2022-2023 Around The League

[Bill Peckerskull]

With hindsight 20/20, what were some of the biggest misses from the expansion draft/offseason last year for Seattle?

They could have had Duchene or Johansen, JTC, EJ or even taken a stab at Landy, Tarasenko, Shattenkirk, Niederreiter, Voracek, Domi, Price (although that was probably a good move considering his issues that came to light after the Ex. Draft).

 

[Gruyeriev]

He's naturally immune to all diseases, but I hear he is a big proponent of the Duncan Keith-scientific institute just in case he isn't

Don’t forget Tyler Bertuzzi MD

 

[Gruyeriev]

They could have had Duchene or Johansen, JTC, EJ or even taken a stab at Landy, Tarasenko, Shattenkirk, Niederreiter, Voracek, Domi, Price (although that was probably a good move considering his issues that came to light after the Ex. Draft).

Donskoi seemed like the better player at the time. Watch Bura go 60+ games without a goal.

 

[UnkleKraker]

Seattle planning to play Bura on the first line with Beniers at center. Something tells me that they don't know what kind of player Bura really is.

Projected lines according to NHL.com

Did you see how bad Seattle was last year? This is an improvement even if Bura ghosts half the season.

 

[Muffin]

Did you see how bad Seattle was last year? This is an improvement even if Bura ghosts half the season.

Honestly that looks like a playoff team to be on paper, assuming Grubauer at least somewhat returns to form. No way Wright doesn't make the team as well.

 

[Balthazar]

Did you see how bad Seattle was last year? This is an improvement even if Bura ghosts half the season.

Bura isn't a guy that should play next to your rookie center.

 

[Bender]

So... Is anyone hungry???

I had an empty stomach but now it's full and I only read the 1st page... so delicious!!!!

Official Doug Armstrong needs to go thread

It time for this thread. He has done nothing but weaken the club since 2019. He let pietrangelo walk. he let maroon go. He signed scandella to a awful contract. He is gonna end up letting perron go. He signed Krug to a contract far too long. If binner does not return to previous years form...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[SaltySkywalker]

I’d argue that saying Fox defends like Nadal would be a better analogy. But other than that I see no issues with these points

Yep, of the big three in their primes, I'd go: Fed best offense, Djoker best defense, and Nadal best mix of the two.

 

[Avsboy]

Did you see how bad Seattle was last year? This is an improvement even if Bura ghosts half the season.

They should just throw Wright into the belly of the beast

 

[bromando]

They could have had Duchene or Johansen, JTC, EJ or even taken a stab at Landy, Tarasenko, Shattenkirk, Niederreiter, Voracek, Domi, Price (although that was probably a good move considering his issues that came to light after the Ex. Draft).

Yeah, the Duchene one I knew about. That one, even if he put up numbers like last year, would still be a risk with the time and size of the contract. But doesn't look great one year out. Domi could've been nice trade bait. Tarasenko is a whiff.

Overall, not as bad as I'd thought. Wrong summer for them to enter the league really. The cap issues this summer for teams would've allowed for a lot more stockpiling of assets.

 

[The Merchant]

Incredible

 

[UncleRisto]

I like how this NHL team's arena is on the smaller side for the Finnish elite league.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Yep, of the big three in their primes, I'd go: Fed best offense, Djoker best defense, and Nadal best mix of the two.

Interesting, I feel like I’d flip Nadal and Joker personally.

 

[Pokecheque]

With hindsight 20/20, what were some of the biggest misses from the expansion draft/offseason last year for Seattle?

A lot of people keep saying they should've snagged one or more of Duchene/Tarasenko/Johansen, but I don't blame them one bit for not taking any of those guys. All were coming off very unproductive stretches and had huge question marks going into the 2021-22 season. No one could have predicted all of them would bust out the way they did. And unless they continue on those respective tears into the next season and beyond, those are still really bad contracts.

Where I think Ronnie Franchise went wrong was in free agency. Why did he drop so much coin on two big, slow, unskilled defensemen in Larsson and Oleksiak, and then turn around and sign a middle-tier starter like Grubauer? It's as if the man went out of his way to assemble one of the biggest, best, and most diverse analytics departments in sport, and then didn't listen to them. That was a horribly unskilled blueline in an age when skill/skating ability from the back end has never been more important. Their top puckmover was...Vince Dunn. And they wonder why they were one of the worst offensive teams in hockey this season.

There weren't really any true skill players available in the expansion draft, not without some egregious contracts attached to them. So the selections themselves weren't horrid, but it's stuff they did outside of the draft that I didn't like.

Oh and I didn't love his selection of coach either. Hakstol? Really? I can't see him and Burakovsky getting along.

 

[bromando]

Incredible

I know it's a longshot...but say they make the playoffs somehow, miraculously. Is that home to the playoff games or is the new arena ready by then?

Now an even ridiculously longer shot - say they make the cup? That would be an absurd arena for a cup series. Of course, there is probably a higher likelihood of almost anything happening than a coyote cup run but just curious...

 

[Pokecheque]

I know it's a longshot...but say they make the playoffs somehow, miraculously. Is that home to the playoff games or is the new arena ready by then?

Now an even ridiculously longer shot - say they make the cup? That would be an absurd arena for a cup series. Of course, there is probably a higher likelihood of almost anything happening than a coyote cup run but just curious...

I don't even think the new rink has been fully approved yet, so, no I don't believe it'll be ready for the playoffs.

We don't have to worry about them making the Cup Final. It'd be a miracle if they even made the playoffs, no way do they go on a fluke run of THAT magnitude.

It was kinda funny that, bad as they were, the Avs struggled with them a bit during the regular season.

 

[bromando]

A lot of people keep saying they should've snagged one or more of Duchene/Tarasenko/Johansen, but I don't blame them one bit for not taking any of those guys. All were coming off very unproductive stretches and had huge question marks going into the 2021-22 season. No one could have predicted all of them would bust out the way they did. And unless they continue on those respective tears into the next season and beyond, those are still really bad contracts.

Where I think Ronnie Franchise went wrong was in free agency. Why did he drop so much coin on two big, slow, unskilled defensemen in Larsson and Oleksiak, and then turn around and sign a middle-tier starter like Grubauer? It's as if the man went out of his way to assemble one of the biggest, best, and most diverse analytics departments in sport, and then didn't listen to them. That was a horribly unskilled blueline in an age when skill/skating ability from the back end has never been more important. Their top puckmover was...Vince Dunn. And they wonder why they were one of the worst offensive teams in hockey this season.

There weren't really any true skill players available in the expansion draft, not without some egregious contracts attached to them. So the selections themselves weren't horrid, but it's stuff they did outside of the draft that I didn't like.

Oh and I didn't love his selection of coach either. Hakstol? Really? I can't see him and Burakovsky getting along.

Thanks for the response - that's good insight. Yeah their lineup isn't too horrid for a second year team...their forwards actually look pretty deep relative to a lot of teams even if they're currently missing the high end players...but that defense leaves a lot to be desired and I don't know if they have any way to do much about it until they can draft some high level defenders or make a big trade.

 

[bromando]

I don't even think the new rink has been fully approved yet, so, no I don't believe it'll be ready for the playoffs.

We don't have to worry about them making the Cup Final. It'd be a miracle if they even made the playoffs, no way do they go on a fluke run of THAT magnitude.

It was kinda funny that, bad as they were, the Avs struggled with them a bit during the regular season.

That's what I figure but just playing hypothetical. Didn't know the new rink is still up in the air a bit. Honestly I'll root for them just for the spectacle of seeing a playoff game in that arena. Not that it'll do anything.

 

[redacted]

I'm 100% making a trip down then next year to see a game.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Incredible

I hope thy make the playoffs.

 

[bromando]

I'm 100% making a trip down then next year to see a game.

Would be very cool to see the defending champs on that ice.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I'm 100% making a trip down then next year to see a game.

I was thinking about going to Tempe...for other reasons. Might have to swing by to catch a game at the arena while im in Zona.

 

[Pokecheque]

Thanks for the response - that's good insight. Yeah their lineup isn't too horrid for a second year team...their forwards actually look pretty deep relative to a lot of teams even if they're currently missing the high end players...but that defense leaves a lot to be desired and I don't know if they have any way to do much about it until they can draft some high level defenders or make a big trade.

Yeah, I like their forward mix, and I imagine poor Donk will be scoring a bit more than he did last season (strange that in a season where scoring went up league-wide, his completely dried up.

Defense and goaltending still look terrible though, but whatever, if they want to stealth tank another season that's their business (I don't think that's the plan).

That's what I figure but just playing hypothetical. Didn't know the new rink is still up in the air a bit. Honestly I'll root for them just for the spectacle of seeing a playoff game in that arena. Not that it'll do anything.

Ohhhh that'd be hilarious, especially if they continued the "white out" tradition.

In all seriousness though, I'd probably pay to see an NHL game there.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Honestly that looks like a playoff team to be on paper, assuming Grubauer at least somewhat returns to form. No way Wright doesn't make the team as well.

Not with that D/Goaltending they ain't

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I liked Varly, but he was highly overrated for a long time. He has had a couple good seasons, but for the most part he's been an absurdly talented goalie that played well below his ability the majority of the time. Last goalie on the Avs that I truly loved was Abby, and that was just me being young and dumb.

Don't feel bad everybody gets older.