AROUND THE LEAGUE - 26-27

[donlever]

Yeah nice analysis UW.

I could see Tarasenko or Mantha in Montreal but I believe as well it will be the Oilers for the Russian.

He is a SC mercenary at this point in his career.

I could see Mantha in Buffalo as a poor man's Tuch replacement.

Kane would look good in Dallas but they don't have much space with JR to sign.

Jarvis is out for 6 months, how about Kane in Carolina.

[UWSaint]

I could see Tarasenko or Mantha in Montreal but I believe as well it will be the Oilers for the Russian.

....

Jarvis is out for 6 months, how about Kane in Carolina.

Montreal has the room to add Tarasenko or Mantha (though I don't think they are interested in the term Mantha's certainly seeking). But my view is that it would be a bad move -- both of these players duplicate what Montreal has too much of (and what ultimately did them in in the playoffs and might have knocked them out of round 1 or 2) -- that's too much outside stuff, too much perfect-as-the-enemy-of-the-good, not enough chaos creation, not enough pucks on net. Mantha's a big body, but I've never thought of him as using it -- I can't say that I watched the Pens all that much last year so I don't know if he's changed -- but from what I've seen of him over the years, the term "power forward" should not be used in the same sentence as "Mantha" (even though it is on NHL.com....). Montreal has a great base for their team and is in a very stable cap situation, with everyone important locked up and several no-longer-needed material contracts coming off the books in a year (Danault, Anderson, Montembault, Carrier (a guy that you'd normally look to extend, but I think there's been progress with Reinbacher in the areas that he had to improve and he should be a full timer in 2027-28)). They do need to replace what Anderson was supposed to bring, but that doesn't break a bank. And I think they could use another wing who fires the puck more and is a bit scrappier than these two, but their biggest need and absolute focus should be getting a 2C. I hear the Canucks have one -- (to which a smart team with a smart management never shy of the undersized would say, yeah, Marco Rossi would fit great, what are you looking for....)

With Jarvis being out, I could see the Canes and Kane being a pretty good fit. He doesn't quite play that game anymore -- though it is a very similar game to what Quenville had the Hawks playing.

[UWSaint]

Crazy thought, but if Evander Kane is not poison in the room, I could see Montreal adding him for cheap if he is willing to play for cheap and has interest in a cup contender (and I consider them a tier 2 contender) while playing a diminished role and being an occasional scratch. They kind of need that kind of player -- of course several years ago when he was an effective player would be better -- but I don't see that guy as a current UFA and a vastly diminished Kane still skates well, throws pucks towards the net, and has a physical presence even if he's sporadic in its deployment.

[UWSaint]

OFFER SHEET MATCHED, OFFER SHEET MATCHED!!!!!




























Hayton remains a Mammoth.

[donlever]

12000 comedians out of work.

Who knew UW was one of them?

[UWSaint]

12000 comedians out of work.

12000 comedians? I knew Sportnet650 was bloated, but....

[Madcombinepilot]

12000 comedians out of work.

12000 comedians? I knew Sportnet650 was bloated, but....

lol.. I was thinking the same thing

[Meds]

OFFER SHEET MATCHED, OFFER SHEET MATCHED!!!!!



(LOTS more deleted blank lines)



Hayton remains a Mammoth.

That was a dirty trick in an age where people are reading on their phones.

[donlever]

Bedard shoulder surgery.

Out 4 months.

[Lancer]

Bedard shoulder surgery.

Out 4 months.

Sucks for the kid. We’ll see how well Chicago’s young forward depth fills the void.

[donlever]

Yeah...both shoulders now.

We will see if it is a career altering issue.

Tough to sign him for long term 17 mill right now.

Although if JR and PA were in charge....

[UWSaint]

Yeah...both shoulders now.

Looks like Bedard’s shoulders can’t bear any more that Pettersson’s….

Feel bad for the kid. This injury will cost him many millions. And worse, the reason why is that there’s a serious risk that he will never be the player he could have been. The Canucks and Blackhawks are so far removed from their rivalry that I don’t even have a sense of schadenfreude….

[UWSaint]

OFFER SHEET MATCHED! OFFER SHEET MATCHED!




























This time its Carlsson. Quack quack.

[Meds]

OFFER SHEET MATCHED! OFFER SHEET MATCHED!

This time its Carlsson. Quack quack.

There is definitely a market for Scooter now.

[Lancer]

Mildly surprised, but Verbeek's options without Carlsson probably looked too dim to swallow. Does this leave Anaheim in the same boat as Edmonton and Toronto - long on scoring talent at the top end of the roster but can't defend to save themselves?

Carlsson will be a star, and will likely be that 1C management needs him to be. Whether he lives to to being the highest-paid player, well that's another question.