marcaractac

uses his size to protect the puck, soft hands, great shot, high end offensive potential, creates havoc in front of the net, can score many different ways, good vision and passing, dangerous playmaker. needs some work on his defensive game and skating. but despite not being the fastest skater, always manages to "get there" he is basically the anti Ras

In all honesty the more i read about the kid, the more convinced I am that he is the guy.

I'm team Geekie

f*** I have to try this. I get wrecked every summer

He ended up needing wrist surgery which delayed his start. 3 month recovery time. But an important part of the deal I prosed was the Caps 2nd for the Oilers 1st. A pick where Yzerman can once again trade up to get two high end pieces in the next draft. This is a scouting report from BEFORE his breakout season last year

f*** I always forget Vrana!! Okay: Bert-Larkin-Razor Berg-Suter-Vrana Fabs-Holloway-Zadina Smith-Ras-Erne Pearson, Veleno (bye stephens)

Perhaps target Dumba in the offseason to give us a RHD? One year left, Wild need to dump cap. Trade an extension. Seider-UFA Dumba-Edvonsson Staal-Lindstrom Oesterle Pretty easy to find an upgrade over DDK to play with Seider, I'd imagine. A capable LHD on a 1-2 year deal. Something like this up front: Bert-Larkin-Razor Berg-Suter-Holloway Fabri-Ras-Zadina Smith-Stephens-Erne Pearson/Veleno Then use those two first rounders on the best offensive/skilled guys that can be had at the picks.

That's a tough one, because it would be after the draft before he could sign an extension. Could turn into an expensive one year rental.

This, which is the big reason I'd want their first. Add two more high end prospects to the pipeline in the next draft. Hoard them now so we have lots of trade assets to fill such holes in the top four later.

Definitely true, I just think filling the spot of second pairing RHD is an easier hole to fill then a top 6 center. Especially with how far away from contention this team is. Such a move would also help our draft standing for the upcoming draft, as it would certainly make the team worse now.

It seems the Oilers are looking for another dman. Thoughts on using Hronek to get Holloway from them? Something like Hronek + Caps 2nd for Holloway and Oilers 1st is what pops into my head when forming such a deal.

I don't disagree at all. But as I said, I'd only do Lindholm at 6 mil per tops. Unlikely anyway. As for Malkin, I can see him following the big payday to wind down his career. It'll never happen, but it would be cool if it did. Malkin + a legit top 4 dmen = instant playoff experience for the kids, and likely some playoff success.

I'm down for Lindholm if we could get him for like 6 mil per. A good season this season puts Detroit back on the map as a destination as a young, upcoming team that'll be good for years. Maybe he'll wanna join the Swedish mafia. Then throw the bank at Malkin for 2 years and have a fun little playoff run next season. Bert-Larkikn-Raymond Vrana-Malkin-Zadina Berggeren-Suter/Veleno-Fabbri Pearson-Ras-Erne Smith Seider-Lindholm Hronek-Edvonsson Staal-Lindstrom Oesterle Ned UFA signing

It's just a joke to point out how stupid people sound when they blame players lack of living up to the hype all on coaching. Because apparently Blash ruined Mantha, Mrazek, etc.

I was team finish 10-12. f*** another top 5 pick. Getting these kids playing meaningful hockey late into the season and playoff experience is more important at this stage. We'll still get a good player in the 10-15 range.

Hey now, he is a ppg player in 3 games this season!!

Yeah, if only we hired Gallant like everyone wanted, who is ruining Laffreniere and Kakko.

Ehhh... Hronek is a totally fine second pair dman. He was awful to start the season, but has been much better since. Hard to complain with him being a second round draft pick and all. Zadina and Ras both have not done what they were drafted to do: score. Zadina was supposed to be the skilled scorer, Ras was supposed to be the monster net front presence who got all the garbage goals. Zadina developed a nice defensive game and is showing more playmaking skill than scoring. His shot needs work at the NHL level. Ras is a good defensive center on his on nights, and a disaster on his off nights. We'd like more from both, but both have plenty of time to figure s*** out.

While true, the overall point of that post was to point out that both Ras and Zadina have some work to do to become more reliable, consistent NHLers, and that they both deserve flack where as Zadina gets almost all of it on his own. Having said that, it's also too early to give up on either of them.

He's gonna be UFA next summer because there is no way he is qualified at 6.1 mil unless he breaks out big time soon.

I like how the one thing you focused on in my post was the joke.

Egg still on the Habs face here. Kotka as a #3 pick in that draft was hilarious. I guess that BPA thing has some weight after all. Canes took a small risk that so far isn't really paying off. But hey, it's a one year deal. And not the biggest draft pick loss based on where they will finish in the standings.

Yeah, Michael "assists on empty net goals" Rasmussen. Not hating, just pointing that out. Ras will be an important bottom 6 player for many years. Zadina will be an important middle 6 at worst winger for many years. Both have been underwhelming offensively. Both have time to figure it out. Neither have done what they were drafted to do at this point, but have found other ways to add value to the team. Hopefully at least one of them breaks out offensively in the next year or two. On the plus side, Yzerman is the captain now.

100% this. It all comes down to Zadina being given unrealistic expectations where as many were pissed about Ras being taken where he was.

This. It seems expectations for Zadina were what Raymond is currently doing. Raymond is the exception, not the norm. Sure, there are a couple dmen taken after him that would have been great to have. But there are also a couple of players taken before him that Zadina has outproduced in every aspect of the game. And we got even better dmen after the fact anyway, so all is well.