Wow, looking like things are going Bolts way

Aren't you glad you got Ladd?
Ladd was a prime candidate to give the NYI a lift, but instead there was a Lightning (Kucherov) strike. The Lightning probably advance to The Cup final. The popular sentiment heading into the playoffs likely was to discount the Lightning since they didn't adjust well to the hard battles and super intensity last playoffs.

Well now flash update I am inclined to choose them to beat Vegas..The Golden Knights will not be quite so gold like in the final. Some people point to their defense as being really just average (average after Theodore).

The Vegas dmen effectively get the job done. But i say it is Tampa whom will just get the job done in all areas of the ice. Vegas is good and enjoys a good formula, having many good players, lot of size and enough speed in their bruising style. But they can get beat.

Then we shall see if possibly Lehner returns to Chicago.
Don't expect it. I don't want Murray either. Crawford will be back. Bowman doubtful to trade up for a top forward or Askarov. This all is just IMHO

MAYBE you disagree.

Wow, looking like things are going Bolts way
- BetweenTheDots

Tightening Bolts screw Trotz system. Trotz can get beat. Although next season NYI probably ride with Sorokin in net. NYI paused from drafting dmen in first rounds when they snagged Barzal and Beautilliere. No Sorokin in net is probably not enough to propel them to Cup final. They are close to getting to The Cup final. But Boston, Philly and Tampa are legitimate too.

Washington and Carolina have a lot of nice pieces but just fall short. Carolina gets better goaltending yet I still think they fall short. The Caps ...i don't thnk their defense is very deep.

This is just a hypothetical scenario assuming the Hawks are (were) hoping to invest in Dach and Strome as the eventual 1C and 2C then have Toews move down the depth chart to 3C once he does start winding down his career.

That may not happen for many years but it buys time for Dach and Strome to develop. Same with other center prospects in the system.

This current interim period is the conundrum because is it better to have Dach continue developing in the 3C spot or has he sped up his timeline to take on the 2C role?

This chain reaction is good for Dach but bad for Strome as he would be relegated to 3C, i.e. a role he is not equipped to take on.

Toews may not "degrade" to 3C for another 3+ years. Is that too long to have Strome as 3C, especially if he shows little improvement.
- Theo Fox

I think the Kings are going to pick Stutzle to play left wing. Kings are overloaded with center prospects. Besides who you mentioned, Anderson-Dylan, Villardi, Tyler Madden, Thomas, Lizotte are either ready, or probably another 1/2 season in the A away from being ready to play for the big club.

They should lower their aim by about 20 games IMO.
- Ogilthorpe2

Not so sure starting your season in the middle of the holidays (Thanksgiving to New Years), NFL playoffs and then Super Bowl is a great plan either?

This is just a hypothetical scenario assuming the Hawks are (were) hoping to invest in Dach and Strome as the eventual 1C and 2C then have Toews move down the depth chart to 3C once he does start winding down his career.

That may not happen for many years but it buys time for Dach and Strome to develop. Same with other center prospects in the system.

This current interim period is the conundrum because is it better to have Dach continue developing in the 3C spot or has he sped up his timeline to take on the 2C role?

This chain reaction is good for Dach but bad for Strome as he would be relegated to 3C, i.e. a role he is not equipped to take on.

Toews may not "degrade" to 3C for another 3+ years. Is that too long to have Strome as 3C, especially if he shows little improvement.
- Theo Fox

Theo, I think all this discussion about Strome is "analysis paralysis." I think it's much simpler: He improves his game or he's out of the league.

Theo, I think all this discussion about Strome is "analysis paralysis." I think it's much simpler: He improves his game or he's out of the league.
- rpeters01

I can go with that. Occam's Razor: the simplest solution is the best solution.

I think the Kings are going to pick Stutzle to play left wing. Kings are overloaded with center prospects. Besides who you mentioned, Anderson-Dylan, Villardi, Tyler Madden, Thomas, Lizotte are either ready, or probably another 1/2 season in the A away from being ready to play for the big club.
- LAHawk

Thanks for your additional insights on how the Kings may lean toward the draft and prospect deployment. They definitely have some exciting forward prospects.

Since no other 2019s had as much impact as he showed...
- wiz1901

or many 2019s played. Which is a good sign, but lets be honest, in the real world, Dach would have been sitting home for the playoffs.

Not so sure starting your season in the middle of the holidays (Thanksgiving to New Years), NFL playoffs and then Super Bowl is a great plan either?
- rpeters01

Networks need programming.

They have new national TV contracts to negotiate (at least in the US). All of the franchises have some kind of relationship with local / regional networks that will flounder without the games.

If NBC / Comcast wants hockey during the holiday season, there will be hockey.

Aren't you glad you got Ladd?
Ladd was a prime candidate to give the NYI a lift, but instead there was a Lightning (Kucherov) strike. The Lightning probably advance to The Cup final. The popular sentiment heading into the playoffs likely was to discount the Lightning since they didn't adjust well to the hard battles and super intensity last playoffs.

Well now flash update I am inclined to choose them to beat Vegas..The Golden Knights will not be quite so gold like in the final. Some people point to their defense as being really just average (average after Theodore).

The Vegas dmen effectively get the job done. But i say it is Tampa whom will just get the job done in all areas of the ice. Vegas is good and enjoys a good formula, having many good players, lot of size and enough speed in their bruising style. But they can get beat.

Then we shall see if possibly Lehner returns to Chicago.
Don't expect it. I don't want Murray either. Crawford will be back. Bowman doubtful to trade up for a top forward or Askarov. This all is just IMHO

MAYBE you disagree.
- jhawk59

Sure the Bolts are up 2-0 but there is still a lot of hockey to be played. If other teams mental mistakes consistently end up in the back of the their net like Toews icing, then they will win the SC.

29-9.

A new NL record(modern day) for Atlanta against Miami.

18 of the 29 runs scored by the Braves came on home runs.

With 9 walks and 9 strike outs, 25 out of 56 plate appearances were “true outcomes” - 44.6%.

Not my kind of game.

Theo, I think all this discussion about Strome is "analysis paralysis." I think it's much simpler: He improves his game or he's out of the league.
- rpeters01

I think that's a bit too simplistic. Strome is an NHL player because he is a very good offensive player and even if he never improves his skating or defense - he will still be a very good offensive player - a very good offensive NHL player.

I hope Stan is watching when Tampa plays. What acquisitions did they make at the trade deadline? Getting Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, two strong, physical, heavy, hard-to-play-against forwards that was added to the current group of Lightning players and really made the team more competitive and a more dangerous team. Brisbrois was criticized for giving up #1's for each, but if your picking #28 and higher, it is more like a second round pick anyway. Plus Tampa got cost controlled players for awhile, and will plug in when Tampa has to shed salary (probably Palat and maybe Killorn).

I think that's a bit too simplistic. Strome is an NHL player because he is a very good offensive player and even if he never improves his skating or defense - he will still be a very good offensive player - a very good offensive NHL player.
- EbonyRaptor

Exactly why Gretzky ruined the game!

Public Service Announcement -
Capfriendly has been updated. It has removed the 2019-2020 rosters/salaries and is now showing that information beginning with the 20-21 season.

Per the Athletic, Vegas wants to sign Lehner to a contract extension, but they are tight against the cap like most teams. The writer is speculating that the contract would have to be at least 5x$5M and that Fleury will be traded (with salary retained) or bought out.

Per the Athletic, Vegas wants to sign Lehner to a contract extension, but they are tight against the cap like most teams. The writer is speculating that the contract would have to be at least 5x$5M and that Fleury will be traded (with salary retained) or bought out.
- boilermaker100

Fleury to Seattle?

Fleury to Seattle?
- powerenforcer

I don't think the timing will work for that. Vegas has to shed salary before Seattle can take Fleury off their hands.

Fleury to Seattle?
- powerenforcer

The expansion draft is next year so if it happens it won't help the Knights this year.

Edit - I meant next year the 20-21 season.

Fleury to Seattle?
- powerenforcer

If he is bought out, Fleury will have his pick of teams that are looking for an upgrade, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, etc. etc. Will be interesting as Fleury has a NTC. He could really stick it to Vegas by making them buy him out (3 mil, 3 mil 2 mil 2 mil. in cap hit over the next 4 years), and signing with someone else for about 4 mil x 2) and he would make an extra $4 mil. than what his contract is now.

I don't think Flery's agent is going to do Vegas any favors, after posting DeBoer's knife in the back pic.

Okay guys and gals who would you rather have in goal for the next year or two Crawford or Fleury?

Fleury's cap hit for the next two years in 7M. Assume that the Knights would retain the maximum 50% in a trade to offload him to sign Lehner. Fleury's cap hit to the Hawks would be 3.5M, the same as the reported amount Stan offered to Crow (albeit only for one year).

Vegas would want not any salary back so give them back a 3rd or 4th round pick. Also to help Vegas out of cap hell they would have to throw in a sweetener such as a decent prospect or a higher pick.

Fleury does have a 10 team no trade list on his modified NTC.

Theo, if you want feel free to throw this idea out in your upcoming goalie blog.

Okay guys and gals who would you rather have in goal for the next year or two Crawford or Fleury?

Fleury's cap hit for the next two years in 7M. Assume that the Knights would retain the maximum 50% in a trade to offload him to sign Lehner. Fleury's cap hit to the Hawks would be 3.5M, the same as the reported amount Stan offered to Crow (albeit only for one year).

Vegas would want not any salary back so give them back a 3rd or 4th round pick. Also to help Vegas out of cap hell they would have to throw in a sweetener such as a decent prospect or a higher pick.

Fleury does have a 10 team no trade list on his modified NTC.

Theo, if you want feel free to throw this idea out in your upcoming goalie blog.
- boilermaker100

Isn't there still a "future consideration" out there? (I am thinking it was a deal with Vegas, just can't remember).

If he is bought out, Fleury will have his pick of teams that are looking for an upgrade, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, etc. etc. Will be interesting as Fleury has a NTC. He could really stick it to Vegas by making them buy him out (3 mil, 3 mil 2 mil 2 mil. in cap hit over the next 4 years), and signing with someone else for about 4 mil x 2) and he would make an extra $4 mil. than what his contract is now.

I don't think Flery's agent is going to do Vegas any favors, after posting DeBoer's knife in the back pic.
- LAHawk

Or, if traded Vegas can retain 3.5M of Fleury's 7M for the next two years. That would cost them only 500K more the next two years than buying him out, and would save them 2M in cap space 3 and 4 seasons from now.

Fleury's NTC is modified. He can list 10 teams NOT to be traded to.

Isn't there still a "future consideration" out there? (I am thinking it was a deal with Vegas, just can't remember).
- powerenforcer

Stan got an all expense paid weekend trip to Vegas out of that.