Around the League Thread | The one where the NHL once again is the worst.

[StreetHawk]

The thing is, I think Yzerman is fine as a GM. The contracts he's signed UFAs to won't handicap them and I usually like their draft targets. He's trying to get them competitive while slowly integrating younger players and build a proper core. But his body of work in the last three off-season has been unimpressive and, unless the young players all step up this season, they look to be another middling tweener-playoff team.

Unless you got lucky in the draft lottery or were able to land elite talent at your draft position, then you are going to have to make a trade or signing to really turn things around. I can't really argue with anyone that Yzerman drafted in round 1. Last 2, really hard at the moment to say what Kasper/Danielson will do, but they don't seem like 1st liners, probably 2nd liners. And I thought Wallstedt was the better option in net in 2021 over Cossa.

Late first at like 26 for DCat was a solid move.

Again, I think the make/break for Yzerman is how well his scouts did in rounds 2-3 in that span from 2019-2023. Going to need like 3 Forwards to be middle 6 guys and 2 to be #3-5 Dmen.

 

[Nick Lang]

am i missing something? why do ppl care so much about whether yzerman sucks?

it’s not like he’s edmonton or calgary or toronto or chicago or boston or messier or… i just don’t see a reason to gaf

It seems to me a number of people are jilted because there was a certain admiration/desire recently from some posters about Detroit's rebuild situation (draft picks, cap space) compared to ours. Now that we had a real upturn and after the Hronek trade people are laying into Yzerman and calling him down in a franchise comparison. To me it's just an organization that tried an almost longer term Benning style rebuild. Obviously, hasn't worked to date but I find them an interesting team with some good parts. Not sure if every situation needs to mocked though. Like Columbus has really had some strange things go on there.