Around the League - 2023/24

[henchman21]

Why would Cooper go to Utah?

Smith and Cooper are BFFs

 

[The Abusement Park]

The Utah Super Soakers has a nice ring to it.

 

[chet1926]

Not at all shocked, I'd say there is at least a 75% chance of Arizona relocating to SLC.

I mean realistically speaking SLC and Houston were the most viable relocation spots that would keep Arizona in the Central.

I think that the league is finally over the Arizona BS.

As for expansion, 1st they shouldn't even be considering it at this point in time. You can't just keep adding teams every couple years. Look at some of the lower end teams and tell me there is enough talent to support 2 more teams. And 2nd there are multiple cities that would be considered. Houston, KC, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Portland, Quebec and I'm sure there are others that would throw their hat in to rink.

 

[JLo217]

They need to just end the Arizona experiment. Such an arm pit state. No one there cares about hockey. They can't even fill up a college rink these days.

 

[henchman21]

As for expansion, 1st they shouldn't even be considering it at this point in time. You can't just keep adding teams every couple years. Look at some of the lower end teams and tell me there is enough talent to support 2 more teams. And 2nd there are multiple cities that would be considered. Houston, KC, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Portland, Quebec and I'm sure there are others that would throw their hat in to rink.

2 more is going to happen and likely be announced right before are right alongside the new CBA. But that isn't every couple of years. Hard to believe, but Vegas will likely have been in the league a decade when the next team starts up. Seattle 6 years. Time flies. SLC, Houston and Atlanta are all going to be in the league before the end of the decade. The bigger question will be... are Phoenix/Arizona and another city also a part of this (don't sleep on Omaha)?

There is also plenty of talent to go around... you don't have to look further than tossed around players breaking out yearly in their mid 20s... from Marchy, Verhaeghe, Toews, etc. The NHL has experienced a massive talent boom since 2009 that has accelerated since 2013. The 2013-2018 drafts are arguably the best set of drafts in succession ever in the NHL. A lot of scouts think 23-28 is going to be even better (2025 looks very much like an all timer sort of draft).

 

[Chiarelli]

The answer is to do a dispersal draft of the Coyotes then do an expansion draft for SLC.

 

[dahrougem2]

You add more teams it probably means a lot more prospects start breaking in early, too, rather than going back to junior or the minors. It wouldn't be a bunch of Liam O'Briens in the league

 

[95snipes]

(2025 looks very much like an all timer sort of draft).

You think so? I could be wrong, but I'm not sure it's tracking better than '23 unless the Euros are very good. Who's do you think is number 1, Frondell? I like Hagens, but he'd be a below average number 1 in my opinion. I see more Cooley/Smith than Matthews/Eichel.

I've been impressed with Boumedienne in Youngstown though.

 

[ASmileyFace]

Give me the Yotes in SLC asap. Hockey that is closer to me then Denver? Yes f***ing please.

 

[henchman21]

You think so? I could be wrong, but I'm not sure it's tracking better than '23 unless the Euros are very good. Who's do you think is number 1, Frondell? I like Hagens, but he'd be a below average number 1 in my opinion. I see more Cooley/Smith than Matthews/Eichel.

I've been impressed with Boumedienne in Youngstown though.

Hagens is the #1 for me right now and I think he'll be that franchise level talent. The depth in combination with the star power is going to be the calling card of 25. Frondell has the legit chance of being Barkov 2.0. Hagens looks like and elite play driving 90+ point center. Hensler looks like a franchise defensemen. I really like Ryabkin over in Russia too... he looks like a real high end Russian center talent. Beyond them you have so much depth with Misa, Branko's boy Luka, McQueen (though I think he'll be drafted 5 spots too high), Ihs Wozniak has all the tools to be an elite winger, etc. I think there will be 25+ impact (top 6/top4) guys from this draft... where ~3-4 are franchise talents and ~12 first line/top pairing talents. It'll be 2015 without McDavid at the top... maybe a few more impact players.

There are guys like Cullen Potter who will probably go in the 2nd or 3rd round who have legit top 6 potential.

 

[Pokecheque]

Are the Dogs not even going to make it to that auction? As Friedman said, given how late it is I’m not sure if it falls through that you can move a team that quickly.

 

[JLo217]

I bet all the Coyotes players are just praying they can get out of AZ. I'm sure some living in a retirement community for the golf, but I don't see how they can be excited to play there.

 

[95snipes]

Hagens is the #1 for me right now and I think he'll be that franchise level talent. The depth in combination with the star power is going to be the calling card of 25. Frondell has the legit chance of being Barkov 2.0. Hagens looks like and elite play driving 90+ point center. Hensler looks like a franchise defensemen. I really like Ryabkin over in Russia too... he looks like a real high end Russian center talent. Beyond them you have so much depth with Misa, Branko's boy Luka, McQueen (though I think he'll be drafted 5 spots too high), Ihs Wozniak has all the tools to be an elite winger, etc. I think there will be 25+ impact (top 6/top4) guys from this draft... where ~3-4 are franchise talents and ~12 first line/top pairing talents. It'll be 2015 without McDavid at the top... maybe a few more impact players.

There are guys like Cullen Potter who will probably go in the 2nd or 3rd round who have legit top 6 potential.

Would you take Hagens over Celebrini? I definitely wouldn't.

I'm really interested to see what Hensler can do next year. He's got a lot going for him in terms of skillset, but feel there's another step or two there he could take.

Potter is good. Skates almost as well as Oliver Moore, but I like his skill and sense better. I think a lot of the NTDP '07s forwards are good, but not sure any of them are stars. Some interesting defenseman too.

 

[chet1926]

2 more is going to happen and likely be announced right before are right alongside the new CBA. But that isn't every couple of years. Hard to believe, but Vegas will likely have been in the league a decade when the next team starts up. Seattle 6 years. Time flies. SLC, Houston and Atlanta are all going to be in the league before the end of the decade. The bigger question will be... are Phoenix/Arizona and another city also a part of this (don't sleep on Omaha)?

There is also plenty of talent to go around... you don't have to look further than tossed around players breaking out yearly in their mid 20s... from Marchy, Verhaeghe, Toews, etc. The NHL has experienced a massive talent boom since 2009 that has accelerated since 2013. The 2013-2018 drafts are arguably the best set of drafts in succession ever in the NHL. A lot of scouts think 23-28 is going to be even better (2025 looks very much like an all timer sort of draft).

I mean I'm confident that there will be expansion sooner than later. I'm just hoping that is more like 5 years down the road than 2 or 3.

As for the talent portion, I just disagree. The low end teams like San Jose, Chicago etc. are really bad. Hell 29 has more points than SJ's entire top line combined. Adding an additional 50ish roster spots is just going spread talent super thin.

 

[henchman21]

Are the Dogs not even going to make it to that auction? As Friedman said, given how late it is I’m not sure if it falls through that you can move a team that quickly.

It is a little late yeah... but the Thrashers were purchased in May, but not formally approved to move until late June of 2011. The Nordiques were sold in May, but also not formally approved until late June of 95. It would be tight and there would be screams, but having a deal in place if the auction failed and a quick approval in July would only have them a few weeks behind other moves. Tight, but not impossible.

The possible plan of moving now and giving Arizona an expansion team if the land deal goes through seems like a good plan on the surface.

 

[chet1926]

Are the Dogs not even going to make it to that auction? As Friedman said, given how late it is I’m not sure if it falls through that you can move a team that quickly.

I guess I don't know when the auction is, but I'd assume you could move a team fairly quickly as long as SLC was already prepared.

 

[henchman21]

Would you take Hagens over Celebrini? I definitely wouldn't.

I'm really interested to see what Hensler can do next year. He's got a lot going for him in terms of skillset, but feel there's another step or two there he could take.

Potter is good. Skates almost as well as Oliver Moore, but I like his skill and sense better. I think a lot of the NTDP '07s forwards are good, but not sure any of them are stars. Some interesting defenseman too.

We have a whole year to really figure out where Hagens is. I'd say his -1 year was more impressive than Celebrini.

 

[LOFIN]

I bet all the Coyotes players are just praying they can get out of AZ. I'm sure some living in a retirement community for the golf, but I don't see how they can be excited to play there.

They want to get out of that joke of an arena. Phoenix doesn't have anything wrong in itself. On the contrary, if they had an arena and a semi-decent team, they would probably be pretty high on players lists in terms of where to sign, or at least where to play an away game.

 

[JLo217]

They want to get out of that joke of an arena. Phoenix doesn't have anything wrong in itself. On the contrary, if they had an arena and a semi-decent team, they would probably be pretty high on players lists in terms of where to sign, or at least where to play an away game.

Disagreed. They've had that in the past. Obviously the Glendale arena wasn't in the best location, but AZ as a whole really struggles to fill any stadium. Vegas IMO eats up some of their market share. As of now most fans going to games are those escaping the snow, or catching games on a golf trip.

I think the city overall is fine but traffic and how roads are constructed are terrible for getting anywhere. The population cares more about QT loyalty programs than any sport team there, especially if they're struggling. I lived there on and off over the course of 4-5 years, it just isn't a city for hockey.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

VICIOUS! So intentional that he even made it look like he didn't see him!


Laviolette =

 

[BobRossColton]

Get them moved to SLC so they can be called SLC punks.

 

[LOFIN]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[henchman21]

Get them moved to SLC so they can be called SLC punks.

SLC Heroin Bobs

Going to be interesting to see if Arizona gets first expansion consideration out of this (if this happens).

 

[LOFIN]

Going to be interesting to see if Arizona gets first expansion consideration out of this (if this happens).

I haven't listened to it, but according to Reddit Friedman said something to that accord on the Jeff Marek show a few hours ago. Or at least that when Arizona is looked at as an expansion option, Meruelo would be the first guy in line to have an option for that franchise.