pi2000

I hope you're right, because I don't think he's going anywhere soon. That contract is toxic. You'd like to see him more responsible with the puck in his own end. He has speed but he's not quick enough and that gets him in trouble... which is a system agnostic concern. His body language, demeanor on the bench etc. after getting scored on just doesn't reflect a guy who has a strong desire to win at all costs. He seems to be OK with losing, which you could say about quite a few guys on the roster, but for the amount he's getting paid you expect much much more, both on the ice and in the locker room. For that amount of money he should be part of the solution, not a question mark.

make sure he doesn't get injured again.... if he does... i don't offer as much.

Bogo, IMO, is part of the culture problem. I question his desire to win.

So, do you pay him now or later? Are you really saving any money by signing him now? Or let him play out his ELC... or sign him part way through the season to keep his cap # down?

Good point. Although I'm not sure defensemen are necessarily becoming more valuable. IMO, the issue is that there's been a shift in the desired skill set from big and strong to leaner more athletic types who can keep pace with faster skating forwards. So we're seeing a large amount of turnover at that position throughout the league. This means teams can increase their asking price if they have a stockpile of those type of players. That said, I still think it's important to take BPA and remain patient.

Why does everybody think Bogo will be better under a different coach, but not Moulson?

I thought I read that somewhere too, but it looks like it could increase... http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2017/3/8/14854816/nhl-salary-cap-projection-2017-18-season "The NHL salary cap is projected to rise $2.5-3 million for the 2017-18 season, reports Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. That comes straight from NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who said that the final number will depend on negotiations with the NHLPA over the inflator clause. With a current salary cap of $73 million, the new number for next season should fall around $75.5-76 million."

BPA

It's not rising this coming season.

yes

hahaha, if you think guys like Girgensons and Bogo are due for breakout seasons just because DB is gone, you're in for a rude awakening.

Consider there are infinite parallel universes (there are). In atleast one of those universes game 7 of the WSH/PIT series never ends... ever. Perhaps we live in that universe.

Well, he IS a minus player.... sooooooooooooo

I disagree.

To me it's about individual greatness vs team oriented greatness. Ovechkin is a great individual player, but when I watch him play and compare him to a Crosby or Toews, he just doesn't do enough of the little things consistently enough to earn the right to be called a Champion.

It's not that simple. Most good players want to be great... but there's a difference being be a great player and being part of winning culture. You can be a great player without doing the little things it takes to win... relentless back check, blocking shots, sacrificing your body in every way imaginable just to win a game. Getting out of your comfort zone to contribute in ways that you aren't necessarily expected to. When winning at all costs becomes the singular focus of the locker room, then you'll start to win consistently. However, as long as there are a few guys who aren't willing to do those little things... guys who only care about being in the league, collecting a paycheck, and putting up stats, then the team will not have consistent success. It's more of a mindset than anything... when you take the ice, is your focus on protecting your spot on the team or on the scoreboard.

A couple caveats regarding U/RFAs (who's contracts technically don't expire until July 1st) and the expansion draft (June 21st). Any unprotected U/RFAs that Vegas selects (signs before July 1st) do not count toward the 60% salary cap requirement for the expansion draft (players they draft must add up to at minimum 60% of the salary cap). That said, during the 3 days preceding the draft, Vegas will have exclusive negotiating rights will ALL unprotected FAs in the draft pool. If they reach an agreement with any of them, they'll count as their pick from that team. FAs on BUFs roster include Kulikov, Franson, Girgensons, Austin, Foigno, Larsson, Carrier. A likely scenario is Vegas and Kulikov negotiate a deal, but he agrees not sign right away, so that allows Vegas to pick somebody else from BUF, and then officially sign Kulikov come July 1st. That carries some risk, but essentially allows them draft more than one player from each team. This also creates the scenario where a team may choose to protect a UFA to prevent Vegas from negotiating with them prior to the draft.

I'm talking about players only. The guys that actually play the game. IMO the trainer and coach don't have anything to do with the culture in the locker room. That comes from within the players and how focused they are on the task at hand, how important winning is to them. Like Eichel said on locker clean out day.... there are too many guys satisfied with just being in the league. They need more guys who hate to lose.

Culture inside the locker room is most definitely a huge thing. If your "leaders" are not 110% committed to doing everything it takes to win, then the team is going to struggle, no matter what the level of talent is.

Not true? Which of the bottom 6 have defensive skill sets? BUF ranked near the bottom of the league in takeaways because none of the forwards know how to defend, except for O'Reilly. Just go back and watch some games, it's plain as day. They spent a ton of time in their dzone because they couldn't get the puck back, not because of what they did when they had the puck. Larsson is the only guy in that group who has any defensive ability... and it's not much. The breakout strategy has nothing to do with the ability of players to defend and create takeaways.

The 3rd and 4th lines don't any defensively skilled players.

Bylsma's system wasn't designed to increase time spent in the dzone. In fact, it was quite the opposite (get pucks quickly moving north up and out of the zone). The problem was possession. BUF could not get pucks back in their own end for a myriad of reasons I've already gone over in other threads... the short of it is slow dmen, and forwards who don't have any defensive skill. In Bogo's case he lacks quickness and awareness... not a Bylsma issue.

I understand the Duck's tendies are having a rough night but Vatanen looks lost out there, some very weak plays on the puck the last 2 goals.

I think it's comical how some here think Bogo's struggles were because of Bylsma, and at the same time every player that excelled under Bylsma did it on their own. I think guys like Kane, Okposo, Eichel, guys that can get up and down the ice did well in that system. Risto had a big year offensively as well. How come Risto was so much better than Bogo in the same system? Answer is because Bogo has been and always will be a trainwreck in his own end. His decision making under pressure is horrendous. That has nothing to do with Bylsma.

Reinhart was clear #2 at the time. There was only the question of Ekblad or Reinhart at 2 depending on FLA.