Plus, we don't even know if COL is selling Johnson.
- JAKEw1234

Based on current need, they wouldn't trade him, but there's a whole new management regime in town, so it's hard to say who stays and who goes.

Recent struggles aside, EJ is still the total package and would be a semi-affordable addition. We already saw how Schenn stabilized his game with a change of scenery... maybe lightning can strike twice.

Before a game at the Wells Fargo Center this past season, I had a discussion with an NHL pro scout about coaches in the league. It was his opinion that Ruff is the best in the business.

The reason he cited: adaptability to work with the roster he's been given. Specifically, Ruff had the highest-scoring team in the NHL the year after the 2004-05 lockout. A few years later, after his roster had lost much of its dynamic scoring pop, the Sabres had a 100-point season and were among the stingiest defensive teams in the NHL.

That has carried a lot of weight around the NHL ever since.
- bmeltzer

He's a capable coach, but I don't see him as better than Babcock. Or Carlyle. Or even Hitch. Hasn't won a playoff series in 6 or 7 years, IIRC

Based on current need, they wouldn't trade him, but there's a whole new management regime in town, so it's hard to say who stays and who goes.

Recent struggles aside, EJ is still the total package and would be a semi-affordable addition. We already saw how Schenn stabilized his game with a change of scenery... maybe lightning can strike twice.
- Tomahawk

EJ already moved from St. Louis to Colorado with nothing doing. I still like him though and would welcome him for the right price, as with any player.

What about the 2004 draft? There was a huge gap pre-draft between #1 and #2, with an even huger gap between #2 and everyone else. Both of those picks are kinda good.
- jmatchett383

Right I consider Ovechkin better than Malkin, but Malkin of course is still one of the best in the league. I said the gap might be between 1/2 and 3-5. 1 and 2 are pretty even imo. But if this draft for some reason was really similar to the 2004, then who would you rather have, Alex Ovechkin, or Blake Wheeler? Obviously this draft isn't like 2004, but still. The first is still super crazy valuable, even when compared to the 5th in this draft.

Based on current need, they wouldn't trade him, but there's a whole new management regime in town, so it's hard to say who stays and who goes.

Recent struggles aside, EJ is still the total package and would be a semi-affordable addition. We already saw how Schenn stabilized his game with a change of scenery... maybe lightning can strike twice.
- Tomahawk

Going after a guy who is coming off a down year or whose current team has soured on might be the only option. Id roll the dice on EJ

EJ already moved from St. Louis to Colorado with nothing doing. I still like him though and would welcome him for the right price, as with any player.
- NickTheKid87

Hmmm...could you sign a player (let's just say Billy Tibbets) to a negative cap hit? Like, have him add salary cap space to the Flyers for being so bad?

Right I consider Ovechkin better than Malkin, but Malkin of course is still one of the best in the league. I said the gap might be between 1/2 and 3-5. 1 and 2 are pretty even imo. But if this draft for some reason was really similar to the 2004, then who would you rather have, Alex Ovechkin, or Blake Wheeler? Obviously this draft isn't like 2004, but still. The first is still super crazy valuable, even when compared to the 5th in this draft.
- JAKEw1234

I consider MacKinnon a better skating and playmaking version of John Tavares, not the next Crosby FWIW

Could you organize some kind of trade similar to:

Shea Weber, Matt Duchesne, Pekka Rinne to Philadelphia
for
rights to Matt Walker and conditional picks
- jmatchett383

So breaking that down that would be Webber and Rinne for conditional picks. Then Duchesne for Walker. Okay but if Wlaker signs with Nashville before July than Colorado is going to have to eat some of Webber's salary.

Hmmm...could you sign a player (let's just say Billy Tibbets) to a negative cap hit? Like, have him add salary cap space to the Flyers for being so bad?
- jmatchett383

Good point. Change any to most.

Going after a guy who is coming off a down year or whose current team has soured on might be the only option. Id roll the dice on EJ
- Jsaquella

Homer looovvveeessss himself a good reclamation project... that we know.

Based on current need, they wouldn't trade him, but there's a whole new management regime in town, so it's hard to say who stays and who goes.

Recent struggles aside, EJ is still the total package and would be a semi-affordable addition. We already saw how Schenn stabilized his game with a change of scenery... maybe lightning can strike twice.
- Tomahawk

I think of the Schenn thing more as that the Leafs dealt with the hard part of his development and dealt with him when he was playing less than stellar while trying to get over the learning curve, then we swooped in and are getting to enjoy the rise in his game as he has come over the deadly curve. Change in scenery might of had an affect as well, I suppose.

I consider MacKinnon a better skating and playmaking version of John Tavares, not the next Crosby FWIW
- NickTheKid87

Ha whatever then that's just the hype I'm hearing, either way that's still a Hart finalist and one of the top 5 forwards in the league.

Homer looovvveeessss himself a good reclamation project... that we know.
- Tomahawk

Especially a relatively inexpensive one.

So breaking that down that would be Webber and Rinne for conditional picks. Then Duchesne for Walker. Okay but if Wlaker signs with Nashville before July than Colorado is going to have to eat some of Webber's salary.
- mayorofangrytown

Sir, I think we may have found your true calling.

Homer looovvveeessss himself a good reclamation project... that we know.
- Tomahawk

But, with so many teams clamoring for defensive help, you probably can't get him at a discounted "reclamation" price.

Right, but if Mackinnon is projected to be the next Crosby or however out of this world as they are projecting him, then there is still a distinct gap in talent between atleast the #1/2 and #3-5.
- JAKEw1234

His isnt the next Crosby. From a similiar town, with similiar attention at an early age, and went to the same Minnesota school. From there, people are just high off his recent 8 game strech in the championships... Not too long ago people put Jones higher off his Medal win, and some people were saying Drouin was better and inflating McKinnon's numbers, and visa versa. Then you have Barkov and the phenominal talent he has, and its said if he was Canadian he would be the first overall pick..... So like I said, 4 guys with very similiar talent.

But, with so many teams clamoring for defensive help, you probably can't get him at a discounted "reclamation" price.
- bradleyc4

Maybe Fabian Brunnstrom needs to move to D to rejuvenate his career.

Maybe Fabian Brunnstrom needs to move to D to rejuvenate his career.
- jmatchett383

I heard Nikita Filatov's learning to skate backwards.

But, with so many teams clamoring for defensive help, you probably can't get him at a discounted "reclamation" price.
- bradleyc4

A lot of teams need to move salary around, and wait until the COB's start to hit the UFA wire... I'm predicting a pretty active summer.

His isnt the next Crosby. From a similiar town, with similiar attention at an early age, and went to the same Minnesota school. From there, people are just high off his recent 8 game strech in the championships... Not too long ago people put Jones higher off his Medal win, and some people were saying Drouin was better and inflating McKinnon's numbers, and visa versa. Then you have Barkov and the phenominal talent he has, and its said if he was Canadian he would be the first overall pick..... So like I said, 4 guys with very similiar talent.
- youarewrong

So what's Barkov comparable to, Malkin? Sedin? Give me a feeler here. I know Nichushkin reminds me a heckuvaton of Ovechkin in his size, style, and skill.

His isnt the next Crosby. From a similiar town, with similiar attention at an early age, and went to the same Minnesota school. From there, people are just high off his recent 8 game strech in the championships... Not too long ago people put Jones higher off his Medal win, and some people were saying Drouin was better and inflating McKinnon's numbers, and visa versa. Then you have Barkov and the phenominal talent he has, and its said if he was Canadian he would be the first overall pick..... So like I said, 4 guys with very similiar talent.
- youarewrong

You forgot Valeri Nichushkin.

Remi Elie is gonna be a solid depth pick for whoever gets him. He just hasn't had much ice time.

So what's Barkov comparable to, Malkin? Sedin? Give me a feeler here. I know Nichushkin reminds me a heckuvaton of Ovechkin in his size, style, and skill.
- JAKEw1234

From what I've seen, Nichushkin looks like Rick Nash. Big, fast, large wingspan, protects the puck well, can dangle, hell of a shot. And like Nash, the rest of his game is blah.

edit: oops, you asked about Barkov, lol.

So what's Barkov comparable to, Malkin? Sedin? Give me a feeler here. I know Nichushkin reminds me a heckuvaton of Ovechkin in his size, style, and skill.
- JAKEw1234

A more talented verison of Joe Thornton, and NHL ready.

A more talented verison of Joe Thornton, and NHL ready.
- youarewrong

Haha I was hoping for a European comparison, but that helps