DarthEbriate

We need Bjork to do that.

Vatrano had a couple decent seasons pre-COVID... a 4th for a rental 4th liner... meh. But for Florida, looks like clearing a bit of cap space to probably get some extra defensive depth or a 3rd goalie that inspires more confidence than Jonas Johansson.

Good for the Amerks <gif of ewoks playing scouttrooper helmets with mallets>

Not just that Northeastern had a bad Fenwick, the other teams have gaudy Fenwick scores. They were making other teams look like the tank-for-Eichel 2014-15 Sabres.

VGK tanking this season for a 12-15 pick (that would go to Buffalo) and a 3% at a lottery would be a criminal offense for the GM and he should be fired on the spot if he attempts it. They're a veteran roster that's been deep into the playoffs each of the past 4 seasons and just traded depth+picks for a top-line C. They're all-in in the short term and are going to follow through on it (hopefully to our benefit as viewers... munching away on our schadenfreude popcorn). However, missing the playoffs and having no cap space... this offseason they may elect to go another direction and that could be fascinating.

I'm good with having VO at that price as a 2W or 3W, he can play either wing just fine and then add in the PP time. Granted, if someone throws an insane trade offer for him, why not. But that's unlikely. I'm not convinced JJP makes the opening night roster next season, and if he does he's likely a bottom 6. Quinn now has health concerns of his own (missing extensive time in back-to-back seasons) and still needs to work on his all-around game. Signing VO to a contract won't block Quinn if he's good enough, but the team has no financial concerns for the next few seasons if they're continuing to build with the kids. They need to add $6M in the offseason just to replace Boychuk's reach-the-cap-floor contract. Olofsson is replaceable, but you've got to make sure he is replaced adequately before moving him.

If VGK continues to fade (look at those D injuries and no goalie... and incapable of bringing back salary because then they have no space and all those modified trade clauses on aging vets)... those season-ending locker-cleaning interviews will allow someone to write quite the thesis on body language. Vancouver wins tonight, Edmonton wins tonight... This is where the fun begins.

You've mentioned trading VO a couple times and I'm now on the opposition. He's getting healthy and his shot is back. He can make that shot against VGK. Thompson maybe can, Quinn maybe can. VO makes that shot. With his slapper soon to return, he provides a legitimate 20G scorer from the 3W or even 4W with PP time (Kotalik-style). That's a guy we can afford to keep for 3-4 years no problem, even with a little overpay, while all these young studs like Quinn and JJP and Power are coming onto their RFA/bridges. Make Quinn make VO expendable. Don't move VO just because he's a "blocker" to an unproven kid. You can always trade him and that shot later if needed, but if you rent him for a 2nd this TDL and then Quinn is hurt next season... you've lost the balancing snipers on your PP.

This team has had horrid goaltending (overall) since Lehner's last season. It's the reason we have Dahlin and now Power. So it's got that going for it... which is nice. But it is time for the GM Sheevyn to get it fixed on the NHL squad and not just in the pipeline.

So can Meul and Fitz (once healthy), and after we've seen enough development for the season from them. This was the opening night line. But all I can think these months later is... don't saddle those two with Eakin, faceoffs or not. Or more appropriately, don't saddle Okposo with those two. (Even though I want Asplund to re-gel with VO and Mitts and become a solid line, I'd rather Okposo get Mitts-VO and have Asplund with limited minutes on a 4th line.) Agreed wholeheartedly on both points.

The results matter if the team starts to look competitive night in and night out and builds the attendance back game after game. That energy is something they can build on for the start of next year, even if the team's "momentum" doesn't carry from season to season. All we have to do is go rewatch opening night this season and see the empty seats and hear the silence during the opening roster announcements. Go over .500 in March and then get Power on the team in April... and next season's opening night might look like a real opening night. That's important for a young team. Like Krebs said, they have to earn their fans back and that's what the remainder of season can be about.

I’d prefer it to be Bjork but this had to be done now that healthy forwards are coming back. Just have to hope he passes through waivers so the Amerks get a top-6 player for the stretch.

It's one of those things where we hope he bulks up over the next few seasons and becomes a Lydman-type whom you can pair with almost anyone, top pair or rookie.

But Dahlin is an All-Star, too. Does he get a StarMultiplier yet?

I'm willing to make him our Hagelin for a few years.

Ummm... yeah. It's a marmot. Apparently this is a meme. We need our regular Joki-marmot to go super-Saiyan-Joki-marmot.

It looks like a marmot.

In the short-term at the end of this season, do we trust Joker to pair with the Muel (breaking the FitzMuel) or do we trust a Power-Joker? Jokiharju was great early his rookie year with veteran Scandella, but he himself is still a kid despite the games played. Power needs a mentor oversight. And of course, the other question: will HCDG put Bryson back with Dahlin?

++ Sam's fine now? -- Sam's fine now.

+++ Aren't you guys a little short for a stormtrooper basketball team? Tuch: What? Oh... The uniforms. I'm Tuch Sabrewalker and we're here to play hockey (get sweaty). +++ You're who? Tuch: I'm here to win the Heritage Classic. I've got Rasmus the Younger. I'm here with Oky Posobi. Come on!

Kozak at the T-Birds Good vision and has the right-place/right-time anticipation that separates the good players (albeit at the WHL level). Nice shorthanded pressure and he sprang himself for a breakaway except the Seattle D dropped his stick, so Kozak was moving up ice with the puck and a stick. By the time he was able to get the puck separated and get the pass to his fellow PK forward, Seattle's other D had gotten back. Shot saved. Delivered heavy hit, then knocked off the tall guy when he tried to address it. [@LGR4GM's video upthread] Mature body compared to the competition. On forecheck, bowled over a D leading to scoring chance. Set breakout on PP. Kozak at blue line as puck starts up ice. Pops out to the middle for the long pass. Enters zone and drops to his vacated wing for the goal. Primary assist. Was high-sticked and got no call. Moments later, he let his stick get up recklessly. Takes the high-sticking minor with 2-0 third period lead. Bad penalty to take. PK killed it. But SEA scores 2 goals with goalie pulled (Woohoo, T-Birds!). Kozak on the ice for the game-tying goal but on the far side of the ice from the shot. The shootout went to 7 shooters. Kozak was not one of them. Overall, a grinder. He was the best skater on the ice in 1st period. He won his one-on-one battles all night with either a stronger body, or in a few instances better hands and getting the puck neatly safe open ice/good short area pass to start a rush.

Hey! I'm just on the border of being in frame in this video. It should be noted that Rempe (#32 Seattle) who comes over to give Kozak a bump after the hit... is listed at 6'9" 240 and was by far the biggest guy on the ice even if the numbers a touch inflated. Kozak shrugged him off easily.

Pittsburgh fans should boo Eichel tonight, get him off his game.

One thing about the trade: Vegas already has $83M committed (with 8 [9 this summer when Eichel's kicks in] modified no trade or no movement contracts) to next season. And that's only 19 skaters+goalies. They need to remove salary just to get another contract and ice a full lineup, let alone get under the cap. The only way this trade succeeds short-term for them is if they make the playoffs and can ice their preferred lineup. But the trade can flop and be a franchise-crusher long-term, too, if they're hamstrung with a bunch of guys with nagging but not LTIR-worthy injuries or if they lose a step.

Hottest offense in the league in the desert. Since defeating the Avs 2-1, the Coyotes have scored 22 goals in their last 3 games. Winners of 4 straight. Should never have traded Hutton. That's not how you tank.