marcaractac

An elite goalie can't win a series when the team in front of them only scores 2 goals in 3 games. Elite or not, you can never expect a goalie to get a shutout every night. It is an unrealistic expectation. King Henrik is the most consistent goalie in the league. Has been for many years. If he had a team in front of him that could score some timely goals, they'd give their opponents fits. Sadly all the team in front of him does is quit. Also, I don't make excuses for Howard. He had an off year. There is no debating that what so ever. I also don't see Howard as an elite goalie. A very good one? Yes. He is capable of stealing games when he is playing great. He is also capable of letting in back breaking stinkers from time to time, which is what makes him not elite.

Henrik has been the only one showing he gives a damn. Stood on his head a lot during the series, but he can only do so much on his own when the team in front of him has already given up. He gave his team every chance to make a game out of it last night but they simply quit.

I must say, our fans are way better than Ranger fans. at least we keep our bitching about players on the internet

You win

If all else fails, disney.com

Oh for sure. Just trying to keep expectations in check when it comes to Sproul automatically being an improvement over Kindl and Lashoff is all lol. I have no doubt that will end up being the case. I just figure it may very well take some time.

Especially with the added pressure of a new contract to live up to. We see players (especially goalies) so often struggle in the first year of a big contract. I fully expect to see the Howard from the previous season come fall. That being said, I still long for the day Mrazek steals his job. I really can see M-Raz becoming our Rask. They've had very similar careers as being standout goalies in their pre NHL days. Hopefully that continues with him stealing Howard's job. Mrazek has won at every level he has played in. I have no doubt in my mind that he can keep that up going forward.

That is far too small of a sample size to go on. Remember how amazing E looked in his first call up? Then boom, 3 years of struggling before he started to get it right.

Found the clown

We also don't like clowns

There have definitely been stretches where Franzen hasn't been giving all of his effort. Not gonna stick up for him for that ever. The thing is, even when he is working his ass off but not scoring, he is still accused of floating. He has become that much of a whipping boy that not scoring automatically means he is not trying. I saw a hard working Franzen in the playoffs. He wasn't driving the net as much as he should have, but he was still skating. If he works, I have no issue with him being here. Because even if he isn't scoring, he is responsible in his own end. It is just a matter of having enough scoring depth that the team doesn't absolutely depend on him going into beast mode to win. If the team has that depth, his contract does not hinder the team one bit. Also, his dry spell this season was not nearly as bad as it was the season before last. IF he can avoid a head injury this coming season, I have no doubt he can be a very effective player for the team. It is just a matter of managing expectations of him. Even when Datsyuk came back from a concussion, he was hesitant to get into the dirty areas for a nice while. As someone who has had my bell rung when I was a teen, I can't really fault someone for not getting too involved with the rough stuff. Especially in a professional sport at that level. I still think next season when he is good and healthy again, the coaching staff should park him in front of the net on the PP.

For those who want Franzen gone, Vanek is not the answer.

He'll be 38 when the season starts. 3 to 4 years of Boyle is not the answer. 1 year if someone else gets Niskanen? Maybe. But in the end, he is not close to the player he used to be. Where was he in the playoffs? Forgot he was even playing until they mentioned it was probably his last game as a Shark after a 3-0 choke. He was also a minus player on a team with a +49 goal differential. 3 years ago I'd say go for it. Now? Not so much.

The future is great. But it is even better when you can add assets for cash. especially much needed assets. But if you wanna wait another 3 or 4 years to have a shot at winning, then sure, make no moves. stick with the kids and pray enough of them turn out to make the team contend.

We get it, you don't want to see the Wings sign Niskanen lol. Heaven forbid the guy be a human and make a mistake. Something even elite dmen to from time to time. Now imagine that mistake, but every night because of a rookie d pairing.

There will be 2 rookie dmen in the lineup this season I'd imagine. But they need to be the 6th and 7th, not the 5th and 6th. I agree Ouellet should be starting the season with the team. He and someone take turns at the 6th spot, all while playing with someone like Smith, who has some experience. As long as there is a responsible dman on the bottom pairing with a rookie, all will be fine.

There is a reason why they are willing to trade that pick: it isn't the strongest draft. Unless it is a player that a team can be built around, I'd have to say pass. Only way Holland should look into this is if all he has to give up is prospects/picks.

expecting 2 rookies to make up the 3rd pairing for the entire season is a HUGE mistake. defense take a lot longer to adjust at the NHL level than forwards. We just went through this with Ericsson and Smith. Those cases were just 1 at a time. and now you want an entire pairing of rookies? They are not gonna become solid NHL'ers over night. There will be growing pains.

The kids don't make the team better now though. The goal is to win this season. Ouellet seems like he can develop into a solid dman. it won;t happen over night. it might take 2, 3 or 4 years. the chances of him being an impact player at the NHL level this coming season is very slim. a smart GM doesn't put all his eggs into that basket. He is also at that age where defensemen come into their prime. He has been better this year than in past years yes. But he has shown improvement every year. pretty typical of the development of a blueliner in the NHL that are not those rare Drew Doughty high draft pick types. The players who suually regress after their big contract are more often than not those who have an anomaly of a big season. this season was not an anomaly for him. it was something that you could see coming for the past couple years with experience and growth as a player. A player like Niskanen is not something this team wants. It is something this team needs. He his just entering his prime, can produce in the playoffs, is right handed (can't stress how important this is), responsible in his own zone, and has shown he can stay healthy. I agree with giving kids the shot if it is either playing a rookie or a washed up vet. But Niskanen is the perfect fit for this team. There will still be 2 roster spots for kids with Niskanen signed (assuming Kindl and LAshoff argon -hahah chemistry joke) Niskanen is not going to get 7 million a year unless he wins the Conn Smythe lol

Niskanen in no way would cost this team anything besides cap space. I've said a bunch of times before, if the kids come in and steal someones job, they stay. assuming kindl and lashoff are gotten rid of for a bag of pucks, there is not one contract on this teams blueline that isn't moveable. That would include a contract for Niskanen. if the kids are able to become big time players with this team, they will be given the chance to do so. they will only be traded before hand if the right deal is out there. before anyone brings up the Legwand trade, that was entirely different circumstances.

The point of singing Niskanen would be to get better now. Our d is no better off if we sign him and turn around and trade one of our best shut down blueliners. believe me, there will be no issues moving our prospects if it comes down to it. This isn't samuelsson and tootoo they'd be trying to trade. This isn't like quincey in his first stint with the organization who just wans't looking very good so was waived. they are dmen with a lot of potential. they'd garner interest. It's not like we suddenly have 4 kids out of options in GR needing to be on the blueline and we HAVE to get rid of some of them asap. there is time to see how things shake out.

I just don't get how you can see as playing rookies as more of a sure thing than playing a guy like Niskanen. Makes no sense. Also, ever think that Niskanen's ability to move the puck contributes to the offense their forwards produce? Comparing wingers and forwars in terms of doing well because of a center is foolish. Wingers benefit directly from a great center for sure. but a dman? A forward can't do their thing if the D can't get the puck to them. Why do you think the wings have struggled to score with all the skill they have up front? because they lack the same skill on the back end. all of them being lefties makes it even worse. Edit: take away the pens skill on the blueline and crosby and malkin's scoring goes down. in the end, they are all pieces that are needed together to keep things going. the roster doesn;t work solely because of crosby and malkin.

Exactly. Too much is a good thing if the over abundance of players are either really good or very promising. Niskanen simply gives this team more assets to use to fill other holes in the lineup. I'm actually hoping the pens make a decent run (but falling short) this year just so Niskanen gets lots of experience and learns how to win. That way if Holland does get him, he can bring that experience and hunger for a cup here with him. Even without Niskanen, there is no way all the defense prospects we have will crack the lineup. There is no use worrying about that. In the end, it is a good problem to have.

When it comes down to it, 2 of the kids can fit in at 6/7th dmen. they'll get to earnt heir way up the lineup like anyone else. example: if the time comes marchenko breaks out and becomes and absolute stud, ericsson because expendable. keeps the team young while improving (plus gets another Righty in the top 4). thats how I think it should go. give a couple kids a chance at once. if they steal someones job, they get it. I already see smith growing into a kronwall type over the years. which is why I think smith should be untouchable barring a situation he can be packaged for someone like weber (which will never happen)

I think Quincey was the runaway leader in the first half of the season lol