Nope. It's not that black and white. They did the little things that helped them succeed compared to the Canucks/Avs and Leafs/Oilers/Jackets/Panthers of the past.


Asset management was better. Cap management was better, having cap space is an asset. Contracts given out were good value most of the time and made sense with the team's rebuild. They usually acquired extra draft picks most years instead of trading them away for castoff project players.

Big difference between that and accidentally tanking.
- Nucker101

Agreed with most of your points, but sometimes the castoff projects work out well.
Granlund and Baertschi for example.

Why do people keep using TO and Edmonton as examples? They are extraordinary examples of an extreme. True outliers. Kind of like the canuck drafting record.
- bloatedmosquito

Ppl latch on to recent teams too easily. The comparisons make no sense.

They have amazing core parts with the best coach in the NFL if not in all of pro sports. Pretty much the same as Chicago
- manvanfan

The Pats also sucked for years at one time. A rebuild is one thing many pro teams eventually go thru. The hardest part is mainting it once it gets good. Hawks do it & LAK did not.

I don't trust Benning to get it done.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I'm not predicting if JB does well or not.
In todays marketplace trades r harder than ever.
RFA's get locked up & UFA market gets thinner & thinner.
Cap era makes it the most important task to draft & develop for cost control.
No magic formula is out there but 1-2 good moves can impact a teams future for good or bad. Trade market is always worth exploring IMO.

That's not true at all... I realize the posters on this site don't like cross-sport references, but the Patriots have been showing the rest of the NFL how it's done for a LONG time, and ppl still can't comprehend it.
- DrChristianTroy

I get what youre trying to say, but really NFL is not a good comparison. Players dont have guaranteed contracts, careers are shorter, plenty of drafted players step in right away, etc. You can easily overhaul your roster more so than NHL with their contract lengths, NMC/NTCs etc

However, Chicago is the NHL version of what I think youre getting at. For nearly a decade now they have been considered contenders, shuffling players in and out and winning in various ways. Pitt also has had 10 straight seasons in the playoffs, usually 1st or 2nd in their division, but I see their approach a little different than CHI

I get what youre trying to say, but really NFL is not a good comparison. Players dont have guaranteed contracts, careers are shorter, plenty of drafted players step in right away, etc. You can easily overhaul your roster more so than NHL with their contract lengths, NMC/NTCs etc

However, Chicago is the NHL version of what I think youre getting at. For nearly a decade now they have been considered contenders, shuffling players in and out and winning in various ways. Pitt also has had 10 straight seasons in the playoffs, usually 1st or 2nd in their division, but I see their approach a little different than CHI
- WhiteLie

NFL is simplistic....

Do as well & go as far as a QB takes a team.

RIP J. Geils

Hope you find that centerfold

NFL is simplistic....

Do as well & go as far as a QB takes a team.
- Nighthawk

Or have Von Miller single handedly win the Superbowl.

Or have Von Miller single handedly win the Superbowl.
- SRam19

Not quite but damn close yes lol
Never liked Manning & was tired of hearing about him.
He alone cost them the blowout by Seattle 😂😂

Anyway for this off-season:


1) I really hope Benning signs Gudbranson to a one year deal to prove himself, he needs to be healthier/better to earn the kind of contract he wants. I'm open to having him as that overpaid intangibles/leader guy during the rebuild, I think he's more of that than Sutter is.

2) Sign Bo Horvat long-term. He's only going to want more money later if you sign him to a bridge deal.

3) Stay away from signing any veteran UFA's, unless it's for cheap 1 year deal without a NTC, that way you can flip that player for a draft pick potentially. If he sucks, just waive him.

4) Approach Edler about waiving his NTC. Sell him on the fact that this is going to be a long rebuild and he won't be re-signed here. The Sedins only have 1 year left so they won't be here either. I think he'd provide at least a 2-3 team list.

5) If Edler is gone, I'd be open to signing a UFA vet dman to a 1-2 year deal as a stopgap minute eater

6) Expose Sbisa, try to trade him if he doesn't get drafted, if possible. I'd say consider trading Sutter, but I don't think Benning will realistically do that. Again, sign short term stopgaps to fill the holes left by any traded vets. They won't be as good, but the team is going to suck anyway so the goal is just insulate the youth until they earn a spot.

7) Sell the fans on a proper rebuild, stop trying to find shortcuts or disguise it, just accept reality. Yes ticket sales will suck, but look at the arena during the past 2 years when they tried to "compete"...it was dead and can't get much worse. In fact, some hope for the future might actually bring back some fans.

8) Outside of Edler/Sbisa, I'm fine with keeping all of the dman on the roster. I know people are screaming for a dman for forward trade, but staying patient and just drafting/developing some forwards works just as well. Sure, I'd trade Tanev or Hutton if I got good value and it made sense for the team long-term, but otherwise just keep them.
- Nucker101

Agree on most of this and
1) Trade everyone you can over 25 for picks
2) Sign vets to short term deals and move them at the TDL for picks
3)Tank next 2 years
4)Collect picks in 18 and 19 drafts
5) Use cap space to take on other teams problem contracts for picks
6) Repeat 2 next year
7)Hire more and better scouts

RIP J. Geils

Hope you find that centerfold
- A_SteamingLombardi

Really?

Charlie Murphy passed too.

RIP

NFL is simplistic....

Do as well & go as far as a QB takes a team.
- Nighthawk

Tom Brady will have the 19th highest cap hit for a QB in 2017. Thats another reason the Patriots have success, he can frequently restructure his deal to keep it lower so the team can spend more on the cap. NHL has players take less too, like some of those 10-13 year deals, but at the end of Weber's deal he wont be worth that $7+ mill cap hit

They have amazing core parts with the best coach in the NFL if not in all of pro sports. Pretty much the same as Chicago
- manvanfan

Who exactly? They've done it with different pieces consistently for like 16yrs... If you're referring to the 199th overall pick QB they turned into the GOAT because he happened to be the guy during the execution of the blueprint, that's not it either. Belichick is an amazing HC, but it's a LOT more about his asset management philosophy than game planning.

Tom Brady will have the 19th highest cap hit for a QB in 2017. Thats another reason the Patriots have success, he can frequently restructure his deal to keep it lower so the team can spend more on the cap. NHL has players take less too, like some of those 10-13 year deals, but at the end of Weber's deal he wont be worth that $7+ mill cap hit
- WhiteLie

True and the crazy thing is the blueprint doesn't even rely on Brady... Swap him out for Garoppolo and they wouldn't budge as contenders.

NFL is simplistic....

Do as well & go as far as a QB takes a team.
- Nighthawk

nope.

True and the crazy thing is the blueprint doesn't even rely on Brady... Swap him out for Garoppolo and they wouldn't budge as contenders.
- DrChristianTroy

Thats kinda my point about Brady's contract though. If his cap hit was appropriate, they wouldnt have the cash to build that depth in all positions. Instead they restructure the deal before it gets to the high paying years freeing it up to pay for players.

Bill still gets the most out of his guys and finds one that fits his system, I wont discredit that at all, but I think if money was appropriately distributed it would be tougher to be consistently a Super Bowl contender

nope.
- DrChristianTroy

QB's can lose Superbowls defence can win them.

Thats kinda my point about Brady's contract though. If his cap hit was appropriate, they wouldnt have the cash to build that depth in all positions. Instead they restructure the deal before it gets to the high paying years freeing it up to pay for players.

Bill still gets the most out of his guys and finds one that fits his system, I wont discredit that at all, but I think if money was appropriately distributed it would be tougher to be consistently a Super Bowl contender
- WhiteLie

Here's the simplified version... You get rid of ANY vet who has reached the point where they're getting paid for past performance as opposed to current ability. The Patriots do that with no remorse.

Brady's ability is no longer what it was when he carried the team, but they've developed a system where it can appear that way... and Brady understands that cap space needs to be spent on surrounding him with the pieces to suit that system. Loyalty in pro sports needs to go out the window... Linden's loyalty to the Sedins is a problem.

Thats kinda my point about Brady's contract though. If his cap hit was appropriate, they wouldnt have the cash to build that depth in all positions. Instead they restructure the deal before it gets to the high paying years freeing it up to pay for players.

Bill still gets the most out of his guys and finds one that fits his system, I wont discredit that at all, but I think if money was appropriately distributed it would be tougher to be consistently a Super Bowl contender
- WhiteLie

Brady luvs winning most. He makes a ton from endorsements etc too easily offset his salary. He is satified making millions anyways. Most players think make it while u can cuz no guarantees how long it will last. Added to that players think contracts r prestige & so-called deserving of the big one.
Their little minds don't care about how it hamstrings a GM trying to build a winner with contracts constraining him but most GM's do it to themselves.

TL loyalty to the Sedins is only a smoke screen.
He has no choice with those NMC's.
Next offseason will tell the true story.

Here's the simplified version... You get rid of ANY vet who has reached the point where they're getting paid for past performance as opposed to current ability. The Patriots do that with no remorse.

Brady's ability is no longer what it was when he carried the team, but they've developed a system where it can appear that way... and Brady understands that cap space need to be spent on surrounding him with the pieces to suit that system. Loyalty in pro sports needs to go out the window... Linden's loyalty to the Sedins is a problem.
- DrChristianTroy

Again, I agree and understand your point, I just dont think the NFL is the best example because of their non-guaranteed contracts. I think its easier in the NFL where restructured deals are possible. If the Sedin's could renegotiate their contracts on the fly, they would be easier to move. Likewise Edler having an NTC and no way (or threat) to rip it up makes him stuck on your roster.

If an NHL player is getting paid for past performances, you are stuck with their contract until it expires, very few teams will take that from you as they can also see the lack of performance. I didnt like Burrows' last contract and was in full support of moving Hansen before he needed a new one for those reasons. I am hoping this is a trend of building value and moving it for building pieces

The ironic part is it's only been 3 years. The management group should be given another two years to deliver results.
- CanuckDon

That is the ironic part about calling out JB. Most of the rebuild teams had different management groups for almost 6 years and did nothing. Made a change and years later are now turning things around. I see this team a lot more like Columbus then any other team in the league that they will be drafting mid range for a couple of years and then all of a sudden near the top of the league.

Brady luvs winning most. He makes a ton from endorsements etc too easily offset his salary. He is satified making millions anyways. Most players think make it while u can cuz no guarantees how long it will last. Added to that players think contracts r prestige & so-called deserving of the big one.
Their little minds don't care about how it hamstrings a GM trying to build a winner with contracts constraining him but most GM's do it to themselves.
- Nighthawk

Endorsements help, but also when your super model wife brings in $30.5 million last year, $16.5m more than yours, you can leave a few on the negotiating table

TL loyalty to the Sedins is only a smoke screen.
He has no choice with those NMC's.
Next offseason will tell the true story.
- Nighthawk

Trevor hopefully puts on a great retirement ceremony for them. Last home game yank the sweaters off their backs and hoist them to the ceiling so they don't have to come back and ruin the start of some game the following year.

Again, I agree and understand your point, I just dont think the NFL is the best example because of their non-guaranteed contracts. I think its easier in the NFL where restructured deals are possible. If the Sedin's could renegotiate their contracts on the fly, they would be easier to move. Likewise Edler having an NTC and no way (or threat) to rip it up makes him stuck on your roster.

If an NHL player is getting paid for past performances, you are stuck with their contract until it expires, very few teams will take that from you as they can also see the lack of performance. I didnt like Burrows' last contract and was in full support of moving Hansen before he needed a new one for those reasons. I am hoping this is a trend of building value and moving it for building pieces
- WhiteLie

Now that we r past being competitive for a PO push its all about value & cap/asset management. Goldy & Dahlen help a lot that way. BB also. Resigning EG BO Sven Granlund will be important.