2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 3

 The third installment of the needs and mock draft continues, and this is where trades figure into the equation. Every team is still getting covered, in order of original draft position, but the mock draft will go as planned, as well as the first picks of teams without a first round pick. 

16. St. Louis Blues

A team that may not go into free agency much this offseason, the Blues now have to consider moving on from Vladimir Tarasenko, who requested a trade. Depth pieces up front and blue line help are possible needs.

Projected pick: Mason McTavish, C, Olten

A team short on high end talent if Tarasenko does get traded, McTavish can provide goal scoring and a big body down the middle for a team that needs to harder to play against, something that has been missing since 2019.

17. Winnipeg Jets 

Offense up front is a major need, especially since Pierre-Luc Dubois is not a guy that can replicate the goal scoring totals Patrik Laine had. That is where replenishing the wings can be a factor. Having fewer worries about free agents in their own end should help the Jets zero in on getting scoring help there, either through draft or free agency. 

Projected pick: Oskar Olausson, LW, HV71

The Jets can afford to develop another player if Cole Perfetti and Kristian Vesalainen both make the leap next season. Olausson has upside that can be worked with for a couple more seasons, as he's signed with HV71 until 2023.

18. Nashville Predators 

The search for a top center continues, and there isn't a top guy available in the draft, much less where the Predators are drafting. As for free agency, it's going to be about shedding either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene's contract through the expansion draft.

Projected pick: Fyodor Svechkov, C, Togliatti Jr.

Probably the safest pick if you take away the Russian Factor, Svechkov projects as a middle six player, at worst, thanks to the overall balance in his game.

19. Edmonton Oilers 

The search for wing men that can play alongside either McDavid or Draisaitl continues, as depth once again, became an issue. Blue line help is also a problem, but acquiring Duncan Keith should help the younger players mentally, even if Keith is no longer the player he was even a few years ago. Goalie help is also needed, as there's no sure fire starter now, nor is there a guarantee the prospects will develop as promised. 

Projected pick: Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton (WHL)

Goalie is the thinnest spot in the Oilers prospect pool, as they drafted all forwards last season, and they're expecting Evan Bouchard to try for a spot next season. Keeping Cossa in Edmonton would be a boon, as they can keep an eye on him as he looks to continue to post great numbers for a strong Oil Kings squad.

20. Boston Bruins

An aging core will need much more than just David Pastrnak up front and Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo on the blue line. Depth continues to be a major problem, even as Patrice Bergeron continues to play at a high level and Taylor Hall is a possibility to resign with the team. Down the middle is a worry that could be solved in free agency while the blue line needs a more sure thing.

Projected pick: Aatu Raty, C, Karpat

A top 10 projected pick prior to this season, his confidence was rattled at times and he missed the cut for the 2021 WJC tournament, due to no practice for the Finnish squad prior to the start. He still has the tools, and could be an eventual replacement for David Krejci.

21. Minnesota Wild 

Even as they move on from the Parise/Suter era, the Wild need to continue to fill holes in their prospect pool, especially defensively, where only Calen Addison is a top 10 prospect. Their most important thing on the to-do list is getting Kirill Kaprizov signed. 

Projected pick: Sean Behrens, D, US NTDP

A mobile defenseman that got overshadowed by teammate Luke Hughes, Behrens has upside to an already good all-around game and projects to more of a sure thing than 2018 pick Filip Johansson.

22. Washington Capitals

The Capitals first round pick was traded to Detroit in the Anthony Mantha deal, and while Mantha had his moments, not having that first round pick means they don't draft until late in the second round. Their biggest concern is what to do with Alex Ovechkin, who is a UFA. Whether they think they can win one more Cup is going to be a factor in the decision making for at least a couple seasons. Beyond that, they could use another above average prospect in the system, especially up front, as Ovechkin won't easily be replaced by one player.

Projected pick (Detroit): Nikita Chibrikov, RW, CKA

His game is bent more towards offense, and with both size concerns and the Russian Factor, it's easy to see Chibrikov fall. Still, his offense is better than most players in the draft.

Projected pick (Washington): Brett Harrison, C, Koovee Jr.

An offensive threat with consistency issues that were exposed when he had to head to Europe when the OHL season was ultimately canned, Harrison should benefit by returning to Oshawa this coming season, where he performed well. If he can use his size more to his advantage, his potential is higher.

23. Florida Panthers 

Defense is a sore point depth-wise, as evidenced by Aaron Ekblad's injury. Cutting ties with Keith Yandle further reinforces this idea, and with a decent amount of cap space, they can add another player there, if needed, although they did commit 3 million per year for three years to Anthony Duclair.

Projected pick: Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck-St. Mary's 

Far better offensive starter than in his own end at this point, Morrow has the desire to improve upon his weaknesses. It helps that he is a bigger player than the trendy smaller, yet mobile defender some teams take a chance on.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

Two months of playoff hockey have whittled the field down to two teams. The final games begin Monday, and it's plenty of time to dissect the teams.

(2)Boston Bruins vs. (3)St. Louis Blues

The Bruins had to outlast Toronto, Columbus, and Carolina to get to their third final this decade. On the strength of Tuukka Rask in goal and a combination of veteran talent such as Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Zdeno Chara, as well as youth such as Charlie MacAvoy and Danton Heinen, the Bruins are poised to bring another championship back to Boston. Where they need to succeed is with Brad Marchand, who frequently straddles the line on his play, but can also hurt you on the scoresheet.

The Blues survived Winnipeg, Dallas, and a blown call against the Sharks in game 3 to make the Finals for the first time since 1970. Ironically, it's against the team they last saw when they made the Finals. Jordan Binnington is the team's backbone in goal, but it is longtime stalwarts such as Alex Pietrangelo and Jaden Schwartz who have propelled them here, as well as newcomers Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Bozak. The Blues need Vladimir Tarasenko to get untracked if they want to bring home a championship to St. Louis for the first time in hockey.

Prediction: Bruins in 6

NHL Conference Finals Preview

The NHL playoffs keep getting exciting, and with four teams remaining, it's a time to be alive. Which teams are still in it and what could happen? Let's sort through the mess.

(3) St. Louis Blues vs. (2) San Jose Sharks

The Blues are once again on the doorstep of making the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1970, and this time, it is on the back of some timely scoring and sterling goaltending from Jordan Binnington. They outlasted the Stars, as they had to make a comeback from a 3-2 series deficit. Jaden Schwartz continues to be an unsung hero, but it is the resurgence of the likes of Alex Pietrangelo and Vladimir Tarasenko that continue to push the Blues forward.

The Sharks are still inconsistent, but keep finding ways to win, thanks to contributions from the likes of Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture. Getting Joe Pavelski back after missing all but the last game of the Colorado series was a shot in the arm. Where the Sharks desperately need to improve is contributions from the back end, as Brent Burns has been quiet and the team is still waiting on Erik Karlsson to contribute. Martin Jones still has consistency issues, but rises to the occasion when things are on the line.

Prediction: Blues in 6

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Carolina Hurricanes

The Bruins are still the physical team that can wear down opponents to win, as evidenced by their series win over Columbus. However, they are also a team that can outscore opponents, as needed, with David Pastrnak and David Krejci leading the way. The team has done well despite little in the way of offensive output from Brad Marchand. Defensively, this is a unit that is getting healthy at the right time, with Charlie MacAvoy and Brandon Carlo pushing the unit forward with a guiding hand from veterans such as Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug. Tuukka Rask continues to hold down the fort in goal, with more consistency in his numbers.

Carolina has solid depth all around, and though the output from Sebastian Aho hasn't been as great, it has been the likes of Teuvo Teravainen, Nino Niederreiter, and unsung hero Warren Foegele who have pushed the offense forward. Defensively, they suffered a blow when Trevor van Riemsdyk was announced to be out for the rest of the playoffs, but others have stepped up, and that will continue to be the case here. Where the Hurricanes could be vulnerable is in goal, where Petr Mrazek missed the last two games to injury, and though the Hurricanes have had time off, it remains to be seen if he can be 100 percent if he comes back during the series. In the interim, Curtis McElhinney held down the fort well, and he will be a key if Mrazek is unable to go or isn't completely healthy.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

NHL Conference Semi-finals Preview

That was fun, wasn't it? All four division leaders were eliminated in another exciting first round, and the party is just getting started. What will the next round hold? Let's find out, with at least a series kicking off as I write this.

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Columbus Blue Jackets

The Bruins once again make it to the Conference semis at the expense of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team they have not lost to in the playoffs since 1959. Though the Bruins have some injury issues still, there is depth and players still step up when needed. The question here is whether the Bruins will have the offense necessary to match the Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets didn't just win a playoff series for the first time in their existence, they did so in rather convincing fashion. Sure, the Lightning all but gave up after game one, but it should be noted that Sergei Bobrovsky had his best playoff series since joining the league in 2010. It has also helped that Seth Jones is looking more and more like a top defender while Matt Duchene and Artemi Panarin were major contributors offensively. Where the Blue Jackets face questions is how much the time off will affect them and whether or not they can replicate the success of the first round.

Prediction: Bruins in 6

(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (4) Dallas Stars

The Blues were one of the hottest teams entering the playoffs and they did little to dissuade that notion in the series against the Jets. Jordan Binnington is still as good as ever, and key players such as Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Brayden Schenn are finding their games at the right time. Their defense is coming together, and they are showing no signs of a letdown.

The Stars seemed to have woken up during the playoffs, as their top line of Alex Radulov, Tyler Seguin, and Jamie Benn did most of the damage up front against Nashville. Defensively, there are still some holes in their own end, but offensive production from the likes of Miro Heiskanen and John Klingberg more than make up for it. In goal, Ben Bishop showed that he is the team's last line of defense. What Dallas can do past their first line is what remains to be seen.

Prediction: Blues in 6

(2) New York Islanders vs. (4) Carolina Hurricanes

The name of the game for the Islanders is defense, and they did a great job in shutting down the Penguins in a sweep. It begins with the duo of Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss, who showed why they were the William Jennings Trophy winners for lowest team GAA. Defensively, this is still a largely no-name unit that will be tested with Johnny Boychuk out for some time, but this is where a guy like Ryan Pulock can step up. Up front, they are led by the likes of Matt Barzal, Anders Lee, and Jordan Eberle, but they must do something about their power play or else trouble could be brewing.

Carolina was another hot team coming into the playoffs, and certainly, their home record thus far is one of the biggest reasons for them being in this spot right now. Petr Mrazek still has consistency issues, as shown in the Washington series, but he has the ability to steal games as needed. Like the Islanders, their defense is largely no-name, with Dougie Hamilton being the lone player with some recognition. Up front, it's Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and Nino Niederreiter who lead the top line, with possibly a recovering Andrei Svechnikov coming back. Consistency is still an issue, particularly away from PNC Arena, but the Hurricanes have shown their resiliency when their backs are against the wall.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

(2)San Jose Sharks vs. (4) Colorado Avalanche

San Jose also has consistency issues, putting them down 3-1 against Vegas before rallying to take the series, and even then, they also had to overcome a 3-0 deficit with 10 minutes left in game 7. Martin Jones needs to be more consistent, and their defense still has to figure out their chemistry, something that could be fatal against Colorado. Up front, it seems like a new hero steps up every night, with Tomas Hertl emerging as a go-to guy, but Logan Couture is still reliable. What the Sharks have to answer is how they will fill the likely void of Joe Pavelski.

Colorado was actually the hottest team entering the playoffs, and other than a game 1 hiccup against Calgary, the Avs proved that a superior top line will win if left unchecked. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen are the team's offensive firepower, with Gabriel Landeskog along for the ride. Defensively, there are still some issues, but the baptism by fire of Cale Makar has proven to be beneficial, as he's given that unit a shot in the arm. In goal, it's Phillipp Grubauer who has seized the starting role.

Prediction: Avalanche in 7

2019 NHL Playoffs: Western Conference Preview

The Western Conference was mostly a free-for-all, with many teams jockeying for position, especially in the Central Division. In the end, there was one clear cut favorite, and even they have question marks heading into the playoffs. Let's see who the participants are:

(1) Nashville Predators vs. (4) Dallas Stars

The Predators survived a tough Central Division where they, St. Louis, and Winnipeg all vied for the division crown on the last day of the season. They have the offensive firepower, but had their issues with consistency, particularly on the power play. The good news is that the offense found its spark late in the season, and appears to be hot at the right time. Defensively, the effort was in and out, with some of the blame being on whether or not the team may have gotten bored at times. As is the case with the offense, the defense came back at the right time, and that is good news for either Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros, both of whom were the most consistent parts of the team.

The Stars had to make a bit of a spirited run to secure a spot as a wild card. They're still led by Tyler Seguin, Alex Radulov, and Jamie Benn up front, but the lack of scoring depth up front is concerning. It becomes more pronounced when players such as Valeri Nichushkin haven't played to expectations. Defensively, what was perceived as a weakness for the last few years is now at the very least passable. Yes, John Klingberg is still a liability in his own end, but his skill offensively combined with being paired with a guy like Marc Methot or Roman Polak helped stabilize the unit. It has helped that Miro Heiskanen has done well as a rookie on the blue line. Goaltending was really good, as Ben Bishop was great when healthy. Of course, that is the rub, as health continues to be a concern. Fortunately for Dallas, Anton Khudobin is a more than capable fill-in.

Prediction: Predators in 6

(2) Winnipeg Jets vs. (3) St. Louis Blues

The Jets started out hot, but then faltered late to fall into the second spot in the Central Division. Injuries certainly played a role, as did Connor Hellebuyck coming back to Earth a little bit during the season. It will remain to be seen if Hellebuyck finds that extra gear in the playoffs or if Laurent Brossoit, if healthy, will have to try and save the day. Defensively, this was where injuries hit the hardest, as Dustin Byfuglien and Josh Morrissey both missed considerable time. Both are expected to be ready to go by the first game, which bodes well. Up front, the offensive power outage of Patrik Laine remains one of the season's biggest mysteries, as he failed to make a major impact this season. With a new contract looming and the playoffs approaching, this would be the perfect time for him to rediscover his scoring touch. The good news is that both Mark Schiefele and Blake Wheeler performed to expectations while Nikolaj Ehlers is also healthy after missing some time to injuries.

St. Louis looked like a heavily underachieving team in the middle of the season by the time they canned Mike Yeo as head coach and inserted Craig Berube to fill in. One smart move to go with Jordan Binnington as the starting goaltender later, the Blues almost went from out of the playoffs to division champs. They are the hottest team in the league right now, and Binnington is a major reason for that. A defensive unit that looked lost under Yeo suddenly played well, with Alex Pietrangelo finding a rhythm once he was taken off a pairing with Jay Bouwmeester, who himself played well enough to earn another year with the Blues next season. Offensively, Vladimir Tarasenko looked like he was going through the motions in the first half of the season before he found his scoring touch. Ryan O'Reilly and Brayden Schenn were the most consistent players on the team, and the sometimes maligned David Perron showed that he could go on a hot streak offensively if needed.

Prediction: Jets in 7

(1) Calgary Flames vs. (4) Colorado Avalanche

For a team that finished near the bottom offensively a season ago, the Calgary Flames finally played to their paper expectations. Yes, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan led the way, but it was the likes of Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk, and Mark Giordano that also saw spikes in their production. Defensively, Giordano showed that he has something left even at 36 while Travis Hamonic, TJ Brodie, and Noah Hanifin all provide a very solid top four defensive unit. In goal, Mike Smith was good when healthy, but that was the thing that felled him again. The good news was that David Rittich took full advantage of the time and established himself as not only the goaltender of right now, but possibly the future. Still, neither has had a long track record of playoff performances, and this, along with James Neal, will be a deciding factor in whether they make a deep run this year.

Colorado once again, needed almost the entire season to make the playoffs, and this time, they also needed a 10 game winning streak to overtake both Arizona and Minnesota for that spot. Their goaltending was dreadful for the first half of the season, and it looked like they were wasting the production of both Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. Now, it appears that both Phillipp Grubauer and Semyon Varlamov are finding their games; it's all a matter of who truly has the hotter hand. Defensively, this unit is acceptable, as there is no superstar player. Tyson Barrie is essentially a forward cast as a defender, but Nikita Zadorov has become the physical player that the Avs haven't had since Adam Foote last patrolled the blue line. One player to possibly watch is Cale Makar, fresh off a breakthrough college run that saw him become a Hobey Baker finalist. Offensively, it is the MacKinnon and Rantanen show, as they are basically the whole show there. They still need some help, and it is unknown where that help up front will be.

Prediction: Flames in 6

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Vegas Golden Knights

The Sharks on paper, look like a team that should make a deep playoff run. However, they also didn't play as well as the unit that was assembled, as there were times when they played uninspired. Up front, Evander Kane was the most consistent player there while the likes of Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski all had their ups and downs. Tomas Hertl had a breakthrough year, and it is expected that he will continue that trend. Defensively, this was supposed to be a scary group, but only Brent Burns played to expectations. Erik Karlsson looked like he was still not the same player prior to surgery prior to last season and the rest of the unit just didn't do a lot. The normally excellent goaltending also had their troubles, as Martin Jones came back down a little while Aaron Dell wasn't the answer at times.

It had to end some time for the Vegas Golden Knights, as teams weren't taken by surprise this time around. Still, any team that has a healthy Marc-Andre Fleury and a capable Malcolm Subban should still scare you, both showed flashes of brilliance during the season, especially Fleury, who was undoubtedly the team's MVP this season. Defensively, this is still a no-name unit that plays solidly, a product of good coaching from Gerard Gallant. Offensively, they were supposed to get more from newcomers such as Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny, but that didn't materialize as well as they hoped, which was why they went out and got Mark Stone.

Prediction: Sharks in 7

Cutting Room

The past month has seen some changes in the NHL, as four teams as of this writing have changed head coaches in the middle of the season...and it's not December, yet. Let's run them down, and look at who may be next to go.

• The Chicago Blackhawks parted ways with Joel Quennville and replaced him with Jeremy Colliton, who was the head coach of the team's AHL affiliate in Rockford. The Quennville firing comes as a shock, but the reality was there was a major butting of heads lately between Quennville and General Manager Stan Bowman. Someone had to go, and soon, the other half may be gone by the end of the season, so this change is definitely a referendum on Bowman, who has put the Blackhawks on the verge of salary cap hell and hasn't adequately addressed the team's depth problem lately.
• The Los Angeles Kings were also in the mood to fire their head coach, as John Stevens was given his walking papers. Willie Desjardins was named interim coach. Stevens had a decent regular season last year, but his inability to get any offense out of the team come playoff time was exposed, and it has been further exposed this season despite adding Ilya Kovalchuk in the off-season. While Desjardins is an interim coach, was it really the best decision? Marco Sturm is the likely head coach in waiting, and skipping the middle man would have made more sense, although the Kings haven't been able to field a healthy goaltending unit lately, since Cal Petersen, he of a handful of games thus far, is now on the NHL roster until the likes of Peter Budaj and Jonathan Quick can get healthy again.
• Speaking of the Kings, they were the last team that Mike Yeo would be facing as the head coach of the St. Louis Blues. The Blues were shut out last night by that team, and an offensive dry spell that topped a team struggling to meet expectations meant the Mike Yeo experiment it over. Before I get to who is replacing him, it should be noted that the Blues hand-picked Yeo to replace Ken Hitchcock after the 2016-17 season, only to speed up that process by a few months, as Hitchcock was fired for Yeo. Just over two years later, Yeo is now looking for a new job. His replacement is...Craig Berube? This may be an interim move, but given that Berube was terrible as head coach in Philadelphia, it almost seems like the Blues WANT to fail.
• Spekaing of Hitchcock, he was lured out of retirement...again, as the Edmonton Oilers fired Todd MacClellan this morning. Hitchcock will be behind the bench for at least the rest of the season. One has to wonder if General Manager Peter Chiarrelli should be answering the phone because his job is now on the line. A team that has underachieved despite Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and is also on the verge of salary cap hell, the Oilers may need to do more than just fire the head coach.

So, who could be the next coach to go? Randy Carlyle in Anaheim seems like a safe bet, as does Jeff Blashill in Detroit and Guy Boucher in Ottawa. 

Feeling Blue

ST. LOUIS BLUES

2017-18 record: 44-32-6 (94 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Alex Pietrangelo

Missing out on the playoffs is something that the St. Louis Blues don't often do, but when they do, they seem to do it in the most painful fashion possible. Last year, it was getting blown out by the Colorado Avalanche in a game that they had to just win or tie. To ensure that they don't have to deal with that again, they decided to bolster their center depth and make a few other changes. The Blues should be better, but by how much is up to them.

The Blues were in the bottom third of the league in scoring, and much of that was both the lack of center depth and the overall lack of scoring up and down the lineup. The Blues addressed both issues in one fell swoop, as Tyler Bozak and Ryan O'Reilly slot in behind Jaden Schwartz at center, essentially replacing Paul Stastny. They also got Vladimir Tarasenko some needed muscle, as Patrick Maroon is a better scoring version of Ryan Reaves. Despite numerous injuries and Alex Pietrangelo underachieving, the Blues finished 6th in goals against. Much of that was due to Carter Hutton deciding to have a career year. Unfortunately, Hutton is now a member of the Buffalo Sabres, which leaves inconsistent Jake Allen to once again tap into his untapped potential as a starting goalie. Having the defense in front of him healthy again should be help, but if Allen can't find his game, the Blues will have to turn to Chad Johnson, who is even more inconsistent.

Prediction: 3rd in the Central Division

The Blues were a maddening team to figure out last year, some of it due to injuries, some of it due to everyone not named Vladimir Tarasenko having off years. The truth of who the Blues are should be better defined this year, as they addressed needs and should be healthy once again.

NHL Free Agency: Burning Money Edition

July 1 is known as a money burning day, as the first day of both NBA and NHL free-agency begins, as well as the New York Mets' tradition of giving long-gone Bobby Bonilla a million plus interest a year until 2035. So, how will the NHL make me laugh this time?

• The big shoe that needed to drop, did, as John Tavares announced that he would be taking the Toronto Maple Leafs' offer of seven years, and an annual amount of 11 million. It's a steep price for Toronto, and it still doesn't solve their defensive woes, but Tavares potentially shoves both Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri down a slot, which improves their offensive output. The big concern would be what happens next offseason, when both Matthews and Mitch Marner are coming off their ELCs.
• The Maple Leafs' 11 million dollar gamble wasn't actually the worst move made. No, the worst happened this morning, as the Calgary Flames decided to throw five years and an annual cap hit of 5.75 million at James Neal. You might say that's better than what Washington threw at TJ Oshie, but even four years is excessive for a 30-goal scorer that is on the wrong side of 30, has major streaks of production and non-production, and may be headed for a steep decline ala Dany Heatley. The Flames also threw over 3 million to some guy named Derek Grant. Have fun with the RFA contracts of Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin.
• Los Angeles did the expected, and signed Ilya Kovalchuk to a three year deal. The hit carries a 6 million dollar price tag a year, and it had been announced that the Kings intended to make him the focal point of their offense. If you're paying him that much, he better be, and if he can still score 30 goals per year, it's not bad. So, where are the Kings screwed? The eight year extension that will be carrying an 11 million dollar hit that is going to Drew Doughty. The Kings learned nothing from the Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik sagas. The Kings will be in Cap Hell even after Kovalchuk is gone thanks to the ridiculous contracts being handed out.
• Detroit likes to kick the can down the road, and signing both Jonathan Bernier and Thomas Vanek to deals, as well as re-signing Mike Green to a new two year deal is proof. On a contending team, these signings would actually be praised. However, Detroit is not even close to contending. I know there's the albatross contracts of Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm, and Jonathan Ericsson, but there is no way they are a Jonathan Bernier away from playoff contention.
• Chicago actually didn't do badly with signing Cam Ward to one year, as he proved that he had something left, although that wasn't necessarily by choice in Carolina, as Scott Darling self-immolated. Brandon Manning is just a warm body on defense while I absolutely don't understand how Chris Kunitz will fit with the team.
• Vegas made moves, as they slightly overpaid for four years Paul Stastny and inexplicably threw 2.75 million a year for two years at Ryan Reaves.
• Pittsburgh signed Jack Johnson. The issue with Johnson isn't money, as about 3 million a year is sensible, but term, as five years is a little long. They also brought back Matt Cullen because I don't know.
• Boston signed Jaroslav Halak for two years and a 2.75 million annual deal. Halak had a bad year, but he should rebound somewhat, since Boston is a stronger defensive team and he won't have to be overextended, as he backs up Tuukka Rask. The Bruins also signed John Moore to the same 2.75 million a year hit, but for five years. I don't know if Moore is worth that much money-wise, but he's still relatively young, and you can do worse than him if you're a Boston team that figures to be led by Charlie MacAvoy and Brandon Carlo in the future.
• Buffalo moved on from the volatile Robin Lehner in favor of an older, but calmer Carter Hutton. Hutton is getting three years, and 2.75 million per year. The bigger news is that they traded Ryan O'Reilly to St. Louis and are getting back Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, and two draft picks. The change was needed for both Buffalo and O'Reilly, which showed cracks late season. O'Reilly instantly gives St. Louis a second line center and takes the albatross contracts of both Berglund and Sobotka off the books.
• Speaking of the Blues, they gave David Perron four years and four million per year to make his return for a third time. Inconsistent as he is, it isn't a bad number, and he showed that he has something left. They also gave Tyler Bozak a three year, 5 million a year contract because I don't know. The money is too high for what will amount to a third line center, especially now that Brayden Schenn and O'Reilly will be in front of him. They also picked up a year rental of Chad Johnson for 1.75 million. Again, too high of a price, given his lack of production lately.
• Vancouver continues to want to tread water, as they handed out identical four year, 3 million per year contracts to Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel. Two years and just under 2 million a year for Tim Schaller and three years and 3.36 million a year to Sven Baertschi were also handed out. None of those are Loui Eriksson bad, which is good, but only the Baertschi signing makes sense, as he can still deliver on some of his offensive upside. Roussel, Beagle, and Schaller do provide a defensive presence up front that had been sorely lacking since Ryan Kesler bolted town.
• If I began with the Maple Leafs, I have to end with the New York Islanders, the team Tavares is leaving behind. I don't think Tavares leaving is a death blow, as Mat Barzal looks like he will be the best player on the Islanders by this time next year, but it certainly hurts. Saying that, the Islanders signed Leo Komarov to four years and 3 million per year. The term may be a little long, and Komarov isn't going to provide major offense, but he will provide leadership and at a reasonable price, the Islanders will have room to move. They also re-signed Thomas Hickey for four years and 2.5 million. Thought to have been a bust after failing to crack the Kings roster in the time after he was drafted in 2007, he's turned out to be a respectable defender with the Islanders, and he was one of the few bright spots on a blue line that was awful last year. The big problem was signing Valtteri Filppula for 2.75 million. It's only one year, but the Islanders did not need Filppula, who clearly has nothing left at this stage of his career.

If I didn't mention your team, it's because there weren't any good or bad moves made. 

NHL mock Draft: picks 24-31

There is big news involving a three way trade that I will get to at some point, as it relates to the clown show known as the Ottawa Senators and the potential impact it may have on its star player. In the meantime, I need to finish this mock draft, which is likely going to be wrong save for maybe the first three picks.

24. Minnesota Wild-Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL)

The Wild's center spot is getting older and the surest things in the system haven't proven themselves yet, as Joel Eriksson-Ek hasn't been the player they Wild envisioned yet and Luke Kunin has injury issues. Dellandrea already has shown character, playing on a Flint team that had been in turmoil early in his time there, and he has skill that may only be in the beginning stages.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs-Sampo Ranta, LW, Sioux City (USHL)

The Maple Leafs may look to trade out of this spot, given their wealth of prospects. Should they stay, left wing may almost certainly need an infusion, and with the number of prospects, they can afford to take on a project in Ranta, a goal scorer who will likely need two years minimum at Wisconsin.

26. New York Rangers (from Boston)-Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice (Czech Republic)

The deadline trades strengthened the Rangers' blue line prospect pool, and center looks set if Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil both make the NHL roster next season. The Rangers may look to trade up, since they have another pick at 28. Kaut might be the safest pick, as he doesn't truly excel in one category, but does everything fairly well.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville)-Mattias Samuelsson, D, US NTDP

The Blackhawks need defensemen badly. With the scoring need addressed earlier in this mock draft, they get a physical player in Samuelsson, who shows better offensive acumen than his father Kjell, who played in the NHL in the late-80's and early 90's.

28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay)-Filip Johansson, D, Leskand Jr. (Sweden)

The Rangers could always use another player on the blue line, especially since there is uncertainty as to who will emerge. Johansson is an all-around player that may have more offense than what he's shown thus far.

29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg)-Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)

The Blues need to close the gap between the first and third lines. With the possibility of either Tage Thompson or Robert Thomas getting regular NHL time next season, that means the Blues need another center to groom. McLeod needs to be more than just a speed guy, but he will have time to develop.

30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas)-Jacob Olofsson, C, Timra (Sweden)

The Red Wings need any help they can get, and though it is unknown what Olofsson's offensive upside is, his two-way game already would put him in position to join the NHL next season if he chooses.

31. Washington Capitals-Nicolas Beaudin, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)

The Capitals need to continue to stock the defenseman pipeline, with Madison Bowey already graduating to the NHL and Lucas Johansen potentially close. Beaudin needs to gain weight, but the rest of his game suggests that he can be a quality defender on an NHL roster.

St. Louis Puppy Chow

I know what you're asking. Why post this picture above? Some backstory is needed if you're unfamiliar, the St. Louis Blues were under ownership of Ralston Purina in the early 1980's. That ownership group attempted to move the Blues to Saskatoon, SK, in that time period except that the NHL blocked that move. Ownership threw a fit and it created more issues for the Blues to the point where they don't even participate in the 1983 NHL draft, where they could have had any of Pat Lafontaine or Steve Yzerman.

What's the point here? The 2017-18 season is just another in the long line of the Blues taking their lumps, as they began the season with great expectations, at one point, leading the league. They say it's not how you start, but how you finish. Unfortunately, the Blues finished just outside the playoff window, as they laid another egg in a must-win game last night at Colorado. A 5-2 loss in regulation means the Blues will be watching from the golf links. So, how did it come to this?

• The Blues at times, resembled a MASH unit, as key players were out for stretches of time, with the blue line taking the most damage. The lack of consistency as far as who was in the lineup, especially late in the season, meant there wasn't any chance of players getting chemistry built up.
• In turn, the injuries exposed a lack of depth that the Blues couldn't address adequately during the season. Even Vladimir Tarasenko missed time to injuries, and that meant others had to step up. Unfortunately, only Brayden Schenn could answer the bell here.
• Special teams were rather ordinary, at best. The less said about the power play, the better. On the penalty kill, for a defensively sound team, this was not quite as good. Of course, this part does go back to the lack of chemistry on the back end.
• Do the Blues have a number one goalie? Jake Allen may not be the answer, as he's been inconsistent the entire time he's been in the league, and he's been unable to beat out Brian Elliott then, and maybe now, Carter Hutton. Don't forget that Ville Husso is lurking in the minors.
• The lack of depth is especially true up front. Despite underachieving in his time in St. Louis, Paul Stastny was as close to being a true second line center. When he was traded, that meant the Blues were suddenly without any true second line options anywhere. Even the grinders took a bit of a downgrade, as Ryan Reaves was shipped out and Chris Thorburn wasn't even close to being the same player. Where St. Louis needs to find out soon is just how well they develop players. Jordan Schmaltz hasn't developed as the Blues have hoped, as he's yet to crack the NHL roster, Robby Fabbri may be made of glass, and there isn't a future superstar in the wings anywhere in the pipeline. There's a lot of middle six forwards, but no real top line players.

It's going to be another long off-season for the St. Louis faithful. They have problems to fix that may add another few years of Cup-free hockey if they don't address them soon. At least they have baseball, oh wait, the Cubs and Royals have won World Series more recently than the Cardinals.

I Watched This Game: Preseason 2017 Edition

Preseason hockey came to Kansas City tonight, and it was the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild, and yes, I watched this game. The first period saw the Blues and Wild exchange goals on really good passes, with Brayden Schenn feeding Vladimir Tarasenko on the power play to make it 1-0. The Blues were exposed on the power play in the Nashville series last year, and putting Schenn with Tarasenko can only help matters, as evidenced by that goal. Charlie Coyle fed Luke Kunin, who was cutting in on goal to even the score late in the period, one of the rare times in the game that Jake Allen was unable to stop the puck. Curiously, Allen was pulled in the middle of the second period so backup Carter Hutton could get some time. A Blues goal in the second period left the score at 2-1, but the Wild would score early in the third period, as Kunin would cut to the net and force a shot from the point to go off a Blues player trailing him and past Hutton. With 4.3 seconds to go in the game, Coyle would take a Blues turnover in their own end and bury it past Hutton to make it a 3-2 final.

So, what can be taken from this game? For the Blues, fixing the power play saw some fruit with Schenn and Tarasenko together, the blue line is going to need some time to gel, particularly if either or both Jake Walman and Vince Dunn get time in the NHL due to injuries, Jake Allen is in mid-season form, and despite getting power play time, Tage Thompson is better served starting in the AHL. For the Wild, Mike Reilly is still not ready for NHL duty, as he had some lapses in his own end, Kunin impressed by going to the net on the first two goals despite being credited for just one of the two, and Devan Dubnyk may be needed to bail out the team once again, as they mostly had trouble getting the puck past Allen and Hutton.

Singing a Different Tune

ST. LOUIS BLUES

2016-17 record: 46-29-7 (99 points)
Lost to Nashville in Conference semi-finals
Captain: Alex Pietrangelo

By the All-Star Break, the St. Louis Blues were underachievers who expedited the succession plan and put Mike Yeo in as head coach in February, replacing Ken Hitchcock. By the time the season ended, the Blues were in the playoffs and even handled themselves fairly well, advancing past Minnesota in the opening round. The task at hand for this season will be for Yeo to prove that he was the right choice to succeed Hitchcock.

The Blues have largely gone away from their bruising style of past seasons, watching both Troy Brouwer and David Backes walk prior to last season, and now, trading Ryan Reaves. The good news was that the Blues finished in the top half on offense. However, other than Vladimir Tarasenko, there was very little consistency. That was why Brayden Schenn was brought in, and he will provide more capable scoring in the middle. The defense was better after the Kevin Shattenkirk trade, and this unit figures to be better. Depth may be an issue, however, as Jay Bouwmeester is expected to miss time to start the season, so it may be sink or swim time for this unit. The Jake Allen that started the season wasn't very good, but like everyone else, the coaching change helped improve his game, and now there is no question that he is the starter that the Blues were hoping for when they traded Brian Elliott prior to last season. The special teams were great in the regular season, but they will need to figure out where it went wrong with the power play in the playoffs.

Prediction: 2nd in the Central Division

The Blues didn't do very much in the way of moves, but it is clear that they are trying to adapt to what the rest of the division is wanting to do. Whether or not they have enough to put in a deep run remains a question.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 16-31

With Adidas revealing all 31 teams' new (sort of, for some teams) uniforms, I'm expediting the mock draft.

16-Calgary Flames: Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane (WHL)

The Flames have had success with players like Yamamoto, as they have his contemporary height-wise in Johnny Gaudreau. Super skilled offensively, and Sam Bennett still needs wingers that can score.

17-Toronto Maple Leafs: Cal Foote, D, Kelowna (WHL)

Toronto could always use another defensive prospect, as they remain thin at that unit, a fact exposed by their third pairing of Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak getting repeatedly torched. Foote isn't a game-breaker, but he is reliable in his own end and has a little more offensive than his dad Adam, a former Colorado defender.

18-Boston Bruins: Nic Hague, D, Mississauga (OHL)

The Bruins have tried preparing for the eventuality of Zdeno Chara finally hanging it up, and though Charlie McAvoy, last year's first round pick, looks like a sure thing, the first round pick from 2015 Jakub Zboril is not as certain to be great. Hague has the size and may provide solid two-way play to go along with McAvoy's offensive prowess and Brandon Carlo's stay-at-home abilities.

19-San Jose Sharks: Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

The Sharks need young defenders in the pipeline, especially since they just gave up on Mirco Mueller living up to his potential. Joseph is a puck mover that needs to gain weight, but is checking off the boxes in most other areas.

20-St. Louis Blues: Klim Kostin, RW, Dynamo Moscow (KHL)

St, Louis got pushed around a lot last year, and despite an off-year thanks to injuries and a lack of playing time in the KHL, Kostin showed what he could do when given the time to show. Provides a physical element that was missing last year.

21-New York Rangers: Erik Brannstrom, D, HV71 (Sweden)

The Rangers are getting old on the blue line, and though they just parted ways with Dan Girardi, they still have decent ability there. The future doesn't look too bright beyond that, and Brannstrom would not only be a body on the blue line, but also a puck mover that they haven't had in a while.

22-Edmonton Oilers: Robert Thomas, C, London (OHL)

Though listed as a center Thomas can play anywhere up front, and he's likely the safest pick in the first round. The Oilers would like to have better depth up front, especially when it comes to the third and fourth lines, and Thomas can bring a two-way game to those areas right away if needed.

23-Arizona Coyotes (from Minnesota): Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, HPK Jr. (Finland)

I fully expect the Coyotes to take a goaltender either here or with their second round pick. Presuming they do like what they see in that category, it's down to Luukkonen or Jake Oettinger. Luukkonen has the higher upside, and I think he's a little closer to NHL ready.

24-Columbus Blue Jackets: Kole Lind, RW, Kelowna (WHL)

The Blue Jackets are sound defensively, but they didn't have nearly enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with Pittsburgh in the first round. Sadly, this year's draft doesn't have much in the way of offensive talent, but Lind is one of the better options available. Plus, going down the wing, the Blue Jackets could use another guy there.

25-Montreal Canadiens: Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP (Finland)

The Canadiens just traded away Mikhail Sergachev, leaving their defensive pipeline a little less stocked. Reliability is what he will provide, but he may require a few years to develop his hockey sense a little more.

26-Chicago Blackhawks: Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph (OHL)

A project, Ratcliffe has the size that Chicago desperately needs, as they've been lacking in that lately and were pushed around by St. Louis and Nashville in recent playoff tilts, teams with at least one physical presence. He can provide a little offense, but once he gets a little more weight, his size will be his greatest asset.

27-St. Louis Blues (from Washington): Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C, Spokane (WHL)

Anderson-Dolan rose up the draft board thanks to his tournament play in the World Under-18s, and he is just now scratching the surface of his potential. With Dan Lambert now coaching Spokane, it will be interesting to see how much offense he can really provide.

28-Ottawa Senators: Jason Robertson, RW, Kingston (OHL)

Robertson could afford to improve his skating, which seems to be a theme with most draft picks this year, but if any team knows about offensive talent that needs improved skating, it's Ottawa, as Robertson draws comparisons to Mark Stone, who's done pretty well in Ottawa. Work ethic is something to watch, but the offensive skill is there.

29-Dallas Stars (from Anaheim): Kristian Vesalainen, LW, Frolunda (Sweden)

The offensive upside is there with Vesalainen, but he also had an up and down season, as he moved quite a bit. Size suggests power forward, but he may be a few years away.

30-Nashville Predators: Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (NCHC)

Assuming the Predators don't trade this pick in pursuit of a center like Matt Duchene or Tyler Johnson, the Predators go with the draft route, taking Poehling, who could end up a Mike Fisher clone, as in not great offensively, but very good in many areas, and can play a shutdown role if needed.

31-Pittsburgh Penguins: Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle (Sweden)

Liljegren's stock took a tumble, and with Pittsburgh needing to figure out a plan in case they don't keep Justin Schultz and/or Derrick Pouliot doesn't pan out, Liljegren would fit the Penguins system perfectly, as his offense is way ahead of his defensive game.

NHL Conference Semi-Finals Preview

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Pittsburgh Penguins

The Capitals had all they could handle in a six-game series with Toronto, but in the end, they did manage to pull through. They did so despite Alex Ovechkin providing just three points (all goals). Having a balanced attack that includes TJ Oshie, Niklas Backstrom, and Justin Williams should help offset Ovechkin's struggles, particularly as he is shaking off an injury scare in the last game of the Leafs series. Braden Holtby continues to hold down the for the Capitals.

Pittsburgh had a relatively easy time with the Blue Jackets en route to a five-game series win. In spite of having to go to Marc-Andre Fleury thanks to Matt Murray being injured, the Penguins have shown some resilience, particularly since Kris Letang is out for the playoffs. It helps that their big guns (Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Sidney Crosby) all produced in the series.

Prediction: Penguins in 7

(2) Ottawa Senators vs. (4) New York Rangers

The Senators went to overtime in virtually every game of their series against Boston. Like Pittsburgh, they had their share of adversity, and like Pittsburgh, their big name players came up big when it counted the most. Erik Karlsson is still the engine that gets the offense going, and having Bobby Ryan finally show why the Senators traded for him a few years ago have been big factors. Craig Anderson has played well, but it's been Clarke MacArthur that has truly come up clutch after missing most of the season because of concussions.

The Rangers have ridden their defense to a six-game victory over Montreal. Henrik Lundqvist still has a few great games left in him, and the defense in front of him tightened up when it counted the most. Offensively, they may wish to ramp things up a little, as Mika Zibanejad led the team with four points. That means the likes of Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello need to pick things up a little.

Prediction: Senators in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (2) Edmonton Oilers

The Ducks had little difficulty in disposing of the Flames in a sweep. Their offense was well-balanced, with Shea Theodore emerging as a new option on the blue line. Getting Corey Perry to produce a little more would help, but with everyone bunched into the 3-5 point range, it could also be beneficial in keeping the pressure off of Perry to perform. In goal, John Gibson was healthy, but also rather shaky, as he was pulled from a start in the series. Goaltending bears watching here.

The Oilers are going to go as far as Connor McDavid and Cam Talbot will take them. Other than a game four clunker, Talbot has been as good as he's been in the regular season. McDavid is undoubtedly the man on the Oilers, but it's been the big boys (Patrick Maroon, Zack Kassian, and Darnell Nurse) that have come up big offensively and defensively.

Prediction: Oilers in 7

(3) St. Louis Blues vs. (4) Nashville Predators

The Blues took care of the Wild in five games thanks to Jake Allen righting his game in time. Despite Vladimir Tarasenko not being much of a factor in the series, the Blues got some production from other players, most notably Alex Steen and Jaden Schwartz. Vladimir Sobotka's presence has really helped defensively.

The Predators had their way with the Blackhawks in a sweep, giving up less than a goal per game. Pekka Rinne was on top of his game, and will most likely need to be again this series. Offensively, everything goes through the JOFA line (Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen), but it's been PK Subban that has been a game-changer with his puck-moving skills from the blue line that have made it harder to key in on Roman Josi.

Prediction: Predators in 6

Western Conference preview

With the playoffs beginning soon, it's time to look at the Western Conference.

(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (4) Calgary Flames

The Ducks rode a hot streak to win the Pacific Division crown. However, recent playoff history hasn't been particularly kind, and certainly, the pressure will be on for a deep run. Goal remains as big of a question as it ever was, as John Gibson is still a question mark thanks to injuries while Jonathan Bernier is still prone to giving up the occasional soft goal, though he did play well this season. Cam Fowler has been the leader on defense, a good thing since Hamphus Lindholm has played catch-up since ending his early season holdout. Up front, the usual suspects need to show up, as Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Ryan Kesler will need to carry the day again. One player to watch is Nick Ritchie, who needs to provide a physical presence to offset Calgary's group.

Goal is also a question in Calgary, as both Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson have been streaky. The good news is that when one fails, the other is ready to pick up. Defensively, Dougie Hamilton will need to take his game to another level while up front, the emergence of Mikael Backlund as an offensive threat is welcome. Backlund's defensive prowess is also unquestioned, though it does help that the Flames can take it to a team physically with Micheal Ferland, Troy Brouwer, and Matthew Tkachuk.

Prediction: Calgary in 7

(2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3) San Jose Sharks

Edmonton is back after an 11 year absence from the playoffs, and while everything begins with Connor McDavid, a big reason for their success is in goal. Cam Talbot set a team record for most wins in a season, and he doesn't mind being in net often. The Oilers will need him, as Laurent Brossoit is unproven if Talbot goes down. Defensively is still a work in progress, but for the first time since 2006, there is a certifiable number one pairing, as Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson came on late to provide a top pairing. Offensively, it all begins with McDavid, who took home the Art Ross Trophy, and some of the beneficiaries include Leon Draisaitl, Patrick Maroon, and Jordan Eberle. The Oilers were built to be physical, too, and that is where Maroon, Milan Lucic, and Zack Kassian will need to show up.

San Jose had a bit of a tailspin to end the season, but they are still the reigning Western Conference champions. Martin Jones has proven to be a top option in goal, and the pieces are still in place defensively. Brent Burns leads the group, and they may need to compensate for an offense that could use a pick-me-up besides Joe Pavelski.

Prediction: Edmonton in 6

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (4) Nashville Predators

For the lack of respect that Corey Crawford has gotten, there is a reason why he has two Stanley Cup rings: he comes through when it counts the most. It helps that other proven playoff veterans such as Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Seabrook are in front of him. Up front, the offense is more balanced now that Artemi Panarin has firmly established himself as an option along with Patrick Kane. If there is pressure on one player, it's Jonathan Toews, who had a slightly disappointing season,, but it is the playoffs now, and you know what he can do when the lights are on brightest.

Nashville has been a streaky team. Goaltending is more of a certainty than in recent playoff runs, thanks to Pekka Rinne and Jusse Saros holding down the fort there. Defensively, they've had a few injuries, but now it's time to find out just how much the trade for PK Subban will pay off, as chances need to be taken, and Subban is one of the best at taking chances. Up front, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson were the best options, with Ryan Johansen being a frequent collaborator. They will need James Neal to show up, as he had a below average season. A player to watch is Miika Salomaki, who missed most of the season, but provides a physical element to the Predators squad that needs it.

Prediction: Nashville in 7

(2) Minnesota Wild vs. (3) St. Louis Blues

Minnesota had a hot start to the season, but were tailing off by season's end. Devan Dubnyk held down the fort once again, and defensively, things were together for the most part, though there isn't a big name player in the bunch. Offensively, the Wild were balanced, though Martin Hanzal has been a disappointment since coming over at the trade deadline.

St. Louis looked like they were going to miss the playoffs as the calendar turned to February. Goal is still a question mark, as neither Jake Allen nor Carter Hutton are proven commodities in the playoffs. Defensively, they have actually gotten better despite trading away Kevin Shattenkirk at the deadline. Up front, it's always going to be Vladimir Tarasenko that gets things started, but they Blues could be getting a boost from returning Vladimir Sobotka, who provides a solid defensive presence up front.

Prediction: St. Louis in 5

Becoming Kansas City

The logo you see above is what will be used starting next ECHL season. The Missouri Mavericks announced last week that they will be playing as the Kansas City Mavericks effective next season. While the Mavericks in fact play in the city of Independence, MO, it is considered a part of the Kansas City area, and with their affiliation with the St. Louis Blues playing a role in their success this season, it makes sense on a civic level to change the name. While the Mavericks are also tied to the New York Islanders, with the Jacksonville IceMen and Worcester Railers HC coming in next season, it is possible that they could be losing the Islanders to either team. With three other NHL teams still without an ECHL affiliate, it could mean that the Isles could stay in Kansas City for their ECHL affiliate.

The Sooner, the Better?

The St. Louis Blues haven't been setting the world on fire lately, and now, they teeter on the brink of the playoff picture. Their contingency plan that was to begin next season will be taking place a few months early, as Ken Hitchcock was relieved of his duties this morning after suffering yet another defeat at home, a 5-3 loss to Winnipeg, to be specific. Mike Yeo was brought on as an assistant coach prior to this season and was tabbed as Hitchcock's eventual successor beginning next season. Next season evidently becomes February 1, as Yeo will be charged with righting a ship that had high expectations, yet has fallen a little short thus far. Ironically, Yeo's former team, the Minnesota Wild, leads the Central Division.

Round and Round We Go

The waiver wire resembled a merry go round yesterday, as two former major junior stars were picked up by other teams through waivers, and in one case, it marked the third time he went on the waiver merry go round.

Ty Rattie and Reid Boucher had storied careers in major junior, with Rattie setting the all-time record for most playoff goals in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks, Originally a second round pick of the St. Louis Blues, he was unable to crack the Blues lineup largely because of the depth in front of him, and his time in the Blues' system came to an end when the Carolina Hurricanes claimed him off waivers yesterday. Boucher was a 2011 fourth round pick of the New Jersey Devils who scored 62 goals in his final year with the Sarnia Sting. Like Rattie, he was unable to crack the lineup of the Devils. However, Boucher was also unable to rediscover that scoring touch, something that the Devils have been in need of since Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise last played for the Devils. Earlier in the season, Boucher was claimed on waivers by the Nashville Predators. However, his stay there didn't last long, as a month later, he was reclaimed by the Devils a day after the Predators sent him down. Of course, the Devils tried to send him down a day later, only for Vancouver to claim him off waivers.

The waiver wire has proven to be a place of considerable activity, albeit a strange one, as Jaroslav Halak was also placed on waivers a few weeks ago, only for no one to claim him and he has since played for Bridgeport of the AHL.

I Watched This Game: The Great Midwest Outdoors

Another Winter Classic is in the books, and while the surrounding hype wasn't quite matched by the game itself, it is fair to say that the city of St. Louis did well in paying attention to detail when it came to putting on a show. Yes, I watched this game.

• It looks more like the Outdoor Fog Bowl.
• Also, due to sound being off (thankfully), there will be no commentary on in-between entertainment.
• The national anthem was performed on trumpet by Spencer Ludwig, which was not only done well, but also a tribute to St. Louis' musical history.
• Pet Peeve #1: For those at home, the last line of "Star Spangled Banner" is "Home of the BRAVE," not home of the BLUES or CHIEFS.
• The ceremonial puck drop was done by the Hulls, Bobby and Brett. It took them a minute to get the pucks, since someone forgot to supply them with one heading to the ice. I think this may have been planned, given the propensity of both Hulls to put on a show in their playing days.
• That didn't take long, as Michal Kempny's shot from the blue line deflects off of Jake Allen's glove and into the net to put the Blackhawks up 1-0.
• Pet Peeve #2: the ref cam. Was that really necessary?
• The Walking Penis Pierre McGuire is interviewing Ken Hitchcock, and for some reason, Hitchcock appears to be auditioning for role in the remake of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
• Alex Pietrangelo will feel shame for two minutes, as he got nicked for slashing.
• Brian Campbell tried to delay the game, but only gets two minutes in the box for his troubles.
• After one period, it's Blackhawks 1, Bules 0. No, that's not a typo, I'm just taking another shot at the Seattle Sounders supporters, as they once misspelled "blue" as "bule" on one of their banners.

• Back to the actual hockey action, Panarin will be sitting two minutes and feel shame for holding.
• The Blues don't score on the power play, but they do tie it up, thanks to a Jay Bouwmeester pass from the corner that Patrik Berglund tips past Corey Crawford.
• Robby Fabbri boarded, so he will be sitting for two minutes.
• Shortly after Chicago kills off the penalty, Ryan Hartman goes off for interference, and despite it carrying over into the third period, the game remains even at one once the penalty ends.
• Hartman didn't last long out of the box, as this time, slashing is how he gets nicked. Meanwhile, Niklas Hjalmarsson was seen limping off the ice. Fortunately, he didn't miss a shift and was just fine.
• Ryan Reaves heads off for interference.
• A Vladimir Tarasenko pass finds a bank shot off of Niklas Hjalmarsson's stick, which ends up in the back of the Chicago net to put the Blues up 2-1.
• Tarasenko strikes again. This time, he didn't need luck to score this time, putting the Blues up 3-1.
• What would life had been like for the Ottawa Senators had they kept their first round pick from 2010? The pick they surrendered? It went to the Blues, who took Tarasenko that year.
• Alex Steen puts a ribbon on the game with an empty net goal, and that is how the 2017 Winter Classic ends: Blues winning 4-1.

The conditions for the game weren't perfect, but the Blues found ways to go around it to send their fans home happy. The wisest move the Blues made was extending Tarasenko, as he is definitely their best goal scoring option. 

Take it Outdoors

Now, that all of the teams participating in the outdoor games have their uniforms sorted out, it would be fair to assess each one, beginning with the Centennial Classic.

The designs you see for both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings are what they will be wearing for the Centennial Classic at BMO Field, home to both Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts. The Maple Leafs went with elements of their past incarnations for their uniform design. The stripe that runs through the middle was previously on the Pats sweaters while the Arenas' T will be found on the breezers. Meanwhile, the Red Wings kept it rather simple, with only a silver stripe on the arms that also features the years they won the Stanley Cup. Though Toronto has the better sweater design, both teams earn high marks for going in different directions when it comes to the collar.

Up next is the Winter Classic match between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks slated for January 2 at Busch Stadium. Of the teams participating in the outdoor games, the Blues have the best looking sweaters, edging out Toronto for that distinction. It's as close to a throwback as it gets, as much of the design was inspired by the team's first years in the NHL. If the Blues' design was the best, then the Blackhawks would be on the opposite spectrum. Clearly, playing in as many outdoor games as they have has shown that the idea well has run dry for them. If there was ever a case for limiting how many outdoor games you can play in a specific time period, you can point to the Blackhawks for that.

Last up is the Stadium Series, and the participants in that matchup are the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins unveiled their look a few weeks ago, and certainly, going gold was a wise decision, as was the idea of having the triangle encircle the captaincy or alternate designation. The patch on the left is a nod to the team's four Stanley Cups, and the side numbers are on the shoulders. The sweater loses points for the numbering, though, as it rips off the World Cup North American team template.

A few days ago, the Flyers unveiled their design, and going black on their sweaters isn't the worst idea, but having black numbers and lettering is a bad idea, even with the orange nameplate and white outlining on the numbers. The Flyers would have been better served with white numbering and lettering.