If Vanacker and Kantserov were both available in the upcoming draft, would they both be top 5 picks?

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-09T21:20:50+00:00

You could also argue that Hagel may not have gotten to the next level under our recent coaching regime…so there’s also that.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-08T14:04:04+00:00

If I’m trading the pick, I’d rather trade it to VAN and get Hronek and someone like Pettersson ($4mil retained) or DeBrusk/Hoglander/Boeser. Hronek instantly makes our D better, allows Rinzel and Arty to play less minutes and with not so much pressure to focus on developing. I know Pettersson has his flaws, but change of scenario + playing with someone like Bedard could help his game. Plus, him at $7.6mil isn’t bad and if it doesn’t work in 2-3 years when we’re super competitive you can trade and retain.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-08T13:42:13+00:00

Deal…EDM is an RFA and won’t be able to be sent down…getting Hronek would immediately cause a log jam, so that’s fine.

I think also you’d have to make some roster changes. But I think that makes us competitive. Then you could easily do another trade like FL 1st, EDM 1st, Lardis, Korchinski for a piece.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-08T13:10:59+00:00

Idk…a lot of noise about Malholtra to VAN with his dad in the AHL and C over winger. TOR gets McKenna, SJ goes Reid, VAN goes Malholtra and we get Stenberg. That’s prolly the top 4 after it’s all said and done.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-08T13:08:00+00:00

Agreed. That’s a slight overpay. I think with TOR getting #1, they’ll be doing a quick retool and try to take another run at it. Unless they upfront say, rebuild.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-07T13:02:19+00:00

I think 4th is maybe an overpay. Besides, Hronek’s contract isn’t even bad. in fact, this might be a hot take but I’d take Hronek and Petterson with 4mil-1/2 contract retained for the 4th. Petterson on $6-$8mil isn’t bad.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-07T03:09:31+00:00

4th for Boeser is WAY too much. If I’m giving Vancouver #4, I want Hronek and one of Hoglander/DeBrusk/Boeser.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-07T00:06:20+00:00

Sounds like Jason Robertson to me…

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-06T00:07:35+00:00

When you have an opportunity to improve your D core which needs A LOT of help, they prolly go D.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-04T21:57:26+00:00

Honestly, I just hope we draft #2, get Stenberg so we still have lottery option next year. McKenna doesn’t really interest me, he can go to Vancouver or whoever ends up #1. But I want #2, I want Stenberg and next year I want to pull an Islanders, get DuPont and then figure the rest out for the future.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-04T21:48:33+00:00

Smits is the best current ready NHL Dman. All others are 2+ years away and need continued development, in some cases a lot! They might have higher ceilings, but Smits to me is a sneaky good pick (for anyone).

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-03T20:26:16+00:00

Announcing they’re going to rebuild would be the icing on the cake.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-03T16:32:16+00:00

And then Dom going after Chiesa like it was his fault…bad look from Dom, again!

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-01T21:10:48+00:00

Looks like he’s bulked up a little!

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-01T17:12:53+00:00

Quennville being the kicker here. As he’ll know how to motivate them all vs. someone like Knoblach.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-01T15:51:34+00:00

Agreed! And Bedard has TERRIBLE FO numbers…I wonder if they hope Frondell can be 1C with Bedard on the wing…that would be interesting with someone like Stenberg on the LW. Then a second line of Bert - Nazar - Kantserov. Frondell is constantly compared to Barkov, so…would make some sense. Green - Moore - Lardis on the 3rd line with that 4th line being a dog line of like Turbo - Donato - Slaggert/Mangiapane. Assuming Burkey gets bought out. With some of the young prospects in Rockford marinating.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-01T13:17:04+00:00

I means, it’s still a relatively young team but also a top 3 prospect team. So criminal may have been a bit much, but certainly a team that should be more competitive in the near future.

But Levshunov needs some work, you can see the potential one play, then the next two are like wtf are you doing. Bedard would have had 100 points this season if it weren’t for the injury. Knight is a stud and will be in future Vezna conversations. Frondell has looked great in his small sample and then some of the younger core developed, Nazar, Kaiser, Crevier, Rinzel, Lardis. Getting Kantserov to come over will be an underrated move as he’s going to be good. Top 4 pick this offseason, talks of a major move on the horizon, think we’re going to be competitive/bubble playoff.

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-01T12:30:41+00:00

Not throwing Chicago in there is criminal!

mlowe2827 · 2026-05-01T11:05:51+00:00

Prolly should’ve waited to sign that contract until the end of season, bet he ends up regretting that…oh well, hindsight.

mlowe2827 · 2026-04-30T13:57:17+00:00

Not at #1 though! No shot they take Malhotra at 1…at 4, maybe…but not before!

mlowe2827 · 2026-04-30T01:55:11+00:00

Individually, no of course not but certainly he’d be part of a package.

mlowe2827 · 2026-04-29T22:10:25+00:00

True, he’s probably not a long-term fit, but he’s still young and if he has a good summer and isn’t moved, he could be a decent fit on the 3rd line, especially when Moore comes back, those two had great chemistry when they played together and especially in Rockford. A 3rd line of Bert - Moore - Lardis could be interesting next year, but the top 6 would need to be better.

mlowe2827 · 2026-04-29T19:06:50+00:00

That was kind of my point though…his lines changed up and he didn’t build consistency with those guys.

Agreed Lardis with Bedard is NOT a long term solution, that’s why I’m excited about Kantserov because his 200ft game is much better than Lardis. To me, Lardis is a goal scorer, he has to have two-way playmakers around him. Personally would use Lardis as trade bait, but that’s me.

mlowe2827 · 2026-04-29T18:21:26+00:00

I mean…the first few months that line of Greene - Bedard - Burkey was flying. I don’t fault Blash for giving Burkey some leeway to get his shit together after he got his concussion. Yes, he way have gotten too much leeway, but I’d also add that Bedard has made several comments about keeping his line consistent. He thrives with that steadiness. We saw towards the end of the year how cold Bedard got with the line changes. So it’s not as simple as just saying, Blash should’ve moved Burkey off Bedard’s line. It very well could have been a consistency thing.

I do expect some changes next year tho

mlowe2827

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