Speculation: 2018 Off-season Thread

[BUX7PHX]

You're not going to get top 6 26-29 year olds without trading roster players. I expect Fischer or Perlini to be gone. I expect Strome will stay.

I think a lot also gets predicated on the draft position. If we are picking top 3 or 4, probably keeping the pick. Whereas if we pick 5 or 6, there may be reason to move down. We have taken a lot of steps to improve our blue line at the NHL level and prospect level. It may make sense to move back and pick up a F for a team willing to move up and grab one of the "2nd tier" of D after Dahlin. Not saying that it is the best strategy, but something to consider given the amount of D in the top 12 and if we have some red flags on a player like Tkachuk or Wahlstrom.

As an example, most of Florida's top prospects are forwards, with limited value on defensemen in their prospect pool. Would something like #15 OA, Jayce Hawryluk, and a 2019 4th rounder for #6 OA make sense? We get a RW in Hawryluk who may be on the verge of NHL action, and the #15 pick will likely see most D get taken prior to that, so a player like Rasmus Kupari (RH C), Barrett Hayton (LH C), or Serron Noel (RH RW) is available. I would prefer to get a true NHL ready player, as opposed to Hawryluk, but the idea remains the same (maybe put Sceviour in the trade, and take out the 2019 pick?).

 

[IPreferPi]

That package doesn't really do anything for me. Unless there's an offer you can't refuse on the table, keep the pick and take a very good prospect.

 

[MIGs Dog]

There may be an impending roster shakeup in Carolina

TDCanes is the owner? Dumb thing to say. I bet the players would like him to lace up the skates and get on the ice.

 

[Grimes]

You're not going to get top 6 26-29 year olds without trading roster players. I expect Fischer or Perlini to be gone. I expect Strome will stay.

Fischer is one of our few RWs so I think Perlini has the better chance of being moved. His ceiling is very high and his raw toolset should be enticing to any GM. Said it before but if Minnesota has another early exit I wonder if we can get Coyle, Nino or Zucker. It would probably cost Perlini and could end up being a wash one day, but we would be adding a 20+goal 20+ assist player. If we are in that 5-6 range depending on who is available I wouldnt be opposed to moving it for a forward that is from Domi's draft class or younger. Wonder if Lindholm + Canes pick (excluding a lotto win) to move to 5 or 6 gets it done?

 

[TheLegend]

Not trying to stir this argument up again but how many people out there caught the comment OEL made regarding adjusting to Tocchet’s D philosophy versus how it was done here before????

(IE: more aggresssive skating now versus more backwards skating.)

Reason why I bring it up is if Chayka decides to go grab more D-men this off-season then he’s going to be looking for players who can fit that style.

 

[BUX7PHX]

That package doesn't really do anything for me. Unless there's an offer you can't refuse on the table, keep the pick and take a very good prospect.

Fill in with a player/pick package of your choice.

I am fairly bad with trade values, and there is the obvious of taking cap off of a team's hands to gain a better player. Other options could be Philly with two picks at #14 and #19 as it stands now. If we have the #6 OA, what would we need to add or move around for those picks and a year of Wayne Simmonds? Add a future mid-late round pick and Merkley? Just Merkley? Not certain what the answer is, but if the Coyotes pick 5 or 6 and there is a dropoff in our rankings, it may make sense to deal the pick to a team looking for defense (which Philly probably isn't).

 

[rt]

@TheLegend There is a reason Schenn was good last year and bad this year.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

@TheLegend There is a reason Schenn was good last year and bad this year.

I thought that he was good, at least good enough, during the 2nd half of the season. We don't need another slim puck handling defenseman to put up 25 points. We need muscle on the back end if we are to replace Schenn

 

[TheLegend]

@TheLegend There is a reason Schenn was good last year and bad this year.

I’m going to agree somewhat with Bonsai.

Schenn wasn’t that bad for what he was being asked to do. But that said and after Connauton came alive late in the season like he did..... he does become expendable.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

I’m going to agree somewhat with Bonsai.

Schenn wasn’t that bad for what he was being asked to do. But that said and after Connauton came alive late in the season like he did..... he does become expendable.

But only if he is replaced by a more talented big, physical defenseman. That's the thing - we have smaller defensemen. We need one or two bigs.

 

[rt]

But only if he is replaced by a more talented big, physical defenseman. That's the thing - we have smaller defensemen. We need one or two bigs.

I disagree completely. Schenn's size hasn't helped us. We need a RHD PP threat to get our pathetic PP going. That's infinitely more important than what Schenn or his ilk bring to the table. Hockey is a non-violent sport now. Sometimes guys like Frolik do stupid, reckless things and even one of the league's biggest meat-head apes in Zac Rinaldo is powerless to do anything about it. Violence is gone from the game. I'd take a 5'9 PP specialist RHD over Schenn any day.

 

[IPreferPi]

But only if he is replaced by a more talented big, physical defenseman. That's the thing - we have smaller defensemen. We need one or two bigs.

Being big and having physicality aren't mutually exclusive to being mobile, being smart positionally, and having some puck moving ability. That said, the latter three are far more important criterion for a defenseman in this age. The days of the burly, physically punishing SAH D with stone hands and questionable hockey sense like Douglas Murray are gone.

 

[TheLegend]

You still have to have some physicality in your game. If you don’t other teams will be running your best players over again and again. We saw quite a lot of it this year.

We need a Dman who can skate, have reasonable set of mitts..... but who can also get nasty when they have to be. Those guys are very rare.

So you’re left with finding someone who fills the bill as closely as possible.

 

[rt]

Show me a correlation

Points:
1. Nashville
2. Winnipeg
3. Tampa By
4. Boston
5. Vegas
6. Washington
7. Toronto
8. Minnesota
9. Anaheim
10. Pittsburgh

Hits:
1. Montreal
2. Edmonton
3. Los Angeles
4. Arizona
5. Ottawa
6. Pittsburgh
7. Anaheim
8. Boston
9. St. Louis
10. Dallas

Major PIMs:
1. Florida
2. Calgary
3. Anaheim
4. Boston
5. Dallas
6. Edmonton
7. Nashville
8. Los Angeles
9. Washington
10. Philadelphia

Anaheim and Boston are the only two teams to appear on all three lists. Winnipeg, Tampa, Vegas, Toronto, and Minnesota appear only on the list of best NHL teams and not on either of the hits or majors lists.

 

[rt]

You still have to have some physicality in your game. If you don’t other teams will be running your best players over again and again. We saw quite a lot of it this year.

We need a Dman who can skate, have reasonable set of mitts..... but who can also get nasty when they have to be. Those guys are very rare.

So you’re left with finding someone who fills the bill as closely as possible.

I think playing a forceful game with the physical strength to impose one's will is very important. We've seen Panik be more effective than Duclair largely on the strength of those qualities. It's good to have players who can play in straight lines, go where they want to go, and keep the puck. I think this is especially true on the forecheck. I'd rather have D that can skate and pass than Schenn. Puck retrieval defensively is important (that's I guess what I'd call the strength you guys are talking about), but I think getting in passing lanes, being positionally sound, and being able to get the puck up ice is much more important.

 

[TheLegend]

I think playing a forceful game with the physical strength to impose one's will is very important. We've seen Panik be more effective than Duclair largely on the strength of those qualities. It's good to have players who can play in straight lines, go where they want to go, and keep the puck. I think this is especially true on the forecheck. I'd rather have D that can skate and pass than Schenn. Puck retrieval defensively is important (that's I guess what I'd call the strength you guys are talking about), but I think getting in passing lanes, being positionally sound, and being able to get the puck up ice is much more important.

I get where you’re coming from rt.

Guess we have to have a priority list that goes something like this...

Skating
Puck handling
Physicality

 

[Neighborhood Coyote]

Show me a correlation

Points:
1. Nashville
2. Winnipeg
3. Tampa By
4. Boston
5. Vegas
6. Washington
7. Toronto
8. Minnesota
9. Anaheim
10. Pittsburgh

Hits:
1. Montreal
2. Edmonton
3. Los Angeles
4. Arizona
5. Ottawa
6. Pittsburgh
7. Anaheim
8. Boston
9. St. Louis
10. Dallas

Major PIMs:
1. Florida
2. Calgary
3. Anaheim
4. Boston
5. Dallas
6. Edmonton
7. Nashville
8. Los Angeles
9. Washington
10. Philadelphia

Anaheim and Boston are the only two teams to appear on all three lists. Winnipeg, Tampa, Vegas, Toronto, and Minnesota appear only on the list of best NHL teams and not on either of the hits or majors lists.

I think perhaps another better way to look at this, imo, is to look at the defensive cores of those teams at the top of the points. I think they usually have a pretty good blend of both skill and size... some more slanted on one than another. Or a stacked offense to help out haha. Now, I didn't actually go look through them much at all... so maybe I'm mistaken. But it might not be a bad way to look at it to investigate at least!

And it sounds like you're all for size too in a sense (if I am reading ya right). I agree that the Yotes don't need someone who can't do the skill side of the game at all. But I think they do need a bigger body with skill (enough at least) to keep the blend solid.

 

[AZviaNJ]

I get where you’re coming from rt.

Guess we have to have a priority list that goes something like this...

Skating
Puck handling
Physicality

David Rundblad

 

[IPreferPi]

David Rundblad

Rundblad lacked the trait on the top of that list. His game never transitioned to the quicker matches on smaller NA ice.

 

[ParisSaintGermain]

I watched Chayka's press conference, and I am getting mentally prepared for him to trade someone/pieces I do not want us to part with for a significant name I am not that sure about.

 

[TheLegend]

David Rundblad

WHO????

 

[Grimes]

I watched Chayka's press conference, and I am getting mentally prepared for him to trade someone/pieces I do not want us to part with for a significant name I am not that sure about.

I agree, unless it is bandstanding. "Look we wanted to add a significant piece but the price wasnt right so we are going to see what our core can do and reevaluate mid way through the season" sorta thing.

The Strome comments are interesting too. Sounds like they are really expecting him to make an impact for Tucson in the playoffs, and if not maybe he becomes more expendable. I would hate to give up on him now after his call up but he also should be able to push himself when asked to.

The Domi rumors from the TDL also worry me. I wouldnt be crazy about moving Perlini, Fishcer or our first but they wouldnt sting as much as Strome or Domi depending on the return. I think the smartest thing to do is stand pat, upgrade KConn to a legit top 4 guy like Perty, Schenn as a #7 for a year (Chyaka stressed depth and Murphy as a #7 doesnt scream depth) and add a bottom 9 / top 6 RW to replace Rinaldo via ufa or a tricky cap move. Maybe upgrade Richardson if he cant be re-signed affordably.

 

[Jakey53]

That's because Chayka treats this team like a legitimate hockey team. First GM probably since they were the Jets to do that - and I'm including Maloney.

Totally different circumstances. DM's hands were tied.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

Totally different circumstances. DM's hands were tied.

I would argue that Chayka and Maloney had more or less the same amount of money to work with year in and year out.

 

[IPreferPi]

I would argue that Chayka and Maloney had more or less the same amount of money to work with year in and year out.

Chayka never had to deal with NHL ownership and the bankruptcy clown circus.