The NHL season is speeding along at a breakneck pace, with teams playing games basically every other day in an attempt to squeeze in 56 contests. We’ve seen the COVID list dwindle over the last few weeks and now the trade deadline is fast approaching.
With that in mind, it’s time to run another edition of the PHR mailbag. If you missed it last time, the last mailbag was broken into two pieces. The first focused on the rash of postponements, the saga of Tony DeAngelo in New York, and Kevin Lankinen’s early play. In the second, Brian gave his thoughts on young players like Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Martin Necas, tried to figure out the Philadelphia defense, and touched on some hot seats around the league.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. We’ll try to get to everything when the mailbag runs this weekend.
What is to be made of the Blackhawks? I honestly thought they would be awful but I’m enjoying this season more than past few, are they good or decent? Is this a mirage? What the hell is going on?
Is there really any realistic game changers the Bruins can really get I know JE has been brought up but let’s be real if they trade him it’s out west could a team like Blackhawks trade a guy like Kane or him
My Blue Jackets are in desperate need of a top line center. Other than kidnapping Connor McDavid, what might their best options be over the next year?
thoughts on the maple leafs new MEH line. Mikhayev, Engvall and Hyman?
It’s a perfectly cromulant line.
What do you do if your the Flames. I know the Markstrom injury is unfortunate but this season must be a disappointment as of now
What sort of adjustments do the Devils need to make to finally get out of this ongoing rebuild? I honestly want to know how you would make this team better
Any Crystal Ball visions for Jamie Drysdale, Rasmus Sandin and Arizona’s, Winnipeg’s and Nashville’s goaltending into the next few seasons?
Biggest name dealt at the deadline?
I’m hoping that it’s William (I don’t backcheck) Nylander. I swear there are games that he does not know who is playing goal for the TML.
How long is the leash on Bednar? Colorado won’t be able to have this much talent forever, and for being cup favorites, they sure don’t look like contenders to me.
What is the goaltending FA landscape going to look like for next year? Some good names (again).
Binnington, Anderson, Grubauer, Mrazek, Rittich, Ullmark
All of these guys are starter-caliber goalies. There are some older ones too like Rinne and Rask
Who gets paid and who goes where?
From what Rask has said in the past (same as Chara did so ) that it’s ether Boston,retirement or home country
If they can keep for around 5m a yr for 2-3yrs they should do it but other wise walk a way at this point
How would you grade the Angels’ off season and are they really of the belief that they can compete for a playoff run this season with the team (pitching) that they have?
I’ll go out on a limb and say this question probably won’t get answered lol
I just can’t see that pitching preventing many goals, no matter what they do they are wasting Trouts best years and trying to teach him how to skate will waste even more!
Which Red wings player would bring back the biggest return at the trade deadline and what kind of package would they get Mantha or Bertuzzi?
Do you know much about Gerald Mayhew of the wild? He seems to dominate the AHL every year (last year 49GP/39G/22A/61P), yet on a team starved for offense over the past 5 years he has barely gotten a sniff. Does he have an attitude issue? Is he a defensive liability? We have a deep keeper league of 24 teams, (keep 32 players and have 35 on the roster during the season) and I’m always adding him hoping this time he’ll stick. He clearly has talent so if you have any insight I’d appreciate it!
Does it look as clear to you as it does to me that the Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is completely handcuffed by Pegula when it comes to Krueger? If you had to choose between the next coach for Buffalo, who would it be? I’m hearing more Gallant than Boudreau but I think with the mix we have Boudreau would be better. Oh and a goalie is needed as a stop gap?
Where will Jim Rutherford end up? Arizona?
Dougie Hamilton. What do the Canes pay their third best defenseman, especially with how well Jake Bean is playing?
The sharks almost always make trades at the deadline.They do have some cap space do you see them as buyer/seller maybe take on a contract for additional pick?
In what world would they be buyers?