Depth Signings: The Tim Wallace File

The tone that Alex gets on “Digital Man” is the DARKEST…..

Progressive Rock album or MOST Progressive Rock album ever?

Four songs. One is 18 minutes long. Another is a nine minute instrumental. And one is about trees arguing.

I didn’t even notice he did that. That’s just inviting trouble.

Both were drafted highly and profiled to be similar players. Both struggled out of the gate. I think given the difference in goals per game leage-wide from the time of Merrick compared to Bailey’s time that their early production is pretty similar. Merrick had some good years but never really broke out as a first line center. He had a good year in STL as a second line center as well as some pretty good years with California/Cleveland, although you’d have to imagine he was seeing quite a bit of icetime and PP time then. Overall I see Merrick as a guy who’s not quite an ideal second line center and not quite and ideal 3rd line center (although to be fair I was really young when he played for NY and I can’t really speak for his defensive skill) and that is where I think Bailey is ultimately heading.

Blake does seem streaky and inconsistent, but I don’t think he will ever be more than a 25 goal scorer, which in and of itself is still impressive. Skills doesn’t always equal production, Matt Moulson isn’t the most skilled player in the world and yet he is one of the most productive goal-scorers in the league, while there are guys like Robert Nilsson who have all the skill in the world but can’t seem to translate that to the score sheet. I don’t think it’s simply a matter of one player working harder than another- when the difference between 30 goals and 10 goals can mean millions of dollars I have to believe most NHLers do what they can to score as many goals as possible. I just think that there are so many intangibles- line mates, synergy with your line mates, ice-time, PP time, offensive zone starts, favorable match ups etc, as well as the natural ability to get in scoring position, the strength to fight through checks and the peripheral vision to see what’s going on around you on the ice. These are skills not seen in skill competitions but are vital for being a productive point producer in the NHL

Assett management needs to replace expectations management. I’m sure you can see that. We don’t need to give up the farm, but you can trade a prize calf for a prize pig. That’s just good sensible farming. I don’t want to see prospects go for 1-3 year talent spans…that’s what UFAs are for… and we can’t get any UFAs…. so we need to build the base. When you have a ton of bricks, but you need some tiling for the floor and you have no cash… you trade some bricks.
I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I have faith that if we lose a few of these prospects it will be iwth long term gains in mind.
Also… we may need, but we are not NEEDY!

to move prospects for established players.

Petrov+Ness+a 2nd rounder for Subban is wishfull thinking IMO. I’ve seen before the proposed concept of piling on B level prospect and mid level picks for elite players. Two B prospects don’t equal one A prospect. Teams are going to be interested in Strome and Nino, not Ness and Petrov. I think that’s the problem. If getting elite players was just a matter of moving prospects on Ness’s level than I would have no problem with it and would be confortable with a trade like that now. For Subban I think a package of an elite level prospect like Strome or Nino plus a B level prospect like Ness plus multiple draft picks likely including at least one first round and you might get Montreal talking. That type of a price is way too steep IMO.

Look at the dynasty era Islanders. how was that team built? look at any good team. They are built through the draft. Good drafting and patience in letting those picks develop has been the proven formula time and time again in good NHL franchises, and is especially invaluable for a team like the isles who have trouble attracting free agents. You know who overspends on free agents and doesn’t draft prudently? The rangers. How has that worked out for them? You put all your eggs in one basket by depleting your farm system and maxing out your cap space by spending on a few big name UFAs and RFAs and if one or two get injured or prematurely decline your f—ked. Chris Drury, Scott Gomez in MTL, Kovalchuk…trading and/or signing big name guys seems like a good idea until you consider that you can get similar production from younger cost controlled players much of the time, as is certainly the case with those three.

If this is about trading Comeau and some prospects for Doughty that ain’t gonna happen- do to his age, skill and upside he is one guy I could live with giving up prospects for (and remember we would likely have to include both Strome and Nino) but this very rarely makes sense. I wouldn’t do it for almost any other player in the league. You are giving up prospects with elite upside for a player who could get injured or underperform. Look at Yashin. We gave up a guy (Chara) who went on to be the best defenseman in the league. A deal would also include picks and that could really handicap us, look at Toronto. Is Kessel really worth those very high 1st round picks? Boston is not only a great team now but are set for years.