Coleman and Danault get way more money

That center depth is unfair

Probably Danault, but Coleman isn't a guy i'd give 3x4m$

his defense is underrated. I don't know what happend to him in tampa. I wouldn't be surprised if a team gave him 4 x 4

He may be worth that right now based on his performances in NJ but I highly doubt he can keep up for 4 years. He's probably gonna get it though

That's what I meant when I first commented.

I like it good job

I at least had the decency to acquire a pick when I flipped Russell for a point-per-game AHL player. If you're expecting CF to start acknowledging that Neal still Neal some value, maybe try trading him for some? Schneider had a 903sv% in the AHL. The Neal-Schneider swap needs more coming back to Edmonton.

Konovalov needs a year in the AHL to adjust to the change in angles on the smaller ice. We saw Koskinen struggle in his first season back in North America, we should expect the same with Konovalov. Suggesting otherwise is folly. It has nothing to do with the skill levels of the two leagues.

Swap Haas for McLeod. Riding Kassian as a scratch seems like an utter waste of a player and his $3.2M cap hit. I don't expect Lavoie to make the jump after potentially having to ride the practice roster for the 20-21 season. I'd rather give him a full year as a pro. Kassian's fine as a #3RW. I don't understand the desire to elevate Archibald into the top 9. He's quite effective in a limited role, similar to how Gagner was for Columbus. If he's bound to see the most of his minutes on the PK, give him the sheltered ice.

What's your approach to the blueline after this year? Do you cave and give Nurse his payday or are you going to try and platoon the defence with Klefbom, Samorukov, and Broberg next season? That answer drastically affects the team's performance in the next season, because I don't know if the club commits long term to Oscar given his substantial injury history.

NJ would rather buy Schneider out than take Neal to be fair. His buyout cost isn't that high.

What is the point of playing Danault at 3C behind McDavid & Draisaitl? He’d get no playing time. The only way Danault ends up on a “3rd line” is if it gets roughly the same ice time as a “1st line”.

I would rather try to protect jones
larsson will probably get more on the market

Could be, but both just completed seasons' that were major statistical outliers in their careers.

Danault posted a massive +14.13 GF% rel this season but was just +0.92 in his previous 3 seasons combined
Coleman scored 1.28 G/60 this year in New Jersey, more than double the 0.62 G/60 he averaged the previous 3 years

I don't see them repeating that offense next year so that will impact their next contracts. I'm not that concerned if their offensive spree's don't continue as I've hired them specifically for their defensive acumen and if they (along with Archibald) chip in 10-15 goals each that's cream on top.



Yes, that's what I was thinking. We'll see, of course.

Thanks!

Since people on here hate Neal I didn't want to start a sh*tstorm. Adding a pick or prospect doesn't affect the roster at all so I didn't bother. And Russell's contract is a different animal altogether.



Koskinen didn't struggle in his first season back because of needing to adjust to the smaller ice / unfamiliarity with shooters / angles or any other thing you want to imply, his stats suffered from being overworked when Talbot couldn't provide average backup tending. Ergo:

Up until Dec 31, Koskinen was 11-7-1 with a 2.60 GAA and a .916 Sv%.
Up until Dec 31, Talbot was 7-11-2 with a 3.30 GAA and a .892 Sv%.

I'd say he adjusted pretty damn fast, he was 12th in the league among goaltenders with at least 15 starts in the first half. Prior to Dec 31 Koskinen and Talbot split the starts equally (19-20). Due to Talbot's poor results, Koskinen was forced to start the lion's share of the games during the balance of the season (32-9, plus he came in as backup 3 times). That's a heavy workload.

From Jan 1 on, Koskinen was 14-14-5 with a 3.13 GAA and an .899 Sv%.
From Jan 1 on, Talbot was 3-4-1 with a 3.51 GAA and an .896 Sv%.

I don't think its "folly" to suggest that a highly skilled player can translate from the second best league to the NHL after 3 years of experience as a starter. It may not work, but it isn't guaranteed to fail. And I have options anyhow in Schneider and even Skinner, who will have had 2 full seasons as an AHL starter at that point.



- McLeod is a possibility, as is Marody. We'll know more about them as the 2020-21 season progresses, but I didn't want to write either one into the roster just yet as I'm not sure how long they'll take. Haas can be PB'd or demoted if he loses his job. All three players make about the same money and none of them will be much above replacement level so it makes zero difference to anything who the 4C is.
- Kassian can fit in on any line, its good to have a have a capable veteran who can fill different roles. The coaching staff will put whomever they wish on the gamesheet on any given night, having a good player in the PB is a sign of great depth, not poor management.
- I think Lavoie will be ready as I think the AHL will play most of a full season, albeit with a late start. But if he isn't ready, Kassian is there. Complaining about both thing seems illogical.
- Archibald has been the 3RW since he signed in Edmonton, I'm not elevating anything. Of course, he has spent some time at 1RW, so I'm actually demoting him. And I don't know why I'd shelter him on the defensive line? They exist to take D-zone faceoffs. Actually this is precisely the role Archibald plays now: 1PK and defensive winger with Sheahan.



It all depends on how the players perform. At this point I think Nurse will get a long term deal next summer and that Samorukov replaces Jones (who I think will get picked up by Seattle). I see Broberg's arrival coinciding with Klefbom's contract ending, if Broberg is ready I think they let Klefbom walk. I don't see Klefbom getting another big deal.

But again, next season could change our perspective on the situation completely.

Because Danault is the world's best 3C, that's why. This center depth is what a Cup winner looks like. Feast your eyes, Canadiens fan!

He would be the best 3C in the league. Same with someone like Mika Zibanejad if he was on the Oilers. Phillip Danault isn’t a 3C at all, and he won’t sign somewhere where he doesn’t get the playing time he deserves.

He may not get as much playing time on this team,but he has a much higher chance of getting his name engraved in that big silver cup. I think he'd prefer that.