PavelValerievichDatsyuk

We might need a Richards replacement...

Well that wasn't good. Only saw a bit of the game, but the positive I saw was that Tatar looked like he got his mojo back.

Nice play by Andy

number9 hasn't been posting as much lately. Just saying...haha

i like the shake up, but I'd make a few changes: That second line looks weak. Blash is probably doing it because they scored a clutch goal together early on (1st Canes game, I think). Switching Pulkkinen and Helm makes the balence better. Would like Andy out, Glen on 4th, Jurco on 3rd, but I kind of understand the move. Glen's been his usual hard-working self so this is rewarding him and getting him some more ice time. Blash did talk about being less even with playing time so I'm fine with the set-up if that 4th line only plays limited minutes. Defence pairs I'm fine with. I liked the DK-Green pair and I think with more time together they'd be really good, but the switch is all to get E off the 1st pair and I think that's a good thing. He'll probably look pretty good on the 3rd pair and against lower competition. I think Kindl would be a better match for him in terms of styles, but hopefully Smith is out out to prove something tonight. Too bad for Richards. Maybe the back troubles explain his struggles so far and he comes back as a solid addition. I prefer Sheahan in the 3C spot anyway.

How many faceoffs has he taken? I can think of a couple when Z was thrown out the faceoff and the period where he did have his own line, but that doesn't seem like many. I agree about Larkin taking his own line.

I don't think these 2 situations are very similar. Kronwall left the ice before the hit. Kronawall isn't squared to the hit and makes contact with his arm. Kronwall hits a player moving the opposite direction so the impact is greater (this is a factor). Kronwall wasn't given a penalty on the ice while Renaldo was ejected from the game and given a major penalty.

I actually agree with the ruling. The head snaps back, which makes it look bad, but that whiplash from what I see. It is kind of a dick move to hit a player when they're pinned against another one of your players. Don't think there's any rule against that, though.

Jets could be a playoff team. They won't let him go unless their out of the picture. It's all off-topic from Larkin, though. Hope he keeps proving himself. Right now there's no question that he needs to stay up.

Uh...he was on the 2nd line two games ago. The Jurc has clearly reached put up time, or else prospect love begins to turn to hate. Stages of the LGW prospect romance: Post-draft oogling If I could only get them away from Holland Phase Honeymoon period as they first play on the wings I'm not that into you (signs of struggle) Pre-breakup phase (calls for trade while he still has value) The Emmerton who? stage Am I missing any stages?

Zetterberg has 4 shots in 5 games. He's usually are shot leader by a WIDE margin. That's somewhat due to him playing center and feeding the Lark rather than shooting. I think he'll get shooting. There's also a few players that haven't found their game offensively yet and with that they'll get the confidence to shoot more. (Shea, Tatar, Richards) Tatar has 5 shots and he also was a shot leader last year. I do think the main problem to overcome at the moment is getting the 2nd and 3rd lines going. Blashill has stuck pretty well to his idea of having 4 lines that player pretty equal minutes despite the fact that half the lines haven't been clicking. This could be a good strategy that will pay off over the season with players not been worn dawn and also due the fact depth is a strength of ours. I think it accounts for some of the lower shot totals, though, since the struggling lines haven't had much offensive push. I feel the D has been fine. We just got DK back and that was a huge shot in the arm. The rest of the team was flat, though, in the back-to-back game. We have given up too many odd man rushes, but that's the risk you run when you try to get D involved with the rush as we have. It's quite a different mindset than Babs was running - I think the guys will get better at choosing the right times and covering for each other.

Parise and Suter went to Wild due to family connections. They're not worth their money. Really, you want Phaneuf and his contract? Really? Mantha could be quite good. Happy we didn't trade him. Hamilton would have been nice. Doubt they would have traded within division. All those prospects you like are Holland's doing. Green was a great move and we got him on a very reasonable deal. The jury is still out on Richards, but I think it was essential given that Dats was out, Mule was/is questionable, and no one was counting on Larkin doing as well. 2 loses in a row isn't that big of deal. Love the potential of this team. New coach, couple of new players, no Datsyuk - there's going to be some adjustment and ups and downs.

Toronto was doing goalie review. They're not allowed to rule in that context on goaltender interference. If Blashill had then made a challenge they could have then. At least that's how I understand it after the commentary. However, Blash probably didn't know that was the case since the coach's review is so new. I think Toronto should have just stayed out of the way on this one. They have to have conclusive evidence to override the call on the ice (which was no goal). By saying it wasn't kicked in, they over-ruled the ref's call that was surely more due to the fact that Mrazek wasn't giving the chance to make the stop. Anyway, it was definitely not a goal. Clear away all the logistics of officiating and the only reason it went in is because Gallagher ploughed Mrazek skate first into the net. Wasn't it just a couple of years ago that the push was to protect goalies after Miller's concussion and other incidents. Can't put up a precedent of rewarding players for situations like this.

Yeah, That is concerning. Though people keep writing that AA should be up, he, Mantha, and Bertuzzi each only have 1 assist. Not knocking these prospects that I like a lot, but there's some work that needs to be done down there first. It's encouraging that Sproul is leading the team in points - he needs to come up with a big year to get back in line for a job.

No matter how forcefully you write it, it's just a guess or a preference. I think Helm is important to the team. I expect a 3 year deal - maybe I shouldn't written many years. We'll see. His only role is not 3C. He hasn't played there for while. He played the role of Dats winger for a while last year. Did play 3C some and winger on the 2nd and 3rd line. PKs, spent some time on the PP. He's a swiss army knife - That adaptability is main strong point. Anyway, I know you disagree so no need to respond - It's all beside the point that I think your Trade idea is way too risky and would likely end up in the regret pile.

Well I think there's way too much hoping and guessing for me going on there for it to be a good idea. Best Case Scenario for your trade: Jurco or Pulkkinen are duds and we've traded them away so they're no loss. Ericsson is as bad as you say he is. (if Buff resigns it doesn't really matter since he's an upgrade. Helm wasn't going to re-sign here. Buff resigns Successful trade Worst Case Scenario: Jurco or Pulkkinen fulfill their potential on the Jets and we've lost a hell of a contributor Ericsson is a good #4 guy (spoiler on this one: he is and his contract will look better in a few years) Helm would have re-signed and been a solid 3rd line guy/ secondary scorer/leader for many years who can move up and down the lineup. Buff doesn't re-sign and you've lost 3 solid contributors for a couple of Buff months Bad GMing, you're fired Besides what people say around here, I think Helm definitely resigns. If he's said "no, I'm not re-signing" fine trade him.

And then he doesn't resign here and then you're fired as GM.

Back-to-Back game against the hottest team in the NHL (who's rested) with a bad call that gave them a goal. I say meh to this one. Should have won yesterday, though. People s***ting on Ericsson but he stopped 2 goals in the 1st half.

I thought this place would have blown up after that disallowed goal. And the explanation that was so far from the main issue with the goal. No one thought he kicked it in - we think he kamikazied himself and Mrazek and the puck into the net - But they expected that Mrazek had a chance to stop the deluge? Anyway, Mrazek is looking great again.

Kronwall, Green and Kindl each have an assist. Missed this last game, but I really like what I've seen from Green. Also Quincey's been pretty good in the other games. Glad DK's coming back, though. The 3rd pair has been a problem and DK bumps Q down and he should great improve that pair.

That was quite a journey you took us on. Kind of like a funhouse ride of a GDT. Mercy Buckets!!!

He'd probably just Pronger it and go on LTIR for the rest of his contract and we'd have some cap space.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-fiction-glass-liquid/ Yeah, it's an amorphous solid: between solid and liquid.

Anyway, we don't know what this means besides the fact that he's only on IR not LTIR. We'll see if it's just a precautionary short term thing on the path of him coming back or maybe he was concussed again or whatever.

Yeah, that's too bad. He did look pretty good out there - especially for a player who hadn't played in about 6 months. From the reports in camp/preseason when he said he was still having problems with his head after extreme exertion, it seemed like he might have that after the exertion of a full game. I didn't see him get hit and I think this is likely those symptoms that have never gone away and come back with physical activity.