Number19

I appreciate Dan for all that he's done prior to this year. He was a key cog in our 08 winning cup run and I'll never forget that series winning goal against the Ducks. But he's been absolutely worthless this year. I can't believe how poor he's been looking. I wish he was doing better but he isn't and needs to be benched. The most worrying thing to me is this is one of the few years where he's been healthy right? I guess the lockout did a number on him. I thought it was in bad taste but the last few games he's only been getting worse. I've always hated the notion that we hold on to our guys too long but this might apply here. It's ONE thing if he was playing 7 min a night on the 4th line but it's maddening that he's playing in the top 6 20 min a night. To be fair that isn't his fault. I did like his effort in the 3rd tonight and he got robbed on a chance.

I'd say we'd have 3-4 more wins with a fully healthy lineup. But that team still isn't getting to the 2nd round. This^

When did I say it was his fault? He's partly to blame but definitely not all. It's more what I've been seeing the past 5 years. He's a serviceable goalie, a number 1 on no where bound teams and a premier backup on contenders. He isn't a playoff winning goalie, at least not yet. He has stretches of good play and flashes of greatness followed by 2 softies. A lot like Osgood before the first trade. Problem is we don't have 6 hall of famers on defense anymore. His stats are pretty bad though and that isn't being subjective. I might've over done it with the 80s comment but even in the 90s that's knocking on bottom tier and in today's league it's garbage. Getting closer to .88 after tonight.

howards stats would be average for a 5th seed playoff team in the 1980s. you know when scoring was astronomically high.

Ovechkin? Probably something like Iginla but he alone wouldn't put us over the top. Our D is in shambles.

Good point I was going to add that but forgot to mention it.

If Pavel plays like he did last game he'll produce something but he deserves better line mates. Maybe Babcock is testing to see if this pushes Pavel to the next level. He might be 34 but I can't remember the last time I saw him play like THAT. It was electrifying, like watching prime Bure or 91. Something tells me Babs is just being stubborn though and sticking with his guys (Cleary, Abs).

The spoiled Wing fan in me has was dreaming of this earlier in the season but with Ovie turning it around I think the pipedream ended. imo Washington would be insane to trade away a generational player even if he isn't performing up to his standards they're still making bank with merch and publicity. Imagine how irrelevant (mainstream-wise) Washington would become in an instant if he was traded. If my dream scenario I'd give up Flip + Franzen and one of Smith, Nyquist, Jurco, Quellet, etc + a first and maybe a 3rd rounder. If Washington doesn't bite throw in another pick. It's worth throwing the farm imo. It keeps Dats here in hockeytown, makes us a contender, and gives us a cornerstone when Pav and Hank decide to call it quits. Oh well at least I'll have NHL13. Ovie - Dats - Brunner Burt - Zett - Sammy Cleary - Helm - Abs Miller - Emmerton - Tootoo that's prob the best I'd hope for but I'd prefer Ovie - Dats - Burt Nyquist - Zett - Brunner Tatar - Helm - Abs/Cleary(idk they're both sucking right now pick one) Miller - Emmerton - Tootoo (this line has been doing well imo) Eaves or if we wanna stack Ovie - Dats - Zett (holy fk) Nyquist - Tatar - Brunner (man that'd be interesting) Burt - Helm - Cleary/Abs Miller - Emmerton - Tootoo I haven't seen anything in Mursak to show me he's an NHLer. Trade Sammy away or something. our D sucks so I'm not gonna bother another NHL13 dream I have is something like Flip + cap filler + Prospect + Pick for Iginla and Franzen + cap filler + Prospect + Pick for Alfie. Win now before Zett is broken down and Dats is in Russia. ah to have 2 lines of hall of famers I miss those pre-lock out teams.

Flips a solid all around player (like a middle class Hank) but he's our best asset in a trade. I'd rather package him for someone better than keep cause he's peaked already imo.

I'm sure he'll get a job in the next round of GM firings.

Garbage 2nd Line, feel bad for Pavel.

I don't mind him. Youth, speed, and (semi)grit is never a bad thing. Got decent hands for a 4th winger too.

If we had a stacked defense like '97 yeah.

We already have Quincy so no thanks for me. I wasn't too high on him back when he was on the Penguins (helps playing with Crosby, Gonchar, Malkin) and he's a shell of that.

waste the last couple of years of the greatest d-man of this generation with a middling roster.

During the Cup run, mainly the Stanley Cup FInals, Z was Lidstrom like. Like Forsberg his constantly beat up body doesn't let him utilized all of his talent. Maybe that's what Gretzky sees. Obviously Lidstrom played at a constantly higher level to most of us but there's a reason Z won the Conn Smythe. Some of those shifts were amazing to watch.

I wouldn't hate it but I wouldn't get too excited over it. As far as I can tell he's a 36 year old offensive minded defensemen who isn't known for his play in his own end. If we were competing for a Cup I wouldn't consider it cause I feel like he'd be a liability in the later rounds (which most likely won't be the case this year).

it should be but I doubt it will be. I wish he stayed and retired a Wing. Everyone mentioning accomplishments Sergei compares very favorably with Abel and Lindsey.

Crosby maybe, that's all I got. Columbus might as well be an AHL team.

It's too bad how his stay here went I think he had a lot more to give. I wish we played him more in the playoffs. However, he's done. 42 and his best skill in his prime was his skating. If he somehow managed a 82 game season on a good team he might net 10 goals and 30 points at the most. but would be cool if I was wrong and he pulled a Selanne. I always liked Mike.

Man I believe Cheli could still play. A lot of fans couldn't wait for him to retire but he was putting up positive plus minus while producing little to no points paired with Lebda, Meech, and a rookie Big E (all three well below positive plus minus). Pretty impressive. How he was below Lebda and at times Meech on the depth chart is beyond me. I'm also pretty sure that's around when our PK took a huge hit for a couple seasons.

would love to have him but I don't see Columbus throwing out all logic and trading him to their division rival. then again it is Columbus. if it happens I hope we don't give up too much for him.

would've liked to see him here but oh well.

Another plus if it helps bring Suter.

Not flashy but a solid signing. In my dream we'd have Marty but I knew how unrealistic that was especially with Howard in a contract year. Hope this kid turns out like Cleary and finds his potential here.