Confirmed with Link: Rundblad re-signs for two years

[BUX7PHX]

Seriously, what the hell are you effing smoking? For starters, Yandle had 5 PPGs last season - without those our anemic PP would've officially been DEAD LAST in the league. His PP production over the past 3 seasons is definitely comparable to Letang's and Karlsson's. And that's with our talent deprived forward corps.

Yandle is obviously our most talented offensive player, who easily could put up 60+ points if he had better forwards. With Ribiero in tow, he certainly has a good shot in setting career numbers next season. If Yandle's importance to our offense is that lost on you, well, I simply don't know what to say except you've got some pretty serious myopia there.

And yet, our PP still struggles with the same guy at the "QB" position. People can look at it however they want to, but doesn't it say a lot more when our PP still has issues when we bring in players like Whitney and others to kick-start it? While not a good comparison, it is like the Jets with Mark Sanchez. The hype is there, but the reason why we made the playoffs three consecutive years is like the Jets making the AFC championship game two years in a row. Defense carries us, and yet that next step of consistency has still eluded the player who is supposed to be the one who takes that step. OEL finished ahead of Yandle in Norris voting, yet many said Yandle would be top 5 in Norris voting.

Maybe points aren't everything...

 

[ClassLessCoyote]

And yet, our PP still struggles with the same guy at the "QB" position. People can look at it however they want to, but doesn't it say a lot more when our PP still has issues when we bring in players like Whitney and others to kick-start it? While not a good comparison, it is like the Jets with Mark Sanchez. The hype is there, but the reason why we made the playoffs three consecutive years is like the Jets making the AFC championship game two years in a row. Defense carries us, and yet that next step of consistency has still eluded the player who is supposed to be the one who takes that step. OEL finished ahead of Yandle in Norris voting, yet many said Yandle would be top 5 in Norris voting.

Maybe points aren't everything...

Are you seriously trying to compare Keith Yandle to Sanchez the QB?

 

[BUX7PHX]

Are you seriously trying to compare Keith Yandle to Sanchez the QB?

From the standpoint of taking that next step of becoming a consistent player, yes.

For people to say that Yandle would be better on the PP with better offensive players is spotty, at best. Nearly 70% of Yandle's points in his career have come from 5 on 5, which doesn't suggest being a top PP producer. If he was living up to the hype, I'd say that he would be the one to improve the PP with 20+ points every season on the man up. He hasn't done that, similar to Sanchez being labeled as the player whom enormous jumps were expected from, but hasn't followed through on that.

So, I am comparing the hype and expectations as a similarity, not so much the players, as Yandle is more valuable than Sanchez, given their histories...

 

[IPreferPi]

And yet, our PP still struggles with the same guy at the "QB" position. People can look at it however they want to, but doesn't it say a lot more when our PP still has issues when we bring in players like Whitney and others to kick-start it? While not a good comparison, it is like the Jets with Mark Sanchez. The hype is there, but the reason why we made the playoffs three consecutive years is like the Jets making the AFC championship game two years in a row. Defense carries us, and yet that next step of consistency has still eluded the player who is supposed to be the one who takes that step. OEL finished ahead of Yandle in Norris voting, yet many said Yandle would be top 5 in Norris voting.

Maybe points aren't everything...

Yeah, um, Yandle is *not* an overpaid bum like Sanchez. And he did really effing well last time I checked during our run to the WCF...

 

[BUX7PHX]

Seriously, what the hell are you effing smoking? For starters, Yandle had 5 PPGs last season - without those our anemic PP would've officially been DEAD LAST in the league. His PP production over the past 3 seasons is definitely comparable to Letang's and Karlsson's. And that's with our talent deprived forward corps.

Yandle is obviously our most talented offensive player, who easily could put up 60+ points if he had better forwards. With Ribiero in tow, he certainly has a good shot in setting career numbers next season. If Yandle's importance to our offense is that lost on you, well, I simply don't know what to say except you've got some pretty serious myopia there.

And yet, our PP still struggles with the same guy at the "QB" position. People can look at it however they want to, but doesn't it say a lot more when our PP still has issues when we bring in players like Whitney and others to kick-start it? While not a good comparison, it is like the Jets with Mark Sanchez. The hype is there, but the reason why we made the playoffs three consecutive years is like the Jets making the AFC championship game two years in a row. Defense carries us, and yet that next step of consistency has still eluded the player who is supposed to be the one who takes that step. OEL finished ahead of Yandle in Norris voting, yet many said Yandle would be top 5 in Norris voting.

Maybe points aren't everything...

 

[IPreferPi]

From the standpoint of taking that next step of becoming a consistent player, yes.

So, I am comparing the hype and expectations as a similarity, not so much the players, as Yandle is more valuable than Sanchez, given their histories...

Yandle has scored 40+ points in every season since 2009-2010 and was on pace for a 17 goal, 50+ point season this year. The only defenseman in the entire league to have more total points than him in the past 3 seasons is Karlsson. Yes, his play was a little streaky this season, but he still produces.

And Sanchez was a former hyped first round pick who has underperformed despite having pretty legit weapons like Santonio Holmes, Dustin Keller, Braylon Edwards at receiver as well as an offensive line anchored by two pereenial Pro Bowlers in Mangold and Ferguson. Granted, it's not entirely his fault as the entire Jets organization is pretty dysfunctional. But his career/play isn't even remotely comparable to Yandle's - an unheralded mid-round draft pick that I'm sure none of us expected would become a two-time All Star PMD.

 

[BUX7PHX]

Yeah, um, Yandle is *not* an overpaid bum like Sanchez. And he did really effing well last time I checked during our run to the WCF...

Sorry about the double post above.

How do you know that Yandle is not overpaid, though?

Here are Yandle's stats in 5-on-5 and PP situations over the past few years:

2012-13: 48 games, 5 G, 10 A, 5 G PP, 5 A PP, 14.8%
2011-12: 82 games, 11 G, 21 A, 0 G PP, 11 A PP, 13.6%
2010-11: 82 games, 8 G, 24 A, 3 G PP, 23 A PP, 15.9%
2009-10: 82 games, 7 G, 18 A, 5 G PP, 11 A PP, 14.6%

So our PP has hovered between 13 and 16%, but the only thing that is consistent about Yandle's stat lines are his 5-on-5 play, rather than his PP totals. When our percentage did go up, Yandle's stats went up, but a 1% PP increase is what, 3 goals on the year? That screams towards how much Whitney was the PP catalyst and Yandle took advantage of finding soft areas in the ice when Whitney was doing what Whitney do.

I know people have brought up in the past that Yandle primarily plays against the 2nd level of opponents, as OEL and Michalek would generally play against the top line last year. That could be why his stats 5-on-5 are that good. I would say that $5+ million for someone who is not a true shutdown defender, TOI is not #1 on the team, and is consistent in 5-on-5 more than PP is slightly overpaid.

And if it helps, Sanchez had a 92.7 QBR in 2009 and 95.5 in 2010, so you could say the same thing about a player like Sanchez contributing to an AFC Championship run all the same.

 

[cobra427]

With Gormley and Rundbald in the pipeline, I don't understand why we didn't take a long hard look at moving Yandle.

There were a lot of good trades on the table (assuming the rumors were correct):

D. Krejci +
S. Gagner and M. Pajaarvi
Thomas Plekanec +

Either one of those would have changed the complexion of this team for the better, IMO. As nice as Yandle's offensive contributions are, he's not exactly helping our PP and he's not playing important minutes for us. Take even last season, his offensive surge cam when the Yotes were out of a playoff spot. He had a lot of points that last week or so of the season.

Let's face it. He is not that important to us and he could have very well attracted a solid return on the market.

I disagree, Yandle is very important to us. He is one of the best PMD in the league and has had solid offensive numbers the last 3 years. He has done that with under skilled forwards too. Lets see what happens with Ribs and one more top 6 forward DM will acquire in the next few months. I think Yandles point production will go up.

On defense he gets more offensive zone starts, as he should, and with our depth, less defensive zone starts, as he should. In transition, on a dump and chase, he gets rid of the puck quickly, rarely gets caught. My only complaint would be for Yandle to have less turnovers, other then that he is awesome.

We would have had to move him to get a true number one C, but now we have Ribs. I wouldn't move Yandle for a top 6 winger, at least the ones available, and I doubt DM does it at this point. Bottom line, is that it makes little sense to move Yandle now.

 

[BUX7PHX]

Yandle has scored 40+ points in every season since 2009-2010 and was on pace for a 17 goal, 50+ point season this year. The only defenseman in the entire league to have more total points than him in the past 3 seasons is Karlsson. Yes, his play was a little streaky this season, but he still produces.

And Sanchez was a former hyped first round pick who has underperformed despite having pretty legit weapons like Santonio Holmes, Dustin Keller, Braylon Edwards at receiver as well as an offensive line anchored by two pereenial Pro Bowlers in Mangold and Ferguson. Granted, it's not entirely his fault as the entire Jets organization is pretty dysfunctional. But his career/play isn't even remotely comparable to Yandle's - an unheralded mid-round draft pick that I'm sure none of us expected would become a two-time All Star PMD.

Whereas Yandle could show his strengths by playing against 2nd line opponents, and Sanchez could only go against #1 defenses. I'd argue that Yandle playing against top line opponents would be a less than stellar outcome, same as what happened with Sanchez...

 

[IPreferPi]

Sorry about the double post above.

How do you know that Yandle is not overpaid, though?

Here are Yandle's stats in 5-on-5 and PP situations over the past few years:

2012-13: 48 games, 5 G, 10 A, 5 G PP, 5 A PP, 14.8%
2011-12: 82 games, 11 G, 21 A, 0 G PP, 11 A PP, 13.6%
2010-11: 82 games, 8 G, 24 A, 3 G PP, 23 A PP, 15.9%
2009-10: 82 games, 7 G, 18 A, 5 G PP, 11 A PP, 14.6%

So our PP has hovered between 13 and 16%, but the only thing that is consistent about Yandle's stat lines are his 5-on-5 play, rather than his PP totals. When our percentage did go up, Yandle's stats went up, but a 1% PP increase is what, 3 goals on the year? That screams towards how much Whitney was the PP catalyst and Yandle took advantage of finding soft areas in the ice when Whitney was doing what Whitney do.

I know people have brought up in the past that Yandle primarily plays against the 2nd level of opponents, as OEL and Michalek would generally play against the top line last year. That could be why his stats 5-on-5 are that good. I would say that $5+ million for someone who is not a true shutdown defender, TOI is not #1 on the team, and is consistent in 5-on-5 more than PP is slightly overpaid.

And if it helps, Sanchez had a 92.7 QBR in 2009 and 95.5 in 2010, so you could say the same thing about a player like Sanchez contributing to an AFC Championship run all the same.

And we'll agree to strongly disagree. Yandle is a 0.62 PPG defenseman over the past 3 seasons - those don't grow on trees. His contract is pretty darn fair IMO.

 

[DesertDawg]

Can't wait for the season to start!
It'll be great when Yandle and Ribeiro are out there at the same time!

 

[WJF]

Can't wait for the season to start!
It'll be great when Yandle and Ribeiro are out there at the same time!

Oh they'll be out at the same time all right - I just don't think they'll be able to compete with the other front lines in our division - the Sedins, Kopitar & Carter, Joe Thornton et al., Getzlaf & Perry, Taylor Hall et al. Somehow, I don't see Ribeiro and Yandle in that same category...

 

[ck26]

Weren't we talking about David Rundblad?

 

[XX]

I would say that $5+ million for someone who is not a true shutdown defender, TOI is not #1 on the team, and is consistent in 5-on-5 more than PP is slightly overpaid.

If you look at even strength points, Yandle is one of the best defensemen in the league the last handful of seasons. I was shocked to see that when I was rooting around for ammunition to use on the trade board. There are precious few D capable of scoring more at even strength. Only a couple are Yandle's age. He's tremendously valuable, and his deal is a steal. I think you need to look around the league at comparables. I think Yandle is a better player than Letang, a player that is getting paid for being on a great team with a great PP. I'd hate to see what you'd have to say about Yandle if he was making 7.25 a year.

No, Yandle is not a true #1. He never will be. Doesn't have the body, the mean streak, or the patience. He is, however, a tremendous addition to any offense. We don't know how badly the forwards would do if they didn't have Keith sending them passes and drawing defenders who have to respect his ability to rush.

You're trying to imply he is Mike Green. He's not. A much more complete player. A year from now, teams will be licking their chops at the thought of adding a 60 pt D for his cap hit.

 

[Desert Ice 11]

Weren't we talking about David Rundblad?

Maybe?....Oh yea we were...oops

 

[ClassLessCoyote]

The word Quaterback is used too often in a sport(hockey) where there is no real QB position and there is plenty of blame to go around for the bad powerplay overall we have seen over the years.

Apples and Oranges.

 

[RABBIT]

We've got the strongest roster on paper that we've seen in years....and our defensmen are quarterbacks and our top line is ****

I mean...wtf

I don't know what the **** is going on anymore.

 

[Sinurgy]

We've got the strongest roster on paper that we've seen in years....and our defensmen are quarterbacks and our top line is ****

I mean...wtf

I don't know what the **** is going on anymore.

It's just people are entertaining a poster known for disliking Yandle for no reason (I still subscribe to the Yandle hooked up with his girlfriend theory) and one known disliking everything for no reason. It doesn't even remotely represent the Coyote fan base who by in large love and appreciate what Yandle brings to the table!

 

[rt]

Every time this thread gets bumped I check it hoping the terms have been released. Instead it's one guy who has a bizarre Coyotes love/hate and the other guy with the bizarre Yandle love/hate. I will say that BUX is solid on every other topic, though. Heck, even WJF is fine when he takes the time to explain his negativity and offer ideas for possible solution. It's the hollow gripes that get me.

 

[Jakey53]

It's just people are entertaining a poster known for disliking Yandle for no reason (I still subscribe to the Yandle hooked up with his girlfriend theory) and one known disliking everything for no reason. It doesn't even remotely represent the Coyote fan base who by in large love and appreciate what Yandle brings to the table!

The first part of last year, and the last part of the year before Yandle's play was terrible,to the point many posters, myself included would have traded Yandle in a heartbeat. I think Yandle tries to do and think too much which gets him into trouble. I think overall his contract is fine, but he is not a #1. Many posters are saying we can't have Rundblad and Yandle at the same time. I disagree, if Rundblad can make the squad this year, it might be the best thing to happen to Yandle.

 

[Heldig]

Yandle is one of the best offensive minded defensemen in the league. Most of this type of player has flaws on the defensive side of the game.

Some of the other top scoring dmen - Karlsson, Letang, Byfuglien - are not stellar defensively either.

Yandle gets a lot of hate because of his lack of defensive zone starts.

 

[Jakey53]

Yandle is one of the best offensive minded defensemen in the league. Most of this type of player has flaws on the defensive side of the game.

Some of the other top scoring dmen - Karlsson, Letang, Byfuglien - are not stellar defensively either.

Yandle gets a lot of hate because of his lack of defensive zone starts.

I was living in Edmonton when the Oilers drafted Paul Cough-up or I mean Coffey. Most of us wished that Edmonton drafted Rick Lanz. Coffey was that bad in the defensive zone and looked how his career turned out. Yandle is no Paul Coffey, but sometimes I think we wish he was and are expecting to much from him.

 

[Guest]

The true equation is that there is not enough ice for OEL, Yandle, Runblad and Schlemko as they are all guys that can and should contribute offensively.

Since we got Ribs I'm not at all interested in moving Yandle. I'm not sure if anyone is arguing Yandle is a #1...OEL is and I don't think they overlap in a way that is a concern. If you move Yandle it's definitely for another offensive weapon, but we have enough other defenders that we could move in lesser deals without impacting the team chemistry.

Yandle is not a powerplay specialist, and I'd like to see someone make a case that says he is. There's nothing wrong with being a great offensive defenseman, but it would be nice if we had a powerplay catalyst. Yandle is capable on the powerplay and in my opinion is basically filling in until a guy like Runblad can come along and outplay him in the position. At a minimum Yandle is a solid option on the 2nd unit of the powerplay in that scenario.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

PP 1st Unit:
OEL, Ribeiro, Vrbata, Boedker, net presence (Hanzal or Moss)

PP 2nd Unit:
Yandle, Stone, Doan, Vermette, net presence (Moss or Hanzal)


Vrbata should thrive on the PP with Ribeiro as well as OEL, and I'm hoping so, because our secondary PP unit will most assuredly clip out at less than 10% efficiency.

 

[Sinurgy]

The first part of last year, and the last part of the year before Yandle's play was terrible,to the point many posters, myself included would have traded Yandle in a heartbeat.

That is true, some of you were definitely shortsighted and impulsive.