Playoff Wish list?

[MMarch]

For the teams we assume will make the playoffs, what is your team looking to add right now, or what would you as a fan like to see them do?

With the way things have been going the last month or two, and as tough as the West is, it's not a given that Chicago makes it but you would assume they can right the ship. Would it shock me if they missed the playoffs, not really, they just don't look right anywhere on the ice. Something is off, and I think they need a shakeup and wake up call. It will be tough with their cap situation, but they might be able to work a deal or two. I think they are in a do or die situation cap wise, this might be their last chance to make a serious run for a few years. Depth is already an issue and it won't get any better with their cap issues next year.

They need size and grit, a functional tough guy or two like Cody McLeod, Chris Stewart, Chris Neil, or even Matt Hendricks. They need a couple guys who bang the boards and frustrate you as they might be the softest group of forwards ever assembled. Is Edmonton serious about rebuilding? It starts in the net and up the middle, could Chicago move a contract sending Crawford and a pick for Petry and Hendricks? Maybe Edmonton can build around Crawford as a number 1? Doubt it will happen, not many teams will want a long term contract but we've seen it before with goalies.

Not sure what it would take to get McLeod, Neil, Stewart, Hendricks, or anyone else of their mold, but they need to do something or it will be one and done this year. Teams know the recipe to beat them in the playoffs, and they are running out of time before their already lean depth gets blown up due to cap restraints.

 

[gobuffalo2331]

I hope the Sabres can somehow get another first round draft pick from someone. Maybe Stewart and someone else for a first.

 

[punkoholic]

I hope the Sabres can somehow get another first round draft pick from someone. Maybe Stewart and someone else for a first.

Apparently the asking price for Stewart is a top prospect but teams aren't willing to trade that. Nick Kypreos said the closest team willing to pay that are the Bruins. He said that Ryan Spooner may be in play but the Sabres might want one more piece added in the deal.

As for Columbus, these players could be available. Leopold for sure. UFA after this season and Columbus traded a 2016 5th for him so it'll probably be around that asking price. Letestu if they can't come to a new deal. Mutual agreement to work on a new deal but talks haven't started yet. Last year, they said they traded Gaborik because they didn't want to lose him for nothing. I think the same can be said for Letestu. I think he can get them a 3rd rounder(He can play on a 3rd line or 4th line. Last year played on the top line at times and plays short handed. Last year he was on the power play as well). Atkinson was struggling and last week they played him with Johansen. Portzline said it might have been a showcase to other teams. Said Columbus likes him for the price he is getting paid right now. But he is a RFA after this season so his asking price will go up. Columbus feels, if your pay goes up then so should his play but he continues to be inconsistent.

 

[Superdoup]

well. the habs have so many needs that not sure where that start.
Stewart would be a nice addition but what they can give? Tinordi and a draft pick.
Or Emelin...

 

[Shaboobala]

With no Gudas, Carle and occasionally Garrison I think the Lightning need to pick up a 5/6 Dman with regular NHL experience. Can't expect Witkowski and Nesterov to play too many meaningful minutes and have it end well.

 

[Orca Pod]

To be honest, I'd rather the Canucks 'stick with the plan' rather than make a deadline move for a playoff push. If they fade and don't make it, I'm fine with that. I'd rather that happen than they make a trade for the sake of making a trade. they really don't have anyone that's worth a first-round pick (that's not already untouchable), so a trade for that is close to impossible.

If it means cap room, maybe, but let's face it, the UFA class this year is pretty lean. There's really only two players on the team I personally feel are not worth the cap hit, but even both of them contribute in other ways to justify keeping them.

 

[RGM81]

Habs need a capable shot-blocking stay-at-home defenceman. I do not at all feel comfortable with the Emelin-Gilbert pairing. If only the Habs used to have someone like that who they totally didn't push out the door to make way for Gilbert....

They also need some extra oomph up front. Galchenyuk has had a breakout campaign and Pacioretty has been excellent once again. But Eller has taken no steps forward this year and has regressed. So I'll say a top-six winger (a la Vanek, but better) and a bottom-six centre to flesh out the roster.

 

[zunato]

For the teams we assume will make the playoffs, what is your team looking to add right now, or what would you as a fan like to see them do?

With the way things have been going the last month or two, and as tough as the West is, it's not a given that Chicago makes it but you would assume they can right the ship. Would it shock me if they missed the playoffs, not really, they just don't look right anywhere on the ice. Something is off, and I think they need a shakeup and wake up call. It will be tough with their cap situation, but they might be able to work a deal or two. I think they are in a do or die situation cap wise, this might be their last chance to make a serious run for a few years. Depth is already an issue and it won't get any better with their cap issues next year.

They need size and grit, a functional tough guy or two like Cody McLeod, Chris Stewart, Chris Neil, or even Matt Hendricks. They need a couple guys who bang the boards and frustrate you as they might be the softest group of forwards ever assembled. Is Edmonton serious about rebuilding? It starts in the net and up the middle, could Chicago move a contract sending Crawford and a pick for Petry and Hendricks? Maybe Edmonton can build around Crawford as a number 1? Doubt it will happen, not many teams will want a long term contract but we've seen it before with goalies.

Not sure what it would take to get McLeod, Neil, Stewart, Hendricks, or anyone else of their mold, but they need to do something or it will be one and done this year. Teams know the recipe to beat them in the playoffs, and they are running out of time before their already lean depth gets blown up due to cap restraints.

Sorry, But I disagree with just about everything. Hawks are fine just the way they are. This is basically the same team that won it all 2 years ago and remember they were one horrible goal from the SCFs last year.

I think it's good that their little "slump" has happened now then a month from now. It gives them time to get on a roll and ride it into the playoffs. They had this same little slump last year when Crawford came back from injury.

The only move I can see them making is trading off Oduya (ufa) for a rental D-man. As much as I would like to see them move Crawford it would happen in the off season when all the teams know the cap situation. The depth is fine, everyone that has come up from Rockford has played fine and a couple of those players should make the team next year. Teravainen has looked good so far but I expect he will not see much ice time once the playoffs start.

 

[MMarch]

Sorry, But I disagree with just about everything. Hawks are fine just the way they are. This is basically the same team that won it all 2 years ago and remember they were one horrible goal from the SCFs last year.

I think it's good that their little "slump" has happened now then a month from now. It gives them time to get on a roll and ride it into the playoffs. They had this same little slump last year when Crawford came back from injury.

The only move I can see them making is trading off Oduya (ufa) for a rental D-man. As much as I would like to see them move Crawford it would happen in the off season when all the teams know the cap situation. The depth is fine, everyone that has come up from Rockford has played fine and a couple of those players should make the team next year. Teravainen has looked good so far but I expect he will not see much ice time once the playoffs start.

Their rosters are not the same as the teams that won the Cups, not even close in my opinion. Yes they are just as gifted offensively, maybe more gifted on offense, but they are as "soft" as you can get.

What they are missing from the 2010 and 2012 teams that won the Cup are size and grit. Look at who they had to match the physical big game on those squads:

2010 - Bolland, Brouwer, Burish, Byfuglien, Eager, Fraser, Ladd

2012 - Bolland, Bollig, Brookbank, Carcillo, Mayers


Doesn't matter if they lost in 7 games or got swept by the Kings last year, they lost, and that's all that matters. They lost because the Kings were bigger, stronger, and nastier. When Bickell is your "biggest" forward, you have problems. He has to be on the verge of being a healthy scratch by Q before he will go out and start hitting people. He got the big contract because he decided to use what the good lord gave him in the playoffs, and he started hitting and going to the front of the net. For some reason, he thinks he's a super star scorer now and he turns the puck over all over the ice trying to be fancy. If he just stuck to banging bodies and standing in front of the net which is what he's paid to do, he would be much more productive. It's so bad with him, that Q has to put Shaw or Toews out there on the PP to screen the goalie and take a beating in front of the net. At 6'4" 225 pounds, the guy is benched on both power play units because he's a marshmallow on skates, and guys way smaller then him are put out there to screen the goalie and play the big boy game. As they say, it's a war of attrition in the playoffs, and when you get out hit 46-9 on nightly basis in a 7 game series, it wears you down and you start doing things you normally wouldn't do, mistakes, and mistakes usually lead to goals for the other team. Yes they have Carcillo, but not sure how much playing time he will get in the playoffs (if he's not suspended for being a meat head). So aside from Carcillo, where is your size and grit that wins championships? Bickell and the little guy Shaw (who at 5'11" 179 pounds has more heart and desire in his left pinky then Bickell has in his entire body)? How did that work out for them last year? Just being realistic, they can barely beat Winnipeg, it took 4 tries and overtime to beat the Jets, that is ridiculous. Why do they struggle with them? The Jets are big, physical, fast, with good goaltending. That's a recipe for disaster for the Hawks, and that's what they will get in the playoffs from most of the teams. If they can barely win 1 game out of 4 against a team like Winnipeg, how are they going to do in a 7 game series against the Blues, Predators, Ducks, or Kings if they turn it around? All those teams have what the Hawks don't, a bunch of depth when it comes to size and grit, and the right amount of skill and goaltending to win tough games.

 

[timber09]

Here is the wish list for every team:

Rugged stay at home defenseman with grit that people don't like to play against.
Big center who can skate and play physical while chipping in a little bit of scoring here and there.
Similar winger who can kill penalties.
Puck moving defenseman for second PP unit.

Plus - cap hit needs to be pretty tiny for competing teams to make room. I am always shocked when even minor deals happen with all of the moving parts and with the value (good) teams have placed on their draft picks.

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

As a Leaf fan just make the playoffs or fail miserably and be in the bottom few teams. Leafs need a lot including a #1 D man, #1 center and a true #1 goalie. The teams scoring star is soft and is allergic to the corners and other players on the other team and their captain and #1 D tries really hard but really isn't a #1 D but is paid like one.

 

[punkoholic]

Some rumors....

Leafs wants a 1st and a prospect for Franson. The same can be said for Sekera of the Hurricanes. Both are UFA's after this season. Canes wanted to keep Sekera but apparently he wants "Marc Staal" money($5.5mil/season).

Lightning scouting Petry.

Ducks,Kings,Stars interested in Phaneuf.

 

[cygnusx1]

My wish as a Sens fan - Robin Lehner gets traded to the Jets. Partly so that a good player goes to a good team, and also so that I can copyright "Lehnny and the Jets" before some sportswriter uses it.

 

[Tom R]

My wish list is that Mario Lemieux gets transported back to 1991 for age purposes only and can play again..

Seriously, I am happy with the Pens team as is, unless they can trade one of the free agent defenseman for a top winger.. Offensive depth is the Pens Achilles heal. That being said.. I am not warming up for the parade..