Didn't Santorelli quietly sign with the Ducks this year ? I recall it was for peanuts. Like, less than 900K.
There it is.
The thing with Santorelli is that he's a guy who is going to eat up a surefire NHL spot. He's going to be...on your roster, playing offensive minutes that i'd much rather see going to a young player like Baertschi for example. Nothing against Santorelli per se...he is what he is, and for a team like the Ducks...great pickup as NHL depth. But as a guy the same hockey age as Cracknell...they're guys in two wildly different "roles" on a team.
Santorelli is...a 30 year old guy who is going to eat up prime minutes and do pretty alright with them for maybe half a season and then disappear. The sort of minutes a "rebuilding" team ought to be opening the door on for young players to take.
Cracknell is...a 30 year old guy who has shown that he can traverse waivers without real incident. And a very different sort of player.
Thus...Cracknell is a "superb AHL signing", while a guy like Santorelli is a "mediocre NHL signing even at that bargain price". It's about laying an organization...not just collecting all the "best players" like Pokemons. If Santorelli could slide up and down from Utica all season long this year...that would be something to consider. But that doesn't appear to be the case. Different niches entirely.
If Van was to buy picks like the Leafs have done, it means they'd be developing their youth with a bunch of guys who aren't really dedicated to the team, just playing to get traded or for a paycheque.
From my own experience, it's damn frustrating to be all in while some other teamates don't really have their heart in it. If we're out of the playoff race then hell yeah we should move expiring contracts that aren't re-signing, but on the other hand, what does that do for the identity of the team and the development of youth? I think management has a good point when you look at what playoff experience can do for a young player. Would the returns on Matthias/Richardson/Stanton outweigh the development of Horvat down the stretch and into the playoffs? I'm not so sure that's an easy decision. Rebuilding the team faster vs developing youth in a better environment. Then again, it's a WAY different scenario this season, with names like Vrbata and Hamhuis that could potentially return 1st round picks.
Well said.
Doing the whole, "sign mercenary player ---> flip for pick" thing sounds great on a "wow the value" level. It's almost like free picks for nothing!!!
But as an actual team exercise, it's unlikely to go over so well. Awfully hard to have your "interns" buy into a culture when a bunch of the "staffers" are all..."hey man, i'm just here to punch a time card and collect a cheque until i can get transferred somewhere else".
Cracknell, another bruiser added to the roster. Even the depth he is adding is physical and gritty. Does Benning really want to rumble in the bronx or what?
Remember Gillis adds guys like Krog to the AHL. Benning is adding Cracknell to the roster to surround Cassels. And you just know Cracknell will play on the Canucks when injuries hit.
Talk about getting tougher and more physical this season. These are all guys who forecheck and hit:
- Dorsett
- Prust
- Kenins
- Cracknell
- Burrows
- Hansen
- Virtanen
- Horvat
Yeah, i don't know if it's so much about adding RAWR so Bruising to the roster strictly speaking. He's added plenty of non-bruisers as well.
But the bolded is the key for me. It's about getting a guy like Cracknell who has a solid rep for wearing his heart on his sleeve, hustling all over the ice, playing a hard-nosed physical game with energy and still being able to play hockey (and even notch some real points at the AHL level). It's a guy who brings the right attitude to the rink...AND looks like a great complement to what we have in Utica right now. Seems like an outstanding linemate for a guy like Cassels there while he's learning the ropes and making the transition. Or whoever he ends up with...a physical (AHL level) scorer who works hard, is going to be a nice fit on most any line with some skilled young kids. It shows management isn't just going out saying, "hey, lets sign the guy with the most points and best corsi"...it's about finding "fits". And it's about adding a guy as "depth" for the Canucks who can play in Utica...but when called upon, can be a high quality 4th line player in the NHL with the right situation as well.
I mean, you've got a guy who lives and breathes AHL hockey and knows the league inside and out like Brendan Burke speaking pretty highly of the guy...it can't be all bad right?