2020 Off Season Discussion Part V

[rt]

Just noticed that between his first and second season in Sudbury, Stillman’s Wolves enjoyed a plus +142 swing in goal differential. Which is honestly unbelievable.

They went from dead last in the OHL in total point his first year to 2nd in their division and 4th in their conference (10 team conference) that second year. (7th out of 20 OHL teams)

Last season their differential slipped by 29 goals, but they were still a +19. The only team in their unbelievably weak division with a positive differential. They were 1st in that division in total points but were again 4th in the conference and finished mid-pack (10th out of 20) in the league.

His five years as director of player development in Carolina seems pretty impressive to me, though. They brought a lot of talent through that system. Both expected and unexpected talent. And with varying tracks. So if the idea is for him to be helping with development from behind the bench, that maybe makes some s sense. His OHL results are a mixed bag but are at least intriguing. And he’s certainly got the playing experience. He feels like a BA candidate to me.

 

[Mosby]

AC hirings are usually entire up to the HC. Add in all the BS surrounding the franchise and the fact that Tocchet is likely gone in a year and I imagine the list of candidates is likely very short.

 

[rt]

AC hirings are usually entire up to the HC. Add in all the BS surrounding the franchise and the fact that Tocchet is likely gone in a year and I imagine the list of candidates is likely very short.

I’d feel very lucky to get stillman at this stage honestly.

 

[WrinkledPossum]

Just noticed that between his first and second season in Sudbury, Stillman’s Wolves enjoyed a plus +142 swing in goal differential. Which is honestly unbelievable.

They went from dead last in the OHL in total point his first year to 2nd in their division and 4th in their conference (10 team conference) that second year. (7th out of 20 OHL teams)

Last season their differential slipped by 29 goals, but they were still a +19. The only team in their unbelievably weak division with a positive differential. They were 1st in that division in total points but were again 4th in the conference and finished mid-pack (10th out of 20) in the league.

His five years as director of player development in Carolina seems pretty impressive to me, though. They brought a lot of talent through that system. Both expected and unexpected talent. And with varying tracks. So if the idea is for him to be helping with development from behind the bench, that maybe makes some s sense. His OHL results are a mixed bag but are at least intriguing. And he’s certainly got the playing experience. He feels like a BA candidate to me.

Sounds like a good candidate. Wouldn't mind seeing what he could do as an interim HC. Could definitely suck, but there's some potential there.

 

[87turbobuick]

Coyotes need an enforcer, can Jake Paul skate?

 

[WrinkledPossum]

Coyotes need an enforcer, can Jake Paul skate?

I'd rather sign 54 year old Mike Tyson.

 

[Name Nameless]

Coyotes need an enforcer, can Jake Paul skate?

There has to be someone in Europe to sign as a FA for something like that.

 

[RemoAZ]

We added some guys with toughness that will hit and not fall down when someone skates by. I don't want a goon. Someone that will drop them when the other team is blatantly taking liberties would be nice but not if he can't play. We aren't talented enough to throw away a spot on a goon imo.

 

[Jakey53]

We added some guys with toughness that will hit and not fall down when someone skates by. I don't want a goon. Someone that will drop them when the other team is blatantly taking liberties would be nice but not if he can't play. We aren't talented enough to throw away a spot on a goon imo.

BA sure seems to like the three forwards he brought in that add that toughness we need. Maybe their "pop" as BA states will ignite the confidence in the kids to take that next step.

 

[Coyotedroppings]

Mike Peca has never coached kids older than 16. This is going from American AAA hockey, directly to the NHL. This is appalling that he’s even being considered. I thought we were going to see merit-based decision making under the new regime. This stinks to high hell of the same old cronyism that has seemingly always plagued this franchise. Armstrong talked so much about killing the country club culture. This feels like more of the same nonsense that has been as toxic to this teams chances of success as their dismal drafting has.

Maybe BA thinks he can be a Steve Ott? Just a former player with absolutely zero meaningful experience who can just waltz into the NHL as a coach and be successful? Seems like winning the lottery (Ottery?) twice. I’m extremely skeptical.

Is there a Pecca connection that makes you think of cronyism?

 

[AZviaNJ]

We added some guys with toughness that will hit and not fall down when someone skates by. I don't want a goon. Someone that will drop them when the other team is blatantly taking liberties would be nice but not if he can't play. We aren't talented enough to throw away a spot on a goon imo.

I want a goon, it's exactly what I want....in addition to the tough guys they already added. Put a Ross Johnston on the roster who can protect simply by his presence on the roster....even from the Press Box.

 

[RemoAZ]

Not sure if this has been discussed but I just read the article below and find it even more depressing being a Coyotes fan, how that's possible I don't know, when realizing we supposedly just came out of a rebuild with ZERO guys on this list and in the middle of two years in a row lacking high picks. If there was any doubt we are the worst organization in the NHL, this list should squash that.

NHL Power Rankings: The NHL's best players under age 25 (nbcsports.com)

 

[WrinkledPossum]

Not sure if this has been discussed but I just read the article below and find it even more depressing being a Coyotes fan, how that's possible I don't know, when realizing we supposedly just came out of a rebuild with ZERO guys on this list and in the middle of two years in a row lacking high picks. If there was any doubt we are the worst organization in the NHL, this list should squash that.

NHL Power Rankings: The NHL's best players under age 25 (nbcsports.com)

The 2015 draft screwed us so badly. Given who was drafted after and how desperate we were, Strome is the worst pick in the franchises history AINEC.

I do think Chychrun should be in the 24-honorable mentions part though.

 

[rt]

Not sure if this has been discussed but I just read the article below and find it even more depressing being a Coyotes fan, how that's possible I don't know, when realizing we supposedly just came out of a rebuild with ZERO guys on this list and in the middle of two years in a row lacking high picks. If there was any doubt we are the worst organization in the NHL, this list should squash that.

NHL Power Rankings: The NHL's best players under age 25 (nbcsports.com)

Chayka had a plan. He stuck with his plan. He executed his plan with move after move. It failed miserably.

 

[Jakey53]

Chayka had a plan. He stuck with his plan. He executed his plan with move after move. It failed miserably.

Haste makes waste. Chayka made deals just to make deals. He had no idea what he had, had no patience. If he would have slowed down, let the players develop etc. he would have been better off. If I remember correctly, most on this board liked what he was doing, some even stated he was amongst the top GM's in the league. Like you said, he failed miserably.

 

[Sm00chy]

Alright since the board seems to have gone quite lets take a shot at line combos...

Since it sounds like the roster that the Yotes currently have will be the starting night roster... I wanted to take a stab at line combinations...

What I PERSONALLY would like to see...

Keller - Dvorak - Kessel (I think the only way the Coyotes make a run at the playoffs is to get offensive production from a guy like Kessel and Keller. I am not huge on Kessel, but I would like to see him on the top line with an opportunity to prove last year was a down year.)

Schmaltz - Hayton - Garland (This line's size worries me, but my theory here is to protect the young mistakes that Hayton WILL make as he grows, by a fairly responsible defensive player in Schmaltz and the hustle of Garland. I also like the potential offensive creativity on this line. The fact that Schmaltz has experience playing center also helps with protecting Hayton.)

Pitlick - Stepan - Crouse (From everything I hear with Pitlick I think this could be an excellent 3rd line. Really a pain to play against. I also floated the idea of playing Crouse up in the lineup, but this team cant afford to have any of the above wingers playing outside the Top 6 IMO)

Hayden - Larsson - Fischer (Not sold on Hayden being in the lineup night in and night out, I am just going off the roster listed online. Overall Larsson being on our 4th line is enough for me to be comfortable with anyone on his wing. He is that good of a 4th line role player. )

The real question mark for me and this roster is Hayton. Does the coaching staff think he is ready for Top 6 minutes at the center position? I have no idea. I pray they dont take the approach of old Yotes coaches in the past and bury him on the wing on the 4th line.

Alright go ahead and tear it apart...let the feeding frenzy begin lol.

 

[rt]

I think Hayton as 2nd line center is a bit ambitious. AHL might be more likely, honestly. He's only played 8 games for Ilves so it's a really small sample, and I've watched ZERO of those games, but the fact that he's got 4pts in those 8 games isn't very encouraging. There are 13 or 14 players on that roster with better than 0.50ppg average right now. I know he's young and he's adjusting to a new league and a new country and all of that. He was also a Top 5 pick in the NHL Entry Draft two and a half years ago. Usually guys who are two and a half years removed from being top five NHL picks aren't still struggling to adjust to the Finnish league.

Ilves has the second most goals in the entire Liiga and the second best goal differential. I know it's early. I know the sample is small. There are a million excuses. I'd like to see some really great production instead of some really great reasons why there isn't any production. He's played 43 hockey games in the last 18 months. Not returning him to the Ontario league last season was a horrible mistake and I said as much at the time. His development could not have been handled worse.

 

[rt]

Kessel had 5 months off between the COVID suspension and his first game in the bubble. 20 weeks to get healthy and train. He told everyone he was finally 100% healthy and in great shape in the bubble. He put up 0.44ppg versus the 0.54ppg he had in his disaster of a regular season. I don't see how second 5 month break is going to make him a decent hockey player again. Phil came here to retire. He demanded the trade be to Arizona so he could play for his good ol' drinking buddy Rick Tocchet and be close to half a dozen casinos and several dozen golf courses. He's going to go through the motions, play at less than half speed, try not even a little, collect his paychecks and have fun partying with the boys. Phil Kessel is no longer a professional hockey player. He's just a semi-retired millionaire on an extended vacation.

 

[rt]

League Rankings (according to me):

Goalies: Top 5
Defense: Middle 10
Forwards: Bottom 5
Coaching: Bottom 5

We were the 10th worst team in the NHL last season. When I look at this roster, I see exactly that. I think we will be the 10th worst team again (give or take two). The only silver lining is that they're taking us out of the lottery altogether so we don't have to deal with the agony of losing another three in a row.

 

[SR]

Are we even having a season?

Can’t say I miss watching this team.

 

[rt]

Are we even having a season?

Can’t say I miss watching this team.

As long as another contract year actually gets burned off all of these guys and the coaches, I’m fine with canceling. Lol.

To just magically have all of our UFAs and coaches gone would be wonderful.

 

[RemoAZ]

As long as another contract year actually gets burned off all of these guys and the coaches, I’m fine with canceling. Lol.

To just magically have all of our UFAs and coaches gone would be wonderful.

Agree. If we get stuck with the contracts after the season is canceled, that would be a double gut punch.

 

[rt]

Pierre Maguire just said on Spittin Chiclets that the 2020 draft is the best in the last 17 years, going back to 2003.

Thanks Chayka! What a whiz kid he turned out to be! Unmitigated f***ing disaster his career was. Holy shit.

New GM gets zero picks in the whole f***en draft. Can’t even get a decent return for any of our vets. Can’t do shit in Free Agency because we’re capped out and can’t move any of our players. Literally stuck in dog-shit gridlock.

Chayka is generational gong show. Will go down in history with the likes of Milbury.

 

[Mosby]

Still nothing on Chayka and NJ either?

 

[rt]

Still nothing on Chayka and NJ either?

Why would anyone hire him? Look what he left in his wake.