jjgallow

I think the one year of probation is the second chance....they get a second chance at a citizen, but are probably non-viable as an NHLer. The whole "One year of probation for rape" is eye catching. Translation error? what? dunno. All I know, is that's weird. If you really want to open up the can you can talk about Gilmour. but in any case, I am very cool with this guy never playing a game again, based solely on poor choices at the very, very, very least.

I'm also not a supporter of rape. agreed. How do they come up with the sentences lol....legal systems are weird. the one year thing. it feels a lot like....they're still not sure. I think we know enough that he should never be in the NHL again. But these one year sentences are so indecisive.

Defenders without flash are super important. But, can be acquired later in the draft, or through trades, or free agency. It's possible because not every team appreciates them. The top 10 is really where you get your elite talent on reasonable contract, and sometimes the only place. I would base it very heavily on achieving that. Now, I'm not saying Dickinson isn't that. Not sure yet.

there is indeed a negative connotation with a "safe pick" but only if there is a lack of elite potential. Dickinson's #s are good. someone should ask him to start shooting rhs though

fixed

100%. If Tij is gone, there's some fantastic D which will drop to us.

I'm still pissed about Markstrom as many are including him, but at the end of the day, we're still shaping up to get a really amazing pick with a strong supporting cast. Still looks to me like Tij is the obvious choice and the obvious will be likely to happen. I wish we had 3 of those picks becuase we have so many other needs, but we don't. With the other firsts and picks, I hope we take Big swings. No safety, go for guys with potential to shoot to the top.

We're not winning any cups this year, we're almost definitely not making the playoffs, and if we do, we'll regret making them. Shoulda traded Markstom. But. Not all is lost. And this year is not pointless. I suspect we have removed a lot of dressing room poison over the last few months. We still have some, but every team does. The key is to make sure they are the minority, so they don't tale over the team's identity. We have a Russian presence. This is awesome. It cannot be underestimated how important this will be for us in the coming years. Now should be a time for attitude and character building. We are in a rebuild. We are. But it doesn't have to be terrible like up north. This should actually be when the foundation for a winning culture is formed. And it doesn't always have to be defined by wins.

I agree. As a general rule teams who say "ah, we can skip the tdl, we'll get a better return in summer "... And up experiencing a @Heartbreaker

ugh

I won't go nuts, I will say my piece, as others have, and leave it there. Conroy shoulda traded Markstrom. He's made some good moves going into the tdl, and should be commended for them. He most likely missed out on the most important one though. My statement is obvious and I'm not the first to make it, but I said I'd weigh in after the tdl, and, doing it.

When they are underdogs and trying hard, they are bearable. But it's been a lot of years. not since their last cup run.

I seem to always have one team that I find Extremely hard to like. As McDavid slowly approaches 30 (and he seems more destined than ever to have his career remembered as the next Marcel Dionne), my feellings for Edmonton may soon shift from pure spite, to perhaps some form of pity. A few people in management would need to get fired first, but it's possible. Then as they struggle with mediocrity and an empty cupboard and bad salaries, the question is, do I spite a team? Or will I grow up? I've decided that I will not grow up yet. Toronto is making a strong case for spite and has with me ever since BT went there. I won't lie, I don't entirely mind the fact that they're not really doing anything special despite emptying all the cupboards for a "cup run". Those poor souls also lack a message board. I'm tempted to help out and make one for them here.

I get that, it's a good point, but I'm more interested in results. BT dug is into a deep, deep grave. Facts, results. Maybe he was an admirable man. Maybe he was brilliant Maybe the owners were impossible to deal with and had a leash on him That's okay, because my issues with BT were never personal. Just the facts. Him there, deep grave. Conroy got a rebuild going. Facts, results. Some say it's a retool. K. whatevs Some say he was too slow. K. well, maybe Some say it was the players decision. sure. prolly But. He got it done. That's what I care about. BT did not get it done, and I don't believe we would have all these first rounders if BT was still here. He would let all the contracts run out and beg and beg and beg and then either: 1. The player would walk 2. They would be signed to a ridiculous contract that paralyses us. 3. We would trade them for worse, older players on terrible contracts with attitudes. That is just my belief, but it is based on experience with what BT has done. We don't know how serious the offers were, we don't know what Conroy Really, truly wanted. If he Genuinely made an effort to keep them. What I see, is Conroy making an effort to keep more talented scouting staff and coaches, and I see him making an effort to acquire younger players, and undervalued Russians. And quite frankly, our biggest problem is the win streaks because several times now, the "leftovers" Conroy got were more effective than the player we traded away. Which really ticks me off lol, but that's what good GMs do. Results man.

I was very concerned with our Russian situation even 2-3 years ago. This puts us past a threshold where one could say we are "Russian Friendly" It's a smart, smart, smart move. On many levels.

I have not decided how to evaluate Conroy yet. But, I can say this: I won't base it on how long it took him to start a rebuild. Let's be honest, BT was the GM who stalled that. And everyone loved him for it. Some blamed owners. Okay. But can't apply different set of rules for Conroy then. Fact is, Conroy did what was impossible for previous GM (so the rumors say). Obviously, whoever pulls the trigger gets all the bad vibes and all the scrutiny. But, at least a trigger has been pulled. Nobody else could manage that until now. I'll base my decision on on our pick/prospect pool after the trade deadline, and also what we come out of the draft with. And...realistically, even that is very early to form an opinion (but I will anyway lol)

Joe Iginla

Hanifin should command a lot, sorry. Thought you meant Markstrom. Hanifin for sure. If he's not a rental. That's the thing

There is never a robust market for teams that hold onto their assets into their mid-30's and then want to cash out big. Still, the rumored offers look decent.

It's true that he could have done a lot for them. That said, I actually don't mind seeing Alberta teams doing well. My bashing of edmonton is actually more seeded in frustration from what they squander. I don't actually want them to fail. Could Tanev save them though? no. nope.

I'm torn on it. I view the trade evaluation as... which one is more likely to produce an impact player? on those grounds, you have to really like Grushnikov, to like that trade. I'm undecided at this point. Like you said, he's a nice trade piece but would he be a nice draft pick. Anyway, I'm really just waiting to see what happens by tdl. Can't really make sense of it all until at then at minimum

yeah it could turn out great, for sure.

I'm curious what you think of the Tanev trade now though, for similar reasons now that more of the rumours have come out. Lots of talk about Edmonton offering a first, but they had to take a salary dump and wouldn't do it. So, I mean...there does seem to potentially be a common theme here depending on who you listen to. If I was a GM, I would for sure take on bad salaries to build up more picks. And ownership would for sure stop me. lol. Maybe I am just reluctant to blame Conroy. I dunno. Need to see what happens with Markstrom before taking a stance.

When did we ever disagree? I must have missed it.

Daryl was an elite coach and a terrible, terrible GM lol. He says that, but his record here is the opposite. Adding to get to that next level never got him anywhere, and....the greatest success he had here was sudden without any previous perennial playoff success. I would be hesitant to accept quotes from him on long term team strategy. To your point though, I agree. Makes zero sense to add aging and overpriced vets right now. It's time to build for the future. It should Always be that time.