theoptimist
Trade Siegenthaler
I wouldn't mind trading #11 for a young forward.
Alternate situation: We finally bring JVR home.
Alternate situation: We finally bring JVR home.
I wouldn't mind trading #11 for a young forward.
Alternate situation: We finally bring JVR home.
I wouldn't mind trading #11 for a young forward.
Alternate situation: We finally bring JVR home.
We have a solid foundation.
I have no issue with them retaining Merrill and keeping him in the plans moving forward. My post wasn't meant as a down-vote for him.
I'm curious if they'll push forward with Santini, or if they'll allow Merrill more time and space to develop. Even if they don't add a Goligoski type in free agency, I could easily see the lines shaping up as Greene-Larsson/Schlemko-Severson/Moore-Santini...
The problem with Merrill is if you have to expose him to the expansion draft (and I do think it's happening, they don't usually float parameters for something that isn't going to happen), if he rebounds next year he might well get taken unless you trade him before. If he doesn't then he's clearly not going to amount to much imo
The problem with Merrill is if you have to expose him to the expansion draft (and I do think it's happening, they don't usually float parameters for something that isn't going to happen), if he rebounds next year he might well get taken unless you trade him before. If he doesn't then he's clearly not going to amount to much imo
Cant think like that. You cant say "Well we might lose him so we arent going to develop him" You develop your players and if we lose him to an expansion draft oh well thats life. While i believe Merrill is a top 4 Dman i dont believe he is a guy that will kill us if we lost him. By the time that comes around Jacobs and Santini could very well be knocking at the door and ready to step in and up.
Tanking is a proven method?
Last decade worth of Stanley Cup champs-
Ducks - when did they purposely tank? Perry, Getzlaf
Red Wings - yeah no Datsyuk, Larkin etc
Penguins - OK I'll give you this one Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kessel
Blackhawks - didn't tank on purpose, were just a horribly run organization Kane Toews
Bruins - did not purposely tank Chara, Bergeron
Kings - did not purposely tank Kopitar, Doughty
How about the remaining teams in this year's playoffs?
Blues - no
Stars - not really, weren't they missing the playoffs by just a few points most years recently? Benn Seguin
Nashville - nope Weber
San Jose - not even close Couture, Pavelski
Tampa Bay - were not very good for a few seasons, didn't really tank though Stamkos, Hedman Johnson
Islanders - tanked but I don't think they did it on purpose John Tavares
Capitals - maybe? Ovechkin
The only teams that have been tanking in the last five years are Edmonton, Buffalo, Toronto, and Columbus. And they all still stink. They've acquired "talent" and it hasn't changed jack squat for them.
This idea that tanking is a sure fire way to become a contender is more urban legend than it is real-life strategy.
Tanking is not realistic for our team of fringe players desperate to prove they can play in the NHL
Still enjoying the ride. Look at the changes that have taken place in less than a year.
Perry #28 overall Richard Trophy winner - Getzlaf #19 overall Both are positions of playoffs teams.
Datsyuk #171 overall -- Larkin # 15 overall both are playoff positions.
Keith #54 over all Norris winner
Letang #62 overall
Chara #56 overall Norris winner
Bergeron #45 overall Selke Trophy winner
Krejci #63 overall
Benn #129 overall Art Ross Trophy winner
St Louis Undrafted Art Ross Trophy winner
A look at some of the top goal scorers from this year:
# 4 leading goal scorer this season Vladimir Tarasenko # 16 overall - playoff position
#5 leading goal scorer Joe Pavelski 205th overall
#6 leading goal scorer Brad Marchand 71st overall
#9 Corey Perry see above
#14 Patrice Bergeron #45 overall
#14 Wayne Simmonds #61 overall
#16 leading scorer Tyler Toffoli 47th overall
# 16 leading scorer James Neal 33rd overall
#16 leading scorer Brandon Saad 43rd overall
#19 leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau 104th overall
It gets even better as we round out the rest of the 30+ goal scorers this season. names like Artemi Panarin undrafted, Nikita Kucherov 2nd rouder, Max Pacioretty #22 overall. Kyle Palmieri, Adam Henrique....
You absolutely do not need high draft picks to be successful.
Need them? No, of course not. But it's always better to be in a position to add elite talent than hope one of your later picks work out. First (minor point), a handful of the players listed came from the deepest draft class ever (2003) where you could've thrown darts and landed on a top player. Secondly, I don't see any Devils on that list besides Henrique. If we were better at finding late talent I might feel alright about our chances but lately our late picks haven't turned into much. As I mentioned in another post, you need a combination of tremendous scouting and luck to land these talents - you can't count on finding them. Having higher draft picks increases the likelihood substantially. Not only are the picks more likely to produce for you but you're also more likely to have valuable trade assets.
For all of the late picks listed that are doing well, how about all of the other players picked that turned into jack squat? It's nice to say you can get a Jamie Benn in a later round but it's much more likely that player becomes Connor Chatham.
Need them? No, of course not. But it's always better to be in a position to add elite talent than hope one of your later picks work out. First (minor point), a handful of the players listed came from the deepest draft class ever (2003) where you could've thrown darts and landed on a top player. Secondly, I don't see any Devils on that list besides Henrique. If we were better at finding late talent I might feel alright about our chances but lately our late picks haven't turned into much. As I mentioned in another post, you need a combination of tremendous scouting and luck to land these talents - you can't count on finding them. Having higher draft picks increases the likelihood substantially. Not only are the picks more likely to produce for you but you're also more likely to have valuable trade assets.
For all of the late picks listed that are doing well, how about all of the other players picked that turned into jack squat? It's nice to say you can get a Jamie Benn in a later round but it's much more likely that player becomes Connor Chatham.
How about all the players picked in the top 10 that amounted to nothing as well? Getting a high pick doesn't guarantee you will get a good player. Top 10 picks bust all the time.