I am still hoping for Duchene as our other Center... having Barzal, Duchene, Brock and Casey would be friggin solid middle.
- niteislander

Lou was after him at the deadline and will be kicking tires on Duchene for sure in FA.

Isles need to address the top 6 imho. The bottom 6 did just fine last year. I like callahan but a 1 year deal for another bottom 6 guy who's better years are behind him isn't what the team needs moving forward, I think lou address that in the room with last years Shat signings. We need to build the top 6 and the scoring now.

Kadri is interesting. Can play center and wing and Toronto needs to move some salary this off season.
- nyisles7

I agree they need to address the top 6 but I only see one piece being added and the rest will come from our very young guys improving... Like Brock just did..

Barzal and Beauv are still very young. You would hope they get better each year.

I agree they need to address the top 6 but I only see one piece being added and the rest will come from our very young guys improving... Like Brock just did..

Barzal and Beauv are still very young. You would hope they get better each year.
- niteislander

Beau better get his act together. I still feel he can be out the door sooner than later. Last year he was dreadful

Lou was after him at the deadline and will be kicking tires on Duchene for sure in FA.
- nyisles7

yep... still upset He was not able to get Stone. He would have been perfect fit for Trotz.

Beau better get his act together. I still feel he can be out the door sooner than later. Last year he was dreadful
- kasperrko

He certainly took a step back but I wouldn't call him Dreadful. I like the kid a lot so maybe I am wrong... but a 21 year old kid who spent most of his time on a line with Leo still scoring 18 goals.. is not horrific. I just like he gives 100% every shift. I think he will be a much better player this year. (really think last year should have been his second season like Barzal. We rushed him and it always seems to be a mistake.)

He certainly took a step back but I wouldn't call him Dreadful. I like the kid a lot so maybe I am wrong... but a 21 year old kid who spent most of his time on a line with Leo still scoring 18 goals.. is not horrific. I just like he gives 100% every shift. I think he will be a much better player this year. (really think last year should have been his second season like Barzal. We rushed him and it always seems to be a mistake.)
- niteislander

Agreed. Only 21 he is going to be fine, if he has to be used as a trading chip that's fine as long as its part of bringing in a proven scorer

Agreed. Only 21 he is going to be fine, if he has to be used as a trading chip that's fine as long as its part of bringing in a proven scorer
- Vukota

I just love that he is coachable too. At one point Trotz sat him for a game or a period and talked about him being "better on the walls". The next game the kid was like a bull in the corners. Anyone that has that much speed and skill but also shows the effort will be successful. I agree that if we used him to get a player it makes sense.. but I hope he is still here in October.

I just love that he is coachable too. At one point Trotz sat him for a game or a period and talked about him being "better on the walls". The next game the kid was like a bull in the corners. Anyone that has that much speed and skill but also shows the effort will be successful. I agree that if we used him to get a player it makes sense.. but I hope he is still here in October.
- niteislander

Must have missed that.

I agree they need to address the top 6 but I only see one piece being added and the rest will come from our very young guys improving... Like Brock just did..

Barzal and Beauv are still very young. You would hope they get better each year.
- niteislander

Well I think Lee will sign but if you don't sign Ebs then you have to replace him and then add more to the top 6 imho. D, & Goaltending are solid. Now we need to add some skilled scoring punch to the line up.

I think Barzal is well on his way and Beau works his ass off and is only going to get better as you said.That said if I can use Beau to get a true top 6 winger and or center I would use him.

My guess is Trotz told Lou that he needs Nelson around for the long run and he made it happen. $6M is a fair number for everyone.
- eichiefs9

I think you're right. Lee will probably sign soon.

Why wouldn't you want CC back after his deal ends?
- Vukota

You wanna pay him until he's 35 or older? Physical players break down, we're literally seeing it right now with Clutterbuck. Cizikas has missed 9, 18, and 23 games in each of the last three seasons and that's not going to get better as he ages.

Michael Russo
@RussoHockey
Penguins, #mnwild in trade talks surrounding Phil Kessel.

@JoshYohe_PGH has confirmed what I reported Tuesday about potential Jason Zucker-Victor Rask for Kessel-Jack Johnson swap. Lots of details in this story + other possible landing spots for Zucker

Isles need to address the top 6 imho. The bottom 6 did just fine last year. I like callahan but a 1 year deal for another bottom 6 guy who's better years are behind him isn't what the team needs moving forward, I think lou address that in the room with last years Shat signings. We need to build the top 6 and the scoring now.

Kadri is interesting. Can play center and wing and Toronto needs to move some salary this off season.
- nyisles7

Perfect fit for 2C or 3C

Good question, basically the same player as Calahan just younger and better.
- nyisles7

There is only really one reason I want Ryan Callahan:

Because he would help us land an early-20's player with top-6 upside and he goes away after a year. We could trade for Callahan and buy him out, too. He is simply the means to landing a really good young player for far under their market value. That's it.

I have no affinity towards him other than thinking he'd be a good bottom-six winger for one year and then would go away forever.

Perfect fit for 2C or 3C
- Hell_Bent

Problem is that the Leafs can't take back salary and I'm not sure what we'd give them for Kadri that's fair for both sides

You wanna pay him until he's 35 or older? Physical players break down, we're literally seeing it right now with Clutterbuck. Cizikas has missed 9, 18, and 23 games in each of the last three seasons and that's not going to get better as he ages.
- eichiefs9

He'll be 30 when he is a UFA depending on cost and term I would have no problem having back for 3 or 4 years depending on what he does the next couple of years

Michael Russo
@RussoHockey
Penguins, #mnwild in trade talks surrounding Phil Kessel.

@JoshYohe_PGH has confirmed what I reported Tuesday about potential Jason Zucker-Victor Rask for Kessel-Jack Johnson swap. Lots of details in this story + other possible landing spots for Zucker


- eichiefs9

Zucker & Rask add ton of speed n skill for Pens, that could be a steal for Pitt, especially shedding Johnsons awful contract

Zucker & Rask add ton of speed n skill for Pens, that could be a steal for Pitt, especially shedding Johnsons awful contract
- Hell_Bent

Rask is literally a replacement-level player. If he was that good the Wild would want to keep him.

Problem is that the Leafs can't take back salary and I'm not sure what we'd give them for Kadri that's fair for both sides
- eichiefs9

2nd rd pick + B+ Dman spec or F

He'll be 30 when he is a UFA depending on cost and term I would have no problem having back for 3 or 4 years depending on what he does the next couple of years
- Vukota

I think there's a very good chance that you'd just be signing one big IR spot. He's missed 50 games over the last three years and that's not going to get better with the style of hockey he plays.

2nd rd pick + B+ Dman spec or F
- Hell_Bent

I don't think that a 2nd plus Kieffer Bellows or Mitch Vande Sompel gets it done for the Leafs

I think there's a very good chance that you'd just be signing one big IR spot. He's missed 50 games over the last three years and that's not going to get better with the style of hockey he plays.
- eichiefs9

Probably right but all I'm saying is I wouldn't just write him off when his contract is up

Rask is literally a replacement-level player. If he was that good the Wild would want to keep him.
- eichiefs9

Rask is much better to have than Johnson, can play W and who knows how he's handled w/Pitt with those top 2 C in league

I don't think that a 2nd plus Kieffer Bellows or Mitch Vande Sompel gets it done for the Leafs
- eichiefs9

MDC & 2nd?? Leafs need players and cap relief plus maybe Kadri's value may have dipped a little bc of PO altercation?

Rask is much better to have than Johnson, can play W and who knows how he's handled w/Pitt with those top 2 C in league
- Hell_Bent

He's atrocious and was probably going to be bought out if the Canes hadn't managed to inexplicably flip him for Nino.