Mark Mazza
@markmazzahky.bsky.social
Strategic Analysis on Hockey Operations and Business | Writer | Hons. BBA, Schulich School of Business, YU. Specializations in Marketing and Strategic Management.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed for a rebuild. What must they do, and how do they make it successful? medium.com/@MarkMazzaHK...
How to Rebuild the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed for a rebuild. What must they do, and how do they make it successful?
medium.com
February 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed for a rebuild. What must they do, and how do they make it successful? medium.com/@MarkMazzaHK...
The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed for a rebuild. What must they do, and how do they make it successful? medium.com/@MarkMazzaHK...
How to Rebuild the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed for a rebuild. What must they do, and how do they make it successful?
medium.com
February 7, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed for a rebuild. What must they do, and how do they make it successful? medium.com/@MarkMazzaHK...
How to Rebuild the Pittsburgh Penguins medium.com/@MarkMazzaHK...
How to Rebuild the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have been one of the most dominant franchises in professional hockey for most of the last two decades. However, in the prior two seasons, they failed to make the playoffs for the first…
medium.com
February 6, 2025 at 9:14 PM
How to Rebuild the Pittsburgh Penguins medium.com/@MarkMazzaHK...
The Red Wings have issues. They were upset that they were finishing near the bottom of the league and weren’t getting any lottery luck, so they decided to stop being a basement team and push themselves into mediocrity. That’s cost them quite a bit. #LGRW
December 27, 2024 at 11:28 PM
The Red Wings have issues. They were upset that they were finishing near the bottom of the league and weren’t getting any lottery luck, so they decided to stop being a basement team and push themselves into mediocrity. That’s cost them quite a bit. #LGRW
After years of instability in their net, Blackwood’s extension is quite a risky contract for Colorado. They’re hoping Blackwood is their answer, but Blackwood has never proven himself to be better than average. However, they’re betting he can show he’s above average during this deal.
December 27, 2024 at 7:19 PM
After years of instability in their net, Blackwood’s extension is quite a risky contract for Colorado. They’re hoping Blackwood is their answer, but Blackwood has never proven himself to be better than average. However, they’re betting he can show he’s above average during this deal.
Seeing Derek Lalonde get fired is not surprising at all. The Red Wings are near the bottom of the league, and they expected to be a lot better. Firing Derek Lalonde was the bullet Steve Yzerman had. I’m surprised that Todd McLellan is his replacement, though. #LGRW
December 26, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Seeing Derek Lalonde get fired is not surprising at all. The Red Wings are near the bottom of the league, and they expected to be a lot better. Firing Derek Lalonde was the bullet Steve Yzerman had. I’m surprised that Todd McLellan is his replacement, though. #LGRW
Regarding the Saturday Headlines report about the OHL trying to acquire two USHL teams: Why would USA Hockey transfer over USHL teams unnecessarily? They would get a transfer fee, but why would they want to do that? They don’t have an incentive to do anything of the sort.
December 22, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Regarding the Saturday Headlines report about the OHL trying to acquire two USHL teams: Why would USA Hockey transfer over USHL teams unnecessarily? They would get a transfer fee, but why would they want to do that? They don’t have an incentive to do anything of the sort.
I’m not shocked that Kakko was traded, but the return is terrible for him. Borgen is a good player, but as a pending UFA, there’s no reason for him to stick in NY with Schneider and Fox ahead of him on the depth chart. The picks aren’t great, either.
December 19, 2024 at 12:17 AM
I’m not shocked that Kakko was traded, but the return is terrible for him. Borgen is a good player, but as a pending UFA, there’s no reason for him to stick in NY with Schneider and Fox ahead of him on the depth chart. The picks aren’t great, either.
RE Seravalli reporting that players met with ownership and Kevyn Adams:
The problem with the Buffalo Sabres is that they all clearly believe they are better at their jobs than they’ve proven to be. They’ve thought that for over a decade, and the results have consistently proven them wrong.
The problem with the Buffalo Sabres is that they all clearly believe they are better at their jobs than they’ve proven to be. They’ve thought that for over a decade, and the results have consistently proven them wrong.
December 16, 2024 at 7:34 PM
RE Seravalli reporting that players met with ownership and Kevyn Adams:
The problem with the Buffalo Sabres is that they all clearly believe they are better at their jobs than they’ve proven to be. They’ve thought that for over a decade, and the results have consistently proven them wrong.
The problem with the Buffalo Sabres is that they all clearly believe they are better at their jobs than they’ve proven to be. They’ve thought that for over a decade, and the results have consistently proven them wrong.
The only way the Buffalo Sabres should be trading Dylan Cozens is if they’re trading up. By that, I mean getting a better player in return. They cannot keep getting picks and prospects and spare parts for their talent.
December 13, 2024 at 5:36 AM
The only way the Buffalo Sabres should be trading Dylan Cozens is if they’re trading up. By that, I mean getting a better player in return. They cannot keep getting picks and prospects and spare parts for their talent.
From Elliotte Friedman’s 32 Thoughts: Elliotte suggests the popular idea of fixing LTIR shenanigans by implementing a new rule that suggests that all playoff lines should be cap-compliant. However, that doesn’t work because the cap doesn’t work like that.
December 13, 2024 at 5:29 AM
From Elliotte Friedman’s 32 Thoughts: Elliotte suggests the popular idea of fixing LTIR shenanigans by implementing a new rule that suggests that all playoff lines should be cap-compliant. However, that doesn’t work because the cap doesn’t work like that.
The Canes having interest in John Gibson makes sense. Gibson is having a better season than he’s had recently and could be acquired for a low cost. The issue is the cap hit. Anaheim would need to eat some of Gibson’s deal for the Canes to bite.
December 13, 2024 at 3:03 AM
The Canes having interest in John Gibson makes sense. Gibson is having a better season than he’s had recently and could be acquired for a low cost. The issue is the cap hit. Anaheim would need to eat some of Gibson’s deal for the Canes to bite.
I imagine the hold up on the Trouba trade was the fact that teams wanted NY to retain and the Rangers didn’t want to, so the Rangers relented on the return and Anaheim stepped up in taking his contract. Otherwise, this would have been done during the summer.
December 6, 2024 at 7:38 PM
I imagine the hold up on the Trouba trade was the fact that teams wanted NY to retain and the Rangers didn’t want to, so the Rangers relented on the return and Anaheim stepped up in taking his contract. Otherwise, this would have been done during the summer.
There is no easy way out for Nashville. Even with the finishing regressing to the mean, the roster has too many problems. The cap structure is a mess, with many players signed until their late 30s. They have to enter a rebuild to be good. This roster won't win.
December 6, 2024 at 1:08 AM
There is no easy way out for Nashville. Even with the finishing regressing to the mean, the roster has too many problems. The cap structure is a mess, with many players signed until their late 30s. They have to enter a rebuild to be good. This roster won't win.
It felt as though Luke Richardson’s firing was inevitable. The Blackhawks were not going to be good by any means, but the talk around the team was that Richardson was unnecessarily hard on the players. He certainly wasn’t helping any of the young players grow, either.
December 5, 2024 at 11:39 PM
It felt as though Luke Richardson’s firing was inevitable. The Blackhawks were not going to be good by any means, but the talk around the team was that Richardson was unnecessarily hard on the players. He certainly wasn’t helping any of the young players grow, either.
Regarding the threats of punishment for tampering: It’s an interesting idea, but it’s a deeply rooted issue. You would need evidence that a team tampered, which comes in the forms of phone calls, emails, texts, or something else, to do anything so drastic.
December 1, 2024 at 2:14 AM
Regarding the threats of punishment for tampering: It’s an interesting idea, but it’s a deeply rooted issue. You would need evidence that a team tampered, which comes in the forms of phone calls, emails, texts, or something else, to do anything so drastic.
Columbus really shot themselves in the foot with Jiricek for no reason at all. This is a lacklustre return for a player they drafted 6th overall two years ago who has shown high potential. #CBJ
November 30, 2024 at 10:22 PM
Columbus really shot themselves in the foot with Jiricek for no reason at all. This is a lacklustre return for a player they drafted 6th overall two years ago who has shown high potential. #CBJ
From Insider Trading: Derek Lalonde having his job on the line makes sense because Steve Yzerman had to fire that bullet at this point. While the situation Detroit is in is not Lalonde’s fault, he isn’t helping them either.
November 27, 2024 at 12:38 AM
From Insider Trading: Derek Lalonde having his job on the line makes sense because Steve Yzerman had to fire that bullet at this point. While the situation Detroit is in is not Lalonde’s fault, he isn’t helping them either.
From Insider Trading: Dubas remaining active in trying to get younger players for the Penguins is exactly what he should be doing. I’ll talk about this when Part 2 of my Penguins piece comes out. That should be out soon.
November 27, 2024 at 12:37 AM
From Insider Trading: Dubas remaining active in trying to get younger players for the Penguins is exactly what he should be doing. I’ll talk about this when Part 2 of my Penguins piece comes out. That should be out soon.
Tomasino is 23 years old and can provide scoring in a depth role. He has a history of almost a PPG in the AHL as well, so he can be something more as well. A fourth for him seems like tidy business by Dubas.
November 25, 2024 at 8:37 PM
Tomasino is 23 years old and can provide scoring in a depth role. He has a history of almost a PPG in the AHL as well, so he can be something more as well. A fourth for him seems like tidy business by Dubas.
Wow. I did not expect Doug Armstrong to be as aggressive with this as he was. He’s usually a much more patient GM, but credit to him for seeing an upgrade opportunity and taking it. I don’t blame Bannister for the current state of the team, though.
November 24, 2024 at 3:28 PM
Wow. I did not expect Doug Armstrong to be as aggressive with this as he was. He’s usually a much more patient GM, but credit to him for seeing an upgrade opportunity and taking it. I don’t blame Bannister for the current state of the team, though.
From Insider Trading: Dreger says that revenue sharing may be a concern in the next CBA as the NHL wants to narrow the gap between teams, and that may involve increasing the revenue sharing from larger teams to smaller teams.
November 22, 2024 at 12:57 PM
From Insider Trading: Dreger says that revenue sharing may be a concern in the next CBA as the NHL wants to narrow the gap between teams, and that may involve increasing the revenue sharing from larger teams to smaller teams.
From Insider Trading: Pierre LeBrun says Provorov will likely be the number-one rental D option in the coming months and is expected to fetch a first-round pick. 1) I don’t believe Provorov provides nearly enough on-ice value for that valuation. 2) Pettersson should be in that spot.
November 22, 2024 at 12:45 PM
From Insider Trading: Pierre LeBrun says Provorov will likely be the number-one rental D option in the coming months and is expected to fetch a first-round pick. 1) I don’t believe Provorov provides nearly enough on-ice value for that valuation. 2) Pettersson should be in that spot.
Regarding Andersen’s surgery: I would not be surprised if the Canes enter the goalie market here to find someone who can be a backup to Kochetkov on a more stable basis than Spencer Martin. Nedeljkovic could be an option for them since Dubas is interested in moving everyone but Crosby at this point.
November 21, 2024 at 5:26 PM
Regarding Andersen’s surgery: I would not be surprised if the Canes enter the goalie market here to find someone who can be a backup to Kochetkov on a more stable basis than Spencer Martin. Nedeljkovic could be an option for them since Dubas is interested in moving everyone but Crosby at this point.
Looking at the Bruins , firing the coach was always the easiest option for them. They have a weak roster construction with some now anchor contracts. The plays haven’t been as good as they should be, but Sweeney put this roster together. He’s responsible for this decline.
November 20, 2024 at 1:43 AM
Looking at the Bruins , firing the coach was always the easiest option for them. They have a weak roster construction with some now anchor contracts. The plays haven’t been as good as they should be, but Sweeney put this roster together. He’s responsible for this decline.