It’s been 5 years since Steve Yzerman was named GM of the Detroit Red Wings. Fans have been very patient with the ‘Yzerplan’ over that time, trusting that their former captain’s direction would bring them back into contention. The Red Wings stood pat at the deadline this year and are finally in a fight for their playoff lives down the stretch. Is this season’s relative success the tip of the iceberg?
Armchair GM
Roster Regeneration: A Sustainable Teambuilding Philosophy
There’s a prevailing mindset among both NHL teams and NHL fans that a team should either be contending or rebuilding. I’ve long thought that to be a strange dichotomy. In no other business would an entity strive for excellence only when circumstances permitted. There must be a better way.
Team Roadmap: Calgary Flames – December 13, 2022
Yesterday, I looked at the Calgary Flames 22/23 season performance and roster profile. We saw a team that looks like a potential contender this season and left off with the question of how the Flames can maximize their roster for a playoff run this season. Today, we’ll dig into that question and look at team needs and possible targets to upgrade their roster.
Pacific Division Snapshot: September 26, 2022
We took our last look at the Pacific Division on July 20, two days before the biggest trade of the salary cap era rocked the NHL. Training camps are underway and, while teams still have some final roster decisions to make, we have a pretty good idea of what each team will look like this season. Let’s take a look at how the landscape has changed since mid July as we get set for puck drop on the regular season.
Trade Proposal: Paul Stastny (NYR) / Schneider+ (WPG)
The New York Rangers have fallen off their early season pace as their mediocre 5v5 results have started to catch up to them, but still look like a contender in the Metropolitan. The Jets sit 6th in the Central and look like they need to re-tool the roster to get back to contender status. These two teams could be excellent trade partners, so let’s take a look at a hypothetical trade proposal.
Trade Proposal: EDM – Jake Allen / MTL – Mikko Koskinen+
The Edmonton Oilers are in free fall and rumors are swirling about what needs to be done to right the ship. Meanwhile in Montreal, the Canadiens started their free fall in October and now find themselves with a new GM and what looks like a lost season. Let’s look at a trade proposal that could help the Oilers contend this season and help the Canadiens start a rebuild.
Armchair GM: Detroit Red Wings (Jan 2022)
The Red Wings are well into their rebuild and the future looks bright. With some high caliber prospects starting to infiltrate the NHL roster, the Wings may soon be ready to take flight as a contender. Let’s put ourselves in Steve Yzerman’s shoes and build an Armchair GM plan for the Red Wings.
Trade Proposal NYR / LAK: Brown / Boyko+
em excellent trade partners. With the Rangers off to a strong start this season, their roster has some weak points that could use a tune up ahead of a likely playoff appearance. The Kings have a boatload of prospects and look to turn the corner on their own rebuild, yet they are most likely a couple of seasons away from becoming a real threat in the Pacific Division.
Armchair GM: Los Angeles Kings (Dec 2021)
The prospect cupboards are bursting with talent in Los Angeles after a successful few seasons spent re-stocking. Where do the Kings go next to transform that potential into a contender? Let’s take a look at the current roster and put together an Armchair GM plan for the Kings.
Armchair GM: New York Rangers (Dec 2021)
New York Rangers rebuild was starting to turn the corner last season, ownership decided a change of direction was needed after a promising season fell short of the playoffs. The Rangers clearly set out to add toughness over the offseason. Will the change in tact push the rebuild over the hump and make the Rangers contenders? Let’s take a look at the current roster and put together an Armchair GM plan for the Rangers.