dirtydangles

Would people rather have lashoff or almquist as our 7th dman?

I'm in the same boat. I really wish I knew what "names" had been brought up by other GM's in discussion with Holland.

Mark my words - Letang will never have another stroke in his playing career. A PFO isn't that big a deal once it is diagnosed. With regular medical testing and imaging Letang will never have another clot develop in his PFO and thus will never have a stroke by the same cause. All the GM's know this and I am sure Letang wouldn't risk his life if he was advised that there was a big enough future risk (which there isn't). Bottom line is that Letang is a PPG Dman who shoots right and could come at a decent price - those don't grow on trees. PS. I am not a fan of Stewart either. Having Franzen and Stewart would be enough to drive me crazy in terms of inconsistent effort.

Tatar + Ericsson + 1st for Letang anyone? I think this makes lots of sense - Pens need wingers and cap relief and the wings need a top pair RH dman (Letang is only 27). E will fill the void for the Pens. I know a lot of people won't like trading E due to his size and age but some things to consider: - E has never put up more than 15 points in a season - E has never played over 75 games in a season - I think Marchenko can pretty much fill the void left Kronwall - Letang Dekeyser - Ouellet Smith - Marchenko Sproul/Backman as top call ups. In 2 years: Kronwall - Letang Dekeyser - Sproul Smith/Ouellet/Backman - Marchenko

I'd like to see Holland trade for a player in the range of: Shattenkirk Letang Bogosian We have loads of assets right now especially on wing. I think if we bring Alfie back and trade one of Nyquist/Tatar/Jurco along with Smith/E and our 1st we could probably get one of these guys. We have Mantha and Pulkkinen coming up along with AA so its not like we will be hurting for wingers. Furthermore, most of the top UFA players tend to be wingers every year. I think one thing Holland HAS to do this offseason is remove Kindl from the roster through trade. Kindl just shouldn't be an option for Babs anymore. Lashoff works just fine as a 7th dman but we need to move on from Kindl ASAP. If Holland can address top 3 RH D this offseason and then address top 6 C prospect next offseason we will be in good shape for the present and the future.

McGuire always a bridesmaid... Just the tip.

Realistically how much would Shattenkirk cost us? The blues could probably afford to trade him for help in the forward corps.

I agree pierre is the least biased on that crew. But he is greatly influenced by what others say and is first to agree with others. When he speaks his own ideas they aren't usually all that biased.

This was the right call by Blash. He could have tried his hand with a struggling franchise as a flavour of the month signing or he can stay and develop himself further and likely inherit a job where he is set up to succeed. I think he wanted to avoid the path Eakins is on perhaps.

I might be mistaken but I think they did pull ups at the end of a long combine of tests. Its possible that he may have just been spent by that point. I'd bet he can do a pull-up when fresh.

Lashoff was burned at least once a game by players just skating around him with speed. Lashoff's skating is just far too bad to play 5 on 5 reliably. Sure, he PKs nicely, but we need players that can succeed in all settings. Add to that his non-existing offence and you have a borderline 7th dman. I do believe that if Almquist had a RH shot he would get NHL looks next season with Marchenko - but he just doesn't provide enough as a LD to beat out the other players and prospects.

I honestly don't see why we need Edler if we are serious about developing a LD-RD pairing group. Just let Marchenko play next year and develop and bring in a stop gap (Boyle) for 2 years until Sproul is ready. Hopefully we can also make a trade happen with Smith/Ericsson in a package for a strong RD coming the other way (Like a Bogosian or Shattenkirk type). Then in 2-3 years you have: Kronwall - Trade Dekeyser - Sproul Smith/E/Ouellet/Backman - Marchenko As you can see we won't have room for all the LD kids so one could be included in that package for a solid RD player mentioned above.

I agree the Almquist deserves time over Kindl and Lashoff who haven't really solidified themselves and almost played themselves off the roster. But Smith is much improved and was probably our most consistent dman against a big strong boston team in the playoffs. Smith just needed to feel like babcock trusted him.

Thats overpayment for Kesler and Nucks fans will say it leaves them with no 2C and Helm isn't good enough. Our 1st is fairly high and Smith is a great young player. Helm is the heart of our Bottom 6. You don't get all those pieces for a C that is on the decline and injury prone. Neither side likes this trade. Realistically I see the value as Smith + 1st + Almquist/Ferraro/Andersson for Kesler but again, Nucks fans will cry about no 2C.

Good breakdown. I didn't realize it was that bad. It certainly was very frustrating though. I would say our D collapsed under pressure in the 3rd most of the time (Kindl/Lashoff/Quincey). Also, when we got beat early our team would give up and lose games big it seems.

When the Jackets decided to trade Carter I wanted him so bad but people said I was crazy. The guy is just so skilled and has great speed. Who knows though - without his bff Richards around for emotional support he may not have played like this anywhere else.

Kenny will manage to create a roster jam somehow. Just watch. Seems like he just can't help himself sometimes. We will likely have another "Nyquist situation" on our hands with our D prospects trying to get out of the minors. This is pessimistic but probably more likely than a lot of other people's expectations.

This would be possible IF Holland wasn't the GM.

Ya thats what I'm seeing too. Love him but this is crazy.

Mantha has made some very tired plays in 2OT. A little sloppy with the puck right now. Babs won't be impressed with that.

even better next year.

Hoping for Barbashev or trade pick for a 1st next year to move up with 2 firsts and get a C.

Neal is a very productive player and has the size too. However, we shouldn't be moving assets for wingers when we have an abundance of young wingers and Mantha on the way. We should actually be moving winger(s) for a future top 6 C. We just don't need Neal enough to cough up the assets for him (apparently they want multiple wingers for Crosby and Malkin). I WOULD however like to buy low on Letang if they are selling. Letang is the type of high end RD that we need and could come at a discount due to recent health problems and the need for change in Pitts - perfect storm for us. I don't buy the concern for the future that Letang may suffer more strokes because he will be monitored closely for the rest of his life and his stroke came from a PFO and not a clotting disorder or something genetic. All of his other risk factors for stroke such as cholesterol, lipids, bp, blood sugar etc will be lower than the average person as he is an athlete.

He would have looked even smarter if he picked him in the later rounds - looked like others would have passed on him.