I give you guys some credit, you are actually critiquing the team/players and talking like they are in it or have a shot to do something. As I see it, it's over this season, and the only thing to watch for is do they make any trades to help them next season and beyond, and can they lose enough to get a top pick, which I think the clear answer to that is yes. I expect a top 5 or 6 pick, and maybe they get lucky and win the lottery to move up further. Look at their upcoming schedule, there is a lot of losing that will continue. They could lose 8 or 9 of their next 10 games. What a disaster.
Panarin is on the top of the list of overpaid idiots to go. I am so sick of this asshole and his east west bullshit at the blue line. Thanks for your great regular seasons, breadman. Time to move him the fuck out here at the TDL. The biggest issue is he rubs off on other players. He needs to get shipped out before more younger players arrive so he does not rub off on them with his stupid east west bs.
Panarin is a very interesting case. The guy is very good in the regular season, and helps you win games and get points needed to be in good playoff position. The downside is he's not good in the playoffs and doesn't really help you win when it matters most. The positive on Panarin is he's a UFA after next season. I highly doubt he is going anywhere with a NMC and only one season left, and I can make my peace with that. The much bigger issue is useless Zibanejad with many seasons left on his contract, and a NMC as well, so we're almost certainly stuck with him. Zibanejad's contract is the biggest albatross for this franchise. Fox is better/more valuable than Zibanejad, so he is not as much of an albatross (it's bad but not as bad as Zibanejad), but he will be 2nd once Drury doesn't move him and his NMC kicks in for the next two years this summer. The other "positive" on Fox is after the next two seasons his contract goes from a NMC to only a 16 team no trade list.
It's easier to move Panarin since his contract is not as bad as Zibanejad's. Panarin will draw some interest at the TDL. Get him to waive his NMC. You can get a decent return for him. The main issue is his east-west play is bad for younger players. He has turned Laf into soft, perimeter east west player. It helped Laf last year. It's time now to move away from that bs east-west and carry the line on his own terms. He does not move his feet. Too much perimeter play from him at this point.
No doubt Panarin's contract would be easier to move than Zibanejad's as Panarin is the better player and only has one season left on his contract. I am saying I would be very surprised if Drury moves him, let alone if they could even get Panarin to waive his NMC. Panarin is the same guy he has always been, except he shoots more now in the regular season. He was east west last regular season and, in the playoffs, so nothing new here. I called him east west in the playoffs last season for a reason. He is who he is, and I would be very surprised if he is going anywhere. All this talk of trade this guy and trade that guy, I think you are all forgetting who the Pres/GM of the team is, awful in over his head afraid Chris Drury. Not only do I believe he still thinks the team has something to play for this season, I also know he is in over his head and cannot do the job. He is the fly in the ointment for everything. And it will only get worse, as they will lose 8 or 9 of their next 10 games.
Panarin would surely waive it next year if the team's not in it at the DL. Knowing he's a UFA I think he'd welcome finishing the year with a shot at the SC. He was atrocious today
This year Panarin has a higher value. He can bring more in return than next year. Who knows what kind of a season he will have next year. He is not getting any younger.
We'll see, but in order for a Panarin trade to even be entertained you need Drury to admit it's over AND Panarin to waive his NMC, good luck with both of those things happening. This discussion really isn't about the merits of Panarin the player or the reasons why he should or should not be traded, it really is about Drury's willingness AND Panarin waiving.
Nothing slows down the flow of the PP like Fox dipsy doodling fooling no one killing PP time for the opponent, PP now 19th. The PK is #1 in the NHL however, seems like Drury hustled Trouba out just to sign Igor, thought he had some other moves coming. Too many guys underachieving, something has to break loose.
