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IBatch

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Everything posted by IBatch

  1. Well really - this sort of thing happens every single off-season. No shame for trying! (and not really when i look at all the options ... it's pretty much what i see too ... glad it's not the consensus on the CDC, me or anyone else that has to make these tough choices)....
  2. Every team got boned with covid and the cap not going up, and JB definitely did himself zero favours (added to the mess by not timing his filler UFAs correctly) ... every Pearson type deal seemed to come with a Ferland and a Dickie etc. What blows my mind is that ownership allowed this. Team never bottomed out properly ... well second you last one year but really it wasn't enough. Needed another two terrible seasons, if we had that we'd have a Boldy and a Schnieder type quite possibly already on the team WITH Podz. But have to say this fanbase is full of impatience, and he knew what he was catering too. And it is a business - filling the seats with imaginary and real promise (LE - EP) did the trick. Sold out most nights. To me Allvin will have to get his inner Quin or Joe Sakic going and start doing some solid trading. Otherwise this core doesn't have much of a chance and we should already be keeping an eye to what the one behind it looks like (talking 12-14 year olds lol) ... In the end, best case, it was always going to be parts of this core and the one behind it that MAYBE gets us back into contention. We've only had 4 good teams in club history and the first one the stars aligned for a magical run (it was actually very decent)...Only Lindens teams were very good in the post season ... Even in his twilight years, no PP time playing a checking role he amped it up in the post season - Turco would have won without Linden on our team. The Sedins never did figure out how to play better in the post season, their game was actually somewhat neutered. What gives me hope Alf, is the bubble. EP and QHs couldn't grow peach fuzz, yet both contributed. Demko of course was incredible. For all of JBs flubs, at least Allvin has 1000 different options. Only OEL can't be traded. Hate to see Miller go ... but Sundstrom was great for us too and look what he got us, and so was Butcher. Not expecting grandiose returns, but every single team interested in Miller, Horvat, Boeser and Myers needs to be looked into. I'm also very curious just to not do anything and let JBs hand play out all on its own. There are worse things then letting Miller walk for nothing. To me a nice little run to get another post season sample size is also very valuable. Brock is still a very interesting player too. Know most have written him off. Sad but true. Selling low on Brock is a mistake. EP? Well go back and see some of things being said about him. Bambi memes galore. Kind of stopped the last 25 games or so when he was scoring at a 45 goal 95 point pace didn't it! Feel we've got a punchers chance at doing something with this team as is. And fine with pushing some tough decisions off another season. What i'm not fine with is knee jerk reactions and a new GM chomping at the bit to put his stamp on this club. Doesn't appear that is happening at all. Which is good. I'm fine with trading guys and think that's where we are at - OR just letting it resolve organically. If we want to keep EP, we better make sure whatever trades occur actually don't make this team much worse for very long right?
  3. Odd thread. By the time the picks gained are ready to make an impact (let's just say at best 2/3 first rounders do just that), all these UFAs plus Miller and Horvat if they are even around (probably bolt!) will be well passed their primes. Instead why not built behind EP/Qhs etc by using our aging vets? Brock is about the only one that makes much sense, but even that one stings because we are sure selling low on him. To me Miller is the guy that makes the most sense, but i'd also be happy if we could re-sign him to something half decent. Because strength down the middle is one of our teams best attributes, and well i love Miller. We need more guys with his guts and passion, not less. Horvat has to stay unless the return is just too tough not to take. He's also getting a raise. 7 x 8 years is what he should come in at, around what Hayes got in PHI plus the extra year. Brock to me is going to have to have one break out season or he's not staying. Has to get 65-70 points to earn that type of paycheque. Basically if a scorer isn't getting 1 point per 1k and doesn't add much but that ... he's not a good deal for the team cap wise. A lot of different ways to go about it, but Miller and Brock, maybe Myers (only if we get a top four RHD back) probably are the guys that need to go to boost our cores chances going into their primes. 25-32 for forwards ... 26-34 for defenseman. Both Brock and Horvat are in their primes ... so is Miller. OEL and Myers are too BUT they aren't good contracts. However we also need them. Id be ok with going back into rebuild mode but Demko isn't going to make that easy for us ... that said Gibson was great for ANA, except last season - during their rebuild phase and it still didn't matter. Feel Allvin could just let this whole thing play out this season. Sometimes the best path is doing very little. If both Miller and Horvat committed to the team with contracts that help us still ... that can be a lot better then going to the UFA well trying to find something to fill the void. I'd rather have Horvat then say a Kevin Hayes to fill the void. And Miller over Kadri. This team should get better on its own. Last year we were 10-11th best winning percentage under Bruce. Down the stretch even better (7-8th). When the team was on - we could beat any team. I'm very interested in seeing what we can do in the post season. Locking all these guys in long term won't work - however Brock gone pays for a lot of the raises. As does the cap coming off the following year. Allvin said this team can't afford to lose players for nothing (UFA). That means both Miller and Horvat are potentially gone or signed. I'm sure he's already talking to their agents to get a feel for where they are at with a total number. The other thing he said is he wants to lock in lines long term. Guys that play with each other a long time. That can be accomplished by signing Miller and Horvat. OR it can be accomplished by trading them for guys they want. Includes a partner for QHs. EK had Methot. QHs is good enough to do the revolving door thing but really needs a Mitchell type. Manson would be the only UFA i'd actually be interested in this year. Klingberg will turn on us fast ... LE-OEL somewhere in that range. No thanks.
  4. Also Quebec ... State of the art arena at the time now collecting dust. Supported by the city and the province.
  5. I agree it's better for those that live downtown - however it's not better for the dozen or so season tickets holders i know that drive 20-25 minutes, park in a lot that gets you out (season ticket holders lot) in five minutes and on your way. And that's 50-60km away just down a highway. There will be season ticket holders that also suffer from the move. I agreed it's better downtown, just for the ambience - but the current one has zero issues getting to it either from downtown or out of town ... that's a misconception i wanted to point out. Where in Vancouver do you have to live, to get to the game in 15-20 minutes by a car? Even the sky train. And like i also pointed out - MTL is a big city too, and those that live in it but away from the downtown core also need to spend upwards of an hour plus to get to the games there. The best part of it being downtown is going to be the ambience before and after the games sports bars etc ... not necessarily easy access. Kanata has a lot of season ticket holders too. What they need to do is make sure their train system can handle that part. Right now it's not great.
  6. I read four years off from contending as realistic best case too. That won't happen rebuilding, and agree that it takes teams time and often quite a lot of it to get over the playoff hump of first and second round exits. At least the core has had one playoffs already which for sure counts. It also shown them how hard it is to even make it to the playoffs. Hopefully Bruce can have them playing like they did down the stretch throughout the entire season ... and JR/Allvin can make the right trades with the eye to the future. It's extremely difficult to build a contender like COL and TB. St. Louis is a good goal for us given our tax bracket and the value that can be found in those mid range guys. Four years from now the majority of our core will be in their peak prime ... and some guys coming up behind them as well, how they deal with Miller, Horvat and Brock will definitely play into that.
  7. It's 20 minutes from downtown to the current arena by car, it's really not that far...For perspective takes a full hour to get to the game downtown MTL from my brothers place (MTL), which includes a short 5-10 minute drive, a train and then a train back plus a bus plus the car ride on the way back ... problem with OTT is the public transport cant properly handle the volume, and needs massive parking lots to handle the volume. We always pay a little for special parking to get out the first five minutes otherwise yes, you can wait for 20 minutes to get out in Kanata (same as any other major sports even it's not different)... as far as music goes Def Leppard sold out and was a good show but the city itself isn't as big to pull in minor labels. Metallica and bigger bands don't bother with MTL and TO already usual landing spots. Thing that Kanata doesn't have at all, is thousands spilling out onto the streets enjoying the win or solemn after a loss and headed to the next place to celebrate within walking distance. Has zero of that. The ambience downtown will be a lot better for the team and the city. Not sure what the heck they will do with the Canadian Tire center ... probably turn it into another mall. But the sight lines are great, better then quite a few i've been too. Hope the new one isn't giant sized - won't be easy to provide the same awesome site lines they've currently got.
  8. Yes Thomas should have won that regardless... Was too young to remember the first cup run well just enjoyed the stickers and hockey cards were that much cooler to get lol.. But yes if we won in 94 maybe they'd have given it to Leetch instead and agree McLean and Bure would have been good choices ... Messier wasn't as good in the 4th round but also had an impact. Likely we win Bure got it. But don't think he would have been the best choice just a good one.
  9. Conn Smythe to me is better then any trophy other then the Cup. Funny thing - without checking, pretty sure the only players to win a Smythe on a losing team were also goalies. And remember how Gigeure didn't seem like he was happy at all to pick it up either. Like "winning" a Silver Medal. Claude Lemuiex ... remember him winning it and like Keane just a guy teams wanted on their team ... Marroon is a good comp for Keane now. It's not always who is expected which is cool. Bieksa, Luongo, Kesler and Thomas were the favourites going into 2011 final. IF we won in 94 i'm pretty sure Linden would have won. But hard to say for sure.
  10. He can't hear anyone because his other hand is full of cup rings too!
  11. Pronger was just so good for a couple seasons ... when he basically took EDM on his back and took them to the final and almost a surprise cup ... was impressive to say the least. But you made some good points. Theodore for sure wasn't nearly as good as those other goalies you mentioned - just another example of how tragic things were in the 2000's talent wise, and how not all Harts and Norris trophy's are the same.
  12. Missing first-round picks: Nail Yakupov, F, Edmonton Oilers (1); Ryan Murray, D, Columbus Blue Jackets (2); Alex Galchenyuk, F, Montreal Canadiens (3); Griffin Reinhart, D, New York Islanders (4); Derrick Pouliot, D, Pittsburgh Penguins (8); Slater Koekkoek, D, Tampa Bay Lightning (10); Mikhail Grigorenko, F, Buffalo Sabres (12); Mark Jankowski, F, Calgary Flames (21); Olli Maatta, D, Pittsburgh Penguins (22); Malcolm Subban, G, Boston Bruins (24); Jordan Schmaltz, D, St. Louis Blues (25); Brendan Gaunce, F, Vancouver Canucks (26); Henrik Samuelsson, F, Phoenix Coyotes (27); Stefan Matteau, F, New Jersey Devils (29) NHL.com did a re-draft for 2012 ... it wasn't a typical draft but it is a great example of one where things can go sideways completely for high picks. Not one of these guys would go in the first round lol. 7 of the top ten picks wow... and a lot of them are pure busts or would be considered busts based on their draft slot by min games played by scouts. Later picks is pretty normal here ... Edit: It also goes to show that the later rounds have some gems. Sure would be nice if we could finally hit on one again...haven't since Edler and Hansen were drafted in the same year (Nonis first draft)....And Edler was a 3rd rounder. Also who's even left in the NHL now? Jankowski, Maata and Schmaltz were all solid picks, but still didn't make the cut. You know who did? Tanner Pearson. In their re-draft he goes 14th (picked 30th)..right after Trouba (9th and before Pelech (65). For $&!#s and giggles here's their re-draft... some of theses guys we overrate others maybe underrate : Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning (19) Vasilevskiy's 188 wins over the past five seasons lead NHL goalies, and his 24 shutouts are second (Marc-Andre Fleury, 27). Among goalies to play at least 150 games since 2017-18, his .920 save percentage is second (Darcy Kuemper, .921) and his 2.47 goals-against average is third (Tuukka Rask, 2.36; Kuemper, 2.43). Vasilevskiy has a chance to become the third goalie in NHL history to play every minute of the playoffs for a team that wins the Stanley Cup three straight seasons, joining Jacques Plante (Montreal Canadiens, 1956-60) and Turk Broda (Toronto Maple Leafs, 1947-49). 2. Filip Forsberg, F, Washington Capitals (11) Forsberg never played for the Capitals, who traded him to the Nashville Predators for forwards Martin Erat and Michael Latta in 2013. He's scored 20 or more goals in seven of the past eight seasons, including a personal-best 42 this season. Forsberg's 220 goals are the most in Predators history, and he leads all players drafted in 2012 in goals and points (469). 3. Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes (120) Slavin's outstanding defensive play has been a major reason the Hurricanes have made the playoffs each of the past four seasons as one of the best defensive teams in the NHL. In his seven seasons, the Hurricanes have allowed 28.4 shots on goal per game, the fewest in the NHL. In 508 games, Slavin has averaged 22:54 of ice time, usually against the opposition's top players and the most among any player selected in 2012. He leads all players in his draft class with 479 takeaways and a plus-112 rating. Slavin also has a total of 70 penalty minutes, was voted the winner of the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play last season and was a finalist for the award this season. 4. Teuvo Teravainen, F, Chicago Blackhawks (18) Teravainen had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 18 playoff games as a rookie to help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2015 and was traded to the Hurricanes in 2016. He's scored 20 or more goals three times in the past five seasons, including a personal-best 23 in 2017-18. Teravainen is in the top five among players drafted in 2012 in goals (118, fifth), assists (251, second) and points (369, fourth). 5. Tom Wilson, F, Washington Capitals (16) Wilson's physicality and scoring touch has earned him a spot on the Capitals' top line. He's scored at least 20 goals in three of the past four seasons, and set personal NHL highs this season in goals (24), assists (28) and points (52). Wilson's 1,221 penalty minutes are nearly three times as many as any other player from the 2012 draft class (Jacob Trouba is second with 468). He's also sixth in goals (115) and points (273). 6. Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs (5) A knee injury that limited Rielly to 18 Western Hockey League games in 2011-12 raised concerns about his durability. But nine seasons into his NHL career, no one is questioning Rielly. He's led Maple Leafs defensemen in ice time six of the past seven seasons, has had at least 35 points five times, and his 72 points in 2018-19 were the most by a Toronto defenseman since Borje Salming had 73 in 1978-79. His 654 games are the most among players drafted in 2012, and his 369 points lead defensemen and are third among all players. 7. Tomas Hertl, F, San Jose Sharks (17) Hertl announced himself as a budding star by scoring four goals in his third NHL game; at age 19 years, 330 days, he was the fourth-youngest player to score four in a game. His 181 goals and 387 points in nine NHL seasons are second among players in the 2012 draft class. Hertl's 35 goals in 2018-19 are the second-most in a season by a 2012-drafted player, behind Forsberg this season. Hertl and Forsberg (three) are the only players from the 2012 draft with multiple 30-goal seasons. 8. Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets (130) The fifth-round pick has led the NHL in shots faced each of the past four seasons; his 7,337 shots faced since 2018-19 are almost 1,000 more than Vasilevskiy, who is second (6,423). Hellebuyck's .915 save percentage during that span is tied for 11th among all goalies (minimum 100 games), and his 16 shutouts are tied with Vasilevskiy for second (Fleury, 23). Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL 2019-20 and his 201 wins are third among players in his draft class. 9. Frederik Andersen, G, Anaheim Ducks (87) Andersen was the first Denmark-born goalie to be picked in an NHL draft when the Ducks selected him in the third round. In 2014-15, his second NHL season, he helped Anaheim reach the Western Conference Final, and the next season, shared the Jennings Trophy with John Gibson for the Ducks allowing the fewest goals in the NHL. Andersen was traded to the Maple Leafs in 2016 and helped them reach the playoffs five straight seasons after they had missed them 10 of the previous 11. Now with the Hurricanes, Andersen's 445 games and 261 wins are the most among goalies picked in 2012. 10. Matt Dumba, D, Minnesota Wild (7) Dumba has supplied offensive skill and physical defensive play during his nine NHL seasons. His 75 goals are the most among defensemen drafted in 2012, as are his four seasons with at least 10 goals. Dumba is seventh in games played (519) at the position of those selected in 2012 and fourth with 712 hits. 11. Hampus Lindholm, D, Anaheim Ducks (6) Lindholm scored at least 10 goals twice in his first five NHL seasons; his 13 goals in 2017-18 were the most by a Ducks defenseman since Lubomir Visnovsky had 18 in 2010-11. Lindholm, who was traded to the Boston Bruins on March 19, is fifth among defensemen in his draft class in goals (57) and points (227) and sixth in assists (170). His plus-84 rating is second among all players picked in 2012. 12. Colton Parayko, D, St. Louis Blues (86) The third-round pick played a significant role in the Blues winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, with 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) and an average ice time of 25:07 in 26 playoff games. He's played at least 75 games five times in seven NHL seasons, and ranks in the top 10 among defensemen drafted in 2012 in games (498, ninth), goals (47, eighth), assists (159, seventh), and points (206, eighth). 13. Jacob Trouba, D, Winnipeg Jets (9) Trouba scored an NHL career-best 11 goals this season, his third with the New York Rangers after he played his first six seasons with the Jets. Trouba's 257 points (62 goals, 195 assists) are third among defensemen in his draft class, as are his 597 games. He's also the only player in the 2012 draft class with at least 1,000 hits (1,130) and 1,000 blocked shots (1,207). 14. Tanner Pearson, F, Los Angeles Kings (30) Pearson went through draft twice before the Kings chose him with the final selection of the first round in 2012. As a rookie in 2013-14 he had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 24 playoff games to help the Kings win the Stanley Cup. He's scored 20 or more goals twice in nine seasons with the Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks, and is fourth among players drafted in 2012 with 132 goals. 15. Adam Pelech, D, New York Islanders (65) Pelech has established himself as a premier shut-down defenseman the past four seasons, and played in the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. The Islanders have allowed 2.56 goals per game since the 2018-19 season, second-fewest in the NHL in that span (Boston Bruins, 2.52) and their 82.0 percent on the penalty kill is fifth best in that time. Pelech was a significant contributor to each, averaging 20:23 of ice time per game, including 2:09 per game shorthanded the past four seasons . 16. Esa Lindell, D, Dallas Stars (74) The third-round pick arrived as a full-time NHL player in 2016-17 and has averaged more than 22:00 of ice time per game each of the past five seasons. His best offensive output came in 2018-19 with 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 82 games. Lindell's defensive contributions have been far more valuable; the Stars have a .928 save percentage at 5-on-5 when he's on the ice the past six seasons, second among Dallas defensemen with at least 200 games (Miro Heiskanen, .931). 17. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Philadelphia Flyers (78) The third-round pick set an NHL record for rookie defensemen with a 15-game point streak in 2015-16, and in 2017-18, was fourth among NHL defensemen with 65 points (13 goals, 52 assists) in 78 games. This season, his first with the Arizona Coyotes after being traded July 22, 2021, Gostisbehere tied for seventh among NHL defensemen with 14 goals. Gostisbehere is second among defensemen drafted in 2012 in goals (74), assists (196) and points (270). 18. Chandler Stephenson, F, Washington Capitals (77) The third-round pick had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 24 playoff games as a rookie to help the Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018. He earned more ice time after being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 3, 2019, and his 99 points (35 goals, 64 assists) the past two seasons are second on the Golden Knights and fourth among players drafted in 2012 (Forsberg, 116; Hertl, 107, Rielly, 103). 19. Linus Ullmark, G, Buffalo Sabres (163) The sixth-round pick played well on Sabres teams that struggled during his six seasons. He had a .921 even-strength save percentage from 2015-21 despite Buffalo having a minus-226 even-strength goal differential. He had a personal-best 26 wins this season, his first with the Boston Bruins. Ullmark's 2.69 goals-against average is tied for third among goalies drafted in 2012 and his .913 save percentage is fourth (minimum 100 games). 20. Cody Ceci, D, Ottawa Senators (15) Ceci had an NHL career-best 28 points (five goals, 23 assists) in 78 games this season, his first with the Edmonton Oilers, playing the right side next to Darnell Nurse on the top defense pair. He's had at least 20 points four times in nine seasons with the Senators, Maple Leafs, Penguins and Oilers, and is ninth among defensemen selected in 2012 in goals (42), assists (129) and points (171). 21. Brady Skjei, D, New York Rangers (28) Skjei has scored at least five goals four times in the past six seasons with the Rangers and Hurricanes. He set a personal best this season with nine goals, and his 39 points tied his high (2016-17). He's 10th among defensemen drafted in 2012 in goals (37), assists (125) and points (162). 22. Josh Anderson, F, Columbus Blue Jackets (95) A fourth-round pick, Anderson has scored at least 15 goals five times in the past six seasons with the Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens, including a personal-best 27 in 2018-19. This season, he was third on the Canadiens with 19 goals. Anderson is eighth among players in his draft class with 101 goals, and is one of four forwards with at least 850 hits (894) and 150 blocked shots (183). 23. Alexander Kerfoot, F, New Jersey Devils (150) Kerfoot never played for the Devils, who selected him in the fifth round. After four seasons at Harvard, he signed with the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent in 2017 and scored 19 goals as a rookie in 2017-18. He was traded to the Maple Leafs in 2019, and this season had a personal-best 51 points (13 goals, 38 assists) in 82 games. Kerfoot's average of 0.52 points per game is tied for fifth among forwards drafted in 2012 (minimum 200 games). 24. Scott Laughton, F, Philadelphia Flyers (20) After a slow start to his NHL career, Laughton has become a versatile piece for the Flyers. He's scored at least 10 goals in four of the past five seasons despite starting 42.6 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone; since 2017-18 seven NHL forwards have scored more than Laughton's 55 goals while starting in the offensive zone as infrequently. He's also won 50.6 percent of his face-offs, fourth among players in the 2012 draft class (minimum 1,000 face-offs). 25. Matt Grzelcyk, D, Boston Bruins (85) The third-round pick has developed into a solid second-pair defenseman during his six NHL seasons. He had a personal-best 24 points (four goals, 20 assists) in 73 games this season and was second among Bruins defensemen with a plus-22 rating (Charlie McAvoy, plus-31). His plus-78 rating in 307 games is third among defensemen drafted in 2012. 26. Andreas Athanasiou, F, Detroit Red Wings (110) The fourth-round pick scored 30 goals in 2018-19, one of three times he's scored at least 15 in a season. His 105 goals are seventh among players drafted in 2012, and his average of 0.52 points in 378 games with the Red Wings, Oilers and Kings is tied for seventh (minimum 100 games). 27. Radek Faksa, F, Dallas Stars (13) Faksa had three straight 30-point seasons from 2016-19 and scored 17 goals in 2018-19. The past two seasons, he's been used more as a bottom-six forward who can play against the other team's top players and kill penalties. Faksa is one of nine NHL forwards to win at least 55.0 percent of his face-offs each of the past two seasons (minimum 650 face-offs per season), and his 51.2 percent face-off winning percentage is third among players in his draft class (minimum 1,000 face-offs). 28. Mike Matheson, D, Florida Panthers (23) Matheson has four seasons with at least 20 points, including a personal-best 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 74 games with the Penguins this season. His 49 goals are seventh among defensemen drafted in 2012, with 47 at even-strength, the fourth most. 29. Damon Severson, D, New Jersey Devils (60) Severson set personal-bests in assists (35) and points (46) and matched his best with 11 goals while averaging a team-high 23:36 of ice time in 80 games for the Devils this season. The second-round pick is fourth among defensemen drafted in 2012 with 230 points and sixth with 51 goals. 30. Zemgus Girgensons, F, Buffalo Sabres (14) A physical forward, Girgensons' best offensive season came in 2014-15, when he had 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 61 games and played in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. His 1,002 hits are fourth among players in his draft class, and he's done that while being assessed just 157 penalty minutes.
  13. Yes this. It's extremely rare - and the odd time it does happen, it's a cycle thing or special circumstances like it was with Kesler. There is a decent chance Miller ends up in Vegas anyways if Vegas anyways ... 7.5 there is like 9 here .... Patches goes and a minor tweak they can actually afford him lol. But GMs don't get blamed for UFAs switching ships other then sometimes not trading when they can. Look at the Canucks trade history with long standing divisional rivals ..... EDM/CAL/LA and try and find a bigger deal then say Tanner Pearson. Steve Staois maybe lol. Kesler is the only one i can think of - and special because only two teams on his list and they were peaking while we were hanging on just barely and about to tank hard.
  14. Are we though? Retaining 500k versus is cheaper then putting him in the minors...that said at least we'd have the depth call up if needed. Don't like retaining either.
  15. Once again, they got it wrong. Reminds me of the days when Lidstrom just was given the Norris - but the difference now is these guys actually had real competition. Josi should have won both the Hart and the Norris. Lindsay maybe too. Highway robbery. Same as Lidstrom's final Norris trophy and Daniel's Hart trophy. Perry was only amazing the last five or six weeks otherwise just very good. Karlsson also got robbed because Poughty Doughty was becoming too much like Brad Park (who was better) and they just wanted to make sure he got one. Anyways - in any normal season, all 3 finalists for the Hart, Lindsay and Norris would win ... nice that at least there is this much talent back in the NHL again.
  16. The last draft that was underwhelming was five years ago ... Patrick and Hirshceir were the two clear cut 1-2, but not considered much higher then the rest of the next ten or so .... Makar of course is the first D the leagues seen like that since Borque and Coffey's early days. Generational shouldn't be used often ... and in his case it fits. Agree this one is underwhelming .... but these things are far from an exact science. As for number 2... Linden and D Sedin did a pretty awesome job for us ... you just never do know. We'd have to have something awfully nice to say no to NJ. Doubt it happens. But who knows.
  17. Oh i definitely think we might be better off going for a young asset that's got promise over a lottery ticket. For one the timing isn't great ... NYR target would be nice to get Schnieder ... COL Byram...
  18. It's not an overpayment even for Kakko if it's only one year of Miller ... we need to start thinking like that. Or at least be prepared for it.
  19. Drafting a core absolutely is a big part of it. But historically it's far from the only way to do it. And it often involves trades just to get to the drafting table (Sedins for example, we're the result of both the Linden trade and a bunch of trades at the draft table). And without the Luongo trade we wouldn't have made it to contender status at all. Massive piece on that core, IMO the biggest one. No way we'd have six banners in a row without him and instead just an average NHL starter even. The team that actually won the most series and playoff games for us of course was the Linden ones (including the Turco series when he was almost done)... If you want to look at those teams they were almost entirely built on trades. So was the WCE era one as well. Even the mighty TB teams needed trades to make it that way. Drouin, McDonagh, Miller even... all made an impact... Cap era has made drafting king of course given you need a healthy diet of ELCs coming in ... CHI did just that for sure .. as did PIT (and people might forget, but they were awful for most of the 2000's).... Back to the Quin/Linden era. If you look at those early 90's teams, most of the core was created from trades and he actually wasn't a great drafter - just OK, and that includes Bure which of course was a massive coupe. Linden/Bure/Nedved we're his main guys. And that team was a better playoff team going back to 1989 then a regular season one. Ohlund was also his other great pick. Master trader though. Lumme for a second (imagine if we could do that now!! ) Butcher for Ronning/Momesso and Courtnall (after the Linden trade, and the Naslund one, the best in club history)... McLean ... picking up Gelinas on waivers !!! Wow. He was awesome, best GM we've ever had and it's not even close. Having a Linden on our team was like an automatic bye to the second round back then. And almost every player on that team, stepped it up in the post season. Babych, Diduck ... it's a long list. And a ton of change too - i loved Butcher. This current core isn't going to draft themselves out of trouble - our best bet is trades right now. Sure some of that could include draft picks. And i agree that drafting is key as well. But it's definitely not the only way to create a core. The best team we've ever had (regular season is fun and all but not the season that matters) was mostly created by trading an aging core. MTL wouldn't have ever beat Boston back in the early 70's if they didn't trade for Dryden either. Turns out he was the best goalie in the league until he retired. Even dynastic teams need trading too. And the best ones often have the most lopsided ones as well (go figure).
  20. I don't think Miller is getting us a massive piece back to a middling or rebuilding team... expect possibly when it comes to NJ/OTT and maybe PHI. Also think it would almost certainly mean a trade and sign ... that makes OTT less likely, although they have the extra assets for sure. What seems much more realistic is trading Miller to a contender or a playoff team that wants to make a splash. COL ... we could go after Byram. Something i've mentioned many times (his concussion issues seem to be resolving). They will need someone to fill the Kadri void ... and Miller for another shot at the cup fills that hole and some. It would also help is immensely, we need another young defenseman to grow with our core. And he'd be a core player for us. I doubt Miller would get us the second overall on his own, but he's on the list of guys that they'd target. To me what they'd want would be Miller plus our 15th. I'd also do that trade. But hope IF go there, we can keep our first as well and maybe get away with a Rathbone or Hoglander and Miller instead. Kuz on the team means we don't need Hogs. Have to consider the cap too ... might mean Zacha comes back which to me is just a wash ... not that high on Zacha and never have been. He's just a decent player that's it. OTT has been saying for a couple years now that they will spend to the cap and that it won't take long to do that. Miller probably won't re-sign there but it's hockey and never know. They've got a bunch of guys we could target ... Norris is the guy i'd be interested in but not sure they'd part with him ... Norris and their first this year would be a coupe. And of course the NYR. Bet they wish they traded for Miller at the deadline. Schneider of course is the return or forget about it. Lundqvist is meh - not even Rathbone level yet. I'd trade Miller and Rathbone for Chytill and Schneider straight across and not even ask for their first rounder. That's a solid hockey trade for both sides. In the end i love Miller - and really don't want to see him go for a bag of pucks. The Giroux trade set the market kind of. Of course Claude has done it a lot longer, but isn't as good as Miller is right now. Call it a wash. They got exactly what experts keep saying we can get for Miller - a roster player (cap stuff mostly but you need that back anyways to help plug the hole), a grade A prospect (which is the meat of the deal) and a first rounder (even odds you get a Gaunce or Hoglander with that pick OR nothing at all). To me if we can get either this years 2nd or 5th overall... we should all be bowing real low to both JB and Miller and thanking them for their service. Do that without hesitation. Schnieder or Byram as well.
  21. That's a wicked nickname! Make it so Iceman. As an aside, the AK 47 is so popular because of two things ... Durability and the size of the pill (bullet). 47 is used because of the year it went into full production...i've fired the same cartridge in a Ruger carbine, it's got a lot of punch without a lot of kick. Definitely does the job despite not being high powered (deer). Compared to the M16's in Vietnam, they US troops had the inferior weapon for the terrain especially. M16's .223 vs .30 ... had a higher rate of fire but couldn't go through smallish trees...where as the AK could, a big disadvantage given the terrain. And they constantly had to bag their guns and keep them clean to avoid jamming, AK 47 could be dropped in the mud, walked over for a couple weeks, picked up and still do its job. Don't know why the US troops decided to go with this gun... Muzzle flashes were also a bad design feature (M16). US/Nato finally made improvements in the early 80's ... Now the standard issue for Canadian troops is modified to the point it's definitely more versatile. Estimated that 75 million AKs are in use right now ... more then any other weapon on the planet. Amazing that tech created in the mid 40's still is being used in that amount of circulation. As for our new Russian recruit ... perfect nickname! And hope he helps Podz along his development. A great depth signing that has a good chance to be a regular.
  22. I'm not so sure but yes it probably isn't ideal. Given what we've seen from some UFAs ... a massive pay deal could be actually worse, as could a trade although not as likely. Teams can afford a vet or two that's overpaid ... especially impact ones. It wouldn't be the end of the world just to let him walk and regain the cap - but it would be embarrassing to management given they said this team can't afford just that. It does happen every year. Worst case actually is a bad trade that ends up sucking up cap ... or re-signing Miller and in a few short years regretting it, odds are both are better though. I love Miller. He's exactly the type of player every team needs too. Right now at least, probably for another 4 or so years, but a trade could be massive for this core as well.
  23. Down the stretch we were were we not? I'm not talking about the first winning streak...just down the stretch. Last 25 games or so (at least that's what i read - i suppose you can take any sample size and come to whatever conclusion - but we also were tops on the league in the PP over that last 25 or so games - better then anyone)..... Which i why i said down the stretch.
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