krsmith17

I don't disagree with any of this. The only thing I disagree with (from previously), is that Bowey has been our worst defenseman, worthy of being waived. But like I said from the beginning, it's whatever, and he likely won't be re-signed in the offseason. I would have loved to see Bowey put it all together and become a reliable 3rd pairing defenseman, but I agree, it's not looking like it's in the cards for him.

It almost always will he a huge difference for star players in their development years though. My argument is, you should always burn that year if you believe in the player. Unless you're a team up against the cap, in your Cup window, and you need these guys on cheap ELC's to fill out your roster... I agree that we should be looking to lock up Mantha and Bertuzzi, but that has nothing to do with what we should or shouldn't do with Seider.

Yeah, that was just in response to 91's comment about "worse defenseman who has played more games". I disagree though. Bowey is far better offensive at this point than both. He's also marginally worse defensively than both. The difference is, the 24 year old can still improve to some degree. The 36 year old and 31 year old can not...

What does more games have to do with anything? You think Biega should get a pass because he's played less games? You think Daley should get a pass because he's a broken bag of bones? I'm not even sure what you're arguing at this point... Yeah, keep Seider down. Don't burn the year of his ELC. Don't worry about that contract, because we need to be worried about other contracts...

Except for the fact that Bowey has not sucked the most... If we move on from Bowey after this season, whatever, but it better not be in favor of a way past his prime, equally s***ty defenseman. Same applies now, but whatever...

Regardless what happens with Seider this season, he will most definitely be up full time next season. Let's say he has this sort of production the next three seasons... 2020-21 (19 years old) - 20 points 2021-22 (20 years old) - 30 points 2022-23 (21 years old) - 50 points Would you prefer to negotiate his next long term contract after two full seasons? Or three fulls seasons? Sliding ELC's is what teams up against the cap should be doing. Not rebuilding teams with a s*** to of cap space. Again, if we think this kid is the real deal (I do), get him up for those 10 games, burn that first year and get him closer to restricted free agency.

Like I said, I don't want Seider to play in Detroit because of how terrible things are right now, and I agree, same applies to Zadina. However, I would like to burn that first year of his ELC, and the only way to do that is for him to play 10 games. If Seider is as good as advertised, burning the first year of his ELC could be a major benefit to this team. And again, same applies to Zadina. Get them their games. Get them closer to restricted free agency and lock them up a year sooner to long term, team friendly deals.

I don't really want him up at all this season because the Red Wings are a disaster right now, but then again, the Griffins haven't been much better... Like I said, to burn a year of his ELC... Get him one year closer restricted free agency, and lock him up long term at a team friendly deal before he breaks out and destroys the league... Name a defenseman on our team (besides Hronek and Nemeth) that doesn't suck azzzz...

I say burn it. One less year on his ELC would likely be a good thing. That is, if he's as good as we all think and hope he will be... Bowey hasn't been great by any stretch, and I may be in the minority, but I still like him more than Biega at this point. He's much better offensively, and not a whole lot (if at all) worse defensively.

Rick DiPietro. Jack Campbell. Serious question... Have you watched the "bust" play at all this season? He's been very good in Grand Rapids. After a slow start he was a point per game player the past 12 games. He also looked really good in limited ice time, with two anchors as linemates in Detroit. Kid is going to be good.

I just think a really good, game changing player will be available at number 4. I think there's more risk involved in taking a goaltender top 5, than there is taking a skater. If Yzerman does take Askarov with that 1st pick, I'll trust him. I'd just hope it doesn't come back to bite us, because goalies are still a bit of a crap shoot, even the elite of elite at the age of 17...

The only way I consider Askarov, is if we acquire another 1st round pick and it ends up between 10-15. I doubt he'd even be available there, but that's the only way I'd take him. The lowest we'll draft is 4th, and I'd personally rather take any of the forwards (Lafreniere, Byfield, Raymond, Holtz, Stutzle, Lundell), or even the defenseman (Drysdale) ahead of the goalie (Askarov)...

A goaltender is engaged (play in the defensive zone) for, at most 40-50% of the game. That's approximately 25-30 minutes per game. A starting goaltender plays approximately 60-70% of the games. That's approximately 50-55 games a season. That's approximately 1,400 minutes per season A defenseman (any skater) is engaged ever minute they're on the ice (offensive and defensive zone). A number one defenseman plays approximately 25-30 minutes per game, and 82 games per season (assuming no injury). That's approximately 2,200 minutes per season. Defensemen can prevent goals and score goals. Defensemen are more important. Never draft a goaltender in the top half of the first round. Also, I'm drunk, so none of what I said makes any sense. Go to bed. Also, also LGW is BACK!

That would be a coaching thing though... I've been all about keeping Blashill around, because I have liked a lot of what he's done in regards to develop of the kids. But how much of that has really been on him? And how much of that has been good young players were going to be good anyway? Maybe some of them would have been even better under a different coach... Maybe Larkin wouldn't be in this crazy slump if he actually had decent linemates... Maybe this team wouldn't be on this crazy losing streak if we had reasonably constructed lines... Zadina playing on the 3rd line is a joke. Perlini yet to have an opportunity on a scoring line is a joke. I agree. However, I'm still a big believer in Larsson, and if he pans out, he'll be ready before Askarov anyway. Our D is that bad, but I don't think it's fair to assume that it will be in the next couple years. We have Seider and a few other prospects in the pipe, and I'm sure Yzerman will upgrade via trade and / or free agency as well. I agree.

You were the conductor of the Larsson hype train, just a few short months ago... Have you completely given up on him because of a rough start to his first season as a pro? Larsson still has a ton of potential to possibly become a legit number one goaltender. Eliasson and Petruzzelli still have an outside shot as well. I think drafting a goaltender in the top 5 (or even 10) would be a mistake with the number of other glaring holes on this team. It's much more of a skill and even confidence thing, then it is effort, in my opinion. Our team is just that bad right now. If it were that easy to just shut down one of the leagues top offensive teams, I'm sure they'd do it more regularly. We simply don't have the horses right now. Also, Andersen started that game, not the backup. I just think Askarov's (any goalie) bust potential is that much higher. I will never advocate taking the "safe" pick, and I love homerun swings, but this is a draft, we must get right. Hopefully we end up with a top two pick and we won't have to worry about this...

Saarijarvi wasn't even an asset though. Guy is never going to play in the NHL. We literally gave up nothing, for (more than likely) nothing. It was a depth move. We had a glut of defensemen in Grand Rapids, and lost one of our two goalies in Detroit. Good trade, similar to the Biega trade. Filled an immediate need, and doesn't impact the future whatsoever.

Lucky for us, we got the better defenseman, Seider...

McIsaac finally made his season debut yesterday, after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. 1 assist in a 3-0 win.

No Hronek?

Saarijarvi is skilled, but never had what it was going to take to make the NHL. He's basically Adam Almqvist (lite)... Comrie was once a very highly touted goalie prospect. He's still only 24 years old, so ya never know. I'd say the likelihood of him ever being anything more than a backup / depth goaltender is slim, but you can't lose a trade when you gave up nothing to get him. Saarijarvi was basically the defense version of Pope...

Mike. Yes, half-brother.

It's not December yet, so... I expect a blockbuster by mid December...

Exactly! Those 6 should be our top 6. When you've score 1 goal in 9+ periods, you should be putting all of your eggs in one (or two) basket(s)...

Why does he hate giving Perlini an opportunity with good players?

Pickard getting the start...