We very badly need the NHL to pass the "Patrick Kane Rule" to prevent this garbage from happening.

Johnson and Volkov take last two spots

For now it is the rule. Anyone that thinks Kuch is on LTIR just to fit the cap is not logical.

Johnson is way more comfortable at center and he is producing. Joseph has surprised many, including me. Volkov has a world of potential, maybe it is now setting in. Smith has had two very good games. Someone will be disappointed.

Johnson and Joseph are looking like large favorites for the last 2 forward spots. I don't think that Smith or ABB have a realistic chance. Especially not ABB, he hasn't even played, however, I could see Stephens challenging for a playoff spot. Whatever happens they are gonna have very good quality players scratched for the playoffs.

I think he's out to recover form a legitimate procedure, but I also think that if TB wasn't in severe cap trouble, they wouldn't have timed the procedure so that he would miss the entirety of the regular season and be back just in time for playoffs. That aspect was deliberate and intended to circumvent the cap.

If it is within the rules (which it is) that is smart. Maybe makes fans of other teams salty, but their teams would do the same thing if they were in the same situation and it would still be smart

I'm not saying that they broke the rules and should be punished. They clearly didn't.

I'm saying the league needs to change the rules so this type of thing doesn't happen again, because it is clearly nefarious.