Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XIII (Nanaki edition)

[IDvsEGO]

I dont think Fox would make a good captain. He is another player that just doesnt seem fiery.

The closest this team has to a good captain would be trocheck, but even he seems kind of checked out now.

I was hoping Laf would take the reins but he hasnt.

Wonder if Cuylle can be it in a couple years.

Man i miss Cally more and more. Last good captain we had. Loved him here.

The answer is Laf.
Its always been Laf.
People are just struggling to see it because Fox was born in NY.

Laf is the player you want as a captain. He's signed long term, he's going to be a star, and he's got a nasty grind attitude that flourishes in the playoffs, and will push others to have that attitude.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Also, apropos of not much, when you get rid of Trouba, for the love of God, the captain is Adam Fox.

Please stop big braining this.

He is? I mean maybe, he's on a shortlist, but he doesn't exactly scream Captain either. Rather someone step up and prove they are the Captain than hand it to someone.

 

[Raspewtin]

I go back to the Trouba helmet throw. Do we all recall when the team was flat for multiple games in a row and then Trouba just threw a massive public fit when he got throw out of a game and the team responded? I wonder if the trade rumors over the summer have neutered his captaincy (along with his play) and he also has just decided to 'go with the flow'. I think that what we may be seeing is him no longer pushing and willing some of these veterans to provide more effort than they want to on a given night.

For the record, I'm okay trading Kreider, as long as the return is sufficient. And that return MUST include a 1st round pick. No Blais + 2nd crap

When did he actually "push it" though? The helmet toss and what? The only thing I can think of is his huge hit on Timo Meier in game 7 after he spent all series shitting himself on ice.

This is my big problem with Jake. He not only sucks ass as a defenseman, he's not nearly this "emotional leader" on ice that he gets credit for. And for what it's worth, i'd rather solid defensive play than lame ass temper tantrums.

edit: his fight with B. Tkachuk too I guess but that preceded the helmet toss.

 

[McRanger92]

I haven't thought of Cally in a while. And it made me think Cuylle seems like a similar possible player. Am I off?

Cuylle is more captain material than anyone on the team. With all due respect, Fox isnt a captain. He is just their best player. Leadership clearly means something and if they are going to have a long-term C it needs to be a guy willing to get his hands a little dirty. Adam Fox doesnt need more on his plate.

 

[Greschner4]

Bye.

 

[lakeshirts37]

The accelerated rebuild while maybe gave us a shorter window of contention, provided us with some amazing memories and entertainment as fans. Most importantly, it gave our young players the chance to play meaningful hockey and playoff experience. The world is not ending. If Drury can make the right moves we can have our cake and eat it too. For all you negative nancys out there - think about how we turned Lias Andersson into Will Cuylle. Incredible. Jones look like he can be a 3LD fixture. Mancini has potential. Kakko is playing Center and doesnt look out of place. He likely won’t be that 1st line stud we expected but he is a guy you win in the playoffs with. Edstrom is going to be a beast of a 4th liner. The pieces are here. Now we just need to make some hard decisions, turn the team over to Laf and keep going. One step back. Two step forwards. Im excited about the future.

 

[Ruggs225]

I haven't thought of Cally in a while. And it made me think Cuylle seems like a similar possible player. Am I off?

I sort of get those vibes too, but not sure. After ridding all the vets it will be interesting to see what happens. It is only his second year though and there are other vets higher in the pecking order such as fox, laff etc.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Also, apropos of not much, when you get rid of Trouba, for the love of God, the captain is Adam Fox.

Please stop big braining this.

Nah.

Kaptain Kakko ftw (how come nobody says ftw anymore ?)

 

[will1066]

Who had on their bingo card that this core would collapse before Toronto's Core Four?

 

[Boris Zubov]

I can't kill Drury for doing something Ive wanted the team to do since the Devils series in 2023. Gallant called them out with tire tracks on his back after that series was over but none of them took it to heart. Even Lavi bends over backwards not to name names. Personally, I like that Drury seems like a bit of a loose cannon. He was right to call out Kravtsov back in the day too.

I have no problem with the message, however airing your dirty laundry is only going to lessen your players value in a trade.

 

[Ruggs225]

The answer is Laf.
Its always been Laf.
People are just struggling to see it because Fox was born in NY.

Laf is the player you want as a captain. He's signed long term, he's going to be a star, and he's got a nasty grind attitude that flourishes in the playoffs, and will push others to have that attitude.

Its who i want. But he has to take the reigns. Cant just hand him the keys.

And lately his play has been underwhelming.

And i am one of his biggest supporters. He needs to do more and start leading.

And that starts in the defensive end where he has been horrific this year.

 

[McRanger92]

The accelerated rebuild while maybe gave us a shorter window of contention, provided us with some amazing memories and entertainment as fans. Most importantly, it gave our young players the chance to play meaningful hockey and playoff experience. The world is not ending. If Drury can make the right moves we can have our cake and eat it too. For all you negative nancys out there - think about how we turned Lias Andersson into Will Cuylle. Incredible. Jones look like he can be a 3LD fixture. Mancini has potential. Kakko is playing Center and doesnt look out of place. He likely won’t be that 1st line stud we expected but he is a guy you win in the playoffs with. Edstrom is going to be a beast of a 4th liner. The pieces are here. Now we just need to make some hard decisions, turn the team over to Laf and keep going. One step back. Two step forwards. Im excited about the future.

I totally agree. There is a truckload of young talent with more coming. Any assets they get int hese veteran trades can supplement our new young core. And the playoff runs they've been on are amazing experience, as you said. All is not lost.

 

[Machinehead]

He is? I mean maybe, he's on a shortlist, but he doesn't exactly scream Captain either. Rather someone step up and prove they are the Captain than hand it to someone.

That got us Trouba.

Just put it on the face of the franchise like everyone else does.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Leadership is the issue, it's been that way for a while, and it's why Kreider and Trouba were mentioned in trade talk, because with those personalities still around there will be no change in leadership.
Move on from those two, hope that zib wants out too and hand the captaincy to A
Lafreniere, A's to Kakko, Fox and Panarin.

 

[McRanger92]

I have no problem with the message, however airing your dirty laundry is only going to lessen your players value in a trade.

That is fair. If Drury can't remove the cancer soon, and the season really spirals off the rails, he is a goner and Dolan is going to hire Messier to take over.

 

[Machinehead]

MH,
keep that up and you will be bringing out my inner hippie

"I love you, man"

that said,
yeah, in a vacuum bread commands more, but right now he holds final say.
waiting til next yr reduces return b'c acquiring team gets less term -> use on productive asset
other things are:
1. faster recovery of cap space
2. it sends a message to the vets, and inspires newbies to put in the work

I think if forced we can hold bread if we move zib
moving zib to LI w/o bread departure sending message may/may not be relevant

and btw
would prefer deal that gets us Nemec + Silayev

But you're not considering

1. Ekblad sucks
2. Ekblad sucks
3. Ekblad sucks

 

[Boris Zubov]

When gallant was fired, a piece came out that said Drury was approached by players who basically said "his practices suck, they lack intensity, they're boring, and they're not instructional"

If my players told me that the coach would be gone immediately.
Those aren't player doesn't like the coach because he doesnt give ice time, those are clear, indications that a coach isn't coaching.

From all reports Lavi is coaching. Players are getting better, he uses players as best he can.
Does he over rely on the vets at times? Sure.
He's also willing to throw kids into spots.

Kakko at center was an out of the box solution, that didnt seem to backfire.

Some players, mainly the younger ones, are getting better...Some have gotten significantly worse under Lavi. KAM along with the majority of the core all come to mind.

Regardless, there isn't a coach alive or from the past who is fixing this mess. Time to tear it down to the studs & start over.

 

[will1066]

Maybe Trouba throws paint cans instead of helmets these days

It's arguably more productive. Collectors pay up the ass for the results of paint cans thrown at canvas.
----------------
Jacob Trouba. Paint Can Toss at Wall. 2024. Enamel on canvas. On loan to New York Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

Why hasn't this roster been traded away yet. Drury going back to sleep. LOL

Seriously though, if this group is still pissed about how the Goodrow/Trouba stuff went on this past summer, then they can go bleep themselves. Grow the bleep up; it's a business. This roster needs to be blown up. Bring in a core that gives a shit. The days of being Club Med/day spa need to end NOW.

 

[Machinehead]

You guys change who the captain should be based on who's playing well. C'mon now. Will Cuylle has had two very good months in the NHL at the end of the day.

It's Fox's team.

Sitting around and waiting to see what happened is what they did the last time, and nobody is happy with the results.

If you want to shift vibes, you need to say "this is the guy, this is the new direction."

 

[LOFIN]

I have no problem with the message, however airing your dirty laundry is only going to lessen your players value in a trade.

In some cases, yes. However, I think there would be interest in both Trouba and Kreider that it doesn't really effect their value. Like with Kreider, there are probably 2/3 of the leagues teams calling for Drury about him. There will be bidding for his services.

 

[Machinehead]

It's arguably more productive. Collectors pay up the ass for the results of paint cans thrown at canvas.
----------------
Jacob Trouba. Paint Can Toss at Wall. 2024. Enamel on canvas. On loan to New York Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.

There's something on my screen and if I scroll to exactly the right spot, it looks like Laviolette has a boogie in his nose.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Cuylle is better than Callahan was.

Callahan had an amazing motor and balls of steel. His skill set was average at best and his head for the game was less than that.

He literally Willed himself to a NHL career which is admirable.

Terrific analyst though despite having an accent I despise LOL.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

You guys change who the captain should be based on who's playing well. C'mon now. Will Cuylle has had two very good months in the NHL at the end of the day.

It's Fox's team.

Sitting around and waiting to see what happened is what they did the last time, and nobody is happy with the results.

If you want to shift vibes, you need to say "this is the guy, this is the new direction."

I was for Fox getting the C last time around. I get he's not super emotional and he's probably not the loudest voice in the room, but hes even keel, he's never too high and never too low, which is an incredibly important leadership trait.

 

[will1066]

Nah.

Kaptain Kakko ftw (how come nobody says ftw anymore ?)

Wow, it's a nice C.