Two of their best players opted out despite having career years and money on the table to stay. That may or may not be an indication.
Their replacements walked into a team reputedly run by a strict curmudgeon. May explain a shift in the dressing room.
You can probably only tolerate Sutter's style for so long before it wears on you.

Hard to blame the GM because he's moved mountains while against a wall, trying to put a contending team on the ice.
Markstrom has struggled, but how much of that is mental?

I believe it is the coaching as well.

I’m good with that. It’s fair and simple. The salary cap and CBA will ensure competitive balance.

I blame the coaching staff and the players for not living up to expectations. Maybe those expectations were unrealistic in hindsight, given many of the reasons you stated. But, there’s certainly more than enough talent there to be a playoff team.

Has there been any new rumours in the last 2 days

Potential Kuemper gets moved if Washington isn't a lock at the TDL.

Levi for kueps

Flames need to fire Sutter. You can just tell things are not working

Also they should move on from their goalie coach

Hey the more they fail the more likely I can see Tanev in a Toronto jersey

Changes are needed but hey if they out by TDL why not sell some assets. Tanev should get a nice return and I got 0 issue giving up our 2024 1st for him

The flames and losing to the s*itty teams

A winning combination

Sounds like a lie as Washington stated as long as Ovechkin is with the team they will try to contend

Yep and they aren't out of it. Going to be interesting as really only 2 teams in the east know they aren't making the playoffs. 2 Spots for 8 teams. The market is definitely a sellers market.

More like 4

Montreal, Columbus, Ottawa and Philadelphia

Then the top 3s in each eastern division are pretty much established, the order in the metro is still up for debate though

The west 6 of the 8 playoff teams are established and 6 or 7 teams (depending on how you view Nashville’s playoff chance) are locks to miss the playoffs

Pierre Dorion has already said he isn't selling = He's trying to stay competitive and Philly are 8 points out with 2 games in hand.

I’ve been under the impression that the Sens might be looking to add, particularly on D. Flyers are out. Amazing they’re not lower with their lack of talent.

Pagnotta reports "teams" have been calling about Krug... OMG I think I just peed a little.

https://www.thefourthperiod.com/pagnotta/question-island-aussie-games-eurotrip-and-more#.Y_PztthtLGg.twitter

If I were your GM Buy or Sell + Potential Trade chips

Ducks - Sell duh (Shattenkirk, Klingberg )
Yotes - Sell -
Sabres- Buy only pieces with term - (Meier, Chychrun)
Canes- Buy (Meier, Hayes, )
Hawks - Sell (the franchise) (Everyone)
Avs - Buy (Monahan, Domi)
Flames - Sell - (Toffoli, Kylington, Dube) - Get ahead of it, sell high on Toffoli's great season
Jackets - Sell (Nyquist, Gavrikov)
Dallas - Buy - (Chychrun, Domi)
Detroit - Stay put
Sharks - Sell (Everyone with value)
Nucks - Sell (Garland, Miller, Myers, Schenn)
Habs - Sell (All UFA's)
Blues - Sell (Barbashev)
Flyers - Sell (JVR, Seeler, Braun, Hayes)
Sens - Sell minor pieces (Watson, Holden)
Preds - Sell (Granlund, Niedereiter,Fabbro)
Caps - Sell (Jensen, Sheary, Johansson, Orlov)
Pens - Buy (Barbashev, Dube)
Panthers - Stay put, unless knocked further out of playoff race at TDL
Wild - Buy (Boeser, Garland)
Oilers - Buy (Karlsson, Gavrikov, Chychrun, Orlov)
Kraken - Stay put
Kings - Buy (Chychrun)
Vegas - BUY (Kane, Nyquist, Barbashev, JVR)
Lightning - Buy (Schenn, Barbashev)
Rangers - Buy (Gavrikov, Kane, JVR)
Leafs - Buy (Schenn, Seeler, JVR)
Devils - Buy Core Pieces (Meier)
Bruins - Stay put

Yea Flyers and Sens have no chance at playoffs and Dorion is clearly full of it (Motte).

Sabres have 5 or so Games in hand and is 3 points out
Wings 4 Games 3 points out

I'm just saying they aren't out of it yet. Still lots of time for points to be made up. If Ottawa gets hot, they can easily make the playoffs. Tons of competition for those last 2 spots which should increase the prices of assets being acquired.

Let’s face it everyone knows Philly and Ottawa will miss out

Here's the thing that's not true they legit have .0000001% Chance.

I got so scared watching the end of the NYI-PIT game lol

If they go 16-6-4, they'd have 94 points ... possibly enough to make the playoffs. Unlikely they play that well but it could happen. I mean, Columbus won 16 in a row a 6 years ago lol.

Good job Islanders for winning. Now 14th overall from the bottom. Just where the Canucks want them. Canucks have a chance to go on a 7+ game losing streak. Hope they fall behind San Jose