The AHL team traded for another goalie so I'm guessing Darling never plays for them again.

Dunno what the future holds but he's so far away from being an NHL gialtender right now.
- BINGO!

Mentally he probably doesn’t have what it takes to be a starting NHL goalie. Probably, if you’re doing would’ve could’ve and should’ve ,just been happy as a back up goalie and made a comfortable living which seemed to fit him in Chicago. Off the ice ,hope his life is going well.

Please no to Mike smith, please!
- powerenforcer

You just broke Stan's heart. Was working hard in his PJ's to inquire about the possibility.

I wonder if a reason for the humility by pro hockey players is the fact that many of them spend a lot of their youth away from home and live with billet families. Mixture of missing home, respecting another family's home, and being grateful for the opportunity to play given the circumstances and possibly even hardships.
- AEL_Fox

Think this has a lot to do with it.

Yeah they're going to be a tough out for anybody if they get in there. The way they play is overwhelming at times.
- BINGO!

Really impressed with their team speed. Pulling for those guys, from a distance.

Really impressed with their team speed. Pulling for those guys, from a distance.
- gabriel

If the hawks don't make it in, I'm pulling for Calgary. I think it would have been a wise tdl move if they addressed their net minder need. I'm not against a young Canes team, either, I'm just silently rooting for the Flames.

With that said, Sharks and Knights made great acquisitions. They already were tough teams. It would be comically funny if the Blue Jackets didn't make it. I think the Blues can leap frog to the top of our division. I hate them, but their success is too great to ignore. I also really hate the Bruins, but they look like the only real threat to the Lightning.

Overall, there's going to be some great playoff match-ups that I'm really excited for this year. More than usual.

Mentally he probably doesn’t have what it takes to be a starting NHL goalie. Probably, if you’re doing would’ve could’ve and should’ve ,just been happy as a back up goalie and made a comfortable living which seemed to fit him in Chicago. Off the ice ,hope his life is going well.
- wonthecup10

I hope so because he's just sitting at home right now.

If the hawks don't make it in, I'm pulling for Calgary. I think it would have been a wise tdl move if they addressed their net minder need. I'm not against a young Canes team, either, I'm just silently rooting for the Flames.

With that said, Sharks and Knights made great acquisitions. They already were tough teams. It would be comically funny if the Blue Jackets didn't make it. I think the Blues can leap frog to the top of our division. I hate them, but their success is too great to ignore. I also really hate the Bruins, but they look like the only real threat to the Lightning.

Overall, there's going to be some great playoff match-ups that I'm really excited for this year. More than usual.
- I Am The Breadman

I see the single mom has let you up for air.

I see where you're coming from with Calgary, but rooting for Mike Smith would bring on physical symptoms for me.

I see the single mom has let you up for air.

I see where you're coming from with Calgary, but rooting for Mike Smith would bring on physical symptoms for me.
- mohel

Oh dear God! This poop again? Hahahaha!!!

I don't care for Smith either. I would hope for Rittich to keep the net come playoff time. I like the young stars a lot, and rooting for Frolik to win a second.

Oh dear God! This poop again? Hahahaha!!!

I don't care for Smith either. I would hope for Rittich to keep the net come playoff time. I like the young stars a lot, and rooting for Frolik to win a second.
- I Am The Breadman

Go Sharks. Jumbo Joe Thornton deserves a Cup.

Go Sharks. Jumbo Joe Thornton deserves a Cup.
- EnzoD

They're a really good team too, and the Nyquist addition was great. I think it all depends on Jones. Imo, he falls flat in some big games. Maybe that trend turns around.

If the hawks don't make it in, I'm pulling for Calgary. I think it would have been a wise tdl move if they addressed their net minder need. I'm not against a young Canes team, either, I'm just silently rooting for the Flames.

With that said, Sharks and Knights made great acquisitions. They already were tough teams. It would be comically funny if the Blue Jackets didn't make it. I think the Blues can leap frog to the top of our division. I hate them, but their success is too great to ignore. I also really hate the Bruins, but they look like the only real threat to the Lightning.

Overall, there's going to be some great playoff match-ups that I'm really excited for this year. More than usual.
- I Am The Breadman

I'll be pulling for the Jets, although I have some concerns about that team.

It seems that next year Toronto is in an impossible salary cap bind, that is of course, i they're looking to retain all of their assets. Based on the numbers, it seems one of, or possibly both, Kapenen and Johnsson will be lost due to trade or offer sheet.

Would you guys offer sheet either player and what would that offer sheet look like? Spit balling but Chicago could come in with:

Kapenen: 5 years, 5.5 million per.
Johnsson: 5 years, 4.5 million per.


Thoughts?

I'll be pulling for the Jets, although I have some concerns about that team.
- DarthKane

I know they've had some defensive injuries. I think they're getting healthy again. To me, it seemed like they weren't really going anywhere, like they were in a dull patch for a long stretch. I heard a lot about Lazy Laine, but the problems span further than him. I'm just excited for playoffs, but I share your concerns for Winny too.

With Caggiula definitely out per the Blackhawks and Kampf still out, Perlini slots in for today. Here's hoping he keeps his game simple, takes it one shift at a time and goes all out on each shift.
And the Drake recovers ASAP.

Its Wiz' thing. He has them drafting a least one goalie every year it seems.
- Elbows15

I would draft 1 goalie at least one center and defense man every draft. IMO the more depth at those three postions in the system the better off a team will be. Will every goalie d man or center work out no but having a lot is better.

It seems that next year Toronto is in an impossible salary cap bind, that is of course, i they're looking to retain all of their assets. Based on the numbers, it seems one of, or possibly both, Kapenen and Johnsson will be lost due to trade or offer sheet.

Would you guys offer sheet either player and what would that offer sheet look like? Spit balling but Chicago could come in with:

Kapenen: 5 years, 5.5 million per.
Johnsson: 5 years, 4.5 million per.


Thoughts?
- Bjm84

How much for Marner?

It seems that next year Toronto is in an impossible salary cap bind, that is of course, i they're looking to retain all of their assets. Based on the numbers, it seems one of, or possibly both, Kapenen and Johnsson will be lost due to trade or offer sheet.

Would you guys offer sheet either player and what would that offer sheet look like? Spit balling but Chicago could come in with:

Kapenen: 5 years, 5.5 million per.
Johnsson: 5 years, 4.5 million per.


Thoughts?
- Bjm84

Anything over 4 M will cost us a 1st... Also, Kapenen is exciting, but he's had one decent season. 41 points in 64 games and people are already going to give him a 6 million dollar contract????

With Caggiula definitely out per the Blackhawks and Kampf still out, Perlini slots in for today. Here's hoping he keeps his game simple, takes it one shift at a time and goes all out on each shift.
And the Drake recovers ASAP.
- 35Tony0

The Hawks depth was shaky before, with The Drake and Kampf out it gets even worse.

Changing gears a bit, I still think the off-season focus needs to be on the bottom 6 forwards and improving the defense. Saad on the third line improves the depth, but ideally he should be in the top 6.

Assuming the top 6 are Kane, Toews, Saad, DeBrincat, Strome and Kahun that leave The Drake and Kampf as the only 2 that should return next season in the bottom 6. I'd be ok with Anisimov as the 3C but I think they could do better.

My UFA target this summer would be Brandon Tanev. He'd be a great 3rd line winger alone with The Drake. Tanev has averaged 2:15 on the PK, 2nd highest (Lowry) on the Jets, plus he'd produced well offensively (24 points) in a defensive role.

Tanev may not be one of the exciting UFAs like Panarin or Duchene, but he fills a void that the Hawks have. This top 9 would be pretty solid:

Saad - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Kahun
The Drake - Anisimov - Tanev

With Caggiula definitely out per the Blackhawks and Kampf still out, Perlini slots in for today. Here's hoping he keeps his game simple, takes it one shift at a time and goes all out on each shift.
And the Drake recovers ASAP.
- 35Tony0

With Caggiula and Kampf out, suggested forward lines:

Perlini - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Kahun
Saad - Anisimov - Sikura
Kunitz - Kruger - Hayden

Or swap Perlini and Sikura if they can play the opposite wing. Whoever plays with Toews and Kane can hopefully get a boost that can carry over for the rest of the season. Between the two, Perlini needs the biggest charge so I say have him start on Line 1.

While Sikura is making rookie mistakes, he is growing and contributing. He pursues the puck on the forecheck, engages along the boards and in corners, makes deft passes, and knows where he needs to be on defense. He needs to get stronger but his vision, hockey sense, and skill are there and will recalibrate his effectiveness once his strength is amped up.

Saad should stay on the 3rd line. I have observed the same as others that he is thriving as the driver of his own line. That said, I like Sikura with Saad. Could do better yet Anisimov as their center isn't a bad thing given the current roster.

With Caggiula and Kampf out, suggested forward lines:

Perlini - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Kahun
Saad - Anisimov - Sikura
Kunitz - Kruger - Hayden

Or swap Perlini and Sikura if they can play the opposite wing. Whoever plays with Toews and Kane can hopefully get a boost that can carry over for the rest of the season. Between the two, Perlini needs the biggest charge so I say have him start on Line 1.

While Sikura is making rookie mistakes, he is growing and contributing. He pursues the puck on the forecheck, engages along the boards and in corners, makes deft passes, and knows where he needs to be on defense. He needs to get stronger but his vision, hockey sense, and skill are there and will recalibrate his effectiveness once his strength is amped up.

Saad should stay on the 3rd line. I have observed the same as others that he is thriving as the driver of his own line. That said, I like Sikura with Saad. Could do better yet Anisimov as their center isn't a bad thing given the current roster.
- AEL_Fox

What are your thoughts on Hayden in that top spot for a game or two? Just to see if a little “confidence from the coach” helps his game.

TT wasn’t then what he is now.

And there was talk then that his attitude would never let him become what he is now.
- StLBravesFan

Yes, TT was a highly skilled player but with reported attitude problems.

This is a situation that has arisen time and again, and I think that management deals wit a paradox when they have these types of players on their hands, it’s the Tyler Seguin paradox.

The paradox is that in order for the player to reach their potential, they have to be moved so that they are inspired to put in the effort required for success, but because they have not reached their potential they can’t be moved for full value. So management is stuck in a place where they can keep a player who has a bad attitude and that player probably doesn’t improve all that much or they can move the player and they will improve a lot but down the line the move will look bad. I think it’s a tough spot for management to be in.

I wonder if there is more room for insurance policies in these types of trades, like if a player averages 60 points over the 3 years post trade, the trading team is compensated with a draft pick or something along those lines.

Having said that, they should have given TT more time to try to shape up, he clearly was a high level talent.

What are your thoughts on Hayden in that top spot for a game or two? Just to see if a little “confidence from the coach” helps his game.
- Chunk

I'm also very interested to see who they slot in for PK minutes. Perhaps Hayden and Perlini can carve out a niche there.

What are your thoughts on Hayden in that top spot for a game or two? Just to see if a little “confidence from the coach” helps his game.
- Chunk

Good idea. Wouldn't be opposed to Hayden in that lottery spot either. He has turned it up lately as he has played within a defined and simplified role.

My thinking is who needs the biggest boost. Out of Hayden, Perlini, and Sikura, it would be #11.

I think Hayden's ultimate role is as a 4th liner. That isn't to say Perlini is ultimately a 1st liner or even top 6. If he can get it going, IMHO, his ceiling is 3rd line but more realistically the 4th.

I'll be pulling for the Jets, although I have some concerns about that team.
- DarthKane

I’ll be pulling for 15 seven-game series, no matter who wins them.

Go Sharks. Jumbo Joe Thornton deserves a Cup.
- EnzoD

Remember when Bolland made Joe lose his poop in the 2010 playoffs? Come to think of it he did the same to the Sedins, Mike Richards and pretty much anyone else he played.