GDT: Free Agency: Dr Strangedubas or How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Nerd

[canadianguy77]

People are absolutely bonkers if they thought Dubas was gonna come in, salvage the smoldering wreckage left in Hextall and JR's wake, and make franchise altering trades with no assets, lure premiere FAs to a team whose window probably shut after the Habs series in 2020, and right the ship. His job is to not torpedo the team like his two predecessors did and guide the era to an uneventful end when Sid hangs 'em up.

The team's the same. Hopefully marginally better defensively, but it's the same. It's been largely the same for years. This team's been in a holding pattern until Sid retires that's gonna see them walk the line of "don't f*** things up", which is stupid, and boring, and lame as shit--but it's reality. JR, Hextall and Sullivan slammed the window shut, caulked around the edges, sprayed insulation foam into the window recess, boarded it up, drywalled over it, and painted an ugly, boring shade of beige over where the window used to be.

If you bought into the "we're trying to win Cups, super serious, pinky promise guys!" bullshit they've been saying for years, that's on you. If you think this team was gonna be fixed (or even dramatically improved) in one off-season, that's on you. If you think this team's window hasn't been closed for years, that's on you. If you're pissed about Jarry re-signing--well, yeah, I'm with you. That dude's a f***ing loser who wilts under the pressure of a feather. I'd rather this team just play with the goalie pulled for 60 minutes a night than watch another 5 years of Jarry.

I honestly believe they could’ve made a run last year. Sid was a man on a mission.

 

[metalan2]

If they get EK, then this season is salvageable just for entertainment purposes. If they don't, it's the same team as last year.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Grier HAS TO trade Karlsson this summer. This is a great chance to be freed of that horrific deal, or at least the bulk of it. His value will only decline from here.

 

[canadianguy77]

If they get EK, then this season is salvageable just for entertainment purposes. If they don't, it's the same team as last year.

Yeah. What did they add…5 goals? How many fewer goals will we allow…10? (I have no idea on either of those numbers) But I don’t think it will be a huge difference. Dumo leaving helps with goals against probably.

So maybe they’re just trying to remain competitive for a playoff spot because we only missed by a single win last season. I’m not sure it’s prudent to rely on last seasons numbers when they’re making moves. Sid and Geno were healthy last season. If one of them misses 20-40 games this season, our goose is cooked and we’re likely looking at a lottery pick. We need another dynamic player. Or at least a line that can take the load off Sid and Geno.

Banking on Sid and Geno having healthy seasons again seems arrogant and dumb.

 

[metalan2]

Yeah. What did they add…5 goals? How many fewer goals will we allow…10? (I have no idea on either of those numbers) But I don’t think it will be a huge difference. Dumo leaving helps with goals against probably.

So maybe they’re just trying to remain competitive for a playoff spot because we only missed by a single win last season. I’m not sure it’s prudent to rely on last seasons numbers when they’re making moves. Sid and Geno were healthy last season. If one of them misses 20-40 games this season, our goose is cooked and we’re likely looking at a lottery pick. We need another dynamic player. Or at least a line that can take the load off Sid and Geno.

Banking on Sid and Geno having healthy seasons again seems arrogant and dumb.

I'm all for a lottery pick, a real one, not 14th.

 

[canadianguy77]

I'm all for a lottery pick, a real one, not 14th.

I was angry after every win after the TDL this season.

 

[Zbynek]

My argument for acquiring EK65; it'd be cool.

Same argument Jarry's agent used to proposition Dubas for that contract.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Yeah. What did they add…5 goals? How many fewer goals will we allow…10? (I have no idea on either of those numbers) But I don’t think it will be a huge difference. Dumo leaving helps with goals against probably.

So maybe they’re just trying to remain competitive for a playoff spot because we only missed by a single win last season. I’m not sure it’s prudent to rely on last seasons numbers when they’re making moves. Sid and Geno were healthy last season. If one of them misses 20-40 games this season, our goose is cooked and we’re likely looking at a lottery pick. We need another dynamic player. Or at least a line that can take the load off Sid and Geno.

Banking on Sid and Geno having healthy seasons again seems arrogant and dumb.

I'd say the top six scores less, the bottom six score marginally more, but the team defense, Letang and Jarry improvements gives them a chance for playoffs.
Not a significant departure from their standing last year, where they were bubble-out.
There were 13 man-games lost in the top six. What happens if that goes up to like 70+, like usual with this team? Could get ugly.

 

[Gurglesons]

What exactly are the “Jarry improvements”?

 

[canadianguy77]

I'd say the top six scores less, the bottom six score marginally more, but the team defense, Letang and Jarry improvements gives them a chance for playoffs.
Not a significant departure from their standing last year, where they were bubble-out.
There were 13 man-games lost in the top six. What happens if that goes up to like 70+, like usual with this team? Could get ugly.

This is what’s really surprising to me. I thought Dubas was a big analytics guy. He has to know that the likelihood of 87 and 71 both being healthy next season is fairly small.

Makes me thing that Sullivan has way too much say in the roster…

 

[ZorkEnchanter]

What exactly are the “Jarry improvements”?

I heard he's really great teammate and is awesome in the locker room. I heard he's going to joke around more in 2023...

 

[canadianguy77]

I heard he's really great teammate and is awesome in the locker room. I heard he's going to joke around more in 2023...

There’s another possibility. AuroraBorealis could be his shrink.

 

[Gurglesons]

This is what’s really surprising to me. I thought Dubas was a big analytics guy. He has to know that the likelihood of 87 and 71 both being healthy next season is fairly small.

Makes me thing that Sullivan has way too much say in the roster…

Dubas has never been an analytics guy. This is why I wanted Tulsky.

Ironically enough how much better of a spot is this team in if we just spent 11 mil on Bunting and Orlov.

 

[ZorkEnchanter]

Lars

Dubas has never been an analytics guy. This is why I wanted Tulsky.

Ironically enough how much better of a spot is this team in if we just spent 11 mil on Bunting and Orlov.

Uh... we have 10+ on Carter, Granlund, and Ellers. Why do we need them?

3 is totally better than two.

 

[canadianguy77]

Dubas has never been an analytics guy. This is why I wanted Tulsky.

Ironically enough how much better of a spot is this team in if we just spent 11 mil on Bunting and Orlov.

I wanted Tulsky too. For some reason I thought KD was an analytics guy. Well…shit.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

This is what’s really surprising to me. I thought Dubas was a big analytics guy. He has to know that the likelihood of 87 and 71 both being healthy next season is fairly small.

Makes me thing that Sullivan has way too much say in the roster…

Yeah it's not just them two. Guentzel, Rakell and Zucker were healthy and productive too.
What surprises me most is how little focus there was on improving the offense. Our attack was 16th in the league. The defense was 19th.
Yet all our acquisitions outside of Smith are directed towards fixing the team defense.

If Dubas is an analytics guy, why aren't we getting any good shooters, when this team can't shoot for the life of it?

 

[Gurglesons]

I wanted Tulsky too. For some reason I thought KD was an analytics guy. Well…shit.

Nah he wears glasses and is young so your country’s shitty media labeled him as one.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Yeah it's not just them two. Guentzel, Rakell and Zucker were healthy and productive too.
What surprises me most is how little focus there was on improving the offense. Our attack was 16th in the league. The defense was 19th.
Yet all our acquisitions outside of Smith are directed towards fixing the team defense.

If Dubas is an analytics guy, why aren't we getting any good shooters, when this team can't shoot for the life of it?

Because essentially KD constructed a team around Mike Sullivan’s wishes and Mike Sullivan does not believe our offense is a problem.

 

[Zbynek]

Despite the soul crushing Jarry news I am pretty pumped to see Graves my top target on D this year come at a cap hit of 4.5 mil. Devils are my next watched team after the Pens and I've seen a good bit of Graves since he came over from Colorado.

Graves sucks at PK'ing. Still no solution there. But he's a big ES defense upgrade on Dumoulin.

Where did you get that notion? That's pretty much where the Devils used him most. His shutdown line with Marino was solid for NJD at 5v5 and also on the PK versus other team's top lines. They finished 4th in the NHL in the PK this year and Graves and Marino led the charge.

Graves is going to be one of the worst contracts in the league within 12 months. Dude is dumb as rocks.

Dude, I agree with you for the most part, Doober's patience to start UFA, only to sign Jarry to the worst goalie contract this franchise has ever seen, has shades of Hextall and that is a fair criticism. I too would rather roll with CDS+Ned than go to war with Jars again.

But..... Graves worst contract in the league at 4.5 mil? No way man. I'm also not sure where you're getting this low IQ thing from. My take on Graves is for a defensive minded d-man he has decent hockey IQ, and decent puck-moving skills. For a big guy he has decent speed. There's nothing he does that is particularly bad. For his size he's surprisingly versatile in these areas.

Then you have the areas he does really well. His shutdown game and best of all the kid knows how to use his size without being a liability. His athleticism will be such a far cry from Dumo's last year and a half as a pylon. It will be amazing to see that upgrade.

He's not going to start the breakout for the Pens though we don't need him to. But if the idea is to stick him to Letang and PK, he will be great there. He sheltered Hamilton in previous years and played PK1 well with the Devils.

There are also people thinking this contract will age badly. Yea no, not buying it. Graves was still developing when he got to the Devils. For the amount of games he has been in the NHL I thought he was still like 26, not 28. Not that it makes much difference, playing til 34 won't be an issue for this guy. He doesn't play a Brooks Orpik bruiser type of games and no major injuries in his career. Just 300 games under his belt. We are getting him at his prime.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Because essentially KD constructed a team around Mike Sullivan’s wishes and Mike Sullivan does not believe our offense is a problem.

That's exactly what I said earlier to someone else. That's what I feared most. Sully's influence in 1 on 1 conversations. The brainwash effect.

 

[canadianguy77]

Nah he wears glasses and is young so your country’s shitty media labeled him as one.

As of 2 months ago, I’ve officially lived in the US longer than I lived in Canada. I don’t know if I’m still Canadian lol.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

As of 2 months ago, I’ve officially lived in the US longer than I lived in Canada. I don’t know if I’m still Canadian lol.

I'd like to say we'll welcome you back with open arms, but I dunno if this treachery is ok.

 

[Gurglesons]

As of 2 months ago, I’ve officially lived in the US longer than I lived in Canada. I don’t know if I’m still Canadian lol.

Usaguy doesn’t have the same ring.

Despite the soul crushing Jarry news I am pretty pumped to see Graves my top target on D this year come at a cap hit of 4.5 mil. Devils are my next watched team after the Pens and I've seen a good bit of Graves since he came over from Colorado.


Where did you get that notion? That's pretty much where the Devils used him most. His shutdown line with Marino was solid for NJD at 5v5 and also on the PK versus other team's top lines. They finished 4th in the NHL in the PK this year and Graves and Marino led the charge.



Dude, I agree with you for the most part, Doober's patience to start UFA, only to sign Jarry to the worst goalie contract this franchise has ever seen, has shades of Hextall and that is a fair criticism. I too would rather roll with CDS+Ned than go to war with Jars again.

But..... Graves worst contract in the league at 4.5 mil? No way man. I'm also not sure where you're getting this low IQ thing from. My take on Graves is for a defensive minded d-man he has decent hockey IQ, and decent puck-moving skills. For a big guy he has decent speed. There's nothing he does that is particularly bad. For his size he's surprisingly versatile in these areas.

Then you have the areas he does really well. His shutdown game and best of all the kid knows how to use his size without being a liability. His athleticism will be such a far cry from Dumo's last year and a half as a pylon. It will be amazing to see that upgrade.

He's not going to start the breakout for the Pens though we don't need him to. But if the idea is to stick him to Letang and PK, he will be great there. He sheltered Hamilton in previous years and played PK1 well with the Devils.

There are also people thinking this contract will age badly. Yea no, not buying it. Graves was still developing when he got to the Devils. For the amount of games he has been in the NHL I thought he was still like 26, not 28. Not that it makes much difference, playing til 34 won't be an issue for this guy. He doesn't play a Brooks Orpik bruiser type of games and no major injuries in his career. Just 300 games under his belt. We are getting him at his prime.

Maybe he’s our latest project, but I can not see him having success in Dumo’s minutes.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Where did you get that notion? That's pretty much where the Devils used him most. His shutdown line with Marino was solid for NJD at 5v5 and also on the PK versus other team's top lines. They finished 4th in the NHL in the PK this year and Graves and Marino led the charge.

Yeah, you're right. I was relying on player charts too much that gave bs numbers.
He was the most stingy of the big minute eaters there. This is great news for us.

 

[Zbynek]

Maybe he’s our latest project, but I can not see him having success in Dumo’s minutes.

He did that already in '21/'22 sheltering Hamilon as the Devils 1LD.

Look, Graves is no Scott Stevens but he knows not to be a liability. Considering how bad Dumo was in that respect this past year, this is a smart upgrade.