PINM Talks Hockey
by Taylor, Andrew and Nick
Discussion
This started as a discussion between Andrew and I. Nick was added after the fact. So if this reads weird, I apologize.
This is the first (of many) hockey posts of the year for PINM. We talked about the Wild, the trade deadline and the end of year trophies. Enjoy.
Me - I thought about starting with Yeo, but that's pretty easy. Where do you think the Wild go from here?
Andrew - It's an aging group of guys, who are being overpaid. 8 straight losses at that moment and out of playoff contention a trade to reaffirm the firing would be good. The Oilers looking for a D-men would probably be interested in Dumba and a pick likely a first rounder in exchange for Nugent-Hopkins
Me - I keep hearing Drouin, but I'm not sure that the Wild need a 'troubled' case. A good team brings Drouin in and he makes a difference, a middling, struggling team and who knows? I like Nuge to the Wild. Lord knows the Oil could use a shake up too.
Andrew - Drouin seems to be in the mold of Alexandre Daigle. A top prospect not quite living up to the his full potential. However, unlike Daigle, I don't believe Drouin his damaged goods. I think the right fit such as Anaheim or St. Louis would make sense and Nate the Wild. The Senators are said to be in the hunt but want two top prospects and a first . Yzermen reportedly offered him to the Canucks for Horvat, which is a laugh.
Me - I do not want him in St Louis. Hahaha. Please not St Louis!
Nick - The Wild are not going to do anything. For some time. I may be an internet arm chair hater here with 20/20 hindsight on my side, but the whole Parise/Suter thing was doomed from the get go. The year they made the moves other contending teams in the West were already built or building from within and in a completely more dangerous style. It was clear the pendulem was swinging West in the NHL and teams as built as the Blues weren't even going to get to sniff the Finals because of the beast of a conference the West would become. The Wild? At least two tiers down from the top. They had musical chairs in net and nothing around Parise up front every year. There was just never depth of any kind the last 5yrs. They never had anything, and won't for awhile. Firing the coach was at least a glimmer of hope that management is seeing there is a problem. But its all too late, a negative mentality has infected the franchise the last couple of years. Everything needs to be replaced top to bottom, left to right. They will be bottom feeding for years.
Me - The deadline is coming up. What big moves do you see? Who are the Panthers getting, Andrew?
Andrew - The Panthers, with injuries currently to Barkov, could turn their eyes to Winnipeg and look at Andrew Ladd. The connection is there for Tallon to pull the trigger. The cost would most likely be Pirri or Grimaldi. Also defensive help with Grubranson and Mitchell injured.
Me - Pirri's hurt too, though. Can they trade him now? Leave Ladd alone. I want the Hawks to get Ladd. I'd settling for Versteeg, even though he was underwhelming in his last stint here. He slots in because he knows the system, isn't THAT bad, chemistry-wise. i really want to see Bickell go away, but they're been trying to trade him all year.
Andrew - Pirri is injured now? I assume it happened last night against Nashville, I worked and missed the game. No, I'd say he may be off the block, but the Cats have a glut of prospects to choose from. I don't see the Hawks getting Ladd, if they do he will be a rental. I believe it's a 6 million a year contract.
Bickel really is underwhelming, he will be a hard move.
Me- Oh, he would be a total rental. But that's all I want him for anyway. He seems to be on the decline. Pirri's ankle / foot got all sorts of messed up last night. Looked potentially long term.
That Bickel contract was horrendous. That was the damn summer of the "Power Forward" and Bowman swung and missed badly. Not as bad as Clarksson, but badly.
Andrew - Well the Cats with have to look at making a move , Corbin Knight as been the best call up, so far this year but more then a call up will be needed.
I would also add look for Montreal look to add a goalie, short term James Reimer may be helpful.
Nick - I personally see this deadline being a real bore. Serviceable names (Erhoff, Scuderi, Prust, etc) have fallen through the waiver wire recently. Teams passing on depth is a rarity. The teams in contention have their pieces fairly set. This also means the trade deadline will be "cheap". Teams are gonna be able to add what they want for next to nothing. Which will make the trades less headline worthy. No "BLOCKBUSTER" slathered across NHL.com this year folks.
As for "my team" and the deadline? I don't see the Kings making a move period. The hot topic is depth D and everybody enjoyed reporting they were "all-in" or whatever on Big Buff before he re-upped. But I just don't see them doing anything serious. They have enough guys to fill the few minutes Doughty leaves behind. This is where my theorized boring and cheap deadline comes in handy for the Kings, if there's a low end guy to grab for a bag of pucks they can take the risk. I'll say 50% no move, 47% single D man pickup, 2.99% forward, 0.01% insanity.
Year End Trophy Picks
A Little Something From Everyone
Andrew on Al Montoya
Al Montoya is playing the best hockey of his NHL career.
As of February 9th, he boasts a record that includes a 8-3-1 record and a 2.01 GAA in 26 appearances this season. But much like the Minnesota Wild's Devan Dubnyk, his career was at a crossroads just a few seasons ago.
Montoya began his collegiate career with Michigan in 02-03. Setting a Michigan record with 30 wins in 43 games as a freshmen. The 03-04 season saw his star continue to rise as he posted 26 wins in 40 games for the Wolverines. He also appeared that year for the U.S. in the World Juniors leading them to the gold medal and being named the best goalie of the series. In 2004, the New York Rangers selected the budding star in the 1st rd, 6th overall. 04-05 season was Montoya's last as a Wolverine, he posted outstanding numbers with a second 30 win season, a GAA of 1.67 and a SVPCT of 9.12.
The 05-06 season saw Montoya begin his professional career with the Hartford Wolfpack, the Ranger's AHL affiliate, where he continued to play well and impress Ranger's brass. 06-07 saw him accomplish a personnel best 6 shutouts, though he suffered several injuries that season. During the 07-08 season Montoya was part of a 5 player trade that sent him to the Phoenix Coyotes. The trade saw him reassigned to the San Antonio Rampage. Montoya though never really caught fire in Phoenix, though in April, on a call up to the Coyotes he posted a shutout, showing the flashes of brilliance that made him the 6th overall pick.
But it wasn't meant to be, in February of 2011 the Coyotes moved Montoya to the New York Islanders. This was a perfect opportunity to show his skills, as the Islanders had recently had their starter and backups go down with injuries. He played 21 games for the Islanders and had a 9-5-5 record, recording one shutout. The Islanders passed on signing Montoya and he signed with the Winnipeg Jets. He played two seasons in the 'Peg.
In July of 2014 he signed with Florida, which was the perfect fit. Montoya is the first Cuban-American NHLer. The Ft. Lauderdale area has one of largest communities Cuban-Americans in the U.S. Montoya is fluent in both Spanish and English. He is a great ambassador for the game in South Florida, as young and old fans alike can identify with him. Though his first season with the Panthers was not stellar , a 6-7-2 record, he has rebounded tremendously this season. The best features of his game are, he seldom has a bad game and rebounds well when he does. He works as hard in practice as during a game which keeps him mentally sharp. A free agent this coming season he is likely to gain attention from teams seeking a backup, candidates that would be a perfect fit would be the Toronto Maple Leafs or San Jose Sharks. Though don't be surprised to see the Panthers keep the Big Cubano in South Florida.
Nick on the Dominant West
I once predicted the West would win "the next five Cups" when I saw the beasts growing out West. Well, its been four in a row so far! I knew the Kings window was open and they'd account for one, but I was pleasantly surprised to be able to enjoy them winning two Cups. Then the Hawks have taken care of the other two. Not exactly the exciting variety I was expecting to include, say, the Blues and Preds somewhere in there. Heck, five years ago I would've even considered the Shar... Haha, just kidding.
The point being, this is year five of my five year prediction.
And well, this is the first year to finally be nervous. Washington has FINALLY put their money where their mouth is and made all the right moves. They acquired greatly underated depth in Oshie, and insane winning experience in Justin Williams. Guys like Holtby are peaking right now. Young guys growing up. Ovie has never stopped being Ovie. A reasonably boringly, responsible defense (good thing). This is easily the most dangerous team in the
league and have to be the betting favorites.
The New York Rangers have not improved on paper, but as the last two playoffs have unfolded their intangibles are where they get better. Experience is huge in the NHL playoffs and they've compiled it about as well as any Eastern team in the last couple of years. A guy like Zuccarelo is invalueable. All he wants is to win. You don't have to like him, and he doesn't have to be a superstar, but he can straight up WILL his team forward. They have to be acknowledged.
Then Florida is just plain fun and actually deep enough to go deep. And yup, Detroit veterans are as healthy as they've been since their last Cup appearances, darkhorse deluxe edition. I feel safe sleeping on Montreal ever
rebounding and any other Eastern team.
All this said, I would never back off my five year statement and the Kings may as well get 3 in 5. Them nerves though...
Taylor on the Hawks at the Deadline
What will Chicago do at the deadline?
First, the good news: Marcus Kruger is out until the playoffs, which opens up some cap space. The Hawks used this same sort of loophole last year when Kane went down and, I guess you could say, it went pretty well. Rob Scuderi was waived, helping a little bit as well.
But here comes the bad news: The Hawks are not a very deep team (by Chicago's standard), offensively OR defensively. So, you have room for one top notch player or a couple plug ins. What do you do? Since I'm writing this, I'm choosing option A: Get a first line left winger. Let's take a look around the league and see who's available. Here are 4 wingers who should be available and 4 Hawks players who could be traded.
Of note, the Hawks can add $3.9 million at the deadline, according to GeneralFanager.com. They would need to clear some more space for 2 of these players.
Andrew Ladd - Winnipeg Jets - Cap hit: $4.4M - Ladd won a Cup with Chicago in 2010 and, boy, did I love Andy Ladd. Absolutely loved him. He and Troy Brouwer were two of my favorite players on that 2010 team. Of course, one of my other favorites came back to Chicago and wasn't quite what I hoped for. That man, could come back again this season! That man is...
Kris Versteeg - Carolina Huricanes - Cap hit: $2.2M - Not only did Versteeg win a Cup with the Hawks in 2010, he also won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks last year, but was shipped out in the offseason due to cap concerns. He knows the system and knows the boys, but wasn't exactly ground breaking in his role last year. He found some success on the Kane line, but that line is set in stone and I think my 6 month old daughter could put up points playing with Kane.
Radim Vrbata - Vancouver Canucks - Cap hit: $5M - Hey, look! Another former Hawk! No Cups for Vrbata, however. 5 million is steep, but he's had some good years since he was last in Chicago, including a couple 30 goal seasons.
Mikkel Boedker - Phoenix Coyotes - Cap hit $3.75M - Boedker has never played for the Hawks, ruining our streak. To be frank, I don't know anything about Boedker. Would he be an upgrade over Andrew Shaw? Absolutely. Is that all that matters? Yes.
So Ladd and Vrbata are expensive additions and Boedker and Versteeg aren't far behind. Versteeg is probably the best option, honestly, but I want to see Ladd back in the Indian head. So you can probably cross both of those guys off your list. It'll probably be some Swede that was good ten years ago. Just as long as it's not Matt Cooke. So it'll probably be Matt Cooke. Whoever it is, the Hawks have to trade someone for them. Who could it be?
Bryan Bickell? Please. Please please pleasepleaseplease. I hated that contract before the ink was even dry.
Andrew Shaw? Shaw represents some value and the Hawks could replace him with Ryan Hartman. Shaw has been too inconsistent for my liking. Some nights, he throws the body, plays the game with an edge and gets dirty. Other nights, he's a total non factor. That ain't first line material. And, frankly, sometimes not even fourth line material.
Marko Dano? Hard pass. Unless they sign one of those four players and they RE sign, Dano should stick around.
Teuvo Teravainen? Every once in a while, I could be talked into this. At times, Teuvo looks world class, but other times he gets pushed around. He's not hard enough on the puck and not as elusive as Kane to make up for it. But he's young, so I remain optimistic. Pass.