The trade deadline is now less than two weeks away and activity is starting to pick up around the league. However, with this being a unique year in terms of so many teams being up against the salary cap, it’s likely to be a unique deadline.
With that in mind, it’s time to run another edition of the PHR mailbag. If you missed the last one, it was broken into two pieces. The first discussed Jake DeBrusk’s struggles in Boston and his potential to be moved, what New Jersey needs to, plus some thoughts on the upcoming UFA goalie market. The second looked at the idea that the Sharks could be buyers at the deadline, what Dougie Hamilton’s next contract might look like, and the never-ending search for a top-line center in Columbus.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run this weekend.
Who do you think the Islanders pursue at the trade deadline
best plan of attack for Philly at the deadline?
Considering Jaden Schwartz is going to be an UFA this off-season, do the Blues hold on to him and try for an extension or try and trade him at the deadline?
ok so is Laine the problem or did CBJ just try and fit a square peg into a round hole and it backfired?
Both
any chance Francis tries to pry Laviolette from Washington? Could make an expansion draft like deal but for a coach
Realistically what could the returns be for the Devils players rumored to be on the block?
Palmieri, Kulikov, Murray, Subban, Gusev
Crystal Ball visions for Seth Jarvis vs Alex Newhook (goals/assists only); Top-2 D-men in 2021 draft, scoring-wise; short- and long-term futures of Adin Hill & Laurent Brossoit (chosen by Seattle?); and does Laine get it straightened out, either in Columbus or elsewhere?
Thanks,
The Duke
As the season has provided more questions than answers what realistically do the rangers need to do to take the next step in their rebuild? trade for a top centre like Eichel if available? change coach? and what do they do with strome who continues to put points up trade him or keep him?
What should we make of the Flyers? It feels like a regression from last year and the young guys expected to step up haven’t yet. Then the flat cap the next few years seems to make things even more complicated.
Do you think the Avalanche will be making some moves? To improve their goaltending depth because I know Johansson isn’t the answer.
Too bad you could not grab Rask, but I think he has a bad back now.
What do you think about Quinn Hughes going forward? He puts up points and is great on the pp but his plus minus is kinda disturbing. Also do you think Travis Green and/or Benning will be back next year?
What would you do if anything if you were the Penguins. It appears Jarry is coming back within the next game or two. Same with Blueger. If Malkin and Kapanen are both good to go, would you mess with altering the team that seams to have been playing well since February wen the Defensemen all got healthy?
What are the Islanders plans? Is really like to see some type of sniper like Patrik Laine, any chance?
The Jets were looking for a Dman when Beaulieu ended up on the LTIR list compounding their problem. Ekholm and other Preds are most likely no longer options. Who should the Jets try to get? What can they offer without mortgaging the future?
Typically, does a coach or GM that is fired with term on their contract have/owe any responsibilities to the contracting club? That is, can the club require them to perform scouting, work in the mail room, etc. or is it just paid vacation until the contract term is reached? Can they consult in the interim? What happens if they are hired by another club prior to the existing contract expiring? Thanks for considering.
I was hoping Don Sweeney would pull off a couple of trades and spark the team. I don’t think anything is going to happen of importance with their terrible play. It’s a pity they waste more time with this core. They will have no choice but to make moves in the off-season.
Bruins fan here. They’re in a tough spot. The core is getting older and they don’t want to squander this year. On the other hand, they are more than one player away from a Cup. They’ve got no secondary scoring and a young, mistake-prone D. They don’t have a lot of young talent to trade and shouldn’t be looking to give up future draft picks especially since Rask, Halak & Krejci might retire/leave after this year. If that happens, they might even miss the playoffs. Realistically, what can they do?