PuckStatsSam

Simon Nemec ranks dead last among 172 eligible defensemen with a net goal differential of -0.97 per 60 over the last two seasons. #NJDevils

Brind'Amour's recall is damn good. But not perfect. April 5, 2025: Slavin was *lit up* by Boston, -5. (But man, look at the right skew on this. Elite player.)

@UnionAndBlue @Mr_UnionBlue @CurtisDeem Hey, that’s me!

NEW: We explore the trade likelihood of two Blue Jackets players who appeared on a rumor board this week. #CBJ | @CurtisDeem unionandblue.com/two-blue-jacke…

@pwhilt327 I’m talking hockey here, I don’t follow other sports as much.

@PuckStatsSam Knicks vs Cavs? Knicks had 8 days off

Interesting stat. People always say that having time between series is an advantage as players can heal injuries and replenish energy, but I don’t remember a series where the rested team performed better than the team that’s still on its cruising rhythm.

@F1RETHECANNON @PARaidersHockey @TheHockeyNews Faber*

@frank_seravalli I don’t know about KJ, Waddell seemed adamant on multiple occasions that he’s part of #CBJ’s future (at least, for now). Dmitri Voronkov, on the other hand…

#Leafs Morgan Rielly leads our first Trade Targets 🎯 board of the offseason. Six goalies on the board, including #LGRW Sebastian Cossa. Pair of young forwards. Impact defensemen. Buckle up. A most interesting offseason beckons: hockey247.com/2026/05/21/fra…

@Canes first anthem singer sang O Canada in French and English! Wow! @CanadiensMTL @sickpodnhl @thesickpodcasts

@HotTakeHockey If there’s a single position CBJ absolutely doesn’t need more of, it’s puck-moving LHD. That’s the only position of strength this team has. So this trade makes no sense, but Waddell always finds ways of surprising me.

Columbus Blue Jackets acquire: Kevin Korchinski Arvid Soderblom Rights to Ilya Mikheyev Chicago Blackhawks acquire: Kent Johnson Elvis Merzlikins Picks might be in there, but I like this base structure.

Feels like Florida would be a fascinating landing spot for Viggo Björck With Barkov and Lundell already there, they have the size and structure down the middle to insulate a smaller, ultra-intelligent, high-motor centre and let the skill flourish Question is if Florida wants more of a heavy, NHL-ready type with that 9th overall pick instead... if they even keep it.

🚨BREAKING🚨 The No. 27 ranked Canadian-born player in the 2007 North American Class 4.5⭐️ Jack Nesbitt has committed to Michigan! The 6’5 and 185 lbs forward had 58 points in 55 games for the Windsor Spitfires this past season. He was a first-round pick of the @NHLFlyers in 2025.

@NikSmiith I don’t think KJ has played center since his BCHL years. At least not consistently.

If the jets did want to retool. Making moves for Kent Johnson and Shane wright would be a great start. IMO 55, Wright, Johnson and Lowry down the middle would be excellent.

Everyone and their grandma knows the Blackhawks want Stenberg. If I am a Sharks GM, I pry a young defender out of Chicago, trade down and take a defender at #4. Two for the price of one. Why would they not do that?

Frank Seravalli’s top-25 trade board was just released, here it is:

Told goaltender Ivan Fedotov has left AHL Cleveland and returned to Russia with an undisclosed injury. He had moments with @monstershockey this season, but lost his way and lost the job to Zach Sawchenko. Fedotov, 29, was 23-16-6 with an .887 save %. He’s UFA on July 1. #CBJ

@HarryCrumbs @RichSaluki @mark_scheig That’s true, the conversation was simply around Montreal since that’s the team Richard brought up, and I agree that they’re exciting mainly because of their young players which they drafted and developed (which was my point). I also really like Chicago and Utah, among others.

@PuckStatsSam @RichSaluki @mark_scheig Canes are a better example of this, everything they are doing right now is built with only one top 10 draft pick of their own. Plenty of assets to work with and they have the 7th lowest cap hit in the league this year. Canes in 4 btw

New: Last time on the Substack, we talked offer sheets. Today, we talk hockey trades. They're coming. How quickly they come depends on a few factors. See why in today's world, it's only a matter of time before bigger offseason trades are the norm. Read: thehockeywriters.substack.com/p/nhl-2026-off…

@RichSaluki @mark_scheig Just as well, if #CBJ was to trade roster players to try and receive other(s), they would, like you and I say in french Richard, déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul, weakening the overall roster in order to add pieces elsewhere. There’s no real position of strength except LHD.

@RichSaluki @mark_scheig The Habs are a great example of how contenders are built through drafting and developing. The issue in trying to build through trading is that you need to give in order to receive, and CBJ has barely anything to spare in trades, since the assets / prospects cupboard is bare.

Gotta think it was a Toronto Maple Leafs problem not a Mitch Marner problem

NEW on HockeyStats The 2026 Prospects page is now LIVE with projections, rankings, and player cards patreon.com/posts/158775775