New thread is now official, can we beat last seasons thread record of 241 pages?
We’re all fans and everybody has their own opinion, keep the discussions clean and keep it fun!
Start the offseason speculation now! Draft is in less than 2 weeks!
Start the offseason speculation now! Draft is in less than 2 weeks!
Perry loses 3 years in a row in cup final. Wild try to sign him to break the streak?
Fiala for The Worm one for one 
Guaranteed 2nd place finish and best season in franchise history. I’d sign up for that.
Fiala for The Worm one for one
It’s been a while since I strapped on the skates, but I’d giver a go. Not sure if Fiala is insurance licensed or not tho…. 
Here’s to 242+ pages and a Stanley Cup!
Reckless offseason speculation – If Malkin doesn’t resign with the Penguins (i’m 99% sure he will) would you feel comfortable giving him a $5 x 2 deal to play 1st line center with Kaprizov and Zuccy? Obviously this assumes Fiala and likely Dumba or a combo of Jost/Kulikov are dealt for picks to clear the cap needed…
If healthy (big IF) Malkin can still play and fills a 1C void until Rossi/? are ready to take over 1C in 1-2 years…
And technically the draft is still part of the 2022 season and then 2023 starts with free agency. BUT that would have got us to way over 250 pages for the 2022 thread and 241 pages is a tough enough number to beat already.
241 pages is a tough enough number to beat already
I think it could be beaten if the Wild are able to advance past the first round of the playoffs. Every series they participate in would easily add another 7-10 days of posts.
I think we spent 75+ on just Kaprizov’s signing…
And technically the draft is still part of the 2022 season and then 2023 starts with free agency
Yes, but I wanted to separate out the trade speculation leading upto the Draft as it only impacts the 2022/2023 season…
I think we spent 75+ on just Kaprizov’s signing…
Yep, I dont think we get anywhere near that talking about Fiala or other potential moves this year. We will see. Kaprizov had so much dang excitement around him and the worry of him not signing was getting palpable. Remember some people were saying to just trade him because he didnt want to be here?! There needs to be a deep dive (probably wont happen) on how he got to the US, who he was with, etc. That is fascinating.
Russo and Billy G have told the story of his signing day a few times. KK was hiding out on a ritzy private island off the coast of Miami. Kovalchuk has a place on that island so I’m guessing that’s whose place he was staying at.
Is Tampa’s window closing? they are currently $2 million OVER the cap and playoff performers Palat,Rutta and Paul needing new contracts. They mostly will bring back the same group for 1 more season before the bridge deals for Cerelli/Sergachev/Cernak are done and they will likely demand big raises…Kilorn’s deal expires next year as well…
They still have one of the best top Core’s in the league signed for 2-7 more years, but their playoff success has mostly been with their 3rd and 4th line guys being clutch players and their top 6 young core being on cheap bridge deals, now those guys are able to sign long term deals and the capspace just isn’t there…
There was mention that Tampa has played alot of games the past 3 season and looked tired, but in reality they won the cup in 2 covid shortened seasons and other teams (Colorado/Florida) paid their playoff dues during that time and are now poised to take over as the top cup contenders for the next few year window…
Do you think there’s some doubt in the back of their minds that the gimicky playoff bubble and following year’s again shortened season takes anything away from their titles?
Russo and Billy G have told the story of his signing day a few times. KK was hiding out on a ritzy private island off the coast of Miami. Kovalchuk has a place on that island so I’m guessing that’s whose place he was staying at.
I have heard those bits, but there is more to fill in. He had to have quarantined I am sure, get an approved vaccine since I am sure he had the Sputnik shot which isnt approved, etc. Id like to also hear Nanne tell the story about smuggling Musil out! LOL that was a gem.
Is Tampa’s window closing?
I dont know if its closing. We have seen how they make little tweaks year over year and are right back in it. Helps when you have the world’s best goalie and solid core group of players. They will have some more challenges this year, but no doubt they will find a way.
I am interested to see what Boston does. I think NJ is on the rise as are the Red Wings. Will be interesting to see some teams emerge and who falls. I dont see the Canes falling off. Rangers could be on the rise too after an impressive season that most didnt see coming.
We have seen how they make little tweaks year over year and are right back in it
This season just needs little tweaks as you say, but after that they have several tough decisions to make…just looking at their roster they have gone all in on the 90% of their cap going to 6-7 players and the remaining 10% spread out to everyone else strategy….pretty extreme, especially with little to no prospects to draw from for years to come…
Yeah they do have a lot tied up in a few players but they always seem to find a way. With the key guys locked up long term there will likely be lots of guys like Perry signing a $1M deal for a true chance at a cup. You’re right they dont seem to have a ton of prospects to lean on so they may have to ship out some of their higher dollar guys. If they had a healthy Point I imagine they’d still be playing.
I think it’s the amount of playoff hockey that Tampa has played that’s worn them down. Almost 75 games in the last 22 months of playoff hockey where they push through injuries and don’t allow their bodies to rest and heal. That’s where the long term damage gets done.
That said they still have Kuch, Point, Hedman, Stamkos, and Vasilevski for the foreseeable future – I would never count that group out.
Real interesting development going on right now.
Since 2009, Bob McKenzie has correctly picked the first overall pick every single year. This year, he says Montreal will select Juraj Slafkovsky.
That would result in Shane Wright to fall to #2 with the devils, who are already incredibly deep with young centers (Hischier, Hughes, Mercer)
If this were to happen, I could see NJD’s pick (Wright) to Minnesota in a Fiala deal.
Honestly though, Montreal would have to be crazy to take Slafkovsky over Wright. A Suzuki/Wright center combo could have them set for the next decade.
That said they still have Kuch, Point, Hedman, Stamkos, and Vasilevski for the foreseeable future – I would never count that group out.
agreed, their top core is as good as any team in the league, it’s the surrounding group to that core I see really dropping in the coming years…they are basically hoping to fill those positions with league minimum players & College FA’s…There are no more Cerelli’s,Sergachev’s, Cernak’s coming up on small contracts…losing key heart & soul players like Palat & Killorn will hurt…
The talk about Slafkovsky is about his upside. They project his ceiling is higher than Wright. Wright IMO is a safe pick. There are some analysts who actually had Cooley the highest. Its really down to those 3 however.
I dont know if NJ is going to be willing to give up on #2 regardless of who is taken at #1. Drafting that high you generally dont draft on need, but who you see as the best impact producer. True they may have depth at Center, but those are also good trade pieces.
Wow. Thought you guys may give it a little rest. Guess not 
Wow. Thought you guys may give it a little rest. Guess not
imo this is the most fun time of the year, trade speculation, trades, the draft, free agency…While the Wild has likely zero dollars to spend in free agency, there’s likely some BIG trade(s) and draft picks coming that will change the look and feel of this team for years to come…
Wow. Thought you guys may give it a little rest. Guess not
You can’t stop us you can only hope to contain us.
imo this is the most fun time of the year
The most fun time of the year will be when we are gathering on the Cup Parade route. Hopefully its during my lifetime.
The most fun time of the year will be when we are gathering on the Cup Parade route.
I agree, watching your team play in the Stanley Cup Final and then hoist that magnificent trophy is a lot more entertaining than off season speculation of trades and salary cap.
Watching the Avs fans packed into the Pepsi Center watching Game 6 and the victory made me so damn jealous. I want nice things too!
I think it foolish to think the devils wouldn’t take Wright or wouldn’t want him because they are stacked at center, so they just get rid of the pick.
I would be shocked if they gave up the 2 pick for Fiala.
Wow. Thought you guys may give it a little rest. Guess not
I guess we could talk about AP boxing Bell instead.
Wow. Thought you guys may give it a little rest. Guess not
Haha you think you get to 241 by taking time off? There is no offseason on wild speculation, pun intended, with little to no follow up to see if anyone knows anything about what they are talking about. It’s like the NFL Mock Draft version of IDO!
Does that make Joe Mel Kiper……
Does that make Joe Mel Kiper……
lol, my favorite clip they play EVERY year at the NFL draft…
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