Ten takeaways from the NHL scouting combine - Custance:
SMH at Lamoriello being creepy to my boy Patrik. Keep that weird old man staring limited to Matthews, dammit! You can drain the life force from his career in order to stay alive another year if you must, you sick, twisted Alp.
BUFFALO, NY -- First, an admission. Sometimes we oversell the offseason. We pump up moves that never actually happen. Trades! Offer sheets! Free agent signings! Its hard not to get caught up in all the roster movement thats about to start kicking into high gear.
And this year? Were especially worked up. The salary cap is flat and could even go down depending on whether or not the NHLPA kicks in the escalator clause. Then theres the threat of an expansion draft and the expected roster movement that will come this summer because of it. The phrase talent redistribution has been used to describe how that might play out.
New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero laughed when asked about how wild this summer just might be.
You guys are calling for rain, hail and tornados, he said.
Yes, yes we are.
It happens all the time, he said. Doesnt it happen all the time?
Yes, yes it does.
But this year is different. At least thats the theory. General managers gathered in Buffalo last week for the NHL draft combine, and conversations definitely picked up. But Shero said it wasnt necessarily more than previous years, partially because its still a little early.
Its just normal, he said of trade talk right now. Were still a few weeks away from the draft. The cap number will come out soon. Everybody is reading the tea leaves. Were planning for that. With the assumption expansion is coming, we still have no idea exactly what the rules are going to be.
So its early, but that didnt start the conversations from picking up over the last week. Here are 10 takeaways from conversations at the draft combine with executives and the top prospects:
1. Matthews put through the wringer
Lets start with the player expected to go first, first. Auston Matthews met with seven teams during the interview process, with our favorites on the list being the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals (more on that in a minute), considering they probably wont be within shouting distance of drafting him.
And like a few of the top prospects, Matthews agreed that the most intense interview was the one with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Theyre pretty intimidating going in there. ... That was probably the most intense one, Matthews said when we chatted after his testing.
Part of it is having Hall of Famer Lou Lamoriello sitting quietly, just watching.
Lou didnt ask me anything. He sat there and listened, and then Lou was the last guy to shake your hand, Matthews said. It was definitely intense.
2. Biggest fear for the future star?
Matthews said the questions from Toronto were fairly straightforward; questions about family, siblings, interests outside of hockey. They also asked about his biggest fear, which stood out to Matthews.
The answer?
Sharks and snakes, Matthews said. Thats the only one I can think of.
3. Leafs tough on Laine, too
Patrik Laine, who is pushing Matthews in the conversation for the top pick, also named the Maple Leafs as the toughest interview. Laine interviewed with eight teams, but Toronto definitely made an impression.
Toronto, that was the toughest ever. Just watching me, Laine said. Just watching me all the time. ... They were just staring at me all the time. That was hard.
4. Why the Caps interviewed Matthews
So why would a team like the Washington Capitals, picking near the bottom of the draft, spend time interviewing the players at the top? Capitals assistant GM Ross Mahoney pointed out that of the top six picks in the 2010 draft, five have been traded during their subsequent NHL careers. Its worth noting that No. 1 overall Taylor Hall could be traded this offseason as well.
Teams may not get a crack at the players at the top of the draft this season, but that doesnt mean it wont eventually happen.
You never know, whether its this upcoming draft whether youre switching positions as far as moving up or back in the draft. Also, in the future, trades might come up, Mahoney said when we chatted. Its a bank of knowledge that might become useful in the future as well.
So what did they think of Matthews?
Oh, very, very impressive, Mahoney said. Just a really nice young man. Very mature young man. Very impressive at that age.
5. What gives with that 2010 class?
Its interesting that so many players at the top of the 2010 draft have moved. The Erik Gudbranson trade was the most recent, but the others traded include Tyler Seguin, Ryan Johansen, Nino Niederreiter and Brett Connolly. Jeff Skinner was taken at No. 7, and his name has circulated in trade rumors the last couple years.
Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen was one of the execs to move one of those players in his deal that sent Johansen to the Predators, and he commented that its probably more of an aberration than anything else.
Theyre all good players. I wouldnt read anything into it, Kekalainen said. Franchise players hardly ever get traded. You could look at it that way -- maybe they didnt reach exactly the status you hope for at the top of the draft. Theyre all very good players. Its not like theyre busts.
6. Blue-line plan for the B's
The Bruins are on the prowl to upgrade their defense, and GM Don Sweeney is open to all avenues to make it happen, either through trade or free agency.
Boston has both cap room and assets in terms of draft picks and prospects to add a much-needed top-four defenseman, but Sweeney realizes its still a challenge.
Thats easier said than done. It clearly is, Sweeney said. Teams are not going to be eager to give them away. We have assets, players at different levels and places developing. If it lines up, Ill do it through trade. If not, well do it through free agency.
7. Two most likely non-Montreal destinations for Subban
Colleague Pierre LeBrun set the odds that Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban gets traded at five percent in his Rumblings column last week. After conversations in Buffalo, I might even go a little higher than that.
Subban has a no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1, and if a Subban trade is ever going to happen, its likely before then.
If Montreal moves Subban, the front-runners have to be the Edmonton Oilers or the Colorado Avalanche. Edmonton certainly has the pieces to pull it off, with young stars like Taylor Hall or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins a possibility, as well as the No. 4 overall pick, which is very much in play in general.
Colorado could build a deal around Matt Duchene. If the Avalanche do acquire Subban, and Tyson Barrie isnt part of that deal, its quite possible hes moved in a secondary deal. It should all be fascinating to watch.
8. Goligoski an intriguing option
There are some interesting potential options in free agency on defense, including Keith Yandle, but a defenseman that multiple teams are really interested in is Dallas defenseman Alex Goligoski. Teams really like his versatility, his ability to play in every situation and the likelihood he comes in cheaper than Yandle.
Its going to be a competitive market if it gets that far.
According to a source, talks remain active between the Stars and Goligoski, so its a possibility he doesnt even get to free agency.
9. Bickell on the move?
No shock here, but the Blackhawks are trying hard to move Bryan Bickell's contract, a move that would help them get a new contract done for restricted free agent Andrew Shaw and maybe even get in on a free agent defenseman like Floridas Brian Campbell.
The question becomes: Just how badly does GM Stan Bowman want to get it done? It might take including Teuvo Teravainen in a possible deal to get rid of that contract, and thats not an easy deal to make.
10. Latest on possible Datsyuk "suitors"
The expectation is that the Red Wings shouldnt have too much trouble moving Pavel Datsyuk's contract if he does indeed confirm that hes leaving for the KHL. The Hurricanes, Devils and Coyotes would be the most likely destinations for Datsyuks contract.
There was some speculation that a deal between Detroit and free agent Alexander Radulov was all but done and just waiting for Datsyuk to be moved, but thats not necessarily true. As of right now, the contract ask for Radulov is steeper than the Red Wings are willing to pay. Theres definitely interest, but not at all costs.
Teams with cap flexibility are in an especially good position heading into this summer, giving them the ability to add assets for nothing, more than just taking on bad contracts.
Devils GM Ray Shero said thats an avenue the Devils are exploring to help stock the system in New Jersey.
Yeah. Weve looked at that in the past. Theres a difference between taking on a contract to take on a bad contract to buy that contract out, which takes cash, Shero said. There are all kinds of different scenarios. [Cap space] is an asset in the league. Ive been on the other end. Youre trying to do the gymnastics [to get under the cap]. Youre looking for teams, but just because teams have cap space doesnt mean teams want to take on the money, budget-wise.
SMH at Lamoriello being creepy to my boy Patrik. Keep that weird old man staring limited to Matthews, dammit! You can drain the life force from his career in order to stay alive another year if you must, you sick, twisted Alp.
That was definitely disappointing. I watched the other ending after my choice too and teared up. fuck that.
