Right now there are 13 teams in the 24-30 points range... and a few more only a couple above that.

I understand the concern we're a point away from being last... so are nearly a dozen other teams. I don't know what expectations were by mid-December but I honestly kinda feel like were on course. Goaltenders are a question mark and the defense is a bit soft... didn't we all kinda expect that?


Forwards are streaky... yea they've played 20 some games together and rarely on a consistent line.

Eichel isn't putting up Crosby like numbers?... O no!(he actually is with the season Crosby is having) He's learning a pretty important lesson early this season... no line is permanent, don't know for sure how often he had line switch ups at Boston... but i'm willing to bet not this often.. hes not getting used to playing with a couple of wingers, hes getting used to playing with a whole team that is not something that is easy.

That's one side of it. He comes from a scouting background where he made is name through the draft. So as much is it may be about speeding up the rebuild, can't help but wonder he made those moves simply because he had no faith in those assets. Make as much lemonade out of it as he could (if that makes any sense).
- Sabresfan-365

It would be one thing if he gave up only previously drafted players. He gave up a lot of picks too.

I am not sure our prospect pool is bare like some have suggested and I also don't think the unexpected players need to come via the draft. We can't be horrible forever, players/prospects needed to be moved to actually try and get better. Was that to soon, only time will tell.

There is also going to be some teams in a world of hurt on the cap when the Canadian dollar hits 65c and stays there forever. Thankfully, we are not one of them.
- BigStew

One interesting note on the cap - Reinhart and Eichel each have 3M (ish) performance bonus clauses in their contract. So that's 5.5M they need to be careful of.

Rasmus has an 850k clause in his for this year as well

Right now there are 13 teams in the 24-30 points range... and a few more only a couple above that.

I understand the concern we're a point away from being last... so are nearly a dozen other teams. I don't know what expectations were by mid-December but I honestly kinda feel like were on course. Goaltenders are a question mark and the defense is a bit soft... didn't we all kinda expect that?
- Havic3814

My memory isn't good enough to remember, but others have posted that they had zero wins in January last year. If this team keeps playing at this level, they'll probably be 15 points better than last year once February rolls around.

But I guess the narrative is better if it looks worse right now....

It would be one thing if he gave up only previously drafted players. He gave up a lot of picks too.
- buffalofan19

He also traded for picks, but again...the narrative of what is lost is more juicy.

Edit:

Per nhltradetracker

9 picks acquired, 8 picks traded away

(had to re-edit, missed 3 picks away, making it 9-8)

My memory isn't good enough to remember, but others have posted that they had zero wins in January last year. If this team keeps playing at this level, they'll probably be 15 points better than last year once February rolls around.

But I guess the narrative is better if it looks worse right now....
- stashu

100% and they also had a winning streak last year around this time that really inflated there numbers

I don't normally post, but this is bothering me

Kane 4th overall
Bogosian 3rd overall
ROR 33rd
Lehner 46th

Over the last 10 years the 21st draft pick has been

2015 Colin White - 0 games
2014 Robert Fabbri - 23 games 9 points
2013 Frederick Gauthier - 0 games
2012 Mark Jankowski - 0 games
2011 Stefan Noesen - 1game 0 points
2010 Riley Sheahen - 152 games 66 points
2009 John Moore - 257 games 49 points
2008 Anton Gustaphsson - 0 games
2007 Riley Nash - 199 games 63 points
2006 Bobby Sabguinetti - Playing in Rochester
2005 Tuuka Rask

So what exactly did TM give up?
- 13Vision

This is kind of a skewed way of looking at it. it was a loaded draft. And BTW Colin White looks like a tremendous prospect (currently leads the nation in freshman scoring)

My memory isn't good enough to remember, but others have posted that they had zero wins in January last year. If this team keeps playing at this level, they'll probably be 15 points better than last year once February rolls around.

But I guess the narrative is better if it looks worse right now....
- stashu

They're right we didn't... we still got 9 games to go in December.

They're right we didn't... we still got 9 games to go in December.
- Havic3814

2/1/2015 - 31 points

12/11/15 - 25 points

21 games to play before 2/1/16

He also traded for picks, but again...the narrative of what is lost is more juicy.

Edit:

Per nhltradetracker

9 picks acquired, 8 picks traded away

(had to re-edit, missed 3 picks away, making it 9-8)
- stashu

Well, I wouldn't compare the 7th rounder for Mitchell, or 5th for Flynn to multiple 1st's and 2nd rounders that he gave away. But if it fits the narrative......

This is kind of a skewed way of looking at it. it was a loaded draft. And BTW Colin White looks like a tremendous prospect (currently leads the nation in freshman scoring)
- MCGUIZZY

So does Konecny, so does Roslovic (WPG pick)

2/1/2015 - 31 points

12/11/15 - 25 points

21 games to play before 2/1/16
- stashu

Exactly... we have nearly 2 months to win 3 games and be as bad as we were last year.

He also traded for picks, but again...the narrative of what is lost is more juicy.

Edit:

Per nhltradetracker

9 picks acquired, 8 picks traded away

(had to re-edit, missed 3 picks away, making it 9-8)
- stashu

I have no doubt he makes moves no matter where he was hired but making them this early with those particular assets makes me feel like he had little hope for them. In both deals we heard Bailey's name come up and Murray say no. And everyone brought in was still pretty young.

Great point at the end with getting shots through. The big thing with franson is he may get them through but shoots it wide. Kane would shoot it even if there's a wall in the way.

Lidstrom was the best I've seen do it. Doesnt have to be the hardest or most accurate shot just always got it on net.

Risto is no Lidstrom but i'd rather have patience over and huge slapper on the PP
- yen6d1

That's a contradictory statement, by definition if he always gets it on net it's an accurate shot.

picks, picks, picks,. It's like buying lottery tickets vs a real job.

That's a contradictory statement, by definition if he always gets it on net it's an accurate shot.
- Wetbandit1

Remember Van boxmeer ?

picks, picks, picks,. It's like buying lottery tickets vs a real job.
- cabin

I can't stand people that act like every 5th round pick given up is a lost Datsyuk

I can't stand people that act like every 5th round pick given up is a lost Datsyuk
- Havic3814

Or every 1st round pick will be a sure thing.

I can't stand people that act like every 5th round pick given up is a lost Datsyuk
- Havic3814

Been a few (bunch) around here the past 5 years.

Or every 1st round pick will be a sure thing.
- jochfr

even at 30th

That's a contradictory statement, by definition if he always gets it on net it's an accurate shot.
- Wetbandit1

If you want to get that technical I'm just saying it doesn't have to be bar down every time

It would be one thing if he gave up only previously drafted players. He gave up a lot of picks too.
- buffalofan19

Yeah, but he with the scouting background more than anyone knows the value of those picks. We'll see. I'm more patient than the average fan. You get 3 years to show me what you've got. And we're only on year 2. I don't count the 2 months he was on the job after Regier got fired. You need to have patience. Look at the Bengals with Marvin Lewis; how many times did people want him gone in the early years? And then they got real good, but the last couple Palmer years weren't very good, with the exception of '09 but they stuck by him, and now they're one of the better teams in the NFL.

Plus you are all bumholes

Plus you are all bumholes
- jochfr

Reported.

Plus you are all bumholes
- jochfr

well.... you're not wrong