Marvin

Cozens is performing at a higher level.

Adding 2 boring defencemen like Schenn and Jensen makes more sense to me unless their asking prices are ridiculous too.

I think you are grossly underestimating what Arizona wants for Chychrun. Unless that price comes down, I would not pay it. The ask is MORE than we got for Eichel, which is pretty steep for someone to be our 3 LHD or 2 RHD. And here is what Spector et al. are saying about the ask: 1. You can't protect that 1st if you want Chychrun. 2. They want a 2nd first or an equivalent quality young, growing roster player. Mittlestadt does not qualify. Neither does Krebs. Think 1 of Peterka, Cozens or Quinn. 3. They want a top prospect. Östlund might qualify, but it might need to be Savoie or a 2nd one of Peterka, Cozens, or Quinn. The price has not come down at all for over a year. Chychrun has been on the block that long for a very good reason. I view getting him to be a pipe dream.

I would not hesitate to move Jokiharu to get Chychrun. I just doubt Arizona would take him. Recall that the price is equivalent to an unprotected 2023 1st, a growing roster player, and a top prospect. Jokiharu is none of these. The guys you need to move for Chychrun at that price are, to my mind, flat out untouchable.

I can think of several users on TBD who think this is a great team but for which everything on the offence except Allen and Diggs sucks while everything on defence is held together by bubble gum and hair pins and the team is at full strength. If that were all true, we'd be 3-10.

A few things: I don't think that GMKA values goaltenders the way we do. He was on a team without a real #1 but had someone get hot at the right time. It is clear that part of his focus this season is to see if Bryson, Fitzgerald, Pilut, Clague, UPL, and maybe even Subban can become NHL regulars. He is not trading draft picks or prospects except for better draft picks or prospects because the system lack young depth, particularly at defence. The fact that the team needs what I think are minor tweaks to become a solid potential playoff team is immaterial.

That's all we can do, really.

I wish we had built like this 10 years ago. I would have more patience now. As it is, I think there are low-risk chances to improve the team (3 LHD, etc.) that are unlikely to happen and I find that frustrating.

The offencive line must be a priority this off-season.

We might need to keep a lot of cap room in reserve for Peterka, Quinn, Cozens, Dahlin, Power, and maybe Krebs over the next few years. And imagine of they find a franchise goalkeeper...

This team is fast and, when healthy, a decent team. But the team's glaring holes and lack of depth show that they are not a good team yet.

Welcome back!

Me? I would have run Jarry so hard that he would have been knocked out. Of the game, that is.

For the first game, try some of the Buffalo sports channels on YouTube. You can figure out the game because it came before all those ties we had against Pittsburgh in the 1970's.

The funny thing is that a trade for a better 3 LHD is not likely to be pricey. The only thing I can think of is that he wants Bryson, Fitzgerald, and Pilut to play all season to see what they have, come hell or high water. IMHO, the team is close to the playoffs, it should not be much of an ask to forego the alleged development we will get for the existing trio in favour of an upgrade. If nothing else, I would prefer Clague-Lyubushkin as our 3rd D pair.

Let's go Ra-cha-cha.

How is Power not in the argument for the Calder?

UPL is only 23. We could also send him if we get Vemejlka.

Fire wagon hockey and minimal defencive structure are a large part of the problems on defence.

I wonder if just improving 3 LHD with Chychrun would be enough to pare down our woes in the defencive zone; i.e., do we really need Vemejlka in the deal? I suspect Ryan Johnson is of limited value because he can just walk at the end of the season. I also think that we can't expect Arizona to send us much besides Chychrun. I can't see them parting with any prospect, no matter how much of a longshot they are.

The 1st needs to be top-10 protected. Otherwise, because it makes me squirm a little (forward depth is where?), it is probably fair and I would do it.

We are a collegial bunch here. A few people are a bit more prickly than others, but they get the respect that goes with longevity and valuable contributions. You are new here and do not have their cachet.

Thanks for trying. I could not find one either.

To quote an old Warner Brothers cartoon, when Bugs Bunny takes the Ice Follies penguin to the South Pole: "Pen-gu-ins is practically chicken." Could you help a fellow American who's down on his luck?

I know. I don't want to pay $9M a year for contract-year-itis. And as I said, I want another Samuelsson and another goaltender first.