Currently the best & worst rebuilds ongoing

[Borlag]

It's harder to draft top goalies and top pairing dmen than scoring forwards. The fact Yzerman most likely has those position handled, he can start going after scoring wingers. Centers are harder to find, but he has Larkin/Kasper/Danielson/MBN/Lombardi (Lombardi is on a scoring vengeance in the AHL, sick hands).

The problem with Nashville is they couldn't draft scoring forwards to save their life. I think Yzerman excels at drafting scoring forwards. That's his bread and butter.

True, forwards also tend to develop faster which means he's going with it in the right order. At the moment it does appear that mediocrity is where they're still heading. I'm somewhat reluctant in putting all trust in Kasper, Danielson, Lombardi or Brandsegg, that is until they show that they have it in the NHL as well. That's an extremely big question mark, one that wont be answered until those guys actually step on the NHL and either start producing, or show that they don't have it. Kasper's 4 points in 16 games aren't exactly screaming top 6 production. Could he get there? Sure, but until he does, it's a question mark all the same.

There was a time when guys like Zadina and Mantha looked good, and were looked as the future stars for Detroit. It doesn't happen just because we hope it would.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Habs would be looking excellent had they taken Tkachuk, Michkov, Oettinger. Now that may have changed their positions but if it hadn’t, they’d be looking good with Tkachuk, Suzuki, Caufield, Michkov, Slaf, Laine. Plus other prospects

Or if they had a coach that could coach.

 

[OysterForever]

Ducks will be a contender in 3-4 years

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Of course as of today the Buffalo Sabres are in third place in the Atlantic division (although Tampa is one point out with two games in hand). Of course there is a major caveat: we have seen good starts in a few Sabres seasons before come crashing down. The season still has three-quarters left to be played. It is a young team so they may not have experience for a long grind. But they have recovered from a 1-4-1 start that had fans shaking their heads in “oh no not again” !

Seven of their next eight games are in the Queen City of the Niagara Frontier so they better pick up a bunch of points.

While I’m happy to see them in their position, I’m being cautious. Still lots of season left for them to shit the bed.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

I'm confused why so many people say Buffalo's the worst, and are rebuilding.

They sit in a playoff spot above Ottawa, Detroit. They've been a bubble team for a few years now.
They haven't been rebuilding for awhile and just missed the playoffs by 1 pt. a couple years ago.

From where we were. I'd say that's pretty successful so far.

Buffalo worst lol. You can tell who pays attention around the league based on their posts.

 

[Hisch13r]

I'm confused why so many people say Buffalo's the worst, and are rebuilding.

They sit in a playoff spot above Ottawa, Detroit. They've been a bubble team for a few years now.
They haven't been rebuilding for awhile and just missed the playoffs by 1 pt. a couple years ago.

From where we were. I'd say that's pretty successful so far.

Buffalo worst lol. You can tell who pays attention around the league based on their posts.
'

They have the longest playoff drought of the 4 major sports.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

They have the longest playoff drought of the 4 major sports.

Correct. That has nothing to do with what I wrote, though.
The Sabres current roster is completely independent than the years that preceded it with a different core and players than before.

 

[shello]

Habs would be looking excellent had they taken Tkachuk, Michkov, Oettinger. Now that may have changed their positions but if it hadn’t, they’d be looking good with Tkachuk, Suzuki, Caufield, Michkov, Slaf, Laine. Plus other prospects

I’ll give you everyone else but I’m not sure if Michkov would have signed with MTL

 

[12ozPapa]

Ducks will be a contender in 3-4 years

Not if they keep the current path. They would need huge steps from young kids, add some big FAs, and a new coach

 

[Pavels Dog]

There was a time when guys like Zadina and Mantha looked good, and were looked as the future stars for Detroit. It doesn't happen just because we hope it would.

Strawman argument. Different scouting director and GM, and most importantly prospects should be evaluated on their own merits. It was the same silly arguments that had some people doubting Seider because David Rundblad once was a really good prospect.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Correct. That has nothing to do with what I wrote, though.
The Sabres current roster is completely independent than the years that preceded it with a different core and players than before.

That may just tell you exactly how long they have been that bad, hence why people have them where they do.

 

[Borlag]

Strawman argument. Different scouting director and GM, and most importantly prospects should be evaluated on their own merits. It was the same silly arguments that had some people doubting Seider because David Rundblad once was a really good prospect.

If stating that they're currently questionmarks until they actually show they can do it in the NHL, where they were drafted into, then your argument is just the same; a strawman argument based on "hey this guy struck gold with Seider when others mocked him for picking him so he must have struck gold with everyone else too".

I didn't say anything controversial in that post, simply that they need to show it in the NHL instead of minor leagues and abroad. There's literally hundreds of players that have looked great elsewhere and failed miserably when the push comes to shove. But fine, keep going with your blind faith instead of recognizing actual facts,

 

[Pavels Dog]

If stating that they're currently questionmarks until they actually show they can do it in the NHL, where they were drafted into, then your argument is just the same; a strawman argument based on "hey this guy struck gold with Seider when others mocked him for picking him so he must have struck gold with everyone else too".

Except I didn't say other picks are guaranteed hits because Seider was. Each prospect should be evaluated on their own merits. Sandin-Pellikka is breaking SHL records, but I'm far less optimistic about him being an immediate NHL-impact player like Seider was - because I'm evaluating ASP based on his strengths and weaknesses and not just production and being an Yzerman pick.

I didn't say anything controversial in that post, simply that they need to show it in the NHL instead of minor leagues and abroad. There's literally hundreds of players that have looked great elsewhere and failed miserably when the push comes to shove. But fine, keep going with your blind faith instead of recognizing actual facts,

If you want to talk rebuilds, but every single prospect is lumped together as a faceless mass of randoms it kind of kills a lot of the discussion, no? Especially if you also judge 20 year old NHL rookies based only on production. For teams currently in a rebuild, or even trying to exit one, so much hinges on what players can become in the future. That potential CAN be evaluated, even though there's lots of uncertainty in any projection.

 

[Winger98]

Detroit.. it's built on a lot of hope and not many current NHL players. The roster today looks quiet mediocre to me but I do love Seider and Raymond. I'm in the minority as I think Seider is in the Hughes/Makar tier and will eventually be nominated for a Norris once the team around him improves.

It is but it's also a bunch of placeholders who will disappear when more of the kids are set to move up. The kids might still flop and the rebuild will fail, but I think it is a mistake for people to look at this season's roster and think it reflects where Yzerman is actually hoping to go with the organization.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

That may just tell you exactly how long they have been that bad, hence why people have them where they do.

But rebuilding is purposely sucking for a high draft pick. That doesn’t accurately describe the Sabres at all these past 3 yrs. They’ve been a middle of the pack team. Unless rebuilding means something else I am unaware of. Btw thanks for being classy about it and not being a dick. I know it’s fashionable to shit on the team that sucks

 

[Stewie Griffin]

But rebuilding is purposely sucking for a high draft pick. That doesn’t accurately describe the Sabres at all these past 3 yrs. They’ve been a middle of the pack team. Unless rebuilding means something else I am unaware of. Btw thanks for being classy about it and not being a dick. I know it’s fashionable to shit on the team that sucks

Rebuilding doesn't have to be purposely sucking. It's just being able to come out of the trenches and build a good team again. Since the Sabres haven't been able to be good enough to make the playoffs much longer than any other team...they're easily the worst.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Go Buffalo Go! Go ottawa Go! Go ducks go! Go sharks go! Go Columbus Go! Go chicago go! you can do it boys! get those wins

 

[TheBeerNerd]

Honestly, if the Blue Jackets weren't riddled with injury and death, they'd probably be in at least that eighth playoff spot right now. Maybe next year they'll be something... or who knows, they might steal that last spot because everyone else couldn't be bothered.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

The best somewhat recent rebuild has to be the Devils as people have said. Say what you want about getting lottery luck...they're the best team and have made the 2nd round of the playoffs so it is them. Luck, both with the lottery and injury are factors in this, whether that's fair or not...doesn't really matter lol, life isn't fair in general you gotta work with the cards you're dealt.

The worst is Buffalo, since they don't have results. Detroit is building what looks to be a really mid team, and they don't have cap space right now so they're in a weird spot. They have some nice prospects in the system, but so do all of the teams in this thread.

As a Sharks fan, I'm happy where we are, but I'm not ready to say we're among the best yet. In a few years we can be right where Ottawa or Anaheim are right now...still not there. I will say the prospects look great and there seems to be unlimited cap space to do what Grier wants moving forward. We'll see how he fills that cap space before I call it the best.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

The "Yzerplan" is about 1,000 miles off course. It's mind-boggling to me to see so many people in my fan base continue to have blind faith in this product and almost militantly push back if anyone so much as raises the slightest doubt.

 

[Hisch13r]

The best somewhat recent rebuild has to be the Devils as people have said. Say what you want about getting lottery luck...they're the best team and have made the 2nd round of the playoffs so it is them. Luck, both with the lottery and injury are factors in this, whether that's fair or not...doesn't really matter lol, life isn't fair in general you gotta work with the cards you're dealt.

The worst is Buffalo, since they don't have results. Detroit is building what looks to be a really mid team, and they don't have cap space right now so they're in a weird spot. They have some nice prospects in the system, but so do all of the teams in this thread.

As a Sharks fan, I'm happy where we are, but I'm not ready to say we're among the best yet. In a few years we can be right where Ottawa or Anaheim are right now...still not there. I will say the prospects look great and there seems to be unlimited cap space to do what Grier wants moving forward. We'll see how he fills that cap space before I call it the best.

I think Detroit’s going to have to build like a 2010s Blues type of team to have success. They don’t really have the superstars so they’ll need to have a lot of solid pieces up and down the lineup. I think the back end will be really good. Seider/Edvinsson could be like Pietrangelo/Parayko. ASP looks really good. I don’t love the forwards. I think best case for them is they suck hard this year and get a top pick to add a star forward.

 

[Czechboy]

It is but it's also a bunch of placeholders who will disappear when more of the kids are set to move up. The kids might still flop and the rebuild will fail, but I think it is a mistake for people to look at this season's roster and think it reflects where Yzerman is actually hoping to go with the organization.

I agree with that.. I totally get that Petry/Chariot/Holl aren't there for a cup run.

I do worry that larkin will age out before Wing's get good.

I do wonder how many of those kids will be effective full time NHLers though.. Obviously Seider and Raymond were great picks! Erv is looking great. Asp is likely. Rest are not a lock though. As an Oil fan .. hoping for every late 1st rounder, 2nd to 7th to arrive can be very frustrating! In our case, none of them hit.lol McLeod being our biggest success outside of Skinner.

Obviously, when the core gets better.. free agents as well but I'm not sure I like Yzerman's free agency signings too much.

 

[Winger98]

I agree with that.. I totally get that Petry/Chariot/Holl aren't there for a cup run.

I do worry that larkin will age out before Wing's get good.

I do wonder how many of those kids will be effective full time NHLers though.. Obviously Seider and Raymond were great picks! Erv is looking great. Asp is likely. Rest are not a lock though. As an Oil fan .. hoping for every late 1st rounder, 2nd to 7th to arrive can be very frustrating! In our case, none of them hit.lol McLeod being our biggest success outside of Skinner.

Obviously, when the core gets better.. free agents as well but I'm not sure I like Yzerman's free agency signings too much.

My personal hope is that the 1st rounders hit to some reasonable degree, and we get a couple of late round guys, then we can trade/sign to fill remaining holes. I think all Wings fans have that same fear about Larkin, but if Danielson/Kaspar can be at least 2c level...it gives the Wings some room to maneuver there and work around it.

Years ago, Holland said a rebuild would likely be a nearly 10 year thing. I think Yzerman said essentially the same thing when he first signed back in Detroit. I look around the league and...yeah, that looks right. Can it get sped up with a bit of luck? Yeah, but it can also go up in smoke.

Good luck to your guys up there in Edmonton. Been my second favorite team since the mid/late 90s. Fun team to watch.

 

[MHO]

We tend to think that you need multiple great players to compete for the cup and that the vast majority of those types of players are picked in the top 5 of the draft. And that the only way to get those players is to be bad enough to pick at the top of the draft in 2,3,4 or maybe even 5 consecutive years to get those players because there is no other way to acquire them. So let's sell our parts and bring on the tank!

But think about it. Even though most of these types of players are picked in the top 5, there are so many top 5 picks that don't pan out how you would want. You might end up with Auston Matthews, you might end up with Sam Bennett, or you might end up with Nolan Patrick in the top 5. And if you rebuild, not only do you need to hit on those top picks, but you also need to get good players in the later rounds as well. That's how good teams stay good is that they find value in the later rounds to supplement their roster as they have to start paying their stars top dollar.

The other thing is that some teams have advantages over others when it comes to free agents by the cities they are in, franchise cache, or whatever. What free agent wants to go to Buffalo or Ottawa? Or Toronto may even have a disadvantage because they're Toronto...

 

[Czechboy]

My personal hope is that the 1st rounders hit to some reasonable degree, and we get a couple of late round guys, then we can trade/sign to fill remaining holes. I think all Wings fans have that same fear about Larkin, but if Danielson/Kaspar can be at least 2c level...it gives the Wings some room to maneuver there and work around it.

Years ago, Holland said a rebuild would likely be a nearly 10 year thing. I think Yzerman said essentially the same thing when he first signed back in Detroit. I look around the league and...yeah, that looks right. Can it get sped up with a bit of luck? Yeah, but it can also go up in smoke.

Good luck to your guys up there in Edmonton. Been my second favorite team since the mid/late 90s. Fun team to watch.

Thanks. As you know we are the poster boys for bad management and screwing up so many, gifted, drafts.lol