krsmith17

Yes. All the f***ing time. You're the king of strawmaning... Anyway, one last time... Gusev is an extremely talented hockey player. He's coming over to North America to play in the NHL for the first time. Not because he wasn't talented enough the past 5 years, but because up until now he wanted to stay in Russia. He's been a highly coveted prospect for years, but is only now willing to come over to North America. He could be a stud, or he could be a bust. I'm aware of the risk. I think the chances of him being a legit top 6 winger, is much higher than him being a complete bust though. I think the potential reward outweighs the potential risk, and I'd trade a 2nd round pick any day for a player of his caliber. If you wouldn't that's completely fine. I just think you put way too high a value on draft picks outside the 1st round.

What does that have to do with strawmaning and constantly trying to put words in people's mouths? Yesterday, I said "he could be a bust" (although unlikely in my opinion), and in the very next post, you respond by saying that I "think he's a sure hit"... You always do it. I love a good debate, but it's beyond frustrating attempting to have any sort of conversation with you when all you ever do is try to twist words to fit your argument...

You have a hell of a lot more patience than me... This is all this guy ever does. Goes on random tangents and strawmans every argument...

Says every chart, analytics, analyst, everybody except some schmuck, Steve, that thinks he knows everything, but in reality knows very little... Do I think Gusev puts us over the top? No. Do I think he could be a key piece to move us forward? Sure. And for the low, low price of a 2nd round pick, I would do it in a heartbeat.

He thinks everyone is crazy, but himself... because he's "thinking future"... No one knows what Gusev will become. He could be a complete bust... 2nd round picks on the other hand, that's how you build a team... He's "not making s*** up"...

I don't think Kerfoot is worth that, and Ceci definitely isn't worth that. To be honest, I think the Leafs would be more than happy to let both go for 2nd round picks. Neither were key pieces in those trade. The key to both trades was to offload salary, and they did that. Offersheeting two of these players would help the Leafs even more in my opinion. Kerfoot is decent, not spectacular, but Ceci is f***ing bad.

Oh, f*** that then. We have enough 50-60 point wingers. Definitely not worth a 2nd round pick...

I doubt either take 1 or 2 year deals, unless it's with a legit contender, and Gardiner is likely going to be overpaid... I'm not interested in adding any more players, unless they're needle movers. Gardiner or Boyle don't move the needle enough for me...

What do the 90's have to do with anything? We're talking about a trade, not a free agent signing. You're naming a bunch of players that might pan out someday. How are any of those players or players that we could potentially draft in the 2nd round next year any more likely to become anything over Gusev? You keep talking about how he's a player that has "played 0 games in the NHL". What does that have to do with anything? None of these future 2nd round picks have either. Gusev hasn't played in the NHL because up until now he hasn't wanted to, not because he's not skilled enough... Regarding the bold, that couldn't be further from the truth. Drafting is one way to improve your team, but it isn't and shouldn't be the only way to improve your team. You also need to make smart trades, and sprinkle in some free agent signings. This would be a very smart trade in my opinion. Sure, he could be a bust, and we're out a 2nd round pick. Or he could be a boom, and we get something we could have only hoped for with that 2nd round pick. It's a gamble, like any trade, but in my opinion, it would be relatively low risk.

LOL I was just f***ing with you. I just find it hilarious how you think draft picks are the be all end all...

No, I'm pretty sure anyone with a different opinion than you, means they're automatically right... jonatanberggrenisthefuture

LOL yes, I would trade Berggren for Gusev. Wouldn't think twice actually. What else ya got?

Your overvalue of picks is absurd. 2nd round picks are valuable, sure, but if you can get a 26 year old right-handed winger (fills a huge need) that has been one of the best players outside the NHL the past several seasons, you do it. Why wouldn't you? Because we might draft a player that might become as good as him in 3+ years from now? That's crazy...

I hope you're right...

We would be trading for his rights. I have no idea what such a trade would look like, but I would assume a player would be moving out. If not in that trade, another trade. Also, a 26 year old right-handed winger that could potentially be a point per game player, is a little different than the two signings we made yesterday...

I know my last post may have made it seem like it, but I'm not arguing Nemeth vs Bowey. I'm completely okay with the Nemeth signing, as long as one, preferably two of Kronwall, Ericsson, Daley are gone. If all three of those guys are in the lineup, plus DeKeyser and Nemeth, I think it's a terrible signing.

Also, this... Make it happen Yzerman...

It's dumb to assume Cholowski "should play in GR" before training camp / preseason. He was ready last year, before he hit that brick wall midseason. Again, I'm okay with Cholowski playing in GR, but it would suck to see him "earn a spot", but get sent down anyway because there are too many veterans... Maybe things will be different with Yzerman and he will be willing to abolish Daley and Ericsson, but I have my doubts... You're acting like I'm up in arms about the signing. I'm not at all. Just think it was "unnecessary". I'm not getting my back up over anything. I liked what I seen from Bowey after he got acclimated at the end of the season, and I think he could be a solid bottom pairing defenseman, that can skate well, play physical, and kill penalties. He's also 3 years younger, $2M cheaper, and better offensively than Nemeth.

IF management really liked the player, I think we have bigger issues here... Nemeth is a decent defensive defenseman, but nothing that can't be acquired via free agency any offseason. He was overpaid in salary and term. If the reason they signed him was because we're losing all these defensemen a year from now, they should have waited a year from now to sign him, or a similar player. This season he just adds to an overcrowded blueline consisting of way too many older defensemen...

Yes, but the bums on this team are for the most part the old guys, not the young guys. Whatever though. If Cholowski spends another season in GR, getting huge minutes, it's not going to be the worst thing for his development. I guess we can chalk this up to another lost season, which again, is probably the best thing long term. I don't hate either of the signings, but just think they were a little unnecessary with the current state of this team...

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for ONE more bad season, but I still think the two signings yesterday were unnecessary... unless, like I said, there are more moves (trades) coming, which probably isn't the case...

Very. Some people calling him a "number one"... He's not a number one. Not even close. He might be a top pair defenseman, but I see him more as a really good 2nd pair defenseman.

Where is Daley? Bowey? I doubt Ericsson is our healthy scratch... I'm okay with Cholowski playing in Grand Rapids IF there are 6 defensemen ahead of him on the depth chart. I just don't like that 5-6 of those defensemen are veterans (27+)...

Yup, that was my initial reaction as well. Nemeth at $1-2M max would have been reasonable. $3M seems like an overpayment, especially for a player we really didn't need... Kronwall (38), Ericsson (35), Daley (35), Green (33), DeKeyser (29), Nemeth (27), Bowey (24), Kaski (23), Hronek (21), Cholowski (21) If Yzerman knows that Kronwall is retiring, and Daley is being moved, it makes a little sense. Otherwise, not a great signing. Without Kronwall and Daley... DeKeyser - Green Ericsson - Hronek Nemeth - Bowey Even then, Cholowski and Kaski start in Grand Rapids. That defense is AWFUL!

Nielsen (retain $2M) should get us a mid round pick in my opinion. Nielsen at $3.25M is solid value as a 3rd line center for a contending team. We swap Nielsen out for Filppula, who is essentially the same player (maybe a little better skater), save $250K, cut off a year on the contract, and gain a mid round pick... We needed a goaltender to mentor Larsson in Grand Rapids, so the Pickard signing makes sense. The Filppula signing is still puzzling to me, unless there are other moves coming (Nielsen trade), but I doubt it. Same goes for the Nemeth signing. Not a bad signing, but unless one or two of Kronwall, Ericsson, Daley or Green are gone, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me... We have / had more than enough veterans on this team, and we just added two more...