I agree, and if they can pay Alzner $4.625 for picking his nose, paying a decent backup $4.35 million is actually a good deal.
- winsix

If they need more cap space for some reason, they can always buy him out of that last dreadful year.

Would be good for him too, he could get a shot elsewhere in the NHL instead for cheap instead of being stuck in the AHL with his golden ball and chain.

Step 1 - build half your team from players other teams want the least
- senstroll

Man I remember that Vegas expansion draft.

I thought George McPhee was on crack because actually good players were available and he ended up selecting players like william karlsson, and it turned out that the team ended up being pretty (frank)ing good off the bat.

Fun fact, Roy came back two days later saying he didn't mean it but they traded him anyway.

And he didn't tell Molson to (frank) off, he told Ronald Corey, the team's president.

Ahh the Tremblay/Houle years.... the worse years in franchise history.

- Scabeh

Thanks for the correction, I was trying to find a photo of the event, it was priceless, except for Habs fans. I still can't understand how in the world, the team thought that trading Roy was a better option than firing Tremblay.

Thanks for the correction, I was trying to find a photo of the event, it was priceless, except for Habs fans. I still can't understand how in the world, the team thought that trading Roy was a better option than firing Tremblay.
- winsix

Yeah.... it was bad.

Man I remember that Vegas expansion draft.

I thought George McPhee was on crack because actually good players were available and he ended up selecting players like william karlsson, and it turned out that the team ended up being pretty (frank)ing good off the bat.
- TheMussel

if you cant offer a team a player that is good to not take a player that is not good, you have to do it - Dale Tallon

If they need more cap space for some reason, they can always buy him out of that last dreadful year.

Would be good for him too, he could get a shot elsewhere in the NHL instead for cheap instead of being stuck in the AHL with his golden ball and chain.
- Scabeh

Alzner has 2 years left and the buyout is pretty stiff if you check out Cap Friendly. Habs could save a little but not very much.

im not saying Biggs was a bad pick, I am saying he was maybe the worst pick

https://twitter.com/berez...tatus/1301160796584583168

Man I remember that Vegas expansion draft.

I thought George McPhee was on crack because actually good players were available and he ended up selecting players like william karlsson, and it turned out that the team ended up being pretty (frank)ing good off the bat.
- TheMussel

yup.
apart from a few good defenders (schmidt who had just had a really good season on washington's bottom d-pair; theodore who was behind fowler/lindholm/bieksa/vatanen/manson) and fleury, we all thought that vegas would be a bottom feeder for the next few seasons.
I do think that Vegas paid a lot of attention to the character of players selected - doesn't seem there is any guy on that roster who's not a 'team first guy'

im not saying Biggs was a bad pick, I am saying he was maybe the worst pick

https://twitter.com/berez...tatus/1301160796584583168
- senstroll

Absolutely true. One of the worst picks in recent Leaf drafting history, Kucherov would have been nice.

Alzner has 2 years left and the buyout is pretty stiff if you check out Cap Friendly. Habs could save a little but not very much.
- winsix

God, will this contract ever end!!

Ah, the sweet sound of the Bruins' window closing. Buh bye, wienerheads!

Absolutely true. One of the worst picks in recent Leaf drafting history, Kucherov would have been nice.
- winsix

what a wiff, all those good players...like so many lol

using data is not perfect, but when it comes to 2nd round on...its probably a better success rate

Absolutely true. One of the worst picks in recent Leaf drafting history, Kucherov would have been nice.
- winsix

Kucherov falling to the 2nd was one of the dumbest things I've seen since Tarasenko going from a clear cut top-3 pick to (15th? 18th?). Kucherov killed it at every level in his draft year and broke records.

I'd rather spend 80 million on a team with ok skills but superb mindset (example: Las Vegas) than 80 million on players with incredible skills, but flawed character.
for all the talk about 'character', 'mindset' and 'will to win' - seems the NHL (and professional sports in general) still has a few steps to make in player & team evaluation of these psychological and character traits of players.
- MaximusAurelius

Interesting post. In my view, the mindset, or motivation is on the coach. The coach is a cheerleader with some tactical responsibilities. Barry Trotz is a really good coach in my opinion, so is Julien. Trotz manages to squeeze significant effort out of a team that has minimal talent. In addition, the checking lines are very dirty and take few penalties.

Kucherov falling to the 2nd was one of the dumbest things I've seen since Tarasenko going from a clear cut top-3 pick to (15th? 18th?). Kucherov killed it at every level in his draft year and broke records.
- AdamFrench

Agree

Agree
- winsix

Even if he turned into a bust, you can't have watched the U18's and not thought "star."

Interesting post. In my view, the mindset, or motivation is on the coach. The coach is a cheerleader with some tactical responsibilities. Barry Trotz is a really good coach in my opinion, so is Julien. Trotz manages to squeeze significant effort out of a team that has minimal talent. In addition, the checking lines are very dirty and take few penalties.
- winsix

in my view, the coach can make some small percent changes as to 'team character' and work with some of the individual players.
however, the GM has to be sure the coach has the right 'raw materials' to work with.
a 6month season + playoffs where players are constantly together traveling, battling through injuries and sharing other ups and downs, seems to me that team 'chemistry' and making sure all guys are aligned is a very very important factor contributing to success.

i would be very interested to see some team interviews with players before draft for example.

Even if he turned into a bust, you can't have watched the U18's and not thought "star."
- AdamFrench

Was there a chance he wouldn’t come to the NHL? I read something that TB took a chance drafting him.

I'm conflicted. I listen to Animals more than DSOTM but I don't even know how to compare the greatness of both albums.

They're both masterpieces.
- mjones242

Wish you were here.. the best album by the floyd

... Shine on you crazy diamond.. 1-9

Welcome to the machine.. Favorite Floyd song...
Wish you were here...
Have a cigar...

Was there a chance he wouldn’t come to the NHL? I read something that TB took a chance drafting him.
- Garnie

If they though that, they were dumb as (frank). He had decided to move to Quebec the year after.

im not saying Biggs was a bad pick, I am saying he was maybe the worst pick

https://twitter.com/berez...tatus/1301160796584583168
- senstroll

Blockbuster also could have bought out Netfilx. Yahoo could have bought out Google. You and I could have bought Telsa, Apple, or Amazon 10 years ago.

Hindsight makes everyone look like either a genius or a moron, depending on how you want to frame it.

The Rielly pick looks pretty good considering who was drafted before him.

Kucherov falling to the 2nd was one of the dumbest things I've seen since Tarasenko going from a clear cut top-3 pick to (15th? 18th?). Kucherov killed it at every level in his draft year and broke records.
- AdamFrench

Didn't Leafs trade up to grab Tyler Biggs of am I remembering incorrectly?

Didn't Leafs trade up to grab Tyler Biggs of am I remembering incorrectly?
- Leafsandbolts

Yep. Ducks got Rakell and Gibson.

Kucherov falling to the 2nd was one of the dumbest things I've seen since Tarasenko going from a clear cut top-3 pick to (15th? 18th?). Kucherov killed it at every level in his draft year and broke records.
- AdamFrench

Buncha Don Cherrys not wanting to draft a Russian because reasons.

Stupid thoughts spread around the league pretty easily.

Blockbuster also could have bought out Netfilx. Yahoo could have bought out Google. You and I could have bought Telsa, Apple, or Amazon 10 years ago.

Hindsight makes everyone look like either a genius or a moron, depending on how you want to frame it.

The Rielly pick looks pretty good considering who was drafted before him.
- Leafs43

trading up to pick biggs was moronic, thats how I will frame it