2024 Off-season trade rumours and speculation thread

[jaikorven]

That guy couldn't host a paper bag into the trash. He lacks any personality any time I have seen him on camera.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I was looking at the all time games records once on IHDB and noticed that there is a pretty strong size bias going on there:

Top 20
1 Patrick Marleau (1997-2021) 1779
2 Gordie Howe (1946-1980) 1767
3 Mark Messier (1979-2004) 1756
4 Jaromir Jagr (1990-2018) 1733
5 Ron Francis (1981-2004) 1731
6 Joe Thornton (1997-2022) 1714
7 Zdeno Chara (1997-2022) 1680
8 Mark Recchi (1988-2011) 1652
9 Chris Chelios (1983-2010) 1651
10 Dave Andreychuk (1982-2006) 1639
11 Scott Stevens (1982-2004) 1635
12 Larry Murphy (1980-2001) 1615
13 Ray Bourque (1979-2001) 1612
14 Nicklas Lidstrom (1991-2012) 1564
15 Jarome Iginla (1995-2017) 1554
16 Alex Delvecchio (1950-1974) 1550
17 Johnny Bucyk (1955-1978) 1540
17 Shane Doan (1995-2017) 1540
19 Brendan Shanahan (1987-2009) 1524
20 Matt Cullen (1997-2019) 1516

9 out of 20 are 6'2" or taller. Recchi (5'10") and Delvecchio (5'11) only ones under 6 foot. Although average height was probably 5'8" or 9" when Delvecchio started his career. Even the "shorter" ones like Recchi, Messier, Iginla, Stevens, Bourque, etc were built like fire hydrants. Also pretty much all star/superstar level players in their primes as well. Matt Cullen is the exception there.

When you look at active players, the four guys with the best chance to break into the top 20 are Suter, Ovechkin, Burns, and Kopitar. 3 out of 4 of those guys are massive.

Size looks like it has a pretty positive correlation with longevity.

Take 20 random nhl players today and I'd bet there's near 9 that are 6'2" or more. Since the average height is around 6"1'. Correlating size with longevity seems like a stretch to me.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

This makes too much sense for it not to happen. Definitely could see some Lebron/McD cross promotion. I would think that McDavid would be a lock to host SNL, just like Gretzky.

He would also be a lock to be the worst host of all time lol.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Take 20 random nhl players today and I'd bet there's near 9 that are 6'2" or more. Since the average height is around 6"1'. Correlating size with longevity seems like a stretch to me.

I agree. I also think that bigger players got/get to play in the NHL sooner. Especially when we consider the clutch and grab era. Here the start is almost as important as the finish.

[D as in David]

There was some personal connection between Draisaitl and the Sharks making San Jose a place where he could potentially end up. I can't remember where I read that.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Take 20 random nhl players today and I'd bet there's near 9 that are 6'2" or more. Since the average height is around 6"1'. Correlating size with longevity seems like a stretch to me.

That average is skewed by bottom of the roster players that are only in the NHL in part because they are big. Size can overcome some lack of skill.

Star players will be smaller on average because of guys of Gaudreau or Quinn Hughes size that aren't making the NHL as defensive specialists.


I just looked at the top 20 scorers from last season and 6 were 6'2" and taller. 5 were under 6 feet. 2 guys were 6'3 or taller.

The top 20 in games played has 6 guys 6'3" or taller. That's 3 times what I found in the random sample of stars we just looked at. Then 3 of the 4 guys that have a chance to make it into the top 20 in the next 2-3 years are also 6'3"+.

Maybe its just an aberration that the top 20 for NHL games played has a lot of very large men. It is a small sample size of course.

Size does offer some good advantages though. Reach, strength, less likely to be checked in the head, often more mass which helps a player fend off collisions, etc. A lot of stuff that could help a player when he starts to lose some speed in his later years.

We won't know for sure if size does equate positively to longevity unless someone runs the stats on a big sample size, but it sure looks like it is the case.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

That average is skewed by bottom of the roster players that are only in the NHL in part because they are big. Size can overcome some lack of skill.

Star players will be smaller on average because of guys of Gaudreau or Quinn Hughes size that aren't making the NHL as defensive specialists.


I just looked at the top 20 scorers from last season and 6 were 6'2" and taller. 5 were under 6 feet. 2 guys were 6'3 or taller.

The top 20 in games played has 6 guys 6'3" or taller. That's 3 times what I found in the random sample of stars we just looked at. Then 3 of the 4 guys that have a chance to make it into the top 20 in the next 2-3 years are also 6'3"+.

Maybe its just an aberration that the top 20 for NHL games played has a lot of very large men. It is a small sample size of course.

Size does offer some good advantages though. Reach, strength, less likely to be checked in the head, often more mass which helps a player fend off collisions, etc. A lot of stuff that could help a player when he starts to lose some speed in his later years.

We won't know for sure if size does equate positively to longevity unless someone runs the stats on a big sample size, but it sure looks like it is the case.

You must have long arms, big reaching here.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

That average is skewed by bottom of the roster players that are only in the NHL in part because they are big. Size can overcome some lack of skill.

Star players will be smaller on average because of guys of Gaudreau or Quinn Hughes size that aren't making the NHL as defensive specialists.


I just looked at the top 20 scorers from last season and 6 were 6'2" and taller. 5 were under 6 feet. 2 guys were 6'3 or taller.

The top 20 in games played has 6 guys 6'3" or taller. That's 3 times what I found in the random sample of stars we just looked at. Then 3 of the 4 guys that have a chance to make it into the top 20 in the next 2-3 years are also 6'3"+.

Maybe its just an aberration that the top 20 for NHL games played has a lot of very large men. It is a small sample size of course.

Size does offer some good advantages though. Reach, strength, less likely to be checked in the head, often more mass which helps a player fend off collisions, etc. A lot of stuff that could help a player when he starts to lose some speed in his later years.

We won't know for sure if size does equate positively to longevity unless someone runs the stats on a big sample size, but it sure looks like it is the case.

I think that in the past, yes, size correlated to long term durability.

But in the modern NHL, the correlation would seem to be quite a bit weaker. Shifty guys like Gaudreau, Keller, Hughes, DeBrincat, Zuccarello, Marchessault, are pretty durable.

Fleury was such a unicorn at the time. Unless most of the aforementioned players, he actually had some edge.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I think that in the past, yes, size correlated to long term durability.

But in the modern NHL, the correlation would seem to be quite a bit weaker. Shifty guys like Gaudreau, Keller, Hughes, DeBrincat, Zuccarello, Marchessault, are pretty durable.

Fleury was such a unicorn at the time. Unless most of the aforementioned players, he actually had some edge.

I think any kind of test of longevity in production as a top player would need to be restricted to those types of players and what kind of % drop in points per minute has been observed from their late 20s into their early 30s and into their late 30s. Only include players that have put up at least four seasons of at least a point per game after the age of 26. Don’t want to include 3rd/4th liners because they could have the same production year after year at any age when they only score 10-15 points per season. Then calculate the % drop in points per minute production from each era of their age (late 20s, early 30s and late 30s). Then see if there is any correlation between height and the % drop in production.

Note: the change in points per minute would be a better gauge than the change in points per game because a player’s ppg may drop simply because they are given less minutes per game in general as they get older.

[SuperMatt18]

It's also impacted by potential bias.

Players generally lose speed and skill once they are into their mid-late thirties.

For a smaller player...NHL GMs are not going to overlook that and their careers will be over sooner.

For a bigger player...NHL GMs will justify continuing to give him a job due to his size, physicality, leadership, and "intangibles".

Doesn't mean they age any better, just means NHL GMs are more likely to continue to justify keeping them around. It's why Milan Lucic still had a job last year before his personal issues hit, but Phil Kessel was left looking for a contract even though Kessel still likely had more "Skill" at this stage than Lucic.

[Sec214]

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Flames warming up for a trade?

[Burn13]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Flames warming up for a trade?

Don't think so, I think Sec is camping and got caught in the rainstorm and is now warming his hands by the fire.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Whatever it is i hope it involves a center heading our way.

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Whatever it is i hope it involves a center heading our way.

Just waiting on a confirmation. Things fall apart but I think this has potential. Calgary and Columbus are on the Back 9.

[kobasew19]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Just waiting on a confirmation. Things fall apart but I think this has potential. Calgary and Columbus are on the Back 9.

Holy moly Laine?!???

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Just waiting on a confirmation. Things fall apart but I think this has potential. Calgary and Columbus are on the Back 9.

Interesting... Laine thing?

[Sec214]

I don't have confirmation but at this point I've been told this could be a big deal involving a few teams.

**Update in a few hours

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Sec214

I don't have confirmation but at this point I've been told this could be a big deal involving a few teams.

Would be smart for Conroy to help facilitate a Laine move to a third team by retaining salary in exchange for picks/prospects.

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Would be smart for Conroy to help facilitate a Laine move to a third team by retaining salary in exchange for picks/prospects.

I believe there is a couple of scenario's unfolding - I wouldn't call this a bidding war but a very complicated hockey trade.