Permanent Rumour Thread

[GHT120]

3 hours ago, Commandant said:

I've heard that rumour. 

 

The one thing that doesn't make sense about it is Trouba.  They tried to trade him in summer and he invoked his NTC cause his wife is fresh out of medical school and is doing a residency in NYC and she can't move, so a trade means breaking up the family.  What has changed two months into the season?  I don't see him being moved (though he's likely to be traded next summer when her residency is done). 

Seems to me that the NYIs, m-a-y-b-e the NJDs, are possible solutions to the issue of Trouba not waiving his modified NTC (read it is 15 teams) or reporting to the teams not on that list.

[Commandant]

2 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Seems to me that the NYIs, m-a-y-b-e the NJDs, are possible solutions to the issue of Trouba not waiving his modified NTC (read it is 15 teams) or reporting to the teams not on that list.

 

Sure the Devils and Isles could work.  Not sure when the last time either of those teams made a major deal with the rangers is though.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

45 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

Sure the Devils and Isles could work.  Not sure when the last time either of those teams made a major deal with the rangers is though.

 

Yes, those teams are pretty good rivals,  don't see a trade happening there. 

[GNick]

Would you sign Giroux in off season? Gives some depth down middle. Could play mid line center. In case Dach sucks next year also. Good faceoff artist.  

 

If Dach doesn't improve next year could move Giroux in top 6. Likely with Demidov and Laine. Moves Beck to third line. If Dach bounces back, Giroux could move to third line between Gallagher and Anderson. Make a great third line. Beck fourth line center. 

[Commandant]

No Im not signing a 37 year old (he will be next summer) who has mainly played RW his last two years in Philly and in his time in Ottawa to fill my 2nd line centre spot.

[Butterface]

12 hours ago, GNick said:

Would you sign Giroux in off season? Gives some depth down middle. Could play mid line center. In case Dach sucks next year also. Good faceoff artist.  

 

If Dach doesn't improve next year could move Giroux in top 6. Likely with Demidov and Laine. Moves Beck to third line. If Dach bounces back, Giroux could move to third line between Gallagher and Anderson. Make a great third line. Beck fourth line center. 

Gotta assume Hughes will be patient enough, because he has been, to wait to see how Dach improves over next 12-15 months.

 

This year and next year are still evaluations. Then a build up years 2026-27, 2027-28 where we do “playoff practice”….before we try to sell assets for longer cup runs in 2028-29 and 2029-30 before the first Core 4 contracts expire.

 

Thats my feeling. I don’t think we want to take on nursing home projects for next 3-4 years. I would rather fight cap struggles with our own players getting better than bringing in older vets. Kapanen, Hage, Beck and Dach … these guys I’ll take my chances on getting to decent levels in next 4 years… maybe even a 2025 high draft pick.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

You certainly have to be patient with Dach. But if he doesn’t show meaningful improvement between now and April, I would, personally, start looking around for other options. Giroux wouldn’t be the patch-up option I’d go to, but either a patch up job or a longer-term move would be on the agenda. 

 

It’s interesting that Newhook’s crapulence has flown under the radar, with everyone distracted by angst over Dach and (to a lesser extent) Slaf. I don’t think he was ever envisioned as more than a good secondary piece, but 5 points in 25 games is absolutely abysmal. And we gave up significant assets to get him. He should be at least a 20-goal, 50-point 2nd liner. What the hell.

 

Vancouver is losing interest in Nils Hoglander. Maybe we should get in on that.

[tomh009]

Newhook did manage 34 points in 55 games (50-point pace) last year, much of that late in the season playing with Armia and Gallagher. So, I do think he is capable of more than the 16-point pace he has shown so far this season.

[huzer]

1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

You certainly have to be patient with Dach. But if he doesn’t show meaningful improvement between now and April, I would, personally, start looking around for other options. Giroux wouldn’t be the patch-up option I’d go to, but either a patch up job or a longer-term move would be on the agenda. 

 

It’s interesting that Newhook’s crapulence has flown under the radar, with everyone distracted by angst over Dach and (to a lesser extent) Slaf. I don’t think he was ever envisioned as more than a good secondary piece, but 5 points in 25 games is absolutely abysmal. And we gave up significant assets to get him. He should be at least a 20-goal, 50-point 2nd liner. What the hell.

 

Vancouver is losing interest in Nils Hoglander. Maybe we should get in on that.

 

Call me crazy, I'd move Slafkovsky back up with Caufield and Suzuki, I'd move Dach to wing, and have Newhook center a Laine-Newhook-Dach line. I wouldn't mind seeing how Newhook-Heineman could do, either. Heineman has good speed/shot.  I think Newhook needs to be the retriever/playmaker on a line and have a capable shooter with him. I find it slightly odd that Newhook finished last season decently as a center, and he has been used minimally as a pivot this year. When he returned from injury last year, he was exclusively a center.

 

Holy moly, I didn't realize Dach was a -21. 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

45 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

Newhook did manage 34 points in 55 games (50-point pace) last year, much of that late in the season playing with Armia and Gallagher. So, I do think he is capable of more than the 16-point pace he has shown so far this season.

 

I don't think anyone would argue he is capable of more but 5 points in 25 games is beyond disappointing. You would expect him to have more points than David Savard and Jayden Struble at this point in the season. 

[Commandant]

The thing is at least with Dach, a slow start after his injury was to be expected.

 

The slow start for Newhook was not.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

1 minute ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I don't think anyone would argue he is capable of more but 5 points in 25 games is beyond disappointing. You would expect him to have more points than David Savard and Jayden Struble at this point in the season. 

 

It's like he's this year's Josh Anderson

[alfredoh2009]

40 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

It's like he's this year's Josh Anderson

I hope he does not become this year's Scott Gomez

[BCHabnut]

2 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I hope he does not become this year's Scott Gomez

He will not be that, fortunately.  He would have to be making 11 or 12 million to match Gomez levels. 

[tomh009]

3 hours ago, Commandant said:

The thing is at least with Dach, a slow start after his injury was to be expected.

 

The slow start for Newhook was not.

Agreed. I would say that it should be up to the coach to figure out what the issue is but I suspect that St-Louis is focusing on the bigger issue with the defensive and offensive systems at the moment.

 

Newhook's scoring is actually close to the same pace as last year, but his shooting percentage is a more normal 15% this year. But the assists have disappeared completely, which probably has much to do with his linemates (cough, cough, Dach, cough, cough) and some to do with his reduced PP deployment (he had 2g+6a on PP last year).

[Lanes World]

I’m not understanding why Newhook was traded for. He has speed for sure, but small and one dimensional….Was this not the type of player we’re trying to get away from?  

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Just as we should remember that Evans is producing at well above his career norms this season, so should we keep in mind that Newhook is waaaay below his.

 

I think it was a reasonable trade for a 20-goal, 50-point, secondary offensive contributor.

 

The problem is, he is not playing at all like that. He has done so in the past, though.

 

Something is wrong. I have no idea what it is.

[Lanes World]

 Newhook reminds me a bit of Scott Gomez…flying through the neutral zone. The speed is definitely there. 

Edited December 8, 2024 by Lanes World

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

21 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Just as we should remember that Evans is producing at well above his career norms this season, so should we keep in mind that Newhook is waaaay below his.

 

I think it was a reasonable trade for a 20-goal, 50-point, secondary offensive contributor.

 

The problem is, he is not playing at all like that. He has done so in the past, though.

 

Something is wrong. I have no idea what it is.

 

He was on a 20 goal 50 point pace last year, still only 23, too early to give up on him but we do need better results. 

 

He was compared by someone to Scott Gomez, not a bad comparison, both great skaters who look exciting going through the neutral zone, it's the part after that's a little weak. At least we are not paying him like Gomez. 

[Lanes World]

23 is very young. I didn’t realize he’s that young 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

He had a good game last night.

 

The Gomez example is interesting. Both players tended to be perimeter players avoiding the dirty areas. Gomez spent 10 years in NJ having great success, probably because the culture there was such that he did not overindulge his aversion to contact. By the time he came here, he had devolved into a perimeter guy. 

 

Newhook last night was cutting toward the net, moving around in the offensive zone, not just going for elegant skates on the fringes of contact. And he looked much more dangerous.

 

He may be a player who has to choose. Is he willing to take the risk of getting hit, going to the dirty areas? If so, he'll be a 50-60 point guy with a long career as a secondary scorer. If not, he will become another one in the long list of players who tantalize but never figure it out, likely concluding his career over in Europe.

[alfredoh2009]

2 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

He was on a 20 goal 50 point pace last year, still only 23, too early to give up on him but we do need better results. 

 

He was compared by someone to Scott Gomez, not a bad comparison, both great skaters who look exciting going through the neutral zone, it's the part after that's a little weak. At least we are not paying him like Gomez. 

 

it was me. And someone reminded me the difference in salary. I was referring to how similar their style of play is.

[DON]

17 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

it was me. And someone reminded me the difference in salary. I was referring to how similar their style of play is.

Seems a reach or odd one for comparison and i dont see it at all, Gomez was no speedster.

 

Much more like Paul Byron wouldnt you say?

 

What rumour is this related to?

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

45 minutes ago, DON said:

Seems a reach or odd one for comparison and i dont see it at all, Gomez was no speedster.

 

Much more like Paul Byron wouldnt you say?

 

What rumour is this related to?

 

Gomez was fast, about the only thing he had going for him. 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Oh come on, Gomez was a fast, terrific skater and an excellent playmaker. Good possession guy and creative spark. #1C on a two-time Cup-winning Devils team and one of the most dashing players in the game while doing it.

 

He gave us one good season before his game completely cratered, too. Everyone forgets that.

 

He was a fine player...we just had the misfortune of acquiring right before he suddenly aged out at age 30. Also after he got a contract that was bloated for the time.