Trevor Neufeld: Silence is Golden – Two Summer Targets Across the League

Thanks Trevor! Great blog!!!!

All in on Duclair. 👍🏼. Who knows, Huberdeau might even be able to explain to Duclair how to backcheck.

Given that the salary cap is going up, and that the playoffs have been on repeat for the last couple years, we might see more player movement that we have seen in the last few summers.

Ras should get a get return 👍🏼

Thanks Trevor! Great blog!!!!

All in on Duclair. 👍🏼. Who knows, Huberdeau might even be able to explain to Duclair how to backcheck.

Given that the salary cap is going up, and that the playoffs have been on repeat for the last couple years, we might see more player movement that we have seen in the last few summers.

Ras should get a get return 👍🏼
- DuranDuran

Duclair would rock. Locks the roster and screws up the development chain, but I’d be on the “Let’s have four #2C train” if it started rolling.

Bring in no one till we know what we have internally, no hurry to sign anyone and guys like Duclair will available when ever decided he’s needed.

Bring in no one till we know what we have internally, no hurry to sign anyone and guys like Duclair will available when ever decided he’s needed.
- Hockeyfan4life14

If it's a retool/rebuild, then for sure. But I don't feel like anyone knows what the hell is going on. Wolf has kinda thrown the whole plan outta whack.

Duclair would rock. Locks the roster and screws up the development chain, but I’d be on the “Let’s have four #2C train” if it started rolling.
- Trevor_Neufeld_

I dont know Trevor why you are so high on Duclair! His last decent year was back in the 21-22 season & after that he was literally a hurter every year & numbers were meh. Roy told him to grow up & not come to the rink until he did this last year. 3 more years at $3.5 mill???? Yuchhhhhh. Thats a cap dump not sure why we would want to acquire him just because 4 years ago he had a decent year with Huberdeau. Hard pass in my view.

Heard Ottawa is on the short list for NT for Andersen. That sucks because they are one of our better potential trade partners.

If it's a retool/rebuild, then for sure. But I don't feel like anyone knows what the hell is going on. Wolf has kinda thrown the whole plan outta whack.
- DuranDuran

Not true all wolf has done was speed up the process by a year or two but that being said the process of evaluating the in home talent is what got us wolf so if anything all he’s done is showing that the process works and we have another year to prove it with another possible “wolf” internal find!! Go flame s

I dont know Trevor why you are so high on Duclair! His last decent year was back in the 21-22 season & after that he was literally a hurter every year & numbers were meh. Roy told him to grow up & not come to the rink until he did this last year. 3 more years at $3.5 mill???? Yuchhhhhh. Thats a cap dump not sure why we would want to acquire him just because 4 years ago he had a decent year with Huberdeau. Hard pass in my view.

Heard Ottawa is on the short list for NT for Andersen. That sucks because they are one of our better potential trade partners.
- Kevin R

Looked excellent with San Jose and Tampa two years ago!

It would be very weird if they traded for him, but I would be excited to see how it plays out! Every center being a #2 C is a hell of an approach!

Looked excellent with San Jose and Tampa two years ago!

It would be very weird if they traded for him, but I would be excited to see how it plays out! Every center being a #2 C is a hell of an approach!
- Trevor_Neufeld_

Hey Trevor. I have to laugh because you are really thorough & grounded in your blogs.
Again I dont see Duclair as a #2 center even on a non playoff team. 22-23 season he played only 20 games & had 9 points, obviously the beginning of his injury issues. 23-24 he played 56 games, still no where near a full season & had only 27 points, so less then a half a point per game.Tampa the following year he seemed to rebound with 15 points but he only played 17 games. Again, if Tampa saw something there they probably would have extended him but they probably knew his chronic injury was dragging down his potential. Then Lou decided to give him a whacko contract & he only played 44 games with the Islanders last year & had 11 points. His performance was so bad Roy wouldnt even put him in the lineup & was very harsh criticizing him. So 3 more years at 3.5 mill per, thats the Islanders problem. We may have cap space now but you cant pee it away on these type of players & contracts. I get you wanting to see what he can do with Huby. If we were able to give him a 1 year deal at league min for a show me contract, I'd be ok with that. Even if Islanders were to eat 50% of his deal, that has big red buyout flags flapping all over.
But I love your articles & usually agree with you 99% of the time.

Hey Trevor. I have to laugh because you are really thorough & grounded in your blogs.
Again I dont see Duclair as a #2 center even on a non playoff team. 22-23 season he played only 20 games & had 9 points, obviously the beginning of his injury issues. 23-24 he played 56 games, still no where near a full season & had only 27 points, so less then a half a point per game.Tampa the following year he seemed to rebound with 15 points but he only played 17 games. Again, if Tampa saw something there they probably would have extended him but they probably knew his chronic injury was dragging down his potential. Then Lou decided to give him a whacko contract & he only played 44 games with the Islanders last year & had 11 points. His performance was so bad Roy wouldnt even put him in the lineup & was very harsh criticizing him. So 3 more years at 3.5 mill per, thats the Islanders problem. We may have cap space now but you cant pee it away on these type of players & contracts. I get you wanting to see what he can do with Huby. If we were able to give him a 1 year deal at league min for a show me contract, I'd be ok with that. Even if Islanders were to eat 50% of his deal, that has big red buyout flags flapping all over.
But I love your articles & usually agree with you 99% of the time.
- Kevin R

You're not wrong! The Sharks/Tampa stint was one season so that ended up being 73 games, but he's ultimately had a rough ride injury-wise. He basically carried the torch for the Sharks as the only difference maker and their #1 center, but they lost a lot with that plan.

Yanni Gourde would clog the development pipeline as well, but a whole piece about how nice it is to see the team do nothing felt lacking. Haha

You're not wrong! The Sharks/Tampa stint was one season so that ended up being 73 games, but he's ultimately had a rough ride injury-wise. He basically carried the torch for the Sharks as the only difference maker and their #1 center, but they lost a lot with that plan.

Yanni Gourde would clog the development pipeline as well, but a whole piece about how nice it is to see the team do nothing felt lacking. Haha
- Trevor_Neufeld_

Now is the time to tack some swings on potential players. It has worked for Montreal. If Duclair could find his game it would be a huge win for the organization.

It would also allow them to trade Kadri. That contract is going to look really ugly at some point.

Soooo... whats the chances Ras is traded during the summer? Think Conny will free agent a veteran or run with the kids? I like Ras but not sure he will resign so move him now and bring some youth into training camp.

Soooo... whats the chances Ras is traded during the summer? Think Conny will free agent a veteran or run with the kids? I like Ras but not sure he will resign so move him now and bring some youth into training camp.
- stoops2u

It’s going to be really interesting to see what he gets traded for if it goes that way. It sounds like they’ve exchanged expectations and they don’t line up when it comes to term.

Eric Francis seems pretty sure that it’s going to happen. He has an ear in the organization.

Now is the time to tack some swings on potential players. It has worked for Montreal. If Duclair could find his game it would be a huge win for the organization.

It would also allow them to trade Kadri. That contract is going to look really ugly at some point.
- DuranDuran

Pageau might be a target as well. Right handed center. Played #2C with the Isles.

Pageau might be a target as well. Right handed center. Played #2C with the Isles.
- Trevor_Neufeld_

I have heard of the player, but can't say I know a lot about him. Last name sounds like he might be a fit with Huberdeau.

I have heard of the player, but can't say I know a lot about him. Last name sounds like he might be a fit with Huberdeau.
- DuranDuran

5’11”, plays with some edge, once in a while has a big multi-point game, kind of underwhelming with #2 C minutes last year (14 goals, 42 points) but would chip in a multi-point game here and there with a more even center group in Calgary I bet.