THW Daily - Week 14 NHL Power Rankings & Flyers Acquire Jamie Drysdale From Ducks for Cutter Gauthier
Also, Maple Leafs extend William Nylander, a prospect report from Boston & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have power rankings for Week 14 in the NHL, a huge trade between the Flyers and Ducks, the Maple Leafs’ Stanley Cup window after extending William Nylander, and much more.
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Check Out Some THW Premium Substack Content:
Detroit Red Wings: Prospect Check-In: Kasper & Mazur Heating Up by Jordan Orth
Tampa Bay Lightning: Prospect Check-In: Mid-Round Picks Standing Out by Jordan Orth
Philadelphia Flyers: Flyers Flash: A Late Spark by Justin Giampietro
New Jersey Devils: Devils Sunday Brunch - Running Out of Players by Josh Reinitz
St. Louis Blues: Blue Note Weekly Audio Report: Two Big Wins To Start the New Year by Ethan Carter
Pittsburgh Penguins: Penguins Will Be a Playoff Contender by Sylvie McCarthy
Yesterday’s Scores…
Multiple Dominos Fall If Maple Leafs Don’t Win Cup This Season
January 8, 2024 by Jim Parsons
The William Nylander contract extension changes everything. On the one hand, it’s great that the Toronto Maple Leafs have another star player locked up for the long-term, with Nylander committed for eight more seasons and part of the team’s hopefully competitive future. That said, the $11.5 million per season contract raises a number of questions, not the least of which is what happens if the club doesn’t win this season?
When I say the “extension changes everything”, I should be clear that this new deal changes little about the 2023-24 campaign. But, it puts a lot of pressure on the team to make it work this season, because not doing so potentially closes their window to run it back with a loaded roster. That’s no big deal if the Leafs win the Cup as there’s always churn for a championship team. If they don’t win, then what?
NHL 2023-24 Power Rankings: Week 14
January 8, 2024 by Eugene Helfrick
With another exciting Winter Classic taking place on New Year’s Day, the NHL world is ready to look towards the next big event, the 2024 All-Star Game taking place in Toronto. Round 1 of the drama kicked off this week, as the first 32 All-Stars were announced, which is an exciting and controversial time. So, let’s just have some fun and discuss the best players the NHL has to offer in Week 14 of THW’s Power Rankings!
Jayden Struble Changing Canadiens’ Rebuild Plans
January 8, 2024 by Blain Potvin
The Montreal Canadiens’ best asset in their rebuild thus far has been their depth of defensive prospects. Last season saw six rookies make their debuts with the club, and this season, another was added to the list, Jayden Struble. The Canadiens’ defence as a unit all play a mobile, puck-moving style. Some are more offensive, and some are more physical, but Struble, who was dubbed “a Greek God” by former general manager (GM) Marc Bergevin, can provide those skills, but can also play a simple, effective defensive game.
Current Canadiens GM Kent Hughes probably didn’t start this season with Struble on his list of “keepers”, the list of young defencemen that he will build his blue line around. But his play so far this season has forced him into that conversation. Now everyone watching can see how difficult it would be to take him off the NHL roster. Based only on his performance so far, is he here to stay?
Lightning Should Pay the Price to Extend Steven Stamkos
January 8, 2024 by Nick Haydon
The captain is playing in the final year of his eight-year, $68 million contract, and BriseBois has gone out of his way to say negotiations will not begin until the end of the season. This comment left Stamkos frustrated, and Lightning fans confused.
Now, I am firmly on Team Stamkos here, and we will explore below why he deserves an offer. What that contract might look like though is a different matter. However, regardless of the complexities, Tampa Bay should pay to keep Stamkos a Lightning until he retires.
Flyers Acquire Jamie Drysdale From Ducks in Blockbuster Trade
January 8, 2024 by Justin Giampietro
Just days after winning gold at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship as well as the honors for the best forward in the tournament, 19-year-old star prospect Cutter Gauthier was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers in a shocking move that gave the team young defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round draft choice from the Anaheim Ducks. Reportedly, Gauthier never wanted to play for the Flyers at all, essentially forcing their hand in this one. He was their fifth-overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Losing Gauthier is one of the toughest blows the Flyers have had in a while, as he was on his way to developing into a great prospect. Instead, the team lost arguably its second-best player in the pipeline. With the loss being put aside, what can Drysdale bring to Philadelphia?
Bruins Prospects Report: Lysell, Bussi, Poitras, DiPietro & More
January 8, 2024 by Scott Roche
Over the last month, some prospects in the Boston Bruins system have been called up to the NHL and filled in for injured teammates or Matthew Poitras, who played in Sweden in the 2024 World Junior Championship. In the absence of Poitras, Georgii Merkulov made his NHL debut when he was called up from the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL) where he led them in scoring.
Now that Poitras is back after Canada was upset in the quarterfinals by Czechia, Merkulov was returned to Providence on Jan. 6. Things have been very well of late down in Providence and that is where we’ll begin this edition of the Bruins Prospects Report.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Montreal Canadiens - Canadiens Goalie Montembeault a Starter in Principle Not Practice
Edmonton Oilers - Oilers 2023-24 Trade Targets: Anthony Duclair
Winnipeg Jets - Jets Prospects All Win Medals at 2024 World Juniors
NHL News & Rumors - Maple Leafs, Penguins, Canucks
From TSN - Maple Leafs sign Nylander to eight-year, $92M contract extension
From Sportsnet - Top prospect Cutter Gauthier traded to Ducks after refusing to sign with Flyers
From ESPN - Marc-Andre Fleury ties Patrick Roy for 2nd in all-time wins
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