I’d say Ottawas best case scenario is Melnyk selling the team to someone who actually cares about hockey, the fans, the organization, and the product on the ice…. Preferably in Ottawa

Best case scenario for sure. Wouldn't be disappointed with Kemell or Savoie either. Obviously Wright is the consensus.

If all this happens, on top of Zub being extended *chefs kiss*.

Side note: do we think Kleven is NHL ready next year or does he spend another year in the NCAA? I'd like to see what he can do without Sanderson and a bit more of a leadership role. Maybe an attempt at playing another WJC.

If Tampa is moving their first, its for a RD not a depth player and a third

Unfortunately he’ll be too old for the 2023 WJC, but I definitely think he stays another year at UND. He loves it there (he grew up an hour away, was a fan of the team before going there), and there’s really no rush for him to turn pro, better for him to get some NCAA reps in as (likely) the 1D on the team.

Won’t be disappointed if we get any of Wright, Savoie, Kemell , Lambert, Cooley, Jiricek or Nemec.

Also I dont think we trade Branny

That's exactly what Barclay Goodrow and David Savard were during Tampa's 2 recent cup runs.

Depth players.

It worked out well for Tampa.

But neither of them were on expiring deals, Paul is.

Two questions for you:


1. When was the trade for Savard made?

https://www.capfriendly.com/trades/players/david-savard



2. When did Savard's deal from when he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets expire?

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/david-savard



Somebody's being a bit of a fibber

I won't lie, I didn't even pay attention to Savard I was thinking Coleman. But again, Goodrow wasn't expiring and Savard was double retained which made him a lot more expensive. Tampa doesn't need offensive depth at that price they need RD.

I don't think the poster here watched the WJC20 games. There is no way Wright starts at the NHL next year as currently is.
He and a lot of other younger players who got a hard deal of no ice time are set back. I don't think there is any doubt about that after watching those games.
He was virtually non existent. Flat footed, and just sloppy. Beating up on CHL players to rack up points in one thing, but against stiffer comp. it did not go well for him at WJC.

The WJC20 got cancelled prematurely, which severely limited the sample size that can be used to evaluate Wright.

Also, Jack Hughes was just as ineffective at the 2019 WJC20.

He was still drafted 1st overall in 2019 and jumped straight into the NHL with the New Jersey Devils.

He had two games at WJC so to say the sample size wasn't there is non sense. It's not like they are playing 20 games there.
He put up 1 assist in 2 games getting loads of ice time and the play on the ice was not great.
As for Hughes, he wasn't losing all kinds of ice time sitting due to covid stunting his development and he still came out and put up a whole 21 points in 61 games finishing a -26 on the year.
In other words, he didn't really look like he belonged there. Now you take a guy who didn't really look like he belonged and take away a year possibly more from his play and do you really think he starts.
I don't see it. The play on the ice showed that for Wright. There is a lot of growth there that needs to happen. You look at a team like OTT, I don't see the reason they need to rush him. It's not like they are rushing their other prospects. Yes Stützle made the team, but if you watched these two guys in their draft year against their peers it's night and day. Stützle looked every bit the part and proved it.
Wright does not look ready. The only way I can see him making the team is if canada keeps shutting down and he can't get any ice time. Even then it's not about him being ready but giving him a place to develop. Maybe they would let him play AHL level in that case. As is he'd be eaten alive in the pro game. He was at times standing in his d zone flat foot watching the puck. You can't watch a prospect do that and tell me he's NHL ready. The "play away from the puck" matters. He's not learning that sitting and having ice time canceled left and right, and it's showing.