With August coming to a close and the NHL offseason moving like a slug on a hot sidewalk, fans (and writers) are looking forward to next month and the start of training camp. The preseason kicks off in a month and like usual there are still some big restricted free agents without contracts. As camp approaches, the heat will be put on both sides to get deals done, which could lead to some very interesting situations.
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 half, Brian examined the situations regarding Vladimir Tarasenko and Jack Eichel, while also giving his thoughts on the New York Islanders’ tight-lipped strategy. In the second, he discussed the New Jersey Devils’ new acquisitions, the Seattle Kraken roster, and David Krejci’s departure from the Boston Bruins.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run on the weekend and answer as many questions as possible.
Is Lundqvist the best goalie to never win a Cup?
Not a bad choice (he’d be in my top three), but the plain leader there is Tony Esposito. Three Vezinas to King Henrik’s one, five 1st or 2nd All-Star cites vs Lundqvist’s three, a Calder, more shutouts in a tougher era to get them, and they had identical career lengths (Henrik played exactly one more regular season game).
Great answer
What Adams has done with the Sabres roster seems to be geared towards clearing out the losing mentality of certain players would you agree? Complete reset so to speak and hear up a rebuild what he feels is the right way. Previous 2 gms failed to bring in players that their character properly fit the “retool/rebuild” mode of a team. Granted the last one was brought in by Adams, being Taylor Hall, but that seems like a knee jerk reaction by Adams facing pressure from Ownership that appears clueless. Second question is do you think Adams has the invisible “handcuffs” off of him this go around?
Will the NHL participate in the Beijing Olympics, and better, should they?
Yes. No.
Do you think the veteran additions and developing prospects will be enough for the LA Kings to make the playoffs this season? Is 3rd in the relatively weak Pacific Division possible?
I’m not Gavin but I would have them in 2 or 3 right now.
1. VGK 2/3. EDM/LAK 4/5. VAN/SJS 6. SEA 7. CGY 8. ANA
People seem to be piling on SJS but they forget they where homeless to start the year. No home for the limited preseason then starting the season on the road for the first full month before Santa Clara allowed for contact sports in their area.
Interesting take on SJ. I still think they are primed for a long, slow decline.
Also VGK probably still wins the division, but they are going to make a sharp decline soon too.
3 in and 3 out…. What 3-teams made the playoffs last season will not make it this season and who replaces them?
There’s always the Guy Who Comes Out Of Nowhere to dish out the unexpected career year. Who are the best candidates for that this season?
Michael Bunting is going get a crack at playing with Matthews and Marner and he’s going to seize the opportunity. He was putting up good numbers on 1st line last season. This years Verhaeghe, although Verhaeghe should be good again this year too.
Someone on Seattle as well as some random on Arizona, just because of getting playing time.
You’d think by the same token one of those Guys would be from Buffalo, in the “Someone has to be on their alleged #1 line” camp.
Roslovic or Dunn
Why doesn’t Buffalo just offer sheet Sorokin for 4.11 Million a year for 5 or 6 years to be the goalie of the future ??
Old & New Crystal Ball, total points moving forward: Wennberg vs Bennett; Saad vs Zucker; Podkolzin vs Lucas Raymond; Owen Power vs Luke Hughes – and GAA: Vladar vs Skinner; Wallstedt vs Cossa.
Now that we know Eichel is going to miss the first month or so, have the Rangers pivoted to reupping Z-dad?
What do you expect from Cole Caufield in Montreal in a full NHL season ? Can he score 30 goals ?
Cole Caufield I think will put up 40 at some point in his career. Kid is a show. And I’m not a MTL fan.
Can the Kings make the playoffs this year the team looks a lot better and the kids are coming up.
The Red Wings lack a true number one center, is it possible they are secretly in on Eichel? He fits their core group in terms of age and the Wings have the cap space to fit him in. I know the Red Wings have rarely leaked any rumors under Yzerman, but this is an opportunity that rarely presents itself and they have the pieces, I would think, to make it work.
Rhetorical question, but how does subtracting Arvidsson and Jarnkrok and adding Tomasino and Glass to an already paltry offense in Nashville improve their goal scoring output?
Do you see the Hughes brothers all playing together on the same team someday? What would it take for that to happen via trade?
Huh. I wonder, offhand, how many cases of THREE brothers all playing for the same team at the same time there’ve been. The Stastnys, of course, and the Plagers for St. Louis come to mind, and I think all three Bentley brothers for Chicago in the 40s.
Only four times have 3 brothers played in same game , and same team Jared, Jordan, Eric for the Carolina Hurricanes all played on same line in 2013 , you got the other 3
Staal Brothers
Jared, Jordan, Eric
OOPS!
Looking back in a few years, who has buyers remorse? It could be a free agent signing, an extension for their own player or a trade.
Washington- Mantha. Seattle-Schwartz. Edmonton-Nurse/Hyman, Chicago-Jones, Colorado-Kuemper just off the top of my head oh philly too, too much for couturier