TrueBlueGED

Also, having a good offense. Top 4 offenses are the last 4 teams standing.

Sure, but they're also 3 points out of last place in the West.

I know. I fully expect (also hope for) them to do something stupid and remain bad for another year ?

Which has been great for my fantasy team, since this year he's listed as W/C. Hooray versatility! Unfortunately, my goaltending is so bad I kinda wish I had 2017 Robin Lehner.

Sure. I just don't think it's as simple as "we should trade 1sts because ????? 3 years from now." If I've understood your series of posts in this thread correctly, you essentially think teams should always "go for it" for a couple years, spend a couple more retooling as the fix their cap, and repeat the cycle. I don't think that cycle is as inevitable as you do, even though there will eventually be an aging out for teams. For instance, I don't think Chicago had to be in the spot they're in now--smarter personnel moves and I think they're still right in the mix. All that said, I'm fine with moving one of the 1sts to get a center so long as they can help now and over the next several years. I just don't think we should be undervaluing the pick, which in my view, I think you're doing. We don't need to tank if St. Louis does it for us ?

Help us Obi-Wan Mahomes, you're our only hope.

Hedman taking a bad contract and Kucherov on a bridge deal certainly help things out. Then they get cheap production on ELCs from draft picks everyone wants to trade away because we fell into a 10 game win streak and the playoff conversation.

Well, Tampa Bay probably thinks having a seemingly endless supply of cheap labor is a good thing.

It's also worth noting Belichick went 11-5 with Matt freaking Cassel and 3-1 when Brady got suspended.

Great day for the Bills.

We had this guy in the organization and didn't use him to get rid of Okposo's contract Mike Richard's style? For shame.

Oh, I definitely want to re-sign him for his offensive skill. People just seem to be confused about why I hate him so much, and it's because he does stuff like that. I'm not okay with it just because he's on our side now--I hate that kind of rat-like play. He's a low key Marchand.

The article clearly talks about both Brandon and Whaley. You only mentioned Whaley. Always room for Russ Brandon hate! And seriously, everyone should hate Jeff Skinner. Bulldog posted a gif last night of Skinner cup-checking someone. He's a turd!

You're missing a name from your hate list. Anyway, it's also possible Reich learned a lot in Philly working with Doug Pederson, and wouldn't have been the same coach had we hired him. That said, I definitely wish we had a coach with Reich's mentality as opposed to McDermott's.

We need a forward comparable for Sobotka. Ellis?

Maybe, but I think Tampa is the only team in the East that could expose the D while also offsetting those forwards. I'm not saying Tampa is the only team that can beat them, but I think they're the only team where the Leafs' D is clearly a problem the forwards can't make up for. But anyway, if you told me that Nashville was created in a lab with the single purpose of stifling the Leafs, I wouldn't question it. Just a brutal matchup for them.

Scandella is the new Gorges: he's the pairing offense goes to die.

I know you tend to like protecting the vets, but this isn't your best effort. Players make mistakes, rookies and vets alike. Yes, even top-4 defenseman. Ostensibly, being stout defensively is the primary reason to ice Scandella at all. He certainly doesn't offer any utility offensively. His sole job shouldn't be covering for Dahlin, of course, but it's not like Dahlin is out there treating the puck as a hand grenade. It's not unreasonable to expect the "safe, steady vet who can play tough minutes" to be able to cover for the kid.

Serious question: how often should Stimson have to do this? I don't think it's reasonable to expect a writer to explain the stats every time they get used in an article. Maybe links to the articles elsewhere that created the metrics? Things like xG and WAR aren't exactly new anymore, either. Should writers like Harrington similarly have to explain the strengths/weaknesses of +/- every time it's used?

Makes sense. This is why I should read, rather than skim, as I missed this post the first time through.

Eh, if it was that simple, Wilson would have just been assigned for a conditioning stint. That he wasn't points to them preferring Elie to a healthy Wilson. If they're right, that makes plenty of sense.

There are few things better in sports than watching a Nick Saban team get rolled.

As of right now, in my view, the only one who has clearly separated himself from the pack is Mayfield. He's going to be a stud even if they hamstring him with McCarthy. The rest have either shown similarly or have enough negative tape to be a "pick your flavor" type of argument. Considering how much I hated Allen as a prospect, it's pretty impressive his play in the second half of the year got me to this point.

There certainly isn't a statistical argument to prefer Allen to Jackson so strongly. Bills-colored goggles, methinks. Separately, I feel bad for Baker if he gets saddled with McCarthy.

So we traded O'Reilly for a guy who actually lost his love for the game? ???