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

I am not sure about the Jackets with Laine. He is required to earn north of 7M should they honor his structure. I think they try and keep him, but as a UFA rathar than the obligatory structure that would make him massively overpaid.

I agree about adding a veteran presence, and that is why I think Martinez would be ideal. The young D on this squad do not have the greatest veterans to learn from, and Martinez is still an effective top 4 guy in this league. He would help stabilize the back end greatly. Adding a goalie shouldn't be too hard. I am unsure about addressing our bottom 6 tho, as so many guys may be ready to make the jump to the NHL. Foote/Holtz/Clark/Boqvist/Mercer are all guys who could crack the roster come october, and I'd be weary to add anyone via UFA's unless it is a big name like Hoffman/Hall. I think you are right about adding via trade, and perhaps we can target good players with cap hits hurting their team. Nylander in Toronto, Pacioretti, anyone on Philly, all potentially selling at a discounted rate while still being top players on our squad. I like the potential for something like that.

I am not sure about the Jackets with Laine. He is required to earn north of 7M should they honor his structure. I think they try and keep him, but as a UFA rathar than the obligatory structure that would make him massively overpaid.

I agree about adding a veteran presence, and that is why I think Martinez would be ideal. The young D on this squad do not have the greatest veterans to learn from, and Martinez is still an effective top 4 guy in this league. He would help stabilize the back end greatly. Adding a goalie shouldn't be too hard. I am unsure about addressing our bottom 6 tho, as so many guys may be ready to make the jump to the NHL. Foote/Holtz/Clark/Boqvist/Mercer are all guys who could crack the roster come october, and I'd be weary to add anyone via UFA's unless it is a big name like Hoffman/Hall. I think you are right about adding via trade, and perhaps we can target good players with cap hits hurting their team. Nylander in Toronto, Pacioretti, anyone on Philly, all potentially selling at a discounted rate while still being top players on our squad. I like the potential for something like that.
- bikeguy99

The Jackets arent going to let Laine become a UFA a couple of months after trading Dubois for him and risk losing him for absolutely nothing. Its just not going to happen. They will qualify him.

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

Hamilton is a guy I'd love. He had a 14 game point streak not long ago, tying the record this season and as a D...... He is a big boy who like physicality to boot. He really doesn't get the credit he deserves, I just don't see him leaving Carolina (who has plenty of cap space), unless it is for a contender.

The Jackets arent going to let Laine become a UFA a couple of months after trading Dubois for him and risk losing him for absolutely nothing. Its just not going to happen. They will qualify him.
- vlongo4419

I guess we will see. I think Jarmo is a smart guy, and he will have to weigh out the odds. Many Jets players were starting to get upset with having Laine on their line, as he really was a black hole and if they gave him the puck, they knew it wasn't coming back. Jarmo risks having a regrettable contract if he inks this kid for anything north of 6M AAV. Great shooter and PP specialist, but a horrible player in every other situation.

I guess we will see. I think Jarmo is a smart guy, and he will have to weigh out the odds. Many Jets players were starting to get upset with having Laine on their line, as he really was a black hole and if they gave him the puck, they knew it wasn't coming back. Jarmo risks having a regrettable contract if he inks this kid for anything north of 6M AAV. Great shooter and PP specialist, but a horrible player in every other situation.
- bikeguy99

Jarmo will also lose his job if he lets Laine walk as a UFA, and everybody knows if he can become a UFA he isnt staying there. Jarmo isnt an idiot. Torts is the issue with that team right now, not Laine, and thats why Torts isnt being brought back. North of 7M isnt an overpay for Laine at all for what he brings. Theres no odds to weight, they will 100% qualify him, then trade him if they want to move him

They'll fire Torts before letting Laine go. It's just absurd to think that a team would just give up elite talent for free when under team control.

They'll fire Torts before letting Laine go. It's just absurd to think that a team would just give up elite talent for free when under team control.
- Pomegrant

100%. Especially when said player is 23 years old and it seems like his floor in the league is 30 goals/60 points. This is his only bad season and im willing to give it a pass considering his injury and now needing to play under Torts, when everybody in the hockey world knew that was a bad fit from the second the trade happened. He is literally what we want Holtz to be.

I would trade for Laine in a heartbeat and give him a max year deal at 8.5-9M AAV. He would be (frank)ing insane on Jacks wing, and would give us a legit shooting threat on the PP

100%. Especially when said player is 23 years old and it seems like his floor in the league is 30 goals/60 points. This is his only bad season and im willing to give it a pass considering his injury and now needing to play under Torts, when everybody in the hockey world knew that was a bad fit from the second the trade happened. He is literally what we want Holtz to be.

I would trade for Laine in a heartbeat and give him a max year deal at 8.5-9M AAV. He would be (frank)ing insane on Jacks wing, and would give us a legit shooting threat on the PP
- vlongo4419

I think fans know that Laine is a good shooter, but they don't really understand how good the guy really is. After Ovechkin he is probably one of the best pure shooters in the league and really he's needed a center that can feed him the puck reliably in good shooting areas. Him and Hughes on a line would be a killer combo. Too bad it's a pipedream.

I think fans know that Laine is a good shooter, but they don't really understand how good the guy really is. After Ovechkin he is probably one of the best pure shooters in the league and really he's needed a center that can feed him the puck reliably in good shooting areas. Him and Hughes on a line would be a killer combo. Too bad it's a pipedream.
- Pomegrant

Yeah i dont think theres any chance Columbus moves Laine. He's under team control for a couple more years i believe so they have no reason to move him. Even if they plan on doing a "rebuild" and want to "blow it up" to recoup draft picks/prospects, i think Jones and Domi are the guys they will move. They're both UFAs after next season so if they dont think they can re-sign them they need to move them

Makes no sense for them to move guys under team control for multiple years

Its official now. The Binghamton Devils will be the Utica Comets for the next 10 seasons. Keeping the Comets name but will have new colors and design

I’ll hop on the wagon of wishing for Hamilton. Bahl-Hamilton could be a nice future. For now, Subban will have to do lol.
I’ll settle for Martinez and then Larsson.
Also want a Ufa or traded forward, but only if he’s no worse than a 2nd line wing. I’m fine with Boqvist in the middle until Mercer gets here. More experience, plus the McLeod line may get closer to 3rd line minutes as it continues to improve and Boqvist will see 4th.

I could be wrong, but I don’t think Holtz, Foote, Clarke and Mercer are more than a year away.. but still may not be thrown in the top 6 right away. I think all our wingers besides Bratt can be shifted around out of the top 6 if need be. So maybe bringing in a top 6 forward won’t be a bad thing. It’s just nice seeing chemistry and development happen with the top 6 we already have. One would like to think you swap Studenic for Holtz and put Foote on the left and you could have a 3rd line that can score. But again— that leaves no room for a Ufa winger.. I suppose unless Kuokkanen is out or Zacha gets traded.

Wood is out tonight with an upper body injury. Tyce Thompson goes in for him

In the absence of Wood, Zacha is wearing an "A" on his jersey tonight for the first time

Wood is out tonight with an upper body injury. Tyce Thompson goes in for him

In the absence of Wood, Zacha is wearing an "A" on his jersey tonight for the first time
- vlongo4419

New lines:

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

D are the same

Mac in net

Zacha attacka!!!

Zacha attacka

Zacha attacka
- dmarsden2988

All day every day.

McLeod has put a nice season together for himself especially when there were a lot of questions around whether he'd be an NHL player or not. Really established himself as an everyday player.

McLeod has put a nice season together for himself especially when there were a lot of questions around whether he'd be an NHL player or not. Really established himself as an everyday player.
- Pomegrant

Hopefully Boqvist is next. Might not have had as much doubt as McLeod, but he's been more noticeable since he's been moved to center.

Hopefully Boqvist is next. Might not have had as much doubt as McLeod, but he's been more noticeable since he's been moved to center.
- rmdevil313

Boqvist clearly has offensive talent but he still needs to learn positioning and timing at an NHL level. Think he has a chance to be a real good player still. Problem I see is that our center position is starting to get really crowded even with Zacha being converted to wing and not sure where he factors in long term.

With McLeod he had a lot of success in Juniors because of his elite skating ability and size but he never really had that offensive creativity to his game. He had to learn how to become more of a grinder and change his game to something suitable for NHL style of play. Think a lot of fans put this as a make-or-break season for him (myself included) and he really proved all of us wrong.

Love to see the kids be able to hold onto a lead over a full period in a close game. Back to back great wins in completely different ways is what you want to see.

Boqvist clearly has offensive talent but he still needs to learn positioning and timing at an NHL level. Think he has a chance to be a real good player still. Problem I see is that our center position is starting to get really crowded even with Zacha being converted to wing and not sure where he factors in long term.

With McLeod he had a lot of success in Juniors because of his elite skating ability and size but he never really had that offensive creativity to his game. He had to learn how to become more of a grinder and change his game to something suitable for NHL style of play. Think a lot of fans put this as a make-or-break season for him (myself included) and he really proved all of us wrong.
- Pomegrant

Mercer is the only one I could see being ahead of him long term, and he can be put on the wing as well. If he proves that he's too good at center then I won't complain.

Love to see the kids be able to hold onto a lead over a full period in a close game. Back to back great wins in completely different ways is what you want to see.
- vlongo4419

(frank) the tank. This gives me a lot more hope for next season especially since we're missing 3 regulars on the backend.

(frank) the tank. This gives me a lot more hope for next season especially since we're missing 3 regulars on the backend.
- rmdevil313

Agreed, and its the kids who are winning us the games. Picking 4 or 7 isnt a big difference, it literally does not matter to me whatsoever. Get confidence and the right mindset going into the offseason and getting ready for next season

(frank) the tank. This gives me a lot more hope for next season especially since we're missing 3 regulars on the backend.
- rmdevil313

I watched every game of that 10 game losing streak. I don't give a (frank) about the draft pick quality, I'd just like the season to end on a good note.

Agreed, and its the kids who are winning us the games. Picking 4 or 7 isnt a big difference, it literally does not matter to me whatsoever. Get confidence and the right mindset going into the offseason and getting ready for next season
- vlongo4419

the only reason i feel it could matter is the completely unknown *if* having one Hughes would influence the other Hughes to stay when he hits his prime..

.. not that picking 4th over 7th would guarantee we even pick Hughes..

and not that picking Hughes would even = him being a NHL dman..

..and not knowing if Jack would even care or even wants to play with his brother to begin with..