The first two rounds of the playoffs are in the books with only four teams remaining in contention for the Stanley Cup while the other 28 await what’s expected to be a particularly busy offseason in terms of activity. Meanwhile, a handful of teams are still working through their searches for their next head coach while another is in the home stretch for finding their next general manager.
With all that in mind, it’s a good time to open up the mailbag once again. Our last call for questions had enough for two separate columns. The first talked about Winnipeg’s attractiveness to players, the Quinn Hughes situation in Vancouver, what could happen this offseason for the Kings, and more. Meanwhile, topics in the second included discussing the idea of San Jose moving its top draft pick, buyout discussions for the Blues, and what Detroit might be looking to do in the coming weeks.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter/X or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run this weekend.
Hey Brian, Since it looks like Blashill seems to have a leg up on the Hawks job who might we be looking at for his assistants? And if not Blashill who are they talking about in the recently eliminated teams they might be considering? Thanks P.S. Hope they don’t hire anyone before this weekend. LOL
So what’s the deal with Connor Hellebuyck? If we look at advanced stats of the team around him, is it truly a case of an elite goalie consistently collapsing in the playoffs? Or is it the defence around him?
It’s absolutely stunning to see the Jets go from winning the President’s Trophy to seeing Hellebuyck post the worst numbers of any goaltender in the playoffs – an unacceptable 0.866 save% (and it was worse than that at various points).
And I guess the follow-up question is… Where does the team go from here? Is this something that can be corrected?
The NHL has about 10 Kershaws through history. Marner, Matthews, Panarin, Hellebuyck now. Historically, Yashin, Rick Nash, Todd Bertuzzi, Joe Thornton — even Marcel Dionne — were known to disappear come May. Stammer was accused of being a regular-season merchant for a while, but busted the reputation during the Covid Cup Dynasty. What do you think it takes to coach a guy to play with more intensity, take hits, block shots, not make east-west passes, go to the net, and find shooting lanes — to do the things necessary to play good playoff hockey? Who would even want Marner at $12 – 14 million if he has this reputation?
Good take. Can’t agree more on Marner. He kinda disappeared towards the end of the series against the Panthers. Lots of my fellow Ducks fans are clamoring for the Beeker to sign him. He’s an assist machine with a guy like Matthews on his line but will he be worth the asking price for 6+ years, no! Personally I hope Beeker is above the temptation to sign him.
What do you think the Red Wings will target once free agency starts: Mitch Marner, John Tavares, or Vladislav Gavrikov or someone else?
What does Steve Yzerman need to accomplish for the Red Wings to contend for the playoffs?
What does a Devils dream offseason look like?Trades? Free Agency? Etc
Brian –
with the Hawks having the second worst GA this season, don’t they target at least one solid Dman in free agency?
The word that’s leaking around is that Florida won’t be able to afford Ekblad so the Hawks might target him. Of course idiots are already calling Ben Johnson NFL Coach of the Year already and we haven’t even inflated a football yet so there’s that.