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Everything posted by stevkrause
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Stuart and Rafalski played quite well together last year... if anything, I think it makes a lot more sense to go: Lidstrom-Kronwall Stuart-Rafalski Ericsson/Kindl-Lilja OR Hnidy (both can be had for 1mil or less and add EXACTLY what we need from that 6th d-man) Ericsson/Kindl trade/waive Meech done and done. That looks a LOT better and lot more even and complimentary in my mind...
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Everyone who guessed 90, you win 3 imaginary points!
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I've seen him be quite successful with that move, but I've seen him use other moves and work as well... he's a sniper, by the very definition of the word, and he's great in shootouts... Here's one of him faking the backhand and then going back forehand Here's one of him just flat picking a corner:
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he'll never live that down, haha He's actually got pretty good hands and isn't a bad choice for shootouts... as long as he keeps his own feet out of his way, ohhhhhhh
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Agreed - that is in no way, shape or form a steadying defensive presence... Rafalski is very good at what he is... an offensive defenseman. He is the exact opposite of what needs to be paired with E for E to flourish...
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I agree with you 100%, Zetterberg is easily one of the best 2-way forwards in the NHL and one of the top 5 overall players (when you factor in all facets of his game) in the NHL, but 1 on 1 in penalty shot scenarios, he doesn't seem to be horribly creative, or keep goalies off balance - which you need to be when it's 1 on 1... If I had my druthers with Hudler and Modano on the roster now, I would go: Hudler Datsyuk Modano if it goes extras: Bertuzzi Franzen Zetterberg Filpulla and so on and so on however you want to order it from there...
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I think that is the way you kinda have to look at it... If you look at Ericsson's production and play the last month of the season and into the playoff's alongside of Lilja instead of bouncing around on D pairings, it speaks volumes about what that presence can do for him... keep in mind, this is only his 2nd year in the NHL and really only like his 5th year even playing D - there are going to be some growing pains, but the potential is there and he is only 25, it's WAY too early to make a projection on what he will be... and, not by the same details(or background) but with the same projection, there's no way to know what Kindl will be either and BOTH have shown that they do much better with a steadying presence (and both are known to have defensive mental lapses) Janik, although a GREAT depth guy, is what he is - a 6/7/8/fringe NHL d-man who is solid defensively and has a mean streak, but has never shown more and at 30, is pretty much what he will be for his career... I want to see Kindl and Ericsson given every opportunity to show what they have this year, but I want them to be able to do it favorable situation, to see what they can really be - and that means paired with a solid, shut down, NHL proven d-man Realistically, Smith SHOULD be at least 2 years away... and if things play out and everyone develops as they should, next year, when Nick hangs them up (apocalypse) either Ericsson or Kindl move into top 4 next year, while the other fills the bottom pairing and in 2 years when Rafalski hangs them up, whomever was in the number 4 spot moves into the number 2 spot, 6 spot to 4 and Smith to 6 - and if any one of them outplays the other, shift around, all the while, having Kronwall as your num 1, Stuart your 3 and your 5 being that vet or other FA... it actually plays itself out perfect this way... they just have to develop and if they don't... then we go write a huge check in FA and get someone to replace Nick next year and we start entertaining moving forward without the one who didn't develop as they should..... just my 2 cents...
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There's a good chance that that is indeed the route Holland will go, but the problem with that is, that it's not just about adding a 6th d-man, it's about adding a steadying veteran presence on that 3rd pairing to play WITH the youngsters and be a solid, physical, stay at home guy who can specialize in a PK role (Lilja pre-concussion, or even Lilja now at the right price) I would have no problem with Janik being given a genuine shot, but he has never been able to lock in at the NHL level and that is hardly a steadying presence for someone of the likes of Ericsson or Kindl, who may need to look over once and awhile and just be able to breath a sigh of relief, knowing that even if they make a mistake, the vet will pick them up...
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I'm not crazy about giving up on Ritola yet, but I'd be ok with that too, as long as what was coming back filled the need of a physical, stay at home guy (like Mark Stuart in Boston)
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your original post was formatted weird - so I'm replying to this part: The only moves they would have to make to make that line-up work, would be moving Meech and Miller, either could be traded or waived/sent down and I'm pretty sure that is already somewhat in the plans regardless, just to keep a roster under 23...
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Hnidy would be a CHEAP option, less than 1 million and I'd be all for him too, but Hnidy would be a downgrade from Mitchell, even with the concussion issues, Hnidy has had some scary knee/leg injuries and a scary eye injury in his career as well... like I said, I'd take Mitchell only on the cheap (which is still highly unlikely) whereas, Hnidy is actually a VERY possible option...
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I would like him here on the cheap, but I agree... I don't see him taking that big of a discount, even with the injuries - with that said, if there was any way he could be had here at 1.5 or less, I'd be all for it and willing to move most of those depth players to make it happen... (note - lines arbitrary) - This looks pretty damn good to me: Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m) Jiri Hudler ($2.875m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m) Todd Bertuzzi ($1.938m) / Mike Modano ($1.250m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / Darren Helm ($0.800m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.750m) Kris Draper ($1.583m) / Mattias Ritola ($0.517m) Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) / Willie Mitchell ($1.500m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) / Chris Osgood ($1.417m) ROSTER: 23; CAP:$59.4m; PAYROLL: $59.342m; CAP ROOM: $0.058m; BONUSES: $0.000m Once again though - I don't see him being willing to take that big of a discount...
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I see him ending up on SJ as well Edited your typo for you by the way
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I find it funny that the story says Niemi "led" Chicago to the cup, when they basically won it in spite of him... he was horrible in the finals...
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This is actually a VERY smart move by the Hawks... with that said, you can automatically chalk up 3 wins for us now... I mean, he does have to play at the Joe for those 3 games
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It actually is a joke........ they're just not in on it...
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Do not want under any circumstance, he's about the slowest available option in any form and is constantly injured - he makes Lebda's defensive gaffes look minor due to his poor movement at this stage in his career... as was already mentioned, he couldn't crack the Isles lineup and is a shell of what he used to be, regardless of how tough he is...
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Refs called less penalties in third period last year
stevkrause replied to CenterIce's topic in General
Just ask the refs of the finals game against the Penguins in '09 -
They are without a doubt my favorite Eastern Conference team now, but I wouldn't call myself a fan so to speak - My true fandom lies 100%, with absolutely no wavering, to my beloved Red and White... With that said, I definitely want them to do well and will root for them against the other 28 teams in the league, but they are merely my "favorite Eastern Conference team" when the day is said and done, while I am a Red Wing FAN for life...
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soccer players apparently have too much time on their hands...
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I have no problem with signing him to a minor-league contract, or 2-way with the understanding that he will basically spend the entire season in GR, but at his age, and with the logjam we already have, there's no excuse for him to use up a roster spot, even with as much as I love Downey... now, as an injury call up, I'd have no problem with it, if he's in prime shape that is...
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She may indeed be the perfect woman...
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Really? That's some hard stuff, because anyone who thinks he is coming here is on straight up crack, laced with meth and heroin...
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Agreed 100%, but it should still be discouraged at this age... especially between teammates... damn this topic making me be serious! can we get back to making jokes now? haha I wonder if their jerseys were tied down?
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I'm not sure how much more tight assed USA hockey got, but 16 years ago or so (man I feel old) when I started playing peewee (12-14 age bracket) - You got suspended for one game and then 2 for an additional offense, then 3, then had to go before the board, by bantam(14-16), it got less strict, just kicked out of the game you were playing in and by midget (16-18), you could get in 2 fights a game before being kicked out (first one was a 5min, 2nd was kicked out of that game) and after like 5 offenses, you got a 1 game susp... Since these kids are probably like mite division age, I can see how AND why they would punish this more severely, as they should...