Free agency has come to a screeching halt, arbitration hearings are finished and the drag of the true off-season is upon us. We’ve seen huge names swap teams, but we won’t get to see them in action for another few months. The NHL holds out hope for a January start, while other leagues are targeting February as a realistic beginning. Still, there is something to look forward to; in just over a month’s time the World Juniors is set to begin in an Edmonton bubble, with some of the top young players from around the world. A delayed NHL season will likely make the talent at this year’s tournament even better, raising it to must-watch territory for the hockey-starved sports fan.
With the biggest parts of the offseason behind us, it’s time to run another edition of the PHR mailbag.
If you missed our most recent edition, it was broken into two parts. The first included a look at the situation on defense for the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney‘s checkered draft history, and the Nashville Predators’ search for a top-six winger. The second included some predictions on professional tryout candidates, the next steps in a New York Rangers rebuild, and thoughts on the biggest steals of draft day.
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.
Did the Flyers do enough to replace the surprisingly retired Niskanen? Myers, Provorov, and Hagg really impressed last year, but are those guys plus Gostisbehere, Braun, Gustafsson, and Sanheim enough of a top 7 to keep this team in Cup contention?
Will the Rangers be a contender after just this year’s FA and draft acquisitions?
I think you have confused Hagg and Sanheim.
I definitely am no expert so this means absolutely nothing, but I felt more comfortable with the play in the defensive end with Hagg on the ice than Sanheim. I acknowledge Sanheim is the way better all around talent and still hasn’t reached his cieling, but I was impressed with Hagg considering the limited role he’s been used to (again just my useless opinion).
Do you see the Devils making any other moves this offseason? Perhaps offer sheeting someone as has been rumored?
How do you project the Metropolitan division to shake out? Any surprises? Dark horses?
Why are the Blue Jackets waiting to place Brandon Dubinsky on LTIR? . You’d think they’d want to free up the cap space. Is there some sort of advantage to waiting?
You can’t use LTIR until the season actually starts.
Will Ulf Samuelsson get suspended again?
Can you please make long- and short-term sense of Nashville’s goaltending? Thanks.
They have the best longterm in the league! Best AHL goalie and best goalie not under an NHL contract.
Updated predictions on top remaining FAs?
Avs defense. After the surefire big-time contract that makar is going to get, and with Byram and Timmins expected to take big steps forward this season or next, then adding in the flat or potentially decreasing cap situation, how does sakic make this work, both on the books and on the ice?
At the pace they are going now, how long do you see it taking for the Red Wings to truly become potential Cup challengers again? Anytime within the next 3 years or longer? Atleast competitive for playoff spot?
Maybe 3 at best
how do you judge David Quinn’s first 2 years as rangers head coach? How much credit does he deserve for likes of strome, deangelo, zibanejad and panarin’s career years and how much is awful defensive play down to him? Rangers are definitely heading in right direction under Gorton despite little added this off season but if rangers miss playoffs will coach Quinn be on the hot seat or does he deserve more time?
Am I not worried enough about Ilya Samsonov being the starting goalie now with holtby leaving in free agency? He played well last year but will he be able to transfer that performance to more games?
Are we going to see a dark horse next year to become the Stanley cup champion
Canadian division a real thing next year? Or just a consideration?
If so, how are playoff seeds determined? Say 6 Canadian teams should be in the playoffs as per point percentages or if the east/west was done. How do they figure it out or potentially figure it out?
The Chicago Blackhawks spend only under 2 million on both their goalies. Do you think they will add a Veteran like Anderson, Howard?
I know the back story for the most part but just how toxic is Mike Hoffman considered? If it isn’t his off the ice issues why else wouldn’t Hoffman be signed already? He is a high end scorer that could help out most teams .. Is he just unwilling to take the Taylor Hall one year route? Where (if anywhere) do you see him ending up and what kind of contract?
How long does KyleDubas keep his job?