You have sold me a little bit on Bazal/Zacha.

I would be happy with Crouse or Rantanen though. They're both more NHL ready (Rantanen would have to adjust to North American hockey obviously) and they would fill an obvious need on the roster. I think they're both poised to be difference makers, even if not with high point totals.

Hell I wouldn't be all that upset with Provorov either if Lou is willing to move some defenseman. He would add offense to the team in the future.
- newjerseypaul

How is zacha not NHL ready?

McLellan is available as a coach.

Thoughts?
- Pomegrant

Yeah maybe

Well Todd thinks the Flyers should hire him. Personally, I think he wouldn't be a bad option for NJ. If he's tired of drama NJ would make more sense. I'm not sure it'd be a fit style-wise, but I wouldn't be complaining if we hired him.

Still think we should take a hard look at the Grand Rapids coach.
- CaptCrankypants

You can't have Blashill.

How is zacha not NHL ready?
- shvingter88

He's got the size. But he isn't coming off a great year, considering injuries/suspensions.

There's a chance he could impress at training camp. I would just be surprised if he made a team without being given another year to mature/develop

I think Lou stays within the family, don't be surprised if Kowalsky is the new coach.
- Rangers_Suck01

Doubt it after the last time he went with the team's ahl coach.

I like that he supports a more up-tempo and offensive system, something we really need. And I think because of our solid core of defensemen it could work out. He had a really good record while coaching the Sharks and I think their problem was more GM/Ownership related than coaching.

This off-season I'm more interested in coaching because speculating on player moves is impossible because of Lou.
- Pomegrant

i want him too. he's a real coach, not a mystery, not a question mark.. the guy is good. and it's not like they lost in the 1st round every year, or got smoked every year, or lost to crappy teams every year. it's the west, which is always stacked. since 2002 (did he come in 03? 02?) they got bounced in the 1st round 3 times, 2nd round 5x (none of which in less than 6 games), 3 conference finals losses, in 11 playoff appearances. 6 of the 11 teams that beat them ended up in the Cup Final, 3 of the 6 winning it all. it is what it is. i'd take him in a heartbeat. Philly will probably get him tho.

He's got the size. But he isn't coming off a great year, considering injuries/suspensions.

There's a chance he could impress at training camp. I would just be surprised if he made a team without being given another year to mature/develop
- newjerseypaul

I think it would be a waste to let him rot in a lesser league

Doubt it after the last time he went with the team's ahl coach.
- CaptCrankypants

That has nothing to do with promoting ahl coaches. He was just a poopty coach. If your assumption of how Lou operates is true, then he should be fired.

my question is, is Strome, or Marner, worth the price to trade up from Barzal? Are they that much better that they'd be worth the players given? Or perhaps.. we should just pick Barzal and trade those players/picks for another young forward somewhere.
or is Strome that much of a difference maker that we should go all in for him at #3? I've read that Strome may have a higher bust potential than Marner/Barzal. who the heck knows tho.
- MartysBetter88

I've only watched him play a few games but I'd say absolutely. He also has a good pedigree

Great post Todd. Could you provide a similar post of your opinion on the ranked players in our range? I would recommend Marner, Crowse, and Rantanen. It seems the majority believe that Hanafin and Strome will be 3-4.

I like that he supports a more up-tempo and offensive system, something we really need. And I think because of our solid core of defensemen it could work out. He had a really good record while coaching the Sharks and I think their problem was more GM/Ownership related than coaching.

This off-season I'm more interested in coaching because speculating on player moves is impossible because of Lou.
- Pomegrant

That's nice, but do we have the type of players to make it work well? I don't think we do.

As far as speculation goes, it's all just predictions or what we want to happen or think should happen. I don't think predicting anything is easy with Lou because he lets so little information out. If he tries really hard to make a move for someone but can't, we never know it because there were zero rumors about it and he'll act like whatever he did instead was the plan all along. Sometimes that makes it seem like he's lost it, but you just can't take anything he says at face-value.

That has nothing to do with promoting ahl coaches. He was just a poopty coach. If your assumption of how Lou operates then he should be fired.
- shvingter88

That was more satirical than a serious comment. I think Kowalsky would be a bad choice regardless though.

Kessel for the 6th?

Kessel for the 6th?
- HealthyScratch6

No

No
- shvingter88

Worth a shot. If you guys got Kovy back and had Kessel that'd be a pretty lethal powerplay and top line

McLellan is available as a coach.

Thoughts?
- Pomegrant

He's my top choice right now.

Worth a shot. If you guys got Kovy back and had Kessel that'd be a pretty lethal powerplay and top line
- HealthyScratch6

In your hypothetical world where Kovy is coming back, yeah I guess.

In your hypothetical world where Kovy is coming back, yeah I guess.
- rmdevil313

I wouldn't be surprised with the way the KHL is going and if he did return NJ is the only team he could really play for.

I wouldn't be surprised with the way the KHL is going and if he did return NJ is the only team he could really play for.
- HealthyScratch6

He seems happy in SKA... they just won a championship and he was mvp...

He looks across the ocean and we're scavenging for forwards... maybe... maybe he did what he had to do in Russia and wants to do what he has to do in the NHL... but he has one more year left in SKA, and maybe after next year, he wants back in... should the owners feel he be allowed (and you know at least one of them will say no)...

Not even guaranteed he returns to NJ. Maybe he signs in Edmonton

my question is, is Strome, or Marner, worth the price to trade up from Barzal? Are they that much better that they'd be worth the players given? Or perhaps.. we should just pick Barzal and trade those players/picks for another young forward somewhere.
or is Strome that much of a difference maker that we should go all in for him at #3? I've read that Strome may have a higher bust potential than Marner/Barzal. who the heck knows tho.
- MartysBetter88

It depends on the price, but if strome drops from 3 I hope lou tries his hardest to move up. IMO he would have gone #1 in a quite a few recent drafts.

Kuj recently scored a 2OT winner, and has had a pretty good season + playoffs. Glad to see a prospect other than Blandisi play well, unfortunate that hes knocked out. Really looking forward to the preseason camp this coming year

Worth a shot. If you guys got Kovy back and had Kessel that'd be a pretty lethal powerplay and top line
- HealthyScratch6

Won't happen

It depends on the price, but if strome drops from 3 I hope lou tries his hardest to move up. IMO he would have gone #1 in a quite a few recent drafts.
- rmdevil313

Would you give up one of the early seconds to move up a spot or two to draft Strome?

Would you give up one of the early seconds to move up a spot or two to draft Strome?
- Pete V

No because he'll leave to play with the islanders first chance he gets

No because he'll leave to play with the islanders first chance he gets
- shvingter88

Or Ryan leaves the islanders first chance he gets