The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames kicked trade season into gear on Wednesday night with the deal that sent Elias Lindholm to Vancouver and Andrei Kuzmenko and a package of future assets to Calgary. There’s plenty to unpack in the deal.
Teambuilding
A Better Way: Regenerative Cohorts
I don’t think it has to be that way though. If we want to outsmart the best teams, we can’t simply copy their strategy. We need to improve on it. What if there was a way to build a sustainably competitive team?
Designed to Fail: The Rebuild
Rebuilds fail. Ideally, rebuilds fail eventually; after a parade. Rebuilds also fail often, and early.
Perpetual Mediocrity: ‘Just Get In’
It’s an archaic strategy. And we still hear and see it emanating from NHL front offices every year. If we just get in, we could be this year’s 2023 Florida Panthers. Or this year’s 2021 Montreal Canadiens. Or this year’s 2003 Anaheim Ducks. The underdog. The Cinderella team. Just get in and, if we play to our potential, anything can happen.
Skater Contribution: Impact & Usage
For those that have been following along here for a while, you’ll be familiar with player impact. I define it as a player’s net impact Continue Reading
The Calgary Flames Trade Conditions Complex
The Calgary Flames made two franchise defining trades in the summer of 2022. Following the UFA exit of Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk made it known that he wanted out. GM Brad Treliving obliged and Tkachuk was shipped to the Florida Panthers shortly after his request became public. Later in the offseason, Sean Monahan was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for future considerations in order to clear cap space.
The Importance of a Contention Window
Why is it so important to build toward a window instead of going all-in for a single season?
Teambuilding Guidelines
I thought it was time to put together some teambuilding guidelines that, if followed, will improve a team’s chances of building a Stanley Cup championship team. Here’s 10 guidelines I think every team should follow: