Is Loui Eriksson done? If so, maybe make him our last cap dump, could sweeten a deal with Canucks.
- Leniwm1

I like this idea. If we can take a bad contract in its final year like Loui's, and come out of it with a 1st rd pick why not? Whether he plays in Bing, or for the Devs it doesn't matter and I am sure he wants out of town. Plus the Canucks are no guarentee to even make playoffs, so it could be a higher pick then the usual late 1st' we acquire. That 15M cap space isn't going to be enough to ink Petterson/Hughes/Edler/Sutter/Hamonic/Vesey and the other remaining RFA/UFA's

Rangers fire Davidson & Gorton....what the heck.
Didn’t see that coming...

Haha I like this breakdown. I still think Carrick is a decent 6/7 guy, but would happily take a chance on a guy like Gustafsson/Barrie who have shown the ability to put up points. I have a soft spot for Martinez, as he brings so much beyond just points to a lineup. Similar role to Murray, just adds a touch more leadership and has some cup rings too boot.

As for forwards. I don't think anyone would complain if we brought back Coleman on a 1-2 year deal. Hall and Hoffman should be the primary targets. I doubt the bluejackets submit a qualifying offer on Laine, as supposedly it would require a minimum offer over 7M, so perhaps he hits UFA. I have been critical of him in the past, and I think his play without Wheeler/Scheifele has shown what he really is. That being said, he is a difference maker on the PP and would be a welcome addition in the 5-6M AAV neighborhood. Duclair is constantly undervalued and just 25 years old.... What do you guys think?
- bikeguy99

The Jackets are 100% going to tender Laine. They didnt give up Dubois for him just to let him walk as a UFA a couple months later. They would tender him then trade him if they don't want him anymore

No chance Hall or Coleman come back. Hall likely stays in Boston and Coleman is probably headed home to Dallas

Hoffman would be fine, if its a 1 year deal, but once again he's a bad locker room guy, so i dont really want to put him in this room with all of those kids. He wouldnt come here anyway. He took less money this past offseason to go where he wanted and from all reports we werent in on him at all, so i dont see that changing. Also, the Blues made him a healthy scratch multiple times this year because of his attitude and effort. So pass.

Martinez i would love, he is perfect for what this team need.

Hard pass on Gustafsson, he sucks.

Barrie is meh. We have enough all offense, no defense players on the back end already so i dont want him.


In free agency i see this team adding a veteran bottom 6 center, a depth D or two, and a goalie. Other than that, any big move will be a trade.

If we make any big acquisition this offseason, it'll be through a trade. They'll probably take a shot at Hamilton on the market, but i dont see him coming here no matter how much money we offer. After all of those its just a bunch of depth unless Landeskog gets to the market which is the same thing as Hamilton. Trade is the best way to make a big splash.

With our owners I don't know why you would think they are going to shell out big money on free agents. They are going to build through the draft and then get good team controlled players long term. They are going to sign some depth players so we aren't horrible until the dead line then unload and tank from there again.

With our owners I don't know why you would think they are going to shell out big money on free agents. They are going to build through the draft and then get good team controlled players long term. They are going to sign some depth players so we aren't horrible until the dead line then unload and tank from there again.
- Pomegrant

Because top pairing RHD rarely ever become available on the market, or at all in general. And there's nothing in our pipeline that has top pairing upside on the right side. This could be this teams only chance to get a true game changing top pairing RHD. The notion that our owners dont want to spend money is complete BS and that narrative needs to die. Hamilton obviously will never come here unless its an insanely big overpay, and even then it may not be enough to convince him, but Fitz is certainly going to try.

The Jackets are 100% going to tender Laine. They didnt give up Dubois for him just to let him walk as a UFA a couple months later. They would tender him then trade him if they don't want him anymore

No chance Hall or Coleman come back. Hall likely stays in Boston and Coleman is probably headed home to Dallas

Hoffman would be fine, if its a 1 year deal, but once again he's a bad locker room guy, so i dont really want to put him in this room with all of those kids. He wouldnt come here anyway. He took less money this past offseason to go where he wanted and from all reports we werent in on him at all, so i dont see that changing. Also, the Blues made him a healthy scratch multiple times this year because of his attitude and effort. So pass.

Martinez i would love, he is perfect for what this team need.

Hard pass on Gustafsson, he sucks.

Barrie is meh. We have enough all offense, no defense players on the back end already so i dont want him.


In free agency i see this team adding a veteran bottom 6 center, a depth D or two, and a goalie. Other than that, any big move will be a trade.

If we make any big acquisition this offseason, it'll be through a trade. They'll probably take a shot at Hamilton on the market, but i dont see him coming here no matter how much money we offer. After all of those its just a bunch of depth unless Landeskog gets to the market which is the same thing as Hamilton. Trade is the best way to make a big splash.
- vlongo4419

If they could just sign guys.... hamilton, saad, and montour.... theyd jumo right into playoffs

If they could just sign guys.... hamilton, saad, and montour.... theyd jumo right into playoffs
- Theathletic is for libs

Saad would be a pretty good guy to target, pretty good middle 6 option amd a vet presence. Obviously Hamilton would be insane, but incredibly unlikely. Not sure what to think of Montour, hes been decent on Florida since the deadline but hes been awful the last 3 seasons going back to his final season in Anahiem. I'd probably rather just bring Kulikov back over him.

If we're gonna try to add a potential top 4 D in free agency, besides Hamilton, i'd be targeting Larsson, Martinez, or McCabe. Mike Reilly is intriguing too, he'd fit this system nicely

Saad would be a pretty good guy to target, pretty good middle 6 option amd a vet presence. Obviously Hamilton would be insane, but incredibly unlikely. Not sure what to think of Montour, hes been decent on Florida since the deadline but hes been awful the last 3 seasons going back to his final season in Anahiem. I'd probably rather just bring Kulikov back over him.

If we're gonna try to add a potential top 4 D in free agency, besides Hamilton, i'd be targeting Larsson, Martinez, or McCabe. Mike Reilly is intriguing too, he'd fit this system nicely
- vlongo4419

Larsson 6 x 6 ?

Holtz with 2 assists

If they could just sign guys.... hamilton, saad, and montour.... theyd jumo right into playoffs
- Theathletic is for libs

I like the idea of a Montour type of D.

Because top pairing RHD rarely ever become available on the market, or at all in general. And there's nothing in our pipeline that has top pairing upside on the right side. This could be this teams only chance to get a true game changing top pairing RHD. The notion that our owners dont want to spend money is complete BS and that narrative needs to die. Hamilton obviously will never come here unless its an insanely big overpay, and even then it may not be enough to convince him, but Fitz is certainly going to try.
- vlongo4419

Well it’ll be a nice surprise for you when they don’t spend money again. For the rest of us it’ll be like Groundhog Day.

And it’s not a narrative that needs to die. It’s a narrative they need to prove wrong.

Tkachuk is my #1 dream option this offseason and its possible he could be available if Calgary wants to remake their core. Another team to target is Vancouver, they could be in big trouble cap-wise once these EP and Hughes extensions come in. I'd try to pry Boeser from them
- vlongo4419

Tkachuk would be (frank)ing awesome

Tkachuk would be (frank)ing awesome
- shvingter88

We definitely need some toughness....that Greer kid seemed willing to drop the gloves.

Well it’ll be a nice surprise for you when they don’t spend money again. For the rest of us it’ll be like Groundhog Day.

And it’s not a narrative that needs to die. It’s a narrative they need to prove wrong.
- Queenie_5_hole

They have proved it wrong, they have spent in the past whenever Shero wanted to and they've put a lot of money back into the local community. Theyre one of the very few reasons the Devils are still in Jersey. It's a lazy narrative that casual fans want to use as an excuse. Knock it off, its garbage. If Fitz wants to spend, the owners will do it. Free agents need to want to come here, sometimes it doesnt even matter how much money is offered.

Really good night for the pro-tankers out there. Big Jackets and Sens win, and the Sharks and Kings win almost puts them out of range of catching them.

Ducks win but it'll still be tough for them to pass us since we own the tiebreaker. They need 3 of 4 remaining points against the Wild with us losing out and not getting a point, but if we get 1 point they will need to win both of those games. If we win a game they cant pass us anymore

Jackets and Wings finish off with 2 games against each other, so thats a win-win for us no matter who wins. The best outcome is they split those 2 games and both end up being 3 point games

All-in-all i think we're gonna stay right where we're at and have the 4th best lottery odds going into June 2nd

I really do hope they bring Ruff back. I think he was exactly was the kids needed. They have such great skill, and he made them believe in a never quit philosophy. That will prove to be a dangerous combination soon.

But it will only work if the same team comes back. No use on roster changeover and start from square one.

Lines from morning skate today:

Kuok-Hughes-Shara
Zacha-Hischier-Bratt
Foote-Boqvist-Studenic
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Murray-Sevo
Butcher-Carrick
Bahl-Tenny

Mac

I really do hope they bring Ruff back. I think he was exactly was the kids needed. They have such great skill, and he made them believe in a never quit philosophy. That will prove to be a dangerous combination soon.

But it will only work if the same team comes back. No use on roster changeover and start from square one.
- Leniwm1

Definitely agree. I dont see how they fire Ruff though after just 1 covid-ridden shortened season. It'd be a very bad look for the team if that happened. His system fits the strengths of this team very well. But the biggest thing i like with him is that he knows what this team is, and hes very lenient with the young kids allowing them to just play their game and accepting the mistakes that happens, using them as learning experiences.

Definitely agree. I dont see how they fire Ruff though after just 1 covid-ridden shortened season. It'd be a very bad look for the team if that happened. His system fits the strengths of this team very well, but the biggest thing i like with him is that he knows what this team is, and hes very lenient with the young kids allowing them to just play their game and accepting the mistakes that happens, using them as learning experiences.
- vlongo4419

Yes. I didnt know what to expect. I wasnt sure if he was a Hitchcock or Sutter type coach, relying on vets for everything. From day one, I think Shara has been killing penalties. This kid is all offense and shooting and he trusted him on the PK. Thats huge.
But you are right, he lets them be themselves in a way. BUT this might be the last season of that mentality. I feel he will def expect more, 'NHL' quality playing from them next season.

You have to give Ruff a chance because this year they just didn't have time to practice anything which is part of the reason our special teams were horrible the entire season. I still think that some of the criticisms of him as a coach are valid, like the questionable defensive structure, but you have to give him at least another season to show if he can figure it out.

Agree with both of the above

I too agree with the two above.

Loved Ruff as a coach. Long leesh for the younger guys and no more dump and chase hockey. Was a nice change from Hynes' system.

Yes. I didnt know what to expect. I wasnt sure if he was a Hitchcock or Sutter type coach, relying on vets for everything. From day one, I think Shara has been killing penalties. This kid is all offense and shooting and he trusted him on the PK. Thats huge.
But you are right, he lets them be themselves in a way. BUT this might be the last season of that mentality. I feel he will def expect more, 'NHL' quality playing from them next season.
- Leniwm1

Shara has become one of the best well rounded players this year. Impressive for a rookie on a team like ours.

Lines from morning skate today:

Kuok-Hughes-Shara
Zacha-Hischier-Bratt
Foote-Boqvist-Studenic
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Murray-Sevo
Butcher-Carrick
Bahl-Tenny

Mac
- vlongo4419

The focus on adding to this lineup should be that Third line. If we dip in free agency we can easily replace Studenic or Boqvist and upgrade.

On D, Carrick and Tenny will be replaced with PK and maybe a vet (Id take Kulikov back)

In goal is interesting, I don't see anything wrong with a one year cheap deal for Wedgewood for next year. Blackwood will play a ton of games and he proved he can handle the load.