The 4 Nations Face-Off will provide a breather from day-to-day transactions, leaving general managers added time to focus on what the next month may entail for their clubs before the March 7 trade deadline. There have been multiple big swaps already, but more are still to come, with Dylan Cozens, Seth Jones, Brock Nelson, and Rickard Rakell among the names who could be on the move.
With that in mind, it’s a good time for our next mailbag segment. Our last one was split into two parts. The first included forward targets for the Lightning, the likelihood of the Panthers retaining both Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad, and whether Jakob Chychrun will stick with the Capitals, among other topics. The second discussed offer sheet strategies for the summer, additions the Flyers could make to pair with Matvei Michkov, and whether Zach Werenski can bring a Norris Trophy to Columbus.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter/X or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run on the weekend.
Is there a roster freeze during the 4 Nation? Can trades still be made? Where would be the best fit for Brayden Schenn if he waives his NMC? Realistic return for him?
There is no roster freeze during the 4 Nations as this was already reported. Actually, there is belief there could very well be trades during the tournament break.
Would Anaheim accept Kovacevic for Zegras and let Z be the 3C for Devils? Who else is a 3C the Devil’s can target at trade deadline. Hopefully someone with speed, some defensive acumen, and enough offense.
Do players like Matthew Phillips and Kailer Yamamoto have any realistic chance of getting another opportunity in the NHL? They both are having strong years at their respective AHL clubs.
Great question. Related, do teams target AHL players. Folks like Phillips or Ethan Bear that are all stars at AHL but they are not 21 year olds but 25-28 year olds with some NHL experience and can serve as depth. Ethan Frank is “old” at 28 but obviously was buried and stuck in AHL. Do teams try to grab AHL folks and give them the job over existing NHL folks.
Do you believe the Sabres will make the inevitable GM change during the break to allow an interim GM to handle the trade deadline? I think this could happen, because Adams is clearly out of his league when trying to make deals etc. The fanbase has had it with the incompetence that he has shown in trying to end this disgraceful playoff drought.
What, if anything, will the Wild do? Or be able to do?
Is restricted free agency going to be more active/change since the cap is increasing and should Briere consider offersheeting someone like Wyatt Johnston?
I am not quite ready to give up on Kirby Dach quite yet, but I am dangling Alex Newhook.
Who calls me, what are they offering?
It also looks more and more likely that Jake Evans will be traded. Sad to see him go but I do think that Owen Beck is ready to replace him starting next year. So, over/under on which team will end up trading for Evans, and what the actual return might be?
Thanks!
I’ve seen both KAndre Miller’s and Bo Byram’s names listed, could we see a move between NYR and BUF centered around these two? With Buffalo potentially having other pieces Rangers would want at deadline? Tuch (if he’s actually available), or Greenway maybe. Thanks
It feels like the only people excited for the 4 Nations are media members promoting it. It doesn’t compare to the World Juniors or the Olympics. Instead of trying to copy other international tournaments has the NHL considered doing anything like the NBA in season tournament?
There seems to be a lot of rumblings about Buffalo Sabres’ Alex Tuch and the Tampa Bay Lightning being linked. Granted, you always have to take things with a grain of salt per se but if there is smoke, there is fire. It’s widely reported that GM BriseBois is quite active searching for a middle six forward so the question becomes what does this potential deal look like?
Obviously, Tampa’s 2026 1st round pick would be a part of it. I assume a middle round pick (3rd or 4th) would be added in the mix & maybe a player like Darren Raddysh as Buffalo is going to need depth on the defensive right side next season.
Now, if they ask for someone like Ethan Gauthier then we’ll be talking about a bigger trade here if Tampa is even open to moving him (I’m 50/50 on that possibility). I won’t bring up the potential Hobey Baker nominee Isaac Howard nor Conor Geekie as I feel both are off limits. But in terms of other NHL ready prospects Gage Goncalves could be someone to watch in the matter.
This is a thread for fans to pose questions to the PHR folks, Why do some of the many fans of this great site insist on answering the questions? Good lord!!!! STOP!!!!!
Stop complaining about others & ask a damn hockey question to the PHR team if you have one for this thread or not. If you don’t, then shut up! Complainers are the worst in these threads.
My opinions don’t end where your hurt feelings being!
Oh, absolutely devastated here. Please, your ego must be through the roof if you think you have that much power over my feelings lol.
Why do you get so upset about something so meaningless? It’s adorable.
Oh, because clearly my emotional range is limited to finding joy in the insignificant. How cute of you to notice.
Last I checked, these were COMMENT sections. Leaving aside that some of us are knowledgeable enough to answer the questions, or interested enough to comment on someone else’s comments (isn’t driving engagement the POINT?), if all you think ought to be here is stony silence, Josh could have set up an e-mail address to send those questions.
Or, y’know, you can mute everyone who isn’t you. There you go! Silence galore.
For once I agree with usaKesler. :0
Right, because you aren’t screeching like you had your poor wittle fee fees hurt, usaKesler. Good lord!!!!! STOOOP!!!!! Here’s sneerin atcha.
Is there a playoff team that would NOT want Alex Tuch?
What’s the real reason for the winter break every season? Obviously, players need a break from travel, and fair dinkum… But is that something they negotiated in the collective agreement? Or does the break exist for a different, but equally practical, reason?
Cuz I think we all know nobody cares about the All-Star Game or the Four Nations Whatever.
Related. Did teams use 4 Nations roster selection like the recent expansion drafts. Trade away draft picks so teams would not pick players. What did the Caps pay to not have Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson, Jacob Chyrcryn and John Carlson from being selected so they could rest for the end of the year?
This is a good question.
How on earth did Montembeault get selected for the 4 nations all star circus? It’s very suspicious.
I’ve been watching the Seth Jones trade speculation with some interest. There is absolutely no doubt that Jones is overpaid. However if the Hawks have to pay half his salary to move him that makes no sense to me either. Look he’s not horrible, A team cancer or negative value. IMO there is absolutely nothing to be gained by paying him to play somewhere else.
So I guess my question is, What would be the minimum in your opinion that the Hawks could get away with to move him and make it worth their while? I’m thinking if they only had to pay 2 million a year to see him off and save 7 million a year would be worth it. Any more than that and with the Cap going up I’d keep him until they can get the years down enough to make that work would be the way I would go. What’s your opinion? Thanks.
On a separate side note, When Broissoit makes it back to the Hawks, Soderblom will have played too many games to be sent down without passing through waivers. IMO no player is more improved in the NHL this year than Soderblom. Last year whenever the other team crossed the Red Line Soderblom would drop on his knees and wait for the other team to just shoot it over his shoulders. Now that he actually stays on his feet the change has been remarkable.
So faced with having to keep 3 Goalies, Is there any chance they can move Mrazek when he has next year remaining at 4 million bucks? Would a team need a G bad enough to take that on? Broissoit has no value having been hurt all year and Soderblom might be a keeper. One has to go IMO or we’ll have the 3 G problem again next year as they’ll all have contracts. Thanks again.
The Ducks having been flying high of late and have migrated up the standings a bit, so would one be a quack to think they could waddle their way into a wild card spot? ;)
That question quacked me up. Now let’s see if they duck it. Might ruffle some feathers.
If a player happens to receive a suspension during the Snore Nation’s tournament does the suspension carry over to the NHL season or does it count towards international play?
Are the blackhawks going in the right direction ?
South for the winter you mean?
Is a team allowed to extend a player’s contract which takes them (far) above the salarycap limit for next year? If not, what are the rules? And was it a few months ago (when the salarycap for the next years weren’t official) possible to extend a contract, exceeding the limit for next year, but knowing that the limit would probably raise? Could they speculate on that?
Sorry to double dip here… but when news comes out that a team / player are discussing an extension – is this typically a leak by the team in effort to drive up trade value? Or is this usually legit?