Article: Hockey Class Is In Session, and It’s Time for a Group Project

[Burnt Toast]

5 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Storm

P-Bomb how about….The Sturminator. He said he’d be baaaaack and he’s keeping his promise. At $2M he’s affordable and hopefully he can share his Cup mojo with Kap. 

[NoJoSux]

On 12/8/2025 at 6:44 PM, Pewterschmidt said:

Trading the Jiri Project™️ (hunt + 1st + 2nd + 3rd + 4th) (admitting defeat on this trade) for a son to be 31 yr old grinder would be a Fentonian move.  I’d be surprised if Guerin has that long a leash with OCL.  I also don’t think Guerin’s ego would allow that move.  Jiri is here until bill is gone

Highly possible. I just don't like the idea of sticking to bad decisions. I don't know what is is about Jiricek that is so great that Guerin wanted him after struggling in Columbus. He's got size and a shot that makes ya like the idea of having a player like that if everything else was decent. It seems to me like he's got two of the fundamental, can't-teach, items on the offensive side, but the same goes for the defensive side which is the mobility and decision-making. Those can't teach items nullify the others IMO. Spurgeon is a much better defenseman without the size or booming shot from the point. 

For me, that makes the Jiricek can-kick a decent attempt at recapturing the potential 5th overallness that made Jiri a top pick, but CBJ seems to have made the right call, trading and moving on from a poor decision. Guerin and Brackett coulda got Mason West but now, we're stuck with a dimishing-value asset in a position that is crowded within the organization. I didn't like the idea of trading for Jiricek Summer of '24 and I still think it was a reach. Very similar to the Laine attempt, but this one actually happened. We already tried this kind of thing with Klingberg.

It's my opinion, you move on, take the loss and regroup with a strategy to recapture picks or get an NHL guy. If Sherwodd costs more than a top prospect and journeyman player, then forget it. He's a 3rd line guy on a contending team, along the lines of an Even Rodrigues or Connor Brown. My thought is, what can Jiricek do to help win the Cup this year or next? I don't see the fit or the idea coming to fruition. I'd rather see Spacek get a shot since he's been a consistent point-getter and more of a defense-first player which is a better NHL quality than some one-timer goals or rush jump-ins. The Wild's defense with Jiricek stunk and once Bogo came back, the team started winning again. What's that tell ya? Maybe the advanced stats guys have a explanation for us eye-test and scoreboard prioritizors?  

[NoJoSux]

On 12/8/2025 at 6:44 PM, Pewterschmidt said:

Trading the Jiri Project™️ (hunt + 1st + 2nd + 3rd + 4th) (admitting defeat on this trade) for a son to be 31 yr old grinder would be a Fentonian move.  I’d be surprised if Guerin has that long a leash with OCL.  I also don’t think Guerin’s ego would allow that move.  Jiri is here until bill is gone

Highly possible. I just don't like the idea of sticking to bad decisions. I don't know what is is about Jiricek that is so great that Guerin wanted him after struggling in Columbus. He's got size and a shot that makes ya like the idea of having a player like that if everything else was decent. It seems to me like he's got two of the fundamental, can't-teach, items on the offensive side, but the same goes for the defensive side which is the mobility and decision-making. Those can't teach items nullify the others IMO. Spurgeon is a much better defenseman without the size or booming shot from the point. 

For me, that makes the Jiricek can-kick a decent attempt at recapturing the potential 5th overallness that made Jiri a top pick, but CBJ seems to have made the right call, trading and moving on from a poor decision. Guerin and Brackett coulda got Mason West but now, we're stuck with a dimishing-value asset in a position that is crowded within the organization. I didn't like the idea of trading for Jiricek Summer of '24 and I still think it was a reach. Very similar to the Laine attempt, but this one actually happened. We already tried this kind of thing with Klingberg.

It's my opinion, you move on, take the loss and regroup with a strategy to recapture picks or get an NHL guy. If Sherwodd costs more than a top prospect and journeyman player, then forget it. He's a 3rd line guy on a contending team, along the lines of an Even Rodrigues or Connor Brown. My thought is, what can Jiricek do to help win the Cup this year or next? I don't see the fit or the idea coming to fruition. I'd rather see Spacek get a shot since he's been a consistent point-getter and more of a defense-first player which is a better NHL quality than some one-timer goals or rush jump-ins. The Wild's defense with Jiricek stunk and once Bogo came back, the team started winning again. What's that tell ya? Maybe the advanced stats guys have a explanation for us eye-test and scoreboard prioritizors?