For a team that wants to compete for a Cup that is a recipe for missing the Playoffs. If Hossa has to come to the rink every day and play with Panik and Kruger, he'll probably just say I'm too old for this _____ and retire like Murtaugh.
- James_Tanner

I think this is hossas last year. unless you think he's playing for fora million next year dude

Good analysis, thanks.

James,

You should pass your analysis on Marcus Kruger on to Joel Quenneville, Scotty Bowman and the Swedish Ice Hockey association—which placed Kruger on the national team that won a silver in the 2014 Olympics and this year's WC team.

It will be very illuminating to them.
- John Jaeckel

Everyone here in sweden knows that the people picking the players for the team back in 2014 were big nightmare on elm street fans

James,

You should pass your analysis on Marcus Kruger on to Joel Quenneville, Scotty Bowman and the Swedish Ice Hockey association—which placed Kruger on the national team that won a silver in the 2014 Olympics and this year's WC team.

It will be very illuminating to them.
- John Jaeckel

Regardless of whether people have a good record or not, that should not render them immune from criticism where appropriate. Don't forget that this is the same Swedish hockey association that inexplicably left Hedman at home for the Olympics.

Using other people's opinion to support your opinion does not make it a fact...

3C will go to Girgensons/Larsson, not Reinhart. Reino's being used on RW next to Eichel.

this blog is so bad I am actually bleeding after reading it

Regardless of whether people have a good record or not, that should not render them immune from criticism where appropriate. Don't forget that this is the same Swedish hockey association that inexplicably left Hedman at home for the Olympics.

Using other people's opinion to support your opinion does not make it a fact...
- lumlums

Pretty sure Sweden also benched OEL in that tournament. At the time many people said "If OEL is really among the best player in the world, Tanner, then why did Sweden leave him off?"

Whose laughing now? He's unanimously considered a top 5 defenseman, just like I said all along.

3C will go to Girgensons/Larsson, not Reinhart. Reino's being used on RW next to Eichel.
- Berfaller

But is that a good idea? You should be able to get close to the same production by putting anyone with Eichel and then you're free to give Reinhart his own line. I think there's way more upside in doing that.

Pretty sure Sweden also benched OEL in that tournament. At the time many people said "If OEL is really among the best player in the world, Tanner, then why did Sweden leave him off?"

Whose laughing now? He's unanimously considered a top 5 defenseman, just like I said all along.
- James_Tanner

Yup. I'd arguably put him, Hedman and Karlsson as the best three.

this blog is so bad I am actually bleeding after reading it
- jimbro83

I felt the same way that one time you stopped trying to troll and attempted to make a real point.

Curious where you'd rank Cody Eakin, for a third line guy I think he's underrated, and he gets plugged into the top line occasionally. Between Faksa and Eakin the Stars are pretty deep at 3c, then again they're deep at forwards overall.

Good analysis, thanks.
- powerhouse

No sir, thank you.

Curious where you'd rank Cody Eakin, for a third line guy I think he's underrated, and he gets plugged into the top line occasionally. Between Faksa and Eakin the Stars are pretty deep at 3c, then again they're deep at forwards overall.
- tootooisapunk

I think Faksa is better. I think Eakin would probably be in bottom end of OK or near the best of the bad.

James,

You should pass your analysis on Marcus Kruger on to Joel Quenneville, Scotty Bowman and the Swedish Ice Hockey association—which placed Kruger on the national team that won a silver in the 2014 Olympics and this year's WC team.

It will be very illuminating to them.
- John Jaeckel

Coming from the writer who listed Toews as the #1 center in the NHL

Coming from the writer who listed Toews as the #1 center in the NHL
- mw630

I do think that some guys can get a bad rap in a rating system like this - no one is perfect and there are probably better ways to evaluate a group of players.

That being said, at worst, an exercise like this is still valuable because a) you get to explore and learn about the world of depth players b) you get to get a sense of which teams have a lot of depth c) you get a sense of which teams need to improve their depth to win a Cup.

I think that since Hayes is 24, what you see is probably what you get. It is entirely possible that Hayes is an anomaly and somehow gets better as he ages Jose Bautista style.

However, if the Rangers think of themselves as Contenderse, which I am sure they do, they clearly need an upgrade at that position because, even in a best-case scenario, Hayes isn't moving into the Hertl/Bonino realm.

That being said, maybe he could be an elite 4th-line C and give his team a huge depth advantage by moving down the lineup.
- James_Tanner

Im the first to say Hayes is VERY frustrating, BUT what he showed in his first season, along w/ his skill set and size, I don't see why he can't be a dominant force in NHL. Gotta give him the benefit of the doubt this season. If he doesn't get his head out of his arse this year, then Im w/ ya. Don't agree that it would be an annomily for him to have a break out season. Just think he needs to get his head out of the bong

He doesn't score and he allows a ton of scoring against. What exactly is there to recommend about this player?

He had four points last season. Four. And his defense is not good either. Even at $3 million his cap-hit is horrible.
- James_Tanner

James,

I have watched him play regularly since 2009, when Scotty Bowman recommended him to the Hawks, based on Detroit's scouting.

You've probably seen him play, what, five times and on tv?

Take a look at the % of starts in the defensive zone, the quality of his linemates, defensive assignments, faceoff%, PK time (and how good the Chicago PK is with—and without—him) and . . . the two rings.

You can pronounce what you like based on some selective data points taken somewhat out of context.

But 2 Hall of Fame coaches (for starters), who know him and his ability a whole lot better than you do, apparently don't subscribe to the same theories. Sorry.

Coming from the writer who listed Toews as the #1 center in the NHL
- mw630

Selke
Smythe
Top FO guy in the league
3 Cups
2 Olympic Golds
About 70 points a year, on top of the defense (a big part of a center's job)

So yeah, could be.

Regardless of whether people have a good record or not, that should not render them immune from criticism where appropriate. Don't forget that this is the same Swedish hockey association that inexplicably left Hedman at home for the Olympics.

Using other people's opinion to support your opinion does not make it a fact...
- lumlums

True, fair point.

But using data points selectively, worse still making declarations based entirely on those data points, leads to some silly conclusions. Not just this one.

How come "stat junkies" always have selective choices?

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has never played 3rd line minutes...always been on the 4th (spare) line for the 2 years he has been in the league while being used on the PK.

Christian Dvorak...interesting choice since he has 0 NHL games, but I guess your selections are based off "what you expect".
- Glak18

Another player I would love to have on my team who doesn't pass the "points" test.

For a team that wants to compete for a Cup that is a recipe for missing the Playoffs. If Hossa has to come to the rink every day and play with Panik and Kruger, he'll probably just say I'm too old for this _____ and retire like Murtaugh.
- James_Tanner

James,

Did you know Hossa's best season points-wise in the last 6 or 7 (77P/81G) was playing a lot on . . . Kruger's RW? 2010-11. You can look that up.

BUT, that WAS with a better quality LW than Panik, who some Hawk fans are way out over their skis on at this point.

well kruger had a bad season. there was some cap issues and he got off to a late start in camp and never really found his role. I think he can be the 3rd c if they line him up with hossa and panik. we will see. I think kruger deserves 1 more shot
- creek

Kruger was hurt the last half of the season, missed 30 games or so, came into camp late, so yeah.

But he is also asked to be an entirely defensive player, which he does without complaining. Anyone confused about that and how well he does it should go back and re-watch the 2015 WCF.

And yes, he does have some under appreciated offensive ability. Not a ton, but some.

Selke
Smythe
Top FO guy in the league
3 Cups
2 Olympic Golds
About 70 points a year, on top of the defense (a big part of a center's job)

So yeah, could be.
- John Jaeckel

Smyth
2x Hart
2x cup
2x gold medal
2x art ross
3x Ted Lindsay
Rocket Richard

And didn't do it with future hall of famer Marian Hossa and Saad on his line for the majority of the time. Toews is a very good center who has had a better upper management surround him with more talent top to bottom. He was exposed this year with Saad gone and Hossa limited. Either youre smarter than every writer who was on that survey, or you see toews through red tinted glasses because he's a fringe top 5 center. Let's not forget Kunitz is 3x Stanley cup winner and an Olympic gold medalist and no one would argue he's top 5 lw in the NHL.

Smyth
2x Hart
2x cup
2x gold medal
2x art ross
3x Ted Lindsay
Rocket Richard

And didn't do it with future hall of famer Marian Hossa and Saad on his line for the majority of the time. Toews is a very good center who has had a better upper management surround him with more talent top to bottom. He was exposed this year with Saad gone and Hossa limited. Either youre smarter than every writer who was on that survey, or you see toews through red tinted glasses because he's a fringe top 5 center. Let's not forget Kunitz is 3x Stanley cup winner and an Olympic gold medalist and no one would argue he's top 5 lw in the NHL.
- mw630

Hockey is a team game.

I think Faksa is better. I think Eakin would probably be in bottom end of OK or near the best of the bad.
- James_Tanner

Definitely think Faksa is better defensively, and he should get better. Eakin will probably always be the better scorer, hence his ability to be used on higher lines.