Blue Jackets @ Leafs - Jan. 13th, 7:00pm - SN, TSN 1050

[Bender]

27. Toronto 39 points
28. Buffalo 38 points
29. Edmonton 38 points
30. Columbus 36 points

Calgary, Philadelphia and Anaheim won to put some space between them and the Leafs.  Everything is going according to plan.

But we have 2-4 games in hand on every team.

 

[bustaheims]

But we have 2-4 games in hand on every team.

Which means the Leafs have a heavier schedule the rest of the way, so they're going to go into more games tired, sore, needing rest, etc.

Also, the Oilers should be getting McDavid back soon, Buffalo will be getting Lehner back soon, and Columbus will hopefully be getting Bobrovsky back soon.

 

[herman]

But we have 2-4 games in hand on every team.

Which means the Leafs have a heavier schedule the rest of the way, so they're going to go into more games tired, sore, needing rest, etc.

Also, the Oilers should be getting McDavid back soon, Buffalo will be getting Lehner back soon, and Columbus will hopefully be getting Bobrovsky back soon.

And other than Columbus, I don't see any of those bottom feeders being big time sellers at the deadline like we will be.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

But we have 2-4 games in hand on every team.

Which means the Leafs have a heavier schedule the rest of the way, so they're going to go into more games tired, sore, needing rest, etc.

Which makes sense since they've only had....wait, how many back-to-backs so far!?

 

[bustaheims]

And other than Columbus, I don't see any of those bottom feeders being big time sellers at the deadline like we will be.

Columbus might not, either. The only other team near the bottom of the standings with a significant number of pending UFAs is Carolina. Could make for either a really dull deadline - not a lot of pieces really available (which could also drive up prices a little) - or a really interesting one - a number of more significant deals being made instead of just rentals moving for picks.

 

[bustaheims]

But we have 2-4 games in hand on every team.

Which means the Leafs have a heavier schedule the rest of the way, so they're going to go into more games tired, sore, needing rest, etc.

Which makes sense since they've only had....wait, how many back-to-backs so far!?

Only 10. So, only half their schedule so far.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Columbus might not, either. The only other team near the bottom of the standings with a significant number of pending UFAs is Carolina. Could make for either a really dull deadline - not a lot of pieces really available (which could also drive up prices a little) - or a really interesting one - a number of more significant deals being made instead of just rentals moving for picks.

Winnipeg could make things interesting, I'm assuming they'll likely deal one of Ladd or Byfuglien (likely Buff). He'd probably be the best deadline-ish player moved since Kovalchuk.

edit: That is assuming that Winnipeg is even allowed to make more than 1 trade per decade of course.

 

[Frank E]

Columbus might not, either. The only other team near the bottom of the standings with a significant number of pending UFAs is Carolina. Could make for either a really dull deadline - not a lot of pieces really available (which could also drive up prices a little) - or a really interesting one - a number of more significant deals being made instead of just rentals moving for picks.

Winnipeg could make things interesting, I'm assuming they'll likely deal one of Ladd or Byfuglien (likely Buff). He'd probably be the best deadline-ish player moved since Kovalchuk.

edit: That is assuming that Winnipeg is even allowed to make more than 1 trade per decade of course.

I'm wondering if Winnipeg is more or less under the gun to make the playoffs though...they're a revenue sensitive team.

Makes me wonder if they'd even trade Buff. 

 

[Leafaholic99]

Columbus might not, either. The only other team near the bottom of the standings with a significant number of pending UFAs is Carolina. Could make for either a really dull deadline - not a lot of pieces really available (which could also drive up prices a little) - or a really interesting one - a number of more significant deals being made instead of just rentals moving for picks.

Winnipeg could make things interesting, I'm assuming they'll likely deal one of Ladd or Byfuglien (likely Buff). He'd probably be the best deadline-ish player moved since Kovalchuk.

edit: That is assuming that Winnipeg is even allowed to make more than 1 trade per decade of course.

Ladds agent was supposed to be requesting a trade this week, Ladd is unhappy with how the team has been treating him this season apparently.

If they were smart they'd trade Ladd and Byfuglien instead of signing them to long term deals that'd hurt the team years down the road, as both are seeking just under 7 mil and 6 years. So hopefully they sign them to that and screw themselves over :-D

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm wondering if Winnipeg is more or less under the gun to make the playoffs though...they're a revenue sensitive team.

Makes me wonder if they'd even trade Buff. 

Yeah as of right now they're only 4 points out, but there's also 4 teams between them and that final wild card spot. I imagine by the time the trade deadline comes around that situation will be a little clearer and it won't be a good one for the Jets.

I read something the other day about how they've stopped selling out games over there. No playoffs, losing a star player and/or their captain, and the sinking dollar could be very bad news for them.

 

[Deebo]

I also remember reading that the original season ticket subscribers were required to make a 5 year commitment. This season will be the end of those 5 years. I wonder if the number season ticket holders will decrease after this year.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm wondering if Winnipeg is more or less under the gun to make the playoffs though...they're a revenue sensitive team.

Makes me wonder if they'd even trade Buff. 

Yeah as of right now they're only 4 points out, but there's also 4 teams between them and that final wild card spot. I imagine by the time the trade deadline comes around that situation will be a little clearer and it won't be a good one for the Jets.

I read something the other day about how they've stopped selling out games over there. No playoffs, losing a star player and/or their captain, and the sinking dollar could be very bad news for them.

Was it this article? http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/winnipeg-jets-starting-to-struggle-with-ticket-sales-234946652.html

Doesn't really seem like too much cause for concern yet.

 

[Leafaholic99]

I also remember reading that the original season ticket subscribers were required to make a 5 year commitment. This season will be the end of those 5 years. I wonder if the number season ticket holders will decrease after this year.

That is correct for the lower bowl sections P1 and P2 I believe, there were 3 different areas, I think the 100's section were 5 year agreements, 200's were 4 year agreements and 300's were 3 year agreements.

My family has seasons in the 300's and we renewed but weren't able to upgrade after our 3 years or last summer when the 4 year agreements were over, so most people probably renewed. That being said the 5 year ones are more expensive and could see more not renewing, but there is also a long waiting list.

There is a lot of seats always available on the ticket exchange, usually around 1000 per game a week or two leading upto said game with about 500 available on game days. So the honeymoon phase is for sure over.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah as of right now they're only 4 points out, but there's also 4 teams between them and that final wild card spot. I imagine by the time the trade deadline comes around that situation will be a little clearer and it won't be a good one for the Jets.

Yup. The situation in the West muddies things right now. There's a few decent pending UFAs that could become available there. None of those teams really have a ton of them, though, so, other than Winnipeg possibly moving some significant pieces, those teams aren't likely to see the quality of their rosters drop off significantly unless they move players with term. A lot can change, though. The Jets are really just a good two week stretch from being in a playoff spot - or close enough to keep them from moving their bigger trade chips.

 

[Tigger]

I kind of lost interest in Kerby Rychel last night, his skating was, eeesh.

 

[bustaheims]

I kind of lost interest in Kerby Rychel last night, his skating was, eeesh.

It's a concern, for sure. I don't think the Leafs and Columbus are a good fit for trades right now, so it's not likely to be one for the Leafs, though. If they do somehow acquire him, I imagine it'll be because they feel it's a technical issue rather than a physical limitation.