Costing us probably Nurse/Klef and JP/Yamamoto/1st. Maybe more,

Kessel has quite a friendly contract at 6.8mil.
- Lahey

The Leafs didnt get that kind of haul from the Pens and the Pens won't get that kind of haul now.

Why the (frank) would we want Phat Phil??

- Iggysbff

Is it that bad to put a guy who can put up 92 points next Drai ?

He’s not a driver. He’s a passenger and at at his cap hit we can get that for half the price.
- Iggysbff

Who could we get for 3.4 million that is an equal offensive threat ?

Is it that bad to put a guy who can put up 92 points next Drai ?
- GreenBastard

His highest ever. When he has had to be the guy he hasn’t come close to that total.
He’s been in the 60-70 range most of his career.

The Leafs didnt get that kind of haul from the Pens and the Pens won't get that kind of haul now.
- GreenBastard

THat's because Toronto was dumb. Just like JVR. Making zero attempt to try keep their leading goal scorer

His highest ever. When he has had to be the guy he hasn’t come close to that total.
- Iggysbff

He's like 8th in points the past 5 years or something. He has his issues and is only half a man, but he's one of the top offensive players in the game.

He's like 8th in points the past 5 years or something. He has his issues and is only half a man, but he's one of the top offensive players in the game.
- Lahey

The only way it makes any kind of sense is if Lucic is gone. So not happening.

He’s not a driver. He’s a passenger and at at his cap hit we can get that for half the price.
- Iggysbff

If the guy can put up 70 point average that's a damn good passenger. Damn near PPG when games matter

The only way it makes any kind of sense is if Lucic is gone. So not happening.
- Iggysbff

I don't know if we can get it done, but PC has to be inquiring.

THat's because Toronto was dumb. Just like JVR. Making zero attempt to try keep their leading goal scorer
- Lahey

Can't tank for Matthews with Kessel. Plus his contract was atrocious until the Leafs retained salary.

Can't tank for Matthews with Kessel. Plus his contract was atrocious until the Leafs retained salary.
- GreenBastard

That isn't true, he had two bad seasons. But has either put up 80 points or scored 30 goals while in Toronto. 8mil in Pit year one would've sucked, but then he did put up 22 in 24 in playoffs

If the guy can put up 70 point average that's a damn good passenger. Damn near PPG when games matter
- Lahey

Even if he is a "passenger" (which I don't know that I believe), he's a passenger that meshes well with high end talent. Isn't that precisely what we're looking for in a wingman for Draisaitl? I'd say it is.

Since being traded to Pittsburgh, he rang up 57.5% GF, 74.4% GF and 46.4% GF on a line with Malkin. There's certainly cause for concern with that last total but it doesn't negate or even outweigh his positive results prior. Even if we assume this is his new norm (which I don't yet believe), he's an exceptional PP producer to the point where he has enough of a positive effect on 5-on-4 that he makes up for his shortcomings at 5-on-5. Further supporting him is that his track record of playoff outscoring is infallible. Every year he's been in the playoffs, he has pulled even against or outscored his competition at even strength (50%, 68.8%, 70%, 67.7%, 67.7%, 57.1%).

He certainly has his flaws in that he's not a good two-way talent and that his less-than-ideal fitness level could lead to an earlier than average drop-off but, if we're looking for a guy to help Draisaitl elevate his game, we would be hard-pressed to find better than Kessel. The cost to acquire might be the sticking point. I wouldn't go much higher than Yamamoto and Sekera for him and it'd likely need to be followed by another cap clearing move to facilitate upgrades in other areas.

Even if he is a "passenger" (which I don't know that I believe), he's a passenger that meshes well with high end talent. Isn't that precisely what we're looking for in a wingman for Draisaitl? I'd say it is.

Since being traded to Pittsburgh, he rang up 57.5% GF, 74.4% GF and 46.4% GF on a line with Malkin. There's certainly cause for concern with that last total but it doesn't negate or even outweigh his positive results prior. Even if we assume this is his new norm (which I don't yet believe), he's an exceptional PP producer to the point where he has enough of a positive effect on 5-on-4 that he makes up for his shortcomings at 5-on-5. Further supporting him is that his track record of playoff outscoring is infallible. Every year he's been in the playoffs, he has pulled even against or outscored his competition at even strength (50%, 68.8%, 70%, 67.7%, 67.7%, 57.1%).

He certainly has his flaws in that he's not a good two-way talent and that his less-than-ideal fitness level could lead to an earlier than average drop-off but, if we're looking for a guy to help Draisaitl elevate his game, we would be hard-pressed to find better than Kessel. The cost to acquire might be the sticking point. I wouldn't go much higher than Yamamoto and Sekera for him and it'd likely need to be followed by another cap clearing move to facilitate upgrades in other areas.
- MaximumBone

Craig Button referred to a comment by someone last week. Coaches complain about players on their team that they don't do this or that, but they will like a guy on another team. Once they get said player they then complain that he can't do this and that.

Fans are very much the same. Need to start playing players in the role they should. If a coach doesn't have the players for his game plan then he needs to change his tactics and coach to what he has.

Gerald Gallant has proved this time and time again.

Craig Button referred to a comment by someone last week. Coaches complain about players on their team that they don't do this or that, but they will like a guy on another team. Once they get said player they then complain that he can't do this and that.

Fans are very much the same. Need to start playing players in the role they should. If a coach doesn't have the players for his game plan then he needs to change his tactics and coach to what he has.

Gerald Gallant has proved this time and time again.
- Lahey

Definitely true.

Coaches are notoriously stubborn and strict in the conceptualization and deployment of their strategies. While micro-adaptations do occur pretty regularly, I think there's room for coaching to see significant change in the coming decade. I'm not yet 100% on what these changes or would be or how I think they'll manifest themselves, I think professional coaching is on the precipice of substantial evolution.

Definitely true.

Coaches are notoriously stubborn and strict in the conceptualization and deployment of their strategies. While micro-adaptations do occur pretty regularly, I think there's room for coaching to see significant change in the coming decade. I'm not yet 100% on what these changes or would be or how I think they'll manifest themselves, I think professional coaching is on the precipice of substantial evolution.
- MaximumBone

I feel coaches at lower levels such as Junior are more open to change. At the same time they have to be as if they get fired they can't really go any lower and be a coach without a part-time job.

Where as a lot of pro coaches come in as they are proven and want the team to adapt to them.

There was a good story about Babcock in DET. He came in telling the players how to play. Lidstrom and company told him, watch us before changing us. He adapted, but that was simply because he had legends on that team. Take Lidstrom and company out and does he listen?

I feel coaches at lower levels such as Junior are more open to change. At the same time they have to be as if they get fired they can't really go any lower and be a coach without a part-time job.

Where as a lot of pro coaches come in as they are proven and want the team to adapt to them.

There was a good story about Babcock in DET. He came in telling the players how to play. Lidstrom and company told him, watch us before changing us. He adapted, but that was simply because he had legends on that team. Take Lidstrom and company out and does he listen?
- Lahey

Interesting anecdote there. Hadn't heard such a story and I guess I'll have to look into it. Thanks!

I find it curious that we may be seeing something similar after that moment this past season where McDavid took the board during a time out, drew up a play and they scored on it. It was shortly after that game that Todd took over more responsibilities on the bench. Maybe it's nothing, but that could be the beginning of him understanding the need to evolve.

I feel coaches at lower levels such as Junior are more open to change. At the same time they have to be as if they get fired they can't really go any lower and be a coach without a part-time job.

Where as a lot of pro coaches come in as they are proven and want the team to adapt to them.

There was a good story about Babcock in DET. He came in telling the players how to play. Lidstrom and company told him, watch us before changing us. He adapted, but that was simply because he had legends on that team. Take Lidstrom and company out and does he listen?
- Lahey

A good coach will watch a team before making drastic changes... something Dallas Eakins was never able to do in Edmonton.

Craig Button referred to a comment by someone last week. Coaches complain about players on their team that they don't do this or that, but they will like a guy on another team. Once they get said player they then complain that he can't do this and that.

Fans are very much the same. Need to start playing players in the role they should. If a coach doesn't have the players for his game plan then he needs to change his tactics and coach to what he has.

Gallant has proved this time and time again.
- Lahey

Disagree. They picked players based on the way they wanted the team style to play. McPhee has even said this. It’s the players in Vegas that have bought into Gallants system that has them playing well. Coaches need to adjust but so do players.

Gregor has an interview with Hall about some slight changes he made on the pp this year that lead to greater success. Everyone can change something.

The best part of the cap going up might be the over looked cap floor also going up. Could be a good way to shed salary.

Disagree. They picked players based on the way they wanted the team style to play. McPhee has even said this. It’s the players in Vegas that have bought into Gallants system that has them playing well. Coaches need to adjust but so do players.

Gregor has an interview with Hall about some slight changes he made on the pp this year that lead to greater success. Everyone can change something.
- Iggysbff

At the end of the day he adjusting his coaching strategy to include a group of players that has no stars and no real d-men that were much more than 2nd pairing guys.

Yes they did have a plan going into the expansion draft, but he still changed and evolved to come up with that plan

The best part of the cap going up might be the over looked cap floor also going up. Could be a good way to shed salary.
- GreenBastard

Really think the only guy not moveable is Lucic. Sekera and Russell with their blessing you could find them a home and it wouldn't break the prospect bank to do so.

Interesting anecdote there. Hadn't heard such a story and I guess I'll have to look into it. Thanks!

I find it curious that we may be seeing something similar after that moment this past season where McDavid took the board during a time out, drew up a play and they scored on it. It was shortly after that game that Todd took over more responsibilities on the bench. Maybe it's nothing, but that could be the beginning of him understanding the need to evolve.
- MaximumBone

I think part of the issue is he had yes men that he's been working with too long. Even though they were only here a short time, they were kind of complacent.

Really think the only guy not moveable is Lucic. Sekera and Russell with their blessing you could find them a home and it wouldn't break the prospect bank to do so.
- Lahey

I could see a team looking to hit the cap floor would be willing to take on Russell or Sekera and getting a minor asset in return.

I could see a team looking to hit the cap floor would be willing to take on Russell or Sekera and getting a minor asset in return.
- GreenBastard

Problem is their NMC right now. I wouldn't be in a hurry to get rid of either unless we have something else lined up.

Next year options open up with their clauses and I feel Sekera is/will be a wanted man again. Russell at 3mil isn't bad either, so it's not like he's drastically overpaid.

Both Sekera and Russell are guys that teams should buy low on, but not sure how many of those cap floor teams would be acceptable to the players

At the end of the day Orpik is making 5.5mil. Let that soak in for a minute before we really think our two guys have horrid contracts

I could see a team looking to hit the cap floor would be willing to take on Russell or Sekera and getting a minor asset in return.
- GreenBastard

Teams doing that are usually taking on cap hit but much lower actual salary. There is only a slight benefit for both Sekera and Russell’s contracts that way right now.
Also I have a hard time seeing them being willing to waive to go to a cap floor poopty team.