Around the League, Summer 2016--NHL Draft Shenanigans Edition

[KingsFan7824]

i have never agreed with you more The king team is coming off its best regular season ever Yes we ran into a hot team that made the finals nothing to be ashamed of altho i feel most of you are.

It's all in the context. One of the best regular seasons, but also helped by a league best 3v3 OT record. There's no 3v3 in the playoffs. For a team with such a good corsi stat, they were 34-28-20 in regulation. Without the extra point in OT, that would be good for 88 points, which isn't all that great.

It's losing a 12 point division lead or whatever it was at it's peak, to a team that started the season 1-7-2. It's the last couple weeks of the season. It's coming off of the disappointment of the 14-15 season. It's having big money, long term contracts for older players. It's 1 playoff win in 2 years.

As with anything, it depends on how you look at it. They also had a guy win the Norris, Selke, and a Vezina nominee.

 

[YP44]

i have never agreed with you more The king team is coming off its best regular season ever Yes we ran into a hot team that made the finals nothing to be ashamed of altho i feel most of you are.

exactly. the only difference between losing to San Jose in the 1st round vs the 3rd is a better draft spot and more rested players (and less $$$ for ownership I guess)

 

[YP44]

It's all in the context. One of the best regular seasons, but also helped by a league best 3v3 OT record. There's no 3v3 in the playoffs. For a team with such a good corsi stat, they were 34-28-20 in regulation. Without the extra point in OT, that would be good for 88 points, which isn't all that great.

It's losing a 12 point division lead or whatever it was at it's peak, to a team that started the season 1-7-2. It's the last couple weeks of the season. It's coming off of the disappointment of the 14-15 season. It's having big money, long term contracts for older players. It's 1 playoff win in 2 years.

As with anything, it depends on how you look at it. They also had a guy win the Norris, Selke, and a Vezina nominee.

Agreed but advance stats do not care about 3 on 3. Also how do you view two years ago. I think it was a fluke they missed the payoffs due to a **** shootout record.

 

[Butch 19]

Agreed but advance stats do not care about 3 on 3. Also how do you view two years ago. I think it was a fluke they missed the payoffs due to a **** shootout record.

A Stanley Cup champion shouldn't have to rely on their shootout record to make the playoffs.

See Chicago.

 

[deeshamrock]

Agreed but advance stats do not care about 3 on 3. Also how do you view two years ago. I think it was a fluke they missed the payoffs due to a **** shootout record.

It wasn't a fluke and it wasn't the shootout record, it was the not winning more games before it went to a shootout.

They just didn't get the job done and didn't deserve the reward of playoff hockey

 

[deeshamrock]

Hudler signs a 1 yr/2M deal with the Dallas Stars.

Mark Stepneski ‏@StarsInsideEdge 2h2 hours ago Plano, TX

Jim Nill says they've agreed to terms with Jiri Hudler, one year $2 million. Sees him in top six.


Good pickup for them, good and fairly consistent producer.

If Nill is suggesting top 6, I guess he'll be on Spezza's line maybe.
Nichushkin isn't signed yet and there are rumblings he might go KHL.

 

[YP44]

It wasn't a fluke and it wasn't the shootout record, it was the not winning more games before it went to a shootout.

They just didn't get the job done and didn't deserve the reward of playoff hockey

fluke maybe was the wrong term to describe the kings. It was a fluke that Calgary got in and LA missed.

You're right LA should not have let it get to that point, but the 2014-15 make up was in my mind a playoff team. Didn't happen because the players didn't make it happen you are right. Everyone knows the laundry list of excuses (Voynov, Richards, playing soo many games) but at the end of the day they were not better then the competition.

 

[YP44]

Hudler signs a 1 yr/2M deal with the Dallas Stars.

Mark Stepneski ‏@StarsInsideEdge 2h2 hours ago Plano, TX

Jim Nill says they've agreed to terms with Jiri Hudler, one year $2 million. Sees him in top six.


Good pickup for them, good and fairly consistent producer.

If Nill is suggesting top 6, I guess he'll be on Spezza's line maybe.
Nichushkin isn't signed yet and there are rumblings he might go KHL.

I was just wondering what impact this may or may not have on "Nuke".

Would be too bad if he left for the KHL, he sure looked like a great prospect.

 

[deeshamrock]

fluke maybe was the wrong term to describe the kings. It was a fluke that Calgary got in and LA missed.

You're right LA should not have let it get to that point, but the 2014-15 make up was in my mind a playoff team. Didn't happen because the players didn't make it happen you are right. Everyone knows the laundry list of excuses (Voynov, Richards, playing soo many games) but at the end of the day they were not better then the competition.

That is something that has changed the NHL, the competition (esp the addition of youth (contributint) at a younger age than in prior years) around the league has increased. Those kids are producing and helping teams win. Very few, if any, gimme games/points. No time to take off, have to be consistent, for most of the 82.

Look at the difference those 5 rookies made in AZ last year, 3 of them combined for 120 points.
And look at what MOnahan has done and he's not even 22 yet, going into his 4th year.
Toronto will have some very talented young players this year.
Esp with the CAp situation, I think more teams are willing to bring their kids up, and get the most out of the 3 yr rookie deal.
Also doesn't hurt that statistics support that 18 -24 is the biggest growth in offensive production.

 

[deeshamrock]

I was just wondering what impact this may or may not have on "Nuke".

Would be too bad if he left for the KHL, he sure looked like a great prospect.

Yeah he did. And hopefully for the Stars there is still time but from most of what I've heard (albeit no much) they aren't really close.

Another odd rumor that is growing a little bit of legs are teams calling the Bolts for Kucherov. it's not that the Bolts are shopping him but they are listening to offers. He's not signed yet and the Bolts do have cap issues, esp next year, when among others, Tyler Johnson, Palat and Drouin will need new deals.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Agreed but advance stats do not care about 3 on 3. Also how do you view two years ago. I think it was a fluke they missed the payoffs due to a **** shootout record.

They also had a problem holding leads, specifically against Calgary, who beat them out by a few points for what was thought to be their playoff spot before the season started.

Voynov was a huge hole to fill. They planned on Mitchell going. They didn't think Voynov would be gone forever with nothing in return. Kopitar had 16 goals, with a career average of 26. Those 10 extra goals here and there could have ended up as 5 more points in the standings, and there's your playoff spot. Williams had like 3 goals in the last 30 games. Pearson out for half the season. They couldn't win a must win game against the Oilers. A lot of little things added up. Again, the blown leads at home against the Flames.

Saying that, the Flames were 18-2 against the Kings, Sharks, Oilers, and Coyotes that year. That's what got them to the playoffs. They didn't give any points away to teams like Edmonton and Arizona, a perfect 10-0.

That's one thing to watch this year. If they can consistently hold onto leads, especially at home. They've had their issues with that the last 2 seasons. Not in every game, but enough games that it's cost them a playoff spot and a division title.

 

[BigKing]

It was a fluke. They finished with enough points to make the playoffs in nearly any other year while leaving something like 15 points or what have you on the table in OT/SO.

Look at the '15 and '16 regular seasons for the Kings v. the Canucks, Flames and Jets. Not a ton of turnover on those teams yet they were horrible last season while LA stayed in the same range.

Those teams were charmed that season: especially Vancouver and Calgary.

Not that anyone is an "expert", but a couple of so-called experts (GMs and media types I believe) had the Kings winning the Cup in a poll taken maybe a month before the season ended and then they somehow missed.

Water under the bridge, but I'll never believe that Vancouver and Calgary were better than the '15 Kings. Call it a fluke that the Kings missed or a fluke that those two teams actually finished with the amount of points that they did, but it was definitely a fluke.

 

[AlphaBravo]

It was a fluke. They finished with enough points to make the playoffs in nearly any other year while leaving something like 15 points or what have you on the table in OT/SO.

Look at the '15 and '16 regular seasons for the Kings v. the Canucks, Flames and Jets. Not a ton of turnover on those teams yet they were horrible last season while LA stayed in the same range.

Those teams were charmed that season: especially Vancouver and Calgary.

Not that anyone is an "expert", but a couple of so-called experts (GMs and media types I believe) had the Kings winning the Cup in a poll taken maybe a month before the season ended and then they somehow missed.

Water under the bridge, but I'll never believe that Vancouver and Calgary were better than the '15 Kings. Call it a fluke that the Kings missed or a fluke that those two teams actually finished with the amount of points that they did, but it was definitely a fluke.

I don't know if it was a fluke or not, but if the Kings made the playoffs that year, I think they would have had their best chance of winning the third cup (which we might not have again in a while). Sekera and Pearson would have been back early in the first round from what I recall about their injuries and we would have had a full, almost no holes roster. Also, considering how hot the Kings got during the second half of the season--before the collapse at the end--I think we could have taken the Ducks and the Hawks that year.

It would have been nice for us to have been able to sign Sekera that offseason as well. It would have filled Voynov's hole and made us a better team in 2015-2016 season, even if we did not end up getting Lucic.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The 2015 Kings couldn't beat the Flames and couldn't beat the Oilers in order to save their playoff chances.

They were pretenders in 2015, just as they were pretenders in 2016.

Remember how we used to mock teams for only being built for regular season success? Guess what, that's what the Kings have become now. They're good enough to be competitive during the regular season now.

They haven't won a playoff round since winning the Cup in 2014. That's two years ago. Let that fact sink in a little bit.

 

[Little Psycho]

Anyway you look at it, Kings are trending downwards. They don't have really good prospects to fit in the holes in our current roster. There's going to to be growing pains and imo a lot of call ups this season, going to be more line shuffling than usual. The D continues to be an issue, and if management can't figure that out then the Kings won't go far.

 

[AlphaBravo]

The cup win by the Pens, who were also considered to be on a downward trend, brings a glimpse of hope that the Kings can get back to being contenders again. The way I see it, the Kings need to view their current position to be the same as it was in 2009 or 2010, where the initial objective was to simply make the playoffs, then to try to win a round, and then to go on a deep run. The way I see it, we only accomplished the first objective of making it to the playoffs last year. The next step will be to try to be a team that can win a round again. After that, the natural progression could take us on deeper runs if we get the right players in a few years via draft, trade or free agency.

With the current roster, as-is and with no pick ups at the trade deadline, I don't see them even winning a round, unless they get lucky and get matched up with a team that they play well against. However, we could be in for a surprise if Gravel is able to fill our top 4 role, Pearson takes the next step and reaches the 20 goal mark, and Dowd or Lewis fill the 3C role.

 

[USE Fi]

Hudler signs a 1 yr/2M deal with the Dallas Stars.

Mark Stepneski ‏@StarsInsideEdge 2h2 hours ago Plano, TX

Jim Nill says they've agreed to terms with Jiri Hudler, one year $2 million. Sees him in top six.


Good pickup for them, good and fairly consistent producer.

If Nill is suggesting top 6, I guess he'll be on Spezza's line maybe.
Nichushkin isn't signed yet and there are rumblings he might go KHL.

This is time to get those who still dont have contract, usually all the big fish have gone so leftovers are cheap.

 

[deeshamrock]

Looks like that new young GM in AZ is still making bold moves....

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...believed-to-be-1st-nhl-female-coach/89299422/

The Arizona Coyotes have hired Dawn Braid as skating coach and say she is believed to be the first full-time female coach in NHL history.

She was a consultant to them last year as well as several other NHL teams and spent 7 years as director of skating development with the Athletes Training Center, John Taveres worked with her.

 

[deeshamrock]

Trade upcoming...AZ and FLA.


Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 22m22 minutes ago

ARIZ/FLA working on a deal that will send David Bolland and Lawson Crouse to the Coyotes for a second and third pick...


Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 21m21 minutes ago

FLA creates flexibility, opens up cap room and drops its roster from 49 contracts to 47 (of the maximum 50)...

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 20m20 minutes ago

ARIZ, for taking Bolland contract, gets Crouse, a good prospect. Believe the higher pick will be whichever is better of ARIZ/DET 2nd in 2017


Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 13m13 minutes ago

Let me fix: FLA gets better of 2017 third between ARIZ/DET picks and 2018 second.

Another good ,move by the Yotes new GM, Crouse is a stud. Yotes stockpiling young talent
I was hoping that draft that the Flyers would somehow get him. a 6'4 , 220 lb skilled winger is a good thing~

 

[YP44]

Trade upcoming...AZ and FLA.


Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 22m22 minutes ago

ARIZ/FLA working on a deal that will send David Bolland and Lawson Crouse to the Coyotes for a second and third pick...


Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 21m21 minutes ago

FLA creates flexibility, opens up cap room and drops its roster from 49 contracts to 47 (of the maximum 50)...

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 20m20 minutes ago

ARIZ, for taking Bolland contract, gets Crouse, a good prospect. Believe the higher pick will be whichever is better of ARIZ/DET 2nd in 2017


Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 13m13 minutes ago

Let me fix: FLA gets better of 2017 third between ARIZ/DET picks and 2018 second.

Another good ,move by the Yotes new GM, Crouse is a stud. Yotes stockpiling young talent
I was hoping that draft that the Flyers would somehow get him. a 6'4 , 220 lb skilled winger is a good thing~

Good move by both IMO. Panthers needed to do something to free up space next for next season. Good move for the Coyotes as they get the best player in the deal.

Makes a divisional team better which is never good, but I like seeing trades.

I imagine the cost to unload Brown would be similar. However LA does not have a Crouse in their system to deal.

 

[deeshamrock]

Nate Dopking ‏@ndopking 26m26 minutes ago

@CraigCustance Domi, Duclair, Strome, Keller, Dvorak, Merkley, Fischer, Garland, MacInnis, and now Crouse? Very very impressive.

Yup....

 

[deeshamrock]

Good move by both IMO. Panthers needed to do something to free up space next for next season. Good move for the Coyotes as they get the best player in the deal.

Makes a divisional team better which is never good, but I like seeing trades.

I imagine the cost to unload Brown would be similar. However LA does not have a Crouse in their system to deal.

Agree. And maybe the price of unloading Bolland was Crouse. I'd have to think the Cats didn't offer that immediately.

 

[Omni Owl]

Good move by both IMO. Panthers needed to do something to free up space next for next season. Good move for the Coyotes as they get the best player in the deal.

Makes a divisional team better which is never good, but I like seeing trades.

I imagine the cost to unload Brown would be similar. However LA does not have a Crouse in their system to deal.

In the literal sense we have that prospect in Kempe, we just couldn't afford to mortgage even more of the future and package him with Brown.

 

[YP44]

In the literal sense we have that prospect in Kempe, we just couldn't afford to mortgage even more of the future and package him with Brown.

I think Crouse is more valuable then Kempe.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I imagine the cost to unload Brown would be similar. However LA does not have a Crouse in their system to deal.

I would guess it would still cost the Kings more than that. Bolland is at $5.5m until 2019. Brown is $5.9m until 2022. The Coyotes won't even have to deal with the contracts of Datsyuk or Pronger after this season either. In 3 years, it might only take a Crouse level prospect to get rid of Brown. Maybe. That's if Brown isn't scoring 6 goals per season at that point. By then, the Coyotes might not even want cap dumps anymore.

There's no reason for any of us to think Brown's contract is going anywhere, ever.