Todd Bersnoozi wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:34 pm
Yah, that's a fair comment, but what I meant is that they didn't tank to get that elite talent like Mackinnon, McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, Bedard, Celebrini, etc.
Those guys are good players, if not great players. Barkov might be the best 2-way forward in the league, but not sure he's elite. Ekblad is a great D-man, but not sure he's Norris calibre. Same with Tkachuk, I would say he's a gritty, skillled & clutch player, but wouldn't say he's elite skilled.
Florida didn't really win by their drafting. They won by building around there core (I guess Huberdau & Ekblad) with solid depth in every position. Basically a bunch of skilled, gritty guys who are hard to play against.
That last comment is bang on, depth rules the day for sure. And having key contributors to those positions is certainly a big reason they've been back to back champs.
That being said, they do have elite talent too: I certainly think that Barkov deserves "elite" status. Health has just been his kryptonite. His only full season, he got 96 pts. And is very close to PPG in his career, while being the dominant 2-way center in the league. I'd take him over a few guys on your elite list to build around.
Same goes for Ekblad, was nominated for the Norris in 2021. Their depth on the blueline allows them to not have to play one guy 28 mins a night like some teams. Those are usually the defensemen that get nominated, as they stand out - because they have such an overall effect on their team. Ekblad has battled health issues his whole career too.
Having key core players, and legitimately star roster construction has created a wagon - no players that are 5ft 2" tall, and 120lbs. No players that don't hit, score and fight, core guys like Reinhart, Tkachuk, Bennett, along with the aforementioned elite bus drivers - then surrounded by really key depth positions like Verhaeghe, Rodrigues, Marchand, Jones etc. etc. And Goalie Bob playing on top of his game helps.
Van's current roster construction, to Topper's much belabored point - has too many midgets, you can't have that many on one team - as it snow balls through the lineup. Even if they play "tough" like Hogs, they still can be muscled off the puck, or in front of the net by a bigger defensemen. You have a bunch of those players - it makes for an easy night for the opposition, just by virtue of a poor roster construction, no matter how hard they play. Rolling out Garland, Hogs, Petey, and Hughes then next shift Letterkenny, Reichel and Boeser... as Blobby likes to say: Yawn, Fart. Easy night for Ekblad and Barkov.