Not yet.

Taylor Hall was our last Franchise Players except he didn't really like this franchise...
- Queenie_5_hole

I don't exactly agree with that. He gave us every opportunity to get on track to become a contending team. Add his time in Edmonton to NJ and he was frustrated by being on bad teams. Can't blame him. Had we come out of gates like we had expected, I believe he would have signed long term.

Nico, Hughes, MB, Smith are almost untradeable... unless something amazing is presented, so you almost have to consider them franchise players.

I am excited for next year, we will finally be a young team that is focused on building from within. When Taylor was here, we were focused on building a team to suit his needs and get to the finish line in time for him to sign long term. We now have a slew of young talent that will take a step forward in their careers and develop into a team that is young and fast. Think about the young guys that are still on the upswing:
Nico, MB, Hughes, Bratt, Foote, Smith, Bahl, Janne, Andersen, Bastain...
Add in 3 1st rounders (Holtz, Lundell, Schneider)...
Add in Palms, Gusev, PK, Seversen and even Pavel as more seasoned presence and we are not far from the team we want to be!

Let this team develop. Save the money. A few smart signings in the D and a shooter on a wing, in 2 years this team could be awesome!

I don't exactly agree with that. He gave us every opportunity to get on track to become a contending team. Add his time in Edmonton to NJ and he was frustrated by being on bad teams. Can't blame him. Had we come out of gates like we had expected, I believe he would have signed long term.

Nico, Hughes, MB, Smith are almost untradeable... unless something amazing is presented, so you almost have to consider them franchise players.

I am excited for next year, we will finally be a young team that is focused on building from within. When Taylor was here, we were focused on building a team to suit his needs and get to the finish line in time for him to sign long term. We now have a slew of young talent that will take a step forward in their careers and develop into a team that is young and fast. Think about the young guys that are still on the upswing:
Nico, MB, Hughes, Bratt, Foote, Smith, Bahl, Janne, Andersen, Bastain...
Add in 3 1st rounders (Holtz, Lundell, Schneider)...
Add in Palms, Gusev, PK, Seversen and even Pavel as more seasoned presence and we are not far from the team we want to be!

Let this team develop. Save the money. A few smart signings in the D and a shooter on a wing, in 2 years this team could be awesome!
- ShoresideDevil

To say Hall didn't like NJ is just false. He clearly wanted to be on a consistent playoff team and we never got off the ground this year. poop happens, but it will be interesting to see where he ends up. He's another knee injury away from never getting a long term deal, so he's not really an option to take a short term deal with a contender. But at the same time there aren't going to be a lot of good teams who can afford what he deserves.

I don't exactly agree with that. He gave us every opportunity to get on track to become a contending team. Add his time in Edmonton to NJ and he was frustrated by being on bad teams. Can't blame him. Had we come out of gates like we had expected, I believe he would have signed long term.

Nico, Hughes, MB, Smith are almost untradeable... unless something amazing is presented, so you almost have to consider them franchise players.

I am excited for next year, we will finally be a young team that is focused on building from within. When Taylor was here, we were focused on building a team to suit his needs and get to the finish line in time for him to sign long term. We now have a slew of young talent that will take a step forward in their careers and develop into a team that is young and fast. Think about the young guys that are still on the upswing:
Nico, MB, Hughes, Bratt, Foote, Smith, Bahl, Janne, Andersen, Bastain...
Add in 3 1st rounders (Holtz, Lundell, Schneider)...
Add in Palms, Gusev, PK, Seversen and even Pavel as more seasoned presence and we are not far from the team we want to be!

Let this team develop. Save the money. A few smart signings in the D and a shooter on a wing, in 2 years this team could be awesome!
- ShoresideDevil

Who knows what is really going on in a players head or what they intend to do? All I know is Hall wasn't happy when he was traded here and didn't seem broke up about leaving. And I don't blame him because we didn't really try to build a team around him until this last offseason (and failed miserably despite what looked like a good effort). Although to be fair we did throw some effort into renting players for the one playoff drive.

None of the other guys you mentioned are franchise players. They are our core players because they are who we hope to build around but none of them are particularly productive NHL players. MB is certainly our starting goalie and I'd argue put up the best season out of all those guys. He could develops into a franchise guy.

Not yet.

Taylor Hall was our last Franchise Players except he didn't really like this franchise...
- Queenie_5_hole

Im on his side, they’re all busts.

I want Larsson back

Who knows what is really going on in a players head or what they intend to do? All I know is Hall wasn't happy when he was traded here and didn't seem broke up about leaving. And I don't blame him because we didn't really try to build a team around him until this last offseason (and failed miserably despite what looked like a good effort). Although to be fair we did throw some effort into renting players for the one playoff drive.

None of the other guys you mentioned are franchise players. They are our core players because they are who we hope to build around but none of them are particularly productive NHL players. MB is certainly our starting goalie and I'd argue put up the best season out of all those guys. He could develops into a franchise guy.
- Queenie_5_hole

I just don't define a franchise player the same as you. A franchise player, to me, is not the best on the team at this very moment, but rather a player you want to invest in long-term and build your roster around. Fitz has named each of these guys as such. You draft an 18 y/o #1 overall, with the intent of building around him, then I very much see him as franchise. I don't think we have to wait until he proves he will reach top echelon to do as much. I'll concede on Smith. But I think MB/NH/JH are all Franchise players.

Disagree with drafting a goalie..Look at goalie numbers for past 6 seasons hot and cold for all of them.... e were lucky with Marty , then trading for cory was good for a few seasons... Goaltenders are always available .We need too too much to draft another goaltener.

and HALL is not on a contending team he is on ARIZONA .... lets see where NJD and Arizona are in 3 seasons .

So you’re saying nico, Hughes and even Smith aren’t franchise players?
- shvingter88

lol, until they show otherwise, that's exactly what I'm saying. A 60pt 2-way center isn't a franchise centerpiece. Hoping Nico can be more than that, and hoping Hughes can be better than Rob Schremp! lol

Disagree with drafting a goalie..Look at goalie numbers for past 6 seasons hot and cold for all of them.... e were lucky with Marty , then trading for cory was good for a few seasons... Goaltenders are always available .We need too too much to draft another goaltener.
- thechezman

I agree.

I just don't define a franchise player the same as you. A franchise player, to me, is not the best on the team at this very moment, but rather a player you want to invest in long-term and build your roster around. Fitz has named each of these guys as such. You draft an 18 y/o #1 overall, with the intent of building around him, then I very much see him as franchise. I don't think we have to wait until he proves he will reach top echelon to do as much. I'll concede on Smith. But I think MB/NH/JH are all Franchise players.
- ShoresideDevil

To me you are describing 'core' players you want to build around. The franchise player is generally the best player.

Before, Friedman reported that our coaching candidates were down to Nas, Gallant, Lavy, Stevens, and a "mystery candidate". He's now reporting that he's hearing the "mystery candidate" is Lindy Ruff

Before, Friedman reported that our coaching candidates were down to Nas, Gallant, Lavy, Stevens, and a "mystery candidate". He's now reporting that he's hearing the "mystery candidate" is Lindy Ruff
- vlongo4419

gawsh

Before, Friedman reported that our coaching candidates were down to Nas, Gallant, Lavy, Stevens, and a "mystery candidate". He's now reporting that he's hearing the "mystery candidate" is Lindy Ruff
- vlongo4419

OH GOD NO!

Perfect fit for this dysfunctional franchise.

Now I have to pray Buffalo is stupid enough to hire him back and faster.

What happened to Lavy being a done deal?

RUFF

Since we went with unknown bad coach we're going to course correct with veteran bad coach and be a mediocre team forever.

Before, Friedman reported that our coaching candidates were down to Nas, Gallant, Lavy, Stevens, and a "mystery candidate". He's now reporting that he's hearing the "mystery candidate" is Lindy Ruff
- vlongo4419

Oh my

why didn't I think of this sooner. They're looking to see who will sign for the least amount of money. That will decide their choice. duh. .. half-joking.

Before, Friedman reported that our coaching candidates were down to Nas, Gallant, Lavy, Stevens, and a "mystery candidate". He's now reporting that he's hearing the "mystery candidate" is Lindy Ruff
- vlongo4419

Wow. Could this franchise look anymore incompetant. Just what we need, a Rags assistant to coach us. This will not end well.

why didn't I think of this sooner. They're looking to see who will sign for the least amount of money. That will decide their choice. duh. .. half-joking.
- MartysBetter88

You’re probably right

Well Friday night will either be the highlight of our hockey summer and fall, OR more DOOM.

Well Friday night will either be the highlight of our hockey summer and fall, OR more DOOM.
- redmonsters

DOOM(ED)!

Well Friday night will either be the highlight of our hockey summer and fall, OR more DOOM.
- redmonsters

I'm actually expecting it to be anticlimactic.

I'm assuming we won't win the lottery because Taylor Hall is gone and nothing good has happened this year. So we will find out if we are picking 6th thru 9th.

Even if we have teams outside the top 7 win the lottery, I don't think we will know who they are until after the play in is completed. Is that correct?

I don't think we will know if Arizona gets to keep their pick or Vancouver or where those picks will be either; but really not sure on this.

I'm actually expecting it to be anticlimactic.

I'm assuming we won't win the lottery because Taylor Hall is gone and nothing good has happened this year. So we will find out if we are picking 6th thru 9th.

Even if we have teams outside the top 7 win the lottery, I don't think we will know who they are until after the play in is completed. Is that correct?

I don't think we will know if Arizona gets to keep their pick or Vancouver or where those picks will be either; but really not sure on this.
- Queenie_5_hole

I believe that is correct. I'm just hoping everything goes swimmingly. I'd be content with 7th.

I'm actually expecting it to be anticlimactic.

I'm assuming we won't win the lottery because Taylor Hall is gone and nothing good has happened this year. So we will find out if we are picking 6th thru 9th.

Even if we have teams outside the top 7 win the lottery, I don't think we will know who they are until after the play in is completed. Is that correct?

I don't think we will know if Arizona gets to keep their pick or Vancouver or where those picks will be either; but really not sure on this.
- Queenie_5_hole

I think you are correct, we will learn nothing about the Van pick and the Zona pick we will only learn if might be a lottery pick or not, but still not if it is until the second lotto. We will find out if we win a top three pick or fall back, that is what I was referring to.