Going to be interesting to see what Boston (if they are unfortunate and lose tonight) and Tampa do given their draft assets. For clarity, Boston and Tampa’s next pick in the first two rounds is 3 years from now, and in 3 years they only get 1 pick each.

They’re both very vulnerable with their RFAs as well. Tanner Jeannot and Trent Frederic are both at the age where they can force a walk to ufa, and neither have gotten a payday yet. From their perspective, signing a team friendly deal with term risks any future payday, as 5-8 years from now they’re in their 30s, and both play a role that typically doesn’t see longevity. Both skaters may be the target of offer sheets as well, although signing them is another story.

We haven’t had teams in the salary cap era spend so much into the future. There is a challenge when a team goes too far in either direction: it changes the development system and forces a future cap situation: The staff and roster slots for a team who drafts 3 firsts in one year is much different from a team who drafts 0 firsts in 3 years. The future cap pidgeon holes the organization one way or the other - whether you hoard draft picks or give them all away, allowing opposing gms leverage in any exchange. Considering that this is an expansionary period for the NHL, filling out a roster becomes increasingly difficult each new team.

I think anybody looking to predict trade proposals should look at these two teams RFAs and non-core skaters, with a chunk of the return being a future asset. The long term cost of not doing this is high and appears unmanageable.

If Bergeron and Krejci retire, who plays center for Boston on their top 2 lines?

If Bergeron and Krejci retire, who plays center for Boston on their top 2 lines?

Scheifele and Mercer

And how in the world do they acquire these guys, especially Mercer? Their prospect pool might be the worst and they are running low on good picks.

Lysell, 25 1st, 3rd for Mercer
Sway + other pieces for scheif

Definitely not realistic but oh well

This summer calling it now

Connor Hellebuyck is either going to LA or Colorado via trade

Him going to either team would be terrifying

HERTL (Game #411) - X / 8

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https://www.hertl.app

Dude isn’t a center

HERTL (Game #412) - 1 / 8

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https://www.hertl.app

lol first time i done this.

Flames fans you are free

The next Washington head coach:

Flames fans you are free

What do the Sens have that makes celebrities want to have some stake? It’s the Sens, smaller market team, not exactly a glorified hockey history to celebrate

Colorado can't afford him without a large cap clearance.