kipwinger

Good game by all the kids. Tatar, Sheahan, Jurco, Smith, Glendening, Nyquist. All of them looked mighty impressive.

I agree. I made the exact same points a page ago. Little late to the game on this one.

I'd move Helm (with package) to Winnipeg for what we need. The local kid going home angle would take the sting out of it for him, and they've got a lot we should want.

I agree with your sentiment, I mean, we're still a playoff caliber team and all. There's time to wait for sure. But the problem with the wait and see approach is that everyone else gets older. Which would be fine if our best players were Patrick Kane or Sidney Crosby. But they aren't. Our best players are 33-36 years old. Even if Mantha and Pulks and one or two of the kid defensemen turn into something special, they're not going to do it as rookies. They're going to do it in 2 or 3 years when Dats is cooling his heals in Russia and Zetterberg's a cripple. That's not true, he'll sit on his prospects. Move a few of them onto the big club and lose a few to the cap crunch. And if we win a cup with Nyquist and Mantha...even if it's 10 years from now, everyone will gush over what a genius he is. "Because sometimes the best move is the one you don't make".

Touche. You totally had me reeling on that one. To be fair, he won't trade for them either.

Good call. Not surprised that you think the best way to improve our offense is to "go hard" after a defensive defenseman whose career high is 23 points. Because we clearly don't already have that in Dekeyser. This thread is about producing more points. Boychuk, regardless of his other talents, isn't going to contribute to that in any way. So maybe you can "go hard" over Boychuk in a more appropriate thread...or in the privacy of your own home? Agreed. I though you were suggesting he wasn't living up to expectations. Yeah, he's not a top six winger...yet. Ken Holland? Ken Holland the Red Wings GM? Will sign these guys in the offseason? The hockey offseason? No he won't.

I completely agree with you about the diversity of our attack, but I don't really get the Tatar knock. He's on track to score 20-25 goals this year. I'm not sure what people are expecting out of a third line winger. He's doing his job just fine.

Go to Cobo Joe's if you want to see firebreathing hotties, not collegial hockey talk lol.

Who knows, he's a UFA after this year. But I think Winnipeg would be stupid not to wait until the deadline. They may end up as a playoff team and decide not to trade anyway, but if they do he'll go for a lot. He's a great player, good leader, and the kind of guy that you win with in the playoffs. I think it would take a lot to get him. Not an outrageous amount, but a lot.

I also think that the "type" of scoring winger matters as well. I don't want another guy who plays the exact same way as the guys we've already got. A power forward type (Stafford, Ladd) or pure goal scorer (Semin) would be preferable to another two way guy that's good for 50 pts. (mostly assists). I think we really need to diversify our offensive attack.

That's what he said. But what else is he going to say? So it's hard to put much stock into pronouncements like that. That said, Abby's been far from our biggest issue so far. And I thought he would be. I was wrong about that, but I do question anyone lamenting his play thus far. To me, there's a couple things we've got to do to score goals. DEFINITELY need to get an offensive defenseman with a dynamic skill set. Pay whatever you need to get someone like Green or Yandle. Don't cheap out. Secondly, we need two real top six centers who are healthy. If those are going to be Datsyuk and Zetterberg, then go find another winger. If Z is going to play the wing, go find a center. In today's league it's easier to find a winger than a top flight center, so I'd probably move Z to center for the remainder of the season...but that's risky because he and Dats are injury prone and older. So it's not a good strategy long term. Probably should have traded for Spezza, Kesler, O'Reilly, or signed Stastny when we could. Alas hindsight.

Yeah, Dekeyser is really not cut out for powerplay duty.

Who was the point man on the 2nd PP last night with Kindl out?

I'd inquire about Drew Stafford and Andrew Ladd. Both are guys that would compliment our top six with their playing style and both are rumored to be available. Each is putting together a nice season as well.

Well, presumably our offense will improve if we get a top four puck mover. And hopefully that will improve the powerplay as well. But I think we need to seriously consider an upgrade to the top six if we continue to have these problems with offensive consistency. There just doesn't seem to be enough offensive talent to spread around.

Sean Avery lying on a down comforter 4 times. Bunch of nancy rats.

And Weise, Pacioretty, Malhotra, and Emelin. Those guys are all *******.

Sure that's true. But don't we have a coach that specifically encourages a low scoring strategy? If you know that it's statistically a less successful way to win games, maybe you shouldn't do everything you can to encourage that result.

If I recall corrently, Mantha looked good with Frk and Nosek in the prospects tourney. Maybe when Nosek gets back from injury Blash will put them back together. Could jump start Frk and make another scoring line out of nothing for the Griffs.

Griffs tie it up with a minute left on a goal by, you guess...Mitch Callahan.

Ok who's on Mantha watch tonight?

Always happy to help. This is a win/win. You guys get good food, and a great local business gets new customers.

Seriously, go there and order the wings. Actually get two or three orders because you're going to want them anyway. I promise you will thank me afterward. Edit: An article about their wings...http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/the-21-best-chicken-wing-restaurants-in-america

The Sweetwater Tavern has the best chicken wings on this (or any) planet. Hand to God. Their rib tips and beer prices are also quite good. I HIGHLY recommend getting a bite to eat at this place. And that's coming from a guy who unreservedly endorses exactly three other things: Wink Rust Remover, Inglehoffer Stone Ground Mustard, and Five Hour Energy. It's at the corner of Congress and Brush, near the previously mentioned Holiday Inn Express. Edit: Lafayette Coney is an acceptable alternative. But HEAVEN HELP YOU if you eat at American Coney, accidentally or otherwise.

Right. But he's pissy.