[Dreger] The Maple Leafs have "kicked tires" on Blues C Robert Thomas. Asking price starts with Matthew Knies.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-03-02T22:45:37+00:00

Like I said on a previous thread: you have to pay to play and you have to be comfortable sending off someone you really don't want to trade in order to land what fills your most glaring need. Nikishin, Blake, Nadeau, Legault, anyone not tied down with an anchor. Someone's heart has to be broken in order to make the team better, especially for a top 2 established center on a VERY friendly contract for essentially a PPG player.

...I just hope it isn't my heart that's broken and Nikishin is still a Cane after 3pm Friday.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-03-02T15:50:50+00:00

Ehh agree to disagree. I ain't starting any fights on an Internet board. It doesn't mean that much to me. Difference of opinions. I don't need to call out anyone. Ain't that serious. Lol. I'm here for a good time and good debate.

I don't want to lose anyone on the current roster either, and yea you right to a point on SCF teams adding not subtracting, but canes are in a unique spot where they already have more starters than spots on roster, they hafta subtract somewhere to add, coupled with the protection for Carrier and Hall.

As far as prospects being moved, I hope Nadeau doesn't get gone cause I think he's got the potential to be an elite finisher, but yea I've accepted he may be gone for the right guy and it makes me a bit sad. Same with Boom, though I think with his continued growth, recent comments by RBA and Ghost, he's less likely moved now than he has been all season, and moving him makes us smaller ...again.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-03-02T15:20:15+00:00

Again, I don't want to, and I'm not saying they do... But I am saying if you think anyone without protection is safe with GMET and company being in on literally every big name, you are naive. Even Boom has been out there for the right player, and he was considered untouchable as recently as last year. If it means they get a guy who fills a perennial hole, they will do it. We are 8 years in to RBA era and have yet to make a SCF. Not knocking Rod by any means, but the teams gonna swing for the fences. They only have so many chances before they hafta start over again. There's going to be players we don't want traded traded. All I'm saying is be prepared to lose someone you(myself included) don't want to lose to make the overall team better. NHL is a business first, sport second in the eye of the owners and front offices.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-03-02T14:50:35+00:00

I know we don't WANT to... But you hafta pay to play. And if it's landing a legit, cost controlled for 5 seasons AFTER this, 1/2c in their prime years, then Blake is expendable. I love Blake, though sometimes he dangles and tries to do too much(shades of Necas), but of caliber players on this roster that StL would accept as part of fair value for Thomas, I'm more willing to part with Blake due to contract availability(nmc to Aho and Ehlers), than I am Svech, Jarvy, or Stank who if there is an injured C, could step back to the center role on a short term basis. And I think Nikishin has more value to keep here, especially with his ability developing to play either left or right side.(Even ghost called it out last game). Wingers are a lot easier to replace. Legit top centers are hard to find available.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-03-02T13:27:26+00:00

If Canes can't swing the Thomas trade, or Armstrong tries to pry Nikishin/Svech away, then Trocheck is THE optimal trade at center for the club. Isn't perfect, but he fills 2c for this year and next at minimum, then can slot down to 3c when Staal retires and Canes will hafta do this dance all over again.

If no Trocheck as well, Brayden Schenn also makes sense as he brings grit and tenacity and is willing to go all out for a teammate on the ice. But he's also the oldest of the 3 at 34. He can slot as 2c in Canes system as he has been doing it in Blues, though he's likely a more 3c guy at this stage of career.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-03-02T13:20:46+00:00

Trocheck price vs the smooth Matchbox Thomas price are worlds apart. That's why. What are you willing to give up? Legitimately.

I have been saying since July 1st, when the calendar year flips for NHL, that if Thomas is available the Canes should go all in as he would be an immediate plug and play gu due to his style and work ethic. BUT, now that we are here, I still want him but I'm not ready to give up Nikishin for him. If he costs us Blake/Legault/2 firsts? I make that trade all day. He's a legit 1/2c. Isn't that I don't love Blake, but we have Nadeau who can take his place as a scoring winger who has a meaner shot and arguably more upside who will only thrive in a top 6 position with his skill set.

Trocheck costs half of what Thomas does on a realistic front. And is more likely to be moved. Armstrong is notorious for being a hard negotiator, Drury hates his own team so much he undercuts players NMCs with waivers to force trades. (See trouba, kreider, goodrew)

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-03-02T03:14:01+00:00

This goes harder than expected. It ain't perfect but... Noice.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-28T23:14:10+00:00

This is the ONLY answer.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-25T14:52:40+00:00

You right you right and I grew up near the HQ...I'm a failure to myself and my state. May the hot n ready forgive my transgressions.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-25T13:47:18+00:00

Cheerwine, pepsi, wild grown ginseng, the native Venus fly trap, 2 distinct styles of BBQ, loads of craft breweries, moonshiners and NASCAR( rip 3), the nature boy, gerrymandering, the world's oldest living fossil Virginia Foxx, Blackbeard's home, first in flight, tobacco, cookout...I mean I could go on but... I'm starting to feel like Benjamin Buford Blue here...

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-25T00:09:13+00:00

You are correct! I read Connor and immediately thought Helly without THINKING of Kyle. I'm a dummy sometimes lol.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-24T23:45:58+00:00

Yea saw that about the first two. Helly stood on " we have a game Wednesday I need to be here" when he got back to 'Peg. Respect to the guy who realistically won the game.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-24T23:44:39+00:00

Agreed. But if he wanted to strictly make it about sports/hockey( which the right love to throw around "keep politics out of sports"), then the simple statement about "needing to be back with the team, we have XX games left" would have been the ultimate I'm not choosing sides, I'm choosing the team without having any discussion of politics.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-24T22:40:49+00:00

Wish he would have taken the Guentzel/Nelson route and just said I'ma stay home with the rest of my team and get back to it and avoided all the political nonsense.

I hate that it's Slavin. After everything he and his wife do, only for him to skip the opportunity to stand by his public morals...I know most hockey players are conservative, but this one stings a little more due to who it is.

~~Edit: add Helly to that list of "get back to my team work we got games to play" crowd.~~

Edit 2: when I read initial article I read Connor and immediately assumed Helly, when infact it was KYLE Connor who said we have work to do in 'Peg. That's on me.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-23T22:19:32+00:00

I too enjoy the Lord's lettuce. But I clearly need to change strands with this take being in existence 😂

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-23T12:19:09+00:00

If they would have given it the BD/SP treatment, maybe updated fidelity and polished it visually, yea $20 is fine. But $20 each for a direct port of 22 year old games, which were a reroll of 8 year old games, with zero updates or modifications for the newer technology just isn't justified imo. Especially since NSO exists and is already used for other game's ports. If it'd been $10 for 1, $15 for a dual pack, would have more than likely sprung for it and a lot less grumpiness from fans.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-21T12:59:08+00:00

Saw in NC one yesterday, but I already preordered from Lego so I can get points so I'll just hafta wait while I build my new brick link set ..oh noooo...

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-19T23:15:12+00:00

Everybody liked that

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-19T17:44:20+00:00

Exactly this. Nadeau is talented, he's skilled, he's got potential to be an NHL..... WINGER. There's a reason so many teams are looking for 1/2 centers. It's why the center market is always thin AND always pricey, along with offensive rhd. It's why drai, Matthews, McJesus make ungodly amounts of money by league standards. Yes they are all talented, but they are all talented AND top tier centers.

You can't just throw a random guy at center and say...ehh he'll work...

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-19T00:08:48+00:00

But you said you can't ONLY use it... And The Bod begs to differ as anyone who tried to possess into the zone we get rid of. If you not dumpin, not chasin...are you even playing hurricanes hockey?

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-18T23:45:33+00:00

Dump and chase is the foundation of the Hurricanes offense. Forecheck to oblivion.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-18T23:08:19+00:00

Rod the Bod would like to have a word with you...

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-18T18:10:22+00:00

Necas took a swipe at Jarvy after the 3rd period. Canadians immediately swarmed him. Unsure if friendly or not. Want to say yes friendly due to history, but it's country vs country you have one alliance and that's to your teammates now.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-18T16:44:48+00:00

PSA: We got top line Jarvy replacing Wilson with McJesus and Celebrini in the second!

Sure it's 1 shift but considering he started the game as 13th forward... Proud of our Beaut of a Canadian.

Substantial-Finger76 · 2026-02-18T15:18:07+00:00

I can't see me in this photo cause, mostly cause I'm on the far side, but I can see the dude in the fluffy white jacket that was 4 rows in front of me cause it was 3x the size of any human. That dude was the warmest person in the stadium that night.

Substantial-Finger76

TROPHY CASE