slasher72

Holtz is probably getting sh!t faced right now, with a huge smile

They need to get Berube.

The organization is dysfunctional, from the GM down to the coach.

Fitz isn't firing Ruff (in the near future). If anything, it sounds like he's doubling down, convinced they can still make the playoffs under his watch. Fitz also sounds like he's obsessed with getting Markstrom. As others mentioned, I would talk to Boston to see what it would take to free up Ullmark. I won't even ask about Swayman because I don't think Boston would give him up. It's going to take our first-rounder and Holtz, at the very least for Markstrom. That'll probably be just the start of the negotiations. And instead of trying to acquire a pick for Toffoli, he's going to sit on that one too convinced they can still make the playoffs. It sounds like Fitz is either detached from reality or fighting for his job to the point where he has blinders on (but since he just got that contract for himself I doubt that's it).

Devils are gonna get KO'ed

Researching top prospects we won't be able to add to the team anyway, because they'll be headed somewhere else in exchange for a goalie who can hopefully be serviceable for two years. If this team could figure out how to draft and groom an NHL caliber goalie it'd be a miracle.

Good analysis https://youtu.be/_SvXe2j6JJA?si=l7fWSwocJ2RBfo0O

Fitz might not be thinking long-term with this move. He could be thinking very short-term (i.e. saving his job and Lindy's) by doing whatever he can to get the team into the playoffs next year. Prospects are great but a 35 year old goalie on top of his game, with 2 years of tread life, is more attractive in such a scenario.

Looking back on the Tanev to Dallas trade, Fitz probably asked Calgary as a favor to keep Luke's name out of any trade package. It would be a disaster from a PR perspective if it happened and would piss off our best player and face of the franchise. But if Fitz is asking for Markstrom and Hanifin I could totally see him shipping off most of our youth to get it done, starting with first-rounder plus a top prospect like Nemec. Or our first rounder plus a combo of Mercer, Holtz, and Casey.

I thought Tanev was coming here but if it's Hanafin I can't imagine who Fitz is sending the other way. First-rounder + Holtz + Mercer + Bahl/Casey + VV "as a throw in" OR First-rounder + Nemec + VV "as a throw in" For Markstrom + Hanafin I won't be shocked if Nemec is part of the trade. Fitz, like a desperate poker player, is going to put all his chips in.

Brunette has the Preds humming. Another Fitz blunder.

Yup. I think fans will attend the game just to call for Lindy's head (once they fall behind - which will probably be by the first period)

Florida will embarrass them on home ice. It's going to be ugly.

The only game I'm looking forward to watching is against the Rangers. I know they won't win. But I'm curious to see MacDermid fight Rempe/Trouba. That is of course if Lindy decides to play him, which will be a huge question mark.

With the games remaining, it's very possible.

Tofolli is probably praying he gets to stay put in LA tonight.

This team is going to see significant changes in order to get a goalie. A lot of promising young talent is going to be headed the other way, and probably our first rounder....the price you pay for being unable to draft and coach a goalie of your own. Rogalski sucks, yet he will keep his job because of Marty. Lindy's shelf life has expired, but he'll probably keep his because of injuries. And our defense won't change much either. Siegs and company will still be back, and will be putrid. The organization is in trouble.

Yep I agree. I proposed that trade only half jokingly. If I'm Calgary I would go for it just to see if Fitz buckles.

Calgary isn't stupid. They're going to fleece the hell out of Fitz. Our first-rounder + Mercer + Holtz + Casey should be their ask. Fitz will be so desperate that he'd probably cave in on that trade. Again, he needs a starting goalie right now to save both his ass and Lindy's ass next season.

It won't matter if Markstrom is in net. Behind this defense of Siegenthaler, Marino, Bahl, Smith, Nemec, and Luke, he will still get smoked. I wish they'd move Siegenthaler honestly. I don't care if he's cheap.

- Holtz has grown but Lindy can't stand him. Everyone here has had a boss who micromanaged us for one reason or another, most of it not making sense, and we had to get out of there or change jobs. That's where Holtz is at with Ruff. - Ruff is not effective as a coach beyond year 2 of any contract. He should have been gone already but Jack saved his job with last year's performance and now it's anyone's guess. Does Fitz stick with Ruff and hand him Markstrom? I think so.

Fitz seems hell-bent on acquiring Markstrom according to reports. My guess would be that he and Ruff want to see a more immediate solution in net, because if they don't upgrade asap, their jobs could both be in jeopardy next season. These guys probably aren't thinking 3 to 4 years down the line. Markstrom gives them an immediate upgrade and buys them two years.

Yea, I could totally see Markstrom retiring early with us ala Crawford. unless a total housecleaning happens with the coaching staff, it'll be the same results next year.

I wonder if Ruff even wanted him on the team. Maybe Fitz signed him just to temporarily shut up the fans and sports pundits calling the team soft.

This is where the team's inability to draft and groom an NHL caliber goalie really bites us in the ass. Every playoff contending team seems capable of doing it but us. We haven't had a quality goalie since Schneider's first/second year (before he fell off a cliff) and haven't groomed a quality goalie since Marty.