Yes, playing with more skilled players will make your points total go up more often than not. The question is, could that skilled player help out someone else better? Also, what effect are you having on the skilled player?

For example, Crosby could play with Garrett Wilson, and Wilson will probably triple his point production from 5 to 15 points.. However, 1) a more skilled player may be able to get a 15+ or 20+ point increase playing with Sid, and 2) is a guy like Garrett Wilson going to actually hinder Crosby's production?

I'm not saying Tanev is Garrett Wilson, just saying that it's not always a good thing if a player's numbers increase by playing with a Crosby type.
- jmatchett383

I agree with what you are saying. I just don't think there's that much difference in skill between Tanev and most of the other guys we talk about in the top 6. Not exactly a bunch of guys you can pencil in for 20 goals every year. So if his style meshes best there, why not?

I expect a lot of line tinkering with 3 new forwards and 2 who spent less than half a season with the team potentially all in the top 9 and little separation in skill from the 5th guy to the 12th.

A. Johnson resigned for 1 year, 2 way for 700k. I wouldnt even mind him as 4C.
- MattStrat

He’s a solid 4th liner and good support player. I don’t know if he will ever be a regular, but they could do a lot worse on players to call up.

A. Johnson resigned for 1 year, 2 way for 700k. I wouldnt even mind him as 4C.
- MattStrat

I don't think he beats Blueger, but I give him the inside track as 5C and 13th forward if they clear a space. Unfortunately for him, the team doesn't look to be carrying any players like Kuhnhackl, Rowney, and Wilson.

Going to have his hands full though. Lafferty had a solid year, Miletic really came on strong, and Palve at 27 probably came over expecting to compete for a spot. Not to mention guys like Bellerive and Bjorkvist turning pro.

I really like our forward depth, just feels like the second line still needs help.

Trade Galchenyuk and bjugstad for futures. Use futures to acquire Gusev and move JJ. Buyout guddy. Sign gardiner.

Nah.

Just start the season a couple weeks earlier.
- Feds91Stammer

and go an even 100 games played too.

and go an even 100 games played too.
- BlackhawkMike

Don’t give the league any ideas

Curious, what does the Simon vs Rust on Crosby’s line discussion look like in terms of goals against? What’s the goal differential comparison look like?
All that said I think Simon should play on the third line, he Bjukstad and Hornqvist were really good last year, and fun to watch.

Also If Tanev improves lines defensively then he should play with Malkin and Galchenyuk.
- stackthepads

per 60
Simon and Crosby GF:5.18 GA: 2.85 xGF: 3.29 xGA: 1.76 SCF: 34.21 SCA: 20.99 HDCF: 16.59 HDCA: 7

Rust and Crosby GF: 3.42 GA: 1.83 xGF:2.73 xGA 2.53 SCF: 29.72 SCA:27.03 HDCF: 13.7 HDCA: 11.62

So Simon and Crosby score more, limit scoring chances better, and high danger scoring chances better, but had a worse goals against rate. The on ice save percentage when Simon and Crosby played was 89.11 compared to 93.95 with Rust and Crosby.

A GM has to get owner approval for all signings. The owners need to be saved from themselves.
- jmatchett383

That’s not true. Yzerman didn’t have to get approval from Vinik on signings. Vinik gave Yzerman the reigns and let him do whatever and never got in the middle of it.

per 60
Simon and Crosby GF:5.18 GA: 2.85 xGF: 3.29 xGA: 1.76 SCF: 34.21 SCA: 20.99 HDCF: 16.59 HDCA: 7

Rust and Crosby GF: 3.42 GA: 1.83 xGF:2.73 xGA 2.53 SCF: 29.72 SCA:27.03 HDCF: 13.7 HDCA: 11.62

So Simon and Crosby score more, limit scoring chances better, and high danger scoring chances better, but had a worse goals against rate. The on ice save percentage when Simon and Crosby played was 89.11 compared to 93.95 with Rust and Crosby.
- burgh4life87

And over larger sample sizes the save percentages would equalize which makes the Simon top line idea the best.

After seeing the Dzingel (and to a lesser extent Ferland) contract I really am beginning to wonder if players are reluctant to sign in Pittsburgh because of Rutherford and his penchant for hair-trigger trades and acquainting his players with the wheels on the bus.

To any of you saying “but Sid!,” I reply to you, “But Connor!!!!”

After seeing the Dzingel (and to a lesser extent Ferland) contract I really am beginning to wonder if players are reluctant to sign in Pittsburgh because of Rutherford and his penchant for hair-trigger trades and acquainting his players with the wheels on the bus.

To any of you saying “but Sid!,” I reply to you, “But Connor!!!!”
- Za Warudo

Or maybe Rutherford isn’t shopping around?

After seeing the Dzingel (and to a lesser extent Ferland) contract I really am beginning to wonder if players are reluctant to sign in Pittsburgh because of Rutherford and his penchant for hair-trigger trades and acquainting his players with the wheels on the bus.

To any of you saying “but Sid!,” I reply to you, “But Connor!!!!”
- Za Warudo

Nah. Rutherford gives out NTCs frequently so any player concerned with that could get one.

Based on the term and dollars he signs low interest players. This poop is all on Rutherford.

And over larger sample sizes the save percentages would equalize which makes the Simon top line idea the best.
- Feds91Stammer

Exactly, even McCann had more success on the top line than Rust. The point being you have at least 2 replacements for Rust on the roster, 3 if you blindly include Kahun who saw success with Toews and Debrincat. No reason to trade Bjugstad, a good third line center, for a replaceable wing with replacements already on the roster.

After seeing the Dzingel (and to a lesser extent Ferland) contract I really am beginning to wonder if players are reluctant to sign in Pittsburgh because of Rutherford and his penchant for hair-trigger trades and acquainting his players with the wheels on the bus.

To any of you saying “but Sid!,” I reply to you, “But Connor!!!!”
- Za Warudo

Those contracts are lower because nobody wanted to pay them what they wanted. You can get bargains if you wait, but Rutherford doesn't do that.

Those contracts are lower because nobody wanted to pay them what they wanted. You can get bargains if you wait, but Rutherford doesn't do that.
- Tojo.

What Rutherford didn't want was another forward with a good shot and nothing else to his game. He wanted a forward that was going to compliment that type. He ID'd Tanev as that guy and pursued him

Those contracts are lower because nobody wanted to pay them what they wanted. You can get bargains if you wait, but Rutherford doesn't do that.
- Tojo.

This is more specific to forwards.

What Rutherford didn't want was another forward with a good shot and nothing else to his game. He wanted a forward that was going to compliment that type. He ID'd Tanev as that guy and pursued him
- burgh4life87

Even with that theory he overpaid in both term and money.

Exactly, even McCann had more success on the top line than Rust. The point being you have at least 2 replacements for Rust on the roster, 3 if you blindly include Kahun who saw success with Toews and Debrincat. No reason to trade Bjugstad, a good third line center, for a replaceable wing with replacements already on the roster.
- burgh4life87

Kahun had 12 points with Strome compared to 9 with Toews despite twice as much ice time with Toews

He also had 18 points with DeBricant, so they did have great chemistry, but Kahun bounced around the line-up quite a bit. He played 1040 minutes, 437 were with DeBrincat and 404 with Toews, but that leaves over 600 away from both.

Exactly, even McCann had more success on the top line than Rust. The point being you have at least 2 replacements for Rust on the roster, 3 if you blindly include Kahun who saw success with Toews and Debrincat. No reason to trade Bjugstad, a good third line center, for a replaceable wing with replacements already on the roster.
- burgh4life87

Bjugstad and good don’t go together.

That’s not true. Yzerman didn’t have to get approval from Vinik on signings. Vinik gave Yzerman the reigns and let him do whatever and never got in the middle of it.
- j.boyd919

Ya I think it's more depending on the team or the agreement the GM took when he got the job on whether or not they need the owners permission to complete signings

If you do that, then there's no reason for divisions.
- jmatchett383

I know, I was merely pointing out it can be done with out the reduction of games, the schedule wouldn't be too different from now to make. There isn't much change games wise, just the fact there would be no divisions.

Personally I don't care if they keep or get rid of the divisions, you have to beat good teams to win the cup. I just hate the argument that a team had this many points and should be placed in this spot if it was 1-8, it is only valid if the schedule was balanced to were the team played each team the same number of times.

Nah. Rutherford gives out NTCs frequently so any player concerned with that could get one.

Based on the term and dollars he signs low interest players. This poop is all on Rutherford.
- Feds91Stammer

You mean he has to overpay, Edmonton-style?

You mean he has to overpay, Edmonton-style?
- Za Warudo

No. Stop making excuses for a dogpoop gm.

Like Carolina and NYI?
- jmatchett383

You get me!!! LMAO

Even with that theory he overpaid in both term and money.
- Feds91Stammer

Oh I'm not arguing against that I'm just saying Jim knew what he wanted and went after it. It has nothing to do with him being lost in how to use the free agency market.