Morning Skate: Hockey Tonk

From: Dan Pennucci
To: Janet Eagleson
Sent: Tuesday, Feb. 17
Subject: Hockey Tonk

Cody Franson's long rumored departure has finally occurred, with Nashville adding him to their already impressive stable of blue liners. Not a bad top 4 heading in to the playoffs with Shea Weber-Roman Josi-Franson-Seth Jones. I'm sure Nashville will find a use for Mike Santorelli somewhere in their bottom six forwards with Mr. Underwood.

How is the deal playing in Toronto, getting a first and that amazing center Olli Jokinen? Any more news on the scorched Earth memo Hockey Central talked about regarding the Toronto brass last week. Does this mean Kessel and Phaneuf are leaving?

Nashville has a tough road to hoe ahead of them in the Central with St. Louis and Chicago (although the Hawks don't appear as unbeatable as in years past), but I like the Preds' chances and Peter Laviolette knows how to win in the playoffs.

We're going to see a flurry of deals leading up to deadline. I've seen plenty of Devils' names thrown about, as it seems all but assured Jaromir Jagr will be heading out and Marek Zidlicky's name has been bandied about as well, so good luck with that who ever lands him.

The local Philadelphia news ran a story about Flyers GM Ron Hextall saying he believes the Flyers are a playoff team and that they're not looking to add anything. He was even more adamant about the fact that they will not trade any futures to sneak into the playoffs. They've turned it on lately and they're just six points back of Boston while Florida is trailing by four.

Last week you said you'd wished the Cats would get some of their claws, so will either Philly or Florida catch Boston and why?

The Evander Kane trade went down last week after we wrapped, do the Jets get into the playoffs this year? I can see Tyler Myers fitting in well on that team, bagged his first goal last night. What's your take on the Kane trade?

Random thoughts, respond in 140 characters

-Buffalo is line for McDavid or Eichel. Their top 3 down the middle would be McDavid/Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Zemgus Girgesons. Pretty solid especially if the pieces on the back end (Zadorov and Ristolainen with Bogosian) mesh. I'm seeing 2017-18 for Buffalo to be back.

-California used to be a gauntlet, now San Jose and LA are clinging to a spot and the Ducks have been mediocre. I'm seeing only 1 team from making it.

-Who are you eyeing up for a quick fix: Tell me why Teemu Pulkkinen is worth a look in Motor City.

-Thank you for the frigid air from the arctic and the clippers from Alberta. Good lord it's been cold the last few days.

From: Janet Eagleson
To: Dan Pennucci
Sent: Tuesday, February 17
Subject: Polar Vortex

Yah, it's tough to live in the shadow of the CN Tower. The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Fans are miserable, but they understand what needs to be done. The trouble is that they don't really get it that a full scorched earth scenario means barely competitive in five or even six years. Take Florida -- they started their build with Dmitri Kulikov (watch your knees) in 2009 and have added pieces at each subsequent draft. And they are just this year vying for the eighth spot in the East. It takes time. The Leafs will screw that up. They've screwed it up since 1967.

And speaking of miserable -- man, Olli Jokinen is so sour about landing in the Big Smoke. But he'll likely get shipped out for that ever-valuable seventh round pick, so his humor will improve soon enough. Did you note the sarcasm in that?

Phil Kessel has provided a list of eight teams to Leafs' brass; ditto Dion Phaneuf, only that number climbs to 10. It's hard to imagine a deal before the deadline for either of those guys -- there's a lot of cash and term with each of them, so those deals will take time. Although the Floridian kitties seem to have both room and interest in Mr. Kessel.

So, let's segue to Florida. Yes, I think they'll give Boston a run for that final spot. And I think they'll get it. There's something wrong in Boston and L.A. -- those teams are both running low on luck and perhaps something more. Wouldn't the Bruins look good with a guy like Johnny Boychuk on their blue line? Oh, wait ... (Ed. note: Boston lost to Edmonton on Wednesday in a 12-round shootout. Edmonton.)

Now, off to Winnipeg. Or Buffalo. Or neither -- both are too damn cold even for a winter lover like me. I like the trade for both teams. I think Tyler Myers will blossom in the Peg where he doesn't have to be the man. That D is shockingly strong. Dustin Byfuglien, Tobias Enstrom, Jacob Trouba, Mark Stuart and now Myers? I think Myers will actually become a great-skating Zdeno Chara (minus the overaggression at times). Drew Stafford? He's now hurt. The first rounder? It'll be the worst of the three Buffalo owns. Joel Armia will be a fine second-line guy. Brendan Lemieux is the wild card for me -- that kid is really good. Love the bloodlines even if I didn't much care for his pops.

I actually like Evander Kane in Buffalo -- it's a smart move. Worst case scenario, the Sabres flip him at the draft for a first-rounder plus. Best case? They draft Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel, and already have a stud winger to roll on his flank. Kane could easily deliver 40 goals or more in that scenario. That's just smart hockey. Zach Bogosian is a New York state boy, although he's closer to Ottawa or Montreal than Buffalo. But still. He could resurrect his career, too. Win-win.

As for your random thoughts:

Buffalo loves McDavid, but will get Eichel. How cool would a US-born center be in that town? Those centers would dominate. They push deep into the playoffs by 2020.

Anaheim is in; SJ and LA are out. Minny climbs over both on the back of Devan Dubnyk's heroics. SJ then trades Antti Niemi and gets Dubnyk, only to miss next year, too.

Teemu Pulkkinen? #tradebait. The Wings would like to upgrade their D -- Keith Yandle would be a nice add. Pulkkinen will be showcased. That's worth watching.

Blaming Canada for the weather? Dude! It was warmer in Anchorage than in Toronto this weekend. It ain't coming from the north. Your little Nor'Easter is all your fault. LOL.

Your turn. Pick one. Tell me why.

Who's more valuable in fantasy? On the ice? Brendan Gallagher or Brad Marchand?

Who brings more in trade? Dion Phaneuf or Mike Green?

Who steps up and replaces Tyler Seguin's production? Jason Spezza, Paul Stastny or Jori Lehtera?

Who wins the Hart? Carey Price, Pekka Rinne or Alexander Ovechkin?

From: Dan Pennucci
To: Janet Eagleson
Sent: Wednesday, February 18
Subject: Prowling Panthers

Yes, I am blaming Canada for the weather. It's going to be near zero on Friday along the east coast, and not with the wind chill. This is air is coming down from the north, Nunavut, the Yukon, wherever, but it's coming from Canada. Payback I'm assuming for putting Canadian-born stars in non-hockey markets where they must want to come back home to the Great White North. (Ed note: Is Montreal trying to kidnap Jonathan Huberdeau after Thursday?)

Isn't the sky always falling in Toronto? Or does Chicken Little live in sunny Florida during hockey season? Speaking of sunny Florida, two points for the Kitties. This is a likable group. Boston's had their turns and they might be missing that Boychuk guy and it's a shame the Bruins could never get anyone like Phil Kessel or Tyler Seguin to play on the right side, they could really use someone like that.

The Bruins can't play their grinding physical game as they used to and Tuukka Rask is looking human. Give me Aaron Ekblad over Zdeno Chara and the duo of Nick Bjugstad and Jonathan Huberdeau over David Krejci and Milan Lucic.

What would Florida have to give up to get Phil Kessel as they're one of the few teams that can take on that amount of term? I'm thinking it wouldn't be worth it. Someone will trade for Dion Phaneuf (aka, Mr. Kim Bauer) but I can't see the Leafs even starting to talk without getting at least a first rounder and a close-to-ready prospect in return.

What's going on in Washington with Alexander Ovechkin? Can the Caps finally make a legitimate run, especially with the way Braden Holtby has been playing? Seriously, though, this incarnation of Ovie has been tremendous to watch, remnant of his earlier, halcyon days. Why should opposing teams be scared of a Barry Trotz-led group of Capitals?

To your quick hitters:

-I love watching Brendan Gallagher and Brad Marchand isn't the Brad Marchand from 20111 anymore. Gallagher gives some snarl to that group of young Montreal skaters; he and Alexander Galchenyuk will be a great combo for years to come. I don't see either Gallagher or Marchand as a terribly viable fantasy option now save for leagues that count PIM in Marchand's case, but Gallagher is the upside play here.

-I think Phaneuf brings in more in a trade right now, but Mike Green has found his game under Trotz and he'll be the beneficiary of a free-agent market gone bonkers when it comes to puck-moving defenders, also I can't see Washington trading Mike Green right now. Then again, this is a team that hangs banners for underachieving in the playoffs.

-Jason Spezza was putting up some decent numbers before Seguin went down, but he'll be hard-pressed to keep up his current pace despite playing alongside Jamie Benn. Spezza has been close to a point-per-game player at points in his career though. I like Lehtera better than Paul Stastny at this point simply because Lehtera is Vladimir Tarasenko adjacent. The Blues have an utterly balanced group, especially at center, to the point where Stastny could be their third option after David Backes and Lehtera. Stastny is coming around a bit of late, but I like Lehtera over Petr's son to give some solid numbers.

-I'm joining the Price for Hart bandwagon, simply because he's won games for Montreal after being hung out to dry by his teammates. You can make the argument that Rinne has a better team in front of him (not just Shea Weber) but Montreal doesn't concern themselves with that pesky thing called defense at times. In short, I think Price gets it with Ovechkin's name being thrown about because of his newfound "team game" (seriously, though, if he was a Canadian star, there'd be miles of column inches already written about how much he does on the ice that doesn't appear in the scoresheet, a la Jonathan Toews during the 2013 playoffs) but Ovechkin's credit some will go to Trotz, but why does little go to Nicklas Backstrom. The Marek v. Wynshinsky podcast pointed out on Wednesday just how little is mentioned about Backstrom and all he does for the Caps, guy is in the top five in the league in scoring and one of the premier playmakers in the game. I think there will always be an argument about the system helping Rinne in Nashville as well.

This leads me to my question: where does Backstrom rank in your mind's list of unheralded great players in this league along with the likes of a Mark Giordano?  Blake Wheeler? Who else doesn't get nearly the respect they deserve as elite players?

-Where are some spots you're looking on some of the league's best McEichel-ing teams as the season closes, who can emerge from the flotsam and jetsam of the NHL's wake?

-Great points about Winnipeg. Drew Stafford out and now Matthieu Perreault likely down. Where does Peggy go now?

From: Janet Eagleson
To: Dan Pennucci
Sent: Wednesday, Feb. 18
Subject: More McEichel-ing

Niklas Backstrom? I try to own him in as many leagues as I can. He's the Rodney Dangerfield of the NHL. He's one of just five active players who have averaged at least a point a game through 500-plus games played. Who else is on that list? Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin and Jaromir Jagr. #elite. Backstrom always slips further than he should in drafts and in the eyes of fantasy owners because of the misperception of "success by association." The sniper always gets the glory. Backstrom is one of the best players in the NHL and he just "don't' get no respect."

Blake Wheeler is underrated, but I would argue that teammate Bryan Little is even more so. And surprisingly, I drop Roberto Luongo into that mix -- he's been maligned and criticized, but the almost 36-year-old has the Floridian felines flirting with the postseason.

Winnipeg needs to make the postseason -- no ifs, ands or buts. I'm sure they'll talk to Buffalo, but they could have had Chris Stewart already. And they didn't. Olli Jokinen? Nah, but maybe Daniel Winnik. Antoine Vermette? They might even eye Curtis Glencross from Calgary. They won't want to overpay or upset the chemistry. They will want a hard-working, humble, lunch-bucket type -- the Peg likes that type. Winnik might just be the most underrated guy available and he'd surely bolster what they've got.

Emerge from the flotsam and jetsam? That's a loaded question for sure. Emerge in terms of worsening their position and sinking further? Or emerging from that clotted mass at the bottom and essentially screwing themselves in the McEichel duel in the process?

The Sabres and the Oilers are in a class all to themselves -- they are horrific. HOWEVER, the Oil have been playing better, but it's hard to seem them gaining enough ground to work their way out of contention for that pick. Carolina and Arizona are next worst and the former has been pulling itself out of the basement. Plus they play Toronto, New Jersey and Philly this week, so they could easily take the first two, or perhaps all three and move right ahead of the Leafs. Arizona's schedule sucks to season's end, so they'll stay put in the basement. But the Leafs are in a free fall -- getting back on track would be like freeclimbing the Dawn Wall on Yosemite's El Capitan. It ain't happening. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgenson did it in January; the Leafs will not make it now.

So the McEichelbattle will come down to 1) Buffalo (20% chance of winning the lottery), 2) Edmonton (13.5%), 3) Arizona (11.5%), 4) Toronto (9.5%) and 5) Carolina (8.5%). But under the new system, I'll bet money that New Jersey, who'll finish 6, will win the draft, with Edmonton second. Buffalo will bet screwed down to third. And then the Yotes and Leafs. The Leafs need big pivot Dylan Strome because Mitchell Marner is just too small (they have William Nylander and can't have two like that). But Strome will go one spot ahead of them. Do I need to go on? Your Devils will then pick Eichel as the great American hope and the Oilers will ruin McDavid. It's like a train wreck that no one can stop.

My tongue is planted firmly in my cheek, but stranger things have happened. And now to you for the last word. Just not too many, though -- I'm counting characters ... remember?

- Has Michael Del Zotto found his game? Are the 11 points in his last 12 for real or a mirage?
- Cody Hodgson -- dud or dud? Seriously -- tell me what you really think.
- Does Sami Vatanen's injury increase the Ducks' interest in Dion Phaneuf? They apparently covet Roman Polak (I know, I don't get it, either). Maybe they get both?
- Does Mike Richards, who is tearing up the AHL, get dealt by the deadline or do the Kings simply recall him for the postseason? That is, if they get there at all.

From: Dan Pennucci
To: Janet Eagleson
Sent: Thursday, February 19
Subject: Quick Hits

The Devils winning the lottery...a few more losses could help. They're playing Carolina this weekend, a golden chance. Watching the Habs-Florida game right now and at the beginning of the game they flashed an interesting graphic on the Cats broadcast: A list of five goalies who have allowed two goals or less in games this season. Pekka Rinne was on top, along with the two twinetenders in the featured game, Luongo and Price as well as Braden Holtby. All goalies on playoff locks or potential playoff teams. The last one, Cory Schneider, who was actually third with around 30. If we could take wins out of fantasy leagues, Schneider would be a great option, but that's what happens when the forward corps on your team would have been a great assemblage of talent in 2009 rather than 2015. (Seriously, the 2009 versions of Michael Cammaleri, Travis Zajac, Martin Havlat, Michael Ryder, Ryane Clowe and Tuomo Ruutu...not bad).

I'm sure the Devils would find a way, in the scenario of winning the lottery, of justifying Eichel over McDavid, with Eichel being an American college boy and Lou Lamoriello's penchant for them. I'll take either, team needs some young blood up front, desperately. (Seems like Eichel could fit more into the NJ mold).

Regardless, say a prayer for McDavid that he doesn't end up in Edmonton or Toronto. (loved his interview on Hockey Central today).

Quick Hits

-Of course MDZ found his game, I dropped him in one league. He's meshing well, but I still say mirage, like Philly.

-Remember when the hockey community went nuts over Cody Hodgson for Zack Kassian in 2012? Yea, that's the last I remember hearing about those two. (maybe a few too many characters, but deal with it).

-Vatanen is a huge loss, I can't see the Ducks coughing up what Toronto wants for Mr. Kim Bauer, nor should they. Polak is cheaper, but something tells me he can't move the puck like Vatanen.

-You know the Kings would recall Richards for the playoffs. No one wants to take on that salary and he's enjoying his Wade Redden time in Manchester.

-Huge win by Florida over Montreal tonight, coming back from 2-0 down in Montreal. Bjugstad was silky smooth on that shootout-tying goal past Price. Florida is one point away from Boston, a team, as stated earlier, who could not beat Edmonton.