A guide to the competitive stage each team is at
- Thread starter WatchfulElm
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- Dec 20, 2018
- 22,391
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How is Columbus “staying average”recently and not in any of the rebuild categories?
2023-24
2022-23
Chet Manley
Registered User
Vancouver is no more of a contender than Winnipeg. Colorado was just a much stronger opponent than Nashville.
Columbus is very squarely on the “Late stages of a rebuild” with Anaheim and Montreal. Those three teams have paced each other almost exactly since the Bubble playoffs.
WatchfulElm
Former "Domi a favor"
Not exactly. The past 2 years, Columbus signed or traded for veteran players such as Gaudreau, Severson, Gudbranson and Provorov. It failed to bring them any success, but it's not really what rebuilding team usually do. They haven’t been in a "selling more". They are still getting older assets with huge contracts as if there were trying to win now.
Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
This is a common misconception. At the late stages of a rebuild, one needs to have quality vets around to shield the kids and give them an environment to develop properly, and those signings were an attempt to do so. They have so far met with mixed success, and Waddell is continuing that stage with a similar but slightly adjusted approach.
It might be easier to say that we're trying to take the next step into that "rebuild over" phase.
Misery74
Registered User
- Nov 20, 2017
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Captain Mountain
Formerly Captain Wolverine
- Jun 6, 2010
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Doesn't mean they aren't rebuilding, they've finished bottom 10 in four straight drafts (and picked 6 times in the top 12 in that time). You can question the logic behind spending big money on Gaudreau, Severson and Monahan, but they're rebuilding.
KeyserSoze81
Registered User
As Sabres fan for the last 30+ years, I would describe Buffalo as in a Sisyphean stage. There is no ending of the struggle, just brief moments where you think you might be coming out of it, only to have the heavy stone go rolling down the hill again. This is our burden. There is no joy, just different levels of pain.
WatchfulElm
Former "Domi a favor"
Call it an accidental rebuild then. Clearly, they didn't sign all those big names with the intention of tanking. They wanted to compete and failed.
Captain Mountain
Formerly Captain Wolverine
- Jun 6, 2010
- 20,778
- 14,563
Almost no team actually "tanks". You could just as easily claim any of Montreal, Anaheim and Philadelphia as wanting to compete and failed. Buffalo, Ottawa, Utah and Detroit too.
You want to call it a misguided or poorly executed rebuild then fine, but they haven't ****ed their cap structure too badly despite some bad contracts and they haven't traded picks or prospects to compete in the present.
AD1066
Registered User
- Sep 30, 2011
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"One must imagine Buffalo fans happy."
Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
This is mistaken binary thinking. There are modes other than "tank" and "compete for Stanley Cup". There are, in fact, phases in between.
I’d say the Caps have been rebuilding for the last two seasons. They’ve sold at the last 2 deadlines and the majority of their player acquisitions are under 30 (Sandin, Strome, Dubois, Chychrun, etc.)
They’re not tanking for picks, but that’s only one type of rebuild.
Haha I love that this is a "quick guide" for new folks, but is also simultaneously one of the most subjective/debatable tier lists possible. Appreciate the effort nonetheless!
Stewie Griffin
What the deuce
PHI isn't in the same tier as CHI and SJS.
Idk where I'd put OTT either...they're in a very tough division and look like the clear worst team in it.
Idk where I'd put OTT either...they're in a very tough division and look like the clear worst team in it.
mr figgles
Registered User
- Mar 24, 2012
- 1,286
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Philly is not at the start of a rebuild. They are stuck in a muddy pasture spinning their wheels not going anywhere just and flinging shit everywhere. Not enough high end talent to be a threat. Too much talent to finish low and draft talent. Even when talent falls to them, they pass on it.
Why is that the case? Is it just bad ownership? There must be more to it than that. Spending money on an NHL team is chump change for most of these billionaires. It probably costs about $120 mil per to run an NHL team with a player payroll of about $80 mil? Even if the team only clears about $2 mil per home date (15k fans at a bit over $100 per ticket and some parking and concessions fees) they probably make about $500k per road date or something? Add in TV and radio and streaming and jerseys and overseas and the team should be able to break even. Buffalo is a loyal fanbase and deserves better. The team has done a nice job recently with its drafting. I think they have talent they just need the young players to commit to team defense and it should get much better.
I love the list, not everything is perfect but it's a pretty close approximation of what's going on.
This is a cool idea and I like your list. I would make a few changes (in bold), though. No offense.
Contenders - Trending up
- Edmonton
- Nashville
- Florida
Contenders - middle of the wave
- Toronto
- Dallas
- New Jersey
- Vancouver
- Tampa Bay
- Boston
- NY Rangers
- Colorado
Contenders - Trending down
- Carolina
- Vegas
Trying to stay competitive but not strong enough to contend
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
- Winnipeg
- NY Islanders
- Minnesota
- Pittsburgh
Direction of the team unclear (trying to stay average?)
- St. Louis
- Philadelphia
- Utah
- Washington
- Calgary
Rebuild over and trending up
- Buffalo
- Ottawa
- Detroit
Late stages of a rebuild
- Montreal
- Anaheim
- Columbus
Early stages of a rebuild
- San Jose
- Chicago
Contenders - Trending up
- Edmonton
- Nashville
- Florida
Contenders - middle of the wave
- Toronto
- Dallas
- New Jersey
- Vancouver
- Tampa Bay
- Boston
- NY Rangers
- Colorado
Contenders - Trending down
- Carolina
- Vegas
Trying to stay competitive but not strong enough to contend
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
- Winnipeg
- NY Islanders
- Minnesota
- Pittsburgh
Direction of the team unclear (trying to stay average?)
- St. Louis
- Philadelphia
- Utah
- Washington
- Calgary
Rebuild over and trending up
- Buffalo
- Ottawa
- Detroit
Late stages of a rebuild
- Montreal
- Anaheim
- Columbus
Early stages of a rebuild
- San Jose
- Chicago
KevinFinnerty
I bomb atomically...
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