Richdg

Yes. Howard is good for 60-65 games per year. Next year will be the first season in 3 with a normal schedule-he can handle the workload. That means we need a backup for 20ish games. If McCollom is struggling at the halfway mark-meaning he has played 10 games we can bring up Mrasek at that point. If he is doing ok then we can trade him for a pick/prospect and bring up mrasek. Tom has played well the last 2 years-his best 2 years. His numbers at GR this year are GREAT! That is the trend-improvement every year. He is fine as a backup for 1 season, which is what we need.

No, but start with McCollom as the 2. If he works out-he becomes a trade piece. Let M play every day in GR.

SP, while I like people thinking outside of the box you have to be somewhat realistic. Weiss, the 2014 2nd round pick-which we don't own, and a 2015 3rd round pick is not going to get us berglund or anyone else in the NHL. TBH not sure we need or should resign Legwand either. He looks bad vs Bos and has been very average since coming over. He is a 3c at best at this point in his career-33 years old. 2-3 year deal for no more than 3.5 million per is the max I would offer, and that is only if I had to to fill a hole after a trade.

same needs that we have had for the last 4 or 5 years. More size, more grit, more toughness. We have lots of guys that can skate, handle the puck and shoot. But we have zero guys that work in front of the net, in the corners, or pound the other teams Dmen. That is, as it has always been, the way you win in the PO's. getting a bunch of shots from 30+ feet away is not going to do it. never has. The problem is, to get what we need we will have to give up some guys that many of us like. There are very few quality UFA's to sign, most of which don't do the things we need. However signing a big name guy like Vanek/Callahan/Moulson does allow you to flip some younger versions of them for our needs. But I expect to largely stand pat in the off season.

Getting Ouellet and Sproul a game each in the PO's would be a good idea. Let them both get a feel of what top level hockey is all about. Then they both would know what they need to work on as they develop.

if a guy lacks talent, that isn't on him. You can only use what God gave you. But when you have a player that is full of talent and only shows up 15 games per year, that drives me crazy. So yes: Franzen. I wish Holland had the ba11s to buy him out. he is a bad influence on the young guys. Give me guys with some heart and fire in their bellies.

Howard isn't the problem. He is 4th in the PO's amoung the starting G's with 2.02 GAA and 4th in save % at .931. Both numbers are better than his season numbers. He has allowed 6 goals in 3 games. We have scored 2 goals in 3 games. Which is the problem?

Did u really just say that the BJ's have been blowing leads all year??????

would it be wrong to say the BJ's choked tonight?

BTW not sure how we let this happen, but Goodrow signed with the SJS.

The idea of signing Greene or Fayne-who is a better choice is a good idea. Adding a RHed stay at home guy to pair with Smith. We have the money and our young Dmen need time. Going with a BL of Dekeyser, Kronwall, E, Smith, Sproul and Oullett is not a good idea. There is no need to rush the last 2. They have 2 more full years they can play in GR. let them grow up and develop. Its not like smith and dekeyser don't have more work and developing to do on their own.

I was wondering did they call a trap or power in the huddle?

BJ's! BJ's! BJ's! Man do I love the BJ's!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not surprised nothing is happening. Par for the course. That being said, I will bring up a thought I have talked about before. There are many that don't like fighting-including our GM. So in Hollands case he builds team based on that belief. fact is stuff like this happens, has happened, will happen, and nothing will be done about it. In fact as fighting goes down more and more stick work happens. After all what is $5000 to a guy making 4+ million per year? Pros spend more on strippers year than that. We have to live in realville. Based on how things are, not how we wished they were.

Yes the "love for....." thing is getting old. But I will do it anyway. If Abby doesn't clear out BOTH od the B's Dmen, does Datsyuk score? Never know. But that play is why Datsyuk loves having Abby on his line. No he isn't going to score much. But he will do the dirty work that keeps Datsyuk free to do his thing. What Abby did would have made (yes he will not like this) Bo proud! A true blocking fullback!

Back on page one of this thread I talked about our speed, taking 1 in Boston, and if the refs let the B's mug us. Our speed was there, we took one in Boston, and for the most part it was in fact a clean game. We get every game like this and it will be an awesome series! Just think, once we find some worthy players to replace Alfie-legs are gone and Franzen-heart/head are gone, we will have a very very good group of forwards.

Why do people keep posting lineups with Jurco-Sheahan-Tatar not on the same line? That is where they play 95% of the time. Now tonight/this series. We have to win 1 in Bos to have any chance whatsoever. Doesn't matter which one. The key will be the refs. if they call it tight, that is good for us. We are faster, Bos is more physical. If muggings are the game, we lose. That simple. If it is tight and we can use our speed, we have a 50-50 chance. This will change every game, so here is to hope! I still see Bos winning in 6/7 games. Hope I am wrong!

Yes, but both are first year NA pros. Marchencko is older 22/23 but Sproul is just 20. They need more time to develop. Marchencko didn't even make it through 1 full year-yes the physical NA game does take time to adjust to. They both have 2 more years that they can play in the AHL. Let them. It is a very helpful. RHed Dman can naturally pass quicker and firmer-they don't have to turn and are passing with their fore hand. That gets the puck to the forwards faster and helps our scoring. Balance is always a good thing.

yes he will be back. The night games are on FSD, the day games-weekends mainly will be on NBC.

Good for Ken. I just hope he doesn't leave us for the big money at NBC. I like him better than Strater.

Break it down by pairs. Kronwall and E and 1 pair. No issues here. Smith is an offensive Dman and a LHed shot. He needs a good stay at home RHed shot to pair with. This is where Greene fits so nicely. He is 30 6-3/230 RHed and from Michigan. getting him for say a 3 year 9 million contract would be great. Dekeyser is a developing LHed all around Dman. he needs a solid RHed partner. Keep Lashoff as the 7th. That leaves Kindl and Almqvist without a home and can be used as trade bait. That is where things get harder. Kindl and Almqvist are not enough for a top pair. We would have to add 1 or 2 more pieces to make it work. The who and how are the key.

Sorry guys, but our 1st and Almqvist is not going to get us a top pair Dman. Would you make that trade if you were the other GM? Of course not.

dirty, I really don't want us to take a Dman in the 1st. Would be a waste of a pick in my mind. We are still very thin at F in terms of prospects.

No need to. I would love to see Greene to pair with Smith. That gives of 5 solid to very good Dmen out of the six. Now make a move for a guy to pair with Dekeyser and we are set. Gives O/S the time they need to develop in GR-bothstill have 2 years of time left before waivers.

Oullett and Sproul looked very good. I thought the blues games was the best lashoff and kindl have played for a long time. Whole D looked good. That being said, both Oullett and Sproul can play 2 more years in GR. Keep them there as a pair and let them develop. Rushing Dmen up is a bad idea. Smith was/is much older than both of those guys when he was forced to play in the NHL. it has hampered his development. Sign a vet like Greene to pair with Smith and let O/S slow cook in GR. I doubt Almqvist is back next year. he has to pass through waivers to go to GR and isn't as good as the other 6 vets we have now.