Commandant

Jeff Marek/Greg Wysnyshki on Marek's podcast were suggesting/speculating that if Winnipeg is forced to trade Hellebuyck, they might go full rebuild and trade Schiefele too. They also suggested that Schiefele would be a fit as Montreal's #2 C with Jacob Fowler (plus more) being part of the return as Winnipeg rebuilds post Helly. What do you guys think of Schiefele. My proposal. Scheifele for Fowler 2026 1st round pick Zharovsky. It'd be interesting with the 2021 history.

I'm expecting a big move. I do think it will be a trade, not a UFA. I'm not 100% convinced it will be for a 2C either, I could see Hughes going for a winger like he tried to do with Knies. Either someone to play with Demidov.... or someone to play with Suzy-Caufield, so Slaf can play with Demidov.

Its a hell of a gamble.

The problem is the years on Pettersson contract. The AAV i could deal with for.one year considering wed offload gallagher. But the following years would be too much.

Depends how much Frost wants as an extension. And really hes still a third line centre. Hes an upgrade on Dach but hes not solving the #2 C issue. Hes ~40 point guy Id do the deal and doubt calgary would but we would still be looking for a 2C

Peeke sucks.

Frank Nazar was 5'10 180lbs at the NHL draft combine. I'm sure he's gained weight since then, but how much is really impossible to know. I don't treat the numbers NHL teams release as accurate. The last accurate number we have for 99% of NHL players is their combine number. Watching him on the ice though, he doesn't look like the type of player that Hughes has been targetting to be in his top 6 (Slaf and Dach were his first big two acquisitions for this, then Bolduc was added with a possibility of it, and we know he went after Knies.) I think with Suzuki and Caufield already in the top six they are looking to add a big body. Not just average size... but BIG and skilled, to fill out the rest of the top 6.

His career high is 15 goals and 41 points. As of now... he hasnt proven to be better than Kapanen or Newhook. Hes only 22 so he might be. But no, he hasnt done it yet. Plus hes yet another small forward which isnt something I think Hughes really wants in another top 6 forward.

I dont think it makes him more valuable than Carrier on the third pair, and so its not a great idea IMO. I think we either have Reinbacher become a top 4 RHD or we acquire a top 4 RHD. Another 6/7 D doesnt really solve the issue

Vincent Desharnais is RH Arber Xhekaj

Isnt Trouba's wife a doctor? While it would be possible to get her certifications recognized in canada, it would take time and she would need to go back and redo her residency. I dont blame her if she's not interested in moving her, and thus Trouba wont be interested.

Kesselring is a nice player IMO, criminally underused in Buffalo, was great for Utah and a key piece of the Peterka trade one year ago. Him and Doan were seen as close to being equal value at that time. Obviously his value is lower and Doan's higher now, but its not zero either.

I dont think we need Carlson and dont think hes gonna sign with a team where hes competing with Dobson for PP2 time either.

I dont see McTavish as fitting with the team. Too slow and has to be massively sheltered defensively.

I think if the oilers want a disciplinarian head coach who won a cup. Theyd be better with Torts than Babcock.

I know you are saying the Oilers, but Pettersson scares the crap out of me if he's traded. The Sedins just took over. If they think Pettersson can't be rehabilitated and they need to trade him now, at his lowest value, I want no part of it. Even if the Canucks are rebuilding, he's on a very long term contract. The smartest thing the Canucks can do (if they think Pettersson can be a contributor) would be to let him play a year, have a strong season and trade him next year. If they want nothing to do with him and are willing to get rid of him for low value, in their first summer in charge, then it tells me that there is something wrong and they have no faith he can become a first line player again.

I would hire a french speaking coach for Laval, simply to give another french coach experience and groom them. If we are going to have the restriction on the NHL club that our coach needs to speak french, then we also have to be part of developping the next crop of french speaking coaches so that there are good candidates when we need a coach. This isn't me saying I support the policy, just acknowledging that as long as the organization believes in it, we have to take it into account.

They started it but didnt conclude it when Babcock resigned.

Let him play a year with Babs. By this time next year McDavid will be begging to play for Marty St. Louis.

Jeff Marek says the unnamed prospect in the Knies deal is Pickford.

No to both. Dont think we are at the point of trading up. The assets would be huge and if we.are.spending that we need NHL established talent.

Goalies are voodoo

Barzal hasn't really been a centre in recent years, he's much better on the wing. He's primarily used there. Thomas is apparently no longer available according to Andy Strickland. Larkin is unlikely to waive for any of the Canadian teams, per Elliotte Freidmann, and unlikely to waive for Montreal per Arpon Basu. Hischier is the target. Pierre Lebrun suggests if the Devils can't get him to sign an extension, Montreal is very interested.

I think you massively underrate Matthews and Marner above. Maybe not this past season, but both have had seasons where they absolutely deserved to be in the conversation.

Probably because people realized that there is more to defensive hockey than blocking shots and playing in your own end at some point. And that being purely defensive isnt the best way to prevent goals. If you have the puck, the other team cant score. So being good at both ends of the ice and playing a 200 foot game is better defensive hockey than just being good in your own end.