dirtydangles

Jarnkrok is exploding. 6 points in last 2 games. 19 points in last 15 games.

both pulks and jarnkrok had 3 point nights that game. Jarnkrok with 16 points in last 14 games - people he his heating up.

Ken holland on making deals:

when you account for endorsements at the peak of his game and the length of time he has been playing I bet he has some decent assets squared away. additionally he will have known for years this was coming and probably has been careful with his money. but nevertheless I don't see Bert having to single-handedly give that much money - it will be spread between bert, crawford, and the nucks imo.

Myers is available via TSN apparently. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444838 We could try to buy lowish on him considering he has regressed.

I envy holland. He gets paid loads of money lately to sit on his hands. The scouts are doing a lot of the dirty work finding the young talent and holland just has to make sure they actually get a roster spot when they are ready (something he blows at). If he was making big moves or solid UFA acquisitions I would be impressed but the latest acquisitions of Quincey, Sammy, Tootoo, Coliacovo, White, Commodore, Weiss?? were all terrible and low risk/reward type. The only deal I applaud him for lately was Alfie who was pretty much ready to come anyways. Holland HAS been able to sign our talent at reasonable deals which is nice I guess.

What does Nyquist have to do to get some respect? Scores the game winner and plays hard last game and he gets 4th line duty to start again. Meanwhile Cleary hasn't played in forever and has done nothing in recent memory to garner playing on the 1st line. Babs is probably just trying to be fair to some of the older guys before he benches them again during the playoff push. The obvious choice to me was to have Glendening in on the bottom line and Nyquist on 1st line.

If Q came back around 2.5 I wouldn't kill myself. But I am worried about the length of the contract - we have a few kids in GR almost knocking on the door (1-2 years away) and I don't want to have another Nyquist situation by re-signing Q to a deal over 1 year in length (which he almost certainly won't accept). We don't have any aging Dmen coming into retirement and with Kronner, E, DD, Smith that makes 4 mainstays and if we move Kindl and sign Q like you suggests that leaves only one starting roster spot open for Marchenko, Sproul, Ouellet, Backman, Jensen to fight for. I see at LEAST 2 of those guys panning out. I would rather have 2 vets added on short 1 year deals or expiring deals and then promote as we are ready rather than sign Q for over 2 years. We could lose some of those kids if we can't sign them and they run out of eligibility and they could be lost for nothing like Quincey was so long ago.

NYQUIST HE IS SO CLUTCH

Dats looks.... meh. Not himself. He is actually trailing the play a lot and only really exerting himself defensively. Doesn't look comfortable out there at all. When Weiss comes back I bet Dats sits.

Dats looks pretty passive out there right now by his standards - knee is hampering his jump.

Nyquist - Dats - Abdelkader (babs likes the big body) Franzen - Helm - Alfredsson Tatar - Sheahan - Jurco Miller - Glendening - Eaves That is who I would start based on recent performances. Soon enough Weiss comes in and takes a spot on the 4th to get going.

Jesus christ Bert? OMG babs just punch me in the nuts and get it over with.

Is he playing? I read on one link he would make his debut. But we have 6 healthy dmen besides him if I'm not mistaken.

Giroux is a 1C and O'Reilly is a 2C that is why I used those examples but there are plenty more out there (Perry 28th, Getzlaf 19th, Mike Richards 24th, etc). The point is - you can have high picks that bust and later picks that pan out - it is still possible in the current NHL to get great players outside the top 10.

The wings more than respect Datsyuk. They offered him a nice extension, allowed him to play in Russia, and gave him time off afterwards to be with his family. This wouldn't be done by the wings - or any organization - because a player dangles the "I can leave at any time." If any player did imply that I am sure the wings would let him walk because that is piss-poor attitude and a cheap bargaining ploy. I think Datsyuk probably should have been back right after elimination to receive treatment and assessment going forward (and brought his family along to visit because they are important too). That would have been the fair thing to do for him and the organization considering everything they have done for each other. Instead we are 1 game before the season starts up again and we don't know what his status is.

Agreed. If we can go forward with Smith getting sheltered 3rd pairing minutes and grow a little bit we will be in good shape. He has too much potential to give up on right now. I'd like to see our D be something like this going forward: Kronwall - Top pairing Dman Dekeyser - Ericsson Smith - Marchenko/Lashoff Its easier said than done to acquire a top pairing Dman though... I would be happy with someone around Edler value - I know we aren't getting a Doughty/Weber.

Giroux was a 22 overall pick, O'reilly was a 33 overall, the list goes on - it is absolutely possible to get a great centre in the late first round.

Last 2 were a tip in and a garbage rebound both off of Almquist slapshots.

And so it begins... It will really hurt if Pavs can't play - if so he could have been receiving treatment during that time (maybe his family could have visited here a bit so that could happen - he is a millionaire after all). Pavs has been treated VERY nicely by the wings organization through all of this and I just hope it doesn't bite us in the ass when the games start up again and he is still out injured. Also I understand being liberal with Pavs in terms of injuries etc. but Weiss hasn't really earned that from the wings - if he doesn't play a few conditioning games in GR before starting and ends up playing at subpar speed and costing us games I will be livid. I hope its not a pride thing that he doesn't want to play in GR and keeps deferring it.

Jarnkrok has been increasing production lately 13 points in last 13 games. I think he will be fine. When you see him on the ice he looks dangerous often (especially on PP) and always looks to play it safe to prevent odd man rushes (which is why his point production is lower). After watching the griffins over the olympic break I am less worried about him panning out. Also he would benefit from Mantha on his wing.

He did play a game and contributed by scoring and being captain. I would say he should get one. But Karlsson might sell his so Z can always pick one up on ebay

Ryan Smyth is worse than clear at this point. I'd trade Q to them for a pick though - no need for aging piles of flaming garbage coming back.

Trade Q ASAP for best return possible (some pick) no clue what value he has to other teams. Use the cap space generated by moving Q and sending Sammy and Eaves (i wish Cleary) back down to swing a trade. Either a top 4 dman or vanek/moulson. Z is back for playoffs and BOOM.

Pass. Don't want him around the youth. Terrible attitude.