The frenzy of free agency has slowed considerably in the last several days as teams try to figure out how all the pieces fit together. Alex Pietrangelo is headed to the strip, while Torey Krug takes his place in St. Louis. There are still several difference-makers available on the open market, but who knows when they’ll actually decide on a place to play next season. Months remain before training camps even open, with no expectation of games before the end of the year.
With that in mind, it’s time to run another edition of the PHR mailbag.
If you missed our last one before the offseason began, it was split into two parts you can read here and here. In the first, Brian gave some predictions for some of the Western Conference contenders, while also giving his thoughts on the state of officiating in the NHL. In the second, he correctly predicted that Nikita Zadorov would be elsewhere when the 2020-21 season began, before discussing the future of the NHL and the potential of having a full season with no fans in the buildings.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. We’ll try to get to everything when the mailbag runs this weekend.
Which player will most likely get a contract or PTO from teams that is dealing with depleted roster?
Larkin
What is the holdup for Buffalo moving Ristolainen or Miller? Gotta think this is what is delaying a move for a more capable Goalie (Varlamov, Korposallo, Kuempfer) to pair up with Ullmark.
Their cap hits and the fact that nobody wants them.
With Petro now gone, who will be the new captain? I think Ryan O’Reilly should be at the top of the pecking order.
*the new blues captain
How is it possible for a GM to strike out on SO many high first round picks, late 1st reaches (unskilled Trent Fredereck) and not be fired? Not to mention his genius plan to sign bottom roster filler at the start of FA while others sign stars. Im sick of dommy moores, mckeggs, ghost of Kevan Miller..etc etc. Smith signing not enough.
Do you think Sweeney needs to make a real move to save his job? Or did Jacobs taking a bath on some property handcuff him? They can all go but Don cant draft or trade
are you high?
Asks the man with “MoneyBallWorks” as a handle…in 2020.
while I think no one will ever admit it, I’d say there’s an internal cap but also, their scouting dept. is clearly getting paid too much.
I agree with you 100 %
Sweeney absolutely blows as GM !
He is totally incompetent..
How does he keep his job?
He’s not incompetent. The fact is he has a cup final appearance, has lost to the last 2 stanley cup champions, was on pace to win the President’s trophy this year, and (maybe most importantly) is the reason they can even compete year after year as he signed Pasta do that incredibly team friendly contract.
Has every decision he made been amazing? No but no one’s is. Sure he’s missed on 1sts but he has hit on Carlo and February and only had those 1sts by dumping everything PC did.
The Bruins are constantly competitive but this year lost their goalie a few weeks before the restart and now he deserves to be fired? (A year after GM of the year honors? You guys are nuts.
He took a ton of draft capital and a core in its prime and wasted ALL of it. The team playing well in spite of piss poor team management doesn’t give him a pass. Autodraft would have put us in a way better spot than dumb dumb donny did.
Are you related to Sweeney? He totally overvalues his roster, and is afraid of Russian players! There are too many 4th line players in their system! Don’t believe me??
From The Athletic:
Ranked #28 Boston Bruins
Pre-draft org ranking: No. 23
2020 NHL Draft grade: D
Charlie McAvoy is a great NHL player and a go-to guy on a top team. Jack Studnicka is a very good young player, too. After that there are nice players in the Bruins system but there isn’t a ton of quality depth. I wasn’t a huge fan of what they did at the 2020 draft either, even after taking second looks recently at some of the USHL players they used high picks on.
1. Charlie McAvoy, D
2. Jack Studnicka, C
3. John Beecher, C
4. Trent Frederic, C
5. Daniel Vladar, G
6. Jakub Lauko, LW
7. Jack Ahcan, D
Nope just able to see actual results. Yes the draft picks aren’t necessarily home runs, but this team was built to compete now which it is doing. Ask Chicago if it would rather have the multiple cups or a team that drafted decently but never quite got there.
So your saying the Bruins used high picks on Vladar, Lauko and Ahcan?
What is your definition of “high” draft picks?
Just curious that’s all.
The biggest free agent who is the best at his position is still unsigned. With Mike Emrick retiring will UFA John Forslund become the voice of the NHL?
I’m a Blue Jackets fan and I can’t see them acquiring Patrik Laine. They are in a position where they must take care of Pierre Luc Dubois first and signing him may take a while. They must make sure that if any club extends DuBois an offer sheet that they are in a position to match it. Save for maybe signing Mikael Granlund if he’s still available, I think they’re done for the time being. I think once the Jackets are in a position to address Laine, he will be long gone. Does my assessment seem reasonable to you?
^ This is one of the weirder asked questions i’ve come across. State an opinion, and then ask “How’s my opinion?”
Bigalval read your comment and was like, “hold my beer!”
Chara signs with the Kings on a 1 year deal and a coaching job when he retires ?
Is there a reason Noel Gunler fell out of the first round? Fantasy-wise Dobber has him in top 10, and central scouting has him as #9 among EU skaters, but Dobber did mention there were perceived (but mainly false according to them) attitude issues. Any reasons he won’t turn into a top-level offensive talent as many scouts have him pegged as?
What’s next for the Rangers rebuild?
No post about Gary Roberts to Seattle or did I miss it?
When is the Seattle Expansion Draft?
Some date on June of 2021, also considering if season starts in January and schedule and playoffs
Would the Red Wings be better off giving Mike Hoffman a one year 6 million dollar deal and see what they can get at the deadline rather then trading for Tyler Johnson and a pick?
Who were the biggest steals in the draft? Yes, I know we won’t be able to adequately judge for years but come on it’s October and there is no hockey!
Is Don Sweeney the worst GM in Hockey? They supposedly have a lot more cap space than most teams. Neeley says after they are eliminated that they need to get tougher and they need more scoring. They were ready to change the roster to compete for a cup.
Free agency comes and (sorry Smith, I like you as a player) *POOF* no one traded, resigning most players, Krug gone (knew it and was ok with it) But where is the change? Where is the infusion? I have been a Bruins fan since the 70’s and I swear we are back to the Harry Sinden/Mike O’Connell days….suck, suck, suck!!!
just over a year after a game 7 cup final loss. wow. Isolation has gotten to you
I was talking about the loss to the Lightning this year, Genius.
So with your superior knowledge is Brisebois a good GM for Tampa or a bad one???
Won a cup this year, but couldn’t win 1 playoff game last year.
They should definitely get crap for last year. It was a choke job. They made up for it by winning the cup though…
The Athletic asking your confidence in your teams front office…ha ha ha!!
link to docs.google.com
The Athletic listed the top 120 players under 23 years of age….
Charlie McAvoy is #24 and that is it.
Tell me, who is responsible for that??
Did you actually look over where most of those players were picked in the draft years.
In the top 40, 35 were picked #1 to #18. With I think 32 picked in top 10.
Boston didn’t have a top 10 pick in all the years those players were picked. Hard to get top 10 picks when you are always in top 5 best teams in the league.
Or do you not understand that?
I quit looking after awhile.