Connor Hellebuyck trade rumors are starting to bubble up, and that’s only the second most interesting thing going on in the NHL right now. The Buffalo Sabres lost to Montreal by a score of 3-2 in overtime. Buffalo enjoyed a magical season, and their fans proved to be a gold standard for how to support your team. The fans mostly continued to fill the stands at the conclusion of the series and cheer on their team despite the loss.
As for Montreal they will get ready to clash with a rest Carolina Hurricanes team tomorrow night. I’m not sure we have ever seen a conference final where one team has required the maximum 14 games, while the other required only the minimum 8 games. It will be a truly fascinating study on what matters more; the rest or being battle tested.
If the Montreal/Carolina series is to go seven games, look at for Alex Newhook. Newhook has scored the game winner is back-to-back series, both in game 7s. Justin Williams is retired and the league has been devoid of a Mr. Game 7, well they might have found a new one.
Awful goal for UPL to give up ending a series. I don’t put all the blame on UPL though. Sure, there was a moving screen, but that isn’t where I am frustrated. Goaltending coaching has muted the glove hand for many goaltenders. Not to get too into the weeds, but UPL is playing with his glove more upright and out in-front. This style makes the glove act more as a blocker than a glove. Goalies are now instructed to use this technique because it requires less reactionary movement as the glove with naturally meet the puck with good positioning. The flaw of this technique is the fact that shooters can expose goalies by shooting just over their pad, the goaltender is forced to react to this type of shot but the glove is positioned too high to meet the puck. Goaltenders who don’t adopt this style, Ilya Sorokin or Jett Greaves to name a few, don’t often get beat on their glove side. Let goaltenders be fun again, that is all. Also, if you do that you won’t have series end on harmless wristers down the wall.
I have been awful in predictions this season, but I am going Colorado in 7 and Carolina in 6.
In the broader world of the NHL there is a lot going on. We have had coaches fired in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto. We have Vegas, a team still in the playoffs, cockblocking a coach from getting a job with one of those teams. We player rumors everywhere too.
First, the coaching debacle with Vegas is insane. Without Bruce Cassidy from interviewing with other clubs is terrible. Now, I must say as a top McDavid hater, I don’t mind the decision. Cassidy is certainly the best option for Edmonton and Vegas is smart to withhold him from meeting with them since they play in the same division, no matter how shitty it is. Also, it’s not like Cassidy isn’t getting paid because Vegas still has to pay him 4.5 sheets each of the next two years. Hopefully Vegas relents on their position, but not with Edmonton and instead sends him to Toronto. I think Cassidy is exactly what Edmonton needs and exactly what Toronto does not need. So, in my perfect world I get to kill two birds with one stone in the scenario that seems most likely, Cassidy to Toronto. The bigger scope of this situation is the fact the coach’s union is almost certain to step in and change the way the coaching contracts are handled, which they should because this entire thing is absurd.
Other Rumors:
- It seems like Quinn Hughes will be resigning in Minnesota. It also came out the Wild tried to acquire his brother, Luke not Jack, this season. I think the Hughes trio will eventually all play together, but I feel like it won’t happen in New Jersey.
- Connor Hellebuyck’s end of season comments were rather grim. A month or so later, his name has started to pop up everywhere in trade rumors. I honestly believe that Winnipeg should trade him. He’s 33 years old and has played a lot of games. Winnipeg hasn’t won with him, and they struggle with attracting talent outside of trades/drafting. Hellebuyck’s value is likely at it’s all time high purely off his gold medal performance for team USA. Winnipeg could continue to be in the mushy middle by retaining the star netminder, but I believe they could lay the groundwork to become a true juggernaut by acquiring several key pieces in a Hellebuyck trade. I agree with Jeff Marek, I’d ship him to Buffalo if I were the Jets.
- Alex Tuch is still rumored to be staying with Buffalo. If this is the case, they better sign Zach Benson first. Benson is eligible for an offer sheet and Buffalo only has 12 million is cap space. The draft compensation sheet just came out, and every single team could easily squeeze a player, or two, out of Buffalo. First, you offer Benson 7x4years and then you offer Peyton Krebs 3×3 years. If Buffalo hasn’t signed Tuch and they retain both players, they’d only leave themselves with 2 million in cap space, forcing them to shed a significant player(s) from their roster. It will be a very delicate situation, but I don’t think any team should baulk at the idea of losing a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for those two players.
- The Flyers are likely signing Dan Vladar to a 5-year 6million extension. This smells exactly like another situation Rick Tocchet was a part of, and that situation was Kevin Lankinen in Vancouver. Tocchet plays a very goalie friendly system but shit always finds a toilet and I bet it happens in Philly like it did Vancouver.
- No Penguin’s news has percolated recently, except for Geno inviting Chinakhov to play padle with him. The only newsworthy Penguins story is how the farm teams are playing. Both look poised to make the conference finals in the same season for the first time. This is only possible because of the great work Kyle Dubas has done with building up the prospect pools. Bill Zonnon, last year’s first round pick, has scored a goal in each of his first three professional games. Two were game winners. McGroarty, Bruincke, Hayes, Ilyin, Koivunen, and most notably Murashov have also been sensational for Wilkes Barre. In Wheeling, Taylor Gauthier is beginning to make his case that he too should be in the fold for the Penguins net going forward. Just great stuff from the farm teams and it will only help propel the Penguins back to contention faster the longer they play postseason hockey.
Cya Friday for more news and to cover the game 1’s in the conference finals.
