Post by Florida Panthers on Nov 18, 2023 1:59:41 GMT -6
To no one's surprise, the Panthers and AHL Checkers have been models of success...but that's not interesting, because we all knew it would happen.
Perhaps more surprisingly, the Panthers mad-scientist GM Jay Seo has made exactly zero trades involving players this season, which is at complete odds with the Frankenstein approach to team-building that we're used to seeing in Florida. So instead, welcome to Volume 1 of Panthers Predictions, where the Panthers' top boss will give his expert comments on the trades that haven't involved his team this campaign.
1. Will Dallas GM Jimmy Houghton's big move for *checks notes* Jack Campbell stabilize the Stars goaltending and lead Dallas to a long playoff run?
Rumor has it that both Connor Hellebuyck (VAN) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) were being bandied about in trade discussions in recent weeks. So of course, ol' Jimmy opts to do the most logical thing and trade his faithful servant Pavel Francouz for a more expensive goaltender who's struggling just as much, while also inexplicably taking Tucker Poolman's contract and lighting $4 million on fire by buying him out.
Will it work? No. Campbell might rebound slightly with a better defense in front of him, but Jim did not make a good trade here and like most lottery winners, he seems intent on pissing away a lifetime's worth of cash and ending up in Aaron's doghouse in no time. Mr. Houghton has lost his marbles...and his cash.
2. What do you think of New Jersey (Karlsson) and Tampa (Gourde) being the surprise buyers of Aaron Sanderson's decaying Stanley Cup carcass?
I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Aaron hit the self-destruct button after hearing about how good "Big Eetu" was going to be the entire offseason. I think Mr. Big Mike in New Jersey made a ballsy bet by acquiring Karlsson, but it makes sense - that team has been in the mushy middle of the PFHL for a few seasons, and Mike needed to commit to a big move to show which direction he wants to take his team. He's shown that he wants to compete, and although he'll be in tough in what seems like a ruthless Eastern Conference, adding Karlsson should put him in the mix for a wildcard spot. Bravo to Big Mike for that.
Mr. Colin in Tampa seems to be following in his predecessor Brad Palmer's footsteps by doubling down on a team that really has no other choice but to go all-in while they still can. There's no reason why a team that has Jack Eichel, Sid the Kid, and Vasilevsky should be struggling as much as they are, but Gourde is a great piece to add to a team that really needed quality wingers (read: not Matt Puempel or the Ritchie brothers).
The question is, what if they don't win with Gourde in tow? If they don't win in the next couple seasons, this team is in for a rough rebuild, and they just gave up a top 10 pick to do it. I think it works for one season until Tampa has to face a harsh reality.
3. The Calgary Flames and your archrival Ottawa Senators seem to have a thing for each other - they violated league rules by illegally trading Sean Monahan, who had a no-trade clause last season, then made the same trade again this year. Your thoughts?
I don't think it's good for the league. There needs to be more integrity and respect in our game, and it's on the GMs to respect the sanctity of no-trade clauses that they've offered to their players. The fact that Sean McAndrews didn't even get fined for trading an ineligible player was really questionable, and then Mike over in Ottawa had the gall to try and do it again...and the league let it happen. This is why the public has problems with hockey culture.
I think they're colluding too, because they only ever seem to trade with each other. We should look into that.
Here in Florida, we do things above board, and you'll never see us get in trouble with the league ever. I hope both teams lose their first round picks this year.
4. Let's go back to the Gourde trade for a moment - Tampa sent Vancouver the Bruins' 1st round pick for Gourde, which means that either Scott Davidson's team will do well and Vancouver will get a low pick, or Boston will suck and Aaron Sanderson will get a lottery pick. Which of those two outcomes would you prefer?
I hate both of those two men equally, but even if the Bruins do well, they still have to face the Florida/Buffalo/Ottawa gauntlet to get anywhere in the playoffs, and they're paying Tavares and Pacioretty big-money deals until they're 37 and 38. So I want Boston to lose in a first-round sweep, so that Vancouver gets pick #17. If Vancouver gets a lottery pick, we'll all have to hear about how good Vancouver's rebuild was...until Aaron abandons the rebuild 20 games into the next season.
'
Perhaps more surprisingly, the Panthers mad-scientist GM Jay Seo has made exactly zero trades involving players this season, which is at complete odds with the Frankenstein approach to team-building that we're used to seeing in Florida. So instead, welcome to Volume 1 of Panthers Predictions, where the Panthers' top boss will give his expert comments on the trades that haven't involved his team this campaign.
1. Will Dallas GM Jimmy Houghton's big move for *checks notes* Jack Campbell stabilize the Stars goaltending and lead Dallas to a long playoff run?
Rumor has it that both Connor Hellebuyck (VAN) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) were being bandied about in trade discussions in recent weeks. So of course, ol' Jimmy opts to do the most logical thing and trade his faithful servant Pavel Francouz for a more expensive goaltender who's struggling just as much, while also inexplicably taking Tucker Poolman's contract and lighting $4 million on fire by buying him out.
Will it work? No. Campbell might rebound slightly with a better defense in front of him, but Jim did not make a good trade here and like most lottery winners, he seems intent on pissing away a lifetime's worth of cash and ending up in Aaron's doghouse in no time. Mr. Houghton has lost his marbles...and his cash.
2. What do you think of New Jersey (Karlsson) and Tampa (Gourde) being the surprise buyers of Aaron Sanderson's decaying Stanley Cup carcass?
I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Aaron hit the self-destruct button after hearing about how good "Big Eetu" was going to be the entire offseason. I think Mr. Big Mike in New Jersey made a ballsy bet by acquiring Karlsson, but it makes sense - that team has been in the mushy middle of the PFHL for a few seasons, and Mike needed to commit to a big move to show which direction he wants to take his team. He's shown that he wants to compete, and although he'll be in tough in what seems like a ruthless Eastern Conference, adding Karlsson should put him in the mix for a wildcard spot. Bravo to Big Mike for that.
Mr. Colin in Tampa seems to be following in his predecessor Brad Palmer's footsteps by doubling down on a team that really has no other choice but to go all-in while they still can. There's no reason why a team that has Jack Eichel, Sid the Kid, and Vasilevsky should be struggling as much as they are, but Gourde is a great piece to add to a team that really needed quality wingers (read: not Matt Puempel or the Ritchie brothers).
The question is, what if they don't win with Gourde in tow? If they don't win in the next couple seasons, this team is in for a rough rebuild, and they just gave up a top 10 pick to do it. I think it works for one season until Tampa has to face a harsh reality.
3. The Calgary Flames and your archrival Ottawa Senators seem to have a thing for each other - they violated league rules by illegally trading Sean Monahan, who had a no-trade clause last season, then made the same trade again this year. Your thoughts?
I don't think it's good for the league. There needs to be more integrity and respect in our game, and it's on the GMs to respect the sanctity of no-trade clauses that they've offered to their players. The fact that Sean McAndrews didn't even get fined for trading an ineligible player was really questionable, and then Mike over in Ottawa had the gall to try and do it again...and the league let it happen. This is why the public has problems with hockey culture.
I think they're colluding too, because they only ever seem to trade with each other. We should look into that.
Here in Florida, we do things above board, and you'll never see us get in trouble with the league ever. I hope both teams lose their first round picks this year.
4. Let's go back to the Gourde trade for a moment - Tampa sent Vancouver the Bruins' 1st round pick for Gourde, which means that either Scott Davidson's team will do well and Vancouver will get a low pick, or Boston will suck and Aaron Sanderson will get a lottery pick. Which of those two outcomes would you prefer?
I hate both of those two men equally, but even if the Bruins do well, they still have to face the Florida/Buffalo/Ottawa gauntlet to get anywhere in the playoffs, and they're paying Tavares and Pacioretty big-money deals until they're 37 and 38. So I want Boston to lose in a first-round sweep, so that Vancouver gets pick #17. If Vancouver gets a lottery pick, we'll all have to hear about how good Vancouver's rebuild was...until Aaron abandons the rebuild 20 games into the next season.
'
