Running 2017-18 NHL thread

That was a really pretty move by Orlov.

The Rangers have been winning a lot of games since their miserable start and are actually a playoff team if the season ends today -- not even a wildcard. It's a tricky season. After Tampa, the east looks like a lot of teams that are similar in quality. If you are Jeff Gorton, you are probably thinking, "we make the playoffs, win a series and then who knows?" Two disturbing things from my perspective by the way they have been playing. They have given up quick early goals in a lot of games. And they have given up a ton of quality scoring chances; Lundqvist has looked like vintage Lundqvist the last month and a half and is saving their butts. They have come back and won a lot of those games after falling behind, but it's worrisome. You can't do that in the playoffs.

Yesterday, they were actually in control from the start against Anaheim, and Paul Carey (for the Caps fans on hee) of all people had two goals -- first time in his career. Had he ever even scored two NHL goals in a SEASON, prior to this year?

 

Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, McPhee deserves GM of the decade for that team.

On top of the roster he put together for this season, he loaded them up with first and second round draft picks over the next few seasons.

It is going to be interesting to see what he does at the trade deadline. Three of their top scorers, James Neal, David Perron and Jonathan Marchessault, are unrestricted free agents this summer. He needs to do something; he can't just risk them walking for nothing. He has a team that is very good, but realistically probably not strong enough to win a Cup. The thing they are probably missing is a superstar player, not the role players that he already did an amazing job of putting in place. If that is what he is thinking, pulling off that kind of move at the trade deadline really depends on what is available, how the market looks in a given season. ... and if you do make that trade, it can be tricky to integrate in-season in terms of what it does to team chemistry. He seems pretty savvy, and obviously he will see what is available, but rather than forcing something if the right trade isn't there, he may end up having to make the decision to deal pieces rather than add them.

 

Some types of bitter leave a lonnnng aftertaste.

Erat might actually be available. ... from the Czech League.