Offseason Thread Part II

[The Kingslayer]

The Devils have really taken a large step forward this offseason. If Hughes breaks out, they could be really solid and in the playoffs.

Depends on Blackwood. I was expecting Hart to take a step forward after his playoff run then look what happened to him last season.

 

[The Abusement Park]

He showed the flashes and was close. I don't know if Covid stopped it, the horrendous PP, or just lack of any real puck movement from the backend... I think he'll break out in a big way next year. Hamilton changes the whole defense and PP on his own... then adding Graves should give them a solid top 4. Adding Tatar stabilizes players up front with Foote and Holtz on the verge of stepping in. Really solid top 9 if Hughes becomes a 1C.

I’m assuming their top 6 looks like:

Luokkanen-Hughes-Sharangovic

Tatar-Hischier-Bratt

That’s a really nice top 6. And now their top 4 D look way better now that they have a high end 1D.

 

[UncleRisto]

@CharlesPuck, they did the thing.

 

[Balthazar]

Yea NJ added quite a lot this summer. If Hughes and Hischier take the next step they can be a playoff team...and Subban ($9M) is coming off the hook next summer. That'll help too.

 

[Pokecheque]

Boy I hope Sherwood isn't a permanent fixture on that fourth line. He really should be a regular on the Eagles.

 

[UncleRisto]

That top six sucks, what are you talking about?

 

[Avaholic29]

I’m assuming their top 6 looks like:

Luokkanen-Hughes-Sharangovic

Tatar-Hischier-Bratt

That’s a really nice top 6. And now their top 4 D look way better now that they have a high end 1D.

Not sure I’d call that a really nice top 6. A nice 1-2 punch at Center for sure though.

 

[Pokecheque]

Yea NJ added quite a lot this summer. If Hughes and Hischier take the next step they can be a playoff team...and Subban ($9M) is coming off the hook next summer. That'll help too.

We'll see. On paper the NJ rebuild appears to be on track. But...something still feels very much off. Like, maybe just the overall quality of the core here just doesn't seem especially mind-blowing. I dunno, just MHO, wouldn't be the first time I've been way wrong.

 

[Balthazar]

We'll see. On paper the NJ rebuild appears to be on track. But...something still feels very much off. Like, maybe just the overall quality of the core here just doesn't seem especially mind-blowing. I dunno, just MHO, wouldn't be the first time I've been way wrong.

The main thing that I dislike is Hamilton has 2-3 years of prime left and they are 2-3 years away from being a real playoff team. If they ever get to be a real cup contender with that core (in like 5 years) his contract could become a worse version of what we are seeing here with EJ.

Hawks did the exact same thing with Jones.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Not sure I’d call that a really nice top 6. A nice 1-2 punch at Center for sure though.

I mean Kuokkanen and Sharangovich look like top 6 guys going forwards. And like you said the 1-2 punch at C is very good which is what’s most important.

 

[Muffin]

Is it weird that they did ‘19 for the 2019 draft class because 19 is retired but not for 21? The disrespect.

 

[henchman21]

Depends on Blackwood. I was expecting Hart to take a step forward after his playoff run then look what happened to him last season.

They have Bernier as their backup there. They’ve provided nice insulation there and through the lineup (except center where they will love and die by the group).

 

[Avsboy]

NJD is this year's Buffalo. They look better and acquired some pieces, but they will still suck

 

[Pokecheque]

The main thing that I dislike is Hamilton has 2-3 years of prime left and they are 2-3 years away from being a real playoff team. If they ever get to be a real cup contender with that core (in like 5 years) his contract could become a worse version of what we are seeing here with EJ.

Hawks did the exact same thing with Jones.

Yep...Boomer and Hahn are doing GM grades this week on NHL Radio and Boom has repeatedly said that third contracts for players are usually the worst ones for teams, as you know you're buying up decline years. There's a real disparity right now between players now pushing for big paydays in their prime RFA years and UFA years not happening until a player's late twenties. Hard to believe that when Joe Sakic signed his final big contract in 2001 at the age of 31 that he was considered to be "in his prime." Now...Joe lived up to that deal and then some, but he was a big-time exception to the rule. I wonder if we'll ever see a course-correction, something tells me we won't and another lockout is looming.

 

[SoftMittsHardSticks]

Heiskanen is actually the only player in the 80 percentile so Girard is definitely unique.

Player	Position Type	Shoots	Age Range	Seasons	Continuous	Sim Score

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

1	Miro Heiskanen	D	L	19-21	18-21	Y	83.3
2	Kris Russell	D	L	21-23	08-11	Y	79.5
3	Seth Jones	D	R	19-21	14-17	Y	79.3
4	Oliver Ekman-Larsson	D	L	19-21	10-13	Y	78.7
5	Oliver Ekman-Larsson	D	L	21-23	12-15	Y	78.6
6	Jared Spurgeon	D	R	21-23	11-14	Y	78.4
7	Oliver Ekman-Larsson	D	L	20-22	11-14	Y	77.9
8	Rasmus Dahlin	D	L	18-20	18-21	Y	77.7
9	Travis Sanheim	D	L	22-24	18-21	Y	77.2
10	Tj Brodie	D	L	22-24	12-15	Y	77.1
11	Seth Jones	D	R	20-22	15-18	Y	77
12	Brady Skjei	D	L	22-24	16-19	Y	77
13	Andrej Sekera	D	L	22-24	08-11	Y	76.5
14	Vince Dunn	D	L	21-23	18-21	Y	76.4
15	Shayne Gostisbehere	D	L	22-24	15-18	Y	76.3
16	Ryan Ellis	D	R	20-22	11-14	Y	76.2
17	Rasmus Andersson	D	R	20-22	17-20	Y	76
18	Rasmus Andersson	D	R	21-23	18-21	Y	76
19	Drew Doughty	D	R	21-23	11-14	Y	75.7
20	Kris Letang	D	R	20-22	07-10	Y	75.6

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Thanks, much appreciated. Super interesting that Girard is so unique. Might have to subscribe for this coming season

 

[Balthazar]

Yep...Boomer and Hahn are doing GM grades this week on NHL Radio and Boom has repeatedly said that third contracts for players are usually the worst ones for teams, as you know you're buying up decline years. There's a real disparity right now between players now pushing for big paydays in their prime RFA years and UFA years not happening until a player's late twenties. Hard to believe that when Joe Sakic signed his final big contract in 2001 at the age of 31 that he was considered to be "in his prime." Now...Joe lived up to that deal and then some, but he was a big-time exception to the rule. I wonder if we'll ever see a course-correction, something tells me we won't and another lockout is looming.

One thing they could do is to put a cap on the term according to their age

27 years old = 6 years cap
28 = 5 years
30 = 4 years
31 = 3 years
32 and up = 2 years

That would really help the teams to get rid of crippling contracts but the NHLPA would never accept that.

 

[Avs_19]

Must suck to be last on that graph.

 

[henchman21]

Yep...Boomer and Hahn are doing GM grades this week on NHL Radio and Boom has repeatedly said that third contracts for players are usually the worst ones for teams, as you know you're buying up decline years. There's a real disparity right now between players now pushing for big paydays in their prime RFA years and UFA years not happening until a player's late twenties. Hard to believe that when Joe Sakic signed his final big contract in 2001 at the age of 31 that he was considered to be "in his prime." Now...Joe lived up to that deal and then some, but he was a big-time exception to the rule. I wonder if we'll ever see a course-correction, something tells me we won't and another lockout is looming.

That is an area that analytics has really changed the game... even back in the day, the primes were not that different in ages. Just now it is talked about and regressions are better understood. Agents know the best ways to get players paid under this knowledge, and teams try to avoid the bad deals.

 

[The Kingslayer]

They have Bernier as their backup there. They’ve provided nice insulation there and through the lineup (except center where they will love and die by the group).

Bernier might be able to provide some relief but they will live and die on Blackwood. I think Blackwood catapults his status a lot this season. Fully expecting him to have a great year.

 

[The Kingslayer]

NJD is this year's Buffalo. They look better and acquired some pieces, but they will still suck

Buffalo added Hall and who else last season? Rielly? I cant even member.

 

[LOFIN]

I look forward to watch the Rangers continue to spank the Devils.

Admittedly they have done a good job this offseason, but the same thing was said like 3 years ago also.

 

[Pokecheque]

I look forward to watch the Rangers continue to spank the Devils.

Admittedly they have done a good job this offseason, but the same thing was said like 3 years ago also.

Wouldn't it be hilarious if, in their attempts to toughen up to take on the Islanders and Caps, leave themselves bad enough to be taken out by the Devils.

 

[dahrougem2]

Buffalo added Hall and who else last season? Rielly? I cant even member.

Eric Staal lol

 

[PAZ]

The main thing that I dislike is Hamilton has 2-3 years of prime left and they are 2-3 years away from being a real playoff team. If they ever get to be a real cup contender with that core (in like 5 years) his contract could become a worse version of what we are seeing here with EJ.

Hawks did the exact same thing with Jones.

That's just how it works for the majority of rebuilding teams - you need those type of players to help actually become a competitive team and build a winning culture. EJ is on an anchor of a contract now, but he was still very important to help maintain a certain level of competitiveness (excluding the 2016-17 season).

Personally I think Chicago jumped the gun on multiple fronts and the Jones signing will end up looking like a mistake. However, I don't think the Hamilton signing will. New Jersey has a lot of young, elite talent, and the team needs to start building a winning mentality for those players to hit their potentials.

 

[LOFIN]

Wouldn't it be hilarious if, in their attempts to toughen up to take on the Islanders and Caps, leave themselves bad enough to be taken out by the Devils.

I fail to see how this would happen. All the Rangers have done is replace AHL-level players in the bottom six with legit NHL-level bottom six players. Buchnevich was traded, but that was inevitable anyway, to give Kakko and Kravtsov more ice time (they mostly played in the 3rd and 4th lines).

The Rangers have been #8 in scoring for the last two seasons. Scoring is not a problem for them.