Around the League thread: Phil in Pitt. And other NHL topics

[Mess]

TSN's top 50 players list.

http://www.tsn.ca/crosby-no-1-for-sixth-straight-year-on-tsn-s-top-50-list-1.368712

Personally I thought Kessel would be ranked much higher considering he will play with Crosby or Malkin. Plus in the past when he was with the Leafs a lot of us thought he was ranked to low based on his 82 and 80 point seasons. Although considering last year was his worst statically when playing 82 games, the fact he moved up 2 spots was a little surprising.

Six teams failed to rank any players among the Top 50: Buffalo, Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, Toronto and Winnipeg. Panthers' defenceman Aaron Ekblad was just on the outside at No. 51.

Still too early to tell if Leafs have a future top 50 in their organization at present.

No Leafs but 3 ex Kelowna Rockets in the top 16 .. Jamie Benn (9), Duncan Keith (12) & Shea Weber at (16).

Its always good to support your favourite NHL team with a good hometown junior team to balance out your hockey enjoyment factor overall.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Connor McDavid thrust as the 37th best player in the NHL

 

[FlareKnight]

and what was addressed

why is McDavid there (at 37) and Eichel isn't there at all. There can't be that much of a chasm that McDavid is there and Eichel is not. I would have had Keith higher too.

Because McDavid is Canadian and on a Canadian team. I can't think of any excuse to have him there but not Eichel other than the narrative reasoning. Same excuse for Toews being too high up on the list. Canadian who is a great leader, sure give him the 2nd spot.

The list was made by polling TSN experts (oh boy) and an unknown number of GMs. The first doesn't surprise me, but makes you worry for the teams where the GMs agreed with some of the odd choices on this list.

 

[Al14]

There's a strong rumour going around that Philly is going to trade Brayden Schenn and possibly Luke Schenn to Winnipeg.

Is there any chance we could send Phaneuf to Philly for the Schenn brothers?

There's gotta be a way to re-legitimize the Luke Schenn jersey still hanging in my closet!

 

[Purity*]

Toews is pretty much a mirror image of Kopitar in LA in almost every regard, yet they are separated by 15 spots on this list. That's what narrative driven evaluation does for you.

Regarding McDavid I would probably not had him on the list but would have put him as an honorary mention as someone who probably belongs there, but can't be compared against the others as of yet.

Datsyuk at around 23 is also ridiculous. The only case 90% of all the players above him have is that he's been missing games due to injury.

Kopitar has posted almost identical regular season and post-season numbers to Toews.

Seriously, the difference is he's not good 'ole Canadian boy from the prairies who plays the game the right way.

Separated by 15 spots? Yup, definitely narrative driven without a doubt.

 

[LeafsMonster]

Is it just me thinks any player that hasn't played a game in the nhl shouldn't be ranked as an nhl player?

Projection is different, but I personally don't think it makes sense to rate them above other nhl players when they have yet to play a game.

 

[Trapper]

Is it just me thinks any player that hasn't played a game in the nhl shouldn't be ranked as an nhl player?

Projection is different, but I personally don't think it makes sense to rate them above other nhl players when they have yet to play a game.

McDavid should not be on the list (or N/A) until he has played in the NHL. A mid season ranking ok, but not now.
What is the top 50 based on?
Popularity?
Team success?
Last year?
Last 5 years?
Your career 6/7 years ago?
Hard to say.

 

[MadSnowman42]

A selection of TSN Hockey experts and NHL general managers were surveyed and asked to project the Top 50 players in 2015-16 (emphasis added).

Does anyone complaining about McDavid being listed seriously not think that he will be one of the 50 best players in the upcoming season? If anything he is listed too low.

 

[LeafsMonster]

Does anyone complaining about McDavid being listed seriously not think that he will be one of the 50 best players in the upcoming season? If anything he is listed too low.

Ah okay projection is fine. I thought it was current top 50 players.

 

[Menzinger]

People are really exaggerating the impact that Eichel and McDavid will have in their first season. I believe only something like 13 players have scored 60 or more points as an 18 year old.

 

[sIDEsHOW93]

Bickell On Waivers

First of all sorry for most likely posting this in tge wrong place. Bickell is on waivers and I believe this is a pickup the leafs need to make. He can teach defensive responsibility to you younger players and near the end of his contract possibly bring back a descent return. Is he overpaid? Yes. But you and I know where there is a will there is a way and we could fit him in.

 

[TmlHockeyFan]

When does his contract expire?

 

[Trapper]

First of all sorry for most likely posting this in tge wrong place. Bickell is on waivers and I believe this is a pickup the leafs need to make. He can teach defensive responsibility to you younger players and near the end of his contract possibly bring back a descent return. Is he overpaid? Yes. But you and I know where there is a will there is a way and we could fit him in.

Seems like a better fit for the Oilers.
Not for us.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Why can't the Leafs do the same thing with a guy like Lupul, for example?

 

[KGL]

Picking him up would be awful.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

I'm sure the Leafs were offered some kind of sweetener with Bickell and refused. So to take him alone would make no sense.

 

[Woll Smoth]

Why can't the Leafs do the same thing with a guy like Lupul, for example?

-Leafs don't need the cap space right now.
-Doing so would guarantee Lupul plays out his contract as a member of the Leafs organization
-Having him play could (very slim chance) increase his stock enough to bring in some value in a year or two.
-He is still an NHL player, waiving him and bringing in someone worse isn't going to fly with Babcock.

 

[Suntouchable13]

-Leafs don't need the cap space right now.
-Doing so would guarantee Lupul plays out his contract as a member of the Leafs organization
-Having him play could (very slim chance) increase his stock enough to bring in some value in a year or two.
-He is still an NHL player, waiving him and bringing in someone worse isn't going to fly with Babcock.

Someone worse? how about making room for a young player that's already better?

 

[theIceWookie]

People are really exaggerating the impact that Eichel and McDavid will have in their first season. I believe only something like 13 players have scored 60 or more points as an 18 year old.

Well I think people need to remember that 60 points in the NHL right now is a rare enough feat as it is. Only 53 skaters (including defenseman) put up 60 or more points last year.

Although I actually think both Eichel and McDavid have very good shots at it. I honestly think they are that good. They'll be considered their respective team's best player by the time the season is halfway done.

 

[Ovate]

Someone worse? how about making room for a young player that's already better?

There's not a single young player who's better than a healthy Lupul.

 

[Dreakmur]

There's not a single young player who's better than a healthy Lupul.

Nor a 6'6" Nazem Kadri....

 

[TheProspector]

Bickell at half off on the waiver wire would be a great pickup. He's really added possession to his game.

I really hated him at $4m, but at $2m, he'd be a steal.

 

[ULF_55]

Bickell at half off on the waiver wire would be a great pickup. He's really added possession to his game.

I really hated him at $4m, but at $2m, he'd be a steal.

So does he rank as a better player than the Hawks are keeping for their top 6?

He's a 1st. liner?

Something doesn't seem right, the Hawks have won 3 out of the last 6 Cups.

 

[Marian Gaborik]

People are really exaggerating the impact that Eichel and McDavid will have in their first season. I believe only something like 13 players have scored 60 or more points as an 18 year old.

Both will score over 60 if they stay healthy.

 

[The Thin White Duke]

Bickell at half off on the waiver wire would be a great pickup. He's really added possession to his game.

I really hated him at $4m, but at $2m, he'd be a steal.

Waivers aren't half off anymore IIRC, the hawks would have to trade him to us with retention. Doubt they'd be willing to take the 2 mil hit + 900k replacement.