Only real way to invest in the farm team is to draft decent to high end players and develop them properly. They’ve done neither since Lou has been here. Yeah they sucked before Lou got here but they had periods of decentness whereas they are a complete abortion now. Get rid of the old guard of scouting and player development, start drafting, start developing your prospects differently. It’s not working. Another are there’s no accountability. - Cptmjl
I feel like the accountability should start at the top. It seems ownership has just given Carte Blanche to Lou, which is fine for decision making. But his job should absolutely be on a year to year basis. He shouldn’t just have the job because of his HOF career.
Agreed. The country club starts with the handshake jobs for Cairns, Bolton, Reasoner etc. - kindlyrick
Astounding that Lou just continued the nepotism that Snow maintained for a decade. It’s like he didn’t care because he knew he wouldn’t draft any players worthy of development enough to invest in a legit staff. Wait a second…
Perhaps there’s a correlation between only being able to develop 4th line bottom pair guys, because the coaching and developement personnel are mostly 4th line bottom pair guys (in bport). - kindlyrick
Until last year they also hadn't had a 1st round pick since Holmstrom in 2019, that's definitely a part of it. And no doubt the development staff isn't very good and neither is the scouting, apparently. They haven't really hit on a later-round pick since Sorokin/Toews in the same draft in 2014.
Until last year they also hadn't had a 1st round pick since Holmstrom in 2019, that's definitely a part of it. And no doubt the development staff isn't very good and neither is the scouting, apparently. They haven't really hit on a later-round pick since Sorokin/Toews in the same draft in 2014.
Some of the recent later round picks are showing varying degrees of promise, but the poor development staff definitely isn't going to help them. - eichiefs9
Astounding that Lou just continued the nepotism that Snow maintained for a decade. It’s like he didn’t care because he knew he wouldn’t draft any players worthy of development enough to invest in a legit staff. Wait a second… - Cptmjl
Agreed. For me, I’d like to see the team turn the corner from the New England mafia. It’s always nepotism with those guys dating back to Laviolette knowing and paving the way for Shawn Bates
Cal does a good job on TV. Will Bailey be teaching chains 101? - ses111
Yes all draft picks attending rookie camp will be put through an intake screening to see how many pushups they can do with a chain around their next. Weed out the weak.
Yes all draft picks attending rookie camp will be put through an intake screening to see how many pushups they can do with a chain around their next. Weed out the weak. - eichiefs9
Very good. Bailey must also cover how to avoid taking a hit and letting the other team skate past you.
Only real way to invest in the farm team is to draft decent to high end players and develop them properly. They’ve done neither since Lou has been here. Yeah they sucked before Lou got here but they had periods of decentness whereas they are a complete abortion now. Get rid of the old guard of scouting and player development, start drafting, start developing your prospects differently. It’s not working. Another area there’s no accountability. - Cptmjl
This is what you get when you have a GM that "doesn't value draft picks".
This team hasn’t been good for going on four years. I do not know if phasing it is as has not been good, as much as that they have not been consistently good. This team is what they call a tweener. Good enough not to suck and yet good enough to get your hopes up.
To me it’s funny to watch the horror online that they may not make the playoffs. Does anyone think this team is capable of doing anything if they did? I get being a fan but the lack of objectivity(not saying you btw) is pretty funny. As fans we all see things with objectivity in many different forms. That is what makes the world go round. Some tend to believe more passionately than others and sometimes that passion does not allow them to see the full picture. However, there are others that are fine with the status quo. As long as my team is not at the bottom or in the playoffs, they view it as success.
Worst thing this team could do is make the playoffs. It’ll just give this old geezer more fuel to quadruple down on this incredibly stale lineup. There’s probably no stopping that(see Palmieri, Kyle) unfortunately but I don’t want to give this old (frank) anymore ammo. I mean Pulock and Pelech haven’t been good for three years and it’s like everyone is just coming to this realization last night. 😆 - Cptmjl
This team making the playoffs is not a positive for the organization. What it does is produces a false positive in having people think maybe they really are closer. Regarding the players this past deadline. There should have a been maybe a total of five guys that should have been protected. Even one else is an asset to bring future assets and young talent. I love Lou. I loved how he got this team through JT. And yes has had some good moves. But there are ton bad decisions that have left this team on the verge of going backwards.
This is what you get when you have a GM that "doesn't value draft picks". - PeteM
Look, taking bonafide NHL caliber players over drafts is not a bad thing. However, you cannot ignore the fact that you need draft picks to build your organization. That the lack of a deep talent pool can hamstring you. If Lou had stated that they were only offering picks in this year's draft and not next years. Ok. This years draft is weakier then next year's draft. But we all know that is not what he meant.
This team making the playoffs is not a positive for the organization. What it does is produces a false positive in having people think maybe they really are closer. Regarding the players this past deadline. There should have a been maybe a total of five guys that should have been protected. Even one else is an asset to bring future assets and young talent. I love Lou. I loved how he got this team through JT. And yes has had some good moves. But there are ton bad decisions that have left this team on the verge of going backwards. - Nfdbulldawg
The verge? It’s going backwards. It’s getting shoved backwards. Every, single, time he signs a player to another brain dead contract it’s delaying any real chance at success. Increase in the cap is great but if you fill it with overaged mediocrity you are going to get exactly that.
To me Lou has lost any luster he had in the past. He’s a detriment at this point.
Look, taking bonafide NHL caliber players over drafts is not a bad thing. However, you cannot ignore the fact that you need draft picks to build your organization. That the lack of a deep talent pool can hamstring you. If Lou had stated that they were only offering picks in this year's draft and not next years. Ok. This years draft is weakier then next year's draft. But we all know that is not what he meant. - Nfdbulldawg
When has this worked since the salary cap has been installed? It rarely ever worked before. It certainly doesn’t now. You need some high end cheap, young, talent to build around. Add some key players through FA or trades. Buying teams or trading for teams is an inept concept. There still has to be talented youth to build around. There’s multiple other reasons you need legit young talent least of all keeping your old players competing for ice time. This team is listless. Has been for years. Zero real competition within the lineup is a huge contributor to that.
When has this worked since the salary cap has been installed? It rarely ever worked before. It certainly doesn’t now. You need some high end cheap, young, talent to build around. Add some key players through FA or trades. Buying teams or trading for teams is an inept concept. There still has to be talented youth to build around. There’s multiple other reasons you need legit young talent least of all keeping your old players competing for ice time. This team is listless. Has been for years. Zero real competition within the lineup is a huge contributor to that. - Cptmjl
Exactly, you need balance throughout your organization.
Exactly, you need balance throughout your organization. - Nfdbulldawg
Yeah. I think if there’s an opportunity to trade every single one of our picks this draft for players Lou looks at as improvements to this roster he’s going to do it. He’s going to try and build the roster through trades and signings. The problem with that of course is the latter. We have a problem signing players via FA so that leaves trades as the most viable option. That’s where those picks come into play and that leaves the high end young player part in the dust.
