Around the League Thread | Draft and Free Agency Approaching

[VanJack]

Marner played to the end of his contract. Mathew tkachuk never asked for a trade.

Well if you want to 'split hairs' neither Hughes nor Brady Tkachuk 'asked' for a trade either. They just told their organizations they wouldn't be signing a contract extension.

So what's the difference? Their GM's were forced to trade them anyway or risk getting nothing.

 

[theagelessstranger]

Marner played to the end of his contract. Mathew tkachuk never asked for a trade.

"I'm not re-signing here, so you might as well ..." might be splitting hairs.

 

[Josepho]

I f***ing hate what the league has become. I know this is partially on the Canadian teams for not supporting their players well enough, but all of these American dickheads have the same list of like 4-5 teams. I'd find this argument about team quality to be much more reasonable if teams like Montreal/Buffalo/Colorado were on these players' lists.

 

[LordBacon]

I can’t say I pay much attention to NA politics but after seeing the Tkachuk trade I do wonder if you fine folks have some reservations regarding drafting Americans with top picks?

 

[Bubbles]

Now Hellybuyck wants out lol...

I haven't read anything like that. It just sounds he had a tough season and the Jets might look to explore options. Don't think he's publicly or privately said anything. Even then, he's been there forever so he might need a change of scenery.

I can’t say I pay much attention to NA politics but after seeing the Tkachuk trade I do wonder if you fine folks have some reservations regarding drafting Americans with top picks?

100% would not draft any Americans in the 1st or 2nd round. Swedes/Euros or Canadians only. Sounds xenophobic but this kind of thing has happened to way too many Canadian teams.

 

[Canucker]

I can’t say I pay much attention to NA politics but after seeing the Tkachuk trade I do wonder if you fine folks have some reservations regarding drafting Americans with top picks?

IMO I think you still pick the best players regardless of where they are from and deal with the nationality issue later. They are still your property until they hit unrestricted free agency...you can't take a lesser player for fear of losing the better one in 6-7 years.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

League is absolutely f***ed.

Top stars are going to keep going South due to the comparative advantage.

Would rather see McDavid stay with a Canadian team instead of going to Florida or Vegas.

 

[lawrence]

"I'm not re-signing here, so you might as well ..." might be splitting hairs.

Are we arguing for the sake of arguing now ? UFA is part of the CBA. Everyone knows marner for Chased out by the fans. Ryan Kesler, Hughes , heck Connor hellbuck, one bad season , Winnipeg jets all these years consistently good team takes one bad year he’s gone. Bunch of f in quitters.

 

[lawrence]

neither Hughes

Are you kidding me ?! He forced a trade by playing like shit in his final 7 games. Told JR “it’s time” he facilitated his own trade. heck he also got to evaluate the package coming back. Packed up his bags, we landed in New Jersey his bro picked him up. The entire team got the notification that Hughes is traded. Killed the atmosphere. The difference was that he told jr he done here . Teams knew and he took minnys first offer. So yes Quit Hughes requested a trade.

 

[lawrence]

Well if you want to 'split hairs' neither Hughes nor Brady Tkachuk 'asked' for a trade either. They just told their organizations they wouldn't be signing a contract extension.

So what's the difference? Their GM's were forced to trade them anyway or risk getting nothing.

The trade was in progress and he knew about. Quitter f in Hughes.

At least Ryan Kesler waited til the off season. Not throw his team under the bus by playing like f in shit.

 

[CloutierForVezina]

I haven't read anything like that. It just sounds he had a tough season and the Jets might look to explore options. Don't think he's publicly or privately said anything. Even then, he's been there forever so he might need a change of scenery.

Elliotte Friedman talking about Team USA players requesting trades (Larkin, Hellebuyck, Werenski):

"I think the Hellebuyck one, we kinda realize now, ya know Winnipeg and Hellebuyck really worked to try to keep this private but we see what it is now. The reporting is dripping out, drip drip drip, yes Winnipeg is considering it. That's everything that we need to know."

So it certainly sounds like it's confirmed that Helle quietly asked for a trade and WPG has been trying to move him before it got out.

 

[Nuckles]

I can’t say I pay much attention to NA politics but after seeing the Tkachuk trade I do wonder if you fine folks have some reservations regarding drafting Americans with top picks?

Only really concerned with star players.

Non-star players don't have the luxury of limiting their playing options to stay in the NHL long-term or get a large paycheck. It also seems to only be guys on that Olympic team.

But you can usually get 7-8 years out of them before they want out. They'll sign that first big contract, but then in the 2nd half they demand a trade with limited options to massively drop their value

 

[Orr4Norris]

Only really concerned with star players.

Non-star players don't have the luxury of limiting their playing options to stay in the NHL long-term or get a large paycheck. It also seems to only be guys on that Olympic team.

But you can usually get 7-8 years out of them before they want out. They'll sign that first big contract, but then in the 2nd half they demand a trade with limited options to massively drop their value

It’s hard to build a team with that hanging over. I think you do have to draft them if they are the clear BPA though. But I think you trade them when their value is the highest and they have no control. It’s a tough sell to the fanbase though so ideally, you just don’t start down that path to begin with.

Imagine being a Calgary fan looking back and Fox refused to sign, Gaudreau left and Tkachuk forced his way out. That is rough

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

People think this is bad, wait and see what can happen when most top guys are coming out of the NCAA.

 

[Canucker]

It’s hard to build a team with that hanging over. I think you do have to draft them if they are the clear BPA though. But I think you trade them when their value is the highest and they have no control. It’s a tough sell to the fanbase though so ideally, you just don’t start down that path to begin with.

Imagine being a Calgary fan looking back and Fox refused to sign, Gaudreau left and Tkachuk forced his way out. That is rough

I think GM's are going to have to be a little more protective when they're dishing out NMC/NTC's...they're going to have to make them give up more teams they're willing to go to up front. It sounds like Tkachuk was open to several teams, but if you get another Ryan Kesler who will only accept one team then you're fighting a tough battle.

 

[StreetHawk]

I think GM's are going to have to be a little more protective when they're dishing out NMC/NTC's...they're going to have to make them give up more teams they're willing to go to up front. It sounds like Tkachuk was open to several teams, but if you get another Ryan Kesler who will only accept one team then you're fighting a tough battle.

When you sign players into UFA years, the normal expectation is that the final 2-3 years (will give the team some protection of a 5-8 team list). But, not always. Miro Heiskenan has a full MNC for example. As well as all of the elite players get the full nmc.

You can give a NMC for waivers/ED, but need to get a MNTC with a 5 team list minimum.

 

[pitseleh]

It seems to me this is more of a bad team issue than a Canadian team issue. Larkin is doing the same thing in Detroit and Werenski might be in Columbus. It doesn’t seem like the Hughes and Tkachuk situations would have been any different if they played for Buffalo (before this year) and Seattle.

Teams in good climates / premier cities can get away with being bad because there’s enough appeal being there anyway. Obviously good teams in those cities are destinations. Teams in bad climates shouldn’t expect to get the same rope - Canada just has a disproportionate share of teams that both have been bad and have poor climates.

 

[StreetHawk]

I haven't read anything like that. It just sounds he had a tough season and the Jets might look to explore options. Don't think he's publicly or privately said anything. Even then, he's been there forever so he might need a change of scenery.

Both Helly and Larkin have been with their teams for a very long time. Helly has also only known Chevy as his GM. Yzerman arrived in 2019 after he did 4 seasons. So, if they have a good relationship, they can keep things under wraps until they need to if a trade is what Helly wants.

Larkin did go public about the lack of help last TDL. At some point he got frustrated. Bought into the Yzerplan and was not rewarded for the loyalty.

 

[StreetHawk]

It seems to me this is more of a bad team issue than a Canadian team issue. Larkin is doing the same thing in Detroit and Werenski might be in Columbus. It doesn’t seem like the Hughes and Tkachuk situations would have been any different if they played for Buffalo (before this year) and Seattle.

Teams in good climates / premier cities can get away with being bad because there’s enough appeal being there anyway. Obviously good teams in those cities are destinations. Teams in bad climates shouldn’t expect to get the same rope - Canada just has a disproportionate share of teams that have been both bad and poor climates.

CAD teams have been poorly run. Either owner wants to be more involved, or team allows the media/fan pressure to dictate moves.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

This was an interesting quote I thought from Elliotte on 32 thoughts:

"The way the American players who won the gold medal felt in their Canadian markets post-Olympics is a factor here. I think some of those guys - not all of them - but some of them, felt a bit hated, and it might have influenced their decisions. You may think that's their problem, you may think that I shouldn't even be bringing that up, but its a fact and its part of this process"

Hopefully this is a fleeting thing. I don't think you can draft with that in mind especially if the American player is such a good asset that he'll be more valuable down the line.

In regards to where the league is going.. I don't think its good if the NHL becomes like the NBA. Cause in the NBA there's some franchises that just never have any hope. Whereas in the NHL its still cyclical & you can create a good team with the right moves.

I think its true that Canadian teams have been screwed by their own mis-management, but its also true alot of players (including Canadian players) don't want to play in Canada if they have a choice.

 

[pitseleh]

If 33 year old Connor Murphy is worth $4.1 million x 5, then Marcus Pettersson should be worth his weight in gold, even after last season.

 

[Wisp]

Hellybyuck has been committed to Winnipeg for 11 years. You're entitled to some change without having your character question at that point.

 

[VanCanucks53]

While the whole American players not wanting to play for a Canadian team is obviously a thing, I do think it’s going to be overblown. Canucks had no issues with Demko, Boeser, Miller signing long term deals here. Hughes did inform the Canucks that he wouldn’t be signing here but they were a complete tire fire for most of his tenure here. If they were a consistent playoff team the outcome might have been different. I almost can’t blame him for wanting out when he was wasting his prime years here (still will blame him of course).

 

[StreetHawk]

I think its true that Canadian teams have been screwed by their own mis-management, but its also true alot of players (including Canadian players) don't want to play in Canada if they have a choice.

Some CAD teams operate like the Cowboys, owner is too involved or influences the direction of the team.

Now in a world of social media, and some of these players today can't handle it. You kind of need both a public and private account if you're going to be on social media.

As a player, you are trained to not throw the team under the bus (it's what QBs are supposed to do in the NFL). But, when you have over a dozen microphones in your face and everyone trying to set themselves apart, they will keep clawing away. It can get tiring. Vs in other US markets, you have 2-3 people covering and you can say what you need to say and move on.

Does Marner feel better mentally after his season in LV vs Tor? Probably does. Ehlers in CAR following a decade in Winnipeg.

 

[Bubbles]

While the whole American players not wanting to play for a Canadian team is obviously a thing, I do think it’s going to be overblown. Canucks had no issues with Demko, Boeser, Miller signing long term deals here. Hughes did inform the Canucks that he wouldn’t be signing here but they were a complete tire fire for most of his tenure here. If they were a consistent playoff team the outcome might have been different. I almost can’t blame him for wanting out when he was wasting his prime years here (still will blame him of course).

Without getting into politics, it's key to get the "right" type of Americans. Progressive, non-MAGA ones to be specific. Demko is from California and Boeser is from Minnesota.

I assume anyone nowadays can do thorough research through people's social media, friends, family to determine what type of character a person is.

Look at Kyle Connor and Cole Caufield, guys who have stayed long term in Canadian markets.