Commandant

If you're the Leafs, and this kind of player is available, you have to trade for him, TWICE

I disagree on Caufield. We've already seen that he's an elite level goal scorer. That isn't gone. Its' been said all season that his shot doesn't have the same velocity as last year. This is normal for the shoulder surgery he had. In other players who had the same surgery, the velocity returned 18 months post surgery, which lines up at the start of training camp. While his shot was elite last year, he was also a one-trick pony. What has really improved in his game is his playmaking and his play without the puck. While the playmaking was a liability, its now a strength. Where he was a liability defensively, he's gotten to the point where he may not be a positive, but he's not a negative either. Given all of that, he still is projecting as a franchise level, first line winger. Let's remember he's just 23. Nick Suzuki is two years ahead of him in terms of drafts (2017-2019) and still improving, so I'm not down on him at all. The other issue is Newhook. yes he had the long injury, but he's proven to be a top-6 capable player when healthy and that's a plus for the team in my mind too.

Suzuki might just get to PPG.

Thats true but there are many more moves with picks in the 20s than with top 5 picks.

Stars acquire Tanev. Wonder if this starts trade dominos for D.

Holtz is in and out of the doghouse in Jersey. Askarov we were apparently sniffing around last year. Reichel was recently sent to the AHL by Chicago.

Or its saying that you face tough opposition, and often are on the ice for the 6 on 5 with teams scoring ENGs against you a lot, or goalies have somehow been terrible when you are on the ice. My whole point is why even look at it, when there are plenty of websites that will give you xGF%. If you are actually sucking, it will show up in that stat (also with reference to the rest of the team). If the +/- is uniquely weird cause of something out of your control, then that will also show up. xG is so much better cause it counts many more events and a big sample size is less likely to be wrong than a small sample size which is +/- for an individual player.

Team +/- is a decent stat, though not as good as xG% Its the player by player one that sucks.

Its also not necessarily the final deal. Trade for mikeyhev who has one fewer year on his contract. Let him play a bit. If he fits in this lineup, great. If he doesnt, look to move him for a guy with one fewer year on his deal.

Slaf has been taking too many penalties lately, and both tonight in the offensive zone.

I think they are around a 500 team (82 points or so) which is what they were trending as pre Monahan trade. Dach probably provides about the same as what Monahan was, maybe a little better Its still a big jump to the 95+ points it takes to make the playoffs. Need to add another difference making forward even after getting Dach back IMO

I think the recent results and how they make the whole season look a lot like last year suggest that this isnt a playoff team next year either

There is nothing to suggest that their points come late in games that are already lost. Nothing.

MSL isnt wrong though. The advanced stats show the team is playing better during this losing streak than they were playing before. The biggest difference is that the goaltending has fallen off. For about a month now, Montembault isnt pulling off heroics hes done earlier in the season. Allen has been terrible, and Primeau has played about the same as he did before but he is only used in limited games.

You said you would reserve judgment but everyone here knows your conclusion. So did you really reserve judgment?

Im also stoned. I may not love it tomorrow

I love it.

He might be available on the right circumstances. The right circumstances is a real difference maker not a guy struggling like Josh Anderson.

Lekkermaki is one of the top 15-20 prospects in all of hockey. Vancouver isnt moving him for that. Also Myers is an expiring contract who us playing decent (though below the value of his deal so hes slightly overpaid). Anderson is massively overpaid based on what hes done this season, which is nothing. I see this as a quick no from Vancouver. Taking on more contract length for a worse player and trading one of their top 2 prospects, not happening.

I agree. So without knowing who it was, we shouldnt assume that Xhekaj is valued by the team to the same level as Guhle, Reinbacher, and Hutson either. Assuming that is also assuming that the 4th period report is accurate, and that the player is currently on that trajectory. And thats without getting into the fact it would take way more than a second liner to get any of the three named above. I mean on Reinbacher alone we have a more accurate insider saying the Habs turned down Cutter Gauthier.

The fourth period is kind of a shit source too. They arent Murphy level bad but still no where close.to Friedman, Lebrun, Seravelli, Johnston, Dreger, Bobby Mac, Lavoie, who are the gold standards. They also didn't mention who the player was and how close they are to fulfilling that "2nd line potential". Xhekaj has 2nd pair potential too. Defencemen are harder to find than wingers so all things being equal a 2nd line winger < 2nd pair defenceman. Hes not completely untouchable but i dont consider "young potential second liner" to be that great without knowing who. There is a huge range of prospects that meet such a description. Some worth it, some not.

Is he completely untouchable or is he a guy the Habs were unwilling to sell at his lowest value when in the AHL? I dont know the reports said either way. I think we can say that he wont be cheap though.

Bader is just comparing them and saying they have had equal results more or less so far and rumours from reliable sources say Broberg could get the oilers a nice rental.

That could be an ask too. I was thinking they overpay Lindholm with the money and run Miller/lindholm in their top six but asking for Suzuki wouldnt be out of the question here. Pettersson is that good. That said I think he eventually signs for 10m+ in vancouver

Jimmy Murphy is a horrible source. That said we are deep on D and for the right price Im sure Hughes would trade him, but hes not giving him away. I think the only ones hes not willing to move (for the right price) are Guhle, Hutson, and Reinbacher