The playoffs have begun, even though the 2020-21 regular season isn’t actually over for the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. Still, those games are more like tryouts for young players than competitive NHL action, meaning the focus is on the postseason from here on out.
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 part looked at the future for Taylor Hall, some expansion draft complications, and the Selke Trophy vote. The second discussed the unproven goaltending situation in Pittsburgh, Seattle’s first star, and which dark horses could make a run during the playoffs.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run this weekend.
Do you believe that the Sabres will trade Eichel? If so what team would be the best landing spot to bring the Sabres the best return? And what kind of return are the Sabres looking at?
How would you fix the department of player safety and it’s obvious flaws and inconsistencies?
I second @pawtucket on this question.
Officiating is always a point of contention. What can be done to legitimately make referees not “manage” the game. It seems like equalizing bad calls is normal, or ignoring calls to keep the game going.
Most pro-sports do not seem to suffer this as much as the NHL.
I think baseball fans would disagree with you.
Any chance the Rangers include Georgi in a trade for a center and bring “The King” back to mentor/ back up Igor? It would give Henry a way to get a proper send off before #30 takes it rightful place in the rafters.
With so many teams up against the salary cap… is there any chance the league allows a compliance buyout this offseason? And if yes, we know Ladd, Neal, etc will be bought out but what surprise names could we see?
Could Arizona expose Phil Kessel for the draft, then give up an asset to trade to get him back after the $5M signing bonus has been paid?
Do you see Tampa bay will repeat as champion this year, if not who do you see as an dark horse to win it all?
Ok Scenario Time, Little Bit Of A Top 10 Mock Draft
Assuming Nobody Moves Up Or Down In The Lottery And The Picks Remain As They Are Right Now Based Off Of Record And Nobody Trades Their Picks
Who Is The Absolute Best Player That The Teams At Those Picks Can Make?
1. Buffalo 2. Anaheim 3. Seattle 4. New Jersey 5. Columbus 6. Detroit 7. San Jose 8. Los Angeles 9. Vancouver 10.Ottawa
what teams if they are eliminated in round 1 can you see making big changes this off-season?
ie. if Edmonton is eliminated in round 1, do they shake up their core outside of Leon, Connor and Darnell?
Despite getting into the playoffs, the Predators have been awful at shot suppression, shot creation and special teams throughout John Heinz tenure as coach. Is merely squeezing into the playoffs reason to allow John Heinz to keep his job in Nashville?
Related to that, it would seem that if any team needed to make a play for Jack Eichel, it would be Nashville. Would it not be reasonable for GM Poile to offer up two first rounders, and any of their prospects not named Tomasino or Farrance for him?
Which prospects would have the best chance of being the next Brady Tkachuk (i.e. scoring forward that’s not afraid to mix it up)?
Although jack eichel is a really good player, I think his latest injury will deter some teams from making a big commitment of too many picks or prospects. Is he worth risk? For the right price I believe yes. Maybe a ready nhl player , a prospect,and a pick. But not more than that as was perviously discussed. Seems he might be injury prone. Would love the rangers to make a deal, but remember eric lindros?