QCity

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You're correct. High roster churn, low number of draft picks, and minimal cap space are all the result of trying to build a team through free agency. You simply cannot sustain a competitive roster with this approach in today's game. It's the wrong approach, philosophy, business plan - whatever you want to call it. Those of us that chide Whaley for this don't just "want more comp picks." We want a GM that understands that you have to build through the draft, and one that knows how to manipulate and take advantage of the current system. Getting 6 draft picks in the first 4 rounds is a ridiculously huge competitive advantage for the teams smart enough to exploit it year in and year out. And no, this doesn't mean you cannot be aggressive in free agency. Our pals the Patriots put on a crazy free agent fireworks display this offseason. Would anyone disagree? And yet there they are, still in position to get 1 comp pick next year. Based on Sheard's $8.5M APY, it could be a 3rd, but will probably be no lower than a 4th. In our case, comp picks are just the symptom of a much, much larger problem.

You can still pick up free agents and get compensatory picks every year. Well, the smart front offices can, which eliminates us. The same posters here that think this is just about comp picks are the same people that start the "Is the stadium built on a cursed burial ground??" posts every December.

You're absolutely correct, but good luck trying to explain this. The football IQ of some of the replies in this thread is embarrassing. I watch other teams manipulate picks years down the road with the shrewdness of a chess grandmaster, while Doug Whaley can't figure out how to open the box. Incorrect. It is.

The best backup in the NFL.

Anyone who thinks we're attempting to build through the draft, clearly doesn't understand what building through the draft means.

"I really don’t want to go to a different team” means he didn't get any other offers.

When you have a HOF QB nearing the end of his career, you can (wisely) shift into "Win Now" mode and mortgage some of your future. Our myopic GM is perpetually stuck in "Win Now" mode.

If that's true, then it's a great deal.

You simply can't judge a contract without the full details. I would be surprised if he took less guaranteed money, and that's going to hit the cap at some point.

Closer to a fact.

I'm not seeing the full details. His cap for this year is nice, but what is it down the road? I doubt he took less guaranteed money.

Absolute delusion. Seriously.

He's absolutely right. We've been trying to build a one-and-done playoff team for the past 4 years (and we can't even do that). The fact that so many fans regard "just making the playoffs" as some type of accomplishment is truly sad.

I think you've missed the sarcasm. This team is far, far more talented than the likes of Colorado. I think anyone with a modicum of hockey IQ can see that. The fact that we can't beat inferior teams falls on Bylsma. Then again GMTM is the one that hired him, and appears to be standing by him.

I wish we were as talented as Colorado or Arizona.

His biggest whiff just might be the coach he hired.

That looked like a team that checked out on its coach. 6 to 1 goal difference at even strength, at home yet. That was Risto's worst game as a pro, no doubt he's shot from getting 30 minutes of ice time for the first half of the season. Dropped 6 of the last 7 and they look more lost than ever after that Pittsburgh meltdown.

No he can't, you clearly don't understand how the RFA system works. Based on that last sentence I'm pretty sure you're Luke from WGR...

"tough to erase" yeah, right. The ~$60M he's going to get will cleanse that palate real quick.

Eichel can't declare himself a UFA until he has played in the league for 7 years. This ain't the NFL and he ain't going anywhere.

I think part of the problem is that the team is equally bad at scoring on shootouts, so Lehner has nothing to practice with to get better.

Lehner is such a train-wreck on breakaways.

Yeah, a few days ago I was laughing at the lines for the Nashville game when Bylsma started Reinhart on the 3rd line and still played him at wing. I read a stat on social media that he has 2 even-strength goals in the last 35 games or something.

No doubt, I think everyone agrees about Lehner and the breakaways/shootouts. He's just a mess in those scenarios. But in no way was that first goal Lehner's fault. He was expecting Bogosian to take out his man, and instead Bogo decided to practice his ice dancing. Watch this video of the first goal https://www.nhl.com/video/pulkkinens-first-as-a-coyote/t-283376016/c-49899103 Now someone explain to me wtf Kulkov is doing. Goligoski clearly has possession of the puck, and yet Kulikov is pinching in? Gee, you think that will result in an odd-man rush? That has nothing to do with an injury or bad back, it's just stupidity. I do love the color commentary about Bogosian "picking flowers," that's spot-on.