The NHL trade deadline has passed and there are only a handful of games left in the regular season. Teams have fine tuned their rosters for a postseason run, or are looking forward to the draft lottery and offseason frenzy. Who are the real contenders for the Stanley Cup? Which deadline rentals will pay off? Who is best positioned to take a big step in their rebuild?
With those questions and many more in mind, it’s time to run our post-deadline mailbag. You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. Make sure to get your questions in early and we’ll try to get through as many of them as possible when the mailbag runs on the weekend.
If you missed our pre-deadline mailbag, it was split into two parts you can read here and here. In the first, Brian tackled questions about the expansion draft, Jesse Puljujarvi’s future and Shea Weber’s health. The second took on the question of chemistry in a locker room, the Rangers’ goaltending situation and potential player holdouts in the future.
How far will the Flyers go?
What are St Louis’ options when it comes to finding a new AHL affiliate? Can they get it done soon or will they have to share a team again like they did in 17-18? What happens to the 5 year contract they had? Why does Vegas keep snatching up the Blues’ AHL teams?
Who do you think Carolina will play in their Stadium Series game next season?
Any chance you think the lightning are avoiding first place so they don’t have to match up against the blue jackets again? Is it actually safer for the to play the Leafs?
Do you think Pasternak loses his lead in goals?? He’s held on for what seems like the whole season. Also do you seems keeping this 50 goal a season thing up for awhile and maybe touches 60 one season?
Does Dubas still have a job after an early Leafs playoff exit?
yes of course and that’s a stupid question.
what are Canadians biggest move in the off season
If the lottery takes a turn for the worse and the Red Wings get passed by 3 teams and select 4th do you believe they will take a look at the top goalie prospect or trade down to collect more picks for this rebuild?
Now that Lundqvist has been demoted to third string,do you think he will consider retirement?I love the guy,but his time seems to have passed.
If the Blues move Jake Allen this summer, would Ville Husso be J.Binnington’s backup or would the blues look at the FA market?
I know it could be recency bias but is Mika Zibanejad one of the most underrated players in the NHL?
If the sharks would buy out Thornton would he be eligible for the playoffs he he signed with a new team