If they miss playoffs and all those UFA's leave in free agency, I genuinely hope they do win the lottery. That would be the one way the hockey gods could set things right.

One thing is for sure, If you do win the lottery and take Hughes, playing him on the 4th line would easily be one of those things that would give the hockey gods instant regret about using their divine power on you..

The Jackets are owed something, from hockey deity or from just plain luck. All of those 10 years or so , 2000-2010 they had top 8 pick every year and never won the top spot.

Hughes wouldn’t stay there on the 4th line long, it would be fun to have someone push Dubois and Duchene, who could both play LW.

Detroit hasn't had a #1 pick since 1986. With your logic wouldn't Detroit get the #1 pick.

No. We are talking about playoffs here. Detroit was too busy making the playoffs and winning cups to get high draft position.

Tortz has been playing PLD garbage minutes lately and you think he would use Hughes correctly? I don't even know if he would draft him. He's probably complain he doesn't hit anyone and isn't physical enough. Right before putting him on the 3rd line and saying he needs development with the Monsters.

I wonder if Torts is the only reason Bread & Bob want out?

How do you feel about this offer? Alzner, Paul Byron 2019 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th rnd picks for Josh Anderson

I really think Torts is trying to find chemistry with so many new players in the lineup.
I would have kept the Bread/Dubois/Atkinson and Fligs/Jenner/Anderson line together and put Dzingel/Duchene/Bjorkstrand together from the get go.
They have gone more to that in the last 3-4 games, but I think Bjorkstrand could really find his game with Duchene and Dzingel.
Not to mention PLD is in his 2nd year, and although he is young and a workhorse, Torts is probably scaling him back a bit so he has something left for the playoffs (if they even make it).

why hold back for something they might not make. That makes no sense.
He was playing PLD 9-11 minutes for a stretch there. Their best center was getting 9 minutes. They didn't start bob in next against pittsburgh. WTF kind of thinking was that? There are issues here. No matter what they are it's about winning not about proving a point. I can't imagine PLD is sitting there thinking he should only be on the ice 9 minutes. What an idiot decision on torts part. He'll alienate players and drag the team down to prove he's an idiot. CBJ has a hard enough time attracting free agents. They can't have a bone head coach too.

That is a lot to offer. CBJ desperately needs the picks, and Byron from what I hear is good. All feedback I have on Alzner is that he is past his prime. I liked Alzner when he was playing in Washington, but for the same reason CBJ did not sign Jack Johnson, the game is starting to pass him by. CBJ has gone much younger on the back end, with some success. Plus we have overpaid Dubinsky and Wennberg. I think Andy is going to be a stud for years to come, and I probably would not trade him.