GHT120

Hence the debate about whether or not to protect Danault even if he hasn't been re-signed ... risk Seattle signing him if unprotected or leave another forward exposed to ensure they have the opportunity to sign him before free agency ... I expect they will protect him.

Allen will be exposed ... they can only protect one goalie and that will be Price ... question is whether MB can convince Francis to select someone else.

Manon's brother ... wonder if his nephew Dylan St. Cyr might get a tryout ... he is an undrafted, SMALL (5'8", 167 lbs) goaltender who was a Senior at Notre-Dame last season ... played 22 games ... 11-9-1, .244, .921

I fully admit change is unlikely ... but it would force teams to better manage their cap ... if an injury was without doubt season-ending then it would work as it now does ... but if cap-space accrued, then putting an early season injury on LTIR to have the time to fully recover would allow the team leeway to fill holes (albeit not with players of comparable cap-hit) while still getting the injured player back for the stretch run ... Kucherov was a bit of an exception as TBL was able to plan for his LTIR and still build a full roster, while also expecting he would return for the playoffs ... in-season LTIR injuries are more difficult for teams to "fully" replace, even if you expect the player would be LTIR-eligible through the end of the season, as few if any useful UFAs are available and trades are more difficult.

Wouldn't surprise me if the Kraken pick 4-5 goalies with a view to trading a couple to teams needing a second goalie ... maybe even in pre-arranged deals [i.e., you pick goalie X and we'll trade you a player, pick(s) and/or prospect(s) for him] ... that could make Allen seem even more appealing; he could be a veteran for the Kraken or a valuable trade chip.

It could be a huge lift ... but not knowing what Drouin's "injury" is, it seemingly is not being physical ... thus, the likelihood of his missing the entire season but returning seems unlikely.

First, and I think you understand this, I am not predicting that he retires before the end of his contract. But Weber strikes me as the type of guy who *** MIGHT *** not be happy to not "earn his pay" ... to me, that is in his character (as much as we can know it as fans) ... and, it is obviously easier to do that when you have earned over $120 million in your career ... but I would not expect him to retire now ... he can legitimately go on LTIR with the hope of returning for the playoffs ... if he doesn't return for the playoffs I frankly would expect that, unless he is simply physically unable to, he would want to give it a try on the ice in 22/23 ... but if he can't, or then performs at a level well-below his own standards (a distinct possibility at age 37 after a year away from the game) then the summer of 2023 he has only $3 million left to add to his pockets ... that is when I see my suggestion as most likely. As for Nashville, it would not be "a phone call" ... it would be for the opportunity to re-integrate him into the organization and repair whatever ill-will Shea may have for having been traded (***IF*** he has any) ... that could be important as it would also seem "in character" for Weber to agree to LTIR the rest of his contract if he felt he was again "part of the Preds family" .... the recapture penalty for Nashville gets worse as time passes ... and ***IF*** Shea does have any significant acrimony towards Nashville/Poile then retirement (especially once the $3M over 3yrs point is reached) would be a worthy revenge (much as that seems against his perceived character).

3/4 of that $12 million is over the next two seasons ... having only $3 million to forgo when he will have career earnings of $129M after 22/23 might make Nashville nervous enough to want to get him back so they can have direct contact with him to discourage retirement ... worth MB at least exploring IMO.

*** IF *** Weber is looking at retiring ... wonder what Nashville would offer to take him back and be able to LTIR him rather than having to absorb the recapture penalty?

It has always struck me as strange ... wonder if it is his choice or just what everyone calls him ... as for signing him, what if Dougie takes a "Keep His Name" discount?

Not the way his career should end. Agreed ... Hamilton looks like the UFA option, MAYBE Tyson Barrie if MB looks more for a second pairing RHD ... as Carolina is apparently open to a trade might they be receptive to a pre-Kraken-list deal to optimize their protected list resources ... but wouldn't be cheap ... MB's job just got a lot harder if this proves to be true.

“I think a lot of people would be surprised if Suter ended up in Canada,” Elliotte Friedman said on his 31 Thoughts Podcast (5:54-ish, again around 7:00-ish). “He’s an American guy. He’s a Team USA guy. He’s always played in the states, I could always be surprised." Well the thought was nice while it lasted ... unless Weber can sell him on Montreal.

Managed to get 6 games in with Nashville (one less than Tinordi).

As I understand it: Bonuses are only allowed on Entry Level Contracts, one-year 35+ contracts and one-year contracts for players returning form serious injury (see below for CBA specifics) ... once earned, all bonuses are applied to that season's cap ... if it puts the team over the cap then then the amount of the overage is applied against the following seasons cap (i.e., reducing it before the season starts) ... it is one reason that most teams leave a cushion in their cap spending to allow for performance bonuses ... Habs exceeded the cap this past season due to bonuses ... believe they are starting a few hundred thousand below the "league" cap as a result ... BTW, signing bonuses are treated just like regular salary for cap purposes, but paid in a lump-sum at a prescribed date instead of throughout the season. Performance Bonuses shall be allowable under this Agreement only for: (i) Players with Entry Level SPCs under Article 9 of this Agreement; (ii) Players aged 35 or older as of June 30 prior to the League Year in which the SPC is to be effective, who have signed a one-year SPC for that League Year; and (iii) Players who are "400-plus game Players" for pension purposes, and who: (i) in the last year of their most recent SPC, spent 100 days or more on the Injured Reserve List; and (ii) have signed a one-year SPC for the current or upcoming League Year.

Hope it didn't read like I was overselling them ... just think that are no longer in the Buffalo/Detroit tier of teams.

Mete's PP time went from 1:24/gm in the Habs' "glorious" 17/18 season that was VM's rookie year, to 0:19 to 0:04 to 0:05 ... personally don't recall him being good running the PP.

I agree ... but signing a winger to play centre sounds vaguely familiar ... being signed to play centre might be an attraction for Landeskog to sign here, or it could be a reason he wouldn't ... only he knows.

I've always thought of Landeskog as a winger, and believe he was MacKinnon's LW in recent seasons ... but curiously he was third on the Avs for number of faceoffs taken last taken ... but he is certainly a legit top 6 forward.

After the second hall of last season I am not certain teams will be beating up, on Ottawa ... they finished at 51 points in 56 games (.455) but were at 19 after 28 games (.328); last half of the season they got 32 points (.571 pace) ... don't think they are a playoff contender ... but even allowing for extraneous factors (schedule, lack of playoff pressure, etc.) I fear the Sens are not far away from being a problem in the Atlantic.

So does Quebec City ... another city the habs won't be moving to. 🙂

The GM/HC of the Gatineau Olympiques was a rumoured favourite for the Laval job ... some of the other rumoured candidates (assuming Alex Burrows doesn't "head north") are: Gilles Bouchard (5 yrs HC with QJMHL Rouyn-Noranda, 2 yrs AC with AHL Syracuse), Éric Veilleux (9yrs HC with QJMHL Shawinigan, I yr with Halifax, 2 yrs HC ECHL Norfolk [1 AC, 1 HC], 2 yrs HC AHL San Antonio, 1 yrs AC AHL Syracuse); and Jean-François Houle (7yrs AC Clarkson Univ, 2 yrs HC QMJHL Lewiston, 3 yrs HC QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand, 1 yr HC ECHL Bakersfield, 6 yrs AC AHL Bakersdfield)

2021-22 will be his fifth year pro ... AHL: 107gms, 10 g, 8a ... ECHL: 82gms, 37g, 37a ... future Lion de Trois-Rivières?

👍 So one down ... still need to resolve ... whether Burrows stays with DD or goes to Laval as HC ... who will be the day-to-day goaltending coach (expect Burke will focus on his actual role - "DIRECTOR of Goaltending") ... and ... who to add to the staff.

Until he signs, nothing is "late"

Which is another "weakness" in the LTIR process ... healthy players forced to stay on LTIR ... IMO further proof it still needs "tweaks".