Jeremy Laura: Raymond and Seider were nice surprises, and Utah deserves better

Utah is a miss but I believe it’s mainly due to legal/trademark stuff. We saw how stupid the Washington Football Team was just a couple years ago.

I figured Utah can't definitively get their official name issues legally resolved before the season starts.

The Kings got Turcotte and Byfield with the 5th in 2019 and 2nd in 2020, respectively. Byfield is damn good, but if you're picking that high, you want every pick to hit and it hurts when they don't. Yzerman got a 1st pairing right d and future captain, and a first line forward. Can't ask for much more.

I actually think naming the team after Utah is a good idea. That region is now crowded with hockey teams with Vegas and the Avalanche who are the first movers. Utah has to steal some of the fans of those clubs within the state. People in Utah are REALLY into being from Utah. So it gives it local appeal and pride. I suspect they'll adopt a team name more organically in time which will give it some novelty.

Utah is a miss but I believe it’s mainly due to legal/trademark stuff. We saw how stupid the Washington Football Team was just a couple years ago.
- Feds91Stammer

I think you’re probably right. There were rumors that they had trademarked a couple names but the franchise has months to get it together. The Washington thing I won’t touch with a 10 foot pole. That’s internet death for a low tier blogger like yours truly

The Kings got Turcotte and Byfield with the 5th in 2019 and 2nd in 2020, respectively. Byfield is damn good, but if you're picking that high, you want every pick to hit and it hurts when they don't. Yzerman got a 1st pairing right d and future captain, and a first line forward. Can't ask for much more.

I actually think naming the team after Utah is a good idea. That region is now crowded with hockey teams with Vegas and the Avalanche who are the first movers. Utah has to steal some of the fans of those clubs within the state. People in Utah are REALLY into being from Utah. So it gives it local appeal and pride. I suspect they'll adopt a team name more organically in time which will give it some novelty.
- Only_A_Ladd

Love Byfield, for sure. I just feel that the Utah name was a rush job to get jerseys and tshirts made without dealing with potential issues. Vegas had to tweak the name but they had a couple years to build. For the former Coyotes this is a whirlwind change. Just sounds like a social league name more than a pro name to me personally but it’s opinion. It may work out well for them, we’ll let the dice roll on it

The owner of Utah said awhile ago, they’d be Utah for the first year because it takes time to pick a name, design a logo, uniform, etc. I think when they do reveal the name, they’ll have merchandise all ready to sell. And that takes time.

until this team starts drafting better beyond the 1st round they will be stuck at the bottom of the standings.

No doubt Mo & Rayzor are wins. Had issues in 2d round onward, but most of the selections are starting to show whether they are hits or misses. Mazor will be a grinder, Kasper’s looking good, Johansson could be sneaky good, Danielson will be a solid selection. No one knows until they know.

Back in the mid-to-late ‘90s, the ECHL had a team in Huntington, WV: the Huntington Blizzard. Not sure if the ECHL still owns the name, but they hod cool SWAG. Had a D-dude named Kyle Kirkpatrick, solid guy, lots of fun. Andrei Bashkirov played for Les Habitants for a year or so. I did an internship handling TV work for them….had a blast. Anyway, would be cool to see the name in the NHL. “UTAH” just kinda seems off, but for the 1st year? Meh, I’ll take it. Heard Yeti Corp is demanding licensing & royalties for use of the name but willing to allow its use. I like the Yeti, personally.

until this team starts drafting better beyond the 1st round they will be stuck at the bottom of the standings.
- wingz4life

Were they at the bottom of the standings this year? I know and hear the concerns of non first round success but this past year’s team wasn’t stuck at the bottom. They were in the mix right up until the end.

The owner of Utah said awhile ago, they’d be Utah for the first year because it takes time to pick a name, design a logo, uniform, etc. I think when they do reveal the name, they’ll have merchandise all ready to sell. And that takes time.
- ThatDarnCat

I agree on the time limit. It’s insane to think of all they have to do to get things together. I’d heard there were up to 5 names being bandied about with at least 2 applications for copyright. The copyright does take time. Even just doing a song and uploading the wait time went from 3 months to almost a year. What really irks me is the amount of time the league let the team play in that college arena and even tried to avoid this up until their hand seemed forced.

Ywerman did great picking both Seider and Raymond after getting the annual Bettman shaft in the draft.

Yzerman.

Ywerman did great picking both Seider and Raymond after getting the annual Bettman shaft in the draft.
- Bigfrog

"Shaft at the Draft".....sounds like a combo horror-sports movie! Although, I would offer the draft-shaft was more of a poop-show, thanks to Bettman!!

until this team starts drafting better beyond the 1st round they will be stuck at the bottom of the standings.
- wingz4life

Whilst I don't disagree that we could be better, and may need some scouting work, this team fought for a SCPO slot right up to OT of the last game of the season....which ain't to shabby.

Were they at the bottom of the standings this year? I know and hear the concerns of non first round success but this past year’s team wasn’t stuck at the bottom. They were in the mix right up until the end.
- Jeremy Laura

no but I would argue where they are is worse then being at the bottom. not bad enough to get a top pick but not good enough to make the playoffs where you are drafting in the middle of the 1st round.

no but I would argue where they are is worse then being at the bottom. not bad enough to get a top pick but not good enough to make the playoffs where you are drafting in the middle of the 1st round.
- wingz4life

This is where scouting accuracy is absolutely crucial, to the point of a few of us on here, for sure. Goes without saying picking 15th is a bad place no matter how “deep” the draft is forecasted to be. I’d offer it’s slightly disingenuous to intimate that we’re “…stuck at the bottom of the standings.” However, to your point, if we dork up drafting, we could easily be at the bottom, for sure.

no but I would argue where they are is worse then being at the bottom. not bad enough to get a top pick but not good enough to make the playoffs where you are drafting in the middle of the 1st round.
- wingz4life

You could argue, but then you’d have to say there is no incremental growth. You go from the bottom right to the playoffs. There is a point in between. And in a league that apparently wants to go to add 8 to 10 more teams over the next decade there is going to be even more of a struggle. Same division as TB and FLA who have both made the finals with TB winning back to backs along with Toronto and Boston. Forward motion was made and they’ll have to find a way to make another step forward in terms of goals against. Scoring was definitely up.

This is where scouting accuracy is absolutely crucial, to the point of a few of us on here, for sure. Goes without saying picking 15th is a bad place no matter how “deep” the draft is forecasted to be. I’d offer it’s slightly disingenuous to intimate that we’re “…stuck at the bottom of the standings.” However, to your point, if we dork up drafting, we could easily be at the bottom, for sure.
- mcmastermike1968

What draft pick was Larkin? I think there may be an opportunity to grab a surprise at forward as defense is getting the bulk of the look. Scouting is absolutely crucial.

What draft pick was Larkin? I think there may be an opportunity to grab a surprise at forward as defense is getting the bulk of the look. Scouting is absolutely crucial.
- Jeremy Laura

Larkin was 15th..... It all boils down to scouting. No doubt we've had some misses, but there are several selection who could be NHLers in GR and college now that we just don't know.

As I watch the SCF, I look at the pace & physicality.....right now, I don't see us having the ability to be a threat past MAYBE the 2d round, if that. Now, kids like Mazur could shock us, Johansson could turn out to be a stud, etc... Was listening to an ol Chiclets pod about how FLA combine prospects for trade material, had some savvy trades, slick UFA moves (this was from a couple of years ago....), and were strong, but just not there yet.

Maybe we'll see a package containing Bear Grin or some such for a solid d-dude....lots can happen, lots *needs* to happen if we want to tast the deeper waters of the SCPO ocean....we need some help, but some of our kids could fare well, look at Rayzor and how he's turned it on, kid's got the tools. I like what we have, but right now I think we'd need some help if we had made the SCPO.

EDIT: 18 of 21 current Panthers came via UFA, Waivers, or Trade.

@H2: Didn't you propose a move for Bouchard a while back? I recall him being discussed at some point.... This kid's a BEAST, The Captain shoulda listened to ya!!!

Ok, so is it just me or is the current SCF broadcast team really bad? Ferraro played, but.....meh. And the play-by-play bubba has about ZERO energy in his voice. Sure do miss Doc and Thorne.....they brought the game to life.

no but I would argue where they are is worse then being at the bottom. not bad enough to get a top pick but not good enough to make the playoffs where you are drafting in the middle of the 1st round.
wingz4life


I'm not sure you will be welcome at the 2028 (possibly not until 2029) Stanley Cup parade with this type of attitude! lol

Ok, so is it just me or is the current SCF broadcast team really bad? Ferraro played, but.....meh. And the play-by-play bubba has about ZERO energy in his voice. Sure do miss Doc and Thorne.....they brought the game to life.
- mcmastermike1968

Sean McDonugh sucks. He shouldn’t do any hockey games. As a matter of fact I hate everytime he does a Michigan football game. He sucks the life out of the broadcast.

no but I would argue where they are is worse then being at the bottom. not bad enough to get a top pick but not good enough to make the playoffs where you are drafting in the middle of the 1st round.
wingz4life


I'm not sure you will be welcome at the 2028 (possibly not until 2029) Stanley Cup parade with this type of attitude! lol
- Diller

So there IS a chance?!?!?!?!?!?!?