We’re now down to just four teams involved in the Stanley Cup chase, meaning the offseason has started for the vast majority of the NHL. Things are heating up with Dougie Hamilton allowed to speak to other teams, Seth Jones telling the Blue Jackets he won’t re-sign right now, and Jack Eichel still seeming likely to split with the Buffalo Sabres.
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. In the first part, Brian La Rose gave his thoughts on the Department of Player Safety, the future of Phil Kessel, and the aggressiveness of the Philadelphia front office. In the second, he gave us a Stanley Cup prediction, shared his thoughts on the Eichel situation, and projected the first few picks of the upcoming draft.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below.
$8 million seems insane for Hamilton. He looked lost when Slavin was out during the Nashville series. As a canes fan, what could we expect for compensation? Also, if Dougie leaves, any chance we make a run at Jones, if he’d sign for less than Hamilton?
what has Rick Tocchet done in his head coaching career to warrant the interviews he’s had so far?(rangers, Columbus and Seattle) his teams regularly miss the playoffs, he’s got an overall losing record, am I missing something? surely there’s more deserving coaches out there
You are missing things.
Who do you think works out a side deal with Seattle? Also who will be the most expensive players they end up with?
Has Carolina allowed Brind’amour to interview with other teams, yet? Could they delay him from signing with Seattle until after the cup final or is he able to do so, now? Is this still likely?
Never mind
how many games does an rfa have to play to be ineligible to be picked by the Kraken?
Is there any way to make a Seth Jones to the Flyers trade work?
Which UFAs should Seattle go after to compliment the plethora of 3rd line forwards and 5th/6th d-men they get from the expansion draft?
When comparing Lou Lamoriello to Kyle Dubas, Was it a mistake for Toronto to try new analytics versus old experience?
Considering where the Islanders are, and the Leafs are not.
P.S. If the Islanders lose to Tampa, considering the Cap loophole Tampa exploited into the equation of success of the Islanders to date.
Hockey “analytics” are 90% bunk but The Emporer’s New Stats keeps getting people like Dubas and Chayka top jobs for which they are not remotely qualified.
They work in baseball, they are mostly a rain dance in hockey.
What everyone is missing is Barry Trotz, who is quietly the only person who has figured out how to bring defense back to modern hockey.
For all the hand wringing and the finger pointing by the Yinzgrates, each time the Pens have been eliminated since our last Cup it has been at the hands of Barry Trotz OR Claude Julien copying and pasting Trotz’s playbook against us.
The Yinzgrates isn’t really working. Try something else. It’s stale as the Pens
They are both Yinzers and (insufferably ignorant) ingrates.
What “else” should I call these Yinzgrates?
Any chance Larkin is available? He’d be a perfect fit for a team like the AVS or Rangers. They definitely have the pieces to get it done.
Nobody ever knows what Lou is thinking but the Islanders need to free up cap space to sign their RFA and resign Cizikas. What does Lou do? Trade Nick Leddy? What would he get back? A 2nd and a 3rd round pick? Could you also see Jordan Eberle being left unprotected and Kyle Palmieri be resigned for less annual $$$ than Eberle?
Dear Swami, please gaze into your Crystal Ball and list your Top-12 undrafted players, long-term (goals, points & GAA only). Thanks in advance.
How many years back in terms of draft classes (to know which pool of players to choose from)? I can’t make any sort of prediction like that on this year’s class until we actually see who gets drafted (even the Crystal Ball can’t quite predict how next month’s draft is going to go).
Malkin and a 1st round pick for Eichel?
Would be beautiful if they had a #1 pick. And even if they did there is no way Malkin waives his no trade to go to Buffalo. And no way Buffalo would make that trade
given how cam neely just softly admitted they kinda botched the 2015 draft, how much shorter of a leash does sweeney have/scouts(ing department)? I know not every team hits on all thier picks, but, the eye test tells me that teams like the late 90’s/early 2000’s red wings sustained thier success by hitting on late round gems. Also, is it just me or do the Bruins have an aversion (at least with early round picks) to non-american born/developed players?
It’s you. First two picks in 2018, Axel Andersson and Jakub Lauko. First round pick in 2017 was Vaakanainen. Zboril in 2015 played junior in Canada but was Czech born and raised. Their first pick in 2014 was some guy named Pastrnak. Their first two picks in 2013 was Linus Arnesson and Peter Cehlarik.
I’d say it was quite the opposite, and that Boston’s done more of their share of drafting overseas than many teams. The problem is that they’re not very good at it. Go back through the Bruins’ draft history, and other than Pasta and Krejci, the only other two impact players they’ve drafted in thirty bloody years in ANY round from Europe were Sergei Samsonov and PJ Axelsson.
Sovietcanuck:
Given that the scouting staff that was in place for the 2015 draft – left after that with most of them joining Chiarelli in Edmonton (head scout was Keith Gretzky) I’d say this staff won’t be fired because of what others picked!
Sweeney only had a month on the job in 2015 draft, so he went with what the scouting staff had selected.
His staff did a pretty good job with the 2016 #14 pick McAvoy.
I should have prefaced by saying under sweeney’s watch. but fair enough just the same.
At this point the Sabres coaching search seems to be centered on keeping Don Granato or hiring former Ranger coach Dave Quinn. Any thoughts on what direction they should take?? It is desperation time in Buffalo.
What are the chances of the Ducks landing Eichel? i feel like they have the assets, but will them not being willing to move Zegras or Drysdale remove the possibility.
Also, who do you think the ducks go for if they don’t land Eichel?
Could Doug Wilson convince Vlasic and Karlsson to waive their NMCs and then protect 8 forwards/0 defensemen?
Any news on Laine to Panthers rumors? I dont like his attitude but if you put him with fellow Finn Barkov that could be amazing.
If the Bruins pass on both Hall and Krejci, who should they acquire via UFA or trade to replace them?
What surprising names might be available this off season due to cap constraints?
Do the Flames actually break up their core and trade a significant piece this offseason or just “retool” again?
Lots of talk about how much cap the Oilers have to go into free agency with and how they could use it to help balance out their roster. But with some nice pieces coming up as prospects (Broberg, Bouchard, Samorukov, Bergland, McLeod, Marody, Benson, Lavoie, Savoie, ect.) could they explore trading from there to a cap strapped club for a more established compliment to McDavid or Draisaitl with term already attached instead? And if so, who do you see as possible targets?
Thanks