I can see Torts being kicked upstairs and allowing Brad Shaw to take over. I believe Torts may be coaching 2 more years behind the bench at most. IIRC, his contract is for 5 yrs. Torts will be 66 in the summer. I could see Bob Murray retiring in a few years and Torts being named as a Senior Advisor.
- Trox88

torts is a coach not an executive. That is all he knows. He would go back on tv after coaching imo. He likes the spotlight.

At first glance ….why would Ottawa do this? But then you look at yet another wasted Ottawa year. The talk now is perhaps they tweak the core. They have also hinted at wanting to add solid Pro’s…..all of a sudden the general premise of this starts to make more sense.
Norris’s name along with Batherson and Chychrun have all come up in the last couple of weeks. Not sure if those two would be enough for Norris but it does make some sense.
- landros 2

At second glance too. Why would a team that needs to rebuild…again, trade for a guy about to go to UFA and a number 6 overpaid D for their 24 years old C?! I mean, seriously? How many 1st rounders are we also trading?

Have you watched the Capitals at all this year? I've only seen part of 3 games but I don't think they can keep up with the Metro. Not sure what others are saying about them.

Isles may be right there. Pens always right there. Devils goaltending might keep them out.
- cdearth23

They’re trying to right that ship. After an abysmal period, they’re the first team on the outside lookin in right now. Only one point behind TB and Det, and the Caps have games in hand on both of them.

Not great, but they could roll with those old guys enough to get them in by the skin of their teeth.

Interesting article with an interview from Mike Richards who talked about how important his playoff run with the phantoms and the Flyers playoff run in 2010 was for development of younger players. Do I think the Flyers should move out some guys for future assets? Of course. But a playoff series for a lot of these young guys would be huge in their development. I agree DB has some tough decisions to make.
- landros 2

There is only 1 problem with this, at least, the NHL playoff experience part Not a shred of evidence for it at all. Richards' production dipped sharply after 2010. True, after he went to LA, he dropped from the first line and played behind Kopitar and had lesser mins. But, that cuts both ways: easier matchups etc. His points/60 trend dipped.



The "experience" of the 2012 playoffs made seemingly negligible contributions to the development of Schenn and Couturier. The former did not consistently flourish until he went to a team that played a style by then well established for that team for which he was well suited. The latter till a position change several years later.

Or consider the young players Torts took to playoffs in CBJ. Dubois, Werensky, Seth J, Panarin (still youngish). No evidence that I can see that this playoff experience led to a jump in any of their relevant stats.

I think this "playoff experience" value is one of the many hockey myths. Toronto has a structural problem with a lack of quality at D. Time and again, they fall because of that, and because if their forwards can be contained, they will not win close games. No amount of playoff experience is changing that. Tampa kept knocking at the door till the humiliation against CBJ led them to make lineup changes.

This is a vast topic, but I don't see much data showing that playoff experience is a significant factor in the improvement of a player.

I don't see Brad Shaw as an NHL head coach in any manner.
- MJL

So what criteria are you using to make such a statement? Lack of head coaching experience in minor league hockey? According to DiMarco, Shaw did recieve interest from ANA and WAS for their vacant spots. Of course, he did not get those jobs.

They’re trying to right that ship. After an abysmal start, they’re the first team on the outside lookin in right now. Only one point behind TB and Det, and the Caps have games in hand on both of them.

Not great, but they could roll with those old guys enough to get them in by the skin of their teeth.
- Hesh_

Hey! Long time no see!

Strong win vs a good team. I keep waiting for the wheels to come off but they keep surprising me. Keep it up boys. When we have the young players as the ones leading the charge, winning isn’t a bad thing.
- Hextall271

The games now are meaningless till mid Feb or so when teams tighten their D sharply.

Tortorella had at least 3 successive seasons of CBJ teams at around 100 points or so. In those years, 1 playoff win. Nor did he set that team up for future success. They languished.

And yes, it most likely is. You want the young players to excel but the team to lose.

Hey! Long time no see!
- PT21

Cheers.

I’ve been checkin in now and then, but that’s about it.

I assume everyone is still deciding how to feel about this Richard-tease of a season? I know I am.

It’s like being 14 again and your not sure if the hot chick is really flirting with you, or if pursuing pleasure will just lead to humiliation. I needed another year to figure it out.

Cautious optimism. Just waiting for the rug to get pulled out, but it does feel pretty good.

Cheers.

I’ve been checkin in now and then, but that’s about it.

I assume everyone is still deciding how to feel about this Richard-tease of a season? I know I am.

It’s like being 14 again and your not sure if the hot chick is really flirting with you, or if pursuing pleasure will just lead to humiliation. I needed another year to figure it out.

Cautious optimism. Just waiting for the rug to get pulled out, but it does feel pretty good.
- Hesh_

I am decided.

No, it is like being 54 and wondering if the 21 year old hottie is flirting with you for your personality or because she wants a sugar daddy. The former is possible but unlikely.

torts is a coach not an executive. That is all he knows. He would go back on tv after coaching imo. He likes the spotlight.
- hello it's me 2050

I see your point and agree with it for the most part. I do wonder when he went to TV, it was more about it only being the avenue to stay in the game at that point. The Flyers are giving him an opportunity to be more then a HC right now. I get the impression he likes being involved with personnel decisions I do think he is a hockey lifer and just does not want to retire to his South Jersey horse farm.

I am decided.

No, it is like being 54 and wondering if the 21 year old hottie is flirting with you for your personality or because she wants a sugar daddy. The former is possible but unlikely.
- PT21

I’m 43, and I’ve stopped caring. I get mine. If it works out, great. If not, it’s been fun.

Although I’m leaving the 21s alone and going for the 28-31 now. That’s manageable.

I started to change my tune when one of the last ones confused Mick Jagger with Robin Thicke, I kid you not. I can’t remember the context surrounding it, I know she was fishing for Mick’s name but said Robin Thick, but I recall Hey 19 immediately queuing in my head.

McDavid would like a word with you
- Daceroni

Tell him where I can be found.

Just realized Barkey was the pick from Florida in the Giroux trade. Briere better bring back Fletcher's trade app!
- TobyFlenderson

Oh wow!! I didn't know that barkey was the pick that we got.
Ol feltch did one thing right at least, eh?

So what criteria are you using to make such a statement? Lack of head coaching experience in minor league hockey? According to DiMarco, Shaw did recieve interest from ANA and WAS for their vacant spots. Of course, he did not get those jobs.
- Trox88

He's a defensive specialist as a coach with far less pedigree than Tortorella. Not the kind of coach I'm looking for.

The games now are meaningless till mid Feb or so when teams tighten their D sharply.

Tortorella had at least 3 successive seasons of CBJ teams at around 100 points or so. In those years, 1 playoff win. Nor did he set that team up for future success. They languished.

- PT21

Current games are certainly not meaningless. Look at what Edmonton's 12 game winning streak has done for them after a really poor start. I agree that teams will ramp up and maybe at some point, teams will stop taking the Flyers so lightly. As far as the Tortorella point. Agree completely.

Oh wow!! I didn't know that barkey was the pick that we got.
Ol feltch did one thing right at least, eh?
- Bob Habib

The Giroux trade and Niskanen for that one season were his best moves in hindsight. Everything else was mediocre to awful. There’s maybe a chance the Ristolainen trade breaks even when all is said and done.

And when was Kessel Prime...rib?
- fishbulb1980

5 hotdogs 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 ago

Oh wow!! I didn't know that barkey was the pick that we got.
Ol feltch did one thing right at least, eh?
- Bob Habib

Denver Barkey. There’s another new wave hockey name if I’ve ever heard one.

Yeah, he was the 3rd rounder.

Can’t forget we still have a 1st on deck this year in that deal.

Seems like a nice return after all.

The games now are meaningless till mid Feb or so when teams tighten their D sharply.

Tortorella had at least 3 successive seasons of CBJ teams at around 100 points or so. In those years, 1 playoff win. Nor did he set that team up for future success. They languished.

And yes, it most likely is. You want the young players to excel but the team to lose.
- PT21

You’ve outdone yourself again with stupidity . Why in the world would the games now be meaningless? And there’s no chance this team is bad enough to get a low pick, you take the winning for the positive. A playoff series would be great for this team moving forward . Picking 13 verse 17 isn’t a huge difference.

The Giroux trade and Niskanen for that one season were his best moves in hindsight. Everything else was mediocre to awful. There’s maybe a chance the Ristolainen trade breaks even when all is said and done.
- Sublime55

How would the Ristolainen trade potentially break even?

How would the Ristolainen trade potentially break even?
- MJL

The only good thing about 11/7 is Risto plays less

You’ve outdone yourself again with stupidity . Why in the world would the games now be meaningless? And there’s no chance this team is bad enough to get a low pick , you take the winning for the positive. A playoff series would be great for this team moving forward . Picking 13 verse 17 isn’t a huge difference.
- ClaudeFather

Because teams now play a sharply different style, especially on D, than they do as the season tightens and especially in the playoffs.

A playoff series win would not mean much, as I have argued earlier.

You make a case for indifference, not joy. All other things being equal, 13 is better than 17. And, it should never have been allowed to get to 13 versus 17 stage.


Also, this is the 2nd or 3rd time you have been insulting.

Watch your tongue, billy boy. Consider this a warning. I am not Roenick97.

Denver Barkey. There’s another new wave hockey name if I’ve ever heard one.

Yeah, he was the 3rd rounder.

Can’t forget we still have a 1st on deck this year in that deal.

Seems like a nice return after all.
- Hesh_

ha ha

Because teams now play a sharply different style, especially on D, than they do as the season tightens and especially in the playoffs.

A playoff series win would not mean much, as I have argued earlier.

You make a case for indifference, not joy. All other things being equal, 13 is better than 17. And, it should never have been allowed to get to 13 versus 17 stage.


Also, this is the 2nd or 3rd time you have been insulting.

Watch your tongue, billy boy. Consider this a warning. I am not Roenick97.
- PT21

You haven't supported your asinine statement that the current games are meaningless. That is hyperbole on your part. I would disagree that teams now play a drastically different style, especially on D. You're incorrect there. We're in the heart of the NHL season now. With 3 point games and parity, a significant slump right now would drastically effect a teams chances of making the playoffs.