Based on Rutherford’s history of making a splash a bit before the deadline, I think the Pens do something within the next week or two
Stoked teh NHL is back, bummed I have to stay up until Midnight to watch my team. Fuck the west coast.
Wing to replace Guentzel. Defense should be fine — Schultz will be back next game and Dumoulin should be back within the next couple of weeks. Names that they have been tied to are Saad, Zucker, Kreider, Toffoli, etc. Zucker seems to be the most likely, assuming the Wild start to falter in the standings.
The Penguins had a real penguin mascot named "Penguin Pete" and had special ice skates made for him, and taught him how to ice skate and he made six appearances at intermissions starting in February 1968... ...Until he died in November 1968 from pneumonia because his nesting area was too warm at Civic arena... ...so after he died, the team bought a new penguin and named him... Re-Pete
Pretty easy to see how that was missed live with how many bodies in the area and the position of the two refs.
Evidently Tryamkin has interest in coming back to play for the Canucks. Dude was a dumbass for wasting 3 years of his development to end up stagnating in the KHL after a decent first year. Not so sure what he can provide now that he’s 26 and on a downward trajectory in the K
It’s called private charters that aren’t shit, a guaranteed pay check, better living conditions and the best league in the world.
More than likely, nothing big will happen, which is always the case when things like this get so hyped up
Special NHL Prospect Alexis Lafrenière, LW, Rimouski-QMJHL Oct. 11, 2001 | 6-foot-1 | 192 pounds Previous ranking: No. 1 Lafrenière has passed nearly every test thrown at him. He’s dominated the QMJHL for years. He was the MVP of the world juniors and has been great at other international events over the years. He has off days where he’ll put up 2-3 points in the Q. He’s a player with elite skill and elite offensive IQ. He can dazzle on any given shift with his playmaking and ability to beat players 1-on-1. Lafrenière is also a highly competitive player who plays well in the hard areas of the ice, is solid defensively and plays physical. His skating isn’t as elite as the rest of his tools, but he has shown enough progress in that area to where he has no noticeable weakness in his game now. He’s a projected star-caliber forward in the NHL and a cornerstone piece for the team that drafts him. Special/Elite Bubble 2. Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury-OHL Aug. 19, 2002 | 6-foot-4 | 214 pounds Previous ranking: No. 2 Byfield has been as good as you could have hoped for as a 17-year-old in the OHL. He has the best pure toolkit in the draft. He’s 6-foot-4, he’s a very good skater and his hands are right up there with the best in the draft. He can break a shift open with his ability to power past or dangle through defenders. I’ve questioned Byfield’s playmaking in the past, but this season he’s shown a high level of vision. He has the ability to use his power and skill both to create for himself and to make difficult plays to set up his teammates. When the pace increased at the higher levels at the international stage, he faded a bit, but I do think he is very much in the first overall conversation because he has the potential to become an impact No. 1 center in the NHL. Elite/High-End Bubble 3. Tim Stutzle, LW, Mannheim-DEL Jan. 15, 2002 | six-foot | 165 pounds Previous ranking: No. 8 Stutzle has been incredibly impressive for a U18 player versus men. He’s been a go-to player for Mannheim in the top German league, a highly unusual role for any player his age in a top pro league. Stutzle is a complete forward. He has a lot of skill and can make tough plays, and he is a very good skater. His ability to play high-end skill plays at quick speeds has let him be so successful as a pro. Stutzle is officially listed as a winger, but I would wager whichever team drafts him announces shortly afterward they view him as a center as a majority (but not all) of NHL scouts I’ve talked to think that he’s an NHL center due to his speed, skill and ability to play off the puck. 4. Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa-OHL Sept. 23, 2001 | 5-foot-9 | 179 pounds Previous ranking: No. 9 Rossi has dominated the OHL this season, averaging more than two points per game. Rossi is an exciting player due to his skill and IQ. He can make highly skilled plays seem routine and is a great passer. Rossi’s skating is very good. He’s not the quickest small player you’ll ever see, but he has a powerful stride and will be able to pressure NHL defenders with speed. While Rossi is undersized, he’s a very competitive player. He attacks the net without fear, and Ottawa uses him in tough defensive situations. Other than his size it’s very hard to find a flaw in his game, with the rest of his toolkit featuring standout attributes. I think Rossi can be a legit No. 1 center in the NHL. 5. Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA-VHL June 16, 2002 | 6-foot-3 | 176 pounds Previous ranking: No. 5 Askarov is a special goalie prospect. He’s shown for years he can be a difference-maker at the highest levels. From defeating arguably the most talented USNTDP team as an underage, to stealing gold from a loaded Canadian Hlinka team, to being great as a 17-year-old versus men and even winning a game for SKA, he has shown he is a different type of goalie. Yes, he had a terrible world juniors. He let in soft goals I’ve never seen him let in before. He also is a goalie with a very long track record of success, a ton of athleticism, elite hockey sense, great puck tracking ability, and a ton of confidence and aggressiveness in net. I think he will become a top goaltender in the NHL. High-End NHL Prospect 6. Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgarden-SHL Jan. 23, 2002 | six-foot | 183 pounds Previous ranking: No. 3 Holtz has scored goals wherever he’s gone, be it at the junior, international or now SHL level where he’s scoring as much as any U18 player has. Holtz has a truly elite shot but can do so much more than just rip it. His hands are elite, and he can embarrass defenders with his puck skills. He’s a very good passer. His vision isn’t as good as his scoring ability, but he can make tough plays at the pro level and doesn’t have tunnel vision. He can lean on his shot a bit too much though from the perimeter. Holtz’s skating is above-average as well, but it isn’t his selling point. I like how many elements his game has, I like that he’s already shown he can be an effective middle-six forward versus men in the SHL and, of course, I love how much he scores. 7. Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda-SHL March 28, 2002 | 5-foot-11 | 165 pounds Previous ranking: No. 4 Raymond’s deployment hasn’t been that significant at the SHL this level this season, but he plays on a very good team so I don’t hold it against him. When Raymond does get ice time at the junior level, as he’s shown over the years, he’s dynamic. With the puck he’s the most dangerous player in the draft, with a combination of skill, vision and overall IQ that nobody else can match from this group. He will be a true PP1 quarterback in the NHL because of the unique plays he can make. Raymond isn’t the biggest guy, but he competes well. While he’s more of a passer, he does have a very good shot when he looks to shoot. My one concern from getting him to the top tier as an NHL prospect is his average footspeed, particularly as a 5-foot-11 forward. 8. Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie-OHL April 8, 2002 | 5-foot-11 | 165 pounds Previous ranking: No. 7 The 2020 draft isn’t the deepest when it comes to defensemen, but Drysdale has distinguished himself as the guy if you want a defenseman with a top pick. Drysdale has been a top defenseman in the OHL and made Canada’s U20 team as a 17-year-old. He’s one of the best skaters in the draft. His edge work is elite and he’ll have no issues with the speed of the NHL. Drysdale is an undersized defenseman but defends well due to his skating and IQ. Offensively he’s very good, but not flashy. He’s not going to have a Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes type of rush, but he’s a very smart puck-mover who can create with his speed and vision. 9. Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw-OHL Jan. 1, 2002 | 5-foot-10 | 185 pounds Previous ranking: No. 6 Perfetti has been a top player in the OHL this season, following up a Hlinka Gretzky tournament he dominated. Inside the offensive zone he can create so much havoc due to his skill and especially his vision. He’s one of the best passers in the draft. While he is a gifted goal-scorer, his playmaking is what stands out as a top NHL attribute. Perfetti is a bit of a divisive player in NHL circles, though. Some NHL scouts love him due to his brain, skill and scoring ability; others wonder if it will translate into a top-line NHL forward due to his size and just fine skating ability. I think he could be that because the puck game is that good even without explosive speed. High-End/Very Good Bubble 10. Connor Zary, C, Kamloops-WHL Sept. 25, 2001 | six-foot | 174 pounds Previous ranking: No. 19 Kamloops is a top team in the WHL this season and Zary is a major reason why. He’s a player with a ton of skill who has the quick hands to dazzle and create a highlight reel moment. He can create plays and finish them very well. It’s not just the skill, but how hard he plays. He attacks the net, and he’s a great two-way center. The major knock on Zary is his skating. Some scouts think it’ll be pro average; some think below-average. I lean to the former camp. It’s not great, but I think the stride is good enough that he’ll be able to skate with NHLers well enough to do the other things he is great at.
That’s basically the same deal that Kapanen/Johnsson got, and Oilers fans have been doing mock trades this whole season trying to come up with ways they could get one of them to come in and replace Kassian.
That’s not that bad of a deal. It’s an average salary in the league now. You pay a guy roughly $1M for every 10 points...and he’s on pace for over 30 points. Plus you have to pay the Edmonton tax, so paying $3.2M on a four year deal isn’t horrible.
The issue is, how many guys do you think could score 40 points on a line with McDavid/McDavid + Drai half the time? McDavid made Chiasson and Maroon into guys that produced at least that well and neither of them are worth 3.2x4.
Exactly, you could find a guy for 1-2M less that can put up the same number of points with McDavid. Don’t pay a mediocre guy that’s past his prime for what he’s done, pay him for what he’s gonna do or find someone else.