Poll: Who Will Be The Top UFA Defenseman Available?
With the 2017-18 season underway and several franchises off to inauspicious starts, fans are already looking ahead (somewhat prematurely) to next summer’s free agent class. While free agents can rarely be the fix-it-all answer for a struggling team, they are often pursued as such. That won’t change in 2018, when there projects to be a deep—but risky—free agent crop.
This year, Kevin Shattenkirk and Karl Alzner paced the defensive group and secured long-term deals. Both players have significant flaws in their games, which is something teams will have to live with next summer as well. Still, there are several players worthy of consideration for the top dog and many more that could help teams right the ship in their own end.
While many of these players will likely re-sign with their respective clubs before even getting close to free agency, we’ll take an early look at who should be crowned the jewel come July 1st. It will be interesting to compare to our rankings at the end of the season, to see who improved their rankings and who fell off the map. Make sure to leave your reasoning behind in the comments.
Who will be the top UFA defenseman in 2018?
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John Carlson 49% (484)
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Calvin de Haan 10% (95)
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Jack Johnson 10% (94)
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Mike Green 9% (92)
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Ian Cole 5% (49)
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Zdeno Chara 5% (46)
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Erik Gudbranson 4% (39)
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Toby Enstrom 4% (38)
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Brayden McNabb 3% (30)
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Nick Holden 1% (11)
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Other 1% (9)
Total votes: 987
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Poll: Which Playoff Team Is Most Likely To Falter In 2017-18?
Earlier this summer we asked our readers which non-playoff team would make the jump this year and get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning easily paced the pack, with each receiving more than 18% of the votes. They were easy choices after both experienced one-year power outages, but made moves to right the ship in the offseason.
But, if teams like Dallas and Tampa Bay are to climb back into the postseason tournament, someone will have to drop out. After the first couple nights of the season, some teams have celebrated huge wins while others are still trying to figure out what went wrong. One game doesn’t mean much, but it was sure a fun way to start the year.
So now, we’ll ask you the opposite question. Which teams are most likely to fall out of the playoffs in 2017-18? Will it be a division leader, plummeting to the bottom of the standings like Dallas and Florida last season, or a bubble team who just can’t quite hold on to their spot? A former champion, struggling with cap issues or a young team who is struck by the sophomore slump?
Check any and all teams that you think will miss the playoffs this year, and make sure to explain your choices in the comments below. Tell us who you think will jump in, and where they’ll finish.
Which playoff team will falter in 2017-18?
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Ottawa Senators 13% (130)
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San Jose Sharks 12% (118)
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New York Rangers 11% (108)
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Montreal Canadiens 11% (104)
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Boston Bruins 10% (96)
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St. Louis Blues 8% (76)
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Calgary Flames 7% (69)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 7% (66)
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Nashville Predators 4% (38)
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Minnesota Wild 4% (38)
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Washington Capitals 3% (34)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 3% (29)
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Anaheim Ducks 2% (24)
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Chicago Blackhawks 2% (22)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 2% (21)
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Edmonton Oilers 1% (8)
Total votes: 981
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Poll: Where Will Matt Duchene Start His 2017-18 Season?
Matt Duchene showed up for the start of training camp this morning with the Colorado Avalanche, clearly frustrated with how this offseason has played out. Duchene and agent J.P. Barry have made it clear they would like a resolution to the ongoing trade speculation, and instead of face countless more questions from the media, had a simple statement:
I’m here to honor my contract. I’m here out of respect for the fans, and I’m here for my teammates. I had a great summer training and I’m in great physical condition.
Duchene will take part in training camp now that he’s there, but questions continue to swirl around his future with the club. With only two years left on his current contract, the asking price of GM Joe Sakic has yet to be matched. Sakic has reportedly been looking for a first-round pick, a young NHL caliber defenseman and a top prospect, and while that may have changed slightly there still doesn’t seem to be any deal in sight. Many teams around the league could benefit from having Duchene on their roster, but giving up all that for two years of a player coming off a down season is almost impossible for anyone to do.
The question is asked nearly every week in our live chats (of which we’ll hold the latest in about an hour’s time), where will Duchene eventually end up? Does he end up going to one of the oft-rumored destinations like Columbus or Carolina? Will another team swoop in and snatch him up in a last second move? Or will he have to start the season with Colorado and hope his play draws more interested parties in? Vote below on where you think Duchene will play his first game this season, and make sure to leave your reasoning behind in the comments.
Where will Matt Duchene start his 2017-18 season?
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Colorado Avalanche 34% (327)
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Other (leave in comments) 16% (154)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 14% (134)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 11% (107)
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New York Islanders 10% (101)
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Carolina Hurricanes 8% (80)
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New York Rangers 5% (51)
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Anaheim Ducks 2% (22)
Total votes: 976
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Poll: Where Would You Like To See The Next NHL Franchise?
With news this morning that Seattle will approve a plan for a new arena, expansion and relocation talk has ramped up around the league once again. The NHL will head into next season with 31 teams, and though that’s not impossible to carry forward is far from ideal. A 32nd franchise is expected at some point, and Seattle now will have a new, privately funded arena and a backer—billionaire David Bonderman—who according to John Shannon of Sportsnet has privately expressed interest in a team.
The question now is whether expansion or relocation is right for Seattle (if they are to get a team at all) and if there are any other markets that could be in the running for the 32nd franchise. Obviously, Quebec City has long been rumored as a potential expansion location and even put in a bid in the last round. Houston, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Portland and Hamilton have all been mentioned as possible fits, along with a potential second team in Toronto. Nothing is imminent in any of these markets, but the idea of expansion is at least interesting in each of them.
Where do you think will be the next city with an NHL franchise, either through expansion or relocation? We’ve listed some options below, but feel free to comment with others you feel could be a good market for a growing US hockey base. Whatever you choose, make sure to tell us which method it will be, and if relocation which franchise you see packing up and leaving.
Where would you like to see the next NHL franchise?
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Quebec 38% (787)
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Seattle 36% (742)
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Kansas City 6% (121)
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Milwaukee 6% (116)
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Houston 6% (114)
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Toronto (second team) 3% (67)
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Portland 3% (59)
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Hamilton 3% (58)
Total votes: 2,064
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Poll: Who Will Win The Calder Trophy In 2017-18?
Prospect tournaments across the league are starting today, and with it we get a good—and sometimes first—look at some of the potential impact rookies in the NHL this year. Even those who spent some time with their NHL club last year normally participate, and do battle against the top prospects of other teams.
Earlier this summer we looked at a handful of rookies that could make an impact on their teams right away. In part one, we reviewed some of the names that had already made their debuts to great fanfare, but had not exhausted their rookie status. In part two, we included some of the less heralded names who have immense upside and could experience a breakout.
Now, we’ll ask you what you think. Below we’ve included many of the names who are early favorites for the Calder Trophy, but feel free to list your own pick for Rookie of the Year in the comments below. Will it be a top draft pick who explodes onto the scene right away, or a ex-college player who is thrust into a better situation? Can a defenseman take home the trophy for the first time since Aaron Ekblad, or will it go to a forward for the tenth time in thirteen years?
Who Will Win The Calder Trophy?
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Charlie McAvoy (BOS) 19% (155)
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Nico Hischier (NJD) 13% (101)
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Nolan Patrick (PHI) 10% (82)
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Clayton Keller (ARZ) 10% (80)
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Brock Boeser (VAN) 9% (72)
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Josh Ho-Sang (NYI) 8% (62)
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Alex DeBrincat (CHI) 5% (42)
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Tyson Jost (COL) 5% (39)
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Other (leave in comments) 4% (36)
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Kyle Connor (WPG) 4% (33)
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Dylan Strome (ARZ) 4% (32)
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Mathew Barzal (NYI) 2% (20)
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Thomas Chabot (OTT) 2% (17)
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Julius Honka (DAL) 2% (13)
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Owen Tippett (FLA) 1% (12)
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Anders Bjork (BOS) 1% (7)
Total votes: 803
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Poll: Who Will Be The Next RFA To Sign An NHL Contract?
With the Detroit Red Wings signing defenseman Robbie Russo, only nine RFAs remain. Training camp kicks off in less than 10 days for some teams, so teams with unsigned RFAs are under a time crunch to get deals done. There are big names remaining, including Sam Bennett, Nikita Zadorov, and David Pastrnak. While many teams publicly display confidence in signing their RFA, the Boston Bruins seem to be at odds with Pastrnak’s contract demands.
Nine RFAs, and less than two weeks until training camp. Who do you think signs next?
Who will be the next RFA to sign an NHL contract?
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Bo Horvat 33% (143)
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David Pastrnak 22% (97)
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Marcus Foligno 10% (44)
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Josh Anderson 7% (32)
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Damon Severson 7% (30)
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Sam Bennett 6% (28)
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Nikita Zadorov 6% (28)
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Andreas Athanasiou 5% (23)
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Petteri Lindbohm 2% (8)
Total votes: 433
Poll: Which PTO Has The Best Chance Of Making An NHL Roster?
Teams all over the league are starting to hand out professional tryouts, with Jyrki Jokipakka being the latest with the Washington Capitals. Every year we see some veteran players looking for one last chance, and AHL tweeners trying to claw their way into the NHL. Many of the names that have been given PTOs already won’t play in the NHL this season, and some of them may not play professional hockey at all.
Still, there are almost always a few that earn themselves an NHL contract either with the team whose camp they’re attending, or somewhere else around the league. Kris Versteeg parlayed a PTO with the Edmonton Oilers into a contract with the Calgary Flames last year, and was important enough that he warranted an extension this summer.
17 tryouts have officially been handed out up to this point, with some interesting names among them. Players like David Booth and Ryan Malone have had a lot of success at the NHL level but have been away for several years, while others like Chris Lee are trying to prove that they’ve been overlooked for some time. Who do you think is the most likely to earn a contract at the end of training camp? You can select as many players as you want from the list of names, and leave a comment if you think they’ll sign somewhere else around the league.
Which PTOs have the best chance at earning NHL contracts?
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Jimmy Hayes (NJD) 18% (213)
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Brandon Pirri (FLA) 16% (195)
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Jay McClement (PIT) 9% (109)
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Jared Cowen (COL) 9% (107)
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Ryan White (VAN) 8% (96)
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Jyrki Jokipakka (WSH) 7% (78)
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Chris Lee (LAK) 6% (66)
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R.J. Umberger (DAL) 5% (63)
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Tanner Glass (CGY) 5% (62)
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Eric Gelinas (MTL) 4% (43)
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David Booth (DET) 3% (41)
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Ryan Malone (MIN) 3% (34)
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Andrei Loktionov (LAK) 2% (29)
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Harry Zolnierczyk (FLA) 2% (25)
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Bobby Farnham (NYR) 2% (19)
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Nikolai Belov (FLA) 1% (10)
Total votes: 1,190
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Poll: Which Restricted Free Agents Will Miss The Start Of The Season?
After Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward Connor Brown signed this weekend, the count is now fourteen on remaining restricted free agents still to sign. David Pastrnak, Alexander Wennberg and Bo Horvat lead the group, while Damon Severson, Sam Bennett and Andreas Athanasiou all represent important players on their clubs.
While most of these fourteen will surely sign within the next few weeks and be ready for the start of the season, there are often a few that take a little longer to sign. Last year we saw Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm and Jacob Trouba all sign contracts after the regular season had begun. Though Rakell was injured and wouldn’t return until the beginning of November anyway, the other two missed important game action that could have cost their teams in the standings.
With the end of August upon us, there could be more examples of RFAs holding out into the season. Below we’re asking you to vote on who you think will be left without a contract come the beginning of the year. Every RFA that has yet to be officially signed by his team is listed. You can vote for as many as you want, and make sure to leave how many games you think they’ll each miss in the comments.
Which RFAs Will Be Without A Contract At The Beginning Of The Season?
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Andreas Athanasiou (DET) 24% (140)
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David Pastrnak (BOS) 22% (131)
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All will be signed 12% (68)
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Nikita Zadorov (COL) 8% (46)
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Anthony Duclair (ARZ) 6% (34)
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Bo Horvat (VAN) 6% (33)
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Sam Bennett (CGY) 6% (33)
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Alexander Wennberg (CBJ) 5% (27)
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Robbie Russo (DET) 3% (19)
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Petteri Lindbohm (STL) 3% (16)
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Damon Severson (NJD) 2% (12)
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Tyler Wotherspoon (CGY) 2% (11)
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Josh Anderson (CBJ) 2% (10)
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Brett Kulak (CGY) 2% (10)
Total votes: 590
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Poll: Which UFA Contract Will Look The Worst Next Year?
Famously stated by former NHL GM Brian Burke, July 1st is the day which teams make the most mistakes. They see players on the unrestricted free agent market and pay too much and for too long based entirely on what they’ve already accomplished in their careers. Rarely is there a contract to a star player that accurately reflects his future value, and never does an offseason pass without someone drastically overpaying.
Last year there were immediate doubts about the long-term deals handed out to players like David Backes, Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson, and though each had varying levels of success in their first year could all be called disappointments. Those contracts could get even uglier as they go on, and look like a ridiculous deal in a few seasons.
This year had less star power on the free agent market, and a headliner in Kevin Shattenkirk that actually took less money and term than almost anyone expected. He headed to the Rangers for just four seasons despite being arguably the most sought-after player on the market, and while he easily could start his decline it’s hard to call his contract much of an albatross. In fact, only two UFAs even received a contract of five years in what was a relatively tame free agent period. Karl Alzner and Alexander Radulov led the way, though much longer extensions were given out to players like Carey Price and Brent Burns.
Looking at just the UFA deals from this summer (which excludes things like T.J. Oshie‘s contract that was signed on June 23rd), which do you think will look the worst in a year? We’ve included some of the top candidates, but don’t hesitate to list another contract in the comments below and explain why you think it will be the worst.
Which UFA contract will look the worst in a year?
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Patrick Marleau (TOR): 3 years, $18.75MM 29% (367)
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Alexander Radulov (DAL): 5 years, $31.25MM 20% (255)
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Karl Alzner (MTL): 5 years, $23.125MM 16% (194)
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Kevin Shattenkirk (NYR): 4 years, $26.6MM 8% (105)
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Nick Bonino (NSH): 4 years, $16.4MM 7% (86)
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Martin Hanzal (DAL): 3 years $14.25MM 6% (70)
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Dmitry Kulikov (WPG): 3 years, $13MM 5% (68)
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Trevor Daley (DET): 3 years, $9.5MM 5% (64)
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Ron Hainsey (TOR): 2 years, $6MM 2% (26)
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Other (leave in comments) 1% (10)
Total votes: 1,245
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Summer Predictions: Central Division
The hockey world is at a standstill now that August has rolled around. With all of the arbitration cases now decided and just a few restricted free agents left to sign, players and fans alike are counting the days until training camp starts. While there are still several names in free agency that could still help an NHL club, it seems like many are destined either for professional tryouts or late-summer deals after injuries strike.
So now we’ll get into our summer predictions. Before the start of the year we’ll be releasing a full season preview with projections for each club and the expected playoff teams, but first we’ll ask you to give us your take on how you believe each division will end up. We’ve looked at three of the divisions so far, with the polls pointing to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers as the top seeds. All three of those teams failed to lead their divisions in 2016-17, but are expected to take another step forward.
Today we’ll finish the series by taking a look at the Central division, which last season gave us the top two records in the Western Conference and the Stanley Cup finalists. Once again choose who you think will win the division this season, and make sure to leave your full prediction for the division standings in the comments. As a proxy for the overall standings, we’ll be sure to publish these results alongside our own PHR rankings in September.
Who will win the Central Division?
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Chicago Blackhawks 22% (309)
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Nashville Predators 21% (291)
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St. Louis Blues 19% (267)
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Minnesota Wild 17% (238)
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Dallas Stars 12% (163)
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Winnipeg Jets 7% (105)
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Colorado Avalanche 2% (31)
Total votes: 1,404
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