How was Luongo the future? Is Miller now the future?
Both teams are 3 yrs out or more. I may be a homer but I much prefer Calgary's rebuild approach (ie letting guys like Colborne walk).
- FLflames34

If I have to explain it to you it's not worth my time. Lu had something like 8 years left on his contract at the time and he was an excellent goaltender. What happened after that is irrelevant. At the time Schneider was traded Lu was to be the number one, like he still is in Florida, for years to come.

Miller has nothing to do with the conversation, you're just muddling the facts.

https://mobile.twitter.co...status/749679568286547968

While I'd usually avoid paying big for a goalie, it seems that Corey Schneider might be the best goalie in the NHL, so in retrospect, getting 9th overall pick for him was a rip.
- James_Tanner

Revisionary history on a GM, Mike Gillis, who was incapable of performing the duties. He screwed over the franchise by not building a prospect system while the team was one of the best in the league. He left Benning, who's also an idiot, but can really draft, unlike Gillis, a complete mess to deal with.

In two years Benning has put some really good kids into the system.

Polak just helped his team get to the finals, give the big guy a break for a few hours
- Garnie

Polak didn't help anything. But playing him over Demelo may have cost them the Cup. So there is that.

You seriously over-value Landeskog.

Lol. Where has he been as 'Captain' this entire time? Duchene is the leader of our team.
- DutchCanSaveUs

Duchene is one of the NHL's most one-dimensional overrated players. Landeskog is an animal.

Good article, interesting points, though the critic in me isn't a fan of working backwards to get the answer you want.

That being said, I definitely agree there are times when stats could lead you astray and I think for sure you must use more than just a hero chart to make a good evaluation, so this isn't really new information to me.

But there are still biases against puck moving guys who aren't going to score enough to play top 4. When in doubt, go with the hacker like Polak. However, I believe if you gave all of Polak's ice time to Rundblad or Schultz you'd be a better team.
- James_Tanner

WTF….you just did with the Schneider trade

WTF….you just did with the Schneider trade
- LeftCoaster

No I didn't. I hated that deal the second it was made. Plus, I mean starting with a conclusion and working backwards.

i.e I don't think the player is as good as his stats suggest, lets look at a bunch of different stuff until we get a conclusion we like.

If I have to explain it to you it's not worth my time. Lu had something like 8 years left on his contract at the time and he was an excellent goaltender. What happened after that is irrelevant. At the time Schneider was traded Lu was to be the number one, like he still is in Florida, for years to come.

Miller has nothing to do with the conversation, you're just muddling the facts.
- LeftCoaster

Luongo is better in Florida than he was at any point post riot. Sounds like a good reason to trade Schneider. Then trade Lu which completely invalidates your thesis.

Polak didn't help anything. But playing him over Demelo may have cost them the Cup. So there is that.
- James_Tanner

I disagree as usual but whatever. Pitts had a better team, Polak did his thing...he's not Shea Weber but he can still hockey as much as you don't see it. He can play 6 on any team in the league and he proved it with helping the Sharks get to the finals.

Sure you could have a better top 6, but it's not as easy as you seem to believe.

No I didn't. I hated that deal the second it was made. Plus, I mean starting with a conclusion and working backwards.

i.e I don't think the player is as good as his stats suggest, lets look at a bunch of different stuff until we get a conclusion we like.
- James_Tanner

Sounds familiar

When you consider age and term, Montreal easily lost that trade, don't kid yourself... Weber is on the decline.
- laughs2907

What makes you say is on the decline? His stats are the same every year. Yeah, he had terrible playoffs, so what? And what makes you say PK can get better? I didn't see him improve in the last year and maybe even more.

It's funny that people think he is old. Nobody complained about Radulov's age, which is pretty much the same. Weber is still youger that Duncan Keith. Lindstrom was a great dman even at the end of his career.

There is no doubt in my mind that talent wise, PK is better than Weber. But what Weber will bring to the whole team is way, way superior than what PK could give. Just an example, if you want Sergachev to learn quickly, you put him to the left of WEber, not to the left of Subban.

Luongo is better in Florida than he was at any point post riot. Sounds like a good reason to trade Schneider. Then trade Lu which completely invalidates your thesis.
- FLflames34

Wrong…

Lets just agree on one thing, Mike Gillis was an idiot!!!

What makes you say is on the decline? His stats are the same every year. Yeah, he had terrible playoffs, so what? And what makes you say PK can get better? I didn't see him improve in the last year and maybe even more.

It's funny that people think he is old. Nobody complained about Radulov's age, which is pretty much the same. Weber is still youger that Duncan Keith. Lindstrom was a great dman even at the end of his career.

There is no doubt in my mind that talent wise, PK is better than Weber. But what Weber will bring to the whole team is way, way superior than what PK could give. Just an example, if you want Sergachev to learn quickly, you put him to the left of WEber, not to the left of Subban.
- doum79

I think the thing that people hate about the trade is the 10 yrs left on Webers contract. Not the player himself.

I think the thing that people hate about the trade is the 10 yrs left on Webers contract. Not the player himself.
- shack67

But when he retires early, it becomes Nashville's problem, no?

Man, you really hate Rundblad. Maybe he isn't great, but based on the numbers he puts up, I'd really like to see him get a chance playing some real minutes. There are so many players in the NHL who are bad and who get signed year after year that I just can't see why a guy who measures out as above average can't get a decent chance. A lot of it is that most teams won't even consider playing a puck mover on the bottom pairing.
- James_Tanner

He is awful, can't skate, afraid of contact, turnover machine, Would fit in great with the yotes...

But when he retires early, it becomes Nashville's problem, no?
- Russell

And it seems he still can be traded, which would not have been the case for PK if he would've stayed in Montreal (now both of them can be traded).

While I'd usually avoid paying big for a goalie, it seems that Corey Schneider might be the best goalie in the NHL, so in retrospect, getting 9th overall pick for him was a rip.
- James_Tanner

I agreed did I not? They deserved more than the 9th.

How can the leafs signing polak for 1 season be a minus??? But the yokes signing goligoski long term be a plus.....lets. It even talk about the deal to acquire dats contract only to move down 5 spots and the yotes added a second round pick?????

And the leafs signing a vet dman that they will flip into another 2nd round pick is a minus...,,hhhmmmm

Polak didn't help anything. But playing him over Demelo may have cost them the Cup. So there is that.
- James_Tanner

Yeah....Polak cost them the cup......or.....1 could say the Sharks made it to their first cup final because of Polak....but you're right....he probably cost them the cup. Had noting. To do with Crosby, malkin, Kessel or Murray.....

Yes and this is an objective fact that isn't up for argument.
- James_Tanner

Well,i really feel like arguing tday?

He is injured so much I just assumed he was an old.

Can I have my Virtanen HERO chart please?
- FLflames34

Do you even know what you're talking about? Eriksson has only had two seasons where he missed any significant time (and the last one was as a result of the concussion suffered). Other than that, he's played pretty much the entire season of 82 games in his career (6 out of 8 years). Check the facts before you spout off about something you obviously know nothing about.

Nucks are the new dumpster fire of the division. Virtanen does not look impressive. Loui is 32, twins are old and are going to be re-signed to anchor contracts so all 3 can decline together. Miller is not even a top 15 goalie anymore.

Maybe they should actually rebuild, instead of going for 9th place?
- FLflames34

Do you even watch hockey? Virtanen is going to be a beast and, if you have seen him play you would know that, for someone who is only 19 years old, the future looks fantastic.

The Sedins have confirmed they will be signing short term deals as concerns going forward - so there will not be any 'anchor' contracts the Canucks have to contend with. They have at least 2-3 good years left in the tank, possibly more.

Loui is actually 31 and is coming off one of his best years - 30 goal scorers are a rare commodity these days. Also factor in the excellent chemistry he's had with the Sedins internationally and the signing looks that much better.

The only comment which I agree with you is that Miller is no longer a top 10 goaltender. However, if you had watched any of the games (I know this seems to be a foreign concept for you apparently) goaltending has NOT been the Canucks problem.

Oh, and lastly, when the Schneider for the 9th overall deal happened, I was not impressed. Since that time, however, Horvat has proven he's going to be a stud and the deal looks pretty damn good in retrospect.

Again, check out the facts before you post.

Rundblad is underrated.... This is simply amazing.... dude, really?! He is a turnover machine. And by that I am not talking about apple or cherry. He is so scared of contact, he will cough up the biscuit even before he hears the blades of the opponent. He can't even position himself to guard against a potential forecheck for fear of getting hit.

He can shoot. I will say that. So can I if I had it on a T and time for a coffee & Danish.

Some will point to his +-. THAT was playing with Keith. Yes, that Keith; Duncan Keith. He of the three Stanley Cup titles.... two Norris Trophys.... and a Conn. Smythe. Trophy. For. The. '15 champs. (my feeble attempt at the first three of 12 days of Christmas) Oh, wait. You hate Keith. Never mind.

So keep believing. Pray the 'yotes sign him. It won't matter since the 'yotes are as close to a Stanley cup as an AHL team. On a perennial contender like the 'Hawks, he flat out sucks. On the 'yotes, who knows, maybe a #3 or #4. Enjoy.

Tanner, why the Avalanche hate? I'd say Sakic has been pretty successful during the last couple days - not signing a bunch of slugs, buying out Stuart, and signing a handful of role players to one- and two-year contracts. Not too much to complain about there.

Now, if Landeskog goes for Trouba straight up, then you have a point. But you can't count a single Hockeybuzz rumor against Sakic.

Here is an equation for bloggers and there use of advanced analytics:

Trite analysis + Facile analysis = Bad Science