What Current Player Would You Build a New Franchise Around?

[John Wick]

If you could build a net new franchise in today's NHL, and existing contracts were no barrier, which single current NHL player would you choose to start with?

Forward? Defense? Goaltender?

Personally, I'd probably go with Nathan MacKinnon as my first choice. Jon Huberdeau as my alternate. Both are incredibly well rounded in their games, and great team leaders.

 

[NotADcotor]

Chuck Norris obviously.

But seriously with a salary cap I wonder if it is better to go with 4 lines of decent players than a combo of stars and scrubs. Except maybe a great goaltender backed by a good one as they are on the ice all the time and everything goes through them.

 

[John Wick]

Chuck Norris obviously.

But seriously with a salary cap I wonder if it is better to go with 4 lines of decent players than a combo of stars and scrubs. Except maybe a great goaltender backed by a good one as they are on the ice all the time and everything goes through them.

LMFAO! You're not wrong, Chuck is quite the athlete! Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.

The thread was posted based on AM34's Hart Trophy win. The award was based on a head to head comparison of the candidates' over the course of this season. It got me wondering if I would actually build a team around any of the finalists, and my answer was probably not. IMO there were at least two guys who would be more valuable to me in context - MacKinnon and Huberdeau based on the complete nature of their game.

 

[funstick]

Premium centres and defencemen are the hardest to find, especially if the latter play the right side. Maybe it's recency bias but Nathan Mackinnon and Cale Makar would be a great way to start a franchise given age and style of play for the way the game is evolving.

In a salary cap world I would avoid any player that wants more than $10 million a year. The teams that win consistently tend to have 10 or so good or better players throughout the lineup that earn between 5-10 million. Several star players who get this and want to win will sign for a discount. Last time I checked no team has won the Stanley Cup with one or more player(s) earning more than $10 million a year.

 

[K Douglas]

I would go with Cale Makar. It blows my mind how good he is and he's only 23.
Other contenders would be Nathan MacKinnon, Kiril Kaprizov and of course either Connor McJesus or Auston Matthews.

 

[Darts]

But seriously with a salary cap I wonder if it is better to go with 4 lines of decent players than a combo of stars and scrubs. Except maybe a great goaltender backed by a good one as they are on the ice all the time and everything goes through them.

Ever since the Leafs signed Mitch Marner for $10.9mm per I said they have an "unbalanced" team. Last year, the Habs could and did shut down Matthews and Marner in the playoffs.

 

[John Wick]

Ever since the Leafs signed Mitch Marner for $10.9mm per I said they have an "unbalanced" team. Last year, the Habs could and did shut down Matthews and Marner in the playoffs.

you're veering off topic dude...what current player would you build a franchise around. It's okay if you say Carey Price (just so you know)

 

[Darts]

you're veering off topic dude..
I was actually responding to NotADcotor.
what current player would you build a franchise around. It's okay if you say Carey Price (just so you know)
Price is past his best before date. Yes, I would start with the goalie. Igor Shesterkin who was a finalist for the Hart. (Carey Price actually won a Hart.)

 

[smuddan]

My pick would be McDavid. He’s the best player in the world although the margin is small over Matthews and McKinnon. If I were to pick a second player it would be Maker over Matthews and McKinnon. You need that balance to win championships.

 

[bluecolt]

Chuck Norris obviously.

But seriously with a salary cap I wonder if it is better to go with 4 lines of decent players than a combo of stars and scrubs. Except maybe a great goaltender backed by a good one as they are on the ice all the time and everything goes through them.

Not, I don't agree with you at all. Chuck Norris is 82 years old. There will definitely be no long term contract involved.

 

[Adam_hadam]

 

[NotADcotor]

Not, I don't agree with you at all. Chuck Norris is 82 years old. There will definitely be no long term contract involved.

Chuck Norris is forever. He is a part of everything and everything is a part of him. Hawkins developed 2 different theories about him. They tried to make a statue of him but run out of concrete.