Jeremy Laura: Power play woes, Viro, Wallinder and Niederbach, and the Seattle advantage

Kracken is doin' some playa trackin'!!
We best make dem deals and find da guys with the wheels!

Great write-up, J. A lot to chew on as we plod forward into the summer....and really thought-provoking stuff, as usual.

You guys know where I stand on FA & trades; someone who can benefit the team and be part of the rebuild further down the road (e.g., a 23 y/o LD v 39 y/o LD, etc...). I just can't see bringing in someone for big $$$ or trade chips that won't be part of the team down the road (Vrana for Mantha; Vrana signs for 3-5 yrs, that kinda thing).

Seattle holds all the cards (think I said that in a previous blog), so much of what we'd think may happen needs to be filtered through the lens of the Kraken; WWTKD - what would the Kraken do? I'm sure they'll snag some big names; probably Dougie, Eichle, maybe Rhino as well; they have deep pockets. That's gonna thin the herd and leave some less-than-palatable "others"/scraps this year. If I'm the GM, I'm not trading away my 2 1sts this year (but I'm also signing Wallstedt because I CAN!!!!).

There's just so much uncertainty this year. I know the general rule is draft the BA, but at what point do you really focus on what your team NEEDS (Mo Sides - we need D-men, duh)? I think Petro's gone, so the cupboard is bare for Gs, there's a really good one in this draft....coincidence? I think not! at some point, I would think that a draft choice for a strong G needs to be made...waiting for something to drop into our laps seems pretty disingenuous to me.

I'm the GM, so I'm not trading any of the kids that have yet to prove themselves (Berggren Veleno, Raymond, et. al.) until I see how they perform. I say that because right now, RIGHT NOW, we aren't a contender for anything other than bottom 5-10, so why trade away a kid for something that doesn't project to be here in 3-5 yrs when we "should" start contending?

Great write-up, J. A lot to chew on as we plod forward into the summer....and really thought-provoking stuff, as usual.

You guys know where I stand on FA & trades; someone who can benefit the team and be part of the rebuild further down the road (e.g., a 23 y/o LD v 39 y/o LD, etc...). I just can't see bringing in someone for big $$$ or trade chips that won't be part of the team down the road (Vrana for Mantha; Vrana signs for 3-5 yrs, that kinda thing).

Seattle holds all the cards (think I said that in a previous blog), so much of what we'd think may happen needs to be filtered through the lens of the Kraken; WWTKD - what would the Kraken do? I'm sure they'll snag some big names; probably Dougie, Eichle, maybe Rhino as well; they have deep pockets. That's gonna thin the herd and leave some less-than-palatable "others"/scraps this year. If I'm the GM, I'm not trading away my 2 1sts this year (but I'm also signing Wallstedt because I CAN!!!!).

There's just so much uncertainty this year. I know the general rule is draft the BA, but at what point do you really focus on what your team NEEDS (Mo Sides - we need D-men, duh)? I think Petro's gone, so the cupboard is bare for Gs, there's a really good one in this draft....coincidence? I think not! at some point, I would think that a draft choice for a strong G needs to be made...waiting for something to drop into our laps seems pretty disingenuous to me.

I'm the GM, so I'm not trading any of the kids that have yet to prove themselves (Berggren Veleno, Raymond, et. al.) until I see how they perform. I say that because right now, RIGHT NOW, we aren't a contender for anything other than bottom 5-10, so why trade away a kid for something that doesn't project to be here in 3-5 yrs when we "should" start contending?
- mcmastermike1968

Thanks for the effort, as always! I am a bit anxious about the goalie sitch. Mlive has done 2 or 3 drops teasing a goalie pick at 6. One point I’ve come around on a bit is the ability to trade for a 22-23 yr old tender. It seems like you can grab a partially developed net minder almost any time. I would still like a home grown franchise kid, for sure. But it’s a little more flexible than I used to feel.

Seattle is causing a lot of movement. You’re right that you’ve been a front runner on this. The flat cap still found GMs able to hang on to a degree. Mixed with the sea monster, now you have 30 teams scrambling. (Vegas is playing Davy Jones, immune from the beast). As for the kids, I’m hands off. But, if Yzerman moves one I feel fine too. The amount of hands on with these kids is so intense. If they get moved it won’t be a “blind” trade. Good stuff brother. Thanks

Thanks for the effort, as always! I am a bit anxious about the goalie sitch. Mlive has done 2 or 3 drops teasing a goalie pick at 6. One point I’ve come around on a bit is the ability to trade for a 22-23 yr old tender. It seems like you can grab a partially developed net minder almost any time. I would still like a home grown franchise kid, for sure. But it’s a little more flexible than I used to feel.

Seattle is causing a lot of movement. You’re right that you’ve been a front runner on this. The flat cap still found GMs able to hang on to a degree. Mixed with the sea monster, now you have 30 teams scrambling. (Vegas is playing Davy Jones, immune from the beast). As for the kids, I’m hands off. But, if Yzerman moves one I feel fine too. The amount of hands on with these kids is so intense. If they get moved it won’t be a “blind” trade. Good stuff brother. Thanks
- Jeremy Laura

Listen, I'm all for getting that elusive 22/23 y/o developing stud net-minder. But, it always seems that those guys get impressive $10m deals....then end up as back-ups..... I'm worried about Bernie departing. Greiss really came around (relatively speaking) at the end of the season, so I'd definitely be OK with him as #1. But if I hear Pickard as #1B/#2, I might throw up in my mouth a little bit. I would've really liked to have seen Askarov w/#6 last year, despite the beliefs. And I do understand what history indicates to some, but I'm a "Make your own history" kinda guy. I'm not the GM, but if I was.....

I agree with you that if one of the kids is swapped, there's dang good reasoning surrounding the move. Eyes much more experienced than mine would've indicated it was the right thing to do. Much like Mantha (still stunned by that move....), I can be impressed enough to have my opinion changed. However, I still don't see an extension signing party for Vrana yet......If he's that good (and he WAS damn impressive in the 11 games after the trade), I'd think he would've been signed to an extension.

I dunno, brother. I'm not the GM, and have nowhere near the professional acumen The Captain, Drapes, and the rest have, so I'm going to trust the moves that are made.

WARNING: Any opinions offered above are those of the author and do not reflect those fo the Detroit Red Wings.

Some perspective on goalie acquisition.

Top 10 goalies by raw save percentage, 2016-present, minimum 100 GP, plus all Vezina finalists over that span (if not already listed):

Raanta — undrafted, playing on his third team
Saros — fourth round, first team
Vasilevskiy — first round, first team
Bishop — third round, fifth team
Grubauer — fourth round, second team
Kuemper — sixth round, third team
Lehner — second round, fifth team
Rask — first round, second team (traded before first NHL game)
Crawford — second round, first team
Khudobin — seventh round, fifth team
Hellebuyck — fifth round, first team
Rinne — eighth round, first team
Price — first round, first team
Fleury — first round, second team
Holtby — fourth round, second team (although granted he played all his good years with Washington)
Bobrovsky — undrafted, third team (won Vezinas with second team)

The lesson? Goalies are voodoo. The best ones are frequently drafted late (or not drafted at all), and frequently playing for their second or third organization by the time they hit their peak.

Yes every now and then you get a guy who is rated high, drafted high, and ends up panning out (Vasilevskiy, Price) but that's definitely the exception.

Some perspective on goalie acquisition.

Top 10 goalies by raw save percentage, 2016-present, minimum 100 GP, plus all Vezina finalists over that span (if not already listed):

Raanta — undrafted, playing on his third team
Saros — fourth round, first team
Vasilevskiy — first round, first team
Bishop — third round, fifth team
Grubauer — fourth round, second team
Kuemper — sixth round, third team
Lehner — second round, fifth team
Rask — first round, second team (traded before first NHL game)
Crawford — second round, first team
Khudobin — seventh round, fifth team
Hellebuyck — fifth round, first team
Rinne — eighth round, first team
Price — first round, first team
Fleury — first round, second team
Holtby — fourth round, second team (although granted he played all his good years with Washington)
Bobrovsky — undrafted, third team (won Vezinas with second team)

The lesson? Goalies are voodoo. The best ones are frequently drafted late (or not drafted at all), and frequently playing for their second or third organization by the time they hit their peak.

Yes every now and then you get a guy who is rated high, drafted high, and ends up panning out (Vasilevskiy, Price) but that's definitely the exception.
- Sven22

Yes!! And please do not draft a goalie in the 1st round!!! There are plenty of goalie FA's every year to snag on a 2-4yr deal and usually at an affordable rate!
Draft a couple in the later rounds and let them get their reps in the amateur hockey and then the other pro leagues. Very few goalies can come in like Spencer Knight did this year and play that well. Look at Carter Hart, played well than POOF the goalie fairies took away his powers!!! Goalies are Voodoo!!!

Yes!! And please do not draft a goalie in the 1st round!!! There are plenty of goalie FA's every year to snag on a 2-4yr deal and usually at an affordable rate!
Draft a couple in the later rounds and let them get their reps in the amateur hockey and then the other pro leagues. Very few goalies can come in like Spencer Knight did this year and play that well. Look at Carter Hart, played well than POOF the goalie fairies took away his powers!!! Goalies are Voodoo!!!


- HenryHockey

Yet the final four starting goalies were all first rounders.
Fluery - 1st overall 2003
Price - 5th overall 2005
Varlamov - 23rd overall 2006
Vasilevsky - 19th overall 2012