slothfacekilla

Well hey, Datsyuk made the Hall of Fame so that's good news for the day...

I am absolutely shocked that they needed to include a pick to dump Walman, let alone trade for one to make it happen. San Jose wouldn't just take him to get to the salary floor??? Matt Roy time?

OH MY GOD WHAT ARE THEY DOING

Agreed, I'm still kind of shocked. Mostly because after ASP there isn't much on the right side in the pipeline (Tuomisto I guess...) so it makes me wonder if they have some sort of deal in principal with a free agent RHD or want to use the pick in a bigger trade.....or both?! Apparently they really liked this Finnish kid last draft too, seems like he could be something.

Wheeler on our newest prospect after the trade, from February as Nashville’s 10th best prospect and Nashville as the 8th best prospect pool: Finland’s captain at times with their U18 team last year, Kiiskinen really impressed me at the fall 2022 Five Nations in Plymouth, where he was in on eight of their 12 goals, led the team in points and shots, and showed both skill and a respectable work rate. He was also one of the more productive players in Finland’s top junior league (which included a 20-shot hat-trick performance) and had real chemistry with countryman Jesse Nurmi on a line internationally throughout last year. This season, though he didn’t make the Finnish world junior team (he’ll be a top-nine winger at the Ottawa tournament next year), Kiiskinen was Finland’s best player at the U20 Five Nations in February, has played almost exclusively in Liiga this season and has lit up Finland’s junior level in brief loans. He’s dangerous on the flank and point on the power play because of his shot (both a quick wrister and the one-timer on his off-wing) but also a willingness to use his shot as a decoy into a pretty compelling passing game. He plays hard and gets off the flank to finish plays around the net. He has a pro frame and strong balance on his skates playing through bumps. But he’s not a quick north-south skater (due in large part to short, almost stunted stride extensions) even though he evades defensemen with cuts and stop-ups to change directions and has looked a step quicker this year. He’s also got a pro shot and deft handling skills, with a knack for having the puck in good spots a lot and a confidence flipping the switch to attack mode. That includes skill at catching and giving saucer passes and good dexterity around the net on tips and redirects. He doesn’t turn 19 until the end of August either, giving him good runway to become a productive Liiga player and then come over to North America to try to work into the call-up conversation in the AHL eventually. My only complaint about his game is that it can lack pace at times. This is the point in Nashville’s list where the players’ odds of making it get a little longer but I’m a fan of his game and felt he was a worthwhile third-round pick.

Maybe they think they can get a higher upside player with this draft's second rounder but I'm going to delude myself into thinking it's a precursor to a big move haha. The forward doesn't sound too bad though.

Gibson was probably a second pairing defender at best in the NHL but he had a nice OHL system and RHD isn't super flush in their system...........Yzerman setting up another move now with two second rounders??

What the ****. I know we have a lot of defense in the pipeline but I liked Gibson as a prospect. News about Kane seems to be that his agent wants 3 years on the deal, Yzerman only wants to do 2.

Super interesting (and encouraging) to see Buch in Detroit training with other prospects. Usually with the KHL / Europe schedule he doesn't come over.

local Boston reporter

I haven't seen much Kane info from Steve or the team, last I really saw was: I think he'll sign somewhere else myself

Matt Roy would be nice, I think he'll have a few teams interested in his services.

What I think they'll do and what I think is a good plan is Cossa getting a bulk of the starts in AHL (i.e. true workhorse goaltending) to see how he holds up and he gets called up for a couple cups of coffee in the NHL if needed. I want to see him stretched out in the AHL vs a handful of backup NHL games to see how it goes personally, but it isn't the only option or "right" option. It slides his ELC if he doesn't play many games as well. But who knows what Yzerman is truly thinking...

Filing this in the same folder with all the Bonderman changeup offseason hype 😂

It sounded like they are rolling with Lyon and Husso and want to add a third goalie to either GR or NHL roster to supplement those two. I also got the impression they aren't going to be very active in free agency (and the Seider/Raymond deals won't be done by then) but Yzerman doesn't usually reveal much concrete info.

I thought Chiarot played fairly well last season, much more so than Maata who I thought looked awful last season. I would much rather keep Chiarot over Maata personally especially since Chiarot handles a lot of the tougher PK minutes. I hope they can ship Maata off for literally anything as I don't trust him at all after last season. Two way deal is if he doesn't look like a NHL player he'll make less money in the AHL, probably just a cover your ass for the worst outcome type of thing. The player didn't really have any leverage here so you might as well. edit: oh duh, two way contract doesn't count against the offseason cap since he hasn't played a NHL game. So gives them a little wiggle room if they want it.

An interesting day in the NHL already, Kings really botched the PLD situation

I don't rate Laine very high so I wouldn't want to trade for him unless it is basically nothing or comes with a pick attached for a salary dump and even then I'm not sure he fits what the team wants on the roster. I think I would give Necas $7m but it is a gamble on him being in that 70 point range and not 40-50's getting out of Carolina's system.

I'm shocked they did it but it seems like the right move for sure. Didn't they have to cut Hayes just so Monty would stop giving him so much run time? It seemed like his rotations were a mess and I don't even know basketball.

Mildly shocked since I believe Markstrom turned down a trade to the Devils last season (and for anyone wondering I would guess he'd turn down a trade to Detroit). Return is a future first (draft after the upcoming one) and a 23 year old D prospect. So would probably be like a future first + Johansson or maybe Tuomisto. Not a huge overpay but decent amount for a 34 year old goalie.

Tkachuk puts in all that effort only for OEL to give up on the play and let McDavid gather the puck unmolested, classic

Word I've seen is that the Wings would have taken Bouchard if Zadina wasn't there anyways. Still would have worked out way better...

Two more seasons of Buch in the KHL

I'm not a big Craig Button fan but he somehow has Catton sliding all the way to 15 to Detroit which would be unreal https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/canadian-nhl-teams-in-the-spotlight-in-craig-button-s-latest-mock-draft-1.2135788