What talent was poorly identified? I will happily agree that the contract given to Seabrook was a waste (I said so the day it was signed), but that is not the reason that they are not currently competitive.

What is your definition of a star, and how many of them do you have to have on your team? You have Taylor Hall and Phil Kessel, and to a lesser degree Clayton Keller up front, and OEL and Hjalmarsson, and Gligoski, and Chychrun on the back end with two very good goalies. Define what you are talking about and I guess we can have a discussion.

Finally, I didn't mention the Leafs once in my comment. I simply laid out the reasoning for my position as outlined in the failings of the Hawks.
- Chunk

Just for starters, the Hawks gave away Panarin and Terravainen for practically nothing and they are two of the best allround players in the NHL today.

The NHL consists of about 900 players, give or take. Of these 900, maybe 100 of them have any impact on games. This is easily discernible by looking at WAR/60.

But how much difference is there really between the non-elites? Hardly anything. If you took some random AHL player, gave him the jersey of a random NHL player and put him out on the second line, no one would notice.

Do you think anyone could watch Denis Malgin and Carl Soderberg and tell who was better? There just talent is so pure at this level there just isn't much of a difference between anyone. Some, sure. But not much.
- James_Tanner

Yes, NHL scouts and coaches would know the difference. Hell even an informed fan with an eye for the game would know. You wouldn't because your too busy looking at an analytic spreadsheet instead of actually learning the game.

Again you keep talking about replacing ONE second line player with an AHL player. Sure that won't kill you if Malgin slides onto a line with Tavares and Nylander. But when you waste your entire cap on your top 2 lines, well now Malgin is playing with trash like Kyle Clifford and Freddie Gauthier, with Marincin and Sandin on defense. You can't hide that and they get killed. But then you just blame goalies.

Just for starters, the Hawks gave away Panarin and Terravainen for practically nothing and they are two of the best allround players in the NHL today.
- James_Tanner

You said the Hawks can't identify talent but Panarin was an UFA from the KHL and Terravainen was an 18th overall #1 pick shows the Hawks can identify talent
but because of cap hell they can't keep the talent.

Yes, NHL scouts and coaches would know the difference. Hell even an informed fan with an eye for the game would know. You wouldn't because your too busy looking at an analytic spreadsheet instead of actually learning the game.
- MJL

My brother-in-law used to be a scout for the Blues. While he interviewed he was asked to scout some US high school game to report on 4 or 5 guys that they were interested in. The director gave him the previous notes to add to. But the test was the director intentionally changed the name and numbers of some of the players. He said after the first 2 or 3 shifts he knew that the info provided to him had to be wrong. He called someone in scouting during the first intermission and started pointing out a bunch of inconsistencies (ie this #12 doesn't have an explosive first step, why aren't you guys looking at this #3 on D, etc...). He was hired the next day. So a scout can instantly recognize attributes among high school kids but couldn't tell the difference between Soderberg and Malgin? Haha. Too funny.

You said the Hawks can't identify talent but Panarin was an UFA from the KHL and Terravainen was an 18th overall #1 pick shows the Hawks can identify talent
but because of cap hell they can't keep the talent.
- gramps

And now crickets. Why in the world would you bring facts into this discussion, facts are not allowed in a discussion with Mr. Tanner.

This story could’ve also been called “please click this, for the love of God!”

Just awful, awful stuff. Also, Selanne is a first ballot HOFer. Kessel is a first ballot HOFer. Nothing worse than plain old inaccuracy. Richardson is an insult even to this shyte franchise and has no place in top 50 best anything.

Just for starters, the Hawks gave away Panarin and Terravainen for practically nothing and they are two of the best allround players in the NHL today.
- James_Tanner

They still drafted/signed those two players based on identifying their talent...

They still drafted/signed those two players based on identifying their talent...
- neem55

Speaking of identifying talent...look at Chayka.

Gave away Domi, Strome, DeAngelo.
Locked up Schmaltz, Dvorak and Keller to silly deals.
Thought Kessel still had game.
Ouch.

Great comment section anyway. Its so funny, The hockey writer knows nothing about the game of hockey. James, maybe you're not reading the stats right. Seriously. You are wrong about everything. Its so funny! You're the man JT

The NHL consists of about 900 players, give or take. Of these 900, maybe 100 of them have any impact on games. This is easily discernible by looking at WAR/60.

But how much difference is there really between the non-elites? Hardly anything. If you took some random AHL player, gave him the jersey of a random NHL player and put him out on the second line, no one would notice.

Do you think anyone could watch Denis Malgin and Carl Soderberg and tell who was better? There just talent is so pure at this level there just isn't much of a difference between anyone. Some, sure. But not much.
- James_Tanner

Watch. A. Game.
Your arguments are pathetic to those people who understand the game. Your stat sheet can’t define the difference between these players, so you think there is none.
Maybe right now is a good time for you to start learning about hockey. With all the the “historical” games being shown on TV you could gain an appreciation for the way the players and systems have evolved.

This story could’ve also been called “please click this, for the love of God!”

Just awful, awful stuff. Also, Selanne is a first ballot HOFer. Kessel is a first ballot HOFer. Nothing worse than plain old inaccuracy. Richardson is an insult even to this shyte franchise and has no place in top 50 best anything.
- neem55

Kessel is a first ballot hall of famer?

Listen, I still love Phil back to his days in TO, but I don't think he's a shoo-in for the hall of fame at all.

Great comment section anyway. Its so funny, The hockey writer knows nothing about the game of hockey. James, maybe you're not reading the stats right. Seriously. You are wrong about everything. Its so funny! You're the man JT
- Gomey

I mean what is more likely - I'm an idiot who knows nothing, or the comment section is filled with aggressively lonely people with social problems who constantly insult people that know better than them? I mean it's probably me........

Watch. A. Game.
Your arguments are pathetic to those people who understand the game. Your stat sheet can’t define the difference between these players, so you think there is none.
Maybe right now is a good time for you to start learning about hockey. With all the the “historical” games being shown on TV you could gain an appreciation for the way the players and systems have evolved.
- Tonybere

As a Trump supporter you do obviously hate anyone more informed than you, and you've been trained to believe that if you just say it, it's true, so I get where you're coming from. I honestly just feel sorry for you Tony, you're probably not a bad guy, you just weren't raised or educated right.

Just for starters, the Hawks gave away Panarin and Terravainen for practically nothing and they are two of the best allround players in the NHL today.
- James_Tanner

You are arguing crap cap management vs identifying talent.

Please answer my second question regarding your definition of a star and how many you need on your team. Also, does your goaltender need to be a star?

What does politics have to do with not understanding hockey?

What does politics have to do with not understanding hockey?
- Kooleus

Nothing, but if you're going to start insulting someone, it's worthwhile to mention that that person believes in some pretty awful stuff.

You are arguing crap cap management vs identifying talent.

Please answer my second question regarding your definition of a star and how many you need on your team. Also, does your goaltender need to be a star?
- Chunk

Your goalie definitely needs to be a star. In the NHL there are few successful teams that get bad goaltending.

Just look at Dallas and Arizona - bad defensive teams getting good goaltending to the point where people think they're good defensively.

The Leafs have the 28th best goaltending and everyone (who ignores advanced stats) thinks they suck.

Boston and Colorado have the best goalies in hockey this year, no coincidence where they are.


As for star players, a "star" is anyone who falls within the top 12% of WAR/60 so its fluid, but the optimal lineup would consist of as many as you can get.

As a Trump supporter you do obviously hate anyone more informed than you, and you've been trained to believe that if you just say it, it's true, so I get where you're coming from. I honestly just feel sorry for you Tony, you're probably not a bad guy, you just weren't raised or educated right.
- James_Tanner

It is amusing how wrong you can be on so many varied topics.
I am not Trump supporter, I am Canadian, not American, I do not attempt to pass my opinion off as fact, most likely growing up in the same education system as you (Ontario Public) where I was ALWAYS in the top of my class, and you don't know a damn thing about my upbringing.
Who is the one making personal attacks based on someone's opinion about hockey? You consistently make statements about other people refusing to listen or learn from other's, but that is your defining character trait. You are so confident that no one could possibly know better than you that you attack any comment, often with irrelevant points. Showing either a self-image issue or a complete lack of understanding about the subject matter.
In short, you are wrong and seem like a very dislike-able person.
Don't attack, James. Try looking in the mirror instead. You really don't know much about the game of hockey and it makes your attempts to deflect other's points very sad.

Your goalie definitely needs to be a star. In the NHL there are few successful teams that get bad goaltending.

Just look at Dallas and Arizona - bad defensive teams getting good goaltending to the point where people think they're good defensively.

The Leafs have the 28th best goaltending and everyone (who ignores advanced stats) thinks they suck.

Boston and Colorado have the best goalies in hockey this year, no coincidence where they are.


As for star players, a "star" is anyone who falls within the top 12% of WAR/60 so its fluid, but the optimal lineup would consist of as many as you can get.
- James_Tanner

So dumb. You just won't ever get it.

Your goalie definitely needs to be a star. In the NHL there are few successful teams that get bad goaltending.

Just look at Dallas and Arizona - bad defensive teams getting good goaltending to the point where people think they're good defensively.

The Leafs have the 28th best goaltending and everyone (who ignores advanced stats) thinks they suck.

Boston and Colorado have the best goalies in hockey this year, no coincidence where they are.


As for star players, a "star" is anyone who falls within the top 12% of WAR/60 so its fluid, but the optimal lineup would consist of as many as you can get.
- James_Tanner

Do you have a link to those WAR numbers? I don't think I have ever seen you use WAR in your blogs.

Do you have a link to those WAR numbers? I don't think I have ever seen you use WAR in your blogs.
- Goislanders

Right. Its always Corsi, Corsi, this guy is 52%, this guy is 44%.

Now suddenly WAR matters.

Watching the games matters too.

Your goalie definitely needs to be a star. In the NHL there are few successful teams that get bad goaltending.

Just look at Dallas and Arizona - bad defensive teams getting good goaltending to the point where people think they're good defensively.

The Leafs have the 28th best goaltending and everyone (who ignores advanced stats) thinks they suck.

Boston and Colorado have the best goalies in hockey this year, no coincidence where they are.


As for star players, a "star" is anyone who falls within the top 12% of WAR/60 so its fluid, but the optimal lineup would consist of as many as you can get.
- James_Tanner

I'm sure we could argue the chances of not only signing all of these star players under the cap, but hoping that they maintain their top 12% status.

You keep bringing up the Leafs. Not me.

As far as goaltending is concerned, please correct me if I am wrong, but you seem to be saying that there are either good goaltenders or bad ones. No above average, or ones that can do enough to get it done.

My argument is that there is not one way to do this. Teams have won the Cup with all offense, all defense, possession game, dump and chase, etc.

Watch. A. Game.
Your arguments are pathetic to those people who understand the game. Your stat sheet can’t define the difference between these players, so you think there is none.
Maybe right now is a good time for you to start learning about hockey. With all the the “historical” games being shown on TV you could gain an appreciation for the way the players and systems have evolved.
- Tonybere

Before the league shut down, the Flyers were a surging team. One of the most important factors was the addition of role players such as Pitlick, Grant and Thompson. They helped elevate the team. I wonder what took the Flyers so long since all of those players out there are the same! Just pick one. Any one.

As a Trump supporter you do obviously hate anyone more informed than you, and you've been trained to believe that if you just say it, it's true, so I get where you're coming from. I honestly just feel sorry for you Tony, you're probably not a bad guy, you just weren't raised or educated right.
- James_Tanner

The person who anyone should feel sorry for is the person who insults himself with his comments. That's what you do! You try and insult others but really you're only insulting yourself and with no self awareness whatsoever.