Don't forget Frolik....
- DarthKane

Krueger and Roszival.

Anyone hear whether Lehner or Crow is starting tonight?

Always fun to try and figure out the underlying rationale when it's not clear from the stats, especially given the TDL being right around the corner. Wonder if Stan would take the risk keeping Lehner even if they've not settled on a re-signing. Not sure why, but I sense that Lehner is going to want to test the market.

Thank you.

Anyone hear whether Lehner or Crow is starting tonight?

Always fun to try and figure out the underlying rationale when it's not clear from the stats, especially given the TDL being right around the corner. Wonder if Stan would take the risk keeping Lehner even if they've not settled on a re-signing. Not sure why, but I sense that Lehner is going to want to test the market.
- pdx2ord

My guess would be Lehner tonight with Cro in net Wednesday in the B2B with Vancouver. Then Cro Saturday against Calgary with Lehner given a chance against Winnipeg in another B2B Sunday.

It's a shame I feel the need to give this disclaimer, but here it is - Disclaimer: I'm not a habitual Stan basher.

That said, we have a tale of two GM's (actually 2 organizations, at least in Stan's case). We have the Wild and Hawks in a virtual tie - 55 games played with 58 points with both being 5 points out of the final wildcard spot. Their goals-for and goals-against numbers are virtually the same as well so there's no real reason to suggest one team has (1) a better chance to make the playoffs, and (2) a better chance to do anything once they get there.

The major difference in the two teams is one team faces that reality by proactively making the best of the situation by making a trade to improve their future while the other team doesn't. Now, maybe Stan pulls off a trade or two and this assessment proves to be untrue - but as of right now it looks like the management in Minnesota is superior to the management in Chicago.
- EbonyRaptor

Good post. I was going to write something similar but you beat me to it. The Wild GM is a realist who knows that his team has a low chance making the playoffs while Stan is still holding out hope (like many of us). In Stan's defense the worst situation is being a bubble team in a closely packed race for a playoff slot.

Hockey comment.....No McDavid tonight..carry on.

Would trend elite and then fall down the stairs or something and miss a month.
- rpeters01

Elite Championship Rally speeches though...

Hockey comment.....No McDavid tonight..carry on.
- Beaver-Warrior

Boring

Good post. I was going to write something similar but you beat me to it. The Wild GM is a realist who knows that his team has a low chance making the playoffs while Stan is still holding out hope (like many of us). In Stan's defense the worst situation is being a bubble team in a closely packed race for a playoff slot.
- boilermaker100

As was stated previously, no one knows what Stan is or isn't doing. He may or may not have been approached with the same deal and may or may not have considered that not enough return for someone like Saad.

I don't want Stan making trades for the sake of making them. I want them to improve the team (either now or in the near future). Does a late first round pick sound like enough of a return for Saad (which is really all of the value in that trade)?

Players to trade are apples and oranges between the two teams, takes two to tango as has been said before.
- rpeters01

Guerin worked for Rutherford. Pittsburgh has wanted Zucker since the end of last season. the trade was going to be Kessel for Zucker, but Kessel vetoed that trade. The first Minnesota is getting is lottery protected. If Stan would of traded Saad for what Minnesota got , I would say Stan got fleeced. Zucker had one outstanding season in 17-18, the rest has been meh.

Kadri is out long term...anything we have that Colorado wants?

Kadri is out long term...anything we have that Colorado wants?
- Ogilthorpe2

Smith and Gus together. Just don't tell Elbows.

Kadri is out long term...anything we have that Colorado wants?
- Ogilthorpe2

Strome?

As was stated previously, no one knows what Stan is or isn't doing. He may or may not have been approached with the same deal and may or may not have considered that not enough return for someone like Saad.

I don't want Stan making trades for the sake of making them. I want them to improve the team (either now or in the near future). Does a late first round pick sound like enough of a return for Saad (which is really all of the value in that trade)?
- Chunk

Yes, we don't know what Stan has been trying to do or trying to not do so all we can look at is results and the Wild got a 1st round draft pick for Zucker thereby showing us they are committed to the future rather than the present. I couched my comment with "as of right now" which stands - the Hawks have no results for us to point at.

Anyone else watch the Beanpot? Ryan Shea looked good, but I think we already have Ryan Shea in Chad Krys. Anyone who follows Rockford, has Krys improved defensively this year? He has the offensive game.

What excied me is that Jake Wise looks finally healthy, and is playing first line minutes with BU. there definitely is middle 6 potential there, hope he can maintain his health and his progression.

Kadri is out long term...anything we have that Colorado wants?
- Ogilthorpe2

Lehner

Anyone else watch the Beanpot? Ryan Shea looked good, but I think we already have Ryan Shea in Chad Krys. Anyone who follows Rockford, has Krys improved defensively this year? He has the offensive game.

What excied me is that Jake Wise looks finally healthy, and is playing first line minutes with BU. there definitely is middle 6 potential there, hope he can maintain his health and his progression.
- LAHawk

Shea is bigger and has developed a more rounded game to this point. Be interesting to see if the Hawks sign.

I actually have met Ryan. Seemed like a good kid. Nice parents. He played in Youngstown with a kid I know.

Smith and Gus together. Just don't tell Elbows.
- Chunk

I would post a gif of my reaction to a move like that but since we appear to being watched, I will avoid the ban.

I would post a gif of my reaction to a move like that but since we appear to being watched, I will avoid the ban.
- Elbows15

Yeah, wonder what happened to some of those republic/democracy/electoral college comments posed earlier?

Yeah, wonder what happened to some of those republic/democracy/electoral college comments posed earlier?
- boilermaker100

The world May never know.

I’m just glad not have seen the red screen of death today.

Yes, we don't know what Stan has been trying to do or trying to not do so all we can look at is results and the Wild got a 1st round draft pick for Zucker thereby showing us they are committed to the future rather than the present. I couched my comment with "as of right now" which stands - the Hawks have no results for us to point at.
- EbonyRaptor

I am neutral on the trade. Pittsburgh got a 28 year old player that has averaged 50 pts per season for the last 3 years that is cost controlled at a fairly reasonable price of $5.5mil for this year and 3 more. In return they got a 3rd line rental center, the 53rd overall pick in in the 2018 draft who has not played a game in the NHL, and a 1st round pick that in all likelihood will be in the latter part of the round, and cap space next year. If Addison and the 1st turn out to be duds and Zucker puts up 50 points for the next 3 years Minny is looking pretty dumb. If Addison and the 1st round pick are legit NHL players and Minny uses the cap space wisely this summer and Zucker puts up 50 points for 3 years Minny is probably looking good, but we will not know that for 2 to 3 years.

Saad only has one more year on his contract. Would I take a marginal "A" prospect, a late first round pick, and cap space this summer for Saad? Probably, but mainly for the cap space this summer. It would not be a slam dunk.

Hockey comment.....No McDavid tonight..carry on.
- Beaver-Warrior

McDavid out for 2 or 3 weeks. Will EDM go on a losing streak and fall out of contention?

Kadri is out long term...anything we have that Colorado wants?
- Ogilthorpe2

Toews. He's a solid 3rd line center.

Kadri is out long term...anything we have that Colorado wants?
- Ogilthorpe2

There is PLENTY that Colorado would want from the Hawks.
Maata, Gus, Murphy from the D corps. And Saad, Cagg, Kubalik, Strome for the forwards. I would not be surprised if Hawks and Av's pull off a major trade. My source (ME) thinks that the most logical would be Gus or Cagg. Stan will wait a few more games to see if we drop out of the playoff race. I didn't look to see if Av's have any expiring contracts that Hawks could take but Av's will do something reasonable to improve for THIS year if they can. After Hawks win THREE Cups in the past decade, ALL GM's are reluctant to deal with Hawks, and understandably so. Come on Gus, lets get a couple more goals and you can go out the door, once and for all.

Has Stan been here and discussed his TDL plan yet?