Very interesting take. I do not think it will be very popular, but it's certainly honest.

I don't think Ghost should be scratched for more than one or at most a couple of games at a time. Even if he's the worst coverage dman on the team as Bill said on twitter, he offers offensive ability no one else on defense does, especially at 5 on 4 and 3 on 3. After the OT debacle against the Kings it should have been an easy move to put Ghost at LD and Streit and RD on the third pairing last night. Unless the order to play Schultz came from Hextall, sending Schultz-Streit out there against the Blues to get dominated can't be defended.
- Feanor

Pretty much. It's not like there isn't room for Ghost on the roster at the moment. In fact, after Manning's impressive start, he's come back down to earth and I would put him on the same level as Schultz if changes are really needed. We need awareness from our coach, not questionable stances on questionable decisions. Going from Saturday's roster to Monday's roster was a clear error everyone could see except for him.

Top talent is important. However, with both the Hawks and Pens they both continued to draft well and add key players via trade and FA. I think you have many options in terms of building a team. For every Pittsburgh there is a Detroit Red Wings.

Just draft well and maximize your assets. That gives you the best chance of winning in this league. Both the Hawks and Pens have done that for ten years now.
- mickel25

The Hawks have also had to move how many quality players because of the salary cap?

The Hawks have also had to move how many quality players because of the salary cap?
- MJL

Agreed. If they did not have such a great pipeline through the draft and key trades/FA signings they would not have been able to do what they have done.

I think you're misunderstanding my tanking view. I'm not saying the team needs to become the worst in hockey in order to secure the best odds. I'm saying the team should look to trade some of its best players for future assets. They'll have the future assets and the added benefit of a higher draft pick.

There are multiple ways to build a contender, but the most effective method is by stockpiling at least a 2-3 top 5 picks.

Yes, some good players get drafted in the middle of the first round or even the 2nd round, but lots of bad players get drafted there too. The difference between 91 points and 80 points is 5 wins and an OT loss. It's also potentially the difference between the 15th pick and the 5th pick. Are those 5 wins really worth that much? Would you trade 5 wins in a mediocre regular season for 10 spots on a draft board?
- PhillySportsGuy

My viewpoint is, even trading Simmonds right now, I doubt you're getting a top 5 can't miss prospect with high potential. I'm all for Hextall acquiring more picks/assets in attempt to move up the draft. He doesn't need to trade his best players to do that.

Schenn has 111 Points at even strength over the last 295 games.
Coots has 103 even strength points over 265 games (injuries).

Is Coots a 2c?

Dammit! I only hope that Issac might be inaccurate here.
- MJL

Pannacio reporting 4-6 wks ankle and knee injury

The Hawks have also had to move how many quality players because of the salary cap?
- MJL

I think the cap is where Hextall will help this team most. He has a good feel for what an appropriate contract is.

Agreed. If they did not have such a great pipeline through the draft and key trades/FA signings they would not have been able to do what they have done.
- mickel25

Don't forget the college ufa and overseas ufa talent the top teams acquire because these players want to play with other stars in large markets. Its not always a level playing field

Don't forget the college ufa and overseas ufa talent the top teams acquire because these players want to play with other stars in large markets. Its not always a level playing field
- Just5

Good for them. Another bonus of doing your job well.

Top talent is important. However, with both the Hawks and Pens they both continued to draft well and add key players via trade and FA. I think you have many options in terms of building a team. For every Pittsburgh there is a Detroit Red Wings.

Just draft well and maximize your assets. That gives you the best chance of winning in this league. Both the Hawks and Pens have done that for ten years now.
- mickel25

There's not. The Red Wings model is a one-off relic that was based on both getting obscenely lucky and smartly finding seemingly ageless, generational European talents in the late rounds of drafts, either due to under-scouting in Euro leagues or things like the Russian factor, which don't really exist anymore. And let's not pretend, going back a little further, like Yzerman (the franchise player) and Shanahan weren't top 4 picks.

It's not a feasible model of success today and was heavily luck based even then. Like I said, if your model of and formula for success is finding generational talents or even just superstar level talents in the late rounds of your drafts, instead of treating them as the infrequent happy accidents they are, then enjoy futility. It's really shocking that after their generational talents retired or got older that they had no one to replace them, and they've been clinging to life ever since.

Dammit! I only hope that Issac might be inaccurate here.
- MJL

The Flyers already announced it as 4-6 weeks.

I don't think "a month" is an inaccurate take on those numbers.

I think the cap is where Hextall will help this team most. He has a good feel for what an appropriate contract is.
- mickel25

I don't disagree, but how is 4 years and 2M a year for Weise looking right now, to play devil's advocate?

There's not. The Red Wings model is a one-off relic that was based on both getting obscenely lucky and smartly finding generational European talents in the late rounds of drafts, either due to under-scouting in Euro leagues or things like the Russian factor, which don't really exist anymore. And of course....miraculous luck. And let's not pretend, going back a little further, like Yzerman (the franchise player) and Shanahan weren't top 4 picks.

It's not a feasible model of success today and was heavily luck based even then. Like I said, if your model of and formula for success is finding generational talents or even just superstar level talents in the late rounds of your drafts, instead of treating them as the happy accidents they are, then enjoy futility. It's really shocking that after their generational talents retired or got older that they had no one to replace them, and they've been clinging to life ever since.
- Mononoke

blackhawks model is outdated as well

I have no problem with Hextalls plan and I dont think the Flyers need to draft inside the top 5-10 in order to win a cup

I don't disagree, but how is 4 years and 2M a year for Weise looking right now, to play devil's advocate?
- MJL

He's not playing like he did in Montreal, (more like Chicago after his trade).

The Flyers already announced it as 4-6 weeks.

I don't think "a month" is an inaccurate take on those numbers.
- Feanor

Wishful thinking.

Schenn has 111 Points at even strength over the last 295 games.
Coots has 103 even strength points over 265 games (injuries).

Is Coots a 2c?
- MikesPillBottle

The Schenn vs. Couturier debate is so played out. Both offer different things but neither is leaps and bounds better than the other. This is like the Carter vs. Richards debate where Richards always won. Thankfully there wasn't a hockeybuzz.com around when Gagne and Williams played here together. Poor Rusty and Umberger were just passengers on these buses and not even considered to be invited to these debates.

blackhawks model is outdated as well

I have no problem with Hextalls plan and I dont think the Flyers need to draft inside the top 5-10 in order to win a cup
- YuenglingJagr

In which way is the Blackhawks model outdated?

In which way is the Blackhawks model outdated?
- MJL

you cant sign players to 12 year contracts anymore

you cant sign players to 12 year contracts anymore
- YuenglingJagr

Yup. The Keith and Hossa deals were risks that really worked out for them.

you cant sign players to 12 year contracts anymore
- YuenglingJagr

That's about contract signing, not drafting and developing players, and finding players in other ways.


They've won 3 Cups in what 6 years? How many players on those teams were signed to 12 year contracts?

fire giroux

There's not. The Red Wings model is a one-off relic that was based on both getting obscenely lucky and smartly finding seemingly ageless, generational European talents in the late rounds of drafts, either due to under-scouting in Euro leagues or things like the Russian factor, which don't really exist anymore. And of course....miraculous luck. And let's not pretend, going back a little further, like Yzerman (the franchise player) and Shanahan weren't top 4 picks.

It's not a feasible model of success today and was heavily luck based even then. Like I said, if your model of and formula for success is finding generational talents or even just superstar level talents in the late rounds of your drafts, instead of treating them as the happy accidents they are, then enjoy futility. It's really shocking that after their generational talents retired or got older that they had no one to replace them, and they've been clinging to life ever since.
- Mononoke

Going back to the list you provide. 8 appearances in the finals for both the bolded and non-bolded players. Why is it even? The non-bolds are generational players.

My point is this. Yes would I rather have Crosby over Bergeron or Kopitar. Of course I would. However, I do not think you need to be terrible for 4-5 years to get good to win the Cup. Again, if you draft well, develop well and maximize your assets you will have a chance to win for an extended period of time. Same as if you pick 1-5 for a few years. Ask Edmonton if they are happy with being basically irrelevant since the last time they went to the Finals.

That's about contract signing, not drafting and developing players, and finding players in other ways.


They've won 3 Cups in what 6 years? How many players on those teams were signed to 12 year contracts?
- MJL

Hossa and Keith being signed to cap circumventing deals gave them extra cap space to afford a better roster. For a cap expert like yourself, this should be obvious.

If you use the salary from the first 8 years of each deal, Hossa's cap hit jumps from $5.275m to $7.413m and Keith's jumps from $5.538m to $7.219m. So that's an extra $3.819m in cap space per season.

I don't disagree, but how is 4 years and 2M a year for Weise looking right now, to play devil's advocate?
- MJL

Ok he's not perfect. However, if Weiss was producing like past years that contract would be appropriate. He is not so if can be questioned no doubt.

I feel overall Hextall has a good grasp on what a player is worth.

Hossa and Keith being signed to cap circumventing deals gave them extra cap space to afford a better roster. For a cap expert like yourself, this should be obvious.
- Feanor

Imagine if Keith's deal was done by the current rules.
He would be at about $8, or $9m a season.