I think the Blues proved the theory that you DON'T have to have a team FULL of elite players to win the Stanley Cup!

Craig Berube took a bunch of young fire-pissers, exercised some personal initiative, and kicked ass!!!

I think it was Brian Sutter who said it best:

"Hard work is a skill too!"


Don't underestimate the value of Colton Sissons to the Preds! He works hard and his teammates absolutely love him!

"But NHL players who don't score don't get paid.

And they usually don't get term."

See: Brandon Tanev

Sissons deal is actually really good by comparison. No M-NTC, either.

I thought the consensus was that is the worst contract of the summer...not sure that's a good way to refute the statement...

Rare. Bang on Mr Tanner

But how do you feel about the US locking in Donald Trump for another four years?
- Atomic Wedgie

Please don't get that started.

So when Chayka signs guys like Chychrun, Dvorak, and Schmaltz to long-term deals at inflated cap hits...Tanner's rebuttal is this is a genius move. He's betting on his own players. It's overpriced now, but if they keep developing, then these will all turn out to be a steal. Like Schmaltz could be a 90+ point player making $5.85M which is pure genius.

But now that another GM does the exact same thing, Tanner criticizes it because, well, Scissons isn't that good and won't improve to the point that this contract looks like a steal.

Hmm, so now its just some widely accepted truth that Scissons won't improve enough to justify this contract...but Chychrun, Dvorak, and Schmaltz will. How convenient! And if you don't agree with Tanner on this, well then prepare for a condescending reply...
- uofcguy

This is loser talk. Next!

Even if he stays basically the same player for the 7 years by year 4 this contract will be looked at as a bargain.
- Azuredoom

Maybe that's true. But the problem is that it's a salary cap league and every dollar spent has to be compared to how it could be spent. When a 700K player like Kenny Agostino or Nick Shore is available, which they always are, why spend 4 x that money and 7 x the term for a similar player?

"The NHL has been proven to be a strong-link game, like basketball. This means that the team with the best player, or the most elite players, is going to win over the long run."

-James Tanner


Yeah... that really showed to be true in the playoffs. Washington, Tampa Bay, Winnpeg, Nashville, etc. really proved that point.

I find it hard to believe that you wrote this blog.

Your blogs are normally worse than garbage.
- kaptaan

You couldn't keep this to yourself? What do you get out of just being an bumhole for no reason? Why would you talk to another human this way? This is serial killer type social depravity.

This is another example where the blogger has to learn another hard lesson that the hockey world does not revolve around analytics. Although we all know that he won't. It revolves around winning, or trying to win. Those two don't always collide. In the salary cap game, you sometimes have to give a player something in return for helping you out. There is no doubt that giving a player like Sissons that much term is a risk but it's a risk that they want to take to keep the cap hit down. NHL GM's in the situation that Poile is in, know they need to win now or they won't be around in 3 years, let alone 7. A bottom 6 player who can chip in offense and play well away from the puck is a valuable player. Hockey is not just bout the elite players. It takes a team and a full complement of players along with some good fortune to win the Cup.
- MJL

You're confusing game theory with analytics and as usual you're just cringe-worthy in your attempts to not sound like you dropped out of school in grade nine.

I think the Blues proved the theory that you DON'T have to have a team FULL of elite players to win the Stanley Cup!

Craig Berube took a bunch of young fire-pissers, exercised some personal initiative, and kicked ass!!!

I think it was Brian Sutter who said it best:

"Hard work is a skill too!"


Don't underestimate the value of Colton Sissons to the Preds! He works hard and his teammates absolutely love him!
- mattbode

The Blues had a rookie goalie come from nowhere to lead them from last to the Cup. They led the playoffs in 5v5 shooting percentage, and Ryan O'Reilly is one of the best players in the NHL + they've got quite a few other elite players.


The Blues win wouldn't have been surprising at all if they didn't suck so bad from October to January. At the start of last year, they were considered to have one of the best teams in the NHL.

I don't know that their winning really proves anything.

"The NHL has been proven to be a strong-link game, like basketball. This means that the team with the best player, or the most elite players, is going to win over the long run."

-James Tanner


Yeah... that really showed to be true in the playoffs. Washington, Tampa Bay, Winnpeg, Nashville, etc. really proved that point.
- RedDog18

Before you try being sarcastic, maybe take a second think about the fact that one event - regardless of what it is - isn't proof of anything.


Yes the Lightning lost, but you will lose with Pocket Aces 20% of the time to pocket twos.

The Lightning were one of the best teams of all time, but they only had something like a 70% chance to beat Columbus on most models. That means they'll be an upset three out of ten times. It's not that crazy.

Maybe that's true. But the problem is that it's a salary cap league and every dollar spent has to be compared to how it could be spent. When a 700K player like Kenny Agostino or Nick Shore is available, which they always are, why spend 4 x that money and 7 x the term for a similar player?
- James_Tanner

Because in 3-4 years, the vet minimum will be $1m+, not $700k

You're misrepresenting the strategy. Say the Preds had signed Jarnkrok to a 2-year deal instead of 6. That means this past year he would have been making $3.5

Because he signed longterm, it avoids the salary escalation, and further, because he had a down year, his low salary protects them from production fluctuations

This is loser talk. Next!
- James_Tanner

Solid rebuttal after being exposed with such a blatant double-standard.

Solid rebuttal after being exposed with such a blatant double-standard.
- uofcguy

The false equivalency you put forward made me embarrassed for you. Don't Fox-News me and expect a real reply.

I thought the consensus was that is the worst contract of the summer...not sure that's a good way to refute the statement...
- mgriffen

Tyler Myers.

Idiots who think all you need is 2 lines of star players and the 3rd and 4th line can just be revolving doors with guys at league minimum or ELC's

Rosters benefit from stability, whether that be at 1C, Top pairing D, In goal, or even in the bottom 6

2.8 million for an all around solid player, who's young enough to risk term and has the trust of the coaching staff to play in multiple situations isn't an overpay - That's the going rate for guys who know how to play at the NHL level

Old guys just hanging on or young ELC players are the exception, not the rule. You aren't going to find a new 6 of them every season to play in your bottom 6 that mesh together and that your coaching staff will trust
- RoloTahmasee

Its more likely a mix. To lock up 1 guy in your bottom six who is happy with the role and you really like is a bit of a risk but its still only one guy and you're right it does provide that stability (how may guys are going to happy with a bottom six role for the next 8 years). This signing is getting waaaaaaaaaaay too much press. You'd think the leafs signed it. That being said their fourth line now is going to have to be these guys on minimum contracts that we all have to be idiots to believe teams have.

"It is better in hockey to have more elite players than it is to have depth."

Until the playoffs roll around and 1 of your elite players is out and 1 or 2 others are at 50-75%. Then you have neither elite players nor depth. But of course as you've stated many times, results don't matter.

BTW, you never answered my question.

Every time you ban me, I get stronger.

Maybe that's true. But the problem is that it's a salary cap league and every dollar spent has to be compared to how it could be spent. When a 700K player like Kenny Agostino or Nick Shore is available, which they always are, why spend 4 x that money and 7 x the term for a similar player?
- James_Tanner

It really comes down to who determines that they are similar players? Maybe in your narrow and shortsighted determination they are similar players but maybe not in the eyes of Poile and his professional staff. They see Sissons as a young player who can improve, who provides leadership, and raises his game in bigger games. He is the kind of player they obviously see as a part of their core moving forward.

You're confusing game theory with analytics and as usual you're just cringe-worthy in your attempts to not sound like you dropped out of school in grade nine.
- James_Tanner

Game theory? Actually it's about hockey, which is played on the ice with players and not on a stat spread sheet. Something that you desperately need to learn.
You should do some self analysis if you think I sound like I dropped out of school in grade nine because I routinely school you on the game of hockey. Even when I lower it to a rudimentary level, it is over your head. Your blog and your comments are just more of a continuing trail of evidence to that.

Game theory? Actually it's about hockey, which is played on the ice with players and not on a stat spread sheet.
You should do some self analysis if you think I sound like I dropped out school in grade nine because I routinely school you on the game of hockey. Even when I lower it to a rudimentary level, it is over your head. Your blog and your comments are just more of a continuing trail of evidence to that.
- MJL

You can say it, but we both know its not true.

You can say it, but we both know its not true.
- James_Tanner

There is a consensus on what is true. It is not on your side. For a very clear reason.

This is loser talk. Next!
- James_Tanner

"You couldn't keep this to yourself? What do you get out of just being an bumhole for no reason? Why would you talk to another human this way? This is serial killer type social depravity."

You're confusing game theory with analytics and as usual you're just cringe-worthy in your attempts to not sound like you dropped out of school in grade nine.
- James_Tanner

"You couldn't keep this to yourself? What do you get out of just being an bumhole for no reason? Why would you talk to another human this way? This is serial killer type social depravity."

The false equivalency you put forward made me embarrassed for you. Don't Fox-News me and expect a real reply.
- James_Tanner

"You couldn't keep this to yourself? What do you get out of just being an bumhole for no reason? Why would you talk to another human this way? This is serial killer type social depravity."

I completely get the fact that you're mad that you've been a loser your whole life and then suddenly here is this guy who says everything you were always afraid to say. Everything you would have learned was stupid if you'd had the chance to go to college. It's sad to watch, but I get it.
- James_Tanner

"You couldn't keep this to yourself? What do you get out of just being an bumhole for no reason? Why would you talk to another human this way? This is serial killer type social depravity."