Totally fine with Tatar. Costs peanuts. And I’m sure he’ll be SO much better and worth the risk of having Holtz play with a good center while we spend millions on grinders instead of that trade.

Fitz is speaking with media tomorrow at 10:30 am.

Our forwards are probably worse than last year. It’s essentially the same, minus Toffoli.
Grinders are grinders.

Our D and G is much improved, but our forwards.. we’re one Marchessault away from being actually better up front. His experience and tenancy would’ve been crucial.

I don’t want the shell of Tarasenko. Ehlers is skilled, but small. Not our “identity”.
So idk. We’re screwed until we can figure something else out. Time to start looking at 2025 UFAs

Our forwards are probably worse than last year. It’s essentially the same, minus Toffoli.
Grinders are grinders.

Our D and G is much improved, but our forwards.. we’re one Marchessault away from being actually better up front. His experience and tenancy would’ve been crucial.

I don’t want the shell of Tarasenko. Ehlers is skilled, but small. Not our “identity”.
So idk. We’re screwed until we can figure something else out. Time to start looking at 2025 UFAs
- MartysBetter88

Our top 6 is definitely worse. Its the exact same minus a ~25 goal scorer, which hurts for sure. I'd say our bottom 6 is better though, atleast post-McLeod, which might possibly balance it out? Noesen, Cotter, and Tatar(if he plays in the bottom 6) are certainly better than the likes of Tierney/Nosek/Willman and whatever other scrub we had to constantly rotate in from Utica. Also factor in that Nolan Foote apparently fixed whatever back issues he was dealing with that kept him out all of last season, and he might be able to make an impact too(management is high on him still).

People are gushing over what Fitz did to the D and goaltending situation, which i agree with, it should be much more stable. Maybe that also cancels out having a worse top 6? We should in theory be giving up less goals on a per game basis, meaning we wont need to score as much to actually win games.

Totally fine with Tatar. Costs peanuts. And I’m sure he’ll be SO much better and worth the risk of having Holtz play with a good center while we spend millions on grinders instead of that trade.
- MartysBetter88

- shvingter88

Just rereading my comment and I’m not sure it makes any sense lol

Also, gotta remember that Gritsyuk will likely be joining the team sometime after the deadline. He's going into the final year of his deal in the KHL and he's expected to come over immediately after his season ends. Would expect him to get a look in the middle 6, probably 3rd line, right away.

Also, gotta remember that Gritsyuk will likely be joining the team sometime after the deadline. He's going into the final year of his deal in the KHL and he's expected to come over immediately after his season ends. Would expect him to get a look in the middle 6, probably 3rd line, right away.
- vlongo4419

Well we can just pencil him in as the savior for the season then lol.
But in all seriousness I forgot all about him.

Pretty boring presser but here's some notes from Fitz:

-Said he checked off pretty much everything on their punch list this offseason. Goaltending, depth on defense, harder to play against defense, depth up front, and a bottom 6 with a different look.

-Starting talks with Mercer, feels he's a long term piece here.

-Thinks we have plenty of top 6 players and enough complimentary top 6 players. Says we have a lot of flexibility.

-Seamus Casey will be in the AHL, and its the best thing for him. If we have to overcook him, thats what we'll do.

-Malek is coming over next year.

-Wasnt worried about offense when looking to build out the roster. "We have enough offense here." Believes Mercer will take another step and believes the guys we added will make up the difference in losing/replacing Toffoli's goals. He wants/needs more offense from Palat.

-Dougie is 100% healthy and Jack/Timo are on track to be 100% healthy when camp opens up.

-More confident in the team this year than he was last year.

-No concern at all about the age of our goaltenders.

-Current plan is for Haula and Lazar to be the 3rd and 4th line centers. Doesnt see Cotter as a center but knowing he can play center is a bonus.

-Says they haven't talked about D pairings and who will play with who, but says Pesce will be playing against other teams top lines.

-Not worried about a Luke extension yet, hasnt even thought of it. But says Luke is a lifer here.

-We're done in free agency, but he's still open for trades. Says we have assets that can be moved and he'll still be looking to improve the team if anything falls into his lap.

-Had a couple opportunities to move the 10th overall pick, but once Silayev fell to us he wasnt moving the pick. Our pick was between Silayev and Helenius.

Pretty boring presser but here's some notes from Fitz:

-Said he checked off pretty much everything on their punch list this offseason. Goaltending, depth on defense, harder to play against defense, depth up front, and a bottom 6 with a different look.

-Starting talks with Mercer, feels he's a long term piece here.

-Thinks we have plenty of top 6 players and enough complimentary top 6 players. Says we have a lot of flexibility.

-Seamus Casey will be in the AHL, and its the best thing for him. If we have to overcook him, thats what we'll do.

-Malek is coming over next year.

-Wasnt worried about offense when looking to build out the roster. "We have enough offense here." Believes Mercer will take another step and believes the guys we added will make up the difference in losing/replacing Toffoli's goals. He wants/needs more offense from Palat.

-Dougie is 100% healthy and Jack/Timo are on track to be 100% healthy when camp opens up.

-More confident in the team this year than he was last year.

-No concern at all about the age of our goaltenders.

-Current plan is for Haula and Lazar to be the 3rd and 4th line centers. Doesnt see Cotter as a center but knowing he can play center is a bonus.

-Says they haven't talked about D pairings and who will play with who, but says Pesce will be playing against other teams top lines.

-Not worried about a Luke extension yet, hasnt even thought of it. But says Luke is a lifer here.

-We're done in free agency, but he's still open for trades. Says we have assets that can be moved and he'll still be looking to improve the team if anything falls into his lap.

-Had a couple opportunities to move the 10th overall pick, but once Silayev fell to us he wasnt moving the pick. Our pick was between Silayev and Helenius.
- vlongo4419

Thinks we have enough top 6 players (and said haula centers 3rd line)

I think we are missing a winger on jack and nicos line

X nico meier
X Hughes bratt

I guess mercer may play top 6 and maybe tatar

Tatar nico meier
Mercer Hughes bratt
X haula x
Cotter lazar bastian

Thinks we have enough top 6 players (and said haula centers 3rd line)

I think we are missing a winger on jack and nicos line

X nico meier
X Hughes bratt

I guess mercer may play top 6 and maybe tatar

Tatar nico meier
Mercer Hughes bratt
X haula x
Cotter lazar bastian
- dmarsden2988

You forgot Palat and Noesen. Fitz saying he wants more offense out of Palat makes me think he's going to start in the top 6. Also, apparently Keefe likes to run his forward lines in pairs and then rotate the 3rd guy on lines. I could see Timo/Nico and Jack/Bratt being a pair(if he does it here). Probably something like

Timo-Nico-Mercer
Palat-Jack-Bratt
Tatar-Haula-Noesen
Cotter-Lazar-Bastian
MacDermid/Foote as the extras and rotating with Bastian

Fitz mentioning about flexibility too, makes me think the pairs thing could be true. And we see the likes of Mercer/Palat/Tatar and maybe even Noesen rotate around in the top 9.

You forgot Palat and Noesen. Fitz saying he wants more offense out of Palat makes me think he's going to start in the top 6. Also, apparently Keefe likes to run his forward lines in pairs and then rotate the 3rd guy on lines. I could see Timo/Nico and Jack/Bratt being a pair(if he does it here). Probably something like

Timo-Nico-Mercer
Palat-Jack-Bratt
Tatar-Haula-Noesen
Cotter-Lazar-Bastian
MacDermid/Foote as the extras and rotating with Bastian

Fitz mentioning about flexibility too, makes me think the pairs thing could be true. And we see the likes of Mercer/Palat/Tatar and maybe even Noesen rotate around in the top 9.
- vlongo4419

If Mercer is not going to be consistently in the top 6, get rid of him. He'll never develop in the bottom.

If Mercer is not going to be consistently in the top 6, get rid of him. He'll never develop in the bottom.
- Leniwm1

I think he will. Even in a down year last year he still scored 20. I'm expecting a pretty big bounce back year from him this season.

I think he will. Even in a down year last year he still scored 20. I'm expecting a pretty big bounce back year from him this season.
- vlongo4419

if 20 goals is a down year for mercer, hes gonna be a beast

if 20 goals is a down year for mercer, hes gonna be a beast
- Leniwm1

It was down year in terms of his play as a whole, not goal scoring. He was awful last season. Took a step back in essentially every part of his game.

It was down year in terms of his play as a whole, not goal scoring. He was awful last season. Took a step back in essentially every part of his game.
- vlongo4419

Wonder if he was injured but didnt want to ruin his consecutive game thing he has going on.

Wonder if he was injured but didnt want to ruin his consecutive game thing he has going on.
- Leniwm1

I could see it. His skating was noticeably slower for a lot of the year, so that'd make sense. If he returns to his form the season prior, and even takes another step forward, we're going to be in good shape. Him and Siegs are the two guys im looking for to have big bounce back seasons.

More offense out of 33yr old Palat is humorous. Cotter playing wing is also a treat. Those banger wingers are as hard to come by as a 7th overall draft pick that completely develops by 22yrs old. Good thing we got our grinder.. to go with Palat, Noesen, Lazar, Bastian, MacDermid, and would we call Haula and Foote grinders? Meh. The more the merrier. Our point producers are never hurt. This reminds me of how relieved I am we didn’t draft a young forward 2nd overall and reached for a guy ranked ahead of him. Cuz we’re so short on offensive dmen and so rock solid with productive forwards.

I gotta stop complaining.

AdBlocker for Safari has been a life changer. Free.. and it works.

Will be curious if Seigs goes back with Dougie though. They were good together and Seigenthaller struggled last year. Maybe that’s cuz Dougie wasn’t here.. maybe coaching/injury who knows.
We’ll see who’s the most effective as far as the “defensive” dmen side goes, heck on the offensive side too.
It’s so so so nice to have 6 dmen that are actually NHL players .. most of which are actually legit top 4 or even top pair guys.

More offense out of 33yr old Palat is humorous. Cotter playing wing is also a treat. Those banger wingers are as hard to come by as a 7th overall draft pick that completely develops by 22yrs old. Good thing we got our grinder.. to go with Palat, Noesen, Lazar, Bastian, MacDermid, and would we call Haula and Foote grinders? Meh. The more the merrier. Our point producers are never hurt. This reminds me of how relieved I am we didn’t draft a young forward 2nd overall and reached for a guy ranked ahead of him. Cuz we’re so short on offensive dmen and so rock solid with productive forwards.

I gotta stop complaining.

AdBlocker for Safari has been a life changer. Free.. and it works.
- MartysBetter88

I’m so happy for your new found freedom

I’m so happy for your new found freedom
- shvingter88

It’s amazing. Ssso much better.

Will be curious if Seigs goes back with Dougie though. They were good together and Seigenthaller struggled last year. Maybe that’s cuz Dougie wasn’t here.. maybe coaching/injury who knows.
We’ll see who’s the most effective as far as the “defensive” dmen side goes, heck on the offensive side too.
It’s so so so nice to have 6 dmen that are actually NHL players .. most of which are actually legit top 4 or even top pair guys.
- MartysBetter88

Didn't Hamilton play with Pesce in carolina? Wouldn't be surprised if they pair them up or if pesce plays with Hughes

Didn't Hamilton play with Pesce in carolina? Wouldn't be surprised if they pair them up or if pesce plays with Hughes
- dmarsden2988

Not really. He said maybe a few shifts here and there but since they're both righties they didn't play together much. They only played 91 minutes together in 3 seasons.

He’s basically a lock to play with Hughes cuz Luke is a lefty and Pesce is righty. Hopefully it’s a solid fit. I think Seigs will stay with Dougie and Dillon with Nemec.

He’s basically a lock to play with Hughes cuz Luke is a lefty and Pesce is righty. Hopefully it’s a solid fit. I think Seigs will stay with Dougie and Dillon with Nemec.
- MartysBetter88

I love those pairings! Pesce and Dillon will make an unbelievable defense for us. Literally game changing.