The trade deadline is over and teams now have to complete the last quarter of the season with no outside help. That means plenty of action for young players on clubs outside the playoff race, and a test of depth for those grinding for a top seed. While the battle for the last few playoff spots rages, some fans will have turned their attention to the upcoming draft and free agency, excited for what to come. Will the big names moved at the deadline re-sign with their new teams? Or will the free agent market be littered with stars looking for big paychecks?
With the deadline behind us and the playoffs not too far away, it’s time to run another mailbag. We’ll be answering as many questions as we can this weekend. You can submit questions by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below.
If you missed our last mailbag, it came out in two parts given all the questions asked. First Brian tackled everything to do with the Metropolitan Division including predicting Pittsburgh’s movement of Tanner Pearson for some defense help and giving his thoughts on the Micheal Ferland situation. Next, he tackled the rest of the league in a lengthy mailbag that stretches from Erik Karlsson to Jonas Brodin.
Bruins fan here – when pastrnak comes back and assuming the Bruins are playing the kind of hockey they have been since hes been out – do they reunite the ‘perfection’ line? (to give teams more to plan for in playoffs?) or do they try and spread the wealth a little better/more since they are doing well despite his not being around? thanks in advance.
Pretend you’re Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson. Who would you hire to be GM?
Are the Rangers a lot closer than people think in regards to returning to relevancy? Take a look at the number of 1 goal games they’ve played in.
What are the rules for the expansion draft – re: games played to count towards the ‘needs protection’ list? I’m seeing all these signings from the NCAA and Europe and wondering what will happen if they burn a year this year and the expansion draft in 2 years…
what are the Rangers offseason plans? do you see them either signing or trading for a big time player like Panarin?
Do the Blues try and extend Pietrangelo and Schenn this offseason seeing as they are eligible for free agency next year?
who are your top 3 underpaid players (not counting rookie contracts)
watching my bruins the past 10 games has been hockey porn
Will Erik Karlsson be 1 and done in San Jose?
St.Louis has to extend the contracts of Pietrangelo and Schenn. These players are the core of that organization imo
Tanner Pearson has been a joke in Pittsburgh.
^good question
What do you think the fallout would be like if the Blue Jackets suffer an early exit or miss the postseason entirely after giving up so many future assets and holding onto their pending UFAs?
When is the league going to get rid of this ridiculous playoff format? Last year the top two teams in the league, Winnipeg and Nashville had to play in the second round and could happen again this year with Tampa and Boston or Toronto.
Long, long, long way to go. 5 plus years at least.