Around the League - 2022 offseason thread

[Xirik]

Saying what? Where?

I really liked Slafkovsky as a prospect so ive been keeping tabs on his Habs prospect thread and its hella bad.

"he's a bust"
"He was a reach"
"Liga stats!"
"his play is very concerning"

etc

 

[Triumph]

What? If you go back a few years, everyone felt that the Devils were in a much better position than the Red Wings. The Red Wings have sold off basically no one. You can claim that the Red Wings had Larkin, but they also had to deal with no cap flexibility and terrible long term contracts. And, the highest the Red Wings have drafted is #4OA (once). They whiffed on one of their #6OA (Zadina) and had a terrible GM (Holland).

They haven't proven anything yet, but they most certainly were at least in the same spot as the Devils (I think materially worse). They are generally predicted to be on par with the Devils this year.

It's ok to acknowledge that Devils management has not done a good job with this rebuild. That's historical - it doesn't affect how the team will do this year. And you won't hurt anyone's feelings on this board.

The Wings were in a more demoralizing position vis a vis long-term contracts, but they have had more assets because they used their 1st round pick every year. Ken Holland left in 2019, but the Wings picked 6 (30), 9, 20, 19, 15 in the years before he left. The Devils picked 30th, not at all, 29th, 4th, not at all in the 5 years before Lou was shown the door.

I grant they were in a similar position to New Jersey, but they also outperformed their goal differential and have a ways to go to be good even with Seider and Raymond.

 

[Nubmer6]

I really liked Slafkovsky as a prospect so ive been keeping tabs on his Habs prospect thread and its hella bad.

"he's a bust"
"He was a reach"
"Liga stats!"
"his play is very concerning"

etc

Just curious... Any word on how Wright is doing? Has he played yet? I wonder if they actually would have been happier with him. I mean, that fan base will bitch about EVERYTHING.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Just curious... Any word on how Wright is doing? Has he played yet? I wonder if they actually would have been happier with him. I mean, that fan base will bitch about EVERYTHING.

and judging a guy on two exhibition games, a youngster who's still like 18 right ? If they were looking for immediate game changing impact, well he isn't Connor McDavid and who is, someone who changes the game at that age is incredibly rare. Fans are crazy however. And the clubs feed it by making too much of the picks, who are longer term investments.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here. But why not post en passant around noon while surfing the board.

 

[JrFischer54]

What? If you go back a few years, everyone felt that the Devils were in a much better position than the Red Wings. The Red Wings have sold off basically no one. You can claim that the Red Wings had Larkin, but they also had to deal with no cap flexibility and terrible long term contracts. And, the highest the Red Wings have drafted is #4OA (once). They whiffed on one of their #6OA (Zadina) and had a terrible GM (Holland).

They haven't proven anything yet, but they most certainly were at least in the same spot as the Devils (I think materially worse). They are generally predicted to be on par with the Devils this year.

It's ok to acknowledge that Devils management has not done a good job with this rebuild. That's historical - it doesn't affect how the team will do this year. And you won't hurt anyone's feelings on this board.

i do remember EVERYONE making such a big deal about their high cap hit and all the bad contracts. but being a bottom team with zero cap space doesn't hurt the rebuild imo.

 

[Bleedred]

What? If you go back a few years, everyone felt that the Devils were in a much better position than the Red Wings. The Red Wings have sold off basically no one. You can claim that the Red Wings had Larkin, but they also had to deal with no cap flexibility and terrible long term contracts. And, the highest the Red Wings have drafted is #4OA (once). They whiffed on one of their #6OA (Zadina) and had a terrible GM (Holland).

They haven't proven anything yet, but they most certainly were at least in the same spot as the Devils (I think materially worse). They are generally predicted to be on par with the Devils this year.

It's ok to acknowledge that Devils management has not done a good job with this rebuild. That's historical - it doesn't affect how the team will do this year. And you won't hurt anyone's feelings on this board.

I think Detroit could finish on par or better than us this year, but that's predicated on what their goaltending does. I certainly don't think their team is better than ours.

Nedeljkovic is basically Blackwood, only about a half a foot shorter. He also had a horrid season in the AHL just like Blackwood did. His AHL career leaves a lot to be desired.

How will Husso perform this year? And how will he perform if he's starting way more games than he did last year? He did have a TERRIBLE rookie season that was on par with the disaster that Blackwood just had. And those two seasons are all the data we have on him in the NHL.

I'm not exactly very high on the Devils having a great season this year and I'm sure you can guess why. I'm an atheist when it comes to our goaltending situation. We really need Vanecek to become the starter and actually perform well while doing it. Blackwood's AHL career would strongly hint that he's merely a mediocre goalie and that last year is what happens when an already mediocre goalie plays injured.

 

[Xirik]

Just curious... Any word on how Wright is doing? Has he played yet? I wonder if they actually would have been happier with him. I mean, that fan base will bitch about EVERYTHING.

He had one game against the flames with Eberle and Schwartz as linemates. He did some good passes and took 4 shots but did nothing amazing.

Id say those are some quality linemates when you compare what Slafkovsky got last night with Pitlick and Armia.

 

[Eggtimer]

I was at the Leafs-Habs game tonight and I couldn't even tell if Slaf was playing. And the Leafs had two forwards playing defense.

I would be disappointed if Slaf was on the Devils and has been playing like he has so far , but it is wayyyyy too early to pass judgement. But it is still concerning for sure. A #1 pick should have glimpses of elite play in preseason games. I have yet to really see that from him.

 

[Eggtimer]

I think Detroit could finish on par or better than us this year, but that's predicated on what their goaltending does. I certainly don't think their team is better than ours.

Nedeljkovic is basically Blackwood, only about a half a foot shorter. He also had a horrid season in the AHL just like Blackwood did. His AHL career leaves a lot to be desired.

How will Husso perform this year? And how will he perform if he's starting way more games than he did last year? He did have a TERRIBLE rookie season that was on par with the disaster that Blackwood just had. And those two seasons are all the data we have on him in the NHL.

I'm not exactly very high on the Devils having a great season this year and I'm sure you can guess why. I'm an atheist when it comes to our goaltending situation. We really need Vanecek to become the starter and actually perform well while doing it. Blackwood's AHL career would strongly hint that he's merely a mediocre goalie and that last year is what happens when an already mediocre goalie plays injured.

I agree with you on everything you said EXCEPT for Blackwood. I have hope that he is a late bloomer and can become a legit starter. I’m probably wrong but I don’t put too much weight into goalies AHL numbers . It’s a good benchmark and is usually acurate but not an exact science

 

[My3Sons]

I really liked Slafkovsky as a prospect so ive been keeping tabs on his Habs prospect thread and its hella bad.

"he's a bust"
"He was a reach"
"Liga stats!"
"his play is very concerning"

etc

To be fair they have a big fanbase which includes lots of casual fans. Like NFL teams in the US. Look at the comments for any NFL team and you see similar levels of misdirected anger. Rookies in any sport are unlikely to hit right away and it's worse on a bad team. Hopefully the fans he actually interacts with are nice to him. He's an 18 year old kid in a foreign country. I'd be disappointed if grownups couldn't understand that perspective.

 

[Eggtimer]

Is it the NHL 2023 cover or lack of Gertseen on Anaheim that was a bigger factor in this injury?

It’s his bone density …. He must have a diet like Nico…needs to drink more milk dammit!
I would‘nt be concerned if I am the Ducks. It’s more than likely just head cramping or spine cramps that Zegras has ….

 

[MauDevils]

Please tell me at the end of the clip one of the Ducks players fought the guy? Usually even if its a clean hit the an entire team would go after the guy quickly after their top player is hit like that.

Looks like Henrique of all people fought him.

 

[FinnishDevil]

just because a team has been really good for a long time doesn't mean they should automatically be in store for a 10 year rebuild. the problem is gms scouts development all get lazy for lack of a better word they aren't held accountable. thats why imo gm coach shouldn't have long shelf time. that doesn't mean they should be changed out every couple years but there is a fine balance. lou imo should've been let go or promoted or whatever from the day to day looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong before he actually was. speaking of which i actually saw uncle louis at the islander game he was on a cell phone i was surprised he knew how to use it.

I agree with your post but for Pens for example, once the day comes that Crosby and company are gone, they might be without any actual impactful NHLers from their recent drafts, so to start building from scratch is gonna take a hell of a long time. If you get one or two good NHLers per draft and most of them take a year or two just to get to the league, let alone become stars then thats how rebuilds end up lasting for a long time. I just assume Pitt will be left with nothing to start. Their prospect pool is already hilariously bad.

Compare that to Ottawa who got both of their top-6 centers in the Karlsson trade alone.

 

[Saugus]

I really liked Slafkovsky as a prospect so ive been keeping tabs on his Habs prospect thread and its hella bad.

"he's a bust"
"He was a reach"
"Liga stats!"
"his play is very concerning"

etc

Typical Montreal fans. Slag on a guy after he's been on your team for all of 10 minutes.

I give it about another month before we start to see the totally realistic trade proposals where they want us to trade Bratt+Hughes+1st for him.

 

[Xirik]

Typical Montreal fans. Slag on a guy after he's been on your team for all of 10 minutes.

I give it about another month before we start to see the totally realistic trade proposals where they want us to trade Bratt+Hughes+1st for him.

I suspect they will want to trade him for Alexis Lafrenière because being from Quebec means you can't be a bust.

 

[JrFischer54]

I agree with your post but for Pens for example, once the day comes that Crosby and company are gone, they might be without any actual impactful NHLers from their recent drafts, so to start building from scratch is gonna take a hell of a long time. If you get one or two good NHLers per draft and most of them take a year or two just to get to the league, let alone become stars then thats how rebuilds end up lasting for a long time. I just assume Pitt will be left with nothing to start. Their prospect pool is already hilariously bad.

Compare that to Ottawa who got both of their top-6 centers in the Karlsson trade alone.

yeah i agree i think they will be in pretty bad shape too but they shouldn't. its really amazing that team owners (those that pay attention) allow them to try and hang on for so long to their windows without realizing that it will only hurt them (the owners) for much longer in a drawn out rebuild. i'm sure that finals run in 12 saved him but if that didn't happen have to think hes gone around that time and we are in a better spot. maybe not though because i'm starting to sour on cranston and his drafting

 

[My3Sons]

I agree with your post but for Pens for example, once the day comes that Crosby and company are gone, they might be without any actual impactful NHLers from their recent drafts, so to start building from scratch is gonna take a hell of a long time. If you get one or two good NHLers per draft and most of them take a year or two just to get to the league, let alone become stars then thats how rebuilds end up lasting for a long time. I just assume Pitt will be left with nothing to start. Their prospect pool is already hilariously bad.

Compare that to Ottawa who got both of their top-6 centers in the Karlsson trade alone.

NJ has one potential player from 2015, one good player from 2016, one good player from 2017, one good player from 2018. If NJ was getting two good players from half these drafts that's two more needle movers on NJ and the team would be better as a result. I'll give 2019 and more recent drafts more time to percolate but only getting one guy out of a draft is not going to really build the team without some luck in trades and UFA.

yeah i agree i think they will be in pretty bad shape too but they shouldn't. its really amazing that team owners (those that pay attention) allow them to try and hang on for so long to their windows without realizing that it will only hurt them (the owners) for much longer in a drawn out rebuild. i'm sure that finals run in 12 saved him but if that didn't happen have to think hes gone around that time and we are in a better spot. maybe not though because i'm starting to sour on cranston and his drafting

Watley does the drafting? That explains a lot. Did he also convert to scouting for the jokes?

 

[Bleedred]

I agree with you on everything you said EXCEPT for Blackwood. I have hope that he is a late bloomer and can become a legit starter. I’m probably wrong but I don’t put too much weight into goalies AHL numbers . It’s a good benchmark and is usually acurate but not an exact science

I actually put it out of mind (his AHL career) after his first two years in the NHL. I thought about it after 20-21 a bit and definitely am thinking about it after last year.

Hope and faith is really all we have with him at this point.

 

[FinnishDevil]

NJ has one potential player from 2015, one good player from 2016, one good player from 2017, one good player from 2018. If NJ was getting two good players from half these drafts that's two more needle movers on NJ and the team would be better as a result. I'll give 2019 and more recent drafts more time to percolate but only getting one guy out of a draft is not going to really build the team without some luck in trades and UFA.

Yep, just goes to show how much has to go right in order for the rebuild to work right away. 2 players per draft was more of a overstatement, cause I feel like even that wouldnt get you out of a rebuild right away. You still need to make the right trades, you still need to sign the right free agents. Probably overpay them if youre not attractive destination, like the after Crosby era Pittsburgh wont be. And teams like Ottawa also had luck, imagine if that SJ pick didnt turn out top 3 but top 20 instead and they have some guy in juniors now instead of Stutzle.

But I do understand Pitt. If I was a fan of them I would happily enjoy trying to make one last push every year until its over.

 

[Nubmer6]

Yep, just goes to show how much has to go right in order for the rebuild to work right away. 2 players per draft was more of a overstatement, cause I feel like even that wouldnt get you out of a rebuild right away. You still need to make the right trades, you still need to sign the right free agents. Probably overpay them if youre not attractive destination, like the after Crosby era Pittsburgh wont be. And teams like Ottawa also had luck, imagine if that SJ pick didnt turn out top 3 but top 20 instead and they have some guy in juniors now instead of Stutzle.

But I do understand Pitt. If I was a fan of them I would happily enjoy trying to make one last push every year until its over.

I blame Shero for not trading Cory. If we were entering a full rebuild, he was the one asset that probably would have netted us some good building blocks.

 

[My3Sons]

I blame Shero for not trading Cory. If we were entering a full rebuild, he was the one asset that probably would have netted us some good building blocks.

Shero wouldn’t do a full rebuild. He wanted to try to compete on the cheap. Sort of the worst of both worlds and the origin of my Lovejoy narrative.

 

[FinnishDevil]

I blame Shero for not trading Cory. If we were entering a full rebuild, he was the one asset that probably would have netted us some good building blocks.

Prime Cory, Greene, Zajac definitely wouldve gotten us some pieces even if theyre not generational talents but youre looking at three extra first round picks atleast and us being worse and entering the McDavid/Matthews sweepstakes.

 

[RangerDoggo]

I really liked Slafkovsky as a prospect so ive been keeping tabs on his Habs prospect thread and its hella bad.

"he's a bust"
"He was a reach"
"Liga stats!"
"his play is very concerning"

etc

No "OH LAWD HE COMIN'"? Rookies.

 

[JrFischer54]

I blame Shero for not trading Cory. If we were entering a full rebuild, he was the one asset that probably would have netted us some good building blocks.

Definitely agree with this and he had the perfect chance to do it coming in no one was expecting that roster to do anything. i wonder if having old man lou still around hampered his abilities. i don't really think he wanted to compete i gotta believe in the interview he is telling them this is going to be a rebuild and a long one.

 

[Triumph]

Prime Cory, Greene, Zajac definitely wouldve gotten us some pieces even if theyre not generational talents but youre looking at three extra first round picks atleast and us being worse and entering the McDavid/Matthews sweepstakes.

No, they would not have. Schneider is the only thing worth something, they could've gotten a 1st for him, but the other two were signed until 2020 and 2021 respectively; Greene maybe you get a 2nd round pick, Zajac was worth less than nothing.