We have a different opinion on Subban starting....which is 100% A-OK! I would have started him last game because Subban's previous game was a shutout. I want to be able to reward players for good performances with more ice time. If you're a Dman like Boqvist/Mitchell/Beaudin/Kalynuk...you want more ice time if you play well and should understand that if you don't play well...you get sent to Rockford. Same with the forwards and I would prefer a consistent message for our goalies. With that said...I understand games against NSH are huge games and I understand why Lankinen was put in net, but if your philosophy is good play get rewarded...Stan missed an opportunity to put his money where his mouth is.

IMO, Stillman can sit. I know it hasn't been enough games to get a true reading on him for future seasons, but I've seen enough to say...Let's give him an entire training camp to get familiar with the system and not waste any more opportunities for other Dprospects that already know the system. He can sit for the rest of the year IMO. Keith on the other hand…I still want him to be an on ice mentor. He doesn't need to play 25 ATOI anymore. Just help teach the Dman next to you. To me, this is proper player development.

Same with Hardman. I don't want to see him for 1 single game in the NHL. He doesn't know the system at all. The rest of the guys that have been back and forth...they should get the NHL ice time. Send Hardman to Rockford and allow King to teach him the system before he gets to play with the Hawks.

If Keith can play well in a limited role I’m all for him on a third pairing but he has been actively tanking* his D partners play and I think that has hurt Mitchell’s confidence. I’m not sure that’s a recipe for success in mentorship... personally I think Murphy is going to be the best mentor on the team because he can still play well.

I still think that lank deserved the start because he had won the net but I do understand that Malcolm had played well enough to earn a start against Nashville which is what he’s getting today.

I think it is likely we slip below St. Louis and AZ, maybe even LA. SJS is a **** show so that won't happen. Calgary hard to see, haven't looked at their schedule. Would be happy with pick 10 or better, should get a good shot at Powers, Evidsson, Lambos, Hughes or Svozil who is a dark horse who I think a lot of analysts are missing on their rankings. Anyone of those guys has a 1st line ceiling and a 2nd line floor on the left side and exactly what we need.

I wouldn't mind some clarity on how the ARZ pick influences the draft lottery, but I agree that I would be very happy with the 10th overall pick.

My understanding is it is not removed from the draft position just skipped over to the next team when their turn comes up. Wonder if they qualify for the lottery though as it would pretty much suck if they somehow won the 1st or 2nd pick and moved up from say the 10th spot and thus limits the chances of others from doing the same. My guess is this is the case and in theory AZ could win the #1 and simply would be forfeited to the next team in line.

That is also my best guess, but also the worst-case scenario. Tankathon has a nice strength of schedule section and you can see info related to that here http://www.tankathon.com/nhl/remaining_schedule_strength

Thanks for sharing, never clicked on that that heading when on Tankathon!

Its especially useful near the end of the season!