We’ll reach the second half of the season next month and it’s at that point that more of the playoff-caliber teams will start to establish themselves and the trade market might even start to open up a little bit. We’ll also get a better sense as to whether some early-season surprises are realistic postseason contenders. With that in mind and the holiday season almost upon us, it’s a good time to run our next mailbag.
Our last mailbag was broken into two segments. The first looked at John Hynes’ future in Nashville, whether or not it’s time for the Blues to be sellers, Hockey Hall of Fame benchmarks, and much more. Among the topics in the second column were Rasmus Ristolainen’s struggles for the Flyers, John Gibson’s trade candidacy, offseason mulligans, and Seattle’s surprisingly strong start.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run on the weekend.
I don’t actually have a question, but I just want to say that I’m a big fan of the mailbag column, and I appreciate seeing Brian’s practiced insights.
Easy one here: The Preds offense from their forward group is dreadful. Do you see Poile making any moves to add scoring help or is it the same old story in Nashville?
Right now the Devils seem to be on track for reaching the playoffs. That should make them buyers at the trade deadline. What are they doing with Holtz and Nemec who are their most high end prospects in my book? Will the Devils flip their top prospects for success this season? They have some valuable depth players on expiring contracts so there won’t be a ‘next season’ for this Devils team. Are they going all in?
All-knowing, -seeing and -prognosticating Snow Globe (hey, it’s Christmastime), please soothsay the follwong: 1. Longterm, UPL, Portillo or Levi? 2. Where does Tarasenko land – and in this season or next? 3. Brighter scoring future: Ruzicka, Holtz or Kent Johnson? BONUS Q: What season does Askarov arrive in Smashville? Merry Christmas – and Happy New Year!
Okay, I actually do have a question, I fibbed: who would you tab as the worst regular players in the league in terms of value to salary at forward, defense and goal? (Not counting LTIR types — obviously Montreal’s got the short end of the stick with Price there.)
What’s going on with the Sens and Blue Jackets? They gonna be buyers or sellers? Who are the targets? Possibly same question in regard to the Rangers as well.
As a Blue Jackets fan and full season ticket holder, I can answer the Columbus portion of your question. Without a doubt, the Jackets are sellers. The Horvat and Chychrun rumors are some player agent trying to drum up a market for his client.
The Jackets have 3 prominent names due to be UFA’s after the season. Gus Nyquist has made known his desire to remain in Columbus. Nyquist is currently 33 years old and when Detroit sent him to San Jose, he only brought back a 2nd and 3rd round picks. He was 4 years younger then. Most Columbus fans probably think because Jarmo got a pair of #1’s for Foligno and Savard when he traded them that they can move the clubs current UFA’s for more #1’s. Not so, and especially not in this year’s draft. Nyquist would probably fetch a 3rd round pick. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Jackets brought Nyquist back next year on a shorter deal (one or two years) at a lower rate (he made $5.5 million this year). If Gus can get more dollars and longer term somewhere else on the open market, then more power to him.
Joonas Korpisalo is on an expiring contract, he seems to be reviving his career since his hip surgery (remember he made the All Star team 3 years ago.) Meanwhile, Elvis Merzlikins is currently struggling and Merzlikins was the guy Columbus invested in log term. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Jackets extend Korpisalo and buy out the remaining 4 years of Merzlikins contract. Elvis can still be a #1 goalie in the NHL, but he never really seemed to recover from the death of Mattise Kivlieniks. Elvis is a very emotional and sensitive person who wears his feelings on his sleeve. He probably needs a change of scenery to move on as there are too many reminders in Columbus.
Vladislav Gavrikov is the Jackets other prominent UFA. Gavrikov and the Jackets have been unable to work out an extension. After seeing the hefty raises some defenseman received, Gavrikov probably seeks around 5 years and $30 million (he made $2.8 million this year). If Columbus can not or will not give Gavrikov his money, I’m sure someone else will. My guess is that he is moved to a Stanley Cup contender and probably fetches a late first round pick. Moving the teams best defensive player on a team so sorely lacking on defense is a bad message to send to the fanbase. The Jackets should do what they can to extend Gavrikov.
Finally consider this- the Jackets play 32 of their final 51 games on the road (the Jackets have two road wins all season). They also play 33 of those 51 games against teams currently sitting in a playoff position. With 11 players still on the injured list, the Jackets are going to have to ride out this nightmare of a season, knowing better days are ahead. Anaheim started a 10 game homestand last night and doesn’t go back on the road until January 17. The Ducks and Blackhawks face much easier schedules from now until the end of the season. Don’t be surprised if Columbus finishes with the worst overall record, and the best chance to land Connor Bedard. Two end of the season games to watch for are the Flyers and Blackhawks playing each other. The loser may be the winner as they would be drafting higher and the Jackets and Penguins in Columbus for the final game of the season. The Jackets could salvage their season if Pittsburgh came in needing a win to get into the playoffs and the Jackets were to knock them off.
Flames too
Gavrikov is not getting 6M. Probably in the same territory as Adam Larsson and around 4M.
Hello, who do you think the Arizona Coyotes will try to acquire? Like Mike Riley, Nikita Zaitsev, Philippe Myers, is there any others that come to mind? What can they get for Shayne Gostisbehere, Nick Bjugstad, and Nick Ritchie? Thank you and have a good day!!
Who do you see Vancouver trading Horvat to and what a potential trade might look like? Do you see them possibly trading Miller too before his NTC kicks in this summer? If you were Vancouver’s GM, what might you do with this team going into the trade deadline and in the offseason? Would you buyout OEL?
Wasn’t Miller assured that he would not be traded if he signed his extension? Otherwise it wuld make more sense to trade Miller and keep Horvat, since Bo is playing better.
Why does the NHL not allow teams to carry three goalies on their roster? The third one does not have to be on the bench but could be in the one of the box suites just in case. Thanks and keep up the good work.
The NHL does allow a team to carry 3 goalies if they so choose. But it handcuffs a team as they then have 1 less FW or D allowed to be carried. I believe a team is allowed 20 players on their lineup card and 23 players on their active roster. 12fw, 6d, 2g make up the standard lineup and teams usually carry an extra 2fw and 1d to fill out their active lineup. Some teams carry less on the active roster due to salary cap reasons.
With the Wild in no mans land, do they buy, sell or stand pat at the trade deadline? They seemingly have no long term direction.
What options do the Wings chase for 2C, or do they wait until something internally develops?
Brian,do you think the Rangers should upgrade the backup goalie situation?