Mailbag: Olympic goalie choices for Russia, Devils' promising start

Here is the Nov. 17 edition of the mailbag, where we answer your questions asked on Twitter using #OvertheBoards. Tweet your questions to @drosennhl.

With the unreal play of Andrei Vasilevskiy, Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin, Team Russia is set to have a brick wall in net at the Olympics. Does any other country have a position as "set" considering where things are now? -- @mikeybox
You're forgetting about Sergei Bobrovsky, who is 7-0-2 with a 1.78 goals-against average and .942 save percentage for the Florida Panthers. Semyon Varlamov of the New York Islanders is an option too. Yes, the Russian Olympic Committee appears to be loaded in net for the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Heck, they would be loaded if they had Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Vasilevskiy. He's the best goalie in the world right now and I don't think you'll hear an argument from anybody on that. But no other national team is as set in net with the depth of available options as the Russia Olympic Committee.
The United States is close with Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets and John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks leading the way ahead of Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks, Jack Campbell of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Spencer Knight of the Panthers, who I could see getting the nod as the third goalie so the 20-year-old can gain Olympic experience. Sweden has Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames and Robin Lehner of the Vegas Golden Knights. That's a solid 1-2, but the dropoff from there is steep. Canada has quality goalies, but if Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens isn't healthy, there is no clear favorite to be the No. 1. It could be Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, but it could be Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers. Mackenzie Blackwood of the New Jersey Devils is playing his way into consideration. Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators has to be Finland's favorite ahead of Mikko Koskinen of the Edmonton Oilers and Joonas Korpisalo of the Columbus Blue Jackets. That's good, but it's not at the depth of Russia or the United States.

What do you make of the New Jersey Devils' 7-4-3 start? Between injuries to both goalies, Jack Hughes and Miles Wood, they keep finding ways to compete. Obviously, they're still a bit away from Stanley Cup or bust, but do you think we're starting to see the light at the end of the rebuild tunnel. -- @Rob_Oswald
The easy answer based on what we've seen from the Devils through 14 games is "Yes." Fans would be really happy if that ends up being the case, but tread carefully before expectations rise too fast.
This might sound easy to say now, but I pegged the Devils as a team that would jump out to a strong start. I didn't think they'd do it without Hughes, who remains out with a shoulder injury, but that's a testament to the skill and speed they have. They are young and fast, helpful ingredients at the start of a season when teams are trying to figure out systems and special teams. The Devils skate well and have enough skill to take advantage of teams that might be ironing out details in their game that are expected to be refined for a Stanley Cup Playoff run. A perfect example is their 4-0 win against the Islanders on Thursday. The Devils needed Blackwood to bail them out at times and he made 42 saves. But they skated and scored against a team that hasn't quite gotten its game in order yet. They also took advantage of the Panthers playing on a back to back and their third game in four nights in a 7-3 win on Nov. 9. Blackwood made 35 saves. It wasn't perfect, but the Devils did what they did because of their speed and how they can attack an opponent.
The question I still have about the Devils is sustainability. They play fast, aggressive hockey. Their forwards are constantly pushing. Speed is a big part of their game. But will it last? Can they help the defense enough to sustain success? Can they keep up this pace for 82 games? Is it asking too much of a forward group that is relatively inexperienced? We don't know the answer to any of those questions, which is why it's premature to say the Devils have taken the next step. Is the light at the end of the tunnel coming through? Yes. Without question. Look at the potential they have at center with Hughes, Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer. Their defenseme are vastly improved with Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Graves being brought in this offseason. They have more skill all over the ice and a higher level of goaltending with Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier. But let's see where they are 30 games into the season, and then at 41 games, and at the Olympic break. Can the Devils sustain success? That's the big question.

Who is a realistic trade target for a
and defenseman Kris Letang can be difference-makers. These are generational players and the Penguins have to do what they can to win with them as much as possible. But if it's unrealistic for them to get into the playoffs this season there would be zero reason to trade away assets to get another goalie, even if it is Fleury, who is still beloved by the fanbase.
If the Philadelphia Flyers continue to scuffle offensively after Thanksgiving does seat get hot under Alain Vigneault and the coaching staff or do you see it more likely they make a roster move? -- @jsaquella**
I'd expect a roster move rather than a coaching move. The Flyers didn't just forget how to score. If you go by 10-game segments, as many coaches do, they were 6-2-2 and averaged 3.20 goals per game with a power play that had a 21.4 percent success rate in their first 10 games. Come close to repeating that every 10 games and they'll be in the playoffs with ease. They have not been as good in their first four games of their second 10-game segment, going 2-2-0 while averaging 1.50 goals per game with a power play percentage of 5.3 percent. The Flyers have plenty of time to improve those numbers to salvage the second 10-game segment. They certainly have enough offensive weapons to score, but slumps happen and coaches tweak lines and rejigger power-play units throughout a season. Thanksgiving is next week. It's too early to overreact, especially with center Kevin Hayes back in the lineup after missing the first 12 games following abdominal surgery. Hayes should provide an offensive boost at 5-on-5 and on the power play once he gets back up to speed. If the Flyers still struggle to score, I'd expect a jolt via either a trade or a recall from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. Forward Morgan Frost has scored nine points (one goal, eight assists) in his past seven games with Lehigh Valley. Maybe he's ready for another chance. I don't see the Flyers looking to fire Vigneault this season.