building through the draft can be a bit of a crapshoot, but its the only way to go

hopefully the scouts do a great job
- Marc D

agree. i think we've got a really good crop. time will tell if most pan out. still have to keep in the hunt.

good news is we've finally got some cap space, and lots of picks, so hextall has options.

That is a great diagram but the game is played at more than 5 on 5..
- opeth_pa

not for everyone.

He had 72 points last year, had 64 this year. He has not been the same the last couple seasons, elite as he still is. He isn't 50 goal 95 point Stamkos. Hell, he would've scored 6 more points than the "overpaid" Voracek in a pro rated season. He plays the same position on the PP as Giroux, isn't an all situations player, has declined in the stats department, and we are going to spend 11-12 mil a year for 7 years and think about the consequences later?

He's awesome, but he's not highest paid player in NHL awesome to me. Maybe 3 years ago. We finally have maneuverability financially. Let's not spend it the first chance we get. Besides the fact signing him flies in the face everything Hexy has done, he has zero reason to come here, let alone for the discounted price many throw out.
- Mononoke

All of this makes sense to me and if he was 30 it wouldnt even be a thought in my head...

I just like the idea of a Stamkos at 26 coming to a team as it goes a long way to solving the biggest problem on this team for the next few years and that is scoring.

That is a great diagram but the game is played at more than 5 on 5..
- opeth_pa

Yes, but there's no better indicator for player decline than 5 on 5 play where you're playing 3 zone up and down hockey. Players routinely decline at evens but still post strong PP #s for obvious reasons. Just look at Lecavalier or any older player you can think of.

To be clear, Stamkos is still a star player. But his numbers are a tad worrisome to spend what he will command.

That is a great diagram but the game is played at more than 5 on 5..
- opeth_pa

- YuenglingJagr

Jagr, man. Not human. Just finished 1st or 2nd in p/60 in the entire league.

Isn't it alarming to anyone else that Tampa Bay isn't making moves to "work around" resigning Stamkos? They could have let Coburn walk and used the savings in him, or traded one of Johnson/Palat (good players, but not "elite" players) to get the space required, but they chose not to.
- jmatchett383

The Lightning think Kucherov is the answer to losing Stamkos.

I think they're probably right.

The Lightning think Kucherov is the answer to losing Stamkos.

I think they're probably right.
- mayorofangrytown

Is the spat with Drouhin over?

He looks pretty good too

The Lightning think Kucherov is the answer to losing Stamkos.

I think they're probably right.
- mayorofangrytown

I thought Kucherov was a winger.

All of this makes sense to me and if he was 30 it wouldnt even be a thought in my head...

I just like the idea of a Stamkos at 26 coming to a team as it goes a long way to solving the biggest problem on this team for the next few years and that is scoring.
- opeth_pa

I am not going to completely disagree with you...but I believe this is flawed thinking. I was being a bit facetious with the images I posted, but the fact is that its a proven trend and we would be paying for what Stamkos has done while getting him on the downside of his point producing career. That doesnt mean he wont be effective elsewhere either.

More importantly though. Is it proven that 1 good scorer is better than a bottom 6? Do goals count more if they are scored by the 1st line instead of the 3rd? If they Flyers focus on getting more scorers in the top 9 and on defense, the points will come. It carries much less risk than signing Stamkos and helps the entire team get better. We have enough holes to fill before we worry about upgrading each position further to take on that type of risk.

From a pure asset perspective...hey an elite player for free? cap space is an actual asset in this league, so I wouldnt say free. Youd like to think its a great way to acquire talent on your team, but trading him later could get messy and leave dead money on the cap.

He might be the most high profile UFA in a long, long time, which could mean he gets one of the biggest contracts (relative to cap space) for any UFA ever. If all that adds up to him being the highest paid player in the NHL, there is no way I want him. He is not currently the best player in the NHL and I dont think he ever will be...so no im not paying him like it

Is the spat with Drouhin over?

He looks pretty good too
- Marc D

No idea. Nothing's coming out during the playoffs. Who knows if either side is interested in continuing on together.

I'd have to say one side is still holding more than a bit of a grudge. If he isn't moved at the draft I think they continue on.

Jagr, man. Not human. Just finished 1st or 2nd in p/60 in the entire league.
- Mononoke

he has his own line

I thought Kucherov was a winger.
- jmatchett383

More in a goal scoring perspective and less of a positional situation. They think Kucherov will pick up the goal scoring deficit among the forward group.

Besides, Cooper thinks Stammer is a winger

- YuenglingJagr

Wow. Why did they retire? Can you imagine how good they could be while on their deathbeds?!

More in a goal scoring perspective and less of a positional situation. They think Kucherov will pick up the goal scoring deficit among the forward group.

Besides, Cooper thinks Stammer is a winger
- mayorofangrytown

He may, but most "hockey people" agree that strength down the middle is paramount to success. Right now, they could play Johnson as a top-line center, but not sure if Killorn or Point will be good 2Cs.

To me, Stamkos is the "elite" player and the rest are "good/really good" players. The fact that they're not making the necessary moves to retain the elite player has me raising my eyebrows a bit.

Wow. Why did they retire? Can you imagine how good they could be while on their deathbeds?!
- Mononoke

LeBron James will be putting up roughly 60,000 points at the age of 55, but will have to be carried off of the court due to penis cramps on a nightly basis.

Wow. Why did they retire? Can you imagine how good they could be while on their deathbeds?!
- Mononoke

Jordan was terrible from 34-37

He may, but most "hockey people" agree that strength down the middle is paramount to success. Right now, they could play Johnson as a top-line center, but not sure if Killorn or Point will be good 2Cs.

To me, Stamkos is the "elite" player and the rest are "good/really good" players. The fact that they're not making the necessary moves to retain the elite player has me raising my eyebrows a bit.
- jmatchett383

I think the injuries, the decline in production combined with the length and cash value of the contract makes signing Stamkos a huge risk. The fact that he's going to want an 8th year from Tampa (presumably) makes it all that much more difficult to sign off on.

I have no doubt they want him back but I think this isn't just Stamkos, it's also Union/CBA driven.

Jordan was terrible from 34-37
- YuenglingJagr

It's almost like he just took off for a few years.

I think the injuries, the decline in production combined with the length and cash value of the contract makes signing Stamkos a huge risk. The fact that he's going to want an 8th year from Tampa (presumably) makes it all that much more difficult to sign off on.

I have no doubt they want him back but I think this isn't just Stamkos, it's also Union/CBA driven.
- mayorofangrytown

If that's the case, then I don't get why the Flyers, or any team with a bonafide 1C, would want to add him for the $$ he wants.

Jordan was terrible from 34-37
- YuenglingJagr

I may not be #fancyfeast, but that graph is going up and up means good.

Those 3 years can be explained away by Space Jam I believe.

Isn't it alarming to anyone else that Tampa Bay isn't making moves to "work around" resigning Stamkos? They could have let Coburn walk and used the savings in him, or traded one of Johnson/Palat (good players, but not "elite" players) to get the space required, but they chose not to.
- jmatchett383

I'm sure they have had conversations about an extension, I'm sure a number has been thrown around, and I'm definitely sure Tampa feels that the number is too high because when Stamkos hits the open market Toronto is going to throw everything plus the kitchen sink to get him. So if you're Tampa, you look at your team. You look at guys like Johnson, Kucherov, Hedman, Bishop, and Drouin and go maybe Stamkos isn't worth the 11 million dollars that could be used to add smaller pieces and retain the guys listed above.

The economy of the NHL is shifting. The philosophy of managing an NHL team is shifting as well. ELCs have become even more vital and important in the last couple of seasons and only will become more integral to running a successful franchise.

If that's the case, then I don't get why the Flyers, or any team with a bonafide 1C, would want to add him for the $$ he wants.
- jmatchett383

because some GMs know they wont be around long enough to deal with a 33 year old stamkos

It's almost like he just took off for a few years.
- jmatchett383

kinda looks like kobe took off for a few years when he turned 34 too