Sutter is stop gap material that eats hard minutes. I have no real issues with him.
How long did you think this rebuild stuff was going too take, 1 draft maybe 2?
I expected 5-9 years of pain, starting back in 2012.
- Reubenkincade

No do it properly set yourself up for the future. You are the one who wants to speed up the rebuild. I want to tear it down and suffer for another 3 years then start to see what holes you have to fill, if they can be filled via free agency then fine if not keep drafting.

Dont take a step forward until you are 100% sure the holes you have are filled. See the oilers as a team who thought oh we have mcdavid we need to add lucic or the canucks we need LE.

Those moves are dead wrong. Cut salary and add cap dumps and stop gap free agents who can be flipped at the deadline. Take advantage of the 50% cap retention claus.. Keep adding picks

What could you sell Karlsson or Ekman-Larsson on though? Those kind of players don't hit free agency to sign with poop teams. If we're being honest.
- LeftCoaster

We aren't going to be a poop team in 2 years, by the time EK or OEL go to UFA, we will be very close to competing and either one would be able to push us over the hump. Especially if we're smart enough not to take on more UFA contracts and sell off all our junk at TDL.

Sign Doubty..he’s going to the highest bidder
- Nucker101

Trauna, they've got some great young forwards there, he said he wants to win. That ain't happening here Bubba. At least not any time soon.

What could you sell Karlsson or Ekman-Larsson on though? Those kind of players don't hit free agency to sign with poop teams. If we're being honest.
- LeftCoaster

Money and thats it at this point which is problem. You would over pay and then (frank) yourself when it ccomes time to sign the players we have.

I would try to add OEL 100% as he will be cheaper and younger.

We aren't going to be a poop team in 2 years, by the time EK or OEL go to UFA, we will be very close to competing and either one would be able to push us over the hump. Especially if we're smart enough not to take on more UFA contracts and sell off all our junk at TDL.
- DariusKnight

I could see OEL more so than Karlsson. But I agree with you. If you’re going to sign any expensive UFA’s, it’s better to go for true franchise building blocks instead of wingers like Eriksson and Kane.

Especially since dmen seemingly regress slower than forwards in their 30’s

We aren't going to be a poop team in 2 years, by the time EK or OEL go to UFA, we will be very close to competing and either one would be able to push us over the hump. Especially if we're smart enough not to take on more UFA contracts and sell off all our junk at TDL.
- DariusKnight

I think you have false hope, this teams needs a lot of work before it's playoff good.

Money and thats it at this point which is problem. You would over pay and then (frank) yourself when it ccomes time to sign the players we have.

I would try to add OEL 100% as he will be cheaper and younger.
- mauryballstein

They're both free agents after next year, lots of teams can throw money at them, even teams who are in a better position to win. I'd love it, I just don't think it's realistic.

Trauna, they've got some great young forwards there, he said he wants to win. That ain't happening here Bubba. At least not any time soon.
- LeftCoaster

Didn’t he say that he wants to be the highest paid dman in the league, or something along those lines?

If I were him I’d take the biggest offer I can get from a warm weather city. He’s got his cups, playing in TO with a fat contract seems like a headache waiting to happen. But at the same time, if he somehow brought Toronto a cup then they’d probs get a statue built of him and start comparing him to Bobby Orr.

Yet our own fans here used to make fun of other teams’ front offices for sucking for 7-9 years straight.

I guess they’re being humbled now
- Nucker101

Dont know why they think it is so easy.
Take a look at a team like Carolina, they have been plugging away at adding some nice young players and prospects into the system, for several years now, they have recently changes mgmt and the new guy will come in, make an adjustment of some sort or win a lotto pick or something and team will be in contention.
The fans will claim what a great GM he is and how quickly he rebuilt the team, ignoring the fact that the previous GM did most of the 5-9 years of rebuilding.
Similar to what transpired in TO.

Didn’t he say that he wants to be the highest paid dman in the league, or something along those lines?

If I were him I’d take the biggest offer I can get from a warm weather city. He’s got his cups, playing in TO with a fat contract seems like a headache waiting to happen. But at the same time, if he somehow brought Toronto a cup then they’d probs get a statue built of him and start comparing him to Bobby Orr.
- Nucker101

I think he said he just wants to win, he doesn't give a (frank) where it is, lol, then the Kings management scolded him and he suddenly wanted to be a King for life

I could see OEL more so than Karlsson. But I agree with you. If you’re going to sign any expensive UFA’s, it’s better to go for true franchise building blocks instead of wingers like Eriksson and Kane.

Especially since dmen seemingly regress slower than forwards in their 30’s
- Nucker101

Thing is, I really believe the Sedins, Tanev, LE and Gagner were holding us back this year. With the Sedins now gone, and with Tanev having some value, if you can get rid of those three at this TDL, you instantly get better because the players replacing them will be prospects from Utica who are younger, faster, cheaper and have a lot more upside. Having a 1D that's as good as EK or OEL (and I agree OEL is more likely) would stabilize the D and allow Juolevi, Hutton and Stecher to play to their strengths instead of having to do more than their skill level is capable of. It would also allow us to move on from Del Zotto and Edler and then Gudbranson wouldn't be as divisive or as exposed.

I think he said he just wants to win, he doesn't give a (frank) where it is, lol, then the Kings management scolded him and he suddenly wanted to be a King for life
- LeftCoaster

Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson made it clear Thursday that he won’t be taking any hometown discount simply to stay with the club beyond next season.

“When I go to market, I’m going to get what I’m worth, and it’s going to be no less, no matter where I’m going,” Karlsson said following the club’s practice here Thursday, as the Senators aim to end a seven-game losing streak Friday against the New York Islanders.

“That’s the business part of it. That’s the way every player has been treated ever since this league has started, and I think the players have been a little bit on the other side of things when it comes to negotiations. I think it’s time to realize that when we go to the table, it’s business on both parts, not just (owners).”

And

"I know I'm going to talk to Karlsson back and forth, kind of see what money he's looking for. I'll kind of look at what money I'm looking for," Doughty said. "I don't know if he's going to re-sign with Ottawa, I don't know if I'll re-sign with L.A. You just never know what's going to happen."

While Doughty didn't get into exact salary demands, he did note that P.K. Subban's contract, which comes with a $9-million cap hit - the most among NHL defensemen - should be the benchmark.

"Right now, I guess we'd be gauging off what P.K. makes," Doughty said. “I think both of us deserve quite a bit more than that."

I don’t think these guys are going to listen to any proposals that include words like “if you take a little less, we can create something special here”

Dont know why they think it is so easy.
Take a look at a team like Carolina, they have been plugging away at adding some nice young players and prospects into the system, for several years now, they have recently changes mgmt and the new guy will come in, make an adjustment of some sort or win a lotto pick or something and team will be in contention.
The fans will claim what a great GM he is and how quickly he rebuilt the team, ignoring the fact that the previous GM did most of the 5-9 years of rebuilding.
Similar to what transpired in TO.
- Reubenkincade

Same thing happened in Toronto really, before Shanaplan got there the previous GM's assembled Rielly, Kadri, Nylander, Gardiner, Bozak, JVR and Brown. Then they added Marner and Matthews and Andersen, it didn't happen in four years.

Thing is, I really believe the Sedins, Tanev, LE and Gagner were holding us back this year. With the Sedins now gone, and with Tanev having some value, if you can get rid of those three at this TDL, you instantly get better because the players replacing them will be prospects from Utica who are younger, faster, cheaper and have a lot more upside. Having a 1D that's as good as EK or OEL (and I agree OEL is more likely) would stabilize the D and allow Juolevi, Hutton and Stecher to play to their strengths instead of having to do more than their skill level is capable of. It would also allow us to move on from Del Zotto and Edler and then Gudbranson wouldn't be as divisive or as exposed.
- DariusKnight

I don’t see how Tanev is holding back this team at all when he’s healthy. I assume you mean he’s holding them back because he’s constantly injured, but then you’d have to include Gudbranson on that list as well.

I don’t see how Tanev is holding back this team at all when he’s healthy. I assume you mean he’s holding them back because he’s constantly injured, but then you’d have to include Gudbranson on that list as well.
- Nucker101

Always injured and provides little in the way of offense, same as Gudbranson, the difference between them is that Gudbranson's younger and theoretically has some upside and at least has some physicality to his game that Tanev lacks. Plus you move on from Guddy when he goes to UFA because he's emminently replaceable.

And


I don’t think these guys are going to listen to any proposals that include words like “if you take a little less, we can create something special here”
- Nucker101

gettin paid!!!

Sept. 2017
“My first love will always be L.A.,” Doughty told The Hockey News’ Matt Larkin in a piece published Saturday. “It’s one of the best organizations in all of sports, not just hockey. It’s unbelievable. They treat us first-class, and it’s a good place to play.

“I’d love to re-sign in L.A. But if our team isn’t going in the right direction… I want to win Cups. I don’t give a s— where I play. I just want to win Cups, and that’s the bottom line.”


May 2018
“I always wanted to be an L.A. King and I want to stay an L.A. King,” Doughty said Friday, according to NHL.com. “I can’t remember what day we can start talking, but I’m sure we will when the time comes.”

Doughty, 29, addressed his contract situation at the team’s locker clean out after the Kings were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round of the playoffs. He will be a free agent on July 1, 2019 when he finishes an eight-year, $56 million contract.

Doughty said he likes the direction the team is headed and wants to be a part of the future.

gettin paid!!!

“My first love will always be L.A.,” Doughty told The Hockey News’ Matt Larkin in a piece published Saturday. “It’s one of the best organizations in all of sports, not just hockey. It’s unbelievable. They treat us first-class, and it’s a good place to play.

“I’d love to re-sign in L.A. But if our team isn’t going in the right direction… I want to win Cups. I don’t give a s— where I play. I just want to win Cups, and that’s the bottom line.”
- LeftCoaster

This was after he got sent to Rob Blake’s office

This was after he got sent to Rob Blake’s office
- Nucker101

No that was before, see my edit above

No do it properly set yourself up for the future. You are the one who wants to speed up the rebuild. I want to tear it down and suffer for another 3 years then start to see what holes you have to fill, if they can be filled via free agency then fine if not keep drafting.

Dont take a step forward until you are 100% sure the holes you have are filled. See the oilers as a team who thought oh we have mcdavid we need to add lucic or the canucks we need LE.

Those moves are dead wrong. Cut salary and add cap dumps and stop gap free agents who can be flipped at the deadline. Take advantage of the 50% cap retention claus.. Keep adding picks
- mauryballstein

You must have me mistaken for someone else, I have been all about drafting for about 40 years and still have the hockey news draft editions at my moms house from those years.
Back then Bob MacKenzie was the king and today he still is.
Pretty sure your strategy is just a copy and paste from many of the analytic sites that think everything is easy because a few teams have been able to do it, but those teams also had some legitimate younger players and some legitimate prospects.
This team had the worst possible situation going for it, a very high-salaried aging team, with many nmc/ntc issues, a disgruntled whiny star player, and zero prospects in the system.
Do I wish all picks were kept, (frank) ya, I never like giving up a pick, was I happy too see guys like Higgins bought out , Sedin's retire, Hansen and Burrows traded, Kesler Garrison etc out, hell yeah.
This team is much younger now and hopefully the rewards of going younger will be rewarded over the next couple seasons.

Sorry about the novel.

Always injured and provides little in the way of offense, same as Gudbranson, the difference between them is that Gudbranson's younger and theoretically has some upside and at least has some physicality to his game that Tanev lacks. Plus you move on from Guddy when he goes to UFA because he's emminently replaceable.
- DariusKnight

Tanev is statistically one of the better shutdown dmen in the league when healthy over the last few years. I’d still trade him but I’d be tempted to wait until the TDL and tell him to chill on the blocked shots a bit because right now his value is likely lower than it should be. He’s not useless to a rebuild imo. Like Sutter and Edler, he provides a stopgap who can play heavy d-zone starts without getting wrecked so that the rest of the lineup can play easier minutes.

It’s the rest of the vets who are in no man’s land. Eriksson/Gagner/MDZ can’t play difficult minutes without getting lit up and don’t provide enough offense.

No that was before, see my edit above
- LeftCoaster

So before he started talking to Karlsson

So before he started talking to Karlsson
- Nucker101

If Benning throws 12 million X 7 at Tavares and he bites is the only way you're convincing OEL or Karlsson to listen to you.

If Benning throws 12 million X 7 at Tavares and he bites is the only way you're convincing OEL or Karlsson to listen to you.
- LeftCoaster

I’m not expecting to land any of these guys. But I 100% believe that EK/Doughty will be hesitant to leave any money on the table. Especially EK since he probably hates all owners after dealing with Melnyk for years.

I'd trade Sutter, Gagner, LE, Del Zotto and Gudbranson at this years TDL for picks and prospects, but that's just me. I'd also go hard for EK and OEL because I don't see Juolevi being more than a really good 3, maybe a decent 2 and we need a 1D in the worst way and getting EK or OEL will stabilize the D and allow us to dump Edler and Tanev.
- DariusKnight

I would also ask Edler to take on for the team then in the summer give him a contract

I would also ask Edler to take on for the team then in the summer give him a contract
- VANTEL

Would love to see the team do something like this