Mailbag: Trotz, Capitals each ponder next move
NHL.com's Dan Rosen answers weekly questions
Where does Barry Trotz go now that he's out in Washington? -- @hstempin92
The New York Islanders are the only team other than the Washington Capitals with a coaching opening, which makes them the obvious candidate to land Trotz. But it's not clear if that's what he wants or if he's what the Islanders want. Ideally, New York will have its coach in place by this weekend, or at the latest early next week, so he can be a part of discussions with pending free agents. At the top of that list is center John Tavares, whom the Islanders obviously would love to re-sign before he can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. It'd be even better for New York if it can re-sign Tavares before hiring a coach because he would be a huge selling point.
But that's the chicken or the egg scenario; if I'm Tavares, I want to know who my coach is going to be before I sign. Trotz knows Tavares and has worked with him; they were together with Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey 2016, when Trotz was an assistant.
There are wild cards at play here too, including the potential for Trotz to take some time off to rest and reset. It wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't have an NHL job at the start of next season but instead waits for a potential midseason opening or takes the entire season off and comes back fresh for 2019-20.
With the news of Trotz's resignation, who takes over as Capitals coach? Todd Reirden? Also, would you try to promote a current assistant rather than hire from the outside? Could that be a factor in John Carlson deciding to re-sign in Washington? -- @gdohlke79
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan has already acknowledged the candidacy of Reirden, who has been with Washington since 2014-15, when Trotz arrived. Reirden was promoted to associate coach prior to the 2016-17 season and reportedly was prevented from interviewing for openings to coach elsewhere after last season. He has done well with the Capitals defense and has the respect of the players. It would seem to be a seamless transition to name Reirden coach, but he'd have a tall task next season. Washington is going to be coming off a short offseason with a lot of celebrating after winning the Stanley Cup and will have to quickly rediscover its motivation to win again; a slow start can be damaging in a league filled with parity.
That said, if MacLellan and owner Ted Leonsis believe Reirden is ready for the next step in his coaching career, he should be the coach.
It might help in Washington's pitch to re-sign Carlson, who can be an unrestricted free agent July 1. But Carlson will want to be paid his market value as a top defenseman. The Capitals want him back, but at what cost? I don't expect Carlson to give Washington a hometown discount.
What are your thoughts on the Alex Galchenyuk/Max Domi trade and do you expect to see any other trades (not just for draft picks) leading up to the draft? -- @e_hodgens
Like it for the Arizona Coyotes, who got Galchenyuk in this one-for-one trade. Skeptical about it for the Montreal Canadiens, who got Domi, who doesn't address their glaring need for a high-end center.
Galchenyuk will thrive in Arizona, especially under coach Rick Tocchet, who communicates well with players, especially forwards. Tocchet did wonders with Phil Kessel when he was an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins. I expect Tocchet will give Galchenyuk enough of a chance to either figure it out at center or realize he's better suited on the wing. I think he's a better fit at wing, playing with a center like Derek Stepan, who can make plays to let Galchenyuk's skill come out. But it could be that Galchenyuk's future in Arizona is as the No. 2 center behind Stepan.
Domi is skilled enough to be a top-six wing with the Canadiens, but without a high-end center to play with, I wonder how big an impact he can make on the ice for Montreal, which needs him to score. He scored nine goals in each of the past two seasons, including four empty-net goals this season. He scored 18 goals as a rookie in 2015-16. He needs to score in the 20s, at minimum, for this trade to work for the Canadiens. Off the ice, Domi will make an impact with his enthusiasm and energy. He'll make an impact in the community too, especially through his charitable endeavors to bring awareness to Type 1 diabetes, a disease he battles daily.
Which free agents should the Florida Panthers target to help make them a playoff contender? -- @djgoldman35
The Panthers made noise Tuesday by acquiring forward Mike Hoffman and a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft in a trade with the San Jose Sharks, by way of the Ottawa Senators, for a fourth- and a fifth-round pick in 2018 and a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Hoffman could work for the Panthers because he fills a need as a top-six wing who can score. He had 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) in 82 games with the Senators this season after scoring 61 points (26 goals, 35 assists) in 74 games with Ottawa last season.
Including Hoffman, I think the Panthers are in a good spot and don't have to be too aggressive in free agency. They must be wary of adversely affecting what looks like a promising future with a glut of young and improving players who developed chemistry playing together last season. Centers Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck and Nick Bjugstad and forward Jonathan Huberdeau each had his best season, and each is 25 or younger. The Panthers gained experience in a push for a Stanley Cup Playoff berth until they were eventually eliminated. They're strong in high-end talent and have depth.
I could see them going after a bigger forward who can toggle between top-six and bottom-six. One name to consider is Pat Maroon. Florida could be enticed by Washington center Jay Beagle and Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Chris Kunitz, culture drivers who are effective in a bottom-six role. Each can be UFA on July 1. The Panthers also might think rookies Owen Tippett (19 years old) and Henrik Borgstrom (20) are ready. I think they're set at defenseman and goalie, where I expect Roberto Luongo and James Reimer will again split time.
We're patient, we're loyal and we're beyond frustrated. What are some realistic expectations for Buffalo Sabres fans next season? When do we see some semblance of progress? -- @hott_karll
I think your time is coming. I'm not ready to say the wait to get back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011 will end next season. That's premature. But there is hope. They should have defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who is expected to be taken with the No. 1 in the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday. Jack Eichel is a legit No. 1 center, a superstar in the making. Dahlin is supposed to be that too, only on the blue line, which is great for balance in Buffalo. Getting Dahlin means the Sabres have two huge positions filled, ideally for the next decade or longer. It could be the equivalent of the Lightning having Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman or the Kings with Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty.
Maybe rookie center Casey Mittelstadt will be the third member of what could be a superstar trio in Buffalo. It's what the Sabres do to build around them that will matter most. General manager Jason Botterill needs to find the Sabres' next No. 1 goalie. Will center Ryan O'Reilly stay or be traded? Can forward Kyle Okposo be a 20-goal, 60-point player again to live up to his contract? Will center Sam Reinhart build on this season, when he had 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists), including 37 points (18 goals, 19 assists) in his final 38 games? How much better will defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen be with Dahlin taking some of his minutes? Those questions and more need answers, but there should be hope and optimism in Buffalo.
Do you think the NHL will go back to the 1-8 playoff format? To me, it was certainly the best one. -- @whoopoi
I don't see it happening any time soon because the playoff format doesn't appear to be a front-burner issue and, as far as I know, it hasn't been a central topic of conversation at the general managers meetings in recent years. That's where it would have to start. The GMs, though, do meet in Dallas for a pre-draft session Thursday, so we'll see if it gets any traction.
