James Tanner: The Myth of the Rebuild

Huh...I am inclined to agree with you.

I agree with this strategy, however I disagree with the stage they are at. I still dont think this team is very good, and trading away high drafts picks that could be a top 5 pick will a) sting and b) anger the fanbase.

For the most part I can agree with some of what you said. The problem with your argument though is the teams that have been successful rebuilding through draft obtain "cant-miss" prospects, something the Coyotes do not have. Obviously there are exceptions such as Edmonton who have single handedly hurt themselves with poor player evaluations and trades, something that the Coyotes closely resemble.

If done right, 1st rounders should be the backbone of any winning team, followed by successful trades, players from later rounds and finally signing free agents. Teams that tank and jump right to free agents tend to have less success.

James Tanner: The Myth of the Rebuild
- james_tanner1

Good article, Mr. Tanner...

Yeah I would prefer to be like Winnipeg, drafted a lot of good pieces and then won some trades.

Patience is the name of the game.

Smart teams should collect talent for 5 years through drafting but keep them OUT of the NHL for as long as possible, Keep them overseas, or in Junior. during this 5 year period trade anything worth a dime for FUTURE draft picks. Tank hard, draft high

When you finally decide to "go for it" bring up all your now NHL ready youth on their 3 year ELC's or Bridge contracts (The ones drafted in year 1 would likely be at the end of their ELC or onto their Bridge deal. Imagine 8 or so top players having a combined 12-15 million dollar cap hit

Then, use all that extra Capspace and sign the most premium of Free Agents (you can even afford to overpay) or use that plethora of FUTURE draft picks to trade for players, at the draft or at the deadline

The trick is, DON'T play your youth on their ELC's when you're not seriously competing. Don't burn that cap value on a team that's gonna miss the playoffs. Save it and use them as cheap depth as they develop into top line players

The second that you KNOW your window as a serious contender is closed do a MASSIVE selloff and start over ASAP

Joke's on us though when Hossa returns to net 35, Bolland meets his potential as a 57 goal scorer from the OHL, and after they make a deal to acquire Zetterberg's cap space, he changes his mind about retiring to guide Strome to a glorious 100 pt season by All Star break. Kevin Connauton wins the Norris, becoming a bargain. To top it off, Raanta Claus delivers a Stanley Cup at the end of his 65 win season.

Joke's on us though when Hossa returns to net 35, Bolland meets his potential as a 57 goal scorer from the OHL, and after they make a deal to acquire Zetterberg's cap space, he changes his mind about retiring to guide Strome to a glorious 100 pt season by All Star break. Kevin Connauton wins the Norris, becoming a bargain. To top it off, Raanta Claus delivers a Stanley Cup at the end of his 65 win season.
- ChonDerry

I found Tanners burner account

For the most part I can agree with some of what you said. The problem with your argument though is the teams that have been successful rebuilding through draft obtain "cant-miss" prospects, something the Coyotes do not have. Obviously there are exceptions such as Edmonton who have single handedly hurt themselves with poor player evaluations and trades, something that the Coyotes closely resemble.

If done right, 1st rounders should be the backbone of any winning team, followed by successful trades, players from later rounds and finally signing free agents. Teams that tank and jump right to free agents tend to have less success.
- Glak18

I would say fist rounders, followed by players from later rounds, then trades, then free agents.

Players from later rounds is critical because it is so rare to be able to trade for talented, young, inexpensive assets.

Kings and Hawks won their cups before they had to pay their guys well a few retirement contracts in there.

They had very deep teams as a result. Their top guys got paid after the cup was won

Teams now pay their top guys before they have won anything so they are very thin on depth.

Except.... the coyotes, in their current situation are not a cap team. You can look at the available cap space all you want, they won't spend to the cap.

As a fan, I would like to see them go for it. The first year I got season tickets, they won 24 games and I still haven't renewed for this season yet. But the main thing going against them is the cap. They realistically have nearly 20 million in space if they wanted (Bolland and Hossa to LTIR). But they are no where near a cap team, and Chayka has stated he has to do more with less.

I don't think they'll be picking top 5 after the season so I wouldn't mind moving a first round pick, and a prospect or two for a scoring winger. And yes, I know they could've drafted Zednia, but Chayka values centers and right shot D as premium positions. Maybe not a Panarin, but a 25-30 goal scorer would look good next to Stepan and Keller or Galchenyuk...

Auston Matthews is on an ELC contract and has a base salary of 925,000 including signing bonus. He also has performance bonuses in his contract worth an additional 2,850,000. It's a pretty safe bet that Matthews will attain mostly all of that bonus money due to the player that he is. So stating that Matthews is going to earn less than one-million dollars to play this season, is mis-informed.

Now let's review this statement made by Mr. Tanner.

"If the Leafs were so inclined, they could defer the bonus part of his cap-hit until the following season and have a top five player with 1/5rth the cap hit of your average second pairing defenseman."

He's comparing a player on an EL contract to a player who is most likely not. Apples and oranges.


Matthews is not being exploited and he'll soon be signing a contract that will pay him double figures in the millions to play hockey. I wish I could be exploited.


Nylander this off season and Marner and Matthews all have to be extended. As well as Gardiner if they choose to keep him. The Leafs will be tight to the Cap and they still need to improve defensively.

The trick is, DON'T play your youth on their ELC's when you're not seriously competing. Don't burn that cap value on a team that's gonna miss the playoffs. Save it and use them as cheap depth as they develop into top line players


- RoloTahmasee

How exactly do you accomplish that when player either run out of junior eligibility or reach the point where they're ready for the NHL?

I would say fist rounders, followed by players from later rounds, then trades, then free agents.

Players from later rounds is critical because it is so rare to be able to trade for talented, young, inexpensive assets.
- Aetherial

Most later round picks don't ever play an NHL game, but if you can get lucky to get a few of them to play a role on the team then I would consider that a success. Trades on the other hand are best when filling in needed roles. Trading for young players (the ones with a higher ceiling) tend to cost a bit of future and like you said are rare to come by, which is why I placed trades before lower round picks since they almost never pan out.

Auston Matthews is on an ELC contract and has a base salary of 925,000 including signing bonus. He also has performance bonuses in his contract worth an additional 2,850,000. It's a pretty safe bet that Matthews will attain mostly all of that bonus money due to the player that he is. So stating that Matthews is going to earn less than one-million dollars to play this season, is mis-informed.

Now let's review this statement made by Mr. Tanner.

"If the Leafs were so inclined, they could defer the bonus part of his cap-hit until the following season and have a top five player with 1/5rth the cap hit of your average second pairing defenseman."

He's comparing a player on an EL contract to a player who is most likely not. Apples and oranges.


Matthews is not being exploited and he'll soon be signing a contract that will pay him double figures in the millions to play hockey. I wish I could be exploited.


Nylander this off season and Marner and Matthews all have to be extended. As well as Gardiner if they choose to keep him. The Leafs will be tight to the Cap and they still need to improve defensively.
- MJL

I am a huge fan of how you think you've finally, just this once, got me.....but then oh, wait, one sentence below what you're complaining about you quote the exact answer to your query. Good Times!

I am a huge fan of how you think you've finally, just this once, got me.....but then oh, wait, one sentence below what you're complaining about you quote the exact answer to your query. Good Times!
- james_tanner1

Tanner owned a Flyerz-fan, well done Sir.

If teams who make the playoffs each year have about an equal shot at winning the Cup, and the Ducks have missed the playoffs something like three times since 2003, why do you hate them and their management so much? It seems like they're accomplishing all they can in your book.

How exactly do you accomplish that when player either run out of junior eligibility or reach the point where they're ready for the NHL?
- MJL

They're drafted at 17, they don't have to burn any ELC until they're 20

I am a huge fan of how you think you've finally, just this once, got me.....but then oh, wait, one sentence below what you're complaining about you quote the exact answer to your query. Good Times!
- james_tanner1

Waits for MJL's 20 page response...

P.S. This is a tough one, he did it without fudging numbers for once.

I am a huge fan of how you think you've finally, just this once, got me.....but then oh, wait, one sentence below what you're complaining about you quote the exact answer to your query. Good Times!
- james_tanner1

James, there is a difference between cap hit and salary. The bonus money that has to actually be paid to Matthews that he will undoubtedly earn, is not what is deferred.

coyotes rushed their young guys and there was zero point in doing so..

at the end of the day the players will dictate when the team is ready to add.. if they are fighting for a playoff spot this year then next year you look to add and not sooner.

They're drafted at 17, they don't have to burn any ELC until they're 20
- RoloTahmasee

Read what was said. He said don't play your players on their ELC's. What player is going to play at 17? At the most maybe you hold a player back at 18 but if he's that good, you're going to do it again at 19? Just to save year or so until a player is UFA eligible? Doesn't add up.

James, there is a difference between cap hit and salary. The bonus money that has to actually be paid to Matthews that he will undoubtedly earn, is not what is deferred.
- MJL

Geez I expected more...maybe some charts or a screenshot of some spreadsheets.