Potential Amnesty Buyouts for Each NHL Team

Anaheim Ducks

Boston Bruins

1.  Chris Kelly $3M, 3 years left

The Bruins currently have $58M already committed to the $64M cap. Including Kelly, they have 11 forwards already under contract, along with six defensemen. Caron and Daugavins are RFAs, but that probably won’t hurt the bottom line that much. The big issue is Tuuka Rask is an RFA and even backup Anton Khoudobin is a UFA. If they combine to make $7M total, that alone would put Boston over the cap. To say nothing of Boston needing to round out their roster. Most of the Bruins players are under good contracts, and while Kelly’s contract isn't terrible he’s probably the most expendable player and freeing up 3M might have to be necessary. He could become a trade candidate instead.

Buffalo Sabres

1. Ville Leino $4.5M, 4 years left
2. Drew Stafford $4M, 2 years left

Leino is a no-brainer because he isn't worth nearly that much money and it’s hard to fathom anyone taking that contract via trade. Stafford is definitely no lock to get bought out and frankly, I wouldn't bet on it. That said, I thought he was a name worth mentioning because he makes a ton of money, has been on the trading block and Buffalo seems tired of him. Chances are they can trade Stafford or at the very least keep him and see if he rebounds before deciding on what to do next with him.

Calgary Flames

1. Cory Sarich $2M, 1 year left 
2. Miikka Kiprusoff $5.8M, 1 year left NOTE: if he doesn't retire

As noted, if Kiprusoff doesn't retire he probably will get bought out. The Flames are going through a huge rebuild, he makes a ton of money, and it will be hard to find a team that actually needs a goalie and can afford that cap hit. When it comes to Sarich, the Flames made him available to every team this year and found no takers. Giordano and Wideman are in the top 4, and chances are Butler –who is an RFA—will be too. Since they are rebuilding, it’s entirely possible Brodie will also be in the top 4, along with Derek Smith somewhere in that unit and maybe a guy like Mark Cundari who they just got in the Bouwmeester deal. Maybe Calgary keeps Sarich and hopes they can get some value for him at next year’s deadline, or maybe they just cut bait and start giving young guys auditions.

Carolina Hurricanes

1.  Jamie McBain $1.8M, 1 year left

Canes have $56M already committed to the cap next year and had McBain on the trading block this year. It’s entirely possibly they simply trade him for a late pick or something minor, but if they can’t they might just buy him out because they are strapped for cash and don’t appear to think he’s a solution to their defensive woes. They only have four other defensemen under contract other than McBain so they might keep him, but they've played Sanguinetti all year and he’s a UFA who could probably be resigned for cheap, plus Murphy might make the team next year along with a few other AHL candidates likes Jordan, Biega and Bellemore.

Chicago Blackhawks

1. Rotislav Olesz $3.125M, 1 year left
2. Steve Montador $2.75M, 2 years left

These two are both no-brainers as Olesz and Montador both make a lot of money and are already buried. This is a foregone conclusion.

Colorado Avalanche

1. Greg Zanon $2.25M, 1 year left
2. Shane O’Brien $2M, 2 years left

Including Barrie and Elliott, the Avalanche already have eight defensemen under contract next year. Siemens could make the team out of camp for the 13-14 season, plus they might be bad enough to draft Seth Jones this year. Due to this, I picked the two most logical choices to be bought out because Hejda and Johnson have value, Hunwick plays a ton and Ryan Wilson is a solid player.

Columbus Blue Jackets

1. James Wisniewski $5.5M, 4 years left

Wisniewski is the only righty on the Columbus defense and he isn't a bad player, but he makes a lot of money and that’s a terrible contract with a lot of term left. Maybe the Blue Jackets keep him, or maybe they run with Johnson, Tyutin, Nikitin, Erixon, Murray, Goloubef, Prout and maybe even Savard. It might not make them a better team immediately, but it would get them away from this contract. They could also wait to do this after next season instead.

Dallas Stars

Detroit Red Wings

1. Mikael Samuelsson $3M, 1 year left
2. Todd Bertuzzi $2.075M, 1 year left

The Wings have $52M worth of players signed for next year and Dan Cleary, Valterri Filppula and Damien Brunner are all key UFAs. They also have Brendan Smith and Gustav Nyquist as important RFAs that need to be signed. It’s a tight squeeze for them and Bertuzzi and Samuelsson are both old and have barely played this year. If Detroit’s looking to make room to sign younger guys, their combined $5M could help them quite a bit.

Edmonton Oilers

1. Ben Eager $1.1M, 1 year left
2. Ryan Smyth $2.25M, 1 year left
3. Eric Belanger $1.75M, 1 year left

Since Eager is already buried, it’s probably safe to assume he’s getting bought out. Belanger hasn't produced at all since coming to Edmonton and would be my guess to be bought out based on ability, although both these guys have seen their best days pass them by. On the flip side, Smyth is making more money so they could clear more cap room. The Oilers payroll is at $52M and they need to resign Gagner, Paajarvi, add two defensemen and a goalie. The cap is $64M. Each team only has two buyouts.

Florida Panthers

1. Scottie Upshall $3.5M, 2 years left
2. Ed Jovanovski $4.125M, 2 years left
3. Filip Kuba $4M, 1 year left

The Panthers aren't really in cap trouble, these three players just have terrible contracts. Upshall played 26 games last year, and only 18 so far this year, throwing up 8 points total and he’s turning 30 this year; that’s a lot of money for a third liner. Jovanovski is turning 37 this year and is basically a third pairing defenseman making a lot of money for two more years, so there isn't much more that needs to be said. Kuba isn't worth his money either, but at least there’s only a year left. It’s reasonable to envision any of these guys getting bought out.

Los Angeles Kings

Minnesota Wild

1. Dany Heatley $7.5M, 1 year left

Heatley is making mere thousands less than Parise, and is seventh on the team in scoring. Cal Clutterbuck is an RFA, Matt Cullen and PM Bouchard are UFAs should they want to resign them, Backstrom is a UFA in net along with Falk and Spurgeon on defense as RFAs. They have $58M already tied up for next season and just brought in Pominville.

Montreal Canadiens

1. Tomas Kaberle $4.25M, 1 year left
2. Rene Bourque $3.3M, 3 years left

Kaberle will get bought out, that goes without saying. There’s a good chance Bourque doesn't get bought out, but the Habs already have $61M of their $64M tied up for next year and do need to fill in their roster. They've been fine without Bourque, although he is a good player that can still contribute. He is turning 32 this year and still has three years left. They may just want to get out of that contract and give themselves some breathing room for next season.

Nashville Predators

1. Mike Fisher $4.2M, 2 years left

It would be a surprising and hard move for the Predators to buyout Fisher, but it’s possible they do. He’s turning 33 this year, he's making a lot of money for the next two years and he isn't getting any better. Fisher is third on the team in scoring, so he’s not having an awful year, but he’s making a lot of money on a small market team and they might just take a long hard look at that contract and ask themselves if he’ll be worth that money the next two seasons.

New Jersey Devils

1. Anton Volchenkov $4.25M, 3 years left

Volchenkov plays under 16 minutes a night and is signed for three more years. They can afford to keep him financially, but it’s just a terrible contract that they should want to get away from.

New York Islanders

New York Rangers

1. Brad Richards $6.6M, 7 years left

Brad Richards already isn't worth $6.6M, so imagine 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 years from now. Maybe they keep him for next season and decide to buy him out after that though.

Ottawa Senators

Philadelphia Flyers

1. Ilya Bryzgalov $5.6M, 7 years left
2. Danny Briere $6.5M, 2 years left

How could this team not buyout Bryzgalov at this point? His play and demeanor has been well documented so there’s no point in getting into it, but he has 7 years left and is making a lot of money for a guy who is not the answer in net. The Flyers are already a million dollars over next year’s cap, too.  Then there is Briere. He’s old now, makes a ton of money and doesn't put up the point totals he once did that made us all overlook his defensive issues. That’s a lot of money for an old, regressing, flawed player. And he has two years left.

Phoenix Coyotes

Pittsburgh Penguins

St Louis Blues

San Jose Sharks

1. Martin Havlat $5M, 2 years left
2. Adam Burish $1.85, 3 years left

The Sharks aren't in cap trouble, but Havlat makes quite a bit of money for a guy who is struggling to produce, let alone the fact that he basically never stays healthy. He has two years left so they may just want to use that money elsewhere instead because Havlat hasn't really been a good fit in San Jose to this point. It’s doubtful the Sharks buyout Burish, but you just look at his contract and term and role and just wonder about it so I put it down. Call it due diligence.

Tampa Bay Lightning

1. Ryan Malone $4.5M, 2 years left

Malone isn't a bad player but he’s turning 34 this year, he struggles to stay healthy every year, and he’s making a lot of money for a guy who is more of a top nine forward than top six. Tampa Bay also has a bit of a youth movement going on right now and if they weren't thinking of buying Malone out before, the play of guys like Alex Killorn should be causing them to.

Toronto Maple Leafs

1. Mike Komisarek $4.5M, 1 year left
2. JM Liles $3.875M, 3 years left

Komisarek is getting bought out, we know that already. Liles has had an up and down year but the bottom line is that the left side of the Leafs defense has Gunnarsson, Fraser, Gardiner and Rielly on it, and Liles is signed for three more years. They might be able to trade him because he can still run a power play, contribute, and isn't on a terrible contract though. But that term might be a little tricky.

Vancouver Canucks

1. Keith Ballard $4.2M, 2 years left
2. Roberto Luongo $5.3M, 9 years left

Keith Ballard has played forward this year and has two more years on his contract still at a big number. I don’t see how they don’t buy him out. Luongo probably won’t get bought out because Gillis is proving to be stubborn and actually thinks he can get value in return for him. That said, I felt it was necessary to at least include his name here.

Washington Capitals

1. Joel Ward $3M, 2 years left
2. Jeff Schultz $2.75M, 1 year left

Ward is actually having a quietly good year as he’s surpassed his 18 points from last year and is playing 15 minutes a night. There’s a solid chance they don’t buy him out because third liners are worth the money that he’s making. The betting is that they keep him. Schultz on the other hand is a depth defenseman making quite a bit of money, and the Caps have to resign Karl Alzner this summer. It’s hard to imagine them not buying him out.

Winnipeg Jets

1. Olli Jokinen $4.5M, 1 year left

Jokinen has 13 points in 41 games and while I don’t love +/-, when you’re -17, that’s saying something. He’s turning 35 this year, so what are the chances he gets better? The Jets have to resign RFAs Wheeler, Little, Burmistrov and Bogosian too. While they have the cap room to do it, Jokinen is making a lot of money and not producing so they might just cut ties.

TSN Top 60 Draft Thoughts

I’m not going to beat around the bush and waste time, so here are some thoughts as TSN released their top 60 NHL prospects for the 2013draft:

• The MacKinnon-Jones debate will rage on well after they are drafted until we know for sure who is better. For now though, TSN will hype up this “battle to go first” until one of their names is finally called. My two cents is this, and I doubt it’s changing anytime soon, all things being equal I’ll take the forward over the D-man, thank you very much. The best recent example we probably have of a similar situation is the 2008 draft in which Steven Stamkos ended up going first, and Drew Doughty went second. Both players are elite, and I think it’s safe to say they are both top 5 players at their position. If we had to redo that draft right now though, who would you take first? It’s not even a discussion for me, I’d take Stamkos hands down. I think Doughty is a hell of a player, and he was instrumental in the Kings Cup run, but philosophically speaking, I’d build my team down the middle instead of getting an elite D-man. Forwards just dominate the game much more easily and consistently.
• So with that in mind, I take MacKinnon over Jones. If you’re telling me Jones is head and shoulders above MacKinnon, that’s a different story. But I think they’re close. Heck, even if Jones is a shade better, I’d still take MacKinnon.
• The last time a D-man was drafted first overall was when the Blues selected Erik Johnson in 2006. The next four picks? Jordan Staal, Jonathon Toews, Nicklas Backstrom and Phil Kessel.
• On the note of the 2006 and 2008 drafts, the next part of the draft also reminds me of them. Back in 2008 there was a run on D-men in the first five picks. After Doughty was selected, the Thrashers picked Bogosian, the Blues snagged Pietrangelo, and then the Leafs traded up to draft Schenn. In a similar fashion, you can expect a comparable run on players of the same position early on in the draft. The 2006 draft also had a run of similar position players as previously mentioned (as already mentioned, Staal, Toews, Backstrom and Kessel). This year, you can expect Jonathon Drouin, Aleksander Barkov, Elias Lindholm, and Sean Monahan, with a chance of Valeri Nichushkin joining this group, to go in some sort of order after the top two picks are selected.
• From what I’ve seen, though, I think the next four players will be much more similar to what the quartet of Staal, Toews, Backstrom and Kessel ended up being, in comparison to what Doughty, Pietroangelo, Bogosian, and Schenn have become as a group. (One was a mixed bag, the other was a group of top end talents).
• Nothing against Hunter Shinkaruk, but if I’m drafting between 8-12 and it’s between him and fellow winger Valeri Nichushkin, who I just mentioned might sneak up the list, I’m taking the 6’4 Russian. Both are extremely talented, but drafting is about projecting, and the difference between 5’11 and 6’4 is huge. With guys like Vladimir Tarasenko and Evgeny Kuznetsov both going in the later portion of the first round and looking like studs, something tells me Russians aren’t just dropping because of the so called “Russian factor.” I’d bet a lot of it has to do with limited scouting of these players. Think about it, where do organizations send their premier scouts most likely? A league full of kids like the CHL, or a league full of men and maybe a few kids playing limited roles? And when push comes to shove on draft day and your best scouts are telling you to draft one kid in the CHL, while another guy is saying draft a kid who played sparingly in the KHL, who are you going to take? That means these kids have to basically look great in international tournaments when everybody is watching. 
• I’m not saying Josh Morrissey is being ranked incorrectly as TSN puts him at 20^th –and many other drafting services are dropping him lower and lower- but I think whoever picks him is getting a hell of a player. I haven’t seen him play a ton –would ballpark it between 8-10- but every time I have, he has been impressive. His hockey sense is great, and his puck movement is fantastic.  Obviously, 41 points in 60 games for a D-man who hasn’t even been drafted yet is no joke. He’s a bit on the smaller side, but he’ll muck it up. Whoever selects him is getting a good prospect. 
• Building on that note on Josh Morrissey, and another similarity to the 2008 draft, is that there are going to be some very good players available in the second half of the first round this year. Curtis Lazar and Jason Dickinson are two guys who come to mind.
• Might be one of the better drafts in recent memory to get a late pick. Recent drafts have been about getting solid players in the 20s, but this draft could see legitimately top line talent potential going late in the first round.
• Ryan Pulock is another guy that is dropping for what appears to be nothing that he has done, but because other guys like Darnell Nurse, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov are climbing the charts. It kind of reminds me of Del Zotto’s drop a few years ago where everybody knew he was talented, and he was always highly touted and suddenly a bunch of D-men have passed him in the draft and question marks arise regarding his game. Del Zotto was part of that Doughty, Bogosian, Pietrangelo, Schenn draft in which Tyler Myers, Colton Teubert, Erik Karlsson, Jake Gardiner and Luca Sbisa also all went before Del Zotto got picked 20^th.
• Finally: If there’s one guy I’d love to draft at the end of the first round, it’s without a doubt Ryan Hartman. He has skill, he hits like a train and will fight anyone, and he was the only draft eligible player on Team USA this year. The sky isn’t the limit with this kid necessarily, but I think he’s a kid who finds a way to be productive in the NHL whether it’s as a Steve Ott type, who was also drafted at the end of the first round, or more of a scorer who can play tough. Maybe like a Tuomo Ruutu or Andrew Ladd.

I decided to do this on a whim. I’m not going to sit here and say I watch all these guys religiously because I don’t, but I comment on who I have seen and decided to cut off my writing here. If some of you enjoy it and want me to write more, I will. If not, I hope you enjoyed this much at least. 

What the Seattle Seahawks can teach us about building successful teams

In 2010, Pete Carroll and John Schneider were hired by the Seattle Seahawks to turnaround a flailing franchise. The previous two years saw the team lose their iconic football czar Mike Holmgren to a 4-12 season, before hiring Jim Mora and watching him guide the team to a 5-11 season that got him fired.

So in came a superstar college coach, and a guy who just won a Superbowl to change the face of a franchise whose best players were an aging Matt Hasselbeck, TJ Houshmandzadeh and Lofa Tatupu. Remember, this isn't even three full seasons ago yet.

Since the new regime took over, only five players remain on the team: Max Unger, Ben Obomanu, Red Bryant, Leroy Hill and Brandon Mebane. For those who aren't too familiar with football, the skinny is that everyone named except Ben Obomanu are starters- Obomanu is a depth receiver. Max Unger made the pro bowl this year, Brandon Mebane is a pro bowl caliber player, while Leroy Hill and Red Bryant are serviceable players that contribute positively, but nothing special. In essence, on a roster of 53, only five players are hold overs going into the third season of a new regime.

So in three short years, without a draft pick no higher than sixth overall, Carroll and Schneider have turned a 5-11 team, into an 11-5 Superbowl contender.

They have done numerous things to get there, many of them football related only, but there are three things every franchise should takeaway when it comes to how to build a team properly.

1- Acquire players built to play a specific system

Seattle's D-line is not conventional, to say the least. They line up four players along the line with two DE's and two DT's, which is pretty standard. However, on the left end they play a defensive end who weighs nearly 325 pounds, is 6'4, and his main job is to basically seal the edge and stop the run. On the opposite side is Chris Clemons, who weighs 255 pounds and is 6'3, and his job is to rush the passer. To give you an idea of what a prototypical high end D-line man is, look at a guy like Julius Peppers who is 6'7 and weighs 290. Obviously, neither player is anywhere close to having Peppers physical ability, but they work.

Red Bryant wasn't even a starter on Seattle's 5-11 team under Mora, but he's started every game under Carroll. In fact, Bryant was playing on the inside of the line at DT versus playing DE before Carroll got to Seattle.

Chris Clemons was acquired straight up for DE Darryl Tapp, and the Seahawks got a 4th round pick out of it, too. Since then, Clemons is one of only three D-linemen to get double digit sacks in each of the last three seasons. The others? Eleventh overall pick Demarcus Ware of the Cowboys, and Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings who was acquired for one first round pick and two third rounders.

Chris Clemons went from after thought in Philly,
to stud in Seattle.

Tapp, the player the Seahawks traded to bring in Clemons AND a fourth round pick, didn't even start this year for a 4-12 Eagles roster.

Then in the 2012 draft, the Seahawks used their 15th overall pick to draft Bruce Irvin, a pick that was largely deemed to be a reach. He's a 6'3 DE who weighs 248 pounds. Sound familiar? Irvin went on to lead all rookies in sacks with eight.

This year, Seattle's defense ranks first in fewest points allowed, and fourth in fewest yards allowed. They have the third best passer rating on defense, too. Bryant and Clemons are a huge part of that, even though they were afterthoughts before Schneider and Carroll acquired them.

How Seattle approaches their D-line is but a small example on how to bring in players to play a specific system. Players like Julius Peppers who are 6'7 and can play the run and the pass, do not grow on trees. Not every team has a Sidney Crosby, or a Lionel Messi, or a LeBron James. When teams do not have the advantage of superstars that can make up for most other problems on the roster, they need to do other things. Build an identity, nail down a specific way of playing, identify the kinds of roles that you want each player to play, and then go out and acquire them.

In other words, judging all players evenly, whether by metrics or scouting reports or whatever, isn't always the best way to build a team. In fact, we have talked about this before here with the Phoenix Coyotes.

2- Highlight strengths, not weaknesses

"Our nature is to look for the good stuff. Our nature is to count on our ability to draw it out of guys."

- Pete Carroll

Often when people evaluate players, be it a prospect or a pro, the initial instinct is to bring up the players weaknesses first. What he has to do to be better, basically. 

That's fine. In fact, it's understandable. However, the first questions should really be, "what does he bring to the table? How does he help us?"

Much has been made of Seattle's rookie QB Russell Wilson. He was drafted in the third round this year after a 33TD, 4INT season in his only year in Wisconsin. He had a 72.8% completion rate, 3,175 passing yards, as well as 338 rushing yards and 6 more rushing TDs. In fact, he set an NCAA record with a 191.8 pass efficiency rating. By comparison, second overall pick and Heisman winner RG3 had 37TDs, 6INT, 72.3% completion rate, 4,293 yards, 699 rushing yards, and 10 more rushing TDs. Yes RG3 obviously had better numbers -he did win player of the year- but Wilson put up first round numbers.

Seattle focused on Russell Wilson's strengths, not
his weaknesses.

Yet he dropped to the 75th pick, and we all know why: He's 5'11.

In fact, draft "expert" Mel Kiper said that Wilson was a late-round draft pick at best, pointing out that of the 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL, 28 were 6'2 or taller and none were under 6-feet.

It is said that some teams, in fact, would remove a player of that height from their draft board altogether. Former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt said you'd subtract 15 points off of Wilson's rating due to his height in his system.

Want to know the funny thing though? All the signs were there that Russell Wilson would be able to excel at the next level.

He played behind the biggest offensive line in college football, yet still tore up the league. In fact, the line he played behind in college is literally bigger than Seattle's current one. Furthermore, he played four of the nations top 15 college defenses according to the FootballOutsiders website, and still produced. The physical advantages taller quarterbacks tend to have such as larger hands, longer limbs and the strength that usually comes with size equaling more control of the ball and the ability to launch it farther down-field were all present with Wilson. Wilson's arm-length was measured at the combine at 31", just behind Griffin (32 1/4") and Luck (32 5/8"). His hands (10 1/4") were actually bigger than Griffin's or Luck's (9 1/2" and 10", respectively). Literally, all his measurables added up cause he can throw a deep ball, is accurate, can run, and so on. Look at this NFL.com draft overview. His weakness was size, that's it.

So, really, what did Seattle do? They focused on his strengths. Just like Pete Carroll said they tend to do with players. It is a team game, after all, and the main line of thinking has to be how to combine many players specific talents in a system in which they can all work together to win games.

In fact, this is something Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher preaches as well. He tells his players to practice mainly on what they are good at, and only a little on their weaknesses. Let's face it, there are very few "complete" players in every sport, but, if a player can master one or two things -like the way Stamkos has mastered the quick release of his shot- then that is generally the best way to succeed.

Look, I understand the need for complete players. I'm not oblivious to the obvious. However, there is nothing wrong with looking at a players strengths as your main focus, and then figuring out if there's a place for that strength within your roster. As mentioned, sports like hockey, soccer, basketball and football are team games. If a player can do one or two things very well, and not much else, there's a good chance he can contribute to your roster in a meaningful way. Too often we count out players because they are bad at something, instead of looking at what they are good at and figuring out a way to implement it.

3- Look for players everywhere and give them opportunities

Carroll and Schneider inherited a very bad roster. There was no star running back, no star QB, no star defensive players. There was nothing to build a team around, really. What did they do, then? They went to work.

First thing is first, Seattle built a large segment of their team through the draft. In three drafts they have added a pro bowl left tackle, two pro bowl safeties, a possible offensive rookie of the year and franchise QB, a possible defensive rookie of the year and franchise LB, and maybe the best cornerback in football. And that's just the star power they drafted.

People talk all the time about building through the draft for a reason. It's the easiest, and cheapest, way to add talent to your roster.

Seattle found their top two corners rather unconventionally

But Seattle's roster makeover doesn't end there.

They added Brandon Browner -a pro bowl corner back- from the CFL.

Their star running back, Marshawn Lynch, was a cast off in Buffalo and Seattle acquired him for two late draft picks.

Their starting right tackle, Breno Giacomini, came from Green Bay's practice squad.

And, of course, they signed a few marquee free agents such as Sidney Rice and Zach Miller.

They also did things like bring in Terrell Owens for a tryout, were in on trying to trade for Brandon Marshall, and they even traded high draft picks to try Charlie Whitehurst at QB. Seattle had over 200 transactions in Carroll's first year at the helm. Not everything worked, but nobody can say they haven't searched far and wide for talent.

But bringing in players is only half the battle. The other half? Actually playing them.

At this point in time, Seattle is a good team. Before this, though, they acquired a lot of players, threw them in the lineup and decided where to go from there.

There is nothing more ridiculous than organizations who have talent right under their nose, and never actually give it a chance. Seattle searched far and wide for any players they could find who had even an ounce of talent, and then they threw them in the lineup to see what they could do. Practice can only tell you so much. The ultimate test is seeing players play real games.

It sounds simple, but there are so many organizations who fail to do it. Sure, they may search far and wide for talent, but do they give it a far chance? Not only do young players need to be given an opportunity, but they need to be put in positions to succeed.

Nobody knew who Richard Sherman was when Seattle started him toward the end of last season, now he's arguably the best cornerback in football.


There are many ways to skin a cat. Seattle hasn't reinvented the metaphorical wheel when it comes to building a franchise from the ground up. What they are, however, is a reminder of some of the solid, fundamental things, organizations can do to build their team to be successful.

Seattle has drafted well, they have built a system and acquired specific players to play specific roles within their system, they've given players opportunities to excel, they have taken chances, acquired players unconventionally, and they have played to players strengths instead of weaknesses.

The Seahawks haven't won it all yet, but they have put themselves in a position to succeed for not only this season, but the foreseeable future as well. It will be interesting to see where they go from here.

For now though, we can look to them as an example of what to do when you start from the ground and need to work your way up.