Quote:
Originally Posted by Macho0978
I think Buffalo is a bad example as they have other issues vs other teams.
I think the Devils would be a good example. 2 years ago they looked to be the next big team and that hasn't happened. But with the Kaprizov contract, NJ is looking great having some of their players well belew $10M
SJ rebuild is hard to gauge right now as they have yet to lock anyone up long term. Celebrinni is great, but if he signs 3 years @$11M or 8 years @$14M, is he that good? Can they win in 3 years on the bridge deal?
The Flames have got poor rating on their rebuild recently. But Coronato and Wolf contracts are looking very very good and the vets we have also are starting to have very very good contracts. What we do with our vets can change the outlook of this team and growth from our long-term contracts can also change the outlook of our team vs SJ who is being labeled the best of the best in the rebuild category.
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Yes, Buffalo is a terrible comp simply because they have been a terribly run team since they were bought by Pegula, IMO. Maybe Ruff calling the shots will add some stability there moving forward, but they have been nothing short of a disaster. They are simply a poster child for what can happen if you don't hire qualified people to run your team.
As for SJ vs NJ - yes, NJ gets the points for having their core signed to lower deals moving forward. However, I don't like the composition of their core as much. Celebrini - Misa/Smith - Dickinson - Askarov is one of the best young 'spines' of a team right now. I like it more than NJ's by quite a lot, and NJ doesn't have a goalie.
Plus San Jose still has a lot coming up the pipe too, or already established. Eklund is a great player, Cagnoni is small, but he is already breaking through and can really run a PP, Musty is developing well, and others. Plus they still have 2 first round picks for the 2026 draft, and I think they are likely to finish in the bottom 5 or so this year still. I think they are going to come out of this rebuild looking really good. Nothing is guaranteed, but I do think they are my favourite so far out of all the rebuilding teams that have been hovering at the basement from the last 5 years. I think Grier will manage their contracts well enough to fill out the rest of his roster.