Today is one of those occasions. For your consideration, three thoughts on recent events around the NHL.
Ducks have no need to rebuild - The idea of blowing the Ducks up is ridiculous. Trading either, or both, of Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan is outright silly.
The fact that the Ducks are so miserable is a touch confusing. Honestly, wouldn't you trade the Habs roster for the Ducks roster?
Their top-six forwards are amongst the best in the league, they possess size up front and a typically excellent goaltender in Jonas Hiller.
Their top-six forwards are amongst the best in the league, they possess size up front and a typically excellent goaltender in Jonas Hiller.
Luca Sbisa and Cam Fowler are blue chip defensive prospects while Lubomir Vishnovky and Francois Beauchemin are solid veterans.
As for comparing the idea of trading Getzlaf to the Flyers' decision to ship out Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, there is one important difference to note: Ryan Getzlaf is a winner.
As for comparing the idea of trading Getzlaf to the Flyers' decision to ship out Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, there is one important difference to note: Ryan Getzlaf is a winner.
The Regina native already has a Stanley Cup on his resume, as well as a Gold medal from the Olympics, World Juniors and World U18 championships.
Edmonton undeserving of a top pick - With a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars at the weekend, the Edmonton Oilers once again find themselves in the bottom five of the League standings.
Should they finish the season there, they would become eligible to win the first overall pick for the third straight year.
I understand the draft system is meant to assist struggling teams, but it must not reward incompetence either.
If Edmonton cannot win with a lineup already featuring Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent Hopkins and Taylor Hall, then it becomes management and the coaching staff to find solutions.
At this point, we should certainly not reward their ineptitude.
NHLPA should pick its battles - Clearly, the NHL tried to shove re-alignment down the NHLPA's throat. That much seems evident.
Nonetheless, it is a tad perplexing to me that the Association chose this particular issue to flex its muscles.
Guaranteed visits from top teams, more favorable time zone arrangement and, for Florida, a slew of extra Canadian visits. Re-alignment seemed poised to boost attendance, hence increasing overall league revenues, which ties in directly to the salary cap.
From a public relations perspective, this first salvo was not a coup either. In a poll on The Globe and Mail’s website 83 per cent of readers opposed the NHLPA’s position as of Monday evening.
I suppose it is mighty hard to feel bad for players who will now be "obligated" to go to markets like Florida, California and New York at least once a year.
Edmonton undeserving of a top pick - With a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars at the weekend, the Edmonton Oilers once again find themselves in the bottom five of the League standings.
Should they finish the season there, they would become eligible to win the first overall pick for the third straight year.
I understand the draft system is meant to assist struggling teams, but it must not reward incompetence either.
If Edmonton cannot win with a lineup already featuring Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent Hopkins and Taylor Hall, then it becomes management and the coaching staff to find solutions.
At this point, we should certainly not reward their ineptitude.
NHLPA should pick its battles - Clearly, the NHL tried to shove re-alignment down the NHLPA's throat. That much seems evident.
Nonetheless, it is a tad perplexing to me that the Association chose this particular issue to flex its muscles.
Guaranteed visits from top teams, more favorable time zone arrangement and, for Florida, a slew of extra Canadian visits. Re-alignment seemed poised to boost attendance, hence increasing overall league revenues, which ties in directly to the salary cap.
From a public relations perspective, this first salvo was not a coup either. In a poll on The Globe and Mail’s website 83 per cent of readers opposed the NHLPA’s position as of Monday evening.
I suppose it is mighty hard to feel bad for players who will now be "obligated" to go to markets like Florida, California and New York at least once a year.
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Louis is an Associate Editor at HabsAddict.com and an Editor at HabsWorld.net.Born in Chicago, Louis grew up in Quebec City where he earned Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Université Laval.
He currently resides in Ottawa and works for the Coaching Association of Canada. Find him on twitter @LouisMoustakas
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images North America)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images North America)
3 comments:
Great roundup Louis!
Re: the Ducks...I couldn't agree more. They need some tweaks, to be sure, but blowing them up? I don't even think the Habs need to blow the whole thing up, but just tweak the roster.
That said, the Ducks and Habs would make great trading partners. Plus, with Gauthier's ties to the Ducks you know he's got to be talking to them already.
The problem is that if Getzlaf, for example, IS available, there is going to be a team, other than Montreal, who will ridiculously overpay for him. Gauthier is, imo, too conservative and I can see a Brian Burke in Toronto, for example, shooting for the moon to get him.
Re: the Oilers. They are a mess and have been for years. I'm don't follow them enough to truly understand the problem but, when an organization is in such dire straits year after year it can only point to coaching/management.
Re: NHL realignment, we discussed this on the Sunday Shinny this past weekend. Posturing by the PA, stonewall from the league. Both sides seem uncompromising on this issue but, ultimately, I think this was a relatively innocuous issue upon which Donald Fehr could put his stamp.
Fehr wants to show the PA that he won't have terms dictated to him and this was a good way to show it.
The problem is that Bettman is as stubborn as a mule and arrogant too. He doesn't take well to being cock-blocked. Either way, I think this is a poor prelude to CBA discussions!
Hey Kamal!
Agreed, PG is a bit too conservative to push for such a move. But one never knows. If a younger impact player (Carter, Nash, Getzlaf) became available, you would have to seriously considering using Subban and Pacs as trade bait.
As for your podcast, where is it? I haven't seen it posted!
Ya someone...cough, cough...Gary Whittaker...out the wrong file up and probably doesn't have access to it now. So it looks like it might have disappeared into the ether!
As for Gauthier, absolutely! IF any of those elite-type players you have to make a play for them. Must.
Especially Getzlaf. He is EXACTLY the type of player that the Habs need and have needed for close to two decades.
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