Curt

Was that confirmed to be two 2023 2nds thought? If it was a 2023 and 2024 2nd for their 1st then it could have been almost any team.

Need to be? No, but when you are signing an 8 year $80M contract, it would be nice, wouldn’t it?

I think it’s a similar offensive profile but Kane was just flat out more skilled. Better stick handling and better shot. In Kane’s draft year in the OHL he had 62 goals and 145 points in 58 games. Bonkers production. Compared to Benson’s 36 goals and 98 points in 60 games in the WHL, still great but just doesn’t compare. On the other hand, Benson was regarded as an excellent defensive forward in juniors, while Kane was basically considered a one way player even back then.

I don’t know that the overall style of Skinner and Benson is very similar, but specifically that part of Skinner’s game where he sometimes goes all out pest pressure to try to force a turnover in the offensive zone, Benson does that, and also the 10-2, skating technique that they both pull out from time to time. Overall, I would say that Benson is more diligent in getting back on the backcheck and overall defensive play. Also their offensive games are very different. Benson is a lot more of a puck possession playmaker, while we know Skinner is more of an opportunistic goal poacher.

Any ideas on why Gibson has been worse than his backups the past few years? Don’t very good starting goalies generally perform better than their backups?

I think he just meant career year so far.

Well, he is going to be an RFA, so it’s not like he can just walk in one year.

Probably not enough, but who knows.

I see some of Skinner in Benson’s dogged, quick puck pressure that sometimes creates turnovers.

Gibson is proven? Proven to be what? An average to below average goaltender? Sure he used to be good, but that was 5 years ago. Maybe he could rebound, but……. Gibson has been outperformed by his backups 3 of the past 4 years (the other year his backup was a washed Ryan Miller). There are reports of him being reluctant or unwilling to grow/adjust his game to incorporate new techniques. He is about turn 30 and he is under contract for 4 more years at $6.4M. Not sure if I want him for free to be honest.

Even if true, GMs ask for more than they are ultimately willing to take. What if that two 1st equivalent package is Rosen, a 2nd, and UPL?

The problem with Gibson is that the simply hasn’t beeen a good goalie the past few years. He has been outplayed by his backups 3 of the past 4 years. I wouldn’t do a Hellybuck trade because of his contract situation. If we are going to trade significant assets to acquire a goalie, why not go for Carter Hart who could form a solid duo with Levi, or flat out become the legit starter, for several seasons?

Just a note. One of the three seasons in your sample here was only 56 games.

I don’t think they would be spending an average of 2.5 on the 6-8 Dmen. More like an average of 1.5 most likely.

I don’t know exactly how this signing will turn out, but just some basic facts here. Clifton actually was a top 4 defenseman for the best team in the NHL (a record breakingly good team actually) until late in the season when they acquired Orlov before the deadline. Clifton’s shot share numbers from last season look about the same as Hanifin’s.

Yeah, echoing others, I think his edges and balance are quite good. It’s just his acceleration and top speed that aren’t great. Should improve with increased strength/muscle though, I would think.

I just saw this. Pretty interesting. I wonder what his market value really is. He makes $6.4M for 4 more years and his numbers haven’t been very good the past couple years. What do Ducks fans and the advanced numbers say? Is it him or the defense?

Sure GMs lie all the time, but agents, we can believe what they say? Lol

That’s certainly possible. It at least would have been much harder for him to get a real look.

I don’t think so either. I doubt Yzerman truly believes that they will either. It just seems like the Red Wings feel that it’s better to continue to try to win by using their cap space, while also accumulating extra draft picks and building a prospect pool, instead purposely tanking as hard as they can.

I think they would be happy with that. I think they are trying to be not terrible at least.

Their fans might not like it, but they are in a tough spot. I’m not really sure what else Detroit is supposed to do. They are still going to be pretty bad. They need to sign players just to fill out their roster. It’s not as if these signings are going to blocking a bunch of their prospects. They don’t really have the prospects to block. All they can do is keep plugging along, trying to collect extra draft picks and draft good prospects. The only other thing they could do is sign trash players instead of barely competent ones, and try to guarantee themselves a top 4 pick for multiple years in a row. I’m thinking that Detroit wants to retain some semblance of respectability though. Doing a true tank for multiple years is demoralizing.

@PerreaultForever I have to update the spreadsheet with this offseason’s moves. After I do that I’ll share it here.

I’m not assuming that all, or even many, of our prospects will become stars. I don’t project anyone other than Dahlin and Power to receive star level extensions. I’m also not forgetting that the cap is projected to jump up. I actually have the Sabres cap situation mapped out on a spreadsheet. They certainly do have cap space for the next two seasons. After Quinn and Peterka get extensions it’s going to get very tight though. Clifton takes up a little of this space, but not a lot.

It probably doesn’t really change your overall point, but Dahlin and Power are actually going to have extensions kicking in one year from now. Quinn and Peterka will be in 2 years.