moving forward with a league that is moving forward is the same as moving backwards...
But for now... you have heard our opinions over and over again....we want your opinions.
Who are your top 3 winners and top 3 NON-winners of the 2018-19 Trade Season? We will tabulate all the answers and put them in tomorrow's blog
I will start with my 3 winners. 1. Nashville What wins in the playoffs? Goaltending and Special Teams. Granlund and Simmonds will give a big boost to a sagging power play...Laviolette knows the intangibles that Wayne Simmonds brings to the show. The Preds have some talented players up front, but their leaders, Josi, Subban, and Rinne are all on the backend. Wayne will loosen up the guys a lot and he is an absolute gamer. Looking at his numbers in a down year in Philly doesn't tell the story. The bigger the games, the bigger Simmonds plays. 2. Columbus The Jackets are going for it and I love it. Panarin and Bob were leaving and they have built this team very methodically for years to get to the point and going for it is really the only option. Yes, they could lose Duchene and Dzingel as well, but the experience the VERY young players who remain will get out of longer playoff run is worth a ton. And this is fanbase who has stuck with a team for a long time which has never won a playoff series.
3. Winnipeg Kevin Hayes is a perfect fit for the Jets who really need scoring with a slumping Laine...Impactful and MUCH cheaper than Mark Stone. The Jets have great chemistry and are also VERY young....
Notables....Vegas, NY Islanders (why screw with chemistry?), and Penguins...
My non-winners...that takes a little more time to think about...
Yours?
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— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) August 2, 2017