I watched Moore in college and he was a pretty good faceoff guy. I know he doesn't have the experience but I would have liked to have seen him out there.
- bjphawkfan

You weren’t going to see Moore. His line with Slaggert and Reichel got buried last night. He also was 0-4 last night at the dot.

Yes the goal these last few games is to get the kids experience of how the game is played in the NHL, but with 12 seconds left, IMO the coaches obligation is to put the players that would give you the best chance to win the game. The only forward who was positive in FO percentage last night was Donato, he was 8-4, and he was on the ice. Anders should have just had Donato take the draw and still could have Mikhayev and Bedard on the ice.

You weren’t going to see Moore. His line with Slaggert and Reichel got buried last night. He also was 0-4 last night at the dot.

Yes the goal these last few games is to get the kids experience of how the game is played in the NHL, but with 12 seconds left, IMO the coaches obligation is to put the players that would give you the best chance to win the game. The only forward who was positive in FO percentage last night was Donato, he was 8-4, and he was on the ice. Anders should have just had Donato take the draw and still could have Mikhayev and Bedard on the ice.
- LAHawk

He could have, but bottom line if Bedard is the 1C on the team, he needs to be deployed in these situations and learn to take those high pressure draws. We aren't in a win now mode, let him take the draw and get the experience.

He could have, but bottom line if Bedard is the 1C on the team, he needs to be deployed in these situations and learn to take those high pressure draws. We aren't in a win now mode, let him take the draw and get the experience.
- breadbag

Exactly.

Looks like it was a PuckPedia user making up trades. Think that may be a bit much to pay for Lafreniere given performance as well as what is owed to him.

I posted this a few days ago-If Florida resigns Bennett (and Ekblad and maybe Marchand), it’s going to be difficult for them to justify carrying Lundell at $5 a year to play 3rd line center. He is a responsible 2-way center with some offensive pop. Think he would look good on line #2

What would it take to pry him loose? Reichel + 2nd? Maybe Toronto's first?

Not much out there on the UFA market so will probably take moves like this to grab anyone that moves the needle at all.

Thoughts?
- Revco38

Lundell is a money in the bank centerman. He's one of my favorite players in the league to watch. Nice size at 6ft 1n 200lbs... You zero in on his shifts and the guy always makes the right choice whether it's with the puck, getting body positioning/leverage, the paths taken, the reads, when to hit. Always on the right side of the puck. Really high IQ. A money in the bank 2 way NHLer who won a cup and lost in the Finals as well.

He went 12th overall in 2020. He's just 23 so I hesitate to speak in absolutes but his offensive ceiling seems to around 50ish pts, he hasn't hit 50 yet. A classic middle 6 guy but he's the type who's contributions go way beyond his point totals.

Rev, I think you found a situation that will bring a much needed player. A player of his caliber/pedigree that is a casualty of the cap. Maybe it won't be Lundell but a similar player in a similar situation that KD has plenty of assets to acquire.

I don't know Florida's cap situation but does resigning Lundell come down to whether or not they resign Bennett? And if they don't resign Bennett, who's a legit nasty nasty 2C, does he interest KD?.......... Huge huge huge fan of Bennett and this was when he was floundering around in CAL. With FLA he hit his ceiling.

Bennett is only 28 but I guarantee every hockey mile on his body since he was 12 is a brutal hard mile. When he starts to go down hill it will be a severe drop off. As much a fan I am of his I don't want KD to give a player like him over 27-28 any real term.

But I think KD has a list of Lundell types that might be had in the same way he got Knight.

He could have, but bottom line if Bedard is the 1C on the team, he needs to be deployed in these situations and learn to take those high pressure draws. We aren't in a win now mode, let him take the draw and get the experience.
- breadbag

Well hopefully he learned what to do after losing a draw too. Bedard, Vlasic, and Murphy were all in front of the net and not one of the 3 had a stick tied up, or a body on one of the Av’s.

Rinzel PP1. Not sure it’s even close rn. Lev and Vlasic look awful running it.
- bhawks2241

Very interesting but it looks like starting in the 3rd period Rinzel took over the PP1 slot and he's the Dman who started the OT!! In his 2nd NHL game........ Love love love the idea a youngster is on the roster and capable of pushing Artie.

Artie has looked so much better than I anticiapted and IMO is the better prospect between him and Rinzel but the Cossack has work to do. Coughing pucks ain't cool and with a guy like Rinzel on the roster Artie ain't gonna be given anything.

Artie needs to get to work but this kid has everything needed to go beast mode for yrs.

Not only did Rinzel take #1 responsibilities from Artie he was flip flopped with him in pairings. Artie and Vlassic were absolutely mutilated v Utah, Like a 12-3 shot disadvantage, 10-2 scoring chances disadvantage and a corsi in the 30's.

Conversely Rinzel and My Guy Kaiser were paired and ruled the fancies and the eye test v Utah. So, cuz Vlassic coughed and coughed, and Artie refused to be outcoughed they split them up and paired My Guy Kaiser to help Artie along and Rinzel to "settle down" Vlassic.

Very interesting and fun to watch.

Lundell is a money in the bank centerman. He's one of my favorite players in the league to watch. Nice size at 6ft 1n 200lbs... You zero in on his shifts and the guy always makes the right choice whether it's with the puck, getting body positioning/leverage, the paths taken, the reads, when to hit. Always on the right side of the puck. Really high IQ. A money in the bank 2 way NHLer who won a cup and lost in the Finals as well.

He went 12th overall in 2020. He's just 23 so I hesitate to speak in absolutes but his offensive ceiling seems to around 50ish pts, he hasn't hit 50 yet. A classic middle 6 guy but he's the type who's contributions go way beyond his point totals.

Rev, I think you found a situation that will bring a much needed player. A player of his caliber/pedigree that is a casualty of the cap. Maybe it won't be Lundell but a similar player in a similar situation that KD has plenty of assets to acquire.

I don't know Florida's cap situation but does resigning Lundell come down to whether or not they resign Bennett? And if they don't resign Bennett, who's a legit nasty nasty 2C, does he interest KD?.......... Huge huge huge fan of Bennett and this was when he was floundering around in CAL. With FLA he hit his ceiling.

Bennett is only 28 but I guarantee every hockey mile on his body since he was 12 is a brutal hard mile. When he starts to go down hill it will be a severe drop off. As much a fan I am of his I don't want KD to give a player like him over 27-28 any real term.

But I think KD has a list of Lundell types that might be had in the same way he got Knight.
- Mr Ricochet

Lundell is signed at a reasonable cap hit ($5 mil for the next 3 years). FLA is at $76.5 with 16 players signed (leaves them with around $19 million in cap space). They have 2 major UFA's- Bennett and Ekblad, as well as deciding what to do with Marchand. Given Ekblad's PED issue, they may decide to walk away, but will need to replace him. If Bennet gets $10 million, leaves only $9 left for 1 goalie, another top 2 D and 2-3 Depth F. If they sign Marchand they have Barkov, Marchand, Verhaege, Reinhart, Rodrigues and Lundell down the middle (and Bennet can play C as well). Lundell is playing 1 C right now while Barkov is injured, but when he is back, Lundell slides back to 3 C. That might be a bit much to pay for a 3C when you are so deep at the position.

If I were KD I would target Lundell. Reichel + Florida's 1st in 2026 would be where I would start. Florida may want to move other players, but Lundell would bring them back so much more than anyone else.

All of this is dependent on if they resign Bennett and what they do with Marchand and Ekblad. Just some thoughts

TODAY'S TANKATHON

SJ keeps #1, PHI jumps up to #2, CHI to #3.

If Schaefer and Misa are gone, I think there is a good chance the #3 is traded (trade out or trade down) for current NHL forward help. Hagens/Martone is still a good choice, so it should be a pretty sizable return for that pick.

1 San Jose
6 Philadelphia
2 Chicago
3 Nashville
4 Boston
5 Seattle
7 Buffalo
8 Pittsburgh
9 Anaheim
10 NY Islanders
11 Detroit
12 NY Rangers
13 Columbus
14 Utah
15 Vancouver
16 Calgary (to MON)

Lundell is signed at a reasonable cap hit ($5 mil for the next 3 years). FLA is at $76.5 with 16 players signed (leaves them with around $19 million in cap space). They have 2 major UFA's- Bennett and Ekblad, as well as deciding what to do with Marchand. Given Ekblad's PED issue, they may decide to walk away, but will need to replace him. If Bennet gets $10 million, leaves only $9 left for 1 goalie, another top 2 D and 2-3 Depth F. If they sign Marchand they have Barkov, Marchand, Verhaege, Reinhart, Rodrigues and Lundell down the middle (and Bennet can play C as well). Lundell is playing 1 C right now while Barkov is injured, but when he is back, Lundell slides back to 3 C. That might be a bit much to pay for a 3C when you are so deep at the position.

If I were KD I would target Lundell. Reichel + Florida's 1st in 2026 would be where I would start. Florida may want to move other players, but Lundell would bring them back so much more than anyone else.

All of this is dependent on if they resign Bennett and what they do with Marchand and Ekblad. Just some thoughts
- Revco38

Lundell is the type of player that KD needs to target, plays a 200’ game and has learned a lot from Barkov, just like Knight learned from Bobrovsky. Lundell could play second line center and eventually slide down to the third line when the Hawks bring in a better offensive option for the second line. Lundell’s tool set is perfect for the third line on a championship team. I’m a big believer that a strong third line wins championships.

Lundell is the type of player that KD needs to target, plays a 200’ game and has learned a lot from Barkov, just like Knight learned from Bobrovsky. Lundell could play second line center and eventually slide down to the third line when the Hawks bring in a better offensive option for the second line. Lundell’s tool set is perfect for the third line on a championship team. I’m a big believer that a strong third line wins championships.
- Angotti

Zito is in win now mode. I don’t think Zito is interested in trading Lindell for draft choices or young assets. IMO he made the Jones trade knowing he is going to let Ekblad go to free agency. Supposedly mutual interest between the Panthers and Bennett doing a deal but to be seen if it can get done.

He could have, but bottom line if Bedard is the 1C on the team, he needs to be deployed in these situations and learn to take those high pressure draws. We aren't in a win now mode, let him take the draw and get the experience.
- breadbag

It's nice but your 1C isn't necessarily your best face off man. Either way, the plan is "play the kids and lose out."

Why is this an issue? Winning the game is not the most important thing. Getting a 19 year old out on the ice in key situations so he can learn what is required of him at the NHL level is far more important.

I want Bedard out there seeing what the games greats are like in crunch time. I want him seeing first hand how hard McKinnon plays when it matters.

You learn by going up against the best. You don't learn if you're not on the ice.
- bhawks2241

That makes sense, only if they are not flitting around with sticking him on wing, which has different responsibilities than C.

Plus Knight earned a W not an L, but guess what he got.

Look at the detailed stats. The Hawks have slowly been improving at faceoffs, they’re no longer being outshot two or three to one every game. Their giveaways are much better and they’ve improved dramatically at take always. 80%of the defense are green rookies but are playing reasonably well. There are only two or three top six forwards on the team, two are very young and inexperienced and the other is a vet who’s having a career year. The rest of the forwards are bottom six and many don’t belong in the NHL. No idea why you pointed to the power play as a problem, this team with almost no NHL talent at forward has the ninth best power play in the NHL. The Hawks also have the ninth best PK in the league. Dots, you’re always preaching patience, maybe you should be reminding yourself.
- paulr

Preaching patience and pointing out the obvious are 2 different things, aren't they?

It's not like I'm saying they need to blow it up, start over or anything like that.

If practicing patience is not pointing out the obvious then that's not me, but I'm loving this rebuild. The kids will figure it out it'll just take a minute

Well hopefully he learned what to do after losing a draw too. Bedard, Vlasic, and Murphy were all in front of the net and not one of the 3 had a stick tied up, or a body on one of the Av’s.
- LAHawk

I blame it more on 8 or coaching, Makar is a beast you can not let that shot through and he gave him an open lane to get his shot through.

I blame it more on 8 or coaching, Makar is a beast you can not let that shot through and he gave him an open lane to get his shot through.
- BetweenTheDots

Well you are right it was coaching but more the shift before he had his better defensive forwards Nazer/Foligno/Teuvo out. He should have used a time-out, and left them out there for 19 more seconds.

New coaching staff is crucial next year.

Preaching patience and pointing out the obvious are 2 different things, aren't they?

It's not like I'm saying they need to blow it up, start over or anything like that.

If practicing patience is not pointing out the obvious then that's not me, but I'm loving this rebuild. The kids will figure it out it'll just take a minute
- BetweenTheDots

Well it’s obvious the team has very little talent up front, a defence that’s very green and interim coach. Patience ….

It's nice but your 1C isn't necessarily your best face off man. Either way, the plan is "play the kids and lose out."
- rpeters01

Not always the best faceoff man, but should be the guy you expect to be clutch and will want the game on their stick when push comes to shove. I guarantee that Bedard wants the game on his stick when it's on the line.