Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXIX: Going 11-3 to close out this crazy year should do it!

[Synergy27]

He's a very exciting prospect but I think he gets away with things that players under 6'6" would get crucified for in GDT's.

Not for nothing, but this is like saying "the Rangers aren't good at all if you discount the 9-0 throttling of Philly".

Being 6'6" is one of the reasons why he is so good, yeah. No reason to ding him for it. It's why he is good now and has the potential to be very, very special when he stops making those little mistakes.

 

[fm]

Would love to see CB and VK switch too. But bonafide top-6 mins for Laf, and and a veteran winger for Fil and KK is certainly a start.

Not thrilled with the d-pairings but we are very thin there anyway

 

[Machinehead]

Not for nothing, but this is like saying "the Rangers aren't good at all if you discount the 9-0 throttling of Philly".

Being 6'6" is one of the reasons why he is so good, yeah. No reason to ding him for it. It's why he is good now and has the potential to be very, very special when he stops making those little mistakes.

It's not the same at all.

Winning 9-0 actually happened and outscoring your opponent is objectively and inherently good.

Height is not an inherent good quality. If it were, the NHL would look like the NBA.

One is an objective victory and the other is a subjective bias.

Again, I like Miller, but he can do no wrong on here, and the height bias that NHL fans have is overwhelming.

 

[pld459666]

I agree. The coach has lamented about this and Gorts helped build a straight line powerhouse in Boston. So he gets it.

So who are we talking about specifically regarding East/west players negatively affecting our youth? I assume we are just talking forwards and forward mentality. So...
Bread
Mika
Strome
Buch

What youth becomes negatively effected under your premise?
Laf
Chytil?
Kakko
Kravtsov

Howden, Goats are North/South and neither are part of the future.

What do we do about those 4 to help become a North/South style team?

Looks like the over simplified answer is to trade 3.

I think you make accommodations for elite level players meaning Panarin is a keeper.

But I would absolutely move on from the other three

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I like Lafrieniere but i just dont see why he gets elevated over Kravtsov based on recent play.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

It's not the same at all.

Winning 9-0 actually happened and outscoring your opponent is objectively and inherently good.

Height is not an inherent good quality. If it were, the NHL would look like the NBA.

One is an objective victory and the other is a subjective bias.

Again, I like Miller, but he can do no wrong on here, and the height bias that NHL fans have is overwhelming.

Two similar players playing contact hockey, one is 6'6 with the reach and weight that goes along with it and the other is 5'8. Which do you take?

 

[DutchShamrock]

I am not a particularly big fan of Quinn, but I do find it interesting that he is saying a lot of the things we say here about needing to be tougher to play against, simplify our game, make smart plays and attack mistakes, like, a playoff team. Yet, when Quinn says it, people don't like it.

The team has a lot of skill, and you need a balance of skill and grit to succeed in the playoffs. This team often wilts under the weight of a gritty game, though.

Maybe Quinn just isn't good at getting his players to play both styles? Or maybe the players we have need to shifted to get a little tougher, so to speak.

Count me as someone who would move Buch and Chytil for Horvat. I know people like Lundell, Krebs, Glass, Newhook, etc. But this team needs something a little different I think. Of course, I doubt any team that has any of these players actually trades them.

I have the same sentiments toward Quinn and agree with your points. I think Quinn shot himself in the foot by applying his discipline disproportionately. The vets do what they want and until recently saw no repercussions for it. Some young guys make mistakes but play well, they get benched. You don't make examples with that approach.

Personally, I have almost no investment in the results on the scoreboard or standings. I understand that Quinn could be coaching for his job but the goal is a few years down the road. I don't care about giving some of the vets chance after chance to find their game or get hot or carry the team. With the season slipping away it seems like Quinn is becoming comfortable with imposing his will evenly.

I would have preferred to balance the lines, minutes, opportunities and discipline from the start but I'm not going to complain when he finally starts doing it.

 

[Machinehead]

Two similar players playing contact hockey, one is 6'6 with the reach and weight that goes along with it and the other is 5'8. Which do you take?

Most hockey fans would take the 6'6" player even if he was noticeably worse. That's my point.

If you started a Seth Jones vs Adam Fox going forward poll, the results would be lopsided for Jones even though he's worse at literally everything.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

not sure they burn a year on Barron for a few games. He’s coming by next season though despite those thinking the European finesse would be enough.

Two things:

1. ELCs can only slide if signed at age 18 or 19
2. European finesse? Buchnevich is tougher than Gauthier. This outdated thought process that European players are finesse and North Americans are rugged physical specimens needs to die

 

[Daves a mess]

Off topic , but it still baffles me how a coaching change and a few tweaks turns the Isles from the worst Defensive squad in the league to the best ( last year) in ONE year. Yes i know Barry is the mainly reason but still very impressive.

Reason I brought this up I guess is NHL radio has them as absolute Stanley Cup contenders built for playoff hockey.
Also saying similar things about the Blues, saying they just need to get in and they are a legit threat to win it all.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Two things:

1. ELCs can only slide if signed at age 18 or 19
2. European finesse? Buchnevich is tougher than Gauthier. This outdated thought process that European players are finesse and North Americans are rugged physical specimens needs to die

yeah did everyone miss that reverse hit chytil laid last game. Kakko wins puck battles through 2-3 guys, you dont need to be a 6'2 guy from nova scotia with a lumberjack beard to be physical anymore.

 

[Machinehead]

Off topic , but it still baffles me how a coaching change and a few tweaks turns the Isles from the worst Defensive squad in the league to the best ( last year) in ONE year. And still up there this year. Reason I brought this up I guess is NHL radio has them as absolute Stanley Cup contenders built for playoff hockey.
Also saying similar things about the Blues, saying they just need to get in and they are a legit threat to win it all.

Trotz is legitimately as good as people say and the Islanders have two outstanding defensemen that fly under the radar.

That being said, "built for the playoffs" is a meme, and the Lightning the could split into two squads and they would both better than the Islanders.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

You guys are weirdly obsessed with the Islanders like Devils fans are with us. It's embarrassing.

Why are fans always obsessed with players they were never able to draft anyway?

Ranger fans have no reason to care about Jack Hughes
Islander fans have no reason to care about Vitaly Kravtsov

It's irrelevant. You were never in a position where you could have drafted them and passed on them.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

yeah did everyone miss that reverse hit chytil laid last game. Kakko wins puck battles through 2-3 guys, you dont need to be a 6'2 guy from nova scotia with a lumberjack beard to be physical anymore.

Wait until Lundkvist gets here. People will be surprised

 

[LokiDog]

As nice as this end of the season uptick in performance has been, objectively we’re six points out of the last spot with 10 games left, chasing a better team that has 12 games left. They can potentially expand that gap to 10 points even if we keep doing everything right. Even assuming we closed the gap to 4 points with even games remaining, our final two games are against Boston. We’d realistically have to be 2 points or less behind coming into those games. I can’t see Boston giving us 4 points with the playoffs on the line. Just can’t see it.

And for that reason, as good as Blackwell has been, he should be on the 4th line from here on with VK getting to play with better talent. Kreider has mostly been bad and will find himself on the third line eventually anyway. Let one of Laf/KK take some minutes from him. If Buch isn’t going to be re-signed, let one of the kids take some minutes from him. The playoffs are virtually all but out of reach. Let’s see what the kids can do now that the team looks better overall, especially on the offensive end.

 

[Machinehead]

Why are fans always obsessed with players they were never able to draft anyway?

Ranger fans have no reason to care about Jack Hughes
Islander fans have no reason to care about Vitaly Kravtsov

It's irrelevant. You were never in a position where you could have drafted them and passed on them.

Even players we did have a chance to draft, I don't really care.

I don't care about Necas, I don't care about Wahlstrom, and I especially don't care about Stützle because 31 GM's take Lafreniere that night and I don't give a shit what Yzerman says after the fact.

Worry about your own team's drafting and development and stop microanalyzing the other 230-whatever players they could have taken imo.

 

[Synergy27]

It's not the same at all.

Winning 9-0 actually happened and outscoring your opponent is objectively and inherently good.

Height is not an inherent good quality. If it were, the NHL would look like the NBA.

One is an objective victory and the other is a subjective bias.

Again, I like Miller, but he can do no wrong on here, and the height bias that NHL fans have is overwhelming.

Him being tall, rangy, and fast actually happened as well, as did his being able to stop guys because of it even thought he wasn't in perfect position. Height isn't a standalone good quality for a hockey player, but when combined with other important attributes (mobility, hands, etc.) it can raise a player's ceiling quite a bit.

All else being equal, give me the big guy every time. Miller has the potential to be the rare instance in which all else actually is equal.

 

[Synergy27]

Even players we did have a chance to draft, I don't really care.

I don't care about Necas, I don't care about Wahlstrom, and I especially don't care about Stützle because 31 GM's take Lafreniere that night and I don't give a shit what Yzerman says after the fact.

Worry about your own team's drafting and development and stop microanalyzing the other 230-whatever players they could have taken imo.

It's a fruitless endeavor of course, but are you honestly telling me you don't understand why emotional human beings have a hard time letting go of Vladimir Tarasenko after their favorite team chooses to pick Dylan McIlrath? This site in particular has a lot of people that really follow prospects pre-draft. We all get locked in on guys we like. It sucks to see them taken by other teams when your team makes a decision you wouldn't have made.

Laf/Stutzle isn't in that category.

 

[Machinehead]

Him being tall, rangy, and fast actually happened as well, as did his being able to stop guys because of it even thought he wasn't in perfect position. Height isn't a standalone good quality for a hockey player, but when combined with other important attributes (mobility, hands, etc.) it can raise a player's ceiling quite a bit.

All else being equal, give me the big guy every time. Miller has the potential to be the rare instance in which all else actually is equal.

Yes. He has all that potential.

And this season, he's been a below average NHL defenseman.

Both of those things can be true.

 

[duhmetreE]

Telling them to play a certain way and having them do it are 2 completely different things. Players can't just instantly change the way they play. Habits are ingrained in them. We are a team that thrives on the east-west passes, and when teams take that away from us, we struggle. Quinn can tell them to play more north-south all he wants, but until they actually do it consistently, it won't matter who is behind the bench.

Does that mean there's no structure to follow? We 'freestyling'? This isn't something that happens once in a while. Quinn talks about it all the time.

Is it a poor gameplan? A poorly conveyed plan? A poor execution of the gameplan? No matter the scenario, it all reflects poorly on the head coach.

 

[Machinehead]

It's a fruitless endeavor of course, but are you honestly telling me you don't understand why emotional human beings have a hard time letting go of Vladimir Tarasenko after their favorite team chooses to pick Dylan McIlrath? This site in particular has a lot of people that really follow prospects pre-draft. We all get locked in on guys we like. It sucks to see them taken by other teams when your team makes a decision you wouldn't have made.

Laf/Stutzle isn't in that category.

No. No, I don't understand why emotional human beings can't let go of guys that never played for their team.

I think feeling emotions towards Vladimir Tarasenko if you're not a fan of the Blues or (at the very least) a fan of a rival team is super weird.

In between the times HFNYR brings him up, I forget Tarasenko is alive.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Sounds like Bitteto is back out.

Exciting. I’ve been wanting to see Kreider-Chytil-Kakko since February.

 

[Avery16]

I like Lafrieniere but i just dont see why he gets elevated over Kravtsov based on recent play.

Probably discrimination due to his freakish anatomy

 

[IDvsEGO]

Wait until Lundkvist gets here. People will be surprised

does he have a lumberjack beard! ? but also fox for being a non- big defenseman, occasionally lays the body, but also manages to separate from the puck w/o it as well.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

No. No, I don't understand why emotional human beings can't let go of guys that never played for their team.

I think feeling emotions towards Vladimir Tarasenko if you're not a fan of the Blues or (at the very least) a fan of a rival team is super weird.

In between the times HFNYR brings him up, I forget Tarasenko is alive.

We have the best player from that draft year (2010) anywaay