Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California

[Glory Days]

I actually think he's still mad at snow/wang, but since they're not in power I think he's mostly over that and just trying to remain relevant these days.

You might be right but I can’t recall anything positive Botta has said recently about the organization

 

[The Wahligator]

If Malkin and Ledecky wanted to go in a very different direction - from the oldest of old school to the newest of new school - they'd wait for CAR's season to end and ask permission to interview Eric Tulsky, their Asst GM. He's an ex-blogger that the Canes hired 10+ years ago to help with analytics, and he's moved up to basically second in charge under Waddell. And he went from doing just analytics to now being heavily involved in all personnel decisions, contracts, cap, etc.. Not sure if CAR would let him go, especially within their division, but he did interview with CHI in 2022 for their GM opening.

Just to add to this- Tulsky is also a Harvard grad, so a little connection there with fellow alums Ledecky and Malkin. Might give him a leg up over other candidates.

 

[doublechili]

Just to add to this- Tulsky is also a Harvard grad, so a little connection there with fellow alums Ledecky and Malkin. Might give him a leg up over other candidates.

Are you saying there's some kind of Harvard grad networking thing?

Seriously though, the owners have been very proactive and innovative with getting the arena done, and they're cutting edge with their marketing. You wonder if they might want to modernize the hockey operations.

 

[Lame Lambert]

I think Kyle Dubas is a complete moron, and I would still prefer him over Chris Lamoriello.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

I actually think he's still mad at snow/wang, but since they're not in power I think he's mostly over that and just trying to remain relevant these days.

I also think he has as much of an idea as you or I whos going to run this team next year. Lou could certainly hire his son and move to president but I suspect if that was going to happen I’d imagine we would have heard that announcement already in my humble opinion. I’m bettIng we will have a new GM and it won’t be Lou or his son but who knows.

 

[periferal]

Malkin was very diligent in his hiring of Lou and there was a lot of talk in the league about how he'd been talking to many people to get advice about hiring a Prez of Hockey Ops. Thus, I think if he were making a change it would be out there because he'd be talking to people and something would leak.

IMO, the operating under a shroud of silence is Lou thing, not an owner thing, and leads me to conclude he's still in charge since there hasn't been a peep.

This certainly seems like it is the case.

But also remember...We've basically never heard Malkin speak publicly since that (very awkward) press conference with Ledecky and wang like 8 years ago. I almost wonder if he has some sort of social phobia he was so awkward at that press conference, and if he brought Ledecky on board to be the public "face" of the team.

To me the fact that we've heard so much less from Ledecky since Lou took over is the telling part.

I think Kyle Dubas is a complete moron, and I would still prefer him over Chris Lamoriello.

1000% this.

 

[periferal]

I also think he has as much of an idea as you or I whos going to run this team next year. Lou could certainly hire his son and move to president but I suspect if that was going to happen I’d imagine we would have heard that announcement already in my humble opinion. I’m bettIng we will have a new GM and it won’t be Lou or his son but who knows.

I agree with this, but there's a secondary question...


What experienced/qualified GM would want to take that job here with Lou looking over his shoulder?


I think you could almost have your pick of the litter at President or GM if Lou was not around, but with him around the GM job is less desirable no question.

 

[doublechili]

If I had to guess, I'd say that if Lou is no longer GM, then he's gone entirely - ownership goes in an entirely new direction. And Lou seems like the kind of guy who would keep quiet if his employers asked him to - toe the company line. In 2015 the Devils announced Lou would hand over the GM position to Ray Shero and move up to President, then 6 weeks later he took the TOR GM job. Then in 2018 Shanahan announced that Lou would not be renewed as the GM and per their prior agreement he would move up to be President. Then, 3 weeks later Lou was hired by the Isles.

Both times, Lou went along with the company right up until it was announced he took a new job. So despite what Botta said, if something's going on we wouldn't necessarily know it.

 

[steveat]

I've been thinking about upgrading our defense without really giving up much, but moreso swapping of players. I found this list:

Defensive D-man NHL 25 Players | NHL Ratings

View all players with Defensive D-man Player Style on NHL 25

www.nhlratings.net

Pelech is number uno...Guess who else is on the list... Mayfield AND Bolduc (of all players? I wasn't expecting that)

First of all...I think Grant Hutton will take over Mayfield's spot.

As for AHO....he is by far the most improved defenseman on the team. He was scary to watch at the beginning of the season and really improved by the end of the year. I know people are saying that he's not going to improve because he's already 27, but at the pace of improvement he's shown...I can't imagine him just not improving anymore come next season. Hopefully he gets stronger and faster over the summer.

Our D did ok this season

 

[doublechili]

I've been thinking about upgrading our defense without really giving up much, but moreso swapping of players. I found this list:

Defensive D-man NHL 25 Players | NHL Ratings

View all players with Defensive D-man Player Style on NHL 25

www.nhlratings.net

Pelech is number uno...Guess who else is on the list... Mayfield AND Bolduc (of all players? I wasn't expecting that)

First of all...I think Grant Hutton will take over Mayfield's spot.

As for AHO....he is by far the most improved defenseman on the team. He was scary to watch at the beginning of the season and really improved by the end of the year. I know people are saying that he's not going to improve because he's already 27, but at the pace of improvement he's shown...I can't imagine him just not improving anymore come next season. Hopefully he gets stronger and faster over the summer.

Our D did ok this season

I agree that the D as individuals is fine. However it's what the D as a group is missing that's the problem. They need a better PP point man (not banking on that happening with Dobson just yet). And after that as a group they should be evaluated to determine if there's enough speed to beat forechecking forwards back to pucks and move it the other way. I like Mayfield a lot, but the best/easiest way to solve the big problem is to let him walk and get a RHD PP guy to take his spot on the 3rd pair. Short of moving Pulock or Dobson, anyway.

 

[Osakahaus]

way too much silence

I think Kyle Dubas is a complete moron, and I would still prefer him over Chris Lamoriello.

I would never want Dubas, even between him and Chris

 

[JKP]

way too much silence


I would never want Dubas, even between him and Chris

I’d rather ChatGPT than Dubas… same spreadsheet BS but without the punchable face…

 

[Glory Days]

Just to add to this- Tulsky is also a Harvard grad, so a little connection there with fellow alums Ledecky and Malkin. Might give him a leg up over other candidates.

So the Isles can upgrade from Maine to Harvard!

 

[periferal]

I know every single person hates Dubas here, but wondering how much, if any, of it is simply because he works for the Leafs (who we all hate be default).

I was looking over all his trades and I don't see many horrible ones. I think his worst move might have been letting Jared McCann exposed in the Seattle expansion draft (that said he did acquire him in the 1st place for Filip Hallander & a 7th).

To me the inflection point for the Leafs is when they signed Tavares and didn't trade Marner for defense. Once they gave him that big deal they were stuck and always going to be chasing their problems. I just don't see how any team can have 3 forwards making 10+M/year and be able to navigate the cap to create a true contender.

 

[JKP]

I know every single person hates Dubas here, but wondering how much, if any, of it is simply because he works for the Leafs (who we all hate be default).

I was looking over all his trades and I don't see many horrible ones. I think his worst move might have been letting Jared McCann exposed in the Seattle expansion draft (that said he did acquire him in the 1st place for Filip Hallander & a 7th).

To me the inflection point for the Leafs is when they signed Tavares and didn't trade Marner for defense. Once they gave him that big deal they were stuck and always going to be chasing their problems. I just don't see how any team can have 3 forwards making 10+M/year and be able to navigate the cap to create a true contender.

I can’t stand him for a lot of reasons.

Caving to Nylander set a tone in future negotiations, esp the Marner one.

Overpaying Tavares when he didn’t need him Instead of getting D help screwed up his negotiations with. Matthews.

Only getting Matthews for 5 years and making him UFA was a mistake.

His inability to recognize the importance or allocate the money to goaltending.

His country club attitude (they don’t need to wear suits, getting rid of the tough coach) sets a bad standard, imo.

His overly emotional outbursts while watching his team… reeks of fanboy, you want a calm grownup running the ship.

His over-reliance on metrics.

His punchable face.

The fact he works for TML and the Canadian (Toronto) media fawn over him so he gives them interviews… yuck.

I think he’d be a fine front office stats wonk / assistant for any team, but he should never be in charge of an NHL team.

 

[Osakahaus]

Dubas is a GM who gave us Engvall (useful player) for a 2024 3rd. His evaluation of talent is BAD

 

[WangMustGo]

I can’t stand him for a lot of reasons.

Caving to Nylander set a tone in future negotiations, esp the Marner one.

Overpaying Tavares when he didn’t need him Instead of getting D help screwed up his negotiations with. Matthews.

Only getting Matthews for 5 years and making him UFA was a mistake.

His inability to recognize the importance or allocate the money to goaltending.

His country club attitude (they don’t need to wear suits, getting rid of the tough coach) sets a bad standard, imo.

His overly emotional outbursts while watching his team… reeks of fanboy, you want a calm grownup running the ship.

His over-reliance on metrics.

His punchable face.

The fact he works for TML and the Canadian (Toronto) media fawn over him so he gives them interviews… yuck.

I think he’d be a fine front office stats wonk / assistant for any team, but he should never be in charge of an NHL team.

If Lou was in charge I think Toronto is sitting with a cup right now. They would have found a great goaltender and would have built a good defense. Matthews, Marner, and Nylander would all be on much more team friendly deals.

 

[MJF]

Are we waffling on Dubas ffs?

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

I agree with this, but there's a secondary question...


What experienced/qualified GM would want to take that job here with Lou looking over his shoulder?


I think you could almost have your pick of the litter at President or GM if Lou was not around, but with him around the GM job is less desirable no question.

It could be that Lou just retires all together, I do think as I’ve said before they want talk to someone who is still involved in the current playoffs which is why nothing has been said publicly by anyone.

 

[NC 1972]

Yep. Lou and Lambert have spoken to the media because Lou doesn’t want Lou or Lambert to talk to the media yet. If Lou was fired or stepping down I think we would know by now.

Lou discussing next season with Malkin.

 

[leeroggy]

I can’t stand him for a lot of reasons.

Caving to Nylander set a tone in future negotiations, esp the Marner one.

Overpaying Tavares when he didn’t need him Instead of getting D help screwed up his negotiations with. Matthews.

Only getting Matthews for 5 years and making him UFA was a mistake.

His inability to recognize the importance or allocate the money to goaltending.

His country club attitude (they don’t need to wear suits, getting rid of the tough coach) sets a bad standard, imo.

His overly emotional outbursts while watching his team… reeks of fanboy, you want a calm grownup running the ship.

His over-reliance on metrics.

His punchable face.

The fact he works for TML and the Canadian (Toronto) media fawn over him so he gives them interviews… yuck.

I think he’d be a fine front office stats wonk / assistant for any team, but he should never be in charge of an NHL team.

Yet they are still playing and we’re not
Also, Nylander is the best contract of the Core 4

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Very curious for the opinions here. What are the oppositions to Chris Lamoriello? I have no opinion on the guy, but what makes him unworthy to everyone? He isn't a well known commodity in the NHL I feel, so I don't know his track record. Is it because of the nepotism aspect?

 

[MJF]

Yet they are still playing and we’re not
Also, Nylander is the best contract of the Core 4

For many years we were playing and they were not.The blind squirrel may have found an acorn, but I don’t want him here.

 

[JKP]

Yet they are still playing and we’re not
Also, Nylander is the best contract of the Core 4

1 series with all that top end talent. They’re a joke and Dubas is a joke.

 

[doublechili]

Very curious for the opinions here. What are the oppositions to Chris Lamoriello? I have no opinion on the guy, but what makes him unworthy to everyone? He isn't a well known commodity in the NHL I feel, so I don't know his track record. Is it because of the nepotism aspect?

I'd be more comfortable with him if he ever worked for anyone in the NHL besides his father and Garth Snow.