RochesterExpat

2019 Mitts is not going to absorb the hit so he can play the puck to center. He'd have backed off or just tapped it down the board and kept is body away from the opposing player.

Jost went from being a waiver claim to a player who is noticeable when he's absent. Pretty awesome for him.

It was 100% sarcasm. The NCAA is a joke.

"You ever seen a grown man naked?" ~ Mike Harrington to Sabres Jr Reporter (probably)

I was about to rant about sitting Jost vs others in that lineup. Guess I'll put the pitchfork away for now.

Except you can sign a CHL player and send him back to the CHL. You can not sign an NCAA player and send him back to the NCAA. It's not an apples to apples comparison. If you want to solve the NCAA players walking into free agency, have the NCAA change the rules and allow signed players to continue to play collegiate hockey. Problem solved. Although, admittedly, I guess this ruins the amateur sports goal for the NCAA. Remember, the NCAA is a non-profit focused on the purity of the sport by allowing amateur athletes to compete against each other while obtaining a valuable college education. It's not like it's a billion-dollar tax shelter with senior executives making multiple millions a year and student-athletes who regularly flout academic requirements while inking millions in NIL deals. It's certainly not a minor league for the most popular sport in the US with coaches and staff making far more than minor league coaches and staff in other leagues. It's a serious organization for the betterment of the student athletes.

Let me tell you all about the Fort Worth Falcons winning the cup... in EA NHL. It's my default create-a-franchise for the whole 5 hours I spend playing the game before I remember it's too easy to gimmick because the AI is awful, get mad and then quit..

It’s also the fourth largest city in the country so there’s that aspect too.

This isn’t happening any time soon. Source: interest rates

All the phones in the rink went off at the same time for this alert and all the kids stopped playing and looked around confused. It was kind of funny.

BLOCKBUSTER

I'd be asking for Fabbro as well on this offer if they want UPL over Comrie.

This is the million dollar question. I'd assume a 1st + prospect like Rosen (former 1st or equivalent) is the start.

There's no chance Boston is trading Swayman before the summer. Swayman can win them a cup if something happens to Ullmark. It would be astronomically stupid for them to let him go when they're all in already for this year.

We have the championship for 8U hockey in Plano today at 6pm and it's business as usual. I am not thrilled about a 90 mile drive in this weather.

Levi is not going to jump right into the NHL. He will still spend time in Rochester. I'd move on from Comrie before UPL.

What else were you going to get from the Kings? I assume KA talked to Portillo and he basically gave a list of teams he wanted and the Kings were one.

Why? He's been awful this year.

Toronto is doing this because Dubas is in the hot seat and he knows it. If they bust in the first round again I don't see a new contract going his way. I also think Toronto is just assuming Auston Matthews hits the free agency after next season. The Rags make no sense except there might be something behind the scenes similar to Toronto that we're not privy to. Boston is the prime example of going all in because it's probably the last chance before going through an offensive retool. I don't see them in full rebuild stage because the defensive group will remain the same (Carlo, McAvoy and Lindholm are all signed for 4+ more seasons) and they have Ullmark for another 2--plus Swayman is an RFA. They'll be able to get talent in the FA since it's still a destination players want to go because team culture. The only way they fall off a cliff is if Pasta walks into free agency. Tampa is similar to Boston considering expiring contracts and aging players, but they're definitely not at the Boston stage yet. They have Vasi, Point, and Kucherov signed from now until forever and extended Cirelli, Cernak, and Sergachev. Not to mention two more years of Hedman. Plus it's going to continue to be an attractive player destination in FA. Also we can't forget they have Tanner Jeannot now...

This is why I will be upset if we trade for anyone that doesn't have term or an extension in place. We aren't buyers because we're contenders this year so a rental is a terrible waste. We're simply not at that point. If we make the playoffs that's an accomplishment unto itself. It's about playing out the rest of this season and playing into next. It's also why I want them to go after Saros or Vejemelka and a role-filling defensemen (shot-blocking puck mover who can pass is what we need). We are ahead of the curve right now but we won't be able to capitalize on that next season if we're sitting behind a developing UPL and sub-standard Comrie. Andy will retire. Levi may be an all-star in the NCAA but he isn't a proven NHL goalie and will need time in the AHL. We're also going to be heartbroken if we keep painting him to be a savior and fan expectations need to be managed accordingly. If we add a defenseman that can bump Joki down the lineup and a goalie who can play 50+ games with a steal here or there, we will be a real threat next season to contending teams in the playoffs. We can fix the middle six in the off-season or at the trade deadline next year. I don't see any reason this season to spend assets to upgrade players when we could pursue that in the offseason. Again, we are not a contender. I want us to be a threat in 23-24 and a contender in 24-25. It's not accelerating the plan anymore because the plan accelerated intentionally or not. It's accepting that we're ahead of schedule and it's time to make additions so we can continue to evaluate as we move closer. We just need to understand we're at that tweener step where we can't be mortgaging assets for rentals in what should be considered a lost year. We get people here with term who can help us get to the next level next season and after. It's why Saros and Vejemelka make sense because they're under contract through 24-25 and they are some of the only goalies that play on teams that are defensively worse than Buffalo and who we might be able to get in a trade by a team that's blowing it for Bedard or rebuilding ("resetting" as Trotz called it for Nashville). EDIT: should clarify, if this offseason is anything like the last, goalies are prime in the summer and I think it's better to trade for one now.

The caps are doing a deadline retool. I'm honestly kind of impressed.

In fairness, it was to support a black-owned business during Black History month. But I do love the total lack of self-awareness at NHL player girlfriends shopping at a store named "Ms. Eye Candy Boutique."

The only way I'm willing to pay the ask on Chychrun is if Arizona is adding Vejmelka to the trade. I said it before, but I don't think Chychrun alone is the answer to our problems. Vejmelka would be an improvement over our goaltending. It's adding two players with term to fill needs. Granted, I still think Chychrun isn't an ideal fit for us.

Good response. Shake it off Andy. Can’t stop them all. We’re back to 0-0.

That's how I would interpret that.