VM1138

Zetterberg made Crosby his ***** on the reg.

Staal would be a collossal mistake. Dude barely has legs from what I read. He wouldn't help us in any way, especially not for more than a year. A waste of a spot. Better to just get tougher and some players who can crash the net and block shots, hope for a decent season and some players to develop, and then trade for top level players next year. Man, this sucks.

For all our frustrations with Holland, at least he's not the former or current Bruins GMs. So it looks like we will miss out on three of our top four targets at least. That...doesn't make me feel good. I like Neilsen, but he's not a game changer.

I think we need a change in style of play more so than production differences. Tatar and Nyquist score a lot of gimme goals. They don't make much happen. But if a more physical player can create space and havoc and make things happen it can help the team more. It's my just the points but the type of points, in a way.

Let's not forget that while Toronto has made significant changes, there's still no evidence they're headed in the right direction. Last year they just tanked, and Babs was playing guys he liked over guys with talent. Think of a team full of Glendening's. We can rave about all their prospects but they still haven't shown they know what to do with them. After all, under Babcock only two kids ever really thrived, Nyquist and Tatar, in ten years. If I'm a player I'm still leaning toward a team who has proven they know what to do to win (even though we've stumbled for a few years) over a team that's hasn't done anything right in 50 years and is now promising they will start doing the right things now.

I don't know. In general I agree about ice time, but at a certain point I think a young player does benefit from playing against bigger, stronger, faster and smarter guys, even if it's only for 8 minutes a night. Low ice time was a waste of Athanasiou's talent, but I bet he's learning more about how the game plays in those limited minutes than he would in the AHL. More ice time in the AHL helps with rounding out physical talent, but adapting and thinking the NHL game can only happen through playing, and limited minutes gives him a chance to think about what he's learning. I'm also not too concerned about us having too many defensemen. We're only "stuck" with Kronwall, Green, Ericsson, and DeKeyser. Marchenko, Oullet, Sproul, and Smith are all tradeable. My money is only one of the kids getting packaged for a trade. Smith, too, because he's been shopping already last season. Nobody wanted him, but nobody wanted Kindl at first, either. We can unload him for something. If he can pull off a top two defender (preferably a clear number 1), Holland will have us set up with a decent (though still not spectacular) defensive core. New Guy-Green DeKeyser-Kronwall Ericsson-Marchenko/Oullet/Sproul If we have the roster or cap space, might as well have the kids rotate in and out to see if one runs with the position. Marchenko was good for us last year, but he's not an untouchable by any means, so that opens up some options, too. The defense is not some unsolvable riddle just because we have so many inked to contracts.

To those who want to save money: for what? There's nothing as good as Stamkos coming down the pipe. Not getting him just guarantees we continue to float aimlessly with nothing but depth players.

We could be waiting weeks for the Stamkos drama to unfold. He may wait all summer for all we know. Or he could sign on July 1st. No way to know.

It doesn't make sense to add Lucic at that hit, either. He's already on the decline I hear and his style of play means he probably won't play out his contract, let alone play up to his value every year.

Both are complementary players. I'd like to see either one, but not instead of Stamkos. Along with.

All the rumors about St. Louis confuse me. They were the best they've been in a long time and it seems like they're blowing the team up a bit.

I think we'll add two forwards. Stamkos and then a supporting player. I'm losing hope in a defenseman, tough. I guess we could tackle that next year. Baby steps.

Thank you! I felt like the only one who saw this on bright, obvious flashing letters.

Nothing. He's better than Mrazek, sure, but it's been proven you can win without an elite goalie, and Mrazek will be one one day. Why waste assets for an injury prone goalie when we have a very, very good one who will hopefully be around for a very long time?

Holland is sounding cocky. He better be sure he's getting Stamkos.

It's exactly the type of deal we said would happen while everyone told us how dumb we were to think any team would "do us a favor." Way to go, Kenny.

Wasn't Kindl traded this year for a 7th or something?

We can't beat Boston's offer. I doubt we land Shattenkirk. Edit: Nevermind, I thought they drafted higher.

Flames were also looking at Elliott. So I think Howard is more comparable to him. 7x7 for a goalie is bats*** crazy.

This team just might be an actual bottom seed next year with all the bodies we are losing, unless Holland pulls off some miracles. Losing Quincey, Helm, Miller, Datsyuk. Kronwall, Z declining. Possible sophomore slump for Mrazek. It could get ugly...

This is troubling. Are we only looking to add depth this offseason? I'm not sure what Holland's vision is. So much uncertainty.

Filppula and Hudler incoming. Mark it.

Jurco won't be on the team come next summer so it's kind of a pointless discussion.

Maybe he's trying to trade the contract to a team that is already over the floor and hence doesn't want the full hit.

Seems like overpayment for Yandle. But maybe not. I mean, does anyone sign for less than max years? The CBA has killed player movement.