True and part of the problem with pro sports now.

Analytics obviously have a place in sports, but they've kind of taken over--especially baseball with sabermetrics. Now teams are built almost entirely on numbers. It takes the "gut" feeling out.

There was a really cool discussion about how the "big personality" manager in baseball is kind of dying out because they're no longer really running the team. The front office runs it and tells the manager what to do based on numbers. Gone are the days of having a hunch and laying down a bunt--now you need to call up to the clubhouse and have some nerd give you every obscure statistic and percentage of how the bunt has/hasn't worked in that particular situation.
- Hank3Henshaw

Yeah, it's because you can use math to figure out how to win. Gut feelings and irrationality is bs, especially when so much money on the line for every team every year. Analytics are the progression of the game and currently the most important innovation. Those who ignore it are going to be left behind.

Q's team won the WHL championship. Provorov

Q's team won the WHL championship. Provorov
- smellmyfinger

I can't wait to see how Brandon and London stack up !

I can't wait to see how Brandon and London stack up !
- blizzzard

Max Jones still suspended?

Max Jones still suspended?
- smellmyfinger

I'm not sure but even without him marner,tkachuk and Dvorak have been enough plus they have that Finnish defence man.

I'm not sure but even without him marner,tkachuk and Dvorak have been enough plus they have that Finnish defence man.
- blizzzard

Juolvei, and don't forget about Marner.

You're better off trading with Edmonton for Yak. He's available cheaply. If you're gonna spend a second rounder you need to get someone decent like Hall. You might need to throw in Merrill.
- Queenie_5_hole

Hall is an Elite forward. You'd have to throw in Larssen and a 1st and probably more to get Hall. Merrill has the same trade value as a skate sharpener.

Hall is an Elite forward. You'd have to throw in Larssen and a 1st and probably more to get Hall. Merrill has the same trade value as a skate sharpener.
- bballboy514

You mean a 2nd and Merrill doesn't get you a top line winger? What has this league come to?

You mean a 2nd and Merrill doesn't get you a top line winger? What has this league come to?
- smellmyfinger

Every trade scenerio i keep seeing on here involves Merrill as if he has the value to be traded for the ELITE players. Pretty comical. Teams don't want Merrill, they want Larssen and to a lesser extent Severson..plus a lot more.

Every trade scenerio i keep seeing on here involves Merrill as if he has the value to be traded for the ELITE players. Pretty comical. Teams don't want Merrill, they want Larssen and to a lesser extent Severson..plus a lot more.
- bballboy514

It's true. Along with the fact that I'm not all hyped up about trading away a defenseman like Severson. We are nowhere near as deep on defense as some fans make us out to be. Greene is in his 30's now, Larsson is good, Severson is good. Moore is a decent, young top 6 guy. Santini and Jacobs still haven't proven anything. I don't get where the perception that we are stacked enough to start dealing away defenseman comes from. Add through the draft and free agency.

It's true. Along with the fact that I'm not all hyped up about trading away a defenseman like Severson. We are nowhere near as deep on defense as some fans make us out to be. Greene is in his 30's now, Larsson is good, Severson is good. Moore is a decent, young top 6 guy. Santini and Jacobs still haven't proven anything. I don't get where the perception that we are stacked enough to start dealing away defenseman comes from. Add through the draft and free agency.
- smellmyfinger

I'd even go as far as to say one of our biggest needs is an offensive defenseman. We were last in the league in goals and shots on goal, dead last. Our defense contributed very little this year offensively. The way to get more goals is to get the D men involved shooting the puck and stuffing in rebound goals around the net and keeping the defense moving. I don't think trading away our developing D men will help this cause. We need upgrades at Center, a top six RW, and a puck moving and offensive minded defenseman, and not someone like Schlemko, a real offensive defenseman such as Demers, Goligoski, Yandle etc. In a perfect world with this current roster you would have Kalinin and Josefson and a big RW on the 4th line allowing them to chip in a little offense while still being a big line to eat up minutes. Three scoring lines, legit scoring lines, should be the plan this year. It is pretty pathetic how terrible the Devils offense was this season. Hopefully Ray has some tricks up his sleeve to bring in a few guys to help the cause that won't cost more than its worth.

It's true. Along with the fact that I'm not all hyped up about trading away a defenseman like Severson. We are nowhere near as deep on defense as some fans make us out to be. Greene is in his 30's now, Larsson is good, Severson is good. Moore is a decent, young top 6 guy. Santini and Jacobs still haven't proven anything. I don't get where the perception that we are stacked enough to start dealing away defenseman comes from. Add through the draft and free agency.
- smellmyfinger

Take Logan Stanley in the 2nd round after we take Brown

or Samuel Girard/David Q

Take Logan Stanley in the 2nd round after we take Brown
- Senor_Elias

Tyler Benson is a 2nd rounder I'd like to see fall to us as well.

I'd even go as far as to say one of our biggest needs is an offensive defenseman. We were last in the league in goals and shots on goal, dead last. Our defense contributed very little this year offensively. The way to get more goals is to get the D men involved shooting the puck and stuffing in rebound goals around the net and keeping the defense moving. I don't think trading away our developing D men will help this cause. We need upgrades at Center, a top six RW, and a puck moving and offensive minded defenseman, and not someone like Schlemko, a real offensive defenseman such as Demers, Goligoski, Yandle etc. In a perfect world with this current roster you would have Kalinin and Josefson and a big RW on the 4th line allowing them to chip in a little offense while still being a big line to eat up minutes. Three scoring lines, legit scoring lines, should be the plan this year. It is pretty pathetic how terrible the Devils offense was this season. Hopefully Ray has some tricks up his sleeve to bring in a few guys to help the cause that won't cost more than its worth.
- bballboy514

I'd like to see a Blandisi-Josefson-Kalinin 4th line given a shot. I think Blandisi would develop well into a Ryan Carter type mold. He definitely irritates opponents, he doesn't back down and has the ability to chip in some goals.

It's true. Along with the fact that I'm not all hyped up about trading away a defenseman like Severson. We are nowhere near as deep on defense as some fans make us out to be. Greene is in his 30's now, Larsson is good, Severson is good. Moore is a decent, young top 6 guy. Santini and Jacobs still haven't proven anything. I don't get where the perception that we are stacked enough to start dealing away defenseman comes from. Add through the draft and free agency.
- smellmyfinger

What are your thoughts on Moore? How'd he do last year?

The Hawks love the local products and could see them asking for Moore in a deal if it made sense for both sides.