Management Thread | Regular Season Edition

[F A N]

So it's awesome to hear from Laurence Gilman again on S&P (why didn't Aquaman just go simple in 2014 and promote him to GM?), but I learned something about the practicalities of cap management from him in today's hit --

When the Canucks send down Bains and Brännström between games, it is not a paper transaction, and they are obliged to report to Abbotsford in person. Now Gilman didn't know how rigorously the NHL would actually be checking for their car moving down Highway 1, but (i) it does matter if they are caught practicing with the NHL team while officially off the roster, and (ii) when the 2011-era Canucks were sending players down to the Moose to maximize cap space, they did literally send them on planes to Winnipeg and the NHL apparently did require proof.

I find this kind of bewildering (and also kind of an environmental disaster). And while I never felt the urgency to get the farm team out of Utica before, knowing this now, that's a huge difference-maker. That's two flights plus an hour's ride from Syracuse, and not something that can be done casually or repeatedly.

I'm surprised by this. I seem to have heard reports in previous years where the player (who has been re-assigned/papered down) will be staying in town.

I was under the impression that the team can give a player some time before they have to report to to the AHL team and if they are immediately recalled they wouldn't need to make the trip?

 

[SillyRabbit]

I've been quite supportive of the management group thus far, but I really don't understand how they looked at least year's defensive core (which was already quite thin) and not only failed to upgrade it but actually made it worse.

We are lacking two top four defenceman. Not one, two.

And while there are some available out there, they will not be cheap.

I really don't understand how they looked at this defensive core and felt confident in it heading into the season.

 

[rypper]

I've been quite supportive of the management group thus far, but I really don't understand how they looked at least year's defensive core (which was already quite thin) and not only failed to upgrade it but actually made it worse.

We are lacking two top four defenceman. Not one, two.

And while there are some available out there, they will not be cheap.

I really don't understand how they looked at this defensive core and felt confident in it heading into the season.

I think the knew it was an unfinished product. They'll trade for a top 4 defender soon (like they always do.) But a move that wasn't there in the off season. Take a chance on a project add some depth going into the season to weather the storm until they go get the player they really like.