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2022-2023 Around The League

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Colorado Avalanche said:
Graves their top defenseman? Tough to believe this streak would continue more than regular season.. sounds like Roy Avalanche. Imo. Playoffs their defense will be exposed.
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There were times back in the day when Patrik Nemeth was the team’s leader in TOI. Ice time isn’t always a measuring stick of usage. Dougie and Siegenthaler are clearly their top two guys.

But yes, as I said elsewhere, I think Graves will likely struggle in the postseason.

Balthazar said:


I guess being injured all the time doesn't count. :dunno:
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To be fair, so is Lindholm.
 
WHats the fantasy play for that Leafs blue line with everyone banged up? Someone’s gonna get points and I need a D man
 
Avs9296 said:
Why do you hate us?

:laugh:
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I just prefer not to tempt karma with a team that has 40% out with injury. :laugh:
Pokecheque said:
Y’know all this TT cheerleading is starting to remind me…IIRC weren’t you the one saying repeatedly that Jeff Skinner was done?
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Amazing how if you don’t expect him to grind on the 4th line, he produces. On his way to another 30+ goal season
 
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Pokecheque said:
Honestly not sure how Rob Blake still has a job.
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Given the constraints ownership has on his rebuild (build around Kopi and Doughty), he’s not doing a bad job. He’s made some mistakes (passing on Stutzle is a clear one)… but he’s built them into a playoff team who has a number of prospects close. There doubt they can reach a Cup level core… but retooling around older guys is incredibly difficult. Avs are going to face the same thing in a few years.
 
henchman24 said:
Given the constraints ownership has on his rebuild (build around Kopi and Doughty), he’s not doing a bad job. He’s made some mistakes (passing on Stutzle is a clear one)… but he’s built them into a playoff team who has a number of prospects close. There doubt they can reach a Cup level core… but retooling around older guys is incredibly difficult. Avs are going to face the same thing in a few years.
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He's made more than a few mistakes. Throwing money and term at Cal Petersen thinking he was the goalie of the future, that contract has turned into one of the worst in the league. The signing of Ilya Kovalchuk was another disaster (really, Rob? Your team wasn't slow enough?).

And as much as we slag the Avs' scouting staff for getting almost nothing out of lower rounds, just think of where the team would be if they didn't absolutely nail it with those lottery picks. As much as we'd like to think those picks are no-brainers (and in some ways they are) the Kings have proven you can indeed strike out badly at the top of the draft. Though I never would've predicted it, Alex Turcotte is a HUGE bust, and as much as I really want the kid to succeed, I'm already seriously doubting Quinton Byfield. Hope he proves me wrong.

The only reason Blake's rebuild even looks remotely successful is because he went out and got very expensive band-aids like Phil Danault and a coach who preaches a clutch-and-grab brand of slog hockey that covers up a team's flaws pretty effectively.

I will admit he did well to acquire Fiala from a cornered Wylde team, but they just look like an extraordinarily mediocre team. Dallas has effectively achieved what Los Angeles couldn't and shifted their core away from Seguin and Benn (and Klingberg) to Robertson, Heiskanen, and Oettinger.
 
Pokecheque said:
He's made more than a few mistakes. Throwing money and term at Cal Petersen thinking he was the goalie of the future, that contract has turned into one of the worst in the league. The signing of Ilya Kovalchuk was another disaster (really, Rob? Your team wasn't slow enough?).

And as much as we slag the Avs' scouting staff for getting almost nothing out of lower rounds, just think of where the team would be if they didn't absolutely nail it with those lottery picks. As much as we'd like to think those picks are no-brainers (and in some ways they are) the Kings have proven you can indeed strike out badly at the top of the draft. Though I never would've predicted it, Alex Turcotte is a HUGE bust, and as much as I really want the kid to succeed, I'm already seriously doubting Quinton Byfield. Hope he proves me wrong.

The only reason Blake's rebuild even looks remotely successful is because he went out and got very expensive band-aids like Phil Danault and a coach who preaches a clutch-and-grab brand of slog hockey that covers up a team's flaws pretty effectively.

I will admit he did well to acquire Fiala from a cornered Wylde team, but they just look like an extraordinarily mediocre team. Dallas has effectively achieved what Los Angeles couldn't and shifted their core away from Seguin and Benn (and Klingberg) to Robertson, Heiskanen, and Oettinger.
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Ownership constraints... he was directed to win now immediately and has since had to pivot to a rebuild/retool that involves keeping Kopi and Doughty (while trying to make them happy). You have a couple different periods and objectives that are disjointed, but that isn't on Blake as much as it is on ownership.

Turcotte has had a ton of injuries, but that was a miss....Zegras or Mo should have been that pick.

Byfield... I think people are being way too quick to write him off. He was always a toolsy, raw and rather low IQ player. Sometimes it takes some time for those players to click and at just 20, it is way too early.

For trades you have Fiala, Arvidsson, Grundstrom/Durzi/Bjornfot, and Moore as very clear wins that have helped the team. You may hate the Danault signing as a very expensive band-aid, but it really is a very cheap deal for a fantastic 2C who provides Selke level defense to take some load of Kopitar that has help his resurgence. Danault's contract is one of the best in the league for what he can provide.

It is also easy to write off his drafting as crap, but it misses the larger picture. 2019, even with Turcotte, is going to be a hell of a draft for them. Bjornfot is a NHL defensmen. May only top out as a middle pairing defensive guy (I think he'll be more of a 5), but still a NHL defender. Kaliyev is gonna pop 20+g this year and be a 30+g guy soon, Spence is a future 2/3 puck mover, and Fagemo likely has a future as a bottom 6 guy. The 2017 draft has produced 2 NHLers in impact roles (including Vilardi as a breakout guy this year). 2018 only likely gets 1 who is already in the NHL (though some still like Thomas). I think 2020 has a legit shot at 4 NHLers (Byfield, Faber, Grans, and Laferriere).

He is far from perfect, but the job he's done shouldn't get him fired. The team is a year or so away from elevating a level.
 
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