So essentially they will keep the older expensive players that are the issue.According to Trotz, who spoke to the Tennessean after his initial remarks, it's not that simple.Barry Trotz explains Nashville Predators' 'rebuild' remark, needs to buy time for prospects
General manager Barry Trotz talked to the Tennessean about his \www.tennessean.com
"We're never going to burn it down to the studs," Trotz said.
"I've tried to buy time through free agency with these older players so that we can still be a threat," Trotz said. "But if it doesn't work, I've still got to buy the time for those young players."
It's not a typical "break it all down and start over" rebuild, especially given the contracts he has on the books.
"(Filip) Forsberg, (Roman) Josi, (Ryan) O'Reilly, (Brady) Skjei, and of course Stamkos and Marchessault, they are here," Trotz said. "They aren't going anywhere. And (Juuse) Saros. But everybody else, I might pull out and put in a young kid."
Very apparent. Prior to last season, his public comments were all about building slowly, building through the draft, bringing up young players.Trotz comes across as a guy who is pretty much just winging things as they happen. No sort of real long term plan.
He also seems to have a bit of Rutherforditis.
Lol, yes, that's exactly what's happening here.-thinks the Kraken are the Western Conference version of the Islanders; committed to being "mid"
Lol, yes, that's exactly what's happening here.
Guess what, sparks haven't flown between the two.They made a sizable investment in the off season and added Jake Debrusk, a consistent 25-30 goal scorer. All the interviews in spring training also confirmed they were going to plant the two together and hope sparks would fly. Even Alvin in an interview suggested this was a winger to play with Pettersson. But instead we get 70% no skating Pettersson who handles the puck like a grenade. The 'no linemates' for Petey thing has got to die at this point. There are PLENTY of good wingers on this team for a 12M dollar forward to find some chemistry. He's been playing with Garland who has been absolutely phenomenal this year and we're still pretending this guy doesn't have a partner. More excuses for Pettersson.
Maybe underestimated how affective Cole was last season and Zadorov as well in taking some harder minutes off of Soucy and Myers. I'm sure if they could have made the money work, management would have brought both of them back.You can see that slowly and steadily, the new guys Allvin brought in this off-season are getting acclimatized and adjusted to Tocchet's system.
Sherwood is probably ahead of everybody, but Debrusk, Heinen, Heinen and Sprong seem to be catching on fast. Canucks entered the off-season claiming they wanted better skating forwards who were faster through the neutral zone, and quicker on the forecheck. If Raty can come in and somehow cement a third line, then the team is on its way.
The big caveat though is still on the blueline. Myers and Soucy have clearly regressed, and Desharnais and Forbort are really only 6-7 guys at best on a good team. But sadly no 'quick fixes' unless the Canucks dramatically overpay.
Maybe underestimated how affective Cole was last season and Zadorov as well in taking some harder minutes off of Soucy and Myers. I'm sure if they could have made the money work, management would have brought both of them back.
Have to invest in the AHL coaching, plus all of the off ice and skill set coaching. Skating coach is a must. Strength/conditioning and nutritionist as well. Plus skills coach.The defensemen market is just a reminder that expansion has made it so there are just not enough good defensemen to go around.
Player development for defensemen so important right now. It's why project players like Brannstrom and Desharnais are a thing. For the Canucks, it's imperative that Sawyer Mynio, D-Petey, Kudryavtsev, and Willander are developed to the best of their abilities. 10 years ago Mynio, D-Petey, Kudryavtsev might have been 'whatever' prospects... Today they'll have to be ready to play.
Despite what Hughes said in the off-season about wanting to play with Hronek, I'd still like management to be investigating an acquisition that would allow them to be split up. The new alignment would look like this:
Hughes Dallas Smith clone
Brannstrom Hronek
Soucey Myers
Desharnais would be one of the assets dealt to bring in DSc. Forbort would stay as a #7.
it's up to the pro scouting to find that bargain DSc for Hughes. A guy who can skate, has a bit of size, a good IQ, doesn't put up points, doesn't drive a pair. He should cost less than a puck-mover for the second pairing.
I've mentioned the DSc before. He makes even more sense now that Hughes is being compared to Orr.
I assume that if we were to acquire Byram, they'd have done their homework on the guy and are confident that he can be developed. He's still very young, just 23 years old. He's a guy that hasn't broken out yet and can hypothetically outplay a long term contract we'd sign him to in the off-season.
It's not like Hronek cost an arm and a leg, so there's no reason to assume Byram would involve Pete or something ridiculous. If the price is right, no reason to say no imo. People gagging over Theodore earlier in the season but saying no to Byram makes no sense.
Willander is Hamhuis 2.0. So if a trade is something like 1st, Hog, Raty, I'd be okay with that.
the solution is wait for Willander and spend the assets on a top4 LD instead. For the assets required to get a top 4 RD, you can use that and add a little bit more to get a top4LD and a top6 scorer.The problem is who is dealing us a top four RD that could consistently play with Hughes? That kind of talent is very rarely available, and in the event one is they'll come at a premium cost we really can't afford.
Say, for example, Andersson shakes loose. There's no scenario we acquire him without Willander going the other way. And then we won't be able to afford in two years when he inevitably wants 7-8M because we're stuck with 5M in dead cap.
It just isn't going to happen unless we get lucky acquiring someone like Byram who suddenly explodes.
He was getting inundated with troll tweets, pretty aggressive and nasty ones too, apparently, and mouthed off against the entire city of Vancouver during intermission on HNiC.
While it was dumb, he's still new to broadcasting and let his emotions get the better of him. Hard to blame him when you're getting death threats. I agree with Friedman that taking him off air over it would essentially tell the trolls "keep doing this to whoever you don't like."
"If we don't start to get going soon, I'll have to institute our rebuild plan". Do Trotz and the Preds actually have a plan?Trotz comes across as a guy who is pretty much just winging things as they happen. No sort of real long term plan.
He also seems to have a bit of Rutherforditis.