Narratives about roster building that the finalists reinforce/undermine

[Big Daddy Cane]

Big one for me, and applicable to both, is the importance of amateur scouting.

Panthers homegrown Day 2 picks on the roster – 0
Oilers – 1 (Skinner)

These are two teams that drafted well at the very top, but didn’t generate much outside of the lottery that is contributing to winning now. In particular, that high 2nd round pick that everyone gets hyped about after Round 1 is over is a non-factor here, directly or indirectly via trade. Noel, Mascherin, Hawryluck, McCoshen, Lavoie, Benson, Moroz, Musil, etc.

This is a battle of pro scouting departments. Free agency, trade and the waiver wire can build the depth needed to win.

...

What else do you have? Could apply to one team and not the other.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It’s a copycat league. GMs will go on and on about analytics over large sample sizes, then throw their whole strategy overboard because one team won a Cup while looking a certain way.

 

[KovalchukFistPump]

It’s a copycat league. GMs will go on and on about analytics over large sample sizes, then throw their whole strategy overboard because one team won a Cup while looking a certain way.

Some devils fans have suggested trading Hischier for Brady Tkachuk. I get that his brother is a playoff force, but he still only had 55 points this last season.

The whole thing is very weird because their dad was a notorious disappearing act in the playoffs and Matthew wasn't that good with Calgary in them.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

they both continue to prove that you need reliable contributions from your bottom 6

 

[KovalchukFistPump]

Big one for me, and applicable to both, is the importance of amateur scouting.

Panthers homegrown Day 2 picks on the roster – 0
Oilers – 1 (Skinner)

These are two teams that drafted well at the very top, but didn’t generate much outside of the lottery that is contributing to winning now. In particular, that high 2nd round pick that everyone gets hyped about after Round 1 is over is a non-factor here, directly or indirectly via trade. Noel, Mascherin, Hawryluck, McCoshen, Lavoie, Benson, Moroz, Musil, etc.

This is a battle of pro scouting departments. Free agency, trade and the waiver wire can build the depth needed to win.

...

What else do you have? Could apply to one team and not the other.

As for the rest of this, the best recipe is:

1. Have star players that outperform their contracts.
2. Acquire the right complementary pieces that take market value at most or maybe even less because they want to be in a winning environment
3. Sign some vets for near minimum who want to chase a Cup (Nate Schmidt, Klinberg?)

Also helps that Tkachuk and Ekblad went down near the trade deadline which gave the Panthers room for Marchand and Seth Jones

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

It’s a copycat league. GMs will go on and on about analytics over large sample sizes, then throw their whole strategy overboard because one team won a Cup while looking a certain way.

Skill is going to beat size when that size doesn't have skill. When the size has skill... like the Panthers then watch out. Edmonton has extreeeeme skill and some size. Both teams can skate.

What I've noticed about both teams is that no lead is safe. Down 2 or 3 goals? Does not matter they can tilt the ice and fill the next quickly to bring it back to even or to pull away. This finals is gonna be insane.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Skill is going to beat size when that size doesn't have skill. When the size has skill... like the Panthers then watch out. Edmonton has extreeeeme skill and some size. Both teams can skate.

This is exactly what will get other GMs in trouble.

“Florida has Matt Tkachuk, let’s get ourselves one of those” realizes no comparable player is available “Get the next best thing… Jamie Benn’s a UFA, you say?”

Some devils fans have suggested trading Hischier for Brady Tkachuk. I get that his brother is a playoff force, but he still only had 55 points this last season.

The whole thing is very weird because their dad was a notorious disappearing act in the playoffs and Matthew wasn't that good with Calgary in them.

Case in point right here. Trading Hischier, who’s just as good as Brady at a more important position and was fantastic in the playoffs, is exactly the sort of thing that sounds good at the time.

 

[Pucklington]

Edmonton - don't need a stay at home D, if you have 6 D that can move the puck.

 

[NyQuil]

The whole thing is very weird because their dad was a notorious disappearing act in the playoffs and Matthew wasn't that good with Calgary in them.

This is a pretty good example of the bizarre narrative that you know everything about a player because of who his brother is and father was.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Neither of these teams has a D that will seriously compete for the Norris. Forsling and Ekholm don't produce enough. Bouchard's defensive reputation will be hard to shake.

That was a big thing a decade ago, at the end of the Pronger/Niedermayer, Lidstrom, Chara, Keith and Doughty run (Pittsburgh 09 being a bit of an outlier).

 

[GeeoffBrown]

I guess both these teams have a pretty solid 1C

 

[avocadosmoothie]

LTIR 10M players (Tkachuk) for reinforcements (Jones & Marchand)?

 

[Fatass]

When building the core through the draft, plan do those down years have the best draft classes. In the Oilers case they get McDavid.
Many clubs do the bottom diving rebuilds but their top picks come out of average drafts, or their scouts select the wrong player, so their new young core develops into something mediocre at best.
The key is smart management who hire great scouts, and provide them with clear direction on the types of players they want. It’s rare to see “softies” playing key roles on Cup winners.

 

[sooni]

LTIR 10M players (Tkachuk) for reinforcements (Jones & Marchand)?

Hmm... That is pretty normal these days? Vegas did it with Stone? Edmonton is under cap if Kane was playing?

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Both teams have that dawg in them. Soft teams get exposed in the playoffs again and again.

 

[Kranix]

It’s a copycat league. GMs will go on and on about analytics over large sample sizes, then throw their whole strategy overboard because one team won a Cup while looking a certain way.

Just so happens that two of the very best analytical teams over the last few seasons are repeat finalists

 

[ijuka]

The best strategy for roster-building is winning the draft lottery on a generational talent.

Why didn't the other GMs figure this out yet? Amateurs!

 

[Pucklington]

Hmm... That is pretty normal these days? Vegas did it with Stone? Edmonton is under cap if Kane was playing?

They were until Ekholm returned. Even then Arvidsson wasn't playing so they were actually well under.

 

[T REX]

Hmm... That is pretty normal these days? Vegas did it with Stone? Edmonton is under cap if Kane was playing?

Don't confuse them with facts. You'll mess up the pre-made excuses for losing.

 

[Mr Positive]

Both teams have that dawg in them. Soft teams get exposed in the playoffs again and again.

But there have been teams like the Blackhawks who dominated possession more than the physical side

 

[sooni]

Don't confuse them with facts. You'll mess up the pre-made excuses for losing.

Was either Dallas or Carolina over the cap?

 

[T REX]

Was either Dallas or Carolina over the cap?

My honest take...if you aren't using it then you aren't trying TBH. Until they close the loophole...it's part of WINNING.

No one cares after the CUP is hoisted. There's no asterisk. Winners win and losers lose.

 

[sooni]

My honest take...if you aren't using it then you aren't trying TBH. Until they close the loophole...it's part of WINNING.

No one cares after the CUP is hoisted. There's no asterisk. Winners win and losers lose.

It is kinda funny still that Oilers fan started whining about it

 

[ijuka]

Neither of these teams has a D that will seriously compete for the Norris. Forsling and Ekholm don't produce enough. Bouchard's defensive reputation will be hard to shake.

That was a big thing a decade ago, at the end of the Pronger/Niedermayer, Lidstrom, Chara, Keith and Doughty run (Pittsburgh 09 being a bit of an outlier).

Bouchard has easily been the best defenseman of the entire playoffs thus far. Without Ekholm, mind.

And yeah, a decade ago, defensemen who could be ppg+ in three straight playoffs were truly a dime a dozen, right?

 

[JackSlater]

Most of it is obvious. Build around elite talent that you drafted high. Go for some cheap quality depth. I do think that both teams show that toughness still matters for the playoffs.