JoeSchmoe

I was waiting for someone to mention this as this is a relatively new development, but the point remains the same.

And it's as I said before... The human brain can beat a supercomputer in chess. Some things are just better modeled than others. On that note, I would say baseball is much easier to model than hockey. Hockey advanced stat guy wants to be Moneyball guy, but the nature of the game makes it much less accurate of a science (or should I say art).

I know what you're trying to say. But with Granato, you'd have 25-30 games or so of real in game evidence of him turning the team around (provided the team continues to progress). With an interview, you'd have a few hours of someone talking a bunch of BS about what he can do with a bunch of players he doesn't even know.

Agreed, but lets keep in mind that: -Eichel who was figuring on 50% of all goals last year is not in the lineup -We lost an $8m free agent (albeit an underperforming one) -We have a career AHL'r in backup goal -Our defense is learning on the job after being handcuffed the last two years

McCabe being out and Irwin being in must be a large part of this. Bryson is learning on the job and Dahlin is rightly focusing on getting his offense back right now.

Q. What available coach would have done more with this shell of a roster in less time than Granato? A. There isn't one. It's a small sample size we're working with, but if the team finishes out the season playing as well as they are now, you have to give Granato the job.

Maybe this is something for a poll, but do we think Bjork was actually targeted by KA, or was he strongarmed into taking him based on how little leverage he had with Hall's NMC?

I really hope you're right. But I've really hated most of the role player guys we've picked up over the last bunch of years since the tank. Lazar might be the only exception.

But we took another 4th liner back who sucks on a good team. He's next year's Eakin.

Look at his stat line on one of the best teams in hockey. Go see what the Bruins boards are saying.

It's not that he's a superstar, it's that we gave him away in exchange for a liability in Bjork. I'd have rather taken nothing.

Lazar, though a tried and true 4th liner is much better than this guy will ever be. The Bruins boards are more than happy to see him go. Now we have to watch this guy drag the team down next year instead of someone with real upside like an R2 or Peterka (after maybe a half year of seasoning in the AHL).

FIFY

A locked up cheap Lazar is worth more than that late 2nd round pick more times than not. And Bjork will only hurt us. Should have just let Hall sit out if this is what we call a return. Look at his stat line on one of hockeys best teams over the last couple of years. And he's old enough that he has little upside.

I should have elaborated... You just know he's going to take minutes away from an R2 or some other guy with real potential.

Look at the lousy numbers Bjork is putting up on one of the league's best teams. Now watch what he does with us!

Him and Caggulia are next year's Eakin and Irwin. 🤯 WE DO THIS EVERY ***** YEAR!

With us taking on another future Eakin/Leino/Sobotka, I'd have been happier to keep Lazar and let Hall go for nothing.

Not sure but we got a bad one back for the one we gave away.

To sign Ullmark EDIT: Didn't see he's in the final year of his contact.

Flyers are sitting cozy in a playoff spot in any other division but the East. And wait until Eichel gets healthy! I choose to be optimistic, and I'm having a lot of fun watching the team right now. I don't think we're a cup contender next year, but I think we can be good. You don't think Lazar, Okposo, or R2 have any place in the lineup next year?

Looks like the Leafs are out of the running with the Rittich trade with Calgary.

Lazar, Okposo, and Girgensens would make a nice looking 4th. Though he has some warts as a checker and playmaker, putting Olofsson on Eichel's wing as a finisher makes him a top 6. Add in Skinner, Reinhart, Cozens, and a yet to be named free agent W acquisition, and we're set. And this says nothing about R2. I'm less confident about filling out our D. Dahlin, Risto, Bryson, and Joki should be good to go. Hopefully Borgen's small sample size of what he gave us would put him as a future bottom pair guy. Would Samuelsen be ready?

I don't think you saw the capital IF? That said, today was another step forward.

The biggest point to drive home is that Granato is doing all this without Eichel. Since the tank, the only way we've ever stood a chance is when Eichel is playing.