F Brayden Yager - Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL (2023, 14th, PIT; traded to WPG)

[Just Linda]

How will he fit in there?

He'll fit in well, they really need high end forwards. Arguably Unger is going to be a bigger difference maker for them, he's quite a bit better than what they have in net right now.

That being said, I can't see them getting past the first round this year. It's not a bad team but its really not a great team, they are still a couple major pieces away from being a threat.

 

[Bubbles]

Very interesting. Lethbridge isn't really a contender, but I guess they're making a run. They traded away Meneghin only to get a much worse goalie in Unger.

 

[DearDiary]

Moose Jaw gives away the farm to get 1 playoff run in, then the very next season they're sellers.

 

[landy92mack29]

Usually what happens in junior hockey...

 

[Bender Duster]

Seems odd that Lethbridge went after him? They’re barely over .500 and aren’t likely to go on a deep run.

 

[hockeykid87]

Moose Jaw gives away the farm to get 1 playoff run in, then the very next season they're sellers.

At least it worked out for them. They get a banner that will fly forever. Plenty of teams over the years have done the same only to lose.

 

[Gurglesons]

Moose Jaw gives away the farm to get 1 playoff run in, then the very next season they're sellers.

Welcome to Junior Hockey. NHL could learn a lil bit from it.

 

[lanky]

Welcome to Junior Hockey. NHL could learn a lil bit from it.

I agree with your first sentence. I'm perplexed by your second sentence.

Junior players have very short junior careers and managers need to try to catch lightning in a bottle. Then they need to pivot when it doesn't happen. Management in the NHL is an entirely different beast. One that rewards patience.

 

[Gurglesons]

I agree with your first sentence. I'm perplexed by your second sentence.

Junior players have very short junior careers and managers need to try to catch lightning in a bottle. Then they need to pivot when it doesn't happen. Management in the NHL is an entirely different beast. One that rewards patience.

Too many teams focus on "long term plans" versus winning.

Largely because GMs can lengthen their careers by saying they are "rebuilding".

 

[SEALBound]

Too many teams focus on "long term plans" versus winning.

Largely because GMs can lengthen their careers by saying they are "rebuilding".

It's a little bit different in the NHL given the salary cap, contract terms, and mere fact that the talent pool is less and it takes a lot to build a stanley cup capable team. The NHL cycles differently than the CHL.

 

[Gurglesons]

It's a little bit different in the NHL given the salary cap, contract terms, and mere fact that the talent pool is less and it takes a lot to build a stanley cup capable team. The NHL cycles differently than the CHL.

Sounds like what a GM would say.

Boo hoo, my job is hard.

 

[theVladiator]

It's a little bit different in the NHL given the salary cap, contract terms, and mere fact that the talent pool is less and it takes a lot to build a stanley cup capable team. The NHL cycles differently than the CHL.

You have made a pretty good argument that it's A LOT different. Should be pretty obvious to anyone willing to read your post and spend 30 seconds thinking about it.

 

[SEALBound]

You have made a pretty good argument that it's A LOT different. Should be pretty obvious to anyone willing to read your post and spend 30 seconds thinking about it.

Indeed. It's why it's relatively easy to find a manager for your local McDonalds vs the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. From each position down, there is a different talent pool and different availability of such talent. That doesn't even begin to discuss revenue differences for each organization in each respective league.

 

[thebestnic]

Indeed. It's why it's relatively easy to find a manager for your local McDonalds vs the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. From each position down, there is a different talent pool and different availability of such talent. That doesn't even begin to discuss revenue differences for each organization in each respective league.

Being an NHL GM is closer to being a local McDonald's manager yes

 

[Boonk]

Welcome to Junior Hockey. NHL could learn a lil bit from it.

Junior hockey players dont carry millions of dollars in salary and cap space nor have NMCs or NTCs or whatever in their contracts preventing them from going anywhere. Almost like you forgot that fact or something.

 

[Gurglesons]

Junior hockey players dont carry millions of dollars in salary and cap space nor have NMCs or NTCs or whatever in their contracts preventing them from going anywhere. Almost like you forgot that fact or something.

Weird how a junior GM came into the NHL with the Knights and has been crushing it regularly while largely employing the same tactics he did at his previous gig.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence!

 

[Bender Duster]

Weird how a junior GM came into the NHL with the Knights and has been crushing it regularly while largely employing the same tactics he did at his previous gig.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence!

Yeah, the lopsided rules to the expansion draft had nothing to do with the Knights making it to the Finals in their first year. It was all the 'wild and wacky trades'!

 

[Gurglesons]

Yeah, the lopsided rules to the expansion draft had nothing to do with the Knights making it to the Finals in their first year. It was all the 'wild and wacky trades'!

Yes, it was. Also, McCrimmon wasn't made the GM of the Knights until the following year where we began to see his philosphy of who cares about picks, prospects, or players. I want to win and I want to win now. And he did it and has consistently been a contender since he took over.

 

[Boonk]

Weird how a junior GM came into the NHL with the Knights and has been crushing it regularly while largely employing the same tactics he did at his previous gig.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence!

Youd maybe have some point to make if you werent in here in here acting like Las Vegas is some 3rd world slum city and organization with no success that players dont want to go to that somehow isnt a professional organization with professional contracts that have specific stipulations to prevent movement for some players and millions of dollars in salary and cap space. Oops

By all means, please explain to me how Brandon Manitoba is a more desirable location than Las Vegas. Lol.

 

[Gurglesons]

Youd maybe have some point to make if you werent in here in here acting like Las Vegas is some 3rd world slum city and organization with no success that players dont want to go to. Or that it somehow isnt a professional organization with professional contracts that have specific stipulations to prevent movement and millions of dollars in salary and cap space. Lol.

Brandon Manitoba is equal to Las Vegas Nevada apparently.

I'm not sure I get your point.

My point is that Junior teams are built with the mindset of going all in to win when they can win and tearing it down when they can't.

NHL teams are built with the mindset of "if we make the playoffs, I'll make enough money to perserve my job".

I think Zito and McCrimmon have shown the past few years that you can utilize the junior team tactics in the NHL.

 

[Boonk]

I'm not sure I get your point.

My point is that Junior teams are built with the mindset of winning when they can win and tearing it down when they can't.

NHL teams are built with the mindset of "if we make the playoffs, I'll make enough money to perserve my job".

The point is that you are comparing two entirely different levels of hockey involving trades and player movement when its not even a valid comparison. Junior and pro hockey are not even in the same stratosphere in any regard, much less the NHL with trades and player movement when theres millions of dollars and stipulations preventing movement involved, where junior hockey doesnt have any of that and players have almost no rights to prevent their movement. Its just not a good nor logistical comparison on your part

You are also trying to bring up Las Vegas as an example as if the entire NHL and its destinations have the same pull and ability to make big name trades consistently. Las Vegas is a big market and tourist destination with the good weather and big city amenities, as well as organizational success. Its a desirable location with a winning culture and one of only a few in the league right now.

 

[Gurglesons]

The point is that you are comparing two entirely different levels of hockey involving trades and player movement when its not even a valid comparison. Junior and pro hockey are not even in the same stratosphere in any regard, much less the NHL with trades and player movement when theres millions of dollars and stipulations preventing movement involved, where junior hockey doesnt have any of that and players have almost no rights to prevent their movement. Its just not a good nor logistical comparison on your part

You are also trying to bring up Las Vegas as an example as if the entire NHL and its destinations have the same pull and ability to make big name trades consistently. Las Vegas is a big market and tourist destination with the good weather and big city amenities, as well as organizational success. Its a desirable location with a winning culture and one of only a few in the league right now.

Fair enough.

I think we just disagree on the overall point here.

 

[Hinterland]

Very interesting. Lethbridge isn't really a contender, but I guess they're making a run. They traded away Meneghin only to get a much worse goalie in Unger.

The only reason why Lethbridge isn't a contender is that Meneghin trade. They haven't gotten consistent goaltending ever since. That was a real head scratcher of a deal.

The Hurricanes obviously made that trade because they wanted to dress three overager skaters. I'm not sure they really need three overager skaters though. They obviously need Brayden Edwards but both Logan McCutcheon and Hayden Pakkala became expendable after trading for Vojtech Port and Brayden Yager. After those trades the Canes now have the luxury of playing an NHL drafted 05 born veteran defenseman as a nr.5 on their 3rd pairing and an 04 born overager as shutdown/checking line 3C. They could easily play Port on the 2nd pairing and Tipler (when healthy) on the 3rd. Kash Andresen also proved to be a very good 3C and the Hurricanes have lots of options for the 4C spot.
So yeah, that Meneghin trade was a huge mistake.

The Eastern Conference is wide open. There's Saksatoon and then there are 8 teams almost on the same level. So obviously lots of teams will feel like they can do some damage. The Hurricanes probably feel they've plugged their biggest holes with that Yager/Unger trade. They definitely needed a second scoring Center. Edwards is pretty good but can't do it alone. You need two scoring lines to do damage in the playoffs. They also needed a competent goalie because that Meneghin trade was a mistake. Brady Smith was never gonna be the answer and but I agree Jackson Unger won't be either. The Hurricanes have to place their hope in Koen Cleaver who does have upside. Otherwise they will have to bring in yet another goalie.

Yager had a rather quiet first game for Lethbridge against his former team but he did score three primary assists in a 4-3 home win over Medicin Hat last night.

 

[Whis]

Too many teams focus on "long term plans" versus winning.

Largely because GMs can lengthen their careers by saying they are "rebuilding".

This may be one of the wildest comments I've read on this board. Comparing CHL business model to NHL model is insane. Billion dollar organizations that are expected to fill 15-20k arenas 40+ times a year charging premium prices against teams that charge $10 to a couple thousand people if they are lucky.

 

[Jacob]

I still find myself following and being interested in his progress. Usually once they’re not a Penguin I couldn’t care less, but Yager seems like a good kid and I’m curious how his skill package will translate. He’s skilled but not, like, eye-poppingly skilled. But the way he produces and the skillset he displays seems like it’ll translate on up the ladder.