To Rebuild, or Refurbish?

There is a common misconception amongst NHL fans these days, about how the rebuilding system works, in contrast to refurbishing a franchise with a losing season, or seasons.  If you were to ask an NHL fan how to improve a low ranking team like the Atlanta Thrashers, the most common answer you will hear is to “Blow up, and Rebuild”, but it’s not that simple.

The idea of rebuilding your team stems from a chance to reshape your team image and philosophy. Whether it is the Philadelphia Flyers toughness or the Washington Capitals run and gun offense, each team has its own personality and traits the team’s general manager will look for in building the frame, and filling in the roster.  You would not be able to simply draft or sign all of the best available talent in hopes of building a successful team for the future.

Ex; Mike Keenan was a toughness enthusiast as a coach/general manager; In this scenario imagine him as the general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers.

If he were to be rebuilding his team, with the first overall pick from 2009, he would have picked the towering defenseman Viktor Hedman over the skilled small center John Tavares.

If he was trying to refurbish through free agency, he would sooner acquire a Hal Gil, strong and rugged defenseman before signing a flashier, Michael Del Zotto.

The decision on which style of making your team competitive again, is not an easy one and requires a complete review of your current roster players, and all players under contract to your team. The first thing to look at is how the kitchen cupboards are stacked. If your minor league system, such as the AHL and ECHL teams have a lot of hungry talent on them, then it will tell you right there you do not need to give yourself a surplus of draft picks; ruling out blowing up and rebuilding. If you do not have enough NHL potential talent, then it shows that your team is not built to handle the future, and you will need to invest draft picks in securing talent for your NHL team; Leaning towards rebuilding. Next you will look towards your salary cap situation; going into the 2010/2011 NHL season, the salary cap is set at 59.4 million dollars, to be spread amongst 23 roster players.  If you are pushing the ceiling of the cap with little success, then it is time to reevaluate the players you have signed, and if they are preforming to the potential they are expected to play at. This may involve waiving players, or trading them away to acquire less expensive players or draft picks. Another thing to look at for is future talent in the upcoming draft years, whether it is prospects from the CHL or across seas, rebuilding is useless if you cannot secure enough high caliber players for your NHL team.

Developing your prospects is the most important process to do with young talent, after acquiring their rights. Players like Alex Ovechkin, where in possession of enough pure skill and ability to step right into the NHL and become an impact player. While a player like Michael Backlund, was forced to play through the Swedish league, WHL, and AHL before getting a shot at NHL stardom. Like going swimming, some people need time to dip their toes first, while others can dive right in. Rushing a player into playing at such a high level of hockey can be harmful to their development. Marc Andre Fleury, the goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins was one of the players who was rushed, playing immediately for a just dreadful Penguins team after being drafted. He was forced to play through games with no defense, and no offense in front of him, he was a vessel hung out to dry.  If not for the strong drafting of the penguins, they may have never been able to save him from the damage done in the early years of his career.

The New York Rangers are a team that has never been very strong on rebuilding, but refilling the cupboards and refurbishing the teams design. No other team in the NHL has ever built a team like the Rangers, after constantly pushing the cap limits on super star players and veteran presence; they have never been a bottom 10 team for long. Always fighting for a playoff spot and never out of the hunt, they are one free agent signing away every season from making a cup run. And with some great drafted talent like Henrik Lundquist and Michael Del Zotto, they are a sure in for many years to come. With high end talent on their NHL club, they can afford to trade draft picks for already seasoned and developing players, instead of relying heavily on their scouting abilities. In doing so, they are in essence using their draft picks, to pick NHL caliber players, instead of prospects.

When it comes down to it, there is no black and white for what one team should do in comparison to another. What works for some, might not work for the rest.  I hope this gives you some insight on how NHL managers spend their time during the off season.

For The Hockey Hub;

Mitchell Courtney