Your fourth line is supposed to be an alternate 3rd line in today's NHL anyways. I'd prefer to build a 4th line with players that are the fastest on the team but don't have the skill to be in your top 6 but do nothing but forecheck, forecheck, forecheck and try to hem the other team's line in their own zone and wear out the D, since that's how you win in the playoffs.
- DariusKnight

If your fourth line had the ability to do that...they would be in the top six

Took steps backwards. You would think once you built your new "core" that you would add to it. Instead they gave the spots to a bunch of younger inexperienced kids and aren't doing very well.
- manvanfan

I doubt they regret letting Gagner walk. Hartnell maybe.




Karlsson...I don't anyone saw that coming, but ouch. But he was just a role player for them.

The fancy stats showed that they overachieved last year.

I know I don't blame the Sedins for wanting anything I blame both Benning and Linden
- VANTEL

Same

I think Jake will be an excellent line-mate for EP when he hits the league. He may lack a bit n hockey sense, but his shot, speed, and physicality will be a good asset to EP.
Would allo us to keep Bo/Brock together as well.
- Retinalz

Yeah I think he is still young and still afraid a bit. As he gets older stronger and hopefully smarter he will grow into a second line player.

We have been saying for awhile that this rebuild will not start until the twins are done. This is what happens when a franchise thinks it owes something to employee's. I work for a billion dollar company, and they often treat us like poop while telling how thankful we should be.
- Retinalz

I find this notion funny. The team still finishes bottom 5 with them, and I think they are a big part of the reason only 1 player from the past 3 drafts has made their NHL debut.

Without them, I think the team does something stupid like trade or signs veterans and/or rushed some of these prospects into the lineup too early. Some may disagree and think they have a greater impact, but IMO they are placeholders and everyone, including the players, knows it

I find this notion funny. The team still finishes bottom 5 with them, and I think they are a big part of the reason only 1 player from the past 3 drafts has made their NHL debut.

Without them, I think the team does something stupid like trade or signs veterans and/or rushed some of these prospects into the lineup too early. Some may disagree and think they have a greater impact, but IMO they are placeholders and everyone, including the players, knows it
- WhiteLie

I'm fine with placeholders, I just don't like placeholders who get 70% o-zone starts. Those are prime minutes to ease youth into the NHL with. Hell, it's what AV did with Hodgson.

I'm fine with placeholders, I just don't like placeholders who get 70% o-zone starts. Those are prime minutes to ease youth into the NHL with. Hell, it's what AV did with Hodgson.
- Nucker101

Place holders should not also have full NMC and be unseperable

Place holders should not also have full NMC and be unseperable
- VANTEL

this too

I guess you are only allowed to build parts of a team one at a time. No wonder rebuilds take so long.
- manvanfan

if you could predict how long it will take, how effective players will be by that time, and how much they will cost, then sure you can build them all at the same time!

If your fourth line had the ability to do that...they would be in the top six
- Bullfrog77

On a bad team yeah, see Vegas, most bottom six forwards on good to great teams with the right team/TOI/motivation can be top six. If you're a contender, chances are you've stocked your cupboards so full that your bottom six could conceivably play as your top six and be somewhat productive in the role. See Nashville last year when Fisher and Johannsen went down, Colton Sissons who at the time was their 3rd line center got the 1st line spot and basically led them to the final. That's depth, and that's what you should have on your fourth line, players that given the opportunity/TOI could be just as productive as your normal top six. If not, then you aren't contending.

I'm fine with placeholders, I just don't like placeholders who get 70% o-zone starts. Those are prime minutes to ease youth into the NHL with. Hell, it's what AV did with Hodgson.
- Nucker101

Agreed and I would expect an influx of new talent to dilute that. I assume Green is cautious to not overtax Horvat, and then has Sutter/Dowd who are offensively challenged. But if a offensive center arrives like Pettersson, I hope we could see him take a bit out of those starts, similar to Hodgson

Agreed and I would expect an influx of new talent to dilute that. I assume Green is cautious to not overtax Horvat, and then has Sutter/Dowd who are offensively challenged. But if a offensive center arrives like Pettersson, I hope we could see him take a bit out of those starts, similar to Hodgson
- WhiteLie

http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...iers-ahead-trade-deadline

Bergevin and Chiarelli get a failing grade

Tkachuk all day ling if hes there and we cant pick dahlin. Stop over thinking round 1. Guy is a beast

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/22466150/nhl-weekly-reader-ranking-all-31-general-managers-tiers-ahead-trade-deadline

Bergevin and Chiarelli get a failing grade
- LeftCoaster

"Garth Snow: A category unto himself"

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/22466150/nhl-weekly-reader-ranking-all-31-general-managers-tiers-ahead-trade-deadline

Bergevin and Chiarelli get a failing grade
- LeftCoaster

The Benning re-signing is a good example of the Misunderstood group. Some people see his work with the Canucks as ineffective and discouraging, because he signed Loui Eriksson that one time. Others see him having undone the mistakes of the previous regime while loading up the rebuild. Someone is misunderstanding "the plan" here, as it were.

In the same category as Hextall. 😆 Lefty.

You can


- Nucker101

The Benning re-signing is a good example of the Misunderstood group. Some people see his work with the Canucks as ineffective and discouraging, because he signed Loui Eriksson that one time. Others see him having undone the mistakes of the previous regime while loading up the rebuild. Someone is misunderstanding "the plan" here, as it were.

In the same category as Hextall. 😆 Lefty.
- manvanfan

You've really taken over the pom pom mantle, I'm sure Don appreciates it

You've really taken over the pom pom mantle, I'm sure Don appreciates it
- belcherbd

Yes


or you go out and some sign 1 or 2 of them during the summer.


or you stockpile enough draft picks/prospects that you just end up with a deep team just by building from within, like Tampa.



Or you trade away picks/prospects to bring in "foundational" role players first and then rebuild and then wonder why your prospect pool has glaring weaknesses later. The funnest option.
- Nucker101

Like you said, 26th overall vs 6th is a huge difference.

Forwards drafted after Virtanen:
Nylander
Ehlers
Ritchie
Fiala
Perlini

All have more career points than Jake

Forwards drafted after Gaunce:
Samuelsson
Matteau
Pearson
Moroz
Collberg

Only Pearson(by far the best pick out of that bunch) has more career points than Gaunce.


Again, this is about more than Jake. The team is being built ass backwards. They're catering to 37 year old vets, spending assets/money on locking up foundational 3rd liners, foundational bottom pairing dmen instead of focusing on the draft and trying to build a strong future core. This team should have used way more draft picks since the 2014 draft.
- Nucker101

Glad to see you're teachin the lads.

I guess you are only allowed to build parts of a team one at a time. No wonder rebuilds take so long.
- manvanfan

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/22466150/nhl-weekly-reader-ranking-all-31-general-managers-tiers-ahead-trade-deadline

Bergevin and Chiarelli get a failing grade
- LeftCoaster

That's about right.

"Garth Snow: A category unto himself"
- WhiteLie

You've really taken over the pom pom mantle, I'm sure Don appreciates it
- belcherbd