Taking stock of where we are

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[Relapsing]

No. Bettman already addressed this Q, I think.

Allowing a team to trade for a late first round pick to pay for the loss of a pick demanded by the league would set a precedent for all teams to do that.


They lack "royal jelly". We need to make some trades to create a team that is "tough to play against". JT Miller seems like a guy who would be the type we need.

Miller sounds like a raging asshole, the kind you don't want to play against, and one I wouldn't want on my team that exists in the nation's capital.

 

[Cosmix]

Miller sounds like a raging asshole, the kind you don't want to play against, and one I wouldn't want on my team that exists in the nation's capital.

You may be right as he has been moved several times. However he does seem to be a player who calls out his team mates when they do not play well.

You also have to factor in the risk that comes with going into next season with an unprotected pick. That’s a scary situation especially if they run into injury trouble.

What does an "unprotected" pick have to do with making a decision to forfeit the 2025 versus the 2026 pick?

 

[Relapsing]

You may be right as he has been moved several times. However he does seem to be a player who calls out his team mates when they do not play well.

I also selfishly don't want his... Personal opinions in the locker room as a Canadian

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Let’s rename this thread “Taking stock of where we were”

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[Big Muddy]

They lack "royal jelly". We need to make some trades to create a team that is "tough to play against". JT Miller seems like a guy who would be the type we need.

I don’t think that’s the biggest problem. We are 10th worst in the NHL Goals per game. 5 vs 5 scoring has been an issue. And when we lost one (or some) of our top producing forwards our scoring sags as we have seen recently. So depth that can create offense and points is definitely an issue. Tough guys that can’t score aren’t going to address this.

 

[Byron Bitz]

You may be right as he has been moved several times. However he does seem to be a player who calls out his team mates when they do not play well.


What does an "unprotected" pick have to do with making a decision to forfeit the 2025 versus the 2026 pick?

When I said unprotected I just meant a pick that will be forfetied no matter what happens. So if we keep the 2025 pick the 2026 pick is unprotected which is really Risky because theres a chance it could be a top 10 pick.

 

[Cosmix]

I like Barbra better now than I did 40 years ago.

When I said unprotected I just meant a pick that will be forfetied no matter what happens. So if we keep the 2025 pick the 2026 pick is unprotected which is really Risky because theres a chance it could be a top 10 pick.

OK. In theory we should have a better team next season but that's theory.

 

[Cosmix]

I don’t think that’s the biggest problem. We are 10th worst in the NHL Goals per game. 5 vs 5 scoring has been an issue. And when we lost one (or some) of our top producing forwards our scoring sags as we have seen recently. So depth that can create offense and points is definitely an issue. Tough guys that can’t score aren’t going to address this.

I think you are right; a top 6 winger or center is a major need. I also think we need to add team toughness.

 

[LuckyPierre]

Outside of Brady and Drake, this roster does not have legitimate wingers who drive play. And although the centre depth is fantastic, it's far from durable. This team's forwards are, today and into the future, its weakness.

 

[Icelevel]

Outside of Brady and Drake, this roster does not have legitimate wingers who drive play. And although the centre depth is fantastic, it's far from durable. This team's forwards are, today and into the future, its weakness.

Most definitely the forward group is where the work needs to be done.

 

[Loach]

I haven't watched the last 4 games. Maybe this means I'm tapping out. I don't know. When Benji said they won't spend to the cap next year because having no room to maneuver was extremely frustrating, it really hit home. Reading the trade proposel thread is like watching Ancient Aliens, fun for a bit because it's fantasy entertainment. This isn't a knock on people, everybody is just having fun, it does show how screwed we are though. Many are going on about Perron and Amadio....they are a symptom, not the cause. Pierre Dorion is a fck up. Combine the return for the players that were sold off at the start, piss poor trades for years after, wasted money when he was allowed to spend, shit drafting with the picks they did keep and one more first round pick walking out the door in the near future I find it stunning that anyone can say ....But Perron is bad and Staois blah blah. This team has to be 100% healthly and playing their best hockey to even be in the mix with 4-5 teams for a wildcard spot. This team can't have 1 or 2 guys have a bad night, let alone be hurt or it loses. Dorion built 1 line in 8 years....no defence, no goaletending, no prospects, no cap space. Nobody bring up Leevi, I see you coming, because that was a surprise...like Bobby Ryan back checking. Great to see, but don't plant your flag on that hill because you don't know if it will ever happen again. For those that say Dorion is in the past and move on, well the past in on the ice, it's a first rounder given away, it's no depth, it's no cap space, it's a mess. I get so angry watching games I want to chew my own face off. When they play well, the margin for error is so incredibly small, you know in your gut that it's not sustainable....even if hope skyrockets for a bit. Every thing has to go perfect to make the playoffs and nothing is perfect. The team isn't insulated to not be perfect. We have 2 or 3 more years until that happens. I don't think I've ever been this irritated in a post before. Thanks for letting me rant and keep up the hope. And Bruce can fck off. Slimy colaborator douche bag.

 

[lancepitlick]

Before the season I said the team is in a real tough spot and I think that's still true. Outside of Stutzle they don't have a single forward that drives play. Yes, that includes Brady. He looked extra beasty in the 4N because he had linemates that did. If someone else can put the opposition on their heels Brady can feast, but he needs that help.

He doesn't have it and neither does Stutzle.

I'm not sure what Staois should do at this point. He's filled in the depth/goalie adequately, but Batherson, Norris, Giroux, Pinto, Greig, Gaudette, Gregor, Amadio, Perron. Many of those guys offer something, but none of them carry play anymore.

The only possibility to change things up is making some creative hockey trades involving some of the above players. Pinto, Greig, Bath still have value.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Before the season I said the team is in a real tough spot and I think that's still true. Outside of Stutzle they don't have a single forward that drives play. Yes, that includes Brady. He looked extra beasty in the 4N because he had linemates that did. If someone else can put the opposition on their heels Brady can feast, but he needs that help.

He doesn't have it and neither does Stutzle.

I'm not sure what Staois should do at this point. He's filled in the depth/goalie adequately, but Batherson, Norris, Giroux, Pinto, Greig, Gaudette, Gregor, Amadio, Perron. Many of those guys offer something, but none of them carry play anymore.

The only possibility to change things up is making some creative hockey trades involving some of the above players. Pinto, Greig, Bath still have value.

That's the result of not valuing drafting for high hockey IQ and vision over the past decade. You end up having a team with no quarterbacks on the ice.

 

[PlayOn]

I haven't watched the last 4 games. Maybe this means I'm tapping out. I don't know. When Benji said they won't spend to the cap next year because having no room to maneuver was extremely frustrating, it really hit home. Reading the trade proposel thread is like watching Ancient Aliens, fun for a bit because it's fantasy entertainment. This isn't a knock on people, everybody is just having fun, it does show how screwed we are though. Many are going on about Perron and Amadio....they are a symptom, not the cause. Pierre Dorion is a fck up. Combine the return for the players that were sold off at the start, piss poor trades for years after, wasted money when he was allowed to spend, shit drafting with the picks they did keep and one more first round pick walking out the door in the near future I find it stunning that anyone can say ....But Perron is bad and Staois blah blah. This team has to be 100% healthly and playing their best hockey to even be in the mix with 4-5 teams for a wildcard spot. This team can't have 1 or 2 guys have a bad night, let alone be hurt or it loses. Dorion built 1 line in 8 years....no defence, no goaletending, no prospects, no cap space. Nobody bring up Leevi, I see you coming, because that was a surprise...like Bobby Ryan back checking. Great to see, but don't plant your flag on that hill because you don't know if it will ever happen again. For those that say Dorion is in the past and move on, well the past in on the ice, it's a first rounder given away, it's no depth, it's no cap space, it's a mess. I get so angry watching games I want to chew my own face off. When they play well, the margin for error is so incredibly small, you know in your gut that it's not sustainable....even if hope skyrockets for a bit. Every thing has to go perfect to make the playoffs and nothing is perfect. The team isn't insulated to not be perfect. We have 2 or 3 more years until that happens. I don't think I've ever been this irritated in a post before. Thanks for letting me rant and keep up the hope. And Bruce can fck off. Slimy colaborator douche bag.

We are basically entirely dependent on internal growth. If it goes well we could get there sooner but it’s basically like twiddling your thumbs and hoping for the best.

Otherwise you’re right, it’s hard to see a path to fixing the depth and cap issues in the next year or even two.

 

[Yak]

You know I wanted to come in here and complain and get my frustrations out. Slam my fists and call some players out. That's too easy. Just like every other year.

This team is not where it needs to be to go deep in the playoffs.

Making the playoffs will require a lot of luck.

I think we all can agree that unless somebody chokes we would get bounced in the first round. Pretty easy.

Yes, our fragile egos need some playoffs to build confidence for the fans. The players, well they either got it or they don't.

I see what's happening on the ice and there is a real loss of swagger on this team. Very fragile mental makeup. We know the players can play better than they are but other teams are stepping up and shutting them down.

Do these players have another gear. Are they motivated enough to push it. I like our first two lines and honestly I am not crazy about our bottom six.

Defense needs work but I will admit it has been better than it has been in the years before. The loss of hammer will be hard to get over but I think it'll be a good thing for everyone...lol .. including Coach green who keeps putting him out and he shouldn't be.

I realize we want the playoffs. These guys have to want the playoffs though and we are not seeing a team that is hungry to do anything they need to to win. It's like they're expecting somebody else on the team to do it for them. Everyone's looking to everyone else to stand up and do something. They all need to look in the mirror and come out and make a difference every game. They're not doing that. There's a lot of passengers right now. Captain Brady needs to come back and slam some heads. His own teammates heads. This team was playing bad before the break and playing bad after the break. Let's call Levis Up for a couple of games and make the boys play tighter hockey for him. Sit Ullmark For a game as an example. Just to tell him he's not doing his job. He knows he's not doing his job but he keeps playing crappy anyways. Everybody needs a little wake up. Call here and to grow up and fight tooth and nail.

I honestly don't care if we make the playoffs because we're going to get bounced. But I do care about is that this team is fighting tooth and nail to get into the playoffs. I don't see that right now. That's the experience that we need the most. These guys came close a few years and this year it's going to be the closest ever and they need to play like it and they're not.

We need to make a little wake up Call here!

 

[TheNewEra]

Call it delusion but im not worried yet, we have a favorable schedule with some important games coming up

Sharks
Capitals
Blackhawks
Rangers
Redwings

The sharks and blackhawks games should be wins. The rangers and redwings games are four point games where ideally we take both. We have a couple of days before the sharks game so hopefully the trio of brady/norris/pinto are back. Now if the next 5 games go poorly then we need to have a different conversation.

 

[lancepitlick]

That's the result of not valuing drafting for high hockey IQ and vision over the past decade. You end up having a team with no quarterbacks on the ice.

Team speed in the forwards also seems straight up bad.

We are basically entirely dependent on internal growth. If it goes well we could get there sooner but it’s basically like twiddling your thumbs and hoping for the best.

Otherwise you’re right, it’s hard to see a path to fixing the depth and cap issues in the next year or even two.

I think there is still wriggle room to make some hockey trades, but it's going to be tough to pull off and improve.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[PlayOn]

Team speed in the forwards also seems straight up bad.


I think there is still wriggle room to make some hockey trades, but it's going to be tough to pull off and improve.

If they won’t improve, is there a point?

You can trade Norris for depth, but then I question if we’re really that much better off, especially in the event of a Pinto injury.

I don’t think Pinto is someone we should look to move, right shot centres like him don’t grow on trees. Greig you could move, just not sure he’ll get you a ton in return. And while I get the frustrations with Batherson’s struggles of late, I am not sure he’s a piece we can move unless it’s for another right shot winger. Giroux and Perron are close to ageing out, and we have no legit right shot forwards in our system coming up.

Staios can make deals, just not entirely sure they would be good ones.

 

[Icelevel]

Team being moved to Quebec. Obviously