kipwinger

From what I can tell, he's Dallas' version of Ouellet, in the sense that he's ready to play NHL hockey right now. And he shoots right. As far as the other three I'd say this: He's probably got more offensive upside at the NHL level than Jensen because Jensen doesn't have a great point shot...Klingberg seems to. He's an offensive defenseman, so the comparison to Marchenko is shaky. They're not really the same animal. He's probably got the same, or a little less offensive upside than Sproul. But he's ready now, and Sproul isn't. Also, he's much skinnier than Sproul and would need to put on weight to have the defensive upside that Sproul has. Again, just my assessment. I'd go to Nill with Ouellet and a 3rd to start the negotiation and go from there. Neither did I. I basically just looked up right shooters on bad teams, and then started unpacking the stats, ice time, scouting reports, and commentary on them. I didn't know much about the last four either...before today. But figured it would be a worthwhile endeavor to see what was out there beyond the usual Myers, Green, Yandle, etc. crap.

For my part, I've never said he was untouchable and have demonstrably proposed many trade scenarios in which he is included.

Based upon my exhaustive search of the league's worst teams I've come up with a comprehensive list of right handed defensemen that could be targeted at the trade deadline. (I have very little to do at work today) Known Knowns: Wisniewski, Barrie, Petry, Spurgeon Out of the Blue: John Klingberg*, David Savard Depth: Nate Prosser, Paul Postma *Klingberg is who I'd target. While he seems to factor into Dallas' future, I think you could get Nill to come off him for a reasonable package centered around our good young defensemen (considering Nill helped draft our good young defensemen). Edit: And he's Swedish, so there's always that.

Well I certainly am not against getting rid of the guy. Wouldn't hurt my feelings. I just don't see it happening. And if we did, and IF he went crazy for another team, good for him. I'd legitimately be happy for him. Wouldn't change my mind about buying him out one iota. I'd feel about that exactly how I feel about "losing" Hudler. Honestly, you probably could trade him to Boston right now. They're interested in getting help on the wing...and are considering Chris Stewart. So clearly they're desperate lol.

I won't be surprised to see Weiss up on the third with Sheahan and Pulkkinen before the end of the game. Particularly if he gets a powerplay point. I'm not sure Mike's too comfortable breaking up that fourth line if he wants to use it as a matchup line like he usually does.

Yeah, we'd probably have to eat some salary, unless he went on another run and looked like he was over his injury issues and was productive again. I hate saying it too, because I really liked the Weiss signing and the guy has worked really hard to get back into shape and start producing. But he's clearly not going to get a shot at being a second line center, and he's a misfit everywhere else. So why not see if he's got any value? Plus, I'm sure he'd jump at the opportunity to play his natural position and earn a little more icetime.

Always loved Bertuzzi and wish him the best. For years I fantasized about watching him hoist the Cup. It would make fans of other teams CRAZY. For the heel factor alone it became the thing I wanted to see most in hockey. Well, that and Gary Bettman hoisting the Cup.

Dan Cleary is still on this team because Ken Holland "gave his word". I just don't see Holland agreeing to a contract with a guy like Franzen and not doing everything he possible can to honor it. It's not his style. Which is both frustrating, and decent.

I thought he only looked "ok" two games ago, and he was invisible last game. He was already on thin ice for some reason, but after the last two games I figured he'd get dropped back to the fourth. I'm not sure that anybody really knows how to use him at this point. He seems to be a good passer, and playmaker, but for the time being our center situation is set. So he gets stuck on the wing, where shooting is preferable to passing, but that's not really his game. If you look at all his points so far, he's got 5 tip-in or rebound goals, and a bunch of powerplay assists. That's the kind of scoring you'd expect from a netfront dude, or a center, not a third/fourth line winger. I really like Weiss, and have nothing bad to say about him. But I'd really like it if he'd go on another little mini-streak, rack up some points, and agree to a trade. Better for him, and hopefully better for us (as having 5 million on your fourth line ain't such a good thing).

So, Michael Ryder? I can live with that.

I suppose I should take a page from your book as you'd never resort to anything so base. Get over it Harold. I've never, ever, said that Babcock is a terrible coach. Or even a bad one. I just don't think he's a genius. I don't think he's the best coach in hockey. And I don't think his style is best for the make up of this team. However any attempt to voice these things is met with your almost pathological desire to defend the guy. Its telling that while Ken Holland is quite clearly the most aacxomplished Gm in hockey, you don't instantaneously come to his aid anytime I, or anyone else, says something negative about him. And yet when I make a single, obvious aside (you can tell its an aside because its in parenthesis...see), you come a runnin' to uphold Uncle Mike's honor. Maybe you don't even realize you're doing it.

Holy crap you're defensive. I really didn't know why he didn't start osgood ,, which is why I prefaced it by saying "non smartass question...". I assume there was an actual reason, bit I don't know what it was. Are you related to mike or something?

I get it. Because they're ***. Hilarious.

Me too. What a jackass. Small wonder that no matter what else he does or says, pretty much everyone still hates him.

But you have to battle. It's no fun if you don't battle. Am I missing something? Not battling...sheesh.

Given his numbers, it likely would have been Fleury too. How's that for irony!

No prob. Everybody knows I hate Babcock, so it's certainly a fair assumption. But I guess the give away is that, aside from the original post, I didn't say anything at all about Babcock and never once turned the discussion away from Osgood and his unreal performance. The Babs thing, as I've said, is as much a way to entertain myself at Harold's expense as anything. I mean, that shift was amazing, and being so spectacular to watch made it a microcosm of his whole playoff performance. But he also had 13 goals, over a point a game, and played excellent shutdown defense. It's hard to argue against him. And really the ONLY argument is that he would never have had the opportunity to do any of that if Osgood hadn't come in and saved our bacon in the first series. The fact that he did that, and only got better thereafter, puts him over the top for me.

Presumably you haven't scrolled down to where I said of the purpose of the thread..."Actually it was just his 2008 performance. The Babcock part was just me being a smartass and making an aside". And furthermore, at this point part of the reason I talk so much s*** about Babcock is because I know you'll write a report to defend him. Kinda like krsmith17 does with Brendan Smith. Lighten up Harold.

He STARTED the All-Star game in 2008. Non-smartass question...if he were an All-Star that season, why did he not start the first 4 games of the Nashville series?

Actually it was just his 2008 performance. The Babcock part was just me being a smartass and making an aside.

2008 is the only year that Fleury wasn't either pedestrian, or horrible, in the playoffs. Buuuuut I'm sure he'll buck that trend this year lol.

Sooooo annoying when I hear that. He actually beats Fuhr across the board, and is back and forth with Roy as far as who has better numbers. But everybody knows Osgood played behind a great team, while those other two played behind a bunch of bums and had to do it all themselves.

You know his regular season stats compare very favorably to guys like Fuhr and Roy too?

Shanny was a highly paid, veteran, star, and team leader. Petr Mrazek is a 22 year old, rookie, backup goalie. IMO Your level of outrage is fitting in the first instance, and a little over the top in the second. Then again, I haven't even seen the play you're talking about so I can't say whether or not he gave up at all.

Jesus Christ dude. Tell us how you really feel lol.