The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Der Jaeger]

I am not a huge Tage Thompson fan, but I really question putting him at wing. His career success only really began when Granato put him at center. we have heard multiple times about how much better he is at center since he can use his reach. Meanwhile, Cozens has not produced for 1+ years, and we haven't even tried any extended time on the wing. So we let him fail upwards as a 1C.

Ugh, I just hate the way this roster is constructed.

I think playing center is a lot different than most people think. If I'm looking at the position, things that I'm interested in:

- hockey sense and IQ. This is first all by itself. The center must know where to support the puck, when to break structure, and when to stick to the system
- ability to transition the puck from the defensive to the offensive zone, via pass or skating
- ability to fill in for the defense as they pinch or in the defensive zone.

Wing is very structured defensively and a lot looser in the offensive zone. Playing center allowed Thompson to support where he needed to in the defensive zone without being tied to specific responsibilities. I also don't think Thompson would do well flying in as the F1 or even F2.

Conversely, I think Cozens would do really well at wing because his role in the defensive zone is defined, and he would be let loose to fly into the offensive zone as the F1 or F2 pretty habitually.

It's a lot easier to find a wing than a center, because of what I wrote above. That's why I've got no interest in moving Ostlund or Helenius.

 

[SundherDome]

Power and Joki, what could go wrong

 

[Zman5778]

I am not a huge Tage Thompson fan, but I really question putting him at wing. His career success only really began when Granato put him at center. we have heard multiple times about how much better he is at center since he can use his reach. Meanwhile, Cozens has not produced for 1+ years, and we haven't even tried any extended time on the wing. So we let him fail upwards as a 1C.

Ugh, I just hate the way this roster is constructed.

Thing is......yes, Cozens is the C to start every shift (ie, takes faceoffs)......but he and Tage seem to read each other and play off each other. Tage being a "wing" doesn't mean he's exclusively playing the wing; he's playing in the middle of the ice often enough, especially in the offensive zone.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I think playing center is a lot different than most people think. If I'm looking at the position, things that I'm interested in:

- hockey sense and IQ. This is first all by itself. The center must know where to support the puck, when to break structure, and when to stick to the system
- ability to transition the puck from the defensive to the offensive zone, via pass or skating
- ability to fill in for the defense as they pinch or in the defensive zone.

Wing is very structured defensively and a lot looser in the offensive zone. Playing center allowed Thompson to support where he needed to in the defensive zone without being tied to specific responsibilities. I also don't think Thompson would do well flying in as the F1 or even F2.

Conversely, I think Cozens would do really well at wing because his role in the defensive zone is defined, and he would be let loose to fly into the offensive zone as the F1 or F2 pretty habitually.

It's a lot easier to find a wing than a center, because of what I wrote above. That's why I've got no interest in moving Ostlund or Helenius.

So how do you feel about a Kasper for Cozens swap?

Cozens has that transition skill (#2 on your list) but probably will be a winger because he doesn’t have #1 or #3.

Kasper is probably the opposite, with #2 being his weak spot, but he really excels at 1 and 3.

Cozens is more of a scorer and is faster, probably with better vision, while Kasper is extremely smart and wins puck battles better than most at his stage. It might be a 2W vs 3C?

 

[Fjordy]

Thing is......yes, Cozens is the C to start every shift (ie, takes faceoffs)......but he and Tage seem to read each other and play off each other. Tage being a "wing" doesn't mean he's exclusively playing the wing; he's playing in the middle of the ice often enough, especially in the offensive zone.

I don't think Cozens and Tage should be on the same line at all, I don't see any chemistry there and Cozens should be playing on the wing with another top 6 C that we need to add, Imo.

 

[MagnumForce2]

Rebuild again? No way. Just hire a competent GM who will fill the holes in the roster and finish the youth movement. Also change the coaching staff almost entirely or find a new coach and coaching staff if Ruff leaves.

I an not talking a complete rebuild but acquiring age appropriate vets for the ones we move. Not just fantasyland trades.

 

[Fjordy]

I an not talking a complete rebuild but acquiring age appropriate vets for the ones we move. Not just fantasyland trades.

I was confused by the word rebuild, for me it's like a red rag to a bull.

 

[MagnumForce2]

I was confused by the word rebuild, for me it's like a red rag to a bull.

Sorry, I meant rebuild our core to some extent.

 

[Fjordy]

One of them:

Pettersson
Kadri
Trocheck
Granlund
Beniers
Lundell
Zegras
McTavish
Pinto
Hayton

 

[MagnumForce2]

Ruff’s press conference after the Kraken game spoke volumes. He was somewhat careful with his words but within his demeanor the aggravation and frustration were evident.

 

[Beerz]

So how do you feel about a Kasper for Cozens swap?

Cozens has that transition skill (#2 on your list) but probably will be a winger because he doesn’t have #1 or #3.

Kasper is probably the opposite, with #2 being his weak spot, but he really excels at 1 and 3.

Cozens is more of a scorer and is faster, probably with better vision, while Kasper is extremely smart and wins puck battles better than most at his stage. It might be a 2W vs 3C?

Not even looking at talent and projections or anything else..would be a horrible trade... trading a 23 yr old for a 20 yr old is just more of the same.. kicking can down the road... begging patience for another kid.

 

[Fjordy]

Not even looking at talent and projections or anything else..would be a horrible trade... trading a 23 yr old for a 20 yr old is just more of the same.. kicking can down the road... begging patience for another kid.

Who are we talking about?

 

[TehDoak]

This season has been very frustrating in a way because its a culmination of all the bad decisions made, both off and on the ice, over the past few years.

A few things:

1. I think the roster is an ill fit with the system that Ruff has in place. Just not suited to it at all. The rush to bring the 'nostalgia' factor in without ever considering other options or the potential fit is 100% on Adams as the GM and ownership. The fact that Ruff was essentially decided on before any interviews were done just shows this is not a serious organization.

2. The organizational choices to 'not block the kids' and offer no veteran support to the young players like Cozens, Peterka, Quinn, Power, heck even Thompson, Dahlin, and Samuelsson is having long term after effects. Not filling out the roster with replacement level veterans and to support and teach has proven to be a disaster for the long term development. We essentially traded long term growth for some cash savings and one 'fun' season where we didn't even make the playoffs.

And the most frustrating part is....I have no idea how to fix it. I'm gun shy about trading away talent....but at the same time, no talent is going to want to come here. But, you also can't move forward with the same group of players, its like they have losing PTSD.

They need to ACTUALLY fix the culture they claimed they fixed when all the players were best buddies. And that starts with actually winning. Not sort of winning, but actually accomplishing something they can build off of. Not participation trophies for missing the playoffs by a point.

And I don't know how to get there from here.

 

[Beerz]

Who are we talking about?

A Kasper for Cozens trade

 

[Fjordy]

This season has been very frustrating in a way because its a culmination of all the bad decisions made, both off and on the ice, over the past few years.

A few things:

1. I think the roster is an ill fit with the system that Ruff has in place. Just not suited to it at all. The rush to bring the 'nostalgia' factor in without ever considering other options or the potential fit is 100% on Adams as the GM and ownership. The fact that Ruff was essentially decided on before any interviews were done just shows this is not a serious organization.

2. The organizational choices to 'not block the kids' and offer no veteran support to the young players like Cozens, Peterka, Quinn, Power, heck even Thompson, Dahlin, and Samuelsson is having long term after effects. Not filling out the roster with replacement level veterans and to support and teach has proven to be a disaster for the long term development. We essentially traded long term growth for some cash savings and one 'fun' season where we didn't even make the playoffs.

And the most frustrating part is....I have no idea how to fix it. I'm gun shy about trading away talent....but at the same time, no talent is going to want to come here. But, you also can't move forward with the same group of players, its like they have losing PTSD.

They need to ACTUALLY fix the culture they claimed they fixed when all the players were best buddies. And that starts with actually winning. Not sort of winning, but actually accomplishing something they can build off of. Not participation trophies for missing the playoffs by a point.

And I don't know how to get there from here.

I don't think it's hard to fix if the owner doesn't interfere and we have a normal GM. But everything comes from Terry and everything depends on him.

What the hell is culture, it's built on winning, but what kind of winning can you talk about with this bad and young roster? Make a normal and balanced roster, add some vets, change the coaching staff, and see what happens.

A Kasper for Cozens trade

Gotcha. Apparently you were talking to Doug, who I haven't seen in years. But yeah, it seems very questionable. While Kasper has potential, we're not in that position.

 

[Der Jaeger]

So how do you feel about a Kasper for Cozens swap?

Cozens has that transition skill (#2 on your list) but probably will be a winger because he doesn’t have #1 or #3.

Kasper is probably the opposite, with #2 being his weak spot, but he really excels at 1 and 3.

Cozens is more of a scorer and is faster, probably with better vision, while Kasper is extremely smart and wins puck battles better than most at his stage. It might be a 2W vs 3C?

50/50. Kasper probably develops better as a Lundell-style center, which is a great thing for any organization to have.

But teams need players like Cozens too. Have a big, strong, fast winger who does a lot of the dirty work is a great thing to have.

I've stated why I think having Power on the roster is redundant and a waste of Power's talent and value. I'd hope Adams can move him to reinforce the center position.

 

[Fjordy]

50/50. Kasper probably develops better as a Lundell-style center, which is a great thing for any organization to have.

But teams need players like Cozens too. Have a big, strong, fast winger who does a lot of the dirty work is a great thing to have.

I've stated why I think having Power on the roster is redundant and a waste of Power's talent and value. I'd hope Adams can move him to reinforce the center position.

The problem with Kasper is is he ready for a 2C role right now? I doubt it. We have McLeod and would like him to be our 3C while Helenius and Ostlund develop and not rush them. We have Tage but we need someone between McLeod and Tage. Cozens can play on the wing with that someone. Let's say it's one of the less proven top 6 C's but with potential, change of scenery, all that stuff. Add a proven top 6 winger to that player and put Cozens on the other wing and we could have a solid second line. Just don't make a line of kids in the top 6 again.

 

[Der Jaeger]

The problem with Kasper is is he ready for a 2C role right now? I doubt it. We have McLeod and would like him to be our 3C while Helenius and Ostlund develop and not rush them. We have Tage but we need someone between McLeod and Tage. Cozens can play on the wing with that someone. Let's say it's one of the less proven top 6 C's but with potential, change of scenery, all that stuff. Add a proven top 6 winger to that player and put Cozens on the other wing and we could have a solid second line. Just don't make a line of kids in the top 6 again.

I think you can mitigate two ways:

Kulich can play center

Mix kids with veterans. No more kid lines.

 

[sabremike]

I was confused by the word rebuild, for me it's like a red rag to a bull.

 

[Fjordy]

I think you can mitigate two ways:

Kulich can play center

Mix kids with veterans. No more kid lines.

We'll see when he comes back, but we have so few vets and proven and stable guys that it's hard to do. Also, I don't want to put pressure on Kulich and give him a top 6 C role right away. But when I talked about those centers, I meant the guys on my list: Pinto, Zegras, Hayton, McTavish. Maybe one of them.

 

[Chainshot]

I am not a huge Tage Thompson fan, but I really question putting him at wing. His career success only really began when Granato put him at center. we have heard multiple times about how much better he is at center since he can use his reach. Meanwhile, Cozens has not produced for 1+ years, and we haven't even tried any extended time on the wing. So we let him fail upwards as a 1C.

Ugh, I just hate the way this roster is constructed.

Part of it seem to be to mitigate whatever Tage is playing through.

 

[Der Jaeger]

We'll see when he comes back, but we have so few vets and proven and stable guys that it's hard to do. Also, I don't want to put pressure on Kulich and give him a top 6 C role right away. But when I talked about those centers, I meant the guys on my list: Pinto, Zegras, Hayton, McTavish. Maybe one of them.

From my position, I think it could be easy to solve: move Power for a center. Power for Pettersson? Power to Detroit for some package? I don't think it should be hard.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

The front office chose to go young and cheap, and call it "not blocking kids", when they should have been spending enough to add veteran support in order to slot those kids in an appropriate role. But no, they (Pegula) didn't want to spend the cap space they had for these past 5-6 years, and hoped young players could not get overwhelmed in roles they weren't ready for, and not get used to losing, and still develop properly. Blind leading blind, fall in a hole, repeat.

 

[Fjordy]

From my position, I think it could be easy to solve: move Power for a center. Power for Pettersson? Power to Detroit for some package? I don't think it should be hard.

I'm not even sure the Canucks would trade Pettersson, but I would do it. I'm not sure Detroit is a good trade partner for us. I was thinking either we get a proven top 6 vet C or just a player in his prime, but that's tough because of the unavailability of those guys. So option number two is getting one of Zegras, Pinto, McTavish, Hayton. Put Cozens on one wing to go with that center, and on the other wing we have a proven and good top 6 wing: Ehlers, Konecny, Terry, etc. That's what I was thinking.

 

[MagnumForce2]

From my position, I think it could be easy to solve: move Power for a center. Power for Pettersson? Power to Detroit for some package? I don't think it should be hard.

Larkin… thougb Detroit wouldn’t