2022-2023 Around The League

[John Mandalorian]

I wouldn’t mind the trophies being renamed since Jack Adams, Conn Smythe, etc. were big greedy jerks and what not, that said that’s not exactly a hill I’d die on.

What about getting rid of the awards? There's east coast bias and when it's not that, it's simply counting stats watching. If Josi had played for Boston last year, there's no way Makar wins.

These guys voting are older men living on the east coast who consider staying up for west/west coast games an onerous burden.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Jeff Finger trophy. A middle finger to the most baffling decision by a GM.

 

[nightonthesun]

Jeff Finger trophy. A middle finger to the most baffling decision by a GM.

I know we talk about winning a Finger as if it’s the big “prestige award,” but I honestly think it’s harder to win a Tugnutt

 

[Pokecheque]

What about getting rid of the awards? There's east coast bias and when it's not that, it's simply counting stats watching. If Josi had played for Boston last year, there's no way Makar wins.

These guys voting are older men living on the east coast who consider staying up for west/west coast games an onerous burden.

Well we know that’s not going to happen. I don’t think the awards are the issue, just who is allowed to vote on them.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[McMetal]

That was a scary injury. It's kind of a wonder that it doesn't happen more often with all the traffic in front of the net these days.

 

[Balthazar]

 

[Pokecheque]

I believe it was Avs legend Patrick Wiercioch who took a puck to the throat when he played in Ottawa. That right there is the one that terrifies me most.

Patrick Thoresen. That's all I'd say to any coach who'd tell me that I have to block shots. Fuuuuuuck that.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Bad take. He’d be my first pick easily.

 

[dahrougem2]

I love the stupidity of these takes.

It's like all the NBA pundits who used to clown LeBron James before he turned 27 for not being able to win.

Remember, folks, it's a team game. Connor McDavid is on pace for the most points in a single season since Steve Yzerman in the 1980s. He just finished leading the playoffs in scoring despite only playing 3 rounds. Yet he is the one to blame apparently.

 

[The Abusement Park]

I love the stupidity of these takes.

It's like all the NBA pundits who used to clown LeBron James before he turned 27 for not being able to win.

Remember, folks, it's a team game. Connor McDavid is on pace for the most points in a single season since Steve Yzerman in the 1980s. He just finished leading the playoffs in scoring despite only playing 3 rounds. Yet he is the one to blame apparently.

If he played 15% better defense and scored a little bit less the oilers would win or something.

 

[CobraAcesS]

It seems like Compher has increased his effort level pretty substantially since the day that Jost was traded. I do believe that shook JTC because he's played differently (better) since then.

I know folks love to troll on JTC but for shits and giggles this is pulled from Natural Stat Trick. I filtered for forwards only who have played a minimum of 300 minutes. This is also filtered for Even Strength (which I think is key for the playoffs). It just goes to show how JTC is comparing to other names of interest.

View attachment 621737

I know xGF% is not a god-send stat, but are we really sure that for this season, this run, that a guy that isn't substantially better at these metrics would be able to come in at the deadline and be able gel enough to do a better job than what JTC is currently doing with what he's could have when the team is healthy or what Mikko can do when the team is healthy? The question of course is can he sustain this. While his past would cast doubt on his ability to do so, I am reminded that it is a contract year and he's actually be showing improvement since the TDL last season. There was an immediate jump in sustained level of play, but he has slowly been getter better on top of that.

I'm thinking as we get healthy we keep JTC as 2C and see if it works when he's got 2 of Landeskog, Lehkonen, Nichushkin, Rantanen on his wings. If that doesn't work, then swap Rants back to C before making a move.

But as I look around at what is/could be available and what the prices are going to be I have to think to myself, why not keep our 1st and use it in what is supposed to be a deep draft. Also, we're due for some good luck...so here it goes, what we are seeing is the evolution of JT Compher into a low end 2C. And it could work due to the depth of our wings. We re-sign him for a moderate raise, and he actually works out. I can dream.

I have a hard time getting over that it's a contract year. The hate comes from knowing he can be better, when he's motivated by something outside of the rink. Not that he can't turn a corner, but it's way too much of a risk that he turns back into a pumpkin after getting paid. I'll take whatever he gives us this year though.

I agree that media voting is dumb as f***.

Coaches, players and GM's should vote. Perhaps even assistant coaches, scouts and other people working directly with players.

Just make sure that they can't vote for the players on the team that they work for.

If we re-name the Calder make it the Selänne trophy.

I'm not up for renaming anything mind you.

Norris Trophy:
"Awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."

Selke Trophy:
"The Selke Trophy is awarded to the NHL forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game."

Don't tell me the Selke should involve numbers. It's become a sham of an award based on the criteria. Ditto the Norris.

You can have a best offensive defensemen trophy and best defensive defensemen trophy. Simple. And there are absolutely metrics out there showcasing the top defenders. You can look at general correlations such as good penalty killers and shot blockers (not my favourite), but you can also look at advanced metrics like shot suppression, denied zone entries, passes blocked, slot chances defended, takeaways, etc. Those would highlight the best true defenders.

Well we know that’s not going to happen. I don’t think the awards are the issue, just who is allowed to vote on them.

Highlighted by how many different options there are that are better than wtf they're doing now.

For the record I wouldn't change names of the trophies, but some modifications, fixes, and an addition or two would be nice. Anything that is less stupid would work lol.

 

[Balthazar]

Tage Thompson Leads The NHL’s 2022-23 ‘Best Bargain’ Team

With only minimal increases in the NHL's salary cap over the past three seasons, effective players with low cap hits are more valuable than ever.

www.forbes.com

Didn't realize he was only making 1.4M this year!

 

[The Kingslayer]

I love the stupidity of these takes.

It's like all the NBA pundits who used to clown LeBron James before he turned 27 for not being able to win.

Remember, folks, it's a team game. Connor McDavid is on pace for the most points in a single season since Steve Yzerman in the 1980s. He just finished leading the playoffs in scoring despite only playing 3 rounds. Yet he is the one to blame apparently.

No kidding. Leon and Connor are the only reason the Oilers arent in the Bedard lottery right now. Its not their fault the GM cant build a proper d group and just gave a 5x5 to Ilya Bryzgalov.

 

[SaltySkywalker]

No kidding. Leon and Connor are the only reason the Oilers arent in the Bedard lottery right now. Its not their fault the GM cant build a proper d group and just gave a 5x5 to Ilya Bryzgalov.

Ouch. You didn't heff to say that.

 

[redacted]

I know he's done a lot for the team. But they missed their shot at the cup and now they're mired in mediocrity. Time to go in a new direction I would think.

Accepting that windows are over is the hardest things for teams to do. Almost every organization screws that up.

 

[Pokecheque]

Bad take. He’d be my first pick easily.

Anyone who says they can't build a winner around Connor f***ing McDavid is a goddamned idiot.

 

[redacted]

If we take contracts into account… I kinda see it. Just level of play, Makar is really the only other one in conversation for the top pick.

 

[Pokecheque]

I know he's done a lot for the team. But they missed their shot at the cup and now they're mired in mediocrity. Time to go in a new direction I would think.

Unfortunately they got insane seasons out of Duchene and Johansen (and Saros) last season and it convinced them that they were still in it. All those guys have come back to Earth and it's showing.

I'm a little surprised that Forsberg has seemingly regressed so suddenly. I know this kind of thing tends to happen after the big contract is signed but he just doesn't even look like a factor in games anymore, he was the closest thing to a gamebreaking forward they've probably ever had.

 

[The Abusement Park]

If we take contracts into account… I kinda see it. Just level of play, Makar is really the only other one in conversation for the top pick.

Yeah Makars the only person I’d even consider taking over Mcdavid. And even then Mcdavid is a more impactful player than Makar. Idk, I don’t see how anyone can watch what Mcdavid did last postseason and think, “yeah I can’t win with that guy.”

 

[dahrougem2]

Yeah Makars the only person I’d even consider taking over Mcdavid. And even then Mcdavid is a more impactful player than Makar. Idk, I don’t see how anyone can watch what Mcdavid did last postseason and think, “yeah I can’t win with that guy.”

It comes down to two types of people:

1) People who think they know how to win but are actually idiots (seriously, we're giving a guy who could hardly keep up in the ECHL a platform?)

2) People who want to be controversial, also idiots.

It's like all the people who went at LeBron, and similarly Michael Jordan in the 80s. The same people who claimed you could never win a World Cup with Lionel Messi as your top guy. Same people who claimed you could never win a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning leading your team as the QB.

Eventually the all time greats end up winning. There are random outliers here and there (Dan Marino comes to mind) but for the most part the all time greats usually end up on the winning side. I am 100% certain McDavid will be no different.

Now, whether or not that happens in Edmonton is a different conversation. But eventually he will win.

 

[The Abusement Park]

It comes down to two types of people:

1) People who think they know how to win but are actually idiots (seriously, we're giving a guy who could hardly keep up in the ECHL a platform?)

2) People who want to be controversial, also idiots.

It's like all the people who went at LeBron, and similarly Michael Jordan in the 80s. The same people who claimed you could never win a World Cup with Lionel Messi as your top guy. Same people who claimed you could never win a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning leading your team as the QB.

Eventually the all time greats end up winning. There are random outliers here and there (Dan Marino comes to mind) but for the most part the all time greats usually end up on the winning side. I am 100% certain McDavid will be no different.

Now, whether or not that happens in Edmonton is a different conversation. But eventually he will win.

100%. It’s not like mcdavid is old either. He’s 25. He’s got plenty of time to get his win under his belt and him playing more defensively isn’t going to make it more likely. He’s not noticeably worse than someone like Mack or Crosby during his first cup
run. Drai on the other hand.

 

[Pokecheque]

Yeah, McDavid will likely win, but I'm guessing it won't be in Edmonton. Way too many mistakes made by Chiarelli that Holland has seemingly doubled down on.

 

[Azrael89]

Accepting that windows are over is the hardest things for teams to do. Almost every organization screws that up.

The Avs drug things out too far when Sakic was on his last legs, but I understood why. It could have really set us back though.