It also doesn't help that an already average at best team got crushed over the offseason. They downgraded all over the lineup.
I assume you have the Red Wings winning tonight then because the only way the Hawks will allow two goals in a game this year is if the league lets them put all three shitty goalies in at the same time.
Yeah, Benning giving out 3-5 million dollar deals to several 3rd/4th liners and 3rd pairing players really came home to roost last offseason. They won’t be able to contend until those start getting off the books in a couple years.
I am not sure what the hell to expect. I would anticipate Detroit winning, but we are due a shitty game and Chicago is due a decent game.
Here is the biggest issue. These two are stubborn as fuck and honestly not the most creative when it comes to managing their roster. Lets pretend that Dubois really only has a list of 1, he is still under team control for 4 more years. If that 1 team, won't pay up, another team will pay for 4 years of a low end #1 center in his 20s. He can bitch and moan all he wants about wanting to be in a specific city, but eventually he is going to have to play hockey to keep his value. The relationship in CBus is clearly blown. Time to send him to the highest bidder and get the distraction off the roster.
He made his intentions clear when he only signed a 2 year deal with Columbus. He clearly wanted out then and has never budged off that sentiment. This weird feeling that Columbus could somehow force him to want to play there - and have Torts of all coaches be the one to motivate him to do it - couldn’t have been more short-sighted. Move him for the best possible return before his value and your leverage plummets. Does it suck for Columbus that they can’t get fair value for their player? Absolutely. But better to get what you can now before his value drops to zero. The offers aren’t gonna get better with him being scratched or taking shifts like he did last night.
Does PLD get traded for Danault straight up? Danault is getting less and less ice time, and may become somewhat redundant with PLD on the roster. Columbus doesn’t get the true value they want in a PLD trade, but do get a very good NHLer in return instead of futures.
Someone will one up that offer and hope they can make it work. I don’t think PLD will only play in Montreal, that is likely just his preference. I get the sense he wants to play in a big market more than anything else.
You aren’t reading my post. The relationship in CBus is burned. But he won’t be able to force his way to a certain team. Let’s say it’s MTL. If they show up with an offer of drouin and a 2nd while the rangers are offering Kakko (unlikely I know) he’s not ending up in MTL. Even if he doesn’t want to be in NY either, they got him under control for 4 years. Eventually he has to shut up and play.
I agree with you, but only to some extent. After the escapade he just pulled, no team he clearly doesn’t want to play for will still be in the running. They won’t offer anything competitive enough if they don’t think he’ll be with him more than two seasons. At that point, the group of teams in play gets really small. It becomes only those who both have interest and he’s willing to play for. Chances for a bidding war decrease drastically at that point. Sure, all you need are two parties to get into a bidding war, but is anyone really going to up their existing offers (which have likely been turned down already by Columbus) after what happened last night? He’s not going to get 1C value at this point, unless something unprecedented happens. This is playing out the same way the Duchene, Trouba, etc negotiations played out...except somehow even worse. Do I think he *only* goes to Montreal at this point? No, there are probably a couple others still involved. But Columbus would still be smart to offload him for whatever they can get versus their previous strategy of waiting on an insane offer.
I’m trying to think of teams that could be in play for PLD. There are probably three things at play: 1. Can you afford his contract? 2. Do you have the assets? 3. Do you think PLD wants to play there long term? IMO Detroit covers all three of those criteria. I’m not sure Yzerman wants to deal with the headache since he dealt with the Drouin issue, but I wouldn’t rule it out if he thinks he can get him for a song. Aaron Portzline did mention a few weeks ago that the Wings were interested. I don’t know how many teams meet that criteria.
They waited about a week. The mistake they made was continually poking the bear. Torts has been benching Dubois any chance he gets so far. CBJ has handled this as badly as possible.
I don't see how you think Detroit definitely covers #3 and if a replacement NHL ready center is a requirement in the return, they don't cover #2 either.
The only thing I’ve heard mentioned about his preference is that he wants to play in a bigger market, which Detroit certainly is. I would think all the Original Six hits that specific criteria.
Detroit definitely isn't a "big market" other than being an O6 team and I'm not sure that really qualifies in this situation. That's as wishful as me saying the Panthers definitely are on his list because Zito is here.
If I had to guess, LA has the best chance of landing Dubois. They probably don’t need him though with their center depth. If they wanted him, not sure anyone else would have a chance.
They should’ve looked to trade him the second he signed the 2 year deal (Dec 31). At that point, it became clear there was no long term future for him in Columbus. And the thing that modern athletes have realized is that in a guaranteed contract league, they have a ton of leverage to go where they want to. An organization can’t force them to play. All they can do is waive them or trade them. The idea of a limited NTC is stupid as it is, but basically every player good enough basically has one. They can try to tank their own value to force their current team to only trade to the team(s) they want to go to.
Not sure what to tell you if you don’t think Detroit is a big NHL market. Detroit has three Sunday NBC games this season coming off the worst season in modern history. There is a reason for that.
I know the Sens have sniffed around but outside of Stutzle they don’t have a true #1 C to trade back. Logan Brown isn’t the answer and while Norris has a bright future nobody is sure what he will be at this level. Vegas? Would CBJ be interested in Glass?
Ottawa would be a great partner for them. I just have my doubts that he would want to play in Ottawa.
NHL deal is up here soon. Gotta think a return to ESPN is for sure happening. That said, I’ve read the league wants to have two deals. Perhaps they move games to Peacock?
From SBJ The big question is how a league like the NHL reacts to the shutting down of a network that has carried its games for the past 15 years. The NHL’s deal with NBC ends after this season. The NHL has made it clear that it wants to split its rights between at least two TV outlets. NBC has told the NHL that it would carve out regular windows on its broadcast channel and USA Network, which is in 86.2 million homes, plus Peacock.
ESPN wants the league back. I would be shocked if they don’t get the top package. I could see Fox getting involved as well though.
Suzuki, PLD and Kotkaniemi as the top 3 centers would be ridiculous. I do think we’d have to send a 1st and one of our D prospects like Jordan Harris if Danault isn’t signed though.
me too, I think kotkaniemi’s ceiling is dubois. Caufield isn’t a sure thing and this team should finish at least high enough to not draft in the top 15
What’s the ceiling for Danault? They can add the secondary pieces like everyone else...but the top asset going back to CBJ needs to be one of KK or Suzuki ( which ain’t happening).
i don’t do it either, Suzuki is already doing great with this team. You don’t know how dubois will fit in. It’s not a huge concern but it would be like trading une piasse pour quatre 30 sous.