JFC Chunk! I said it was an unwritten rule therefore he should have known about the rule. How can a guy who uses the word matriculation not understand what irony is?
- paulr

You Canadians sure have lots of rules.

You Canadians sure have lots of rules.
- HawkintheD

So it’s pick on Canadians day again is it?

So it’s pick on Canadians day again is it?
- paulr

Well, I’ve already picked on the comrades and NFL players, so why not.

Well, I’ve already picked on the comrades and NFL players, so why not.
- Angotti

I’m pretty sure the HB code of conduct includes this. Where is Eli when you need him?

JFC Chunk! I said it was an unwritten rule therefore he should have known about the rule. How can a guy who uses the word matriculation not understand what irony is?
- paulr

What are you talking about? I do all the irony for my wife and my clothes...

So it’s pick on Canadians day again is it?
- paulr

I thought it was pick on Canadians day every day??

Interesting article about Vegas and roster building

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/yo...ing-on-its-head-1.2088188

What are you talking about? I do all the irony for my wife and my clothes...
- Chunk

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

- DarthKane

Interesting article about Vegas and roster building

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/yo...ing-on-its-head-1.2088188
- LAHawk

It's frustrating because it works... until it doesn't. If the NHL and NHLPA address the issue in the CBA, Vegas could easily take a complete crap and be bad for a long time. One of the proposals I read was that the team would have to ice a cap compliant roster each game in the playoffs. In that instance, Vegas would have to rethink the process.

It's frustrating because it works... until it doesn't. If the NHL and NHLPA address the issue in the CBA, Vegas could easily take a complete crap and be bad for a long time. One of the proposals I read was that the team would have to ice a cap compliant roster each game in the playoffs. In that instance, Vegas would have to rethink the process.
- Chunk

It will be interesting to see how they liquidate assets for prospects and picks should the window start closing. I notice they are always able to trade away cap hits to keep the engine chugging along, before they bog down under bad contracts.

It will be interesting to see how they liquidate assets for prospects and picks should the window start closing. I notice they are always able to trade away cap hits to keep the engine chugging along, before they bog down under bad contracts.
- 333inthe3rd

Contrast this with San Jose who is just as bad as we are and retaining on contracts for at least the next five years. No open retention slots next year, and only one the two seasons after. Doug Wilson was a great player to watch, and did some good things with the Sharks but he left that team a mess.

Interesting intro from the Buffalo writer. Some things to consider as the rebuild progresses. We aren't at this point yet, but maybe in 2-3 years as guys start coming up:

I don’t want to be too critical, but this year has been so strange and disappointing that I really felt a major move in the forward ranks was necessary. With guys like Guentzel, Toffoli, Hertl, and Kuznetsov moving, it just makes me think as to how much our management is out of touch and holding on to assets that will never have a chance to flourish in our organization. Not enough spots to go around and too many players in the pipeline. We simply don’t need anymore late round draft picks. Someone needs to poke the bear once in a while, someone needs to let the players know that it is time to come out of hibernation. It is still a business and they are the employees. I understand that managing relationships can be challenging when you are bringing a group together from all around the world, but they have to realize who is in charge and that performance matters. Has anybody looked at Patrick Kane's numbers? It could have been an easy solution to this nightmare, and I can pretty much guarantee that we would have at least six more points and in the thick of the playoff race. Not sure why that didn’t come to fruition, but when a fan popular talent is staring you in the face it doesn’t seem complicated to me considering the first half of the seasons failures.
- Chunk

I think Ottawa has a similar issue only a bit more forward talent. Kind of a similarly mid-market or smaller market team with wonky ownership and a decent amount of talent accumulated that is starting to spin their tires rather than take steps forward.

The Buffalo comments in the latest blog were interesting because they were lighting their ownership group up for not doing more to add talent and rely on what they considered "everything going perfectly right".

I think Ottawa has a similar issue only a bit more forward talent. Kind of a similarly mid-market or smaller market team with wonky ownership and a decent amount of talent accumulated that is starting to spin their tires rather than take steps forward.

The Buffalo comments in the latest blog were interesting because they were lighting their ownership group up for not doing more to add talent and rely on what they considered "everything going perfectly right".
- fattybeef

Yeah, when things go bad (and you were expected to improve) people get pretty jumpy. I saw a number of posters that were pretty hard on Benson. They keep calling him slow.

I think Ottawa has a similar issue only a bit more forward talent. Kind of a similarly mid-market or smaller market team with wonky ownership and a decent amount of talent accumulated that is starting to spin their tires rather than take steps forward.

The Buffalo comments in the latest blog were interesting because they were lighting their ownership group up for not doing more to add talent and rely on what they considered "everything going perfectly right".
- fattybeef

The problem isn't "too many players," it's too many mediocre players.

I think Ottawa has a similar issue only a bit more forward talent. Kind of a similarly mid-market or smaller market team with wonky ownership and a decent amount of talent accumulated that is starting to spin their tires rather than take steps forward.

The Buffalo comments in the latest blog were interesting because they were lighting their ownership group up for not doing more to add talent and rely on what they considered "everything going perfectly right".
- fattybeef

Avg age for the team is 25ish, all the best players they have are pretty much under 25, we live in an age of instant gratification, they have some quality talent in the farm system, they are being very calculating with the cap, i don't think they want to be like Ottawa and destroy their rebuild overnight.

It will be interesting to see how they liquidate assets for prospects and picks should the window start closing. I notice they are always able to trade away cap hits to keep the engine chugging along, before they bog down under bad contracts.
- 333inthe3rd

Well Hertl's cap hit with Vegas for the next 6 years is $6.75 million. He is 26 years old, will probably replace Marchessault next year who will be 34 and was making $ 5 mil. $6.75 for Hertl is a steal in todays market.

Will probably be the same scenario with the 27 year old Hannifin, who will replace 36 yo Alex Martinez (making $5.25 mil.) who also goes UFA.

If Hannifin signs, Eichel is 27 and Theodore 28, along with Hertl that is a nice core all in their prime.

Contrast this with San Jose who is just as bad as we are and retaining on contracts for at least the next five years. No open retention slots next year, and only one the two seasons after. Doug Wilson was a great player to watch, and did some good things with the Sharks but he left that team a mess.
- Chunk

They hurt themselves with Karlsson in particular, and letting Pavelski walk. The lack of slots will hurt them if Granlund is tradable next season, maybe Rutta as well. The other big contracts don't seem too tradable anytime soon, though. Otherwise, they had a good core for a long time.

Well Hertl's cap hit with Vegas for the next 6 years is $6.75 million. He is 26 years old, will probably replace Marchessault next year who will be 34 and was making $ 5 mil. $6.75 for Hertl is a steal in todays market.

Will probably be the same scenario with the 27 year old Hannifin, who will replace 36 yo Alex Martinez (making $5.25 mil.) who also goes UFA.

If Hannifin signs, Eichel is 27 and Theodore 28, along with Hertl that is a nice core all in their prime.
- LAHawk

The whole game is to try to stay detached, not try to be loyal, run it completely business like. For example had the Hawks traded off Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford and Hossa in 2016 just before their skills were in decline the Hawks would have got back an incredible return of young players, prospects and draft picks. McCrimmon is the guy to watch, this may be how to run a perpetual winner.

Avg age for the team is 25ish, all the best players they have are pretty much under 25, we live in an age of instant gratification, they have some quality talent in the farm system, they are being very calculating with the cap, i don't think they want to be like Ottawa and destroy their rebuild overnight.
- BetweenTheDots

Hard to say they're destroying their rebuild overnight when this is year 12...

I'm all for setting yourself up for sustained success, but there will inevitably (with the salary cap) be times when you have to modify your approach. They have craptons of prospects, picks and cap room. They were gifted one of the best talents of the last 10 years and he's already killing it. They need to have more than just moral victories to show for their rebuild. Not surrounding the kids with actual NHL talent is negligence, especially when there will be opportunities available. You can add talent without hamstringing your rebuild.

Well Hertl's cap hit with Vegas for the next 6 years is $6.75 million. He is 26 years old, will probably replace Marchessault next year who will be 34 and was making $ 5 mil. $6.75 for Hertl is a steal in todays market.

Will probably be the same scenario with the 27 year old Hannifin, who will replace 36 yo Alex Martinez (making $5.25 mil.) who also goes UFA.

If Hannifin signs, Eichel is 27 and Theodore 28, along with Hertl that is a nice core all in their prime.
- LAHawk

Hertyl is 30, not 26, and is coming off of knee surgery, LA. IIRC LVG is on the hook for 6 more yrs of Hertyl, a problem for most but I have little doubt they will painlessly rid themselves of that cap hit whenever needed.

Very much look forward to the day LVG pays the piper if that ever happens.

Hertyl is 30, not 26, and is coming off of knee surgery, LA. IIRC LVG is on the hook for 6 more yrs of Hertyl, a problem for most but I have little doubt they will painlessly rid themselves of that cap hit whenever needed.

Very much look forward to the day LVG pays the piper if that ever happens.
- Mr Ricochet

The more I think about it, I'd rather gamble a bit and give more term and money to younger players than older ones. I don't want to have to try and get rid of a 35 yo former great with 3 years left on a contract that no one wants. I'd rather do that with a kid about to turn 27 or 28 that just hasn't worked out.

Hertyl is 30, not 26, and is coming off of knee surgery, LA. IIRC LVG is on the hook for 6 more yrs of Hertyl, a problem for most but I have little doubt they will painlessly rid themselves of that cap hit whenever needed.

Very much look forward to the day LVG pays the piper if that ever happens.
- Mr Ricochet

So far it hasn’t bitten Vegas in their seven years in the league. They have their franchise cornerstones in Eichel and Theodore. A great topbp six, a big and fast defense core, and outstanding coach.

I look forward to them having an empty cupboard some day, guys like Pietrangelo, Marchessault, and others will start slowing down. They also haven’t built up much player cache, because they’ve been ruthless in jettisoning players they don’t want anymore. Guys know they might get dealt for the next shiny object.

Well Hertl's cap hit with Vegas for the next 6 years is $6.75 million. He is 26 years old, will probably replace Marchessault next year who will be 34 and was making $ 5 mil. $6.75 for Hertl is a steal in todays market.

Will probably be the same scenario with the 27 year old Hannifin, who will replace 36 yo Alex Martinez (making $5.25 mil.) who also goes UFA.

If Hannifin signs, Eichel is 27 and Theodore 28, along with Hertl that is a nice core all in their prime.
- LAHawk

I think Hertl is 30 years old
Nevermind

Hertyl is 30, not 26, and is coming off of knee surgery, LA. IIRC LVG is on the hook for 6 more yrs of Hertyl, a problem for most but I have little doubt they will painlessly rid themselves of that cap hit whenever needed.

Very much look forward to the day LVG pays the piper if that ever happens.
- Mr Ricochet

You are correct on the age, 30, thought I heard 26 on NHL.Com.