News & Notes XLIV: Revenge of the Seth

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AhosDatsyukian

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It’s fascinating to hear him talk about a concept we’ve talked about for years. Why aren’t they giving Rod the team he actually needs? They chose to do it this year out of necessity and look at the early results. I’ve felt one of my primary issues with the TD era has been that management despite being called “brilliant” seems to have no concept of how their coach wanted to play and constantly was trying to add scoring/skill or quality vets when the system needs speed, forechecking, mobile defenseman who push the play and young legs. So on one hand it’s fantastic to see them take this step, on the other hand it boggles the mind to think about what the last build could’ve done if they had just leaned this way for them? Still, better late than never. I loved Kuzy, but Rod was never going to make that work. At the deadline this year we should be only looking for guys that fit the style. Jake did of course, it’s not like all players they chose were wrong. This summer felt different, though obviously necessity forced it.
Kuzy is a strange example to use here as Rod specifically spoke extremely highly of him when coaching the all star game and I am certain had a significant say/vote in acquiring Kuzy. And I wouldn't say that it didn't work out. He was a real asset for us in the playoffs and then mutual decision to part ways with him going to Russia.

I get your bigger point on style fit, I just don't think this offseason was some huge shift here. These all seem to be hits which is great, but we've brought in plenty of other players in the past who were system fits. I can't think of that many that just obviously didn't fit the system and didn't work out because of that. Yeah we've had plenty of guys not work out, but of those I think most were for reasons other than system fit.
 

bleedgreen

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Kuzy is a strange example to use here as Rod specifically spoke extremely highly of him when coaching the all star game and I am certain had a significant say/vote in acquiring Kuzy. And I wouldn't say that it didn't work out. He was a real asset for us in the playoffs and then mutual decision to part ways with him going to Russia.

I get your bigger point on style fit, I just don't think this offseason was some huge shift here. These all seem to be hits which is great, but we've brought in plenty of other players in the past who were system fits. I can't think of that many that just obviously didn't fit the system and didn't work out because of that. Yeah we've had plenty of guys not work out, but of those I think most were for reasons other than system fit.
He said those things about Kuzy right when we acquired him. He played on the fourth line after getting chances on the second. I agree 100% about Kuzy being great in the playoffs. I think you might be confusing what I think vs what I’m saying Rod thinks as I loved getting Kuzy and was a big fan. I think it’s clear he wasn’t a good fit for the style and the coach. I think Rod would’ve loved him to take the 2C but he clearly wasn’t getting what he wanted out of that. I love Kuzy and wish he was here, and supported the acquisition the whole time. I also support the concept of giving Rod a team of guys who will play they way he wants and is good at it.

Bringing in Stepan and Stasnty are examples. Guys who would fit is in vets but couldn’t possibly sustain a fast forecheck and constant pressure. They made great plays at times and did what we asked, but compared to guys like Robinson and Carrier weren’t great choices for the style. Dzingle. Keeping TT for as long despite him not being a great style fit, replacing him with a lesser player that fits the style better in jr is a good example. The whole KK thing is a big bet on a guy who couldn’t skate when aside from JStaal everyone needs to be able to skate.

Tulsky himself said they made a point of really looking for fits to the system in the interview quoted, which is what I’m talking about in these points. This isn’t my interpretation of what’s going here through the off season (though I did see it that way), this is me directly referring to Tulsky’s comments in BBA’s post which has an interview in it. If you think they didn’t make a shift then I’d refer you to listen to the interview I’m talking about.
 

AhosDatsyukian

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He said those things about Kuzy right when we acquired him. He played on the fourth line after getting chances on the second. I agree 100% about Kuzy being great in the playoffs. I think you might be confusing what I think vs what I’m saying Rod thinks as I loved getting Kuzy and was a big fan. I think it’s clear he wasn’t a good fit for the style and the coach. I think Rod would’ve loved him to take the 2C but he clearly wasn’t getting what he wanted out of that. I love Kuzy and wish he was here, and supported the acquisition the whole time. I also support the concept of giving Rod a team of guys who will play they way he wants and is good at it.

Bringing in Stepan and Stasnty are examples. Guys who would fit is in vets but couldn’t possibly sustain a fast forecheck and constant pressure. They made great plays at times and did what we asked, but compared to guys like Robinson and Carrier weren’t great choices for the style. Dzingle. Keeping TT for as long despite him not being a great style fit, replacing him with a lesser player that fits the style better in jr is a good example. The whole KK thing is a big bet on a guy who couldn’t skate when aside from JStaal everyone needs to be able to skate.

Tulsky himself said they made a point of really looking for fits to the system in the interview quoted, which is what I’m talking about in these points. This isn’t my interpretation of what’s going here through the off season (though I did see it that way), this is me directly referring to Tulsky’s comments in BBA’s post which has an interview in it. If you think they didn’t make a shift then I’d refer you to listen to the interview I’m talking about.

Those quotes are from 2022, not when we acquired him. And yes I agree that Kuzy isn't a perfect fit for Rod's system, but I think Rod and his system have the ability to adapt a bit to the players, like in the case of Necas right now who in my view is an even further fit from Rod's system than a guy like Kuzy. I think the main reason Kuzy didn't take over the 2C spot was because of conditioning/off-ice commitment and being acquired midseason, not system fit. If he were acquired in the offseason and was 100% committed and bought in and put in the work in the offseason both to get in shape and learn the system better I think he would've grabbed that 2C spot easily. I just don't think he has had the motivation since the Caps won the cup, and obviously he had a lot of the personal issues factoring in too.

Sure Robinson and Carrier seem to fit a bit better than Stepan and Stastny but those 2 guys did very well for us as well and I don't think there's such a big difference here. Dzingel was a terrible fit and didn't work out because of it. Bunting there is an argument for as well. But other than those 2 I think most of the guys we've acquired over the years fit the system pretty well, maybe not perfect, but it's not like the front office was completely ignoring our system when looking at players to acquire and now all of a sudden it's the only thing going into the decisions.

That's my main point, is that it wasn't some earth shattering shift in strategy. I did listen to the interview and my takeaway is more that they decided to put a bit more emphasis on system fit than before, not some drastic change to how it was approached in the past. Also, I don't put a ton of stock into what GMs/coaches/etc. say in media interviews like this and am basing my observations more on watching all the players we've acquired over the years.
 

Finlandia WOAT

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Maybe. It could also be that we had guys under contract and little cap space and or the right players weren't available at the times we had 1-2 spots open. This year, we had a lot more turn-over than we have in the past.

Bunting always seemed like an odd fit to me so it begs the questions you asked though.

Guys like Trocheck, Fast and even Burns fit the style though.

EDIT: Another aspect is many times coaches are loyal to their guys and don't like change so that voice may have more weight in some of these discussions.
Gardiner also fit the style, he was just injured to hell and back
 

tarheelhockey

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Those quotes are from 2022, not when we acquired him. And yes I agree that Kuzy isn't a perfect fit for Rod's system, but I think Rod and his system have the ability to adapt a bit to the players, like in the case of Necas right now who in my view is an even further fit from Rod's system than a guy like Kuzy. I think the main reason Kuzy didn't take over the 2C spot was because of conditioning/off-ice commitment and being acquired midseason, not system fit. If he were acquired in the offseason and was 100% committed and bought in and put in the work in the offseason both to get in shape and learn the system better I think he would've grabbed that 2C spot easily. I just don't think he has had the motivation since the Caps won the cup, and obviously he had a lot of the personal issues factoring in too.

Sure Robinson and Carrier seem to fit a bit better than Stepan and Stastny but those 2 guys did very well for us as well and I don't think there's such a big difference here. Dzingel was a terrible fit and didn't work out because of it. Bunting there is an argument for as well. But other than those 2 I think most of the guys we've acquired over the years fit the system pretty well, maybe not perfect, but it's not like the front office was completely ignoring our system when looking at players to acquire and now all of a sudden it's the only thing going into the decisions.

That's my main point, is that it wasn't some earth shattering shift in strategy. I did listen to the interview and my takeaway is more that they decided to put a bit more emphasis on system fit than before, not some drastic change to how it was approached in the past. Also, I don't put a ton of stock into what GMs/coaches/etc. say in media interviews like this and am basing my observations more on watching all the players we've acquired over the years.

Yeah, but that interview was with Rob Brind’Amour. Rod’s younger brother, who is supposedly the best coach out of all the Brind’amour boys.
 

hblueridgegal

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Great to hear!
 

bleedgreen

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Those quotes are from 2022, not when we acquired him. And yes I agree that Kuzy isn't a perfect fit for Rod's system, but I think Rod and his system have the ability to adapt a bit to the players, like in the case of Necas right now who in my view is an even further fit from Rod's system than a guy like Kuzy. I think the main reason Kuzy didn't take over the 2C spot was because of conditioning/off-ice commitment and being acquired midseason, not system fit. If he were acquired in the offseason and was 100% committed and bought in and put in the work in the offseason both to get in shape and learn the system better I think he would've grabbed that 2C spot easily. I just don't think he has had the motivation since the Caps won the cup, and obviously he had a lot of the personal issues factoring in too.

Sure Robinson and Carrier seem to fit a bit better than Stepan and Stastny but those 2 guys did very well for us as well and I don't think there's such a big difference here. Dzingel was a terrible fit and didn't work out because of it. Bunting there is an argument for as well. But other than those 2 I think most of the guys we've acquired over the years fit the system pretty well, maybe not perfect, but it's not like the front office was completely ignoring our system when looking at players to acquire and now all of a sudden it's the only thing going into the decisions.

That's my main point, is that it wasn't some earth shattering shift in strategy. I did listen to the interview and my takeaway is more that they decided to put a bit more emphasis on system fit than before, not some drastic change to how it was approached in the past. Also, I don't put a ton of stock into what GMs/coaches/etc. say in media interviews like this and am basing my observations more on watching all the players we've acquired over the years.
Did I say it was earth shattering? I feel you’re being argumentative for the sake of it. Which of course I can appreciate around here, but this seems to be a pretty silly debate. Tulsky makes a point of mentioning it happened and that it mattered. It does matter imo, these guys fit. I don’t see the point of being dismissive of it. The approach felt different and all the choices made sense. You disagree on some level. Moving on.

The quotes about Kuzy were all rehashed when we acquired him. Sorry, now moving on!
 

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