Honestly, I don't see any point in paying Clifton 3 million either, there are a lot of mistakes, although it is physical. One of Power/Byram should also leave, these are potentially three defensemen who earn almost 20 million between them.
Baseline for a vet 3D you sign as a UFA will be $3.5M at least unless (1) vet discount wanting to win a cap, or (2) some ho still want to play in the nhl and they sign under $2M but you get what you pay for.
I agree too. Clifton is overpaid but thats what it took to get him here.
Dahlin, Power and Byram is not ideal foundation because Power and Byram are still learning and we don't know what we have there. We will see what Benard-Docker brings but I think we need 3 new defensemen depending on Bernard-Docker.
Adams in year 1, 2 and 3 should have been drafting defense in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and instead had no plan. I posted Adams drafting the last 5 years and highlighted the defense he drafted. It was very thin and mostly left handed defensemen.
And now look, the defense is a mess and there is no high end defensive prospects in the pool.
All signs point to Adams not having a plan. If he doesn't fix this in the off season this team will end up in the same direction.
Non 1st round D taken usually dony fo anything at nhl level for 4-6 yrs after drafted or 3rd yr sfter signing
Well get someone cheaper than Clifton and hopefully Docker can be decent #6-#7.
Adams idiot.
New place might help JBD. See what happens
If healthy I'd want to try something like
Zucker Thompson kulich
Peterka Norris tuch
Benson McLeod Greenway
Malenstyn Krebs quinn
Switch tage and kulich if you want. If playing a team where you really want a defensive line, swap Quinn and Greenway I guess
I agree with the framework. Benson and zquinn could be exchanged or greenway on left, benson on right
Similarly you cou li d ffg clip peterllja and zucker
What was Adams doing drafting Poltapov, Kisakov and Leinonen when we have huge holes on defense? It made no sense. What kind of plan is that.
Depends on your player rating and who is best
Mateychuk and Mintuykov looks like they are going to be very good but you draft 3 forwards in the 1st round?
Along with Evans, Zellweger, Hutson and about 15 other promising defensemen they could have drafted in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.
Sure hindsight is 20/20 but whats the plan here? You draft Leinonen a goalie you don't need when Hutson, Luneau, Warren and others are still on the board.
You should br drafting every year at least when you arent certain on goalie
Adams drafted Leinonen in the 2nd round, he was predicted to go in the 3rd round and was at least 4-5 years away from being in the NHL at the time and you still have very good defensemen on the board. That made no sense.
Poltapov was selected 1st in the 2nd round so you still can get 1st round talent.
There is a very good chance Kisakov, Poltapov and Leinonen will never see the NHL. Adams is garbage.
Subjective valuing of prospects.
You are the GM, you took over 5 years ago.
Isn't the first thing you do is map out your team, your prospects, then who you will need in the draft and build a foundation? Aside from taking the best player available over need where is Adam's plan? Go look at it over 5 years. Adams is garbage who stole 5 years of our lives as a fan.
His first draft was 2020. He didnt have many picks to begin with and didn't see up his scouting. Hes been drafting D
Without making this a debate with Tim Murray at least you saw a plan. He traded a 1st for a goalie, he brought in Evander Kane, Ryan O'Reilly and Bogosian and tried to put together a roster to make the playoffs. You can see his plan.
I see a plan in Adams
Unlike Murray/Botts, he inherited more talent in the system.
He d pi es a rebuild for4 draft years 21'34 to build up prospect pool.
He starts to making moves last summer.
iirc they have had 38 reg or IT L, in 28 if them they had lead, tied. Or down 1 in the 3rd.
They are 4-8-3 in games entering tied.
You take those 8 games they lost when tied, add another 8 if them down 1 in the 3rd. Add 4 more they lost late in game ot in OT when they had plead.
Thsts 20 games. You win half in OT...tjey would be in the hunt for s WC spot