RodrigueGabriel

Podkolzin gonna be a beast.

Damn. Seider at 6. Mega riser. Wow.

Milbury thinks he's a Swede. Lol. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Finally finished trimming the Kakko tree. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

OK. Chicago Blackhawks. The most successful team of the salary cap era. 2015 was their last Cup and they had a few geezers for sure: most notably Marion Hossa and Michael Rozsival (both 36), Patrick Sharp (33), Johnny Oduva (32), and Duncan Keith (32). The nucleus of the team in their 3rd Cup year was Hossa and Rozsival (who, at 36, I would list as talented exceptions), Sharp (32), Keith (31), Corey Crawford (29), Jonathan Toews (26), Patrick Kane (25), Brandon Saad (22). That skews older than the teams I cited, and I think we’d all agree that older guys with deep and successful playoff experience are more valuable than those without. So, go back to their first Cup in 2009. The oldest guys on the team were the goalies, Khabibulen (36), and Huet (33). There were two other guys in their 30’s, little known Brent Sopel (32, 2p) and Samuel Pahlsson (31). The nucleus of the team was Martin Havlat (27), Sharp (27), Keith (25), Brent Seabrook (23), Kris Versteeg (22), Kane (20), Toews (20), and Dustin Byfuglien, then playing RW at age 23. Man, Kane and Toews were babies. You still put a team together the same way you did in the 1980’s, through the draft, trades, and signings. These examples are about age mixes that were able to sustain championship level success for a longer time. The salary cap exerts its pressure as players get older. On its face, the cap exaggerates rather than diminishes the value of young cost-controlled talent. My point is that If you want to build a team for longer-term success, your pillars better be young to start with. I have increasing sympathy for Josh’s ongoing campaign to eschew pretty good talent for elite talent, especially now that we have lots of chips. Kreider has been our pretty good talent and we love him. But if we can flip him either alone or in combination with other pretty good assets for something with a strong chance of being a young pillar, we should.

I'm just not betting man, but if I were I would bet an awful lot that we don't see the ECF until at least 21-22. The colts we have are still a ways from being the horses necessary to go up against Boston, et al.

This question is inherently fascinating and one that could result in a month's worth of research to no monetary gain whatsoever as to what is the optimal age mix for a Cup winner. I just quickly looked up the two role models I have for a dynasty, the Islanders of the early 80's and the Oilers of the late 80's. Next I would look at the Hawks of recent lineage. These are the models for what I want Gorton to do in terms of putting together a winner. On the Islanders 4th Cup team in 1982-83, the two oldest players were Billy Smith (33) and Butch Goring (34). Goring was added in 1980 as "the final piece of the puzzle" with playoff experience and veteran mojo. But the nucleus was Potvin (30), Gillies (29), Trottier (27), and Bossy (26). Remember, that was for the last of FOUR Cups. So change those numbers to 26, 25, 23, and 22 for the first time they won. The next year, they lost to the Oilers and were regarded as - and were - on the decline. While some see the 1994 Rangers as the last Edmonton Cup, we'll tell those people to fuck off for now and look at the 1989-90 team, which had lost Gretzky and Coffey by that time. The oldest guy on the team was a big D named Randy Gregg (34), followed by Craig McTavish (32), Randy Huddy (31), and Kevin Lowe (31). While the nucleus of that team was slightly older, Kurri (30) Messier (29), Anderson (29), and Tikkanen (25), (recognize any of those names?) you have to jack those back 5 years to the first championship (4 Cups in 5 years). So it's McT (27), Lowe (26), Messier (24), Kurri, (25), and add Gretzky and Coffey (both 24). So I would argue that a team that can win and stand the test of time is built around guys that are (or are going to be) 23-28 during the prime window. You can find a Cup team like the '94 Rangers that are considerably older, but that crew epitomizes one and done. They had near miss years where they couldn't pull it over the line and barely squeaked out a 7 game final against a Vancouver team everyone expected them to destroy. If I am Gorton and I am building a team for a contention window that begins in 2 years and I have an opportunity to trade a guy who will be 30-35 in the prime window for a similarly skilled guy who will be 20-25 - much less to get back into the top 10 for one of those primo centers - I do it. Today. Literally, today. Pick up a vet along the way for experience. But build your young, skilled nucleus first and foremost.* * I would regard Panarin as borderline, but the more elite a player is (Messier, anyone?), the more you can/should bend the rule. Alas, I don't think Kreider falls in that category. And I guess I finally figured out where I stand on the issue.

We're still at a minimum 2 years away from a sniff at contention. The window may be 5 years after that. So a 28 year old now is 32-33 hitting the middle of that window. it's not that people don't want players in their late 20s. The problem is that they just won't stay that way long enough. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Put me in this camp also. I can see a plan with Kreider and without him. I have really enjoyed watching and rooting for him and know he will be valuable asset to someone going forward. I just want Gorton/JD to make up their minds now and pull the trigger, yea or nay.

My first reaction is to pass if he has a standing refusal to go to the AHL. If he wants a 2nd chance he needs to acknowledge that he blew his 1st and not come in with a bucket full of conditions. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Twitter cracking me up right now: Happy Kakkmas Eve! Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Agree not just with Kreider, but all the guys who we don't expect to be here for the longer haul, even if we're left with too many kids this year and take a loss on some of the outflow . I know we're hamstrung contractually with the 3 older Ds (and Hank, but leaving open the possibility that he rises to the occasion) but having them all hang around for 2 more years will be like living in a house with decomposing corpses stacked in the dining room. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Wait. When did Hamilton sneak into the Harvard/Yale dining hall?

That's totally right. Just being paranoid to the exclusion of known facts. Thanks. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

If Trouba was correct that negotiations started this morning, we are now through Day 1 without a deal. Hopefully nothing to be concerned about. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

"I can see myself being in New York for a long time." - Jacob Trouba on this morning's conference call. So go easy on the cap hit.

If he were to settle for less $$ to stay, he would need a pretty strong NMC - the likes of which I don't know if Gorton is in the mood to give. Obviously, the Hank/Staal deals are looming large on the back end. And of course his agent is whispering that this is his shot and he'll never have a contract opportunity like this again. So it will be interesting to see.

I can see why the WPG fans would have a bad taste in their mouth. If it were NY, we would be roasting him on a spit at this point. Whether his reticence about the team/city was structural (fiance needing to be in the US, stuck behind Buff, etc.) or that he's just a jerk is probably in the eye of the beholder. Will definitely be interesting to see how he reacts to David Quinn's House of Discipline/Accountability/Knuckle Rapping.

Wasn't even aware that Trouba and Skjei are married.

He will be 1st pair for us (along with some guys from Pete's beer league). He'll be PP, PK, 23m+ per game. Think of him as Zib for the defense. Young, improving, leadership type. Was held back behind Byfuglien in WIN. Ready to take a step forward. I think he'll be great for (and perhaps with) Skjei. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Interesting Winnipeg Sun interview, post-trade. Wouldn't talk about an extension but seems excited to come to MSG. Said negotiations would likely start in the morning. https://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/personal-decision-for-trouba-jets-werent-the-issue-for-departing-defenceman/amp?__twitter_impression=true Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Yes. Twas Stat Boy. 6-10-16 on LW, 2-3-5 from RW, in 50 games. No breakout for minutes. So, there are options. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

I think Kravtsov actually had more goals (though maybe fewer points?) on the left side last season and I'm having a hard time remembering where I saw it. But I hope there is versatility and imagine that they will try a boatload of different combos. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Also, Kakko and Strome both play RW. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

Will also make the draft much less interesting, but a much better outcome than a 20th pick. The best offseason ever continues to deliver. Sent from my [device_name] using http://Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk