Richdg

Because they don't know the game and thus are wrong. Anyone that has followed hockey knows all goal scorers go into slumps. Same thing is true for most players in most sports. very very few don't. Now I am under no illusions about Ryan coming here. Doubt it ever happens. But to pick up a 26 year old-just entering the prime years of his career, RH shooting RW, that is 6-2/210+ and averages 32 goals and 120+ hits, would be freaking awesome! The Duck fans can hate all they want. But there is far more positives with Ryan than there are negatives. if the Ducks are dumb enough to move him, that is their mistake. let's not forget, they have him playing his off side and not his natural position most of the time. if the RW were somehow able to get him-again I doubt it happens, I would lock him up for 8 years 48 million the same day. over the next 8 years I have 0 doubt that he would score us 250+ goals. Is there another forward in our system under 27 that we can expect the same thing from? No. Are their 2 guys combined that are able to produce that level of production? Doubtful.

I agree, way to long of a season. But that is true of all sports.

You are actually listening to Ducks fans about hockey? yes one should question your sanity. Let's take a look shall we? 2009/10 Ryan's last year before his contract. he played 81 games, scored 35 goals, and had 127 hits. 2010/11: played 82 games, scored 34 goals and had 156 hits. Drop off? hell no. He played better if anything. 2011/12: played 82 games, 31 goals, and had 113 hits. Again, no big change. Keep in mind he played every game with rumors swirling about him from HIS GM. 2012/13: played 46, scored 11 goals, and had 80 hits. Over 82 games he would have had 20 goals and 143 hits. Now if you wish to hang your hat on his goals for this year, feel free. But he did have the same number as Zetterberg. But 4 times as many hits. BTW Shanny-in the years that records are available on NHL.COM never averaged a hit per game. he was closer to Perry. Goals and fights. For their careers, Shanny averaged 35 goals per 82 games played. Ryan averages 32 goals per 82 games played. Just for reference, Franzen averages 26 goals per 82 games played. Just for fun, Ryan makes about 20% more money than Franzen. What is 20% more than 26 goals? 31. So Ryan is scoring ABOVE his cost difference. Hate all you want, but Ryan is much better than Franzen and pretty darn close to what Shanny used to give us. I prefer goals and hits. Not that I am against fighting, far from it. But what good is a top scorer in the PB for 5-15 mins? None. Let the 3rd and 4yh line guys do the fighting. Top 2 lines are for scoring.

That is flat out wrong. Go look at their careers. An average Ryan year is 30-35 goals with 120-150 hits. An average Franzen year is around 27 goals with 90 hits or so. So Yes Ryan is better on both fronts, which is why he makes 1 million more per year.

LOL on 2 fronts. First the rumors. They will fly. Now for those dissing on Ryan, you all are just plan crazy! Why in the world would anyone want a 26 year old forward who's typical year is 30-35 goals with 120-150 hits. That is just crazy talk. He is all of 2 years older than Nyquist. Think about that. He has MORE 30 goals seasons than Franzen 4 to 1, more 30 goal seasons that Datsyuk 4 to 3, and the same number of 30 goal seasons as Zetterberg 4 to 4. he would be our best offensive player the day he was here. he would be our second best hitter after Abby as well. A top line of Abby-Datsyk-Ryan would be flat out awesome! Over a full season where everyone is healthy that line would score us 80+ goals. A true top line. All that being said, never happen.

Emmerton will be here until 1. Helm proves he is healthy-at this point in time he is not and 2. Someone better develops. That may be longer than some think. Ferraro is not better than Emmerton. maybe someday he could be, but as of today he is not. Sheahan is playing wing much of the time, and looks like that will be his path to the RW. That means it could be 2-3 years before a C is developed that is better than Emmerton. For a guy that plays 7 mins or so per game, he does a nice job. Star? No. Never will be. Now if a package is need to be put together to make a deal, all of the things I just mentioned are positives in a trade.

I am a firm no on both. Both are old, small, EXPENSIVE, and are guys that we have a bunch of. We are already filled up at the forward position. As of today guys like Tatar, Nyquist, Andersson, etc... are in danger of being in the minors. Adding a Briere or Weiss only increases that chance. What they can produce can be found in the 3 younger guys for a lot less money. Now if we are talking about adding Big Vinny from TB after a buyout, that would be different. he is a very different type of player than what we already have.

My guess-trying to drive up the price for a trade. If the Aves still pick 1st and they don't take Jones, Sakic should be fired within 5 mins. he is the highest rated player and their D sucks. match made in heaven. Now if their BL was loaded, that would be different.

No room. It is that simple.

The reduction is seats is all about supply and demand. Reduce the supply to drive up the demand. They did the same thing with Tigers Stadium and Comerica Park. COPA seats about 12,000 fewer people. The higher demand allows for higher prices.

The reason why we can guess about Filppula heading out is really very simple. No cap. As of tody we have 10.6 million left to spend. RFA's Kindl, Smith, Nyquist, and Andersson will eat up at least 5 of that. That leaves 5.6 million with Brunner, Cleary, and Filppula to sign. We can either sign Filppula or Brunner and Cleary. The rumors are the later 2 will be kept. That would still be 17 forwards, 8 Dmen, and 2 G's. 4 have to be cut, bought out, traded or sent down to the minors as it is. Sorry Fil, but there is no room with the RW's. Good luck.

Not Abba? LOL

Yes. And now Miller is signed long term, brunner will be we hope, and I bet Cleary gets more than 1 year. Again resigning Datsyuk is great. It is the other moves that are more concerning. Roster is full, cap is spent, and we didn't get any better.

On this we agree. Weiss=Filppula at best. Fil is a little younger and a little heavier. That being said I don't think we have the money for either one of them unless we choose not to resign Brunner and Cleary.

The only negative-and it has almost nothing to do with Datsyuk, is we are just about max'd out cap wise. The extra 800K to Datsyuk doesn't matter so much, but there isn't much room left. As of today we have about 10.6 million to spend. RFA Nyquist, Andersson, Smith, and Kindl will eat up about 5 million of it, leaving 5.6 million to spend. There have already been public comments about trying to resign Brunner and Cleary. That will take up the rest. The only other thing left to do, is use our buyouts. Does/will Holland use those? I know some will say we can make trades. True. But we can't take on any/much cap. Most of the guys making big money have no trade value or we want to keep, so no real relief can be found through this.

Great Job Kenny, Mr I. and Datsyuk. This buys us 4 years to find a replacement and get him ready. Hopefully we find enough for another Cup over the next 4 years.

You build around what you HAVE, not what you wish you had. We can all argue until we are blue in the face if player X is a true #1 D or a top C etc..... But that really don't matter, because there is only so many of those type of players around. Everyone would love to have Weber to build their blue line around, or a Nicky, but again, there is only one Weber and was only one Nick. A number 1 D on one team might only be a number 3 on another team. But that doesn't change the fact that you build around them. Then when someone better develops, you change and build around them.

"Its 9 o'clock on a Saturday, the regular crowd stumbles in".........

Sorry but why? What would he give us? Size? Nope. he is 5-11/190. Scoring? Not really. he puts up a lot of 45-55 point seasons. Toughness? Nope. Why would we wan him over Filppula? Where is the upgrade? In fact Filppula might be a better player. On top of that we are talking about trading for him-moving assets. Why?

To many to list. But and here is the shame....They don't play any of those songs at Van Andel. I tend to fall asleep at Griffins games.

Ok back. Was way to busy over the weekend. Now time to look at the hope and pray part of the draft, rounds 5-7. Normally you are lucky to find AHL quality players in these late rounds. Most teams tend to look for 1 thing: size or speed that a guy has and take a gamble. Again, this is a deep draft. There will be some future NHLers taken in the later rounds. Before I add some new names to the pot, there are a couple guys already mentioned that could slide into the 5th round. Buckles and Hill. Buckles 6-2/210 RH C has been every where in mock drafts. From the 3rd round through the 6th round. he has size, speed, and is a producer, but he has been playing at a lower level to preserve his eligability for college. if he is available in the 5th, this would be a true steal. Tyler Hill 6-6/225 LH LW. before the seaason there was a ton of buzz about this kid. Then he had a "disappointing" USHL season. Now CS has him in the 180's of NA skaters. Another kid that if drafted in the 5th or later rounds could be a steal. But he is also a guy that never signs. Now for some new names: Saku Maenalenen 6-3/185 LW Jorgen Karterud 6-4/190 LW Jake Montgomery 6-3/195 LW Mitchell Dempsey 6-3/210 LW Williem Haag 6-1/200 RW Sergei Kuptsov 6-2/212 RW Viktor Crus-Rydberg 6-0/190 C Jordan malette 6-2/200 C Maxim Mamin 6-1/185 C Jonathon Ismael Diaby 6-5/225 D Parker Reno 6-2/195 D Tyler Stanton 6-3/175 D Alexei Bereglozov 6-4/190 D Anton Cederholm 6-2/205 D Marcus Hogberg G Antoine Bibeau 6-1/210 G Most of these guys have good talent. But all have a question mark. For the Russians much of it is "will they come over". Others it is foot speed, or work ethic. But that is the name of the game at this point of the draft.

Now before I do rounds 5-7, which to be honest are a 100% crap shoot, let's stop and look at where the W would be with the draft I have laid out. My dream mock draft is: Gauthier, McCarron, Hayden, and Yakimov. Looking down the road a couple of years and adding these 4 to our current prospects that I feel are most likely to make, and vets most likely to still be around, we have the following group: Nyquist, Andersson, Tatar, Jurco, Emmerton, Helm, Abby, Brunner, Sheahan, McKee (still hope he moves to LW), Gauthier, McCarron, Hayden, and Yakimov. That is a very good and balanced group. Speed, skill, size, toughness, RH and LH shooters. If we are talking 2018/19 time frame only Abby, Helm, and Brunner would be over 30, so youth would be on our side. This of course doesn't include any future drafts, trades or FA signings. This is a nice group of forwards to build off of and develop a long term plan around. Will all of these guys make it? No. Some will get hurt, other flame out, some may be traded or leave via FA. Next up: the blind luck part of the draft, rounds 5-7.

I am trying. Sometimes it is hard to soar like an eagle, when you are surrounded by turkeys! LOL I kid I kid. before we got side tracked, I was talking about this years draft and who I think we should take and why those picks make sense for us to take them. 1. They will be available. 2. These guys match up to our teams weaknesses. That is/was my point. Now people are free to disagree, that is fine. if someone really likes another player, great! More power to you. We all have our own opinions. But for some to come out and say certian things, that are completely false is a little hard to take. In this day and age EVERY team in every sport is trying to build through the draft. Every team drafts guys in the 1st round with the intention of building around them. That is the whole point of the draft. No every first round pick does not turn into a star. About 8 per year do, with another 8-10 that merely become solid NHL players. That of course leaves another 8-10 that don't make it at all for one reason or another. Most of the time being injury. Now does size matter? yes it does. To be specific, height matters. it is becoming harder and harder for guys under 6ft tall to succeed in the NHL. The human race as a whole continues to grow and so do hockey players. of the top 50 in points this year, only 10 (20%) where under 6ft tall. 7 of those 10 were 5-11. That means 6% of the of the top 50 were 5-10 or less, which is Domis height (5-9). As I said before very cleary, yes he can make it. But the odds are against him. We have much better odds with other guys. That was my point before all the extra got added in.

You would think. To many players at the same position.

That is a flat out lie and you know it. In fact, the best teams in the NHL all have 3, 4, 5 guys off of this list. How many do we have? 1. Kronwall and he is a borderline guy. Boston is/has built around rask, Horton and other. Pitt: Crosby, malkin, Orpik, Fluery, Staal who became Sutter. Wash: Ovechkin, Green, Carlson, Backstrom carolina: Staal and Sutter who became Staal Florida: Weiss and Goc etc etc etc....... I you don't see that you are either blind, a fool, and just trying to argue. Either way doesn't matter. In todays NHL you build through the draft and then keep your own talent. You can't miss in the 1st round. If you do you will dry up in time.