After having seen both Mrazek and Mason up close, I'm baffled as to why Carolina chose Mrazek and not Mason when they needed a goaltender.
- johndewar

Pretty much tells you what other GMs think about Steve Mason the person.

I feel like we're getting into semantics here, but I don't see a scenario where we can keep a productive Simmer. We have roughly $34M in cap space for 19-20 (before cap adjustment). We're gonna have to fill 4 forward spots (I'm assuming TK is the only lock to get resigned), 1 D spot, 2 goalies, and new contracts for TK, Sanheim, and Provy. Then in 20-21 Patrick, Lindblom, and Hagg will need new contracts. If Simmer comes back to form, he will be too expensive to sign to the kind of deal he'll deserve.
- WheelSnipeCelly

Cap ramifications should definitely be considered and if Simmonds prices himself out of the picture than they should explore a trade. They can however fit him in with a fair deal.

I think pickled cauliflower is an underappreciated pickled food.
- GudasNew

I believe Simmonds will be traded eventually. I am not smart enough to have a guess when that would be (before this season, trade deadline?). Can't imagine anyone would trade for him at next summer's draft as he will be UFA a few weeks after. I can't see Hexy letting him walk out as UFA.

On one hand, there doesn't seem to be a rush since we have him under contract for this season. But, what if he doesn't bounce back? His trade value diminishes.

Would Hexy make him a "fair offer" before the season starts and if it doesn't look like the two sides are close, we shop him?

What would Hexy want in return? Draft picks?

Are you talking about actually producing goals and points? Because if so, that's all hogwash and smoke and mirrors. You really need to look at his attempted shot differentials at 5v5 per 60 minutes when there were 9 other skaters on the ice.
- jmatchett383

Rumor has it that the NHL is exploring for the future awarding wins and losses based on shot metrics and shot attempts rather than goals. Also considering only awarding 1/2 a goal for a goal scored on the PP versus 5 on 5.

I think saying it's gonna be necessary is an overstatement. There are a number of good reasons for trading Simmonds for sure. But necessary? I don't buy it. I also don't buy that Simmonds is not capable of rebounding. A healthy Simmonds is still fully capable of producing at 5 on 5 with the right linemates.
- MJL

Assuming Simmonds remains healthy and gets a decent chunk of PP time I don't see a reason for him not to pot his typical 30 or so. I still say his toughness and grit can't be measured by fancy stats and will be tremendous – especially with all the youngsters coming up and into their own. His leadership and intimidating status, I think, go a really long way most certainly during the Spring.

Assuming Simmonds remains healthy and gets a decent chunk of PP time I don't see a reason for him not to pot his typical 30 or so. I still say his toughness and grit can't be measured by fancy stats and will be tremendous – especially with all the youngsters coming up and into their own. His leadership and intimidating status, I think, go a really long way most certainly during the Spring.
- Pixote Andolini

I've said it a few times: I see us trading Simmonds, and 3 years from now, saying, "Man, we could really use a Wayne-Simmonds type of player to put us over the top."

Thoughts

http://lastwordonhockey.c...uld-trade-wayne-simmonds/
- wcorvette

Truthfully the moment I see charts and analytics i click it closed without reading

After having seen both Mrazek and Mason up close, I'm baffled as to why Carolina chose Mrazek and not Mason when they needed a goaltender.
- johndewar

It's probably because Mrazek is younger and healthier. Mase suffered multiple concussions last season.

I've said it a few times: I see us trading Simmonds, and 3 years from now, saying, "Man, we could really use a Wayne-Simmonds type of player to put us over the top."
- jmatchett383

Simmonds will be just like shall I dare to say, Brayden Schenn. Not capable of producing well at 5 on 5. Until he plays for another team.

I've said it a few times: I see us trading Simmonds, and 3 years from now, saying, "Man, we could really use a Wayne-Simmonds type of player to put us over the top."
- jmatchett383

Seriously. Like did you watch the Stanley Cup Finals? Toughness, but toughness with a set of hands and goal-scoring prowess is rare indeed in this league. Simmonds type players are going the way of the dodo. The Capitals TJ Oshie is basically our Simmonds. Guy had a whale of a playoff and as a team the toughness of the Capitals eventually wore down the younger, speedier Golden Knights. The key is having toughness with current NHL speed and skill.

Truthfully the moment I see charts and analytics i click it closed without reading
- nastyflyergirl

LOL me too!

Simmonds will be just like shall I dare to say, Brayden Schenn. Not capable of producing well at 5 on 5. Until he plays for another team.
- MJL

Braydon Schenn is a good player. I don't think he's a superstar, but he's a very talented hockey player.

But I see Wayne Simmonds as the kind of player who gets you over the top, kind of like Bill Guerin in 2009 or Mark Recchi in 2006. Although they both had Cups, it was their leadership just as much as their on-ice play that made them valuable pick-ups to get over the final hurdle.

Are you talking about actually producing goals and points? Because if so, that's all hogwash and smoke and mirrors. You really need to look at his attempted shot differentials at 5v5 per 60 minutes when there were 9 other skaters on the ice.
- jmatchett383

You really need to look at both. Then you can find vets like Giroux and Couturier who are great at both, and younger players like Lindblom where the points haven't caught up with his strong possession play yet, but they almost certainly will.

You really need to look at both. Then you can find vets like Giroux and Couturier who are great at both, and younger players like Lindblom where the points haven't caught up with his strong possession play yet, but they almost certainly will.
- Feanor

I agree. But just looking at a spread sheet of one or the other and using it as the end-all be-all doesn't seem like a good way to evaluate a player, to me.

I've said it a few times: I see us trading Simmonds, and 3 years from now, saying, "Man, we could really use a Wayne-Simmonds type of player to put us over the top."
- jmatchett383

I'm sure we'll be saying that, if we don't have one. But even if he bounces back this year, I think the odds of Wayne Simmonds himself still being that player in 3 years are very slim. Power forwards like that don't have a long shelf life, and when they start to drop off, it happens quick.

I'm sure we'll be saying that, if we don't have one. But even if he bounces back this year, I think the odds of Wayne Simmonds himself still being that player in 3 years are very slim. Power forwards like that don't have a long shelf life, and when they start to drop off, it happens quick.
- WheelSnipeCelly

I don't fully disagree, in general, although I think there are many power forwards who played well into their mid-late 30s (Shanahan, Iginla, Tkachuk off the top of my head). But Wayne Simmonds doesn't play the traditional power forward game. Unlike guys like Lucic and Wendell Clark who went around trying to run over players every shift, Simmonds uses his large frame and picks his spots. He doesn't shy away from contact, of will try to go through players, but his body doesn't take the same wear and tear of the more traditional "power forward" type.

Now, if you want to argue that his production at age 34-35 won't be the same as at age 29-30, I agree. That's why, if we do keep Simmonds, I'd rather go higher salary at smaller term as opposed to lower salary at longer term.

I posed this question on twitter and will do so here as well, first and second picks aside and not including Myers, which prospect are you most intrigued over?

I posed this question on twitter and will do so here as well, first and second picks aside and not including Myers, which prospect are you most intrigued over?
- nastyflyergirl

My top 3:
Wade Allison
Mathew Strome
Noah Cates

I posed this question on twitter and will do so here as well, first and second picks aside and not including Myers, which prospect are you most intrigued over?
- nastyflyergirl

Allison

I posed this question on twitter and will do so here as well, first and second picks aside and not including Myers, which prospect are you most intrigued over?
- nastyflyergirl

Felix Sandstrom. Guy had two great years at the SHL level as an 18- and 19-year-old. Last year, he was apparently playing with an several ailments, had a down year, and got bounced around league-wise. If he can have a nice bounce-back year, he'll become a legit starting goalie prospect. If he puts up numbers closer to last year, he'll start getting mentioned alongside Joacim Eriksson and Johan Backlund.

Allison
- arichardson22

I really want to see him have a dominate season. I think he could make a quick jump to the Flyers. Maybe even join them like Krieder joined the Rangers in 2012 for a playoff run.

Larkin signed 5 yrs, 6.1m aav.

I posed this question on twitter and will do so here as well, first and second picks aside and not including Myers, which prospect are you most intrigued over?
- nastyflyergirl

1. Laberge- I know he has never fully recovered from the cheap shot that injured him but he did out it together late last season.
2. Allison
3. Rubtsov

I posed this question on twitter and will do so here as well, first and second picks aside and not including Myers, which prospect are you most intrigued over?
- nastyflyergirl

Can you clarify "first and second picks?" Do you mean first and second round picks? I see a few people listing Allison (2nd round) and some listing both Rubstov (1st round) and Laberge (2nd round). But did you mean outside of our top-2 prospects (Frost and Farabee/Hart)?