2013-14 Around the League IV: NHL set for record revenues this year

[Daisy Jane]

and the leafs are where they belong: #1 in the east

 

[legendinblue]

Toews with a 4 point night, 3+1.

 

[theIceWookie]

It's almost delicous to see how bad the Oilers are doing. On one hand I feel bad for their fans, as it really sucks being that bad for that long. But on the other had, the abuse I've seen them give to Leaf fans and Flames fans for years makes it really hard not to take pleause in their awfulness.

And it really makes me smile seeing them in comparison to the Leafs. For a long time I have been against the classic rebuild that many fans preach. The "lose to win", the "gain as many draft picks as possible" model, whatever you want to call it. It just doesn't work. It takes far longer than expected, and it just doesn't build the kind of team that many think it does. People will point to LA and Chicago and Pittsburgh, but those teams didn't actually succeed by this method. They succeeded by combining smart drafting, trades and signings. When you rely on only the drafting, you're setting yourself up for failure. Look to Columbus for years, or Atlanta/Winnipeg, or Florida. These team's did this method and it hasn't worked for them.

I'm not against drafting, it's clearly crucial to winning. The winning teams always draft well. But they also trade well and sign players. LA only started winning when they went after Scuderi, traded for Richards/Carter and combined signings with the other necessary parts of managing a team. Chicago did the same when they started out by signing Hossa, Campbell etc. Pittsburgh too by trading Whitney for Kunitz, althought they are more of an exception because of Crosby.

The idea of losing to win is lazy and it doesn't produce winning. It starts with this idea that you can't fail by picking first, or by picking high and it gets you to hoard players, often over valuing them and picks. They should all be used as assets, not given preferrential treatment simply because they are picks. They have value, but they often get overvalued too.

Good teams don't just go the drafting way to rebuild. They use every avenue available to them. Just like Burke did.

Edmonton is a perfect example of this. They have no defense, they're goalies aren't doing anything right now, and they can't even score. Which is funny because you'd think with an offense built around three 1st overall players, that they'd be able to do something more than 2.5 goals a game. Which isn't an improvement over the last two seasons tehy have played.

 

[BertCorbeau]

^ Add Boston to that list - Chara has been one of the best, if not the best, UFA signings in the past decade in the NHL

I thought at the time it'd be a brutal contract on a mediocre team, but he really was a turning point for them - they subsequently traded for Rask, found Thomas on the scrap heap, drafted incredibly well (mostly their second rounders are their key guys now - not all high draft picks are stars!) .. All at the same time, Chara anchored that blueline in their defensive system

I actually think the Flames will turn it around quickly, they've gathered some decent youngsters for future cornerstones but have some good vets that will either stay with the team as leader (like Glencross, Hudler, etc) or be moved for more assets (Cammy, maybe Wideman)

Burke presence will probably prevent Feaster from selling his players short, and overpaying for quality young assets in a trade

 

[theIceWookie]

^ Add Boston to that list - Chara has been one of the best, if not the best, UFA signings in the past decade in the NHL

I thought at the time it'd be a brutal contract on a mediocre team, but he really was a turning point for them - they subsequently traded for Rask, found Thomas on the scrap heap, drafted incredibly well (mostly their second rounders are their key guys now - not all high draft picks are stars!) .. All at the same time, Chara anchored that blueline in their defensive system

I actually think the Flames will turn it around quickly, they've gathered some decent youngsters for future cornerstones but have some good vets that will either stay with the team as leader (like Glencross, Hudler, etc) or be moved for more assets (Cammy, maybe Wideman)

Burke presence will probably prevent Feaster from selling his players short, and overpaying for quality young assets in a trade

Agreed. I definitely don't want to suggest that teams throw drafting by the wayside, or that top picks can't be building blocks, but rather that focusing solely on using your pwn picks to build a team is just fool hardy.

You need to look at every option. Sometimes deals will be available sometimes they won't. I don't think any team should ever focus solely on drafting. As much as people complained about the timing of the Kessel deal, how often do players like that actual move? It's so rare that sometimes you need to take a big risk to get a big player like that. Sometimes you need to move a player with a potential like that to make your team better.

Boston in recent years has really become the premier team in terms of building a perrenial contender in my mind. They build through everything. They don't fetishisize picks, they sign veterans, they haven't made really any dumb contract moves, they draft smartly, and they aren't afraid to take risks like trading Kessel or Seguin if it means making their team better.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

It's almost delicous to see how bad the Oilers are doing. On one hand I feel bad for their fans, as it really sucks being that bad for that long. But on the other had, the abuse I've seen them give to Leaf fans and Flames fans for years makes it really hard not to take pleause in their awfulness.

And it really makes me smile seeing them in comparison to the Leafs. For a long time I have been against the classic rebuild that many fans preach. The "lose to win", the "gain as many draft picks as possible" model, whatever you want to call it. It just doesn't work. It takes far longer than expected, and it just doesn't build the kind of team that many think it does. People will point to LA and Chicago and Pittsburgh, but those teams didn't actually succeed by this method. They succeeded by combining smart drafting, trades and signings. When you rely on only the drafting, you're setting yourself up for failure. Look to Columbus for years, or Atlanta/Winnipeg, or Florida. These team's did this method and it hasn't worked for them.

I'm not against drafting, it's clearly crucial to winning. The winning teams always draft well. But they also trade well and sign players. LA only started winning when they went after Scuderi, traded for Richards/Carter and combined signings with the other necessary parts of managing a team. Chicago did the same when they started out by signing Hossa, Campbell etc. Pittsburgh too by trading Whitney for Kunitz, althought they are more of an exception because of Crosby.

The idea of losing to win is lazy and it doesn't produce winning. It starts with this idea that you can't fail by picking first, or by picking high and it gets you to hoard players, often over valuing them and picks. They should all be used as assets, not given preferrential treatment simply because they are picks. They have value, but they often get overvalued too.

Good teams don't just go the drafting way to rebuild. They use every avenue available to them. Just like Burke did.

Edmonton is a perfect example of this. They have no defense, they're goalies aren't doing anything right now, and they can't even score. Which is funny because you'd think with an offense built around three 1st overall players, that they'd be able to do something more than 2.5 goals a game. Which isn't an improvement over the last two seasons tehy have played.

Perfect post!

Look at the role Leafs picks have in Toronto. Leafs defense isn't built around Rielly, Leafs don't depend on Kadri for offense night in, night out. Instead, they are getting their time as role players and rising up the ranks in NHL. 2011 picks are working in juniors, minors without any added pressure. Look at how Boston is developing Hamilton. Even though one of the better D prospect in recent years, he plays 6th d-man on some nights and scratched on others.

Then you have Edmonton. They have young players expected to be the cornerstone and lead them to success. They are sitting back and hoping to improve via draft. Management needs a cleanup. Team needs a cleanup. Guys like Hemsky and Gagner are used to the losing attitude. First thing Burke did coming here was trade away players who were used to losing with Kessel, Phaneuf, Lupul etc.

 

[Kurisu]

Frattin hasn't been working out for LA. He has like 1 goal in his last 25ish games or so, he may be out of the league if he keeps playing like this.

 

[BIitz]

I feel for any fans that had to deal with what we went through. Maybe Edmonton isn't at that stage yet though.

It got REAL hard to turn on the game during the train wreck a couple years ago.

 

[I Believe]

Apparently Selanne lost at least 4 teeth and needed 40 stitches from Schenns high stick. Out for a couple of weeks as well.

That's gotta suck. Anaheim getting plagued with a lot of injuries but are still playing very well.

 

[Asif16*]

Apparently Selanne lost at least 4 teeth and needed 40 stitches from Schenns high stick. Out for a couple of weeks as well.

That's gotta suck. Anaheim getting plagued with a lot of injuries but are still playing very well.

They dont call em the "Mighty Ducks" for a reason

 

[JAMmer124]

Frattin hasn't been working out for LA. He has like 1 goal in his last 25ish games or so, he may be out of the league if he keeps playing like this.

Frattin is as streaky as they come. He could score 9 in his next 10 games, you never know with him

 

[BiggestLeafsFanEVER*]

Darren Dreger just reported that Subban might not make the Olympic team because he is currently behind Letang and Boyle on Hockey Canada's list. I don't know if I agree with that but will say that if he's left off the tears of the Smurfs fans will be delicious

 

[Daisy Jane]

Darren Dreger just reported that Subban might not make the Olympic team because he is currently behind Letang and Boyle on Hockey Canada's list. I don't know if I agree with that but will say that if he's left off the tears of the Smurfs fans will be delicious

actually - you know, it might make sense.
what role would Subban bring? the Offense defenseman/powerplay specialist? well that's Letang and Boyle.

 

[I Believe]

Just got a text from theScore saying Semyon Varlamov turned himself into police for domestic violence charges. Anyone hear anything about that?

Seems pretty weird. Hopefully it's nothing.

 

[BiggestLeafsFanEVER*]

actually - you know, it might make sense.
what role would Subban bring? the Offense defenseman/powerplay specialist? well that's Letang and Boyle.

Only PK is better than both of them. And is the guy who just won the Norris really not good enough for the Olympic team? He should go. But if he's left off the reaction will be pretty funny.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Wow Varlamov arrested for domestic violence..

:

Innocent until proven guilty though..

 

[Daisy Jane]

Wow Varlamov arrested for domestic violence..

:

Innocent until proven guilty though..

........
whoa.

 

[Mitchy]

Wow Varlamov arrested for domestic violence..

:

Innocent until proven guilty though..

He turned himself in though, didn't he?

 

[cyris]

He turned himself in though, didn't he?

So?
If you're innocent are you supposed to evade arrest?

 

[LeafOfBread]

Varlamov ****ed over my fantasy team. Bad luck this week, Moulson gets traded to a garbage team and now this

If he did actually abuse his wife that's pretty disgusting too. I'll wait until the facts are out but if the charges seem to be accurate then I've lost a lot of respect for him.

 

[Garbs]

Boston loses. Vancouver wins over Detroit and it's a perfect night.

 

[Swervin81]

So?
If you're innocent are you supposed to evade arrest?

This. Turning yourself in =/= admitting guilt. It signifies you are willing to cooperate with police.

 

[LeafsMonster]

Only PK is better than both of them. And is the guy who just won the Norris really not good enough for the Olympic team? He should go. But if he's left off the reaction will be pretty funny.

Yeah I'd rather have Subban instead of Letang. I want him on Team Canada. He gets under the opponents so easily its such a big advantage.

 

[con310*]

Leafs getting dem wins. It's hilarious seeing Butt hurt Habs/Sens cry about the Leafs playing good, Espically Habs fans that team is going no where they have had an incredibly easy schedule so far and relied way to much on price who will choke soon enough. They will be out of a playoff spot in a few weeks.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

Boston loses. Vancouver wins over Detroit and it's a perfect night.

And... Canucks now trailing.