The fun is really about to begin across the NHL. Next week, half the teams in the league will begin their push for the Stanley Cup while the other half will begin the process of assessing what went wrong with the expectation of moves to come. Some of those moves could come as soon as next week if those non-playoff teams decide to make a coaching or GM change.
With that in mind, it’s time to run another edition of the PHR Mailbag. Last time, it was split into two parts. The first included looks at the struggles the Islanders have had this season, San Jose’s looming cap challenges, and Shea Weber’s contract while the second included some early award and free agent predictions, potential coaching candidates this offseason, and Seattle’s goaltending woes.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run on the weekend.
Alright, here’s one: what team’s going to be the surprise club that makes an unexpectedly deep post-season run?
Edmonton Oilers.
I don’t believe there will be any surprises…I do think better than 80% of all the series will go 6 games or more though. Looks like some VERY interesting matchups coming…I’m excited!!!
Alternatively, which team is over rated and will fold like a cheap suit?
Calgary Flames.
Oilers and Leafs
I think both Colorado and Calgary will be ousted by the end of the 2nd round. In my mind Pittsburgh is done in the 1st round.
How big the changes will be in Vegas?? Vegas should be making big changes and stop creating greener pastures for shiny new toys. I appreciate Bill Foley’s vision but he shouldn’t add more salary to a team with no cap.
A team with no cap room *can’t* add more salary.
Who is the most likely offseason buyout candidate?
Sean Monahan and Peter Mrazek come to my mind
Monahan can’t be bought out if on LTIR.
Hell, I’d love to see Boston buy out Nick Foligno. Guy’s just plain been useless this season, in all aspects of the game, and he’s getting paid like a competent middle-sixer.
Assuming that the Jets clean house from a coaching perspective, who comes in as Head Coach to shake up, & demand accountability from, this leadership group? Will it even be the same leadership group?
What are the chances the Kings could land Filip Forsberg in the off season? He’s everything the Kings need to land an elite scorer their looking for. Also he and Arvidisson are very tight.The Kings could clear some cap space to make it work only problem I see is other teams have more cap space. Do you think he would be a good fit in Los Angeles?
As a Blues fan I would love to see Forsberg land in LA. Kings can make it work.
My bet is on that happening.
What new coach do the Red Wings get? There were murmurs of Lane Lambert in the past, but all is very hush-hush at the moment. Of course that is the way Stevie plays the game…..
Also, do you think Stevie makes a splash for a FA?
If Blashill is not brought back, I could see the Wings take a run at Jim Montgomery in St Louis.
He must be staying sober.
Is there a chance that Fiala signs an Offer Sheet? 16 teams could do a 5 x $8M .
Injuries are a big part of the playoffs. Which teams are less likely to go into a tail spin if one of their top dmen gets injured and which teams are most vulnerable?
All-mighty MB Crystal Ball, please allow ME to make a bold prediction: Anaheim & John Gibson are not a fit moving forward; viable teams whose realistic winning window in the next 3-4 years are: Boston, Colorado, Edmonton, Toronto & Washington. Barring a Houdini-like cap space solution, Boston, Colorado & Toronto appear out; those teams also do not have a young/quality goaltender to send to Anaheim. That leaves Edmonton & Washington. Though Connor McMichael & either Samsonov or Vanecek is tempting, MY crystal ball says Gibson goes to the Oilers for Stuart Skinner, Tyson Barrie (salary dump for the Oil & to mentor Drysdale), and a prospect or pick. Change my mind.
Oilers see if Kuemper becomes available first. Then I think plan B is shorter term FA such a Hotby or Georgiev, Korpisalo. I think their goalie of the future is Skinner, they keep him. Fanti has yet to prove himself at the pro level.
So your saying Gibson isn’t worth all that much?
And also nod you watch much hockey outside of Edmonton?
Boston doesn’t need a goalie as they have the best young goalie already, you ever heard of Swayman? Because you seem to think Skinner is a better option.
Huh. My answer to the Duke is that Gibson’s not worth as much as he might fancy. He’s declined each of the last four seasons. He’s had mediocre numbers the last three seasons. In each of those three seasons, he’s had a backup who outplayed him. He’s carrying a hefty contract for the next five seasons.
As far as Edmonton goes, I don’t imagine they’d trade Skinner for Gibson straight up, never mind including a prospect. Teams that need salary dumps don’t trade a hot young prospect goalie making league minimum for one with a $6+ million cap hit. And Gibson’s playing no better than *Koskinen*, right now.
Oilers also have Konovalov as a better prospect goalie in their system. They may be looking for a 1-2 year veteran as a stop gap while they figure out their future as opposed to someone signed for another 6 years. Smith has 1 year left, Skinner proved capable this year in limited action, and Konovalov is regarded as a good prospect, and after that they had Rodrigue in their system who is well regarded as well.
Not saying Gibson wouldn’t be a positive addition but the Oilers may be set in goal beyond the next year or 2 IF 2 of their goalie prospects work out and cost them the same or less than it would to add Gibson and not cost them any other prospect depth.
Assuming Ruff and his entire staff are fired by the Devils who do you see replacing them behind the bench? Really looking for coach, 2 assistants and goalie coach here.
thank you in advance for answering my question.
If the Red Wings don’t go after Jim Montgomery of St Louis, I could see the Devils give him the job.
Rumors flying around that Ryan Ellis may not want to be in Philly, and that is the reason for the yet to be released nature of the injury that has kept him out all year…if true, sure seems like it just blows up Fletchers retooling plan…could we possibly be looking at a season even worse than this one? Who’s gonna take Ellis’ salary on, especially after a 4 game season?
Fletcher should be the 1st one to go.
Just wondering about any news on Tennessee State University and the hockey program they want to start, and anything on the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers bringing back their program?
Simply put, have you ever seen a team choke down the stretch as badly as Vegas did and do you see DeBoer getting fired after this season?
How does this years draft class stack up against past classes and the 2023 class? Deep or thin beyond Wright and Cooley?
To add to that, Would you consider Wright the consensus #1? Who is unseating him if not? Who are your top 5 in order.
If Nashville can’t re-sign Forsberg who do you consider to be the front runners to sign him?
Detroit!
Is Robin Lehner with the Golden Knights next season?
Maybe MAF comes back???? LOL
Got to figure that there’ll be teams that (a) will have more money to pay MAF than Vegas will against the cap, and (b) that MAF can trust better than he can trust Vegas not to dump him like yesterday’s garbage, whenever there’s a shiny new toy available. Payback’s a mother.
When will the results of the Evander Kane grievance be announced? The Sharks were given the go-ahead by the NHL main office and Bill Daly the NHL Deputy Commissioner right when the situation came to a head, Now almost 4 months later, the Sharks are still being held hostage by this whole grievance process.