Summer 2023 NHL News (Offseason?) Thread
- Thread starter DeadlySplitter
- Start date
But he hurt Mitch Marner’s feelings! Per the Toronto Sun:
Babcock has mostly laid low since being fired early in the fourth season of his mammoth eight-year contract for $50 million US. The Leafs’ slow start in 2018-19 added to his strained relationship with Dubas, who’d replaced Lou Lamoriello as GM with divergent views on how to structure the roster and deploy the team’s young stars.
After club president Brendan Shanahan flew out on a Western U.S. road trip during a six-game losing streak to fire Babcock face-to-face, the Toronto Sun learned of the difficult relationship between the coach and a couple of members of what’s now called the Core Four. Specifically, Babcock browbeat 19-year-old forward Mitch Marner into ranking players’ work habits and then shared the list with the alleged shirkers to the embarrassment of Marner.
Babcock has mostly laid low since being fired early in the fourth season of his mammoth eight-year contract for $50 million US. The Leafs’ slow start in 2018-19 added to his strained relationship with Dubas, who’d replaced Lou Lamoriello as GM with divergent views on how to structure the roster and deploy the team’s young stars.
After club president Brendan Shanahan flew out on a Western U.S. road trip during a six-game losing streak to fire Babcock face-to-face, the Toronto Sun learned of the difficult relationship between the coach and a couple of members of what’s now called the Core Four. Specifically, Babcock browbeat 19-year-old forward Mitch Marner into ranking players’ work habits and then shared the list with the alleged shirkers to the embarrassment of Marner.
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Babcock is an asshole, always has been. Obviously knows his way around the rink but I wouldn’t want to touch him. I suppose everyone is entitled to grow as a person and atone for mistakes but from everything I’ve heard, fuck that guy.
Quebec is about to just roll to the Memorial Cup title. They just scored a fourth on the power play while Dylan Guenther served a cross-checking penalty. A couple of random observations:
-The Remparts’ goal song is the one the Canadiens used around 2000. The trauma packed in that thing is unbelievable.
-Patrick Roy looks like he’s auditioning for The Santa Clause 4.
-The Remparts’ goal song is the one the Canadiens used around 2000. The trauma packed in that thing is unbelievable.
-Patrick Roy looks like he’s auditioning for The Santa Clause 4.
I mean, make fun of it or call Mitch Marner thin skinned, but that's an incredibly shitty thing to do to anyone let alone a 19-year old rookie. He also verbally abused Johan Franzen back when both players were in Detroit, and obviously Mike Commodore has issues with Babcock and how he was treated under Babcock's reign. He also scratched Mike Modano on the last game of his career, which would've been his 1,500th career game. That is a huge offense to players who take the career games played milestones very seriously.
There's overwhelming evidence that Mike Babcock is raging asshole. Good luck to Columbus.
Don't think Jake is a great comparison. Jake was on a longer development path, spending his D+1 year in the OHL and then D+2 in the AHL. Caufield spent his D+1 year at Wisconsin and then made the leap at the end of their season. By almost every measure Caufield has been a better player over his first 3 NHL seasons than Jake was. Caufield has 53 goals in 123 career games. Jake had 62 goals in 203 career games through his first 3 seasons.
I think it's a fine contract. He's 22 years old so the 8-years will cover his prime and shouldn't include any decline seasons. The risk I guess is he falls off a cliff but that feels unlikely. He has progressed in each of his 3 seasons. He scored 26 goals in 46 games this season prior to the injury. Didn't have crazy shooting percentage (a little high but not a Jared McCann situation) so you don't have to squint very hard to seeing him being a constant 30-40 goal player throughout the duration of the contract. If the cap ever gets to actually increasing, my guess is this Canadiens come out ahead on this deal.
I think it's a fine contract. He's 22 years old so the 8-years will cover his prime and shouldn't include any decline seasons. The risk I guess is he falls off a cliff but that feels unlikely. He has progressed in each of his 3 seasons. He scored 26 goals in 46 games this season prior to the injury. Didn't have crazy shooting percentage (a little high but not a Jared McCann situation) so you don't have to squint very hard to seeing him being a constant 30-40 goal player throughout the duration of the contract. If the cap ever gets to actually increasing, my guess is this Canadiens come out ahead on this deal.
3-way deal going down between LAK, CBJ and PHI. Provorov to CBJ is the big piece.
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1666138185687265281?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1666138185687265281?s=20
God damn that's a great move by LAK. Opens them up as a landing spot for one of Ullmark / Swayman as well.
The full deal looks like this:
CBJ gets: Ivan Provorov (30% retained by LAK)
LAK gets: salary relief
PHI gets: Cal Peterson, Sean Walker, prospect Helge Grans, 1st round pick (22nd overall from LAK via CBJ from the Gavrikov deadline deal), 2nd from LAK, and a conditional 2024 or 2025 2nd from CBJ
I like this from the Flyers side. Provorov is pretty meh and wasn't going to be around when they get good again. Then they basically bought some picks by taking on Cal Peterson. An additional benefit is that one way to ensure a quality tank is to get bad goalies, so mission accomplished.
Carter Hart being on the way out too would be a mild suprise. He's only 24 and while it's been bumpy he's shown competence at times. He would still theoretically fit into a post-rebuild window given his age.
CBJ gets: Ivan Provorov (30% retained by LAK)
LAK gets: salary relief
PHI gets: Cal Peterson, Sean Walker, prospect Helge Grans, 1st round pick (22nd overall from LAK via CBJ from the Gavrikov deadline deal), 2nd from LAK, and a conditional 2024 or 2025 2nd from CBJ
I like this from the Flyers side. Provorov is pretty meh and wasn't going to be around when they get good again. Then they basically bought some picks by taking on Cal Peterson. An additional benefit is that one way to ensure a quality tank is to get bad goalies, so mission accomplished.
Carter Hart being on the way out too would be a mild suprise. He's only 24 and while it's been bumpy he's shown competence at times. He would still theoretically fit into a post-rebuild window given his age.
I'm guessing this refers to Provorov declining to take part in warm ups when the Flyers were wearing Pride jerseys.
Other than Konecny, Hart is also their most valuable trade chip. So if they're going to blow it up, he's the guy you move.
Dunno if this is old news, but Pete Laviolette is off to New York.
View: https://twitter.com/pierrevlebrun/status/1668692985997828110?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg
View: https://twitter.com/pierrevlebrun/status/1668692985997828110?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg
The NHL offseason week has arrived. The draft this year is Wednesday-Thursday followed by the openinig of free agency on Sunday. Can't ever recall it being this jammed together.
Shitty UFA market but there seems to be a ton of trade chatter.
Shitty UFA market but there seems to be a ton of trade chatter.
Good for Uncle Nick. Obviously an overpay but Chicago has cap space to burn and they clearly value the leadership he brings and they try and put a foundation in place around Bedard.
It's 1-year and they have over $31 million in cap space. The money is high but that was probably the price they had to pay to get him to not go to a contender.
I think it's fine for a team in their position. They need to put a foundation in place for Bedard and Foligno is one of the more respected veterans in the league. He'll teach Bedard the ropes.
And maybe there's a gentlemen's agreement that if a cup contender comes knocking at the trade deadline, Uncle Nick will be given his chance for a cup.
Looks like Kevin Hayes to STL is happening, in a revised form. Weekes says 2024 6th round pick headed to Philly but there could be additional components.
View: https://twitter.com/KevinWeekes/status/1673736252640706565?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/KevinWeekes/status/1673736252640706565?s=20
The deal was Hayes (50%) retained to STL for a 2024 6th.
Meanwhile, appears the Dubois to LAK deal is approaching the finish line. From the Jets Athletic writer:
View: https://twitter.com/WPGMurat/status/1673741363156860945?s=20
Meanwhile, appears the Dubois to LAK deal is approaching the finish line. From the Jets Athletic writer:
View: https://twitter.com/WPGMurat/status/1673741363156860945?s=20
Habs trade picks 31 and 37 plus an AHL defenseman to Colorado for Alex Newhook.
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1673755347821928452?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1673755347821928452?s=20
The Dubois trade seems complex. It is apparently going to be a sign and trade so PLD can get the max 8-year term. That means he technically has to sit on Winnipeg's cap which apparently is maxing this difficult. WPG apparently has to do something first, Dreger thinks that's a Wheeler buyout. Winnipeg has $13 million in cap space plus the 10% cushion so I'm a little unclear on why the extra hurdle.
View: https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/1673769591846084628?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/1673769591846084628?s=20
Toffoli to NJ for Sharangovich and a 3rd
View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1673828557221404673?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw
View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1673828557221404673?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw
Doesn’t help the pick when his own GM comes out and says “yeah we don’t see him QBing a top PP at the NHL level” right after making him the 5th overall pick
Habs fans: "Hey, if Carey Price can't pronounce his name, he doesn't deserve to play for our storied franchise!"
Biggest non-Bruins moves so far today: Ryan O'Reilly to Nashville (4 x 4.5M), Korpisalo to Ottawa (5 x 4M), Orlov to Carolina (2 x 7.75M)
No links as twitter is rough right now
No links as twitter is rough right now
Philly gonna Philly. Hathaway gets 2x$2.375m.
View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1675315475096518657?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg
View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1675315475096518657?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg
I'm not sure Bertuzzi is much of an upgrade over what Bunting gave them. He's going to go off with Auston, of course, but then he will leave. I don't think Treliving is doing a very good job for Toronto. They have improved year after year by tightening up defensively. Their outside/rush offense h as let them down a lot in the post season but they've been more and more competitive because their system has dialed them down to being tougher to score against. Then they added maybe the worst defender on the blueline in Klingberg and the worst forward defender in Domi.
Very weird. They will still get 105+ points because they are still really good but this doesnt feel like a step forward. If they trade Nylander, I actually think they are worse.
Very weird. They will still get 105+ points because they are still really good but this doesnt feel like a step forward. If they trade Nylander, I actually think they are worse.
It sounds like Nylander is gone. He had a very contentious contract negotiation the last time around where he held out into December and signed at the last possible minute. He's also being paid well below the other 3 members of the Toronto core 4. Matthews at $11.6, Tavares at $11 and Marner at $10.9. Nylander is at $6.9 million. He, probably rightfully, feels like he was the one that was squeezed the most. Mirtle on the Athletic said that the Leafs want him on a contract that begins with an 8 and that Nylander is much higher. Personally, if I'm him, I don't take a penny less than the $11 million Tavares is getting.
We'll see if they move him now or hang on to him through the season. IIRC he's very close with Pasta so that's kind of fun to dream on with the Bruins cap space next year.
We'll see if they move him now or hang on to him through the season. IIRC he's very close with Pasta so that's kind of fun to dream on with the Bruins cap space next year.
Some interesting news around the league.
Tarasenko has changed agents 5 days into free agency.
View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1676641821626347521?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw
Detroit waived Filip Zadina a couple of days ago. He cleared and now it seems Detroit may terminate him (2-years $1.85 AAV). Article states that Zadina may not contest the termination because he wants out so badly and he’s also told Detroit he wouldn’t report if assigned to the AHL.
2018 6th overall pick. Hasn’t found his footing at the NHL level.
Tarasenko has changed agents 5 days into free agency.
View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1676641821626347521?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw
Detroit waived Filip Zadina a couple of days ago. He cleared and now it seems Detroit may terminate him (2-years $1.85 AAV). Article states that Zadina may not contest the termination because he wants out so badly and he’s also told Detroit he wouldn’t report if assigned to the AHL.
2018 6th overall pick. Hasn’t found his footing at the NHL level.
Zadina did indeed get terminated today.
I'd like to see the Bruins get involved with this one. He might bust, he might be a Val Nichuskin late bloomer. Given the Bruins lack of high end young talent and no upcoming draft picks, this may be an opportunity to add a post-hype high ceiling young player without having to give anything up other than a contract. The Bruins obviously don't have a lot of cap space but given his $1.85 AAV contract was too much for anyone to trade for or claim for free, I don't think he's going to get much more than $1 million, if that.
No clue if the Bruins would be interested. Potential hurdle is he apparently told Detroit he wouldn't report if assigned to the AHL. I don't know if that's a blanket statement for the entire league or he'd be more open to an AHL assignment with another organization. On the flip side, Zadina is from Czechia and the Bruins are loaded with Czech's. He's a few years younger than Zacha and Zboril but I'm sure they crossed paths in the junior ranks at some point, then there's also Pastrnak and Krejci (as a recruiter if he doesn't play this year).
I'd like to see the Bruins get involved with this one. He might bust, he might be a Val Nichuskin late bloomer. Given the Bruins lack of high end young talent and no upcoming draft picks, this may be an opportunity to add a post-hype high ceiling young player without having to give anything up other than a contract. The Bruins obviously don't have a lot of cap space but given his $1.85 AAV contract was too much for anyone to trade for or claim for free, I don't think he's going to get much more than $1 million, if that.
No clue if the Bruins would be interested. Potential hurdle is he apparently told Detroit he wouldn't report if assigned to the AHL. I don't know if that's a blanket statement for the entire league or he'd be more open to an AHL assignment with another organization. On the flip side, Zadina is from Czechia and the Bruins are loaded with Czech's. He's a few years younger than Zacha and Zboril but I'm sure they crossed paths in the junior ranks at some point, then there's also Pastrnak and Krejci (as a recruiter if he doesn't play this year).
Would a Providence assignment even be likely with their forward depth right now? It might be a rare perfect situation for him: sign for a contender that just isn’t deep enough to bury him in the minors.