do you think the NHL can get away with putting a team in Cleveland again

It's certainly a big enough city, with a big enough arena, why not?

Since we’re on the topic of relocations, what’s everyone’s thoughts on Saskatoon? I know it’s almost for sure not happening, but I think it would work as an NHL market and it does make sense in terms of keeping the divisions the same.

I don't think Saskatoon has a population that can support an NHL team, it's just too small of a market

I'd say even if everything was perfect, it wouldn't happen for reasons of division alignment. I'm sure Detroit/Columbus would go kicking and screaming into the owners meeting hearing they might go back to the west.

To add to this, the Canadian market's that could be in consideration are Toronto/GTA, Hamilton and Quebec City imo, all the others are just too small

Yah you’re probably right. I’m obviously biased on the idea of them having a team. Though I will say I think they’d be the 3rd best option after southern Ontario and Quebec City (sorry Halifax).

I would pass on Michkov with the 8oa pick. He would be 21 coming to america and be new to North America game. I’m not sure about him.

Are you talking about Michkov?

Yes my bad

They could but they wont because they have no business being in the western conference

Might I introduce to you the last couple players Washington drafted in the first round on KHL contracts: Ilya Samsonov and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Michkov would be fine, he's a top 3 talent easy and passing on him when whoever you take at 8 isn't coming up until age 20~22 feels like a waste of a prime opportunity.

What if he doesn’t grow in NA?

Imo, you'd be lucky to get Michkov at 8. He's going to be the steal of the draft if he falls out of the top 3. I don't think people understand how good he is, he is worth the wait. Washington can move Kuzy for some youth to help Washington retool and remain competitive

What if Leonard or Barlow or Benson or Smith or whoever else don't adjust from a junior game to a pro game? Every prospect's going to have risk with them, but Michkov's talent is undeniable. Simply passing on him for fear of not adjusting to a NA game when you have Ovi to help with the transition and Washington has already been successful in transitioning Orlov, Kuznetsov, Samsonov, and Alexeyev from Russia seems like an unnecessary move when he's already produced at Russia's highest level.

People are putting way too much stock into Michkovs contract. It's obviously a factor, but Michkov is far and away the second best player in this draft. He'll be worth the wait

I do wonder how far he'd fall due to it, purely based on similar situations like the aforementioned Kuznetsov as well as Tarasenko who fell due to their contract situation. Really interested to see if teams have learned or not.

Toronto is in such an intriguing spot:

For 2025/26 they have 2 skaters under contract. For reference, my team (stl) has 11.

So the decision right now is basically “who is going to build our future and what does it look like”. Due to contract situations, so much has to be decided by July 1.

Do they reload with as much the same for 2 years? Or retool a few years? Or burn it down?

I’m guessing somewhere in the middle where somebody like Nylander or Marner is moved in a hockey trade for a valuable return who has more term, then retain what’s left over and sit at the edge of cup contention during Matthews and Rielly’s strong years. But ultimately the players will decided based on whether they intend to re-sign there.

Troy Terry to Washington for #8 overall. 3 years from now Anaheim can run:

?-Fantilli-Michkov
Mctavish-Zegras-Pastujov

This might be an insight into some of the player’s perspective about the Tempe vote not going through, also interesting that Clayton Keller’s dad seems to be saying he’s not staying

He is a capital

And here come the rumors of him and Toronto calling it now

*sigh* not this s*it again

They got the cap space, time for a change, got the assets to make a deal, seems logical to think of him going there

Could see another Tkachuck like trade

There are rumors for everyone and toronto so I wouldn't be surprised, I think I could put a half-drank Mountain Dew on the block and Sportsnet would say Toronto is interested

No one is signing with the definition of a joke of a franchise (Arizona, soon to be Houston)