Armchair GM Thread

[Porter Stoutheart]

He was 5th in TOI among their forwards, 5th in PP time, spent 40% of his time with a combo of Boldy, Zuccarello, Kaprizov, and another almost 20% with a mix of Boldy, Kaprizov, Johansson, Hartman, and Foligno. I'm sure there are quirks and weird stretches, it's Hynes after all, but there's nothing egregious there. Sounds entitled. Probably pissed he wasn't stapled to Kaprizov and PP1 more to bloat his numbers for a bigger extension.

I think it was the playoffs only where that issue cropped up. He got reasonable utilization in the regular season, hence his nice numbers, but then got shuffled back in the playoffs - that was the way I read things. (haven't checked the stats)

If that's true, I don't think it's pure entitlement if you go from being de facto top-6 regular season and putting up good numbers to suddenly shuffled back to bottom 6 in the playoffs for no apparent reason? (other than size/age)

Regardless, nobody is getting Rossi in the 2nd rounder compensation salary range, so it's a totally moot point. He is worth $7M+, and he'll get it. Either from Minnesota or some team who is able to give up their 1st - we're not such a team.

 

[Predsanddead24]

Tkachuk was the final piece. Other shrewd moves were acquiring the two Sam's, signing Verhaege, Rodrigues and Bob as FA's, and countless other moves. The Tkachuk trade put them over the top for sure. It gave them two legit top lines, a third line that is playoff ready. They added quality depth defensemen and when they lost OEL and Montour this past offseason, they went out and added Jones once they realized they needed another piece to make it work.

The comments Jones made about his teammates say a lot about the types of players they've acquired and the culture they have. It all starts with their best player and captain and trickles down to the rest of the roster.

They also made a coaching change that seemingly had a huge effect.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

When it comes to Florida and building teams you can't overlook how they sucked for so long and got to pick Ekblad and Barkov.

Well, but they also made trades and signings above par. Tkachuk, Reinhart, Jones, Bobrovsky - despite how that contract was panned at the time - and "found money" sometimes on castoffs like Verhaege, Forsling, Rodrigues... I wouldn't even say the Entry Draft was the main factor in their ascension. It was nice to get Ekblad and Barkov, but to be honest they hit even more on other aspects of team-building outside the draft.

 

[Softball99]

I think it was the playoffs only where that issue cropped up. He got reasonable utilization in the regular season, hence his nice numbers, but then got shuffled back in the playoffs - that was the way I read things. (haven't checked the stats)

If that's true, I don't think it's pure entitlement if you go from being de facto top-6 regular season and putting up good numbers to suddenly shuffled back to bottom 6 in the playoffs for no apparent reason? (other than size/age)

Regardless, nobody is getting Rossi in the 2nd rounder compensation salary range, so it's a totally moot point. He is worth $7M+, and he'll get it. Either from Minnesota or some team who is able to give up their 1st - we're not such a team.

He was replacing EE while he was injured and got sent to the 4th after he came back

 

[Scoresberg]

Well, but they also made trades and signings above par. Tkachuk, Reinhart, Jones, Bobrovsky - despite how that contract was panned at the time - and "found money" sometimes on castoffs like Verhaege, Forsling, Rodrigues... I wouldn't even say the Entry Draft was the main factor in their ascension. It was nice to get Ekblad and Barkov, but to be honest they hit even more on other aspects of team-building outside the draft.

Agreed. And to be honest, Ekblad was and is just the 3rd best defenseman on that team.

 

[Armourboy]

Well, but they also made trades and signings above par. Tkachuk, Reinhart, Jones, Bobrovsky - despite how that contract was panned at the time - and "found money" sometimes on castoffs like Verhaege, Forsling, Rodrigues... I wouldn't even say the Entry Draft was the main factor in their ascension. It was nice to get Ekblad and Barkov, but to be honest they hit even more on other aspects of team-building outside the draft.

Those two let them concentrate on the other pieces though, the hard ones to find were out of the way. They also didn't waste assets or cap trying to find a Barkov or Ekblad. They also didn't sign a guy like Huberdeau that they didn't feel had a complete game.

 

[hido]

They also made a coaching change that seemingly had a huge effect.

That's really funny.

 

[GeauxPreds1]

The Tkachuk trade was obviously huge but Florida's success is the result of a bunch of moves that have all worked out very well for them. For me looking at Florida it's a sign of what happens when you have the GM, coach, and players all on the same page of what they want to be as a team and working together to achieve that goal. We unfortunately don't seem to have that at all.

Them not hiring Burnette as their coach was probably their best move

 

[Softball99]

On the Rossi front... Offer sheet will cost our 1st. What if time... you feel kind of, no obvious choice at 5, need a young top end C. Trade 1sts with Minnesota for Rossi and shoot for a 2-3 yr bridge at 6-6.5?

 

[Flgatorguy87]

On the Rossi front... Offer sheet will cost our 1st. What if time... you feel kind of, no obvious choice at 5, need a young top end C. Trade 1sts with Minnesota for Rossi and shoot for a 2-3 yr bridge at 6-6.5?

That's a big gamble on Rossi. What is he best case scenario long term? I know the top 5 isn't full of game changers, but I think the odds of us hitting a Rossi player or higher are in our favor. Meaning long term 2C which is likely what he is.

 

[Scoresberg]

On the Rossi front... Offer sheet will cost our 1st. What if time... you feel kind of, no obvious choice at 5, need a young top end C. Trade 1sts with Minnesota for Rossi and shoot for a 2-3 yr bridge at 6-6.5?

I don't know.. two 1sts is a steep price although this draft is pretty weak.

 

[GeauxPreds1]

That's a big gamble on Rossi. What is he best case scenario long term? I know the top 5 isn't full of game changers, but I think the odds of us hitting a Rossi player or higher are in our favor. Meaning long term 2C which is likely what he is.

Going for rossi would clearly mean we totally expect to be a playoff team and at this moment I have no faith in trotz to do the right thing to have a playoff team. Rossi would be a good add to this team and I would gladly give up our 1st plus for him BUT if we don't make any moves besides that it will be a very bad mistake because him alone doesn't put us in the playoffs. Now if we get him and land another top 6 forward and a defensive defenseman and get rid of players that isn't it then yea

 

[Softball99]

I don't know.. two 1sts is a steep price although this draft is pretty weak.

Not 2, a swap of 1sts

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Not 2, a swap of 1sts

Minnesota doesn't have a 1st this year, so swapping down from #5 isn't possible. And we can't gamble the 2026 pick for a swap, since it might be even higher than #5 in a better draft.

I also don't think Rossi would fare all that well here. He's 5'9" and still young. Our "braintrust" probably wouldn't keep him at center, nor play him in positions where he could produce at a rate that justifies the trade cost.

We're better off just letting that "braintrust" pick Their Guy at #5, because at least then they will feel investment in that player, and hopefully that will translate into expanded opportunity for that player at some point.

 

[Flgatorguy87]

I'd trade later 1st for his rights, that's for sure.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

On the Rossi front... Offer sheet will cost our 1st. What if time... you feel kind of, no obvious choice at 5, need a young top end C. Trade 1sts with Minnesota for Rossi and shoot for a 2-3 yr bridge at 6-6.5?

Pass. Several better options than Rossi at 5.

 

[GeauxPreds1]

On the Rossi front... Offer sheet will cost our 1st. What if time... you feel kind of, no obvious choice at 5, need a young top end C. Trade 1sts with Minnesota for Rossi and shoot for a 2-3 yr bridge at 6-6.5?

Nah im adding that 5 pick to play on the same team as rossi if possible. Trading the 5 doesn't come available for rossi

 

[NoNecksCurse]

Going for rossi would clearly mean we totally expect to be a playoff team and at this moment I have no faith in trotz to do the right thing to have a playoff team. Rossi would be a good add to this team and I would gladly give up our 1st plus for him BUT if we don't make any moves besides that it will be a very bad mistake because him alone doesn't put us in the playoffs. Now if we get him and land another top 6 forward and a defensive defenseman and get rid of players that isn't it then yea

It makes zero sense to give up 5th overall for Rossi. This team stinks. The roster is one of the oldest in the league. This team becoming a contender will take 2-3 summers at a minimum. Those 2-3 summers will need some big pieces moved in and out with some luck.

We need to just hope NoNeck makes the right call at 5. Trust your scouting department.

 

[Armourboy]

Nah im adding that 5 pick to play on the same team as rossi if possible. Trading the 5 doesn't come available for rossi

Exactly my thought. My goal would be to get him to play along side whomever we pick at #5. So one of the later firsts I might consider but #5 no way.

 

[NSH615]

It makes zero sense to give up 5th overall for Rossi. This team stinks. The roster is one of the oldest in the league. This team becoming a contender will take 2-3 summers at a minimum. Those 2-3 summers will need some big pieces moved in and out with some luck.

We need to just hope NoNeck makes the right call at 5. Trust your scouting department.

no, becoming a contender will take 5-7 years at minimum. The NMC's that Trotz handed out last summer will block alot until they are off the books.

 

[PredsV82]

Im two pages behind but if Marner knows either Stamkos or Marchy and asks them about coming here I suspect we would have zero chance of signing him, even if we wanted him

I cant see any top tier UFA wanting to play here as long as Bruno is the coach.

 

[GeauxPreds1]

I'd trade later 1st for his rights, that's for sure.

Exactly my thought. My goal would be to get him to play along side whomever we pick at #5. So one of the later firsts I might consider but #5 no way.

I would do more than just a mid 1st. I dont think that gets it done. Id do the 23rd and both our 2nd rounder for rossi. I think rossi could be a real solid player for years and if we can get him I'd give up alot. Sometimes this franchise will have to over give to get a good player. Imagine have rossi and frondell/hagens/ McQueen as our top 2 centers. Id be good with that

 

[herzausstein]

Im two pages behind but if Marner knows either Stamkos or Marchy and asks them about coming here I suspect we would have zero chance of signing him, even if we wanted him

I cant see any top tier UFA wanting to play here as long as Bruno is the coach.

Bolded is where I'm at. I don't see anyone willingly coming here after this season. Team as a whole looked completely dysfunctional and trotz is doubling down on it. We may be able to get some prospect swaps or trades but if a high end UFA comes here I'll be shocked. Hopefully we don't end up over paying a tier 2/3 UFA like Ceci

 

[NoNecksCurse]

no, becoming a contender will take 5-7 years at minimum. The NMC's that Trotz handed out last summer will block alot until they are off the books.

I am assuming we can get rid of a Skjei if needed (not like we have dynamic young talent that is about to get $$$). I would be trying everything I have to get rid of Saros. Stamkos only has 3 more years and could be valuable as a PP1 weapon regardless of how much slower he gets. Our next window will be from guys on ELCs or in the system/draft. 2-3 years with luck, and more realistically, 4-5 years. If NoNeck is a bad GM, the timeline doesn't matter. We become the Buffalo Sabres.

 

[Kat Predator]

I am assuming we can get rid of a Skjei if needed (not like we have dynamic young talent that is about to get $$$). I would be trying everything I have to get rid of Saros. Stamkos only has 3 more years and could be valuable as a PP1 weapon regardless of how much slower he gets. Our next window will be from guys on ELCs or in the system/draft. 2-3 years with luck, and more realistically, 4-5 years. If NoNeck is a bad GM, the timeline doesn't matter. We become the Buffalo Sabres.

We're not going to have a fairy godmother come down from on high and get us out of the Saros contract. Nobody values him as highly as Trotz.

To get rid of him and his contract will be a negative value trade. They get Saros, only 50% of his contract, a bunch of draft picks, and probably a couple of prospects if we have any remotely interesting. We get back a chance to bottom out hard and try to rebuild on a 10 year plan.