Tough break for Chota and Koivu.

Do the math folks, now both wild cards will be up for grabs in the West.

The hawks have as good a chance as any one outside of top 3 in each division.

Forwards

Debrincat +4.34
Kane +2.50
Saad +0.96
Perlini +0.24
Kahun +0.19
Kunitz +0.09
Caggiula -0.03
Fortin -0.16
Hayden -1.01
- scottak

Ok - I know it’s a complicated secret formula - but someone is going to have to explain to me why Kane’s WAR is so low - not even top wing on the team.

How times change. Other than Buff and Madden all the other guys were on the '13 team who you characterized as perimeter players and pirouetting ballerinas...I'm paraphrasing, but something like that.

Basically the entire season you were sounding the horn that their President's Trophy was nice, but they didn't have anyone to play the heavy game when the games counted.

Pick a narrative and stick with it.
- HawkintheD

I dont know what’s worse, taking the time to go back that far, or getting it wrong after all of the effort.

Show me one post where I called out any of those individuals as soft players. Madden and Buff were gone after the 2010 season, so I couldn’t have commented on them that way.

The scheme became softer for sure, and they did amp it up in the playoffs during the cup years, but I find it frankly impossible to have suggested Hossa, Bolland, Bickell, or Saad ever played soft games during the halcyon years.

You are correct. That is why they would have a tough time with Boston and especially Tampa, who have as much or more speed and skill up front. Hedman, McDonough, Stralman as top 3 with Girardi as a PK/Shutdown Sergachev, another evolving star. Plus Cernak, big bodied beast who can skate, think Parayko with a little less offensively and depth with Braden Coburn...another big guy.

Nobody in the NHL matches up with that blue line. Yes San Jose has some offensive skill, but do not believe they have that depth.
- TrueGrit

Tampa is going to add Simmonds/Stone and win the Cup. 4-4 in Toronto

37-26 SOG in favor of NHL worst OTT, but the Leafs stars are deadly.

Ok - I know it’s a complicated secret formula - but someone is going to have to explain to me why Kane’s WAR is so low - not even top wing on the team.
- StLBravesFan

Not necessarily low. Other than goalies, the Hawks have only 3 C/F/D with a WAR above +1, Toews, Kane & DCat

Not necessarily low. Other than goalies, the Hawks have only 3 C/F/D with a WAR above +1, Toews, Kane & DCat
- scottak

What is WAR? And what is it good for?

Ok - I know it’s a complicated secret formula - but someone is going to have to explain to me why Kane’s WAR is so low - not even top wing on the team.
- StLBravesFan

Many pages of explanations and formulas, but here’s their summary:

The complete list of WAR components is:

Offensive shot rates
Defensive shot rates
Offensive shot quality
Defensive shot quality
Shooting
Penalties taken
Penalties drawn
Zonal transitions

What is WAR? And what is it good for?
- EnzoD

Huh, absolutely nothin’

Tough break for Chota and Koivu.

Do the math folks, now both wild cards will be up for grabs in the West.

The hawks have as good a chance as any one outside of top 3 in each division.
- TrueGrit

15% chance going into tonight’s games.

And a 54% chance to finish 7th in the Central.

The Blues project to get the 8th spot in the West with 86 points.

Based on play this year Marner's agent should be demanding same $/yr as Mathews and Tavares. Kid is a superb player.
- RickJ

Marner doesn't have Kane's stickhandling ability but he may be a better passer and possess better on ice vision. Some of Marner's passes and setups for tip ins are just sick. He is also very good without the puck and kills penalties. What he hasn't shown yet is the ability Kane has shown of bringing the level of his play up in big situations.

Here's the next grouping. Who do you go after that will make your team better? Who will you go after that won't require a bidding war? Who is young enough that you can rely on him for 4-5 years? Oh, and who doesn't just suck...?

19. Ben Hutton Vancouver CanucksVAN 25 D Left RFA
20. Adam McQuaid New York RangersNYR 31 D Right UFA
21. Ben Lovejoy New Jersey DevilsNJD 34 D Right UFA
22. Patrik Nemeth Colorado AvalancheCOL 26 D Left UFA
23. Nathan Beaulieu Buffalo SabresBUF 25 D Left RFA
24. Jan Rutta Tampa Bay LightningTBL 27 D Right UFA
25. Esa Lindell Dallas StarsDAL 24 D Left RFA
26. Nikita Zadorov Colorado AvalancheCOL 23 D Left RFA
27. Alex Petrovic Edmonton OilersEDM 26 D Right UFA
28. Jake McCabe Buffalo SabresBUF 24 D Left RFA
29. Luca Sbisa New York IslandersNYI 28 D Left UFA
30. Deryk Engelland Vegas Golden KnightsVGK 36 D Right UFA
31. Ben Chiarot Winnipeg JetsWPG 27 D Left UFA
32. Roman Polák Dallas StarsDAL 32 D Right UFA
33. Andrej Sustr Anaheim DucksANA 27 D Right UFA
34. Connor Carrick Dallas StarsDAL 24 D Right RFA
35. Derrick Pouliot Vancouver CanucksVAN 24 D Left RFA
36. Jordie Benn Montreal CanadiensMTL 30 D Left UFA
37. Chris Wideman Florida PanthersFLA 28 D Right UFA
38. Brooks Orpik Washington CapitalsWSH 37 D Left UFA
- MNHawk

I like McCabe, Gunnarson, and Zadorov. Only Gunnarson has a shot though because the other two will be matched on most offer sheets.

Many pages of explanations and formulas, but here’s their summary:

The complete list of WAR components is:

Offensive shot rates
Defensive shot rates
Offensive shot quality
Defensive shot quality
Shooting
Penalties taken
Penalties drawn
Zonal transitions
- scottak

And the +/- is what? Relative to the averages of their math formula involving all those stats?

I like McCabe, Gunnarson, and Zadorov. Only Gunnarson has a shot though because the other two will be matched on most offer sheets.
- ObeseOprah

McCabe is a project the more I watch him. Like his skating and physicality but he’s big mistake prone both with the puck and defensively. What do you do with Seabrook though? Just eat the fact that you’re going to have your 6D making $7mil for the next half decade? He’s NOT a top 4 Dman anymore...just can’t. Zadorov is another guy with potential and skills that hasn’t been consistent at all in Denver. Also injured too much.

McCabe is a project the more I watch him. Like his skating and physicality but he’s big mistake prone both with the puck and defensively. What do you do with Seabrook though? Just eat the fact that you’re going to have your 6D making $7mil for the next half decade? He’s NOT a top 4 Dman anymore...just can’t. Zadorov is another guy with potential and skills that hasn’t been consistent at all in Denver. Also injured too much.
- EnzoD

Both bring a good Brian Burke Truckulence/60


I’d rather stick with developing what we have unless stralman or karlsson are available for the right price. Spend that money on forwards otherwise.
Some names that might not cost more than 4-5 per year:
Nyqvist
Zuccarello
Nelson
Donskoi

Guys who could be quite cheap:
Spezza
Brassard
Williams
Hagelin

The second group is old and mostly name value. But a Richards type flier on them could work.

Tampa is going to add Simmonds/Stone and win the Cup. 4-4 in Toronto

37-26 SOG in favor of NHL worst OTT, but the Leafs stars are deadly.
- EnzoD

No need to add them or anyone, barring an injury.

Ottawa is probably worst team in NHL and will not get a pick...

Hell of an entertaining game in NYC tonight. Amazing skill on display the entire night. Maybe the best OT I’ve seen in a while.

EDIT: DeAngelo the Dego with the nasty dangle and shootout winner then stares down Marchand lol

Huh, absolutely nothin’
- scottak

Say it again.

Good God, y'all.

Hell of an entertaining game in NYC tonight. Amazing skill on display the entire night. Maybe the best OT I’ve seen in a while.

EDIT: DeAngelo the Dego with the nasty dangle and shootout winner then stares down Marchand lol
- EnzoD

Agree
Don’t get the hype on MacAvoy - why wasn’t Bergeron in the Shoot Out ahead of the stiffs I watched

Agree
Don’t get the hype on MacAvoy - why wasn’t Bergeron in the Shoot Out ahead of the stiffs I watched
- Colbyboy

What did Ottawa get for Mika Zibanejad? Wasn’t it Brassard? Wow, what a terrible franchise. Zucc + Zibabajed are excellent.

Who just listened to Bobby Macks’ Restricted Free Agent list....there will be at least one Offer Sheet this year I bet.

Who just listened to Bobby Macks’ Restricted Free Agent list....there will be at least one Offer Sheet this year I bet.
- EnzoD

Stan should offer sheet Schmaltz.

Stan should offer sheet Schmaltz.
- DarthKane

Stan should offer sheet Kapanen, Marner, and Point .
- DarthKane

FTFY

FTFY
- Assman22

I wouldn’t mind seeing Stan swing a deal for Kapanen. It might cost on of the D prospects but it could be worth it.

What is WAR? And what is it good for?
- EnzoD

1968 - freshman year at a Chicago public high school - class of about 800 and about 100 of us spent the first 2-3-4 days in the auditorium while the office staff straightened out the records and figured out our class schedules. Several upper classmen were in control of the music being blared out into the auditorium and about every 10th song was WAR. I don't care how much you like a song, after hearing it about a dozen times a day it loses it's luster.