Episode 0076: Top 25 Players Of The Last 3 Years, Where Should Karlsson Go, 44 Arbitration Eligible Players, Blackhawks/Coyotes Salary Trade and Bjorkstrand Extends With Columbus!

With only one mention-worthy transaction this past week, we are truly in the dog days of the NHL off-season.  We at the Two Man Forecheck, however, are still attacking each week with playoff vigor. 

We start this week with our Top 25 players of the past 3 seasons.  With no guidelines as to selection, the lists are truly unique. There is only 48% crossover. Players such as Patrice Bergeron, Drew Doughty, Victor Hedman and Alex Ovechkin obviously made both lists, but the differences stand out.  Players such as Oliver Ekman-Larsson, John Gibson and Mark Scheifele appear on Chris’ list, but not Mike’s.  And in reverse, Blake Wheeler, Roberto Luongo, and Steven Stamkos appear on Mike’s list but are not choices for Chris.  Who would you have on your list?  Are there players that you would leave off either of these lists?  Let us know!

After all this discussion of the best players, the Forecheckers change tracks and look at the 44 players who filed for Arbitration this off-season, identifying the 6 or 7 players that top the list.

A little Erik Karlsson talk never hurt anyone, and we discuss where he might land.

We finish the show talking about the salary dump that Chicago took part in, trading Marian Hossa’s contract and two other players to the Coyotes for 3 players and a pick. This trade could end up hurting the Blackhawks, however, as they didn’t get much younger, and didn’t improve the defense.

Oh yeah…Oliver Bjorkstrand signed a 3-year extension with the Blue Jackets…Congrats!

Leave us some feedback on the show, or the lists, or anything that is on your mind (hopefully hockey related) and enjoy the show!