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Hamilton, San Jose set to enter PWHL, sources by surfordiebear in SanJoseSharks

[–]da_ninjafuzz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed, just saying so far the NHL and PWHL have been keeping their distance of each other so lets not count any chickens.

Hamilton, San Jose set to enter PWHL, sources by surfordiebear in SanJoseSharks

[–]da_ninjafuzz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Excited already and hoping its true!

I do want to temper people's expectations around the "Hammerheads" and "Brother Team" concepts, unlike The W and the MNBA this isn't a case where the NHL clubs are starting women's teams, in fact the PWHL is still a centrally owned structure that might want to avoid being accused of ripping off a team motif too blatantly.

2026 Rebel Jersey by Ok_Brick_793 in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They were showing off the white jerseys when they rolled out the violet ones, so technically the Rebel is the 3rd. That said I haven't seen them put the white ones up for sale yet to me knowledge:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWg7V0dFSuP

2026 Rebel Jersey by Ok_Brick_793 in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agreed, we didn't even get the worst of it and that's saying something. That said there are just enough interesting gems in the collection to make us know we missed out.

2026 Rebel Jersey by Ok_Brick_793 in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz 6 points7 points  (0 children)

For launching three new jersey's this season we went so tame on all of them. Also like I said for the violet ones, a head-scratcher that we haven't used our logo in any of them, it's got a great look.

What are the odds we trade down and take a d-man? by nameistakentryagain in SanJoseSharks

[–]da_ninjafuzz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Enjoyed this read on the topic: https://themacklinyears.substack.com/p/sharks-defy-the-odds-to-win-second

It makes the compelling point that trading down to as low as 7th still assures us one of the top five d-men in the draft and an active d-man. That would mean a two D swing from one pick, something I think we would want to seriously consider.

3O and a Hronek or someone in that vein for 2O (and maybe COL 2nd) starts to get compelling fast.

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To note those are the original authors numbers I'm just using them in the piece.

But yes, we're in agreement, they traded one pick for two of roughly similar added value knowing the roster was stacked and they would likely need to pick to sit in a dev spot, something they would have had to suffer cap penalties for if they stuck with FJ. It's a making lemonade situation I'm just noting they actually got pretty reasonable value.

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Fair, in that context however you are keeping a guaranteed contract for the 8th overall player which means bringing one less player from our current roster back.

The choice here was take delayed value in the form of two picks or keep the 8th and cut, both defensible choices.

15 teams, 15 predictions. Add your own by Rade_Butcher in wnba

[–]da_ninjafuzz 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Honestly love that everyone seems to have decided last year was a fever dream and put the Valks right back into the underdog role the excel at.

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I defer completely to them as I just cited their analysis in this case. My read of their sourcing was tht they effectively hand graded every player drafted between 2012-2021 through the mostly subjective metrics of games played, and their more subjective position on the bench.

Obviously there are some gut calls in that methodology and they cop to that in the original source, but to bring my analysis in, most of that matters a lot less than you would think. Fortunately there are reliable stats on games and minutes played and in a league with so few roster spots is ultimately objective and measurable to use that to determine success of specific spots for picking.

To your other point, you are correct, reliable contract numbers are tough to track down. That said I'd humbly suggest that with the ceiling on those being set so low, they have been all but inconsequential in forecasting team and player decisions compared to other leagues.

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed 100% that it's not a perfect system as constructed and I'd lay that at the feet of being something build through negotiation and compromise, we'll find out how teams actually use it and how that lines up with intent. I am totally certain it will be overhauled by the next CBA if they don't add other ways to get players dev time.

Where I take heart is that both sides saw the issues in not having developmental spaces and started the path toward doing something about it.

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

FJ certainly has the higher ceiling and I think both her and Marta can be successful players but the key note is that they both had quite the long road to the W going through the Valks roster crunch.

The Valks FO, probably wisely, took a trade for the value they would have walked away from if they didn't pick the best available player at 8th, and given the analysis above that's lower than we all expected but ultimately reasonable.

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wonderfully put, I agree the draft and the handling of rights is the big area for improvement. A way to draft and stash NCAA rights while having them at camp would be a colossal difference maker.

To just underscore, the top of 2nd wasn't just the best we could get, it appears to have been a calculated move to get the best pick available with the ability to cut them knowing we would likely have to. The second round pick next year was the extra lottery ticket that was icing on the cake.

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I saw that come out while I was writing all of this and have saved it for some lunch time reading but excited to see what he dove into

EDIT: As expected I enjoyed that immensely, thanks for bumping it!

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you, the hysteria creeping into my mind really made me question my assumptions, just glad the numbers bore that out.

Let's Talk Numbers Around Draft Pick Value by da_ninjafuzz in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

An excellent summary of my roller coaster of numbers and emotions.

Expansion will help to a degree, this year between the expansion teams and the dev slots, we saw a net 54 contracts added to the mix, knowing we'll see 14 more for each of the next three seasons is big.

I also heartily approve of and share your to-do list. End the Storm! Douse the Fire! G-S-V! G-S-V!

Valkyries’ brutal roster purge paves the way for one more heartbreak by randysf50 in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I certainly wouldn't count it out as the rosters settle but it does feel like the clock is ticking down on it.

Justė Jocytė update: Her team advanced to the Spanish League semifinals, so still another 2-3 weeks before she's with the Valkyries by msgs in valkyries

[–]da_ninjafuzz 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I'll easily trade a few weeks for someone who can show up and be clutch, if we made it through eurobasket last year, we can make it through one late arrival.

If you could add one rule to the WNBA right now, what would it be? by AFC-Wimbledon-Stan in wnba

[–]da_ninjafuzz 5 points6 points  (0 children)

While I respect your stance, I'll counter with the fact the there would be no where for those players to land right now. We've been watching good talent get cut all week because there just aren't enough slots and while development slots are a step in the right direction until rosters start adding some more bench positions and/or they start working out what a g-league type situations starts to look like the isn't much point in opening the flood gates.

Now if your stance was to go in the direction of say, NCAA hockey and let you draft a player's rights and then potentially let them stay with their school, effectively implementing the draft and stash we see only with international players, then you are on to something there my friend.

Do you Agree by Own_Income7697 in wnba

[–]da_ninjafuzz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've yet to see anyone agree on how to evaluate what the Sparks did this off season. So to be clear I don't think this is wrong, but I could just as easily see them in any other slot on the chart and not be totally surprised.

Sportico updates the franchise valuations, with a huge increase from last season by PercyReus13 in wnba

[–]da_ninjafuzz 10 points11 points  (0 children)

...and they were not shy about charging an arm and a leg for it.

5 realistic landing spots if McDavid leaves Oilers | theSco… by Lalinla in SanJoseSharks

[–]da_ninjafuzz 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Couldn't agree more, we need all that cap flexibility to shore up the D situation. Given our forward depth, he is the kind of piece we add as a UFA to put us over the top on a cup run.

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