Jeremy Laura: Wings vs Lightning VIII - Bernier posts .952 sv%, not enough for the win

A lot to read into here, I’m still a fan of Werenski for 1st round.
The Wings showed promise this weekend. I’m confused about VELENO going back to Taxi squad after 18mins TOI and 2 mins PP?

A lot to read into here, I’m still a fan of Werenski for 1st round.
The Wings showed promise this weekend. I’m confused about VELENO going back to Taxi squad after 18mins TOI and 2 mins PP?
- Tee56

Has to do with cap space and such, it is just a paperwork move. They have been doing them all year. At this point I'm not sure the point in bothering with it.

A lot to read into here, I’m still a fan of Werenski for 1st round.
The Wings showed promise this weekend. I’m confused about VELENO going back to Taxi squad after 18mins TOI and 2 mins PP?
- Tee56

Every off-day that Joe Veleno spends on the taxi squad instead of the active roster is a day that Chris Illitch only has to pay him like $600 instead of like $7,000.

Every off-day that Joe Veleno spends on the taxi squad instead of the active roster is a day that Chris Illitch only has to pay him like $600 instead of like $7,000.
- Sven22

Seems kind of like a Richard move. Reward the kid a bit why don't ya. In the grand scheme he is going to play what 6 games? $3,600 vs $42k. Illitch wouldn't even notice. Also gives the kid some money for a down payment on a place.

Seems kind of like a Richard move. Reward the kid a bit why don't ya. In the grand scheme he is going to play what 6 games? $3,600 vs $42k. Illitch wouldn't even notice. Also gives the kid some money for a down payment on a place.
- DRW1991

Have you seen the Tigers and this team?
Chris Illitch isnt like his dad. he is not going to spend money like his dad did..especially in a pandemic where revenue is down big time.

I could get a $1M property quite easily on $600 a day!

Jeremy Laura: Wings vs Lightning VIII - Bernier posts .952 sv%, not enough for the win
- Jeremy Laura

Good move for Werinski. Orr is has great character and respect!
As for Jones: It has been reported by an NHL insider (an NHL minor prophet, I forget who) that Jones really likes Torts a lot, and may not re-sign if he is ousted...and may just follow him if Torts is hired elsewhere. That may well be reason enough to hire Torts in Detroit

I could get a $1M property quite easily on $600 a day!

$600 a day, but only 116 workdays this season. For us 9-to-5, 5 days per week working schmos the salary equates to like 34 bucks an hour.

Good move for Werinski. Orr is has great character and respect!
As for Jones: It has been reported by an NHL insider (an NHL minor prophet, I forget who) that Jones really likes Torts a lot, and may not re-sign if he is ousted...and may just follow him if Torts is hired elsewhere. That may well be reason enough to hire Torts in Detroit

- HenryHockey

I'd rather not run every good player out of town for one good dman. No thank you.

Speaking of the Blue Jackets' defensemen, consider me a skeptic of both Jones and Werenski.

Not saying they're bad players per se but I don't think they're nearly as good as their reputations suggest. Both overpaid now, both likely to be overpaid whenever they get new contracts (even in a flat cap environment).

Interesting fill you’re net with pucks stat for you guys... of the 5 teams that passed on zadina Carolina is the only team we played this year.. in 8 games zadina plotted 3G and 4A for 7 points not bad..

Interesting fill you’re net with pucks stat for you guys... of the 5 teams that passed on zadina Carolina is the only team we played this year.. in 8 games zadina plotted 3G and 4A for 7 points not bad..
- Bfab91

In fairness, the guy they picked instead of Zadina was 3-3-6 against us in those same games (and has a 99-point lead in the career scoring race).

I do like what I've seen from Zadina. I don't think he's going to be a star but I am optimistic that he will round into being a very dependable two-way, top-six winger.

I'd rather not run every good player out of town for one good dman. No thank you.
- DRW1991

I don't think that is realistic.

Speaking of the Blue Jackets' defensemen, consider me a skeptic of both Jones and Werenski.

Not saying they're bad players per se but I don't think they're nearly as good as their reputations suggest. Both overpaid now, both likely to be overpaid whenever they get new contracts (even in a flat cap environment).
- Sven22

I imagine you have the fancy stats to support that. And are those stats generally just in decline for this past season? They certainly pass the eye test other wise.

I imagine you have the fancy stats to support that. And are those stats generally just in decline for this past season? They certainly pass the eye test other wise.
- HenryHockey

Here is an excellent piece on Seth Jones that goes beyond saying "his analytics are mediocre" and actually does a pretty good job examining why players who look elite (Jones specifically) don't always drive elite on-ice results. I think it's a pretty illuminating read. Short summary: Jones is really good at the things that tend to catch your eye but not so good at some of the less visible and undervalued but still highly important skills.

Here is an excellent piece on Seth Jones that goes beyond saying "his analytics are mediocre" and actually does a pretty good job examining why players who look elite (Jones specifically) don't always drive elite on-ice results. I think it's a pretty illuminating read. Short summary: Jones is really good at the things that tend to catch your eye but not so good at some of the less visible and undervalued but still highly important skills.
- Sven22

this happens with several players. Oddly enough, most of them seem to be defensemen. Maybe it's because what we like to think of as defense often doesn't contribute much to actually keeping the puck out of the net.

even with fabbri,bertuzzi,larkin this team does not score nearly enough to be competitive..

this happens with several players. Oddly enough, most of them seem to be defensemen. Maybe it's because what we like to think of as defense often doesn't contribute much to actually keeping the puck out of the net.
- BINGO!

I think that's very plausible.

I would also add that it's not just stuff that we like to think of as "defense." Defenders who are very good at confidently lugging the puck up ice, leading the rush, gaining the zone with possession, etc. obviously look really really impressive to the eye test, but if those rushes tend to produce more one-and-done type plays and less sustained pressure they really aren't contributing that much to putting the puck in the opponent's net either.

I feel that way a lot about Hronek. Sure looks good in transition but his decision-making in the o-zone is ... not good.

That may make sense, if he wasn't allowing his GM to take on contracts for draft picks. If he was worried about $42k, I doubt he would have taken $5.7 million ($4.2 million in cash) on Staal for a second round pick. They could have let Athanasiou go and not take on Gagner's contract. He might not spend $$ like his dad did, but I doubt he's holding someone back for $42k.

That may make sense, if he wasn't allowing his GM to take on contracts for draft picks. If he was worried about $42k, I doubt he would have taken $5.7 million ($4.2 million in cash) on Staal for a second round pick. They could have let Athanasiou go and not take on Gagner's contract. He might not spend $$ like his dad did, but I doubt he's holding someone back for $42k.
- bluelineenforcer

There's a difference between "buying" draft picks and using the taxi squad system to nickel-and-dime a waiver-exempt player.

In the case of Staal, you're purchasing something of value. In the case of Veleno, it's free money.

Think of it this way. If you could get a $70 dinner for $7, would you say "no thanks, I just bought a new TV for two grand so I'm not worried about the 63 bucks."

I'm not defending Chris Ilitch here. I'm just saying it's not surprising that he might try to save himself a few tens of thousands of dollars where can, even if it's a relatively small portion of the overall team budget.

I think that's very plausible.

I would also add that it's not just stuff that we like to think of as "defense." Defenders who are very good at confidently lugging the puck up ice, leading the rush, gaining the zone with possession, etc. obviously look really really impressive to the eye test, but if those rushes tend to produce more one-and-done type plays and less sustained pressure they really aren't contributing that much to putting the puck in the opponent's net either.

I feel that way a lot about Hronek. Sure looks good in transition but his decision-making in the o-zone is ... not good.
- Sven22

Hronek is a 4-6 guy on most other teams,yes. I seen all his terrible give-aways in all zones as of late. He is easily pressured into bad passes!

even with fabbri,bertuzzi,larkin this team does not score nearly enough to be competitive..
- wingz4life

Hronek is tied with Larkin for the team lead in scoring, with 23 points.

Out of Hronek's 23 points he has:

2 empty net goals
6 primary assists
15 secondary assists

Even in a 56-game season, having your team scoring leader at 23 points (and only 6 primary points against teams with a goalie in net!) with only two games left in the year is frankly shocking. Hronek is only at about a 35-point pace per 82.

It's a real testament to how much this team has improved defensively and in goal that they are this competitive despite still having no offensive pop whatsoever.

There's a difference between "buying" draft picks and using the taxi squad system to nickel-and-dime a waiver-exempt player.

In the case of Staal, you're purchasing something of value. In the case of Veleno, it's free money.

Think of it this way. If you could get a $70 dinner for $7, would you say "no thanks, I just bought a new TV for two grand so I'm not worried about the 63 bucks."

I'm not defending Chris Ilitch here. I'm just saying it's not surprising that he might try to save himself a few tens of thousands of dollars where can, even if it's a relatively small portion of the overall team budget.
- Sven22

It is just common sense and good budget management practice.

Interesting fill you’re net with pucks stat for you guys... of the 5 teams that passed on zadina Carolina is the only team we played this year.. in 8 games zadina plotted 3G and 4A for 7 points not bad..
- Bfab91

I like Zadina but uh... I'll keep Svechnikov, thanks.