In less than two weeks, the NHL preseason will begin. October 25 is the date that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens will kick things off, meaning the regular season is just around the corner. The condensed offseason was certainly a spectacular one, with names like Seth Jones, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Duncan Keith all traded. Through expansion and free agency there was tons of player movement and rosters will look quite different than how they did when the 2020-21 season began.
With that in mind, it’s time to run another edition of the PHR Mailbag. If you missed the last one, it was broken into two pieces. In the first half, Brian examined the Jack Eichel situation, clarified some rules around offer sheets, and gave his thoughts on the 2021 free agent period. In the second, he addressed questions around the Hughes brothers, Henrik Lundqvist’s legacy, and what Montreal should expect from Cole Caufield this season.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run on the weekend and answer as many questions as possible.
Of the nyr are going to sign zban long term, wht salaries do they move if they want to sign a front line center. Personally, id like to see who they could possibly get that would play better with panarin than strome has. I knkw his face off %
And defensive abilities arent the best, but he plays a very adequate game feeding panarin.
Stop the eichel nonsene!!! Crazy to overpay for
Damaged goods. If hes gettable for 2 returns and a draft picks maybe. But not all your youth!!
You can’t expect this to be answered when every sentence has grammar errors. Put a little effort in at least
Yeah, I gave up trying to figure out what was being said here. Incomprehensible.
Grammar errors? Seriously? Grow up already,
My god get off your high horse. Your not the only people here with a question and an opinion.
Your questions (if you can call them that) look like they were written by a 7 year old in a post-game Xbox chat
@Jchancel, its not that there are grammar errors, its that there are so many its barely legible. I think you are trying to ask what the Rangers do, resign Zibanejad and trade others to afford to upgrade at center. Or target Eichel? But I can’t really tell.
It took me a few looks to get the gist of it.
First part is, if the NYR sign Zibanejad long term and still want to sign another front line center, who’s salaries are they moving out? Obviously Stromes 4.5m would be one of the salaries for sure. Plus they gain a few million back from the buyout pool after 21-22 so they’d have close to 7 million right there.
Second part is, who could they get to replace Strome that would have better chemistry with Panarin even though you sacrifice some defense and poor % at the dots? Since Strome came to NY, he’s been a point producer even without Panarin on his left. His defense isn’t terrible but his F/O % isn’t what you want from a 2c. Not many choices available out there that are an upgrade over Strome.
Third part is a statement about not wanting an injured Eichel unless he can be had for 2 players and a draft pick. I find that unlikely since GM Adam’s could certainly have gotten that from a western team at the draft.
This has given me a good thought for a question or 2 now that I’m thinking about it.
You guys have it all wrong he is ordering a dog with mustard and double sauerkraut. Then he orders a nee hi grape drink.
Well here’s a 7 yo reply, bite me!
@jchancel, that attitude will get your q’s answered.
So, jchancel, while this has been genuinely entertaining, lets clear something up. Nobody was saying you can’t have a question, opinion, or knowledge. The problem was how difficult it was following your misspellings, grammar, and general random stream of consciousness. It took the Captain 11 translating to understand what you had said. Thanks Cap! Overall, I thought you had some interesting questions and comments. However, again the problem was you lack of legibility and then your lashing out at everyone else when we call you out on it.
You’re incomprehensible. And it’s frustrating trying to understand you.
The next time I have a question to ask, I will
make sure its understandable for all you elitists. Sorry I’m not your literary equal.
@Mistake, I just had to cuz there are a few good points. I think being a Rangers fan made it easy to decipher since those are some of the bigger offseason stories for the team.
Sheesh, sport, lighten up. No doubt you’re a totally swell fellow IRL, you cuddle puppies and pet small children on the head and all, sure. Only ALL we have to go on online is (a) whether we can understand what you’re saying, and (b) whether what you’re saying makes any sense. Typing like a 9-year-old practicing l33tspeak is the online equivalent of dressing in rags, never bathing and staggering around drunk.
Now if you want to stick with that everyone else is wrong and you alone are right, meh, whatever. You do you.
In the leafs ever win in the playoffs with Matthews on the team and the core that’s getting paid so much money but season’s produce in the playoffs? How long do the Leafs stick with that core?
If the Rangers do not see a considerable jump in production from Kaapo Kakko (assuming he is given an increased role for the upcoming season), could you see Drury dangling him and one of their plethora or young D prospects to fill the hole they have at center?
Do you see anyone declining an invite to play at the Olympics?
Q: what has to happen above normal progression of the youngsters for the LA Kings to (1) contend for the playoffs (2) make the playoffs or (3) be cup contenders?
@Weasel 2, see part 2 of the last mailbag. These questions are asked there.
Do you see any 2021 european draft prospects (Let’s say top two rounds) that have a bigger risk of having difficulties translating their talent from olympic size ice to NA ice rink?
Thanks!
After a busy offseason, is this going to be the make or break year for the Flyers? At this point if they can’t play up to expectations is there really any option but retooling for a year or 2?
i mean, this off-season was kinda a retool
I agree with you, I guess I’m asking if they will have to do something even more drastic than this off-season.
What are your top surprises in each division? Could be team, player, standings, whatever.
Which prospect(s) from the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning will have the biggest impact, if any after their free agent signings, during the upcoming season in which they have lost their entire 3rd line from their back-to-back championships?
Let’s once again dust off the Mailbag’s Crystal Ball, which sees all & knows all: 1. Fastest path to – and most scoring success in – a Top-6 role between Newhook, Krebs, Veleno & Tomasino? 2. Brightest scoring future between Eklund, Raymond & Holtz? And lastly 3. the Top-3 scoring forwards in NJ’s next 3-4 years? As always, much thanks.
Duke
Best guess at penguins bottom 2 lines towards the end of the season barring injuries
If the Bruins struggle to find a center who plays well with Hall, who are some centers that could be available as the trade deadline approaches that could be possible trade targets?
Max Domi?
The NYR are in a no-win situation with the center position right now. Both Zibanejad and Strome are UFA after this season. They have no internal options to replace them and it doesn’t look like there are upgrades available in the 22 UFA market. Are there any possible rfa’s ripe for an offer sheet possibly?
Do the NYR overpay both Zibanejad and Strome in both money and term or do they trade one or both to not risk losing them for nothing? With Dolan mandating making the playoffs(or something close to that), it seems like the latter is off the table. A true no-win situation for Drury. I don’t see Chytil as a center moving forward even though Drury recently said he does see it. Barron might make a good 3c one day but prob needs more seasoning and some time before being ready. Most people have them both as better suited to wing.
Also, is it me or do the NYR seem to have an organizational aversion to drafting and developing centers? Very few really good centers have been drafted as they tend to get them thru trade and free agency.
And, does Gallant finally break up the trio of pairs? Krieder/Zibanejad, Strome/Panarin, Kakko/Chytil. Should they name Krieder Captain, would it be a smart move to slide him to the 3rd line and ease that burden on him a bit while simultaneously giving Laffy a good look on the top line?
It’s supposed to be a question with maybe a followup. Not a game of 21 questions. Have you seen previous Mailbag writeups? They answer about 6 questions. You have more than that in your 1 question.
I’m well aware. Just got going and that’s where I ended when I was I done. If one or none get answered I’m fine with that. It made me realize there’s a whole posts worth of questions to be answered about the NYR at the moment.
But thanks for being a stickler Mr hall monitor.
Do the Flyers have a goalie problem? Hart is coming off a down year so should he be looking over his shoulder at Sandstrom, Ersson, Ustimenko, Ross, Tomek, and Fedotov? Is there a generational talent in there somewhere or just prospects hyped by the organization?
How come Mike Futa has never gotten a GM offer? He was such a hot name with LA for so long and now oit seems like the only job he was offered was the Carolina one. It was a fine job, but his track record just seems like he should have been much more in demand.. What’s up with that?
Predictions for Bennet and Reinhart in Florida’s top 6? Can Reinhart get 30 goals playing on Barkovs wing? Did they bring him in to add more offense or Does he slot in at 3C? Can Bennett exorcise his demons and continue on a point per game clip as 2C with Huberdeau?
Disappointing year from more than a few players. Many of whom are still young, but are certainly paid to be better. Who will bounce back and who will not?
Monahan
Meier
Laine
Dubois
Hart
Hall
And anyone else i’ve missed that you can think of
ESPN and TNT hire as Insider?
With Hextalls Mission of Win Now AND Win Later, Is this season it for the current team if they don’t advance? If they continue to be a 1 and done this season, will the team be blown up and look more like a Win Later team thereafter?
Out of all the PTOs signed this week who has a realistic shot at actually signing a contract with the team that signed them?
Gusev and Toronto
Arizona did it but Buffalo has not in regards to reaching the cap floor! Who out there is left FA wise to get Buffalo to the cap floor? Thought Gusev but he signed a PTO somewhere else. I mean they can’t really throw absurd money toward a player not worth more than the minimum. Laughing aside, Sabres did sign some that could’ve earned more than minimum they signed for. Just confused at this point. This ain’t a tank it’s an abomination!