GHT120

Good point ... wan't my intention ... original post edited for clarification

Let's not become Leafs fans about the refs ... Habs get away with stuff as well ... if not tonight, it is an 82-game schedule.

That was in relation to tomh009's suggestion they trade for him if to finish the season if Evans was moved ... the habs are currently already into LTIR but "reportedly/allegedly" want to get out of LTIR to avoid bonuses carrying over to next season's cap.

No recalls announced ... so guess MSL is stuck with the same lineup of skaters ... I expect Montembeault will start, but since the team did not hold a morning skate since it is the second game of a back-to-back for the Habs ... For the full official lineup, check back on the team’s social accounts closer to puck drop.

A new surgery is hardly the "Kucherov trick".

It would make getting/staying out of LTIR difficult

Pezzetta played 3:05 in the entire game ... 2 shifts in the first, three in the second, one in the third (31 seconds in the second minute of the period) ... Struble played 5:09 ... 3:42 in 7 first period shifts, 1:27 in 3 second period shifts. 0:00 in the third. Doesn't feel like "shortening the bench" to me.

Rocket are in Cleveland playing back-to-back, no-travel games against one of their two competitors for first in their division ... since the Habs travelled to Washington without any spares, they may not want to recall anyone for tonight either ... *** IF *** Laine is unavailable but Savard is, then they might sit Pezzetta and dress 7 defencemen.

I think the "issue" (to use a severe term) is that most feel teams do not have a single plan that they amend ... rather that they have multiple plans that account as best possible for the expected variables ... my own guess is that teams have a couple/few plans for their projected core and then they have individual player projections (production and contract) that they can move in and out as things evolve.

Ottawa has goaltending issues ... Primeau for Stützle?

Cap Hit is the AAV (Average Annual Value) of the contract ... in other words, the total value of the contract divided by its' term ... the only advantage to front-loading a deal is that in a trade in the later years a "floor team" can take on a cap hit higher than the actual dollars the owner has to pay out.

From yesterday

Rocket are in Cleveland tonight and tomorrow ... guess HuGo et al didn't want to disrupt them for a game against a team with whom they are fighting (along with Rochester) for first place in the North Division ... but it is definitely a

Most teams do take too long ... often waiting until it is all but forced upon them.

I think the distinction is that while yours is an OK approach for a fan, actual GMs need to be far more flexible to not be caught scrambling if the unexpected occurs.