Please list the moves Yzerman has made that are overrated.

Legitimately interested in your list
- uf1910

This is a guy who believes the Caps are the best team in hockey. Nuff said.

Well... in fairness, Yzerman has a few issues-

1) Callahan signing (blegh)
2) Girardi signing (also blegh... but shorter blegh)
3) Puzzling 1st round choices (Outside of Drouin and Vasy)

That said, he does a fine job in contract negotiations with his roster players, a good job in trades and an excellent job in post-1st round drafting (though, he isn't the sole owner of that in TB).
- OzBolts

Can't disagree on Calahan contract

Girardi is a depth signing to short term deal for minimal $

For every puzzling 1st rounder, which really is Deangelo and that's it, is a brilliant UDFA or later round gem.

This is a guy who believes the Caps are the best team in hockey. Nuff said.
- gergeswillems

(frank)ing poop man, I was really looking forward to the response and you are trying to ruin my fun. Even have the popcorn popped and ready

(frank)ing poop man, I was really looking forward to the response and you are trying to ruin my fun. Even have the popcorn popped and ready
- uf1910

I'm sure he'll still answer. He can't help himself.

James Tanner: Capitals Summer Update
- james_tanner1

Still didn't make it out of round 2.

1. the 1990-96 thing is objectively wrong. It was a decent era of music, especially because there were a lot of weird cool bands that got big and no era saw weirder bands get big label money, so I partly agree with you.

However the 1980s are objectively the BEST era for music of all time:

The Clash, REM, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Joy Division , the Cure, the Smiths, Prince, Springsteen, Madonna, Michael Jackson etc.

I don't think any era of music - including the sixties - comes close.

And Dave Grohl is not good. I too am a multi-instrumentalist so I don't know if that really matters as an argument. No one can play better than Joe Satriani and his music is terrible.
- james_tanner1

You spelled Tosin Abasi wrong.

They'll land somewhere, both those guys can contribute in depth roles.

It's a fine song, AF just doesn't do it for me.

Do you watch baseball?
- BestRapperAlive

I do, but whereas I would watch any two teams play hockey basically any time, I only watch baseball when the Jays are good.

the guy has played the most playoff games in the history of the Rangers, every game well over 20 minutes, it isn't possible he is as bad as the Corsi lovers say he is, trust me
- jimbro83

I don't know, when you compare how good McDonugh looks away from him, and you factor in the fact that no matter when he's on the ice the team gets caved in, I think just the fact he is still getting contracts is ridiculous.

Well... in fairness, Yzerman has a few issues-

1) Callahan signing (blegh)
2) Girardi signing (also blegh... but shorter blegh)
3) Puzzling 1st round choices (Outside of Drouin and Vasy)

That said, he does a fine job in contract negotiations with his roster players, a good job in trades and an excellent job in post-1st round drafting (though, he isn't the sole owner of that in TB).
- OzBolts

You could add in that he probably should have traded Stamkos rather than sign him to that contract, which isn't going to age well. Also, giving Tyler Johnson seven years is also pretty dumb.

What are his good moves? He didn't even acquire two of his three best players. Also I still don't like the way he handed the whole Drouin thing.

This is a guy who believes the Caps are the best team in hockey. Nuff said.
- gergeswillems

They objectively were, for two straight years. Then they dominated the eventual Champions. So yeah, I do think that, as, I assume, does every person with a brain.

He's rumoured to have ghost written it - and considering it's quality vs the rest of her catalogue, that's not impossible - but there's no evidence that is true.
- james_tanner1

Blinker The Star wrote 1 of her tunes for sure, I'm sure there are more tunes she's bought or had written for her.

They objectively were, during the regular season, for two straight years. Then they dominated statistical categories that don't end up showing on the scoreboard or deciding the outcome of the game against the eventual Champions. So yeah, I do think that, as, I assume, does every person with a brain which is only a quarter functioning, as mine does.
- james_tanner1

There you go Tanner. I fixed that quote for you to make everything accurate.

Queens of the Stone Age = Greatest modern rock band

No just you. Because you're a complete moron.
- gergeswillems

We should probably all stop and take a minute to thank James Tanner for his uncanny ability to bring fans of all teams together, united in their puzzlement for the crazy things Tanner claims.

We should probably all stop and take a minute to thank James Tanner for his uncanny ability to bring fans of all teams together, united in their puzzlement for the crazy things Tanner claims.
- Kineada

He's a great troll. That's about it.

He's a great troll. That's about it.
- gergeswillems

That's the thing. I really, really want to believe he's a troll. But something keeps telling me he's not, and that he really does believe all the crazy poop he says. Either way, he's good at getting clicks for Hockeybuzz.com, so I guess he has that going for him.

That's the thing. I really, really want to believe he's a troll. But something keeps telling me he's not, and that he really does believe all the crazy poop he says. Either way, he's good at getting clicks for Hockeybuzz.com, so I guess he has that going for him.
- Kineada

Well if he really does believe the crap he spews, it only proves my point. He's a complete moron.

the guy has played the most playoff games in the history of the Rangers, every game well over 20 minutes, it isn't possible he is as bad as the Corsi lovers say he is, trust me
- jimbro83

I hope you are right. I know Rangers fans liked him a lot. And everything I have read about him gives me faith that he is a warrior and a good guy. I just worry that he is another Brenden Morrow signing. I would like nothing better than to see Girardi prove his detractors wrong. I just think a better contract would have been 1-yr at about 1-2 million per year. Two years at 3-mil seems a bit of a stretch.

Love you too Tanner

I hope you are right. I know Rangers fans liked him a lot. And everything I have read about him gives me faith that he is a warrior and a good guy. I just worry that he is another Brenden Morrow signing. I would like nothing better than to see Girardi prove his detractors wrong. I just think a better contract would have been 1-yr at about 1-2 million per year. Two years at 3-mil seems a bit of a stretch.
- GalacticStone

Yzerman brought Girardi in for leadership. He's been through the playoff wars and knows what it takes to win. He's still hungry for a Cup. Yzerman saw these guys come to Detroit and have playoff success. Guys like Dallas Drake, Chris Chelios, Larry Murphy, Jamie Macoun, Bob Rouse, to name a few. You see nerds like Tanner don't understand the intangibles in hockey because they never played the game or appreciated how much of an impact they have. I don't need a stat sheet to tell me the value of adding a player like Girardi to Tampa. He's going to be another Dave Andreychuk in the dressing room. A calming influence on the team when adversity hits. Kind of like Cullen has been for the Pens. You need glue guys to win in the playoffs. You add Girardi to the Red Wings and it won't have any impact. But a talented roster like Tampa? It's a perfect fit. He's going to play third pair minutes. His value will be in the playoffs not the regular season. Yzerman knows this. He lived it as a player. He's living it now as a GM. Adding Girardi takes some pressure off of a Stamkos and Hedman. They are still leaders but Girardi will make them better leaders.

You could add in that he probably should have traded Stamkos rather than sign him to that contract, which isn't going to age well. Also, giving Tyler Johnson seven years is also pretty dumb.

What are his good moves? He didn't even acquire two of his three best players. Also I still don't like the way he handed the whole Drouin thing.
- james_tanner1

Trading Stamkos would be akin to trading Ovechkin, but worse. Stamkos is the face of the franchise. When he's healthy, he's an elite sniper. Some think he is "injury prone" now. I don't think he is. Only time will tell. A couple of his injuries have been bad luck - like that horrible disaster in Boston. When you look at the money some forwards are making, his contract is not bad. Time will be the judge on this one.

Johnson seven years is dumb? Why? Johnson is young enough that when he finishes out the contract, he won't be an aging pylon. Truth be told, his injury history worries me a bit more than Stamkos. The cap hit is pretty solid for a quality 2C - so if term is the only issue, I can live with that. A better example would be the Killorn contract - 7 years on that one gives me a case of cramps.

Good moves? Swapping hit-man Gudas for Coburn was a solid move. Coburn has some detractors, but he is dependable and durable with no glaring weaknesses. Good 3rd pairing guy, penalty killer, and can move up to 2nd pairing if needed and play both sides.

Getting MSL out of Tampa and getting Callahan and two draft picks for him was pretty darn good, considering that MSL tied Yzerman's hands. Now, the contract he signed Callahan to is retarded - I will give you that. But that deal could have turned out much worse if Sather hadn't smoked crack right before the negotiations and forfeited his stronger position. Yzerman could have got bent over a barrel on that one and he didn't.

Signing Kucherov to a steal bridge contract. Name one GM who wouldn't kick their mother in the teeth to have Kucherov for three years at under a 5-mil cap hit? That was pure Jedi mind trickery.

Hedman - signed under market value. Arguably well under market value when you consider comparables.

Getting something for Bishop, anything at all. He was going to be gone anyway.

The Drouin situation was handled as well as it could have been. What would you have done? He packed the kid on ice until the brat came to his senses. He had a deal lined up that would have brought in Shattenkirk - which would have been a good return had Shatty not nixed the deal. The Drouin-Sergachev swap is too early to call. It might be a steal for either team.

One thing that is sometimes overlooked with Yzerman is reputation. Yzerman is well respected around the league. Many of today's stars and promising prospects grew up idolizing Yzerman and his Red Wings. The guy personifies work ethic and responsibility. Having him as GM is a factor when wooing free agents and working with prospects.

I will say this - the Yzerman era has not been perfect, but it has been arguably the best stretch of seasons the Lightning have ever had. Take out Johnson's wrist injury and Bishop's injury against the Hawks in that Final, and the Bolts would have another Cup - and this discussion would be moot.

They objectively were, for two straight years. Then they dominated the eventual Champions. So yeah, I do think that, as, I assume, does every person with a brain.
- james_tanner1

So anyone who doesn't think the Caps were the best team is stupid? So much for your claims of being open minded.



James, if you ever actually put the stat spreadsheets down and learn to actually understand the game, then you'll understand why Yzerman signed Girardi.

We don't have the same thing Ashe in music but I agreed with the part about rock stars. Rock is dead. Jr High kids don't like rock. Not even the guys. Sad, but the way it goes.

So anyone who doesn't think the Caps were the best team is stupid? So much for your claims of being open minded.



James, if you ever actually put the stat spreadsheets down and learn to actually understand the game, then you'll understand why Yzerman signed Girardi.
- MJL

Sure he could. Then there would be no hyperbole and childish foot stomping. Without that, would any of us visit his blogs to see what sort of blowhard bullpoop he's going to say next?

We don't have the same thing Ashe in music but I agreed with the part about rock stars. Rock is dead. Jr High kids don't like rock. Not even the guys. Sad, but the way it goes.
- Larsson_fan

I don't mean rock as in the genre.......like, i'd call Madonna a rock star, but all I'm saying is that now, instead of 40 or 50 musicians that basically everyone knows, we are all fractured into little groups. This has the end result of making the most boring, inoffensive music popular on a mass scale.

For instance, Nine Inch Nails, Modest Mouse, Prince or whoever would be too weird for today's mass audiences.