Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LXVIII

[kovazub94]

The one thing im disappointed in during this draft wasnt the Schneider as a player but that we didn’t pick a center with a first pick because its entirely possible Zibanejad prices himself out of here, i dont see him wanting to leave but if he continues to get the odd concussion we may not wanna spend 8 or 9 mill over 7 for him. Even if that isnt the case we still need another center for the future. I like Schneider, he looks like a player that could turn into a building block...i was just just looking for a center.

You got to draft BPA.

 

[kovazub94]

completely agree. We’ve never EVER had this level of offensive talent. Not even close ever! A number one center 27 years old, These guys have a franchise goalie behind them. They’re stacked at right D too and have a bunch of talented young LDs coming. This group should win at some point.

The team that started the 93-94 season (before Gartner, Amonte and Weight were traded away) could say otherwise and god knows what would’ve happened if the management was patient with that young core.

 

[RangerBoy]

Based on private conversations with team executives around the league, in which I simply posed the question, what’s realistic about next season (and not necessarily what’s being said publicly), the sense I get is that most teams anticipate a good outcome would be playing a 48-game schedule. That would mimic what’s been done previously in lockout years (and which Bettman always said was, in his mind, the minimum threshold needed to consider it a viable season) and then a traditional 16-team playoff (as opposed to this year’s 24-team play-in, playoff round).

Let’s use the 2012-13 season as a possible template. Opening night was Jan. 13. The regular season finished on Apr. 28. The playoffs began on April 30 and they concluded on June 24 in Boston, when Chicago won a 3-2 victory over the Bruins, on the night of Dave Bolland’s incredible game-winner. If it had gone seven, the season would have ended on June 26.

If they can manage something similar again, it accomplishes a few things.

One, it meets Bettman’s preference of not spilling into the summer. He said that officially during his Stanley Cup press conference. Two, it gets the schedule roughly back on track. If they started in mid-January to early February and ended in June, then the 2021-22 season could follow a traditional path — with training camps opening roughly in mid-September, an early October start, a regular 82-game schedule, and the usual 16-team post-season.

It would also greatly assist the NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, who would then have their expansion draft completed, if not right at the end of June, then very early in July. For the $650 million the Seattle group is paying to get into the NHL, which will help mitigate some of the losses owners are anticipating next season, that’s an important consideration.

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The 48 game season makes the most sense.

The WHL is beginning their season on January 8. The WJC will be played in Edmonton in a bubble. When the WJC is completed, the WHL will start playing. The schedule will be based on each province for the Canadian based teams. Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba/Saskatchewan. The five U.S. based teams. They will play exclusively in each division. The players report in mid-December. The WHL hasn't decided if fans will be allowed. The health authorities will make that call.

That scenario works for the NHL. Training camp is usually 20 days. I read Chuck Fletcher of the Flyers said training camp would be two weeks. The NHL season starts at the same time. Season ends in mid to late June. The NHL holds the expansion draft. NHL draft. Free agency. Start the 21-22 season on time. Dr. Fauci said there should be a vaccine by April 2020. The NHL starts the season with no fans. Covid 19 is spreading again in the U.S. It will get worse with the colder weather. The virus loves cold weather. Maybe fans will be allowed for the playoffs with a vaccine. Limited capacity at best.

The NHL will need to realign their divisions. All of the Canadian teams in one division. The remaining 24 U.S. based teams in multiple divisions based on region. They play exclusively against those teams. Limit travel. Limit exposure. Play back to back games against the same team in the same city.

Canada didn't allow the Blue Jays to play in Toronto. They didn't want the players traveling back and forth between the U.S. and Canada. That will not change for the foreseeable future. Some of these states will not allow teams to play with fans. Even 25%-50% capacity is dangerous indoors.

The AHL has five New York state based teams. Will Andrew Cuomo allow fans in the buildings? We know the answer. No. The AHL has 4 Canadian based teams. Three teams in the east and one team in Manitoba. How does that schedule work? Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver have their AHL teams in the U.S. Eliotte Friedman reported those teams will move their AHL teams to Canada for this season because the border is closed. Can the AHL function without any fans? Can their business model work with no gate revenue? They have no TV contracts. Those CHL leagues have TV contracts with Rogers. I read there might be a 7-8 player taxi squad if the AHL doesn't play this season. The MLB teams had a group of players work out at a minor league facility and they would recall the player if they needed them. That would work for the NHL teams. It would suck because the young players will not be playing games. It is what it is.

If there is no AHL season, how does sending players to the AHL work to shed some money?

 

[Kovalev27]

The team that started the 93-94 season (before Gartner, Amonte and Weight were traded away) could say otherwise and god knows what would’ve happened if the management was patient with that young core.

I LIKE those guys but that core isn’t this core. Certainly not at that age

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

completely agree. We’ve never EVER had this level of offensive talent. Not even close ever! A number one center 27 years old, These guys have a franchise goalie behind them. They’re stacked at right D too and have a bunch of talented young LDs coming. This group should win at some point.

The only thing I can remember remotely close is circa 1990 with Leetch/Richter/Amonte/Weight/Turcotte

 

[kovazub94]

I LIKE those guys but that core isn’t this core. Certainly not at that age

I use hindsight, you use projection. Probably fair to wait and reevaluate in 10-15 years.

 

[Kovalev27]

I think delaying past Jan 1 for the miracle that the vaccine will be ready and distributed to most of the country at some point in Mid 2021 is laughable and the nhl better figure out a way to play thru it like the mlb and nfl have. I’ll reiterate I have been especially careful of this virus so I am no denier I’m just being realistic. Going from March to Mid January February with players missing almost a year of organized hockey is a league killer. It will set back this league years. They need to get on the ice soon. They should have done it in December. Now talking about pushing into Jan feb and cutting the schedule in half? All because they think buildings will be full in the spring? That’s A ridiculous reasoning because it’s not happening

 

[duhmetreE]

The team that started the 93-94 season (before Gartner, Amonte and Weight were traded away) could say otherwise and god knows what would’ve happened if the management was patient with that young core.

I can see and understand the argument for the last cup roster.. It's close but this time, I don't see JD and Gorts trading them away.

We have had a massive pipeline already built.. and we finished it off with the #1 and #2 pick. We are deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep on young and cheap talent, to say the least.

 

[Kovalev27]

I use hindsight, you use projection. Probably fair to wait and reevaluate in 10-15 years.

true

 

[Fitzy]

As much as I'm interested and engaged in seeing whether Ovechkin can break Gretzky's goals record, I agree with RB that 48 games makes sense. There's precedent with recent shortened seasons so they have consistency there at least.

 

[duhmetreE]

I think delaying past Jan 1 for the miracle that the vaccine will be ready and distributed to most of the country at some point in Mid 2021 is laughable and the nhl better figure out a way to play thru it like the mlb and nfl have. I’ll reiterate I have been especially careful of this virus so I am no denier I’m just being realistic. Going from March to Mid January February with players missing almost a year of organized hockey is a league killer. It will set back this league years. They need to get on the ice soon. They should have done it in December. Now talking about pushing into Jan feb and cutting the schedule in half? All because they think buildings will be full in the spring? That’s A ridiculous reasoning because it’s not happening

I think fans are going to be allowed in 2021. Obviously there will be precautions/limitations.

 

[kovazub94]

I can see and understand the argument for the last cup roster.. It's close but this time, I don't see JD and Gorts trading them away.

We have had a massive pipeline already built.. and we finished it off with the #1 and #2 pick. We are deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep on young and cheap talent, to say the least.

I specifically referenced the team before Smith traded away a shit ton of talent to win the Cup (and later based a legend to appease Messier). Whatever the level 1OA and 2OA will reach is unknown but you’re comparing it to the likes of Kovalev, Amonte and Weight. On D it’s Leetch and Zubov vs Fox and ADA & co.

As far as vets go it’s Messier, Gartner and Graves vs Zibanejad, Panarin and Kreider as principles.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Imagine if Staal at 5.7 was on the cap? Its already tight right now

Who else was dumped is the question ... guys were given away like Stastney, Johnsson but they have value

yeah, imagine if Hank waived his NTC and the Rangers had traded Kreider.

Still in good shape with ADA resigned and Georgiev imo

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Anyone have the Atlantic?

Execs Unfiltered: Opinions on Taylor Hall, Alex Pietrangelo and every NHL team

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

I think it's kind of stupid for Lemieux to argue each opportunity he's had... let him play a full season and have some kind of impact (if you think he has, you're blinded by what he COULD be) before a $1 raise.

 

[bbny]

Anyone have the Atlantic?

Execs Unfiltered: Opinions on Taylor Hall, Alex Pietrangelo and every NHL team

Long article, but I'll share the small Rangers' snippet.

New York Rangers
This will forever be remembered as the month the Rangers drafted Alexis Lafreniere. And parted ways with Henrik Lundqvist. But let’s talk about Jack Johnson a moment, shall we? He signed a one-year deal worth $1.15 million much to the objection of many Rangers faithful.
While the fan base didn’t love the signing, one executive who knows Johnson well thought it was a perfectly reasonable move by the Rangers. Another source said he’s going to be great at helping the young Rangers players make the adjustment to the pros. They didn’t dislike the signing, despite the public criticism.
“He takes a beating. Is he a perfect player? Absolutely not,” said an exec. “I do think, as a bottom pairing guy, there’s nothing wrong with it. He’s a good guy. A happy go lucky guy. There’s the analytical side you can argue but I don’t mind it for the Rangers. It’s low end. For one year. You take that all day long.”

 

[ecemleafs]

im cool with 48 games. 60 would be ideal. anything more than 60 would be totally unrealistic to me. someone had pointed out recently that the NHL cant really go late into the summer this year due to NBC's contractual obligations with the olympics.

 

[Rongomania]

Long article, but I'll share the small Rangers' snippet.

F*ck, I think I like JJ now after reading that.

It's true, the office knows him and we have young D's who will be on or on/off the team this season. Oldest vets back there were Smith and Troubda.

 

[rangers1314]

Long article, but I'll share the small Rangers' snippet.

Was this unnamed exec John Davidson?

 

[Thirty One]

Fox and Johnson can bond about not signing with the Hurricanes.

 

[Kovalev27]

Anyone have the Atlantic?

Execs Unfiltered: Opinions on Taylor Hall, Alex Pietrangelo and every NHL team

it was a blurb on signing Jack Johnson and of course the old boys club of nhl execs see nothing wrong with it

 

[Kovalev27]

As I write this Pitt decides to sign Cody Ceci. These teams can’t help themselves lol

 

[BBKers]

 

[Thirty One]

Someone asked me to update this when the signings trickle in:

 

[NYRFAN218]

I think delaying past Jan 1 for the miracle that the vaccine will be ready and distributed to most of the country at some point in Mid 2021 is laughable and the nhl better figure out a way to play thru it like the mlb and nfl have. I’ll reiterate I have been especially careful of this virus so I am no denier I’m just being realistic. Going from March to Mid January February with players missing almost a year of organized hockey is a league killer. It will set back this league years. They need to get on the ice soon. They should have done it in December. Now talking about pushing into Jan feb and cutting the schedule in half? All because they think buildings will be full in the spring? That’s A ridiculous reasoning because it’s not happening

I don't think anyone is expecting full buildings by spring, it's just they need to maximize as many fans as possible to mitigate losses. Whether it's 75% capacity, 50% capacity, 30% capacity etc they simply cannot operate without fans for an extended period. They don't have the TV contracts the MLB or NFL have to make it viable which is why you keep hearing the possibility of no season at all which I personally can't see happening and is a doomsday scenario. Playing 48 games with some percentage of fans is much preferable to playing 60-70 something with the first 20 games having even less or no fans from the league's POV. Plus by kicking the can down the road, the world will hopefully be in better shape in terms of therapeutics and vaccines.

I mean, we literally just saw this with MLB. The owners nearly punted the season and came in at an absolute max of 60 games because more games with no fans would annihilate them financially. And that league is in much better shape financially.