Every Friday, a trio of SI.com staffers sit down to discuss the hot-button issues in the hockey world. Regular panelist Sam Page was unavailable this week. We assume he’s at home, lying in the fetal position and sobbing over his Pekka Rinne sanctuary, so it is Jeremy Fuchs who replaces Michael Blinn and Al Muir. Among our subjects: Jonathan Drouinthe team’s resilience, the presence of John Scott in the All-Star group, the construction of bigger rinks in the NHL and the playoff hopes of three surprise contenders.
First one up:
• Let’s say you’re an NHL general manager who has more than a passing interest in Jonathan Drouin. How does his decision to leave the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch this week affect your willingness to trade him?? Mike, you’re first.
Michel Blinn: For a player with a year and a half left on his entry-level contract followed by several more years of team control, I’m incredibly skeptical. The real question is what Stevie Yzerman thinks he can get in return at this point for a 20-year-old with a sour temperament and little to show on the ice.
Jeremy Fuchs: If I believe he is capable of scoring more than 35 goals, then no, not at all. On the contrary, it gives me even more motivation to do it now. The price will never be lower. That said, I don’t think Yzerman has given up on Drouin yet. This is a guy who left his captain (Martin St. Louis) out of Team Canada. I don’t think he will give in to anyone.
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Al-Muir:
• So the league finally figured out what was going on on social media and decided to allow John Scott to play in the All-Star Game. Your thoughts, in 140 characters or less.
Mo: Everyone is to blame, except for our new sympathetic character, John Scott. We spent too much time thinking about something that could have been avoided.
(I want to clarify that it is exactly 140.)
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AM: There have been so many people who have done wrong here, and there’s a lot of shame to be had. But at this point, I’m glad he’s playing.
• Florida Panthers The Atlantic Cardinals still lead the division thanks to their 12-game winning streak, but four straight losses have put them back on top. Who exactly is this team and can they contend for the division title?
Mo: This is a team nearing the end of a transition phase and we’re seeing sustained flashes of brilliance. While their success hasn’t been sustainable, the Panthers have the young legs, paired with grizzled veterans, to make a run at the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12. In fact, given Montreal’s offensive ineptitude, Boston’s inconsistency and Roberto Luongo Playing some of the best hockey of his career in net, the Panthers, at least for now, have a good chance of winning the Atlantic crown.
AM: The Panthers are nowhere near as good as this winning streak suggests. In some of those games, especially toward the end of the streak, they were largely outplayed but were saved by great goaltending or a few rebounds.
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But hey, you have to give them credit for finding a solution. Whether they get lucky or not, this kind of period can be a transformative moment, something that could change the way this team sees itself. The Panthers are no longer in the midst of a rebuild. Now, everyone can look around and say, “Hey, this is how good we can be. This is what we’re capable of.” And if they start believing that, then yes, they could easily conquer the Atlantic.
JF: The Panthers are three things right now: Roberto Luongo, Aaron Ekblad And Alexander Barkov. Simple? Yes. But having three elite players in the middle is a proven recipe for success. They remind me of a young player from Los Angeles kingswith Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar. They can certainly contend for the division title, although that race will be easier if Tampa Bay trades Steven Stamkos. Florida will make the playoffs, maybe win a round, but the Panthers will really make noise in a few years when they can easily become contenders.
• Calgary Flames Executive director Brian Burke is pushing for new NHL facilities to offer the possibility of a larger ice surface. What do you think?
Mo: One of the league’s biggest problems over the past 20 seasons has been its inability to get rid of hooking and grabbing, offenses that wax and wane every few months as someone realizes their effect on the game. Burke’s proposal — an extra five feet of space from side to side — may not sound like much, but for guys like Johnny Gaudreau, Tyler Ennis, Brad Marchand, Tyler Johnson And Brendan GallagherImagine what this extra space could bring in terms of freedom and, consequently, the offense it could create.
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JF:
AM: I like the idea. Burke is right. The players are getting bigger, there’s an extra referee on the ice. Everybody could use a little more space. But this isn’t a rule change that can be debated in committee. This is an infrastructure issue. And while Calgary and Detroit have committed to making sure their new buildings are adaptable to future changes, we’re literally decades away from being able to do that. I mean, there are rinks being built in Vegas and Edmonton that aren’t even open yet and aren’t equipped to handle 90-foot-wide rinks. Do you think they’ll be replaced in the next 30 years? It’s a good idea, but like many good ideas, there are just too many practical obstacles that will prevent it from happening.
• As we sat down for this week’s discussion, New Jersey Devils and Colorado avalanche have earned unexpected wild card spots. Do any of these teams have what it takes to cross the finish line?
JF: The Devils have two things going for them: a weak Metropolitan Division (outside of Washington) and a top-five goaltender. Cory Schneider. That gives them a chance. Colorado plays in probably the toughest division, and I’m not sure I’m willing to trust a team that ranks 24th in goals against. Give me the Devils.
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AM: Schneider and the Metro’s inconsistency make it easier to believe in the Devils. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they get picked up, especially if GM Ray Shero can add some depth before the deadline. But one statistic makes me think the Avs might have what it takes: their 10-3-1 record against the rest of the Central. They have 12 games left against their roommates. If they can capitalize on that, they could punch their ticket.
