Jacksoni

Let's start from the very basics: you are building a franchise from scratch. What are your primary needs? In my opinion you first try to get a great goaltender and a solid 2-way center. Then you look at a solid first pairing defense-man. Then you look at another 2-way center. And then you just fill the other positions with the best available talent. So Coreau should by my thinking be rather low on the Vegas rankings of things to get.

This sends all imaginable wrong signals. Everyone knows Marchand is a weasel. He can play, but he is very dirty. It's his fifth or sixth hearing I believe. This kind of decision sets precedents. I don't get it. Do they want the enforcers back? Ultimately that's where this would lead.

Mrazek I can see yield us something if he get his peacock feathers up by playing good and increasing his latent value but it will not be much. The goaltender market is saturated right now. Might get us a 3rd or 4th round pick. Not worth it in my opinion. Something tells me he can still bloom and be a (very) el cheapo version of Carey Price. In regards to Errorson, If, and only if we would have traded him in November he might have yielded us something if packaged with someone like Nyquist, Tatar or the elusive Thomas Jurco. I would surmise that he has zero trade value right now. Actually it's probably lower than zero, as in hindering or lowering the value of a deal if packaged in.

Damn, Toronto looked really good. Babcock and the crew are on the right path. Unless something happens with our management they will dominate us for many years to come I suspect. To me it seemed that Toronto simply "handled" us. Great strategy and players to execute it. Surgical.

Lol you're right, I fubared bad on that one. I looked at the names from last year and then this year and things got thrown around. Let me try to clean this up. I still want Pat Ferschweiler around, just not on the power play. He has a good mindset. Assistant supporting coach. Keeps the soldiers ready kinda guy. Torchetti has to go, the numbers are horrendous, it doesn't even matter if he's primarily the problem, it is his responsibility. Lastly, if we miss the playoffs, I am for kicking Blashill. He has a good pedigree from the minors but he is no general like Babcock. Furthermore if we do miss the playoffs the fanbase would (and should) demand a new direction for this team. The natural start for that is a new coach and younger prospects moving up.

First things first. Do you remember when the entire forum was bitching about our power play coaching last year? The PP was dreadful and most forum op's rejoiced at the coaching change, including me. How did that turn out? You still want Doug Houda coaching the PP? We are approaching legendary bad power play numbers. That affects our entire game. Let's say you're a rough, big team, for instance Anaheim. And you know you won't be punished with a goal against if the opposing, soft team can't play the power play. What do you do? You punish them. Keep assistant coach Pat Ferschweiler I say, he seems sound. But drop Houda. And yes, grab Blashill with the other arm when dragging Doug H to the front door.

I'm not all sour grapes. I do agree that he by no means is the worst option. In fact, he played really well the first quarter of this season I think, but has regressed back to his old self since December, roughly. I don't believe he'll be picked up but would do a little sing-and-dance number if that were to happen, it would free up a good amount of cap and we have better d-corps in the pipe.

With his price tag he would most likely clear waivers. The chance of him being drafted is Null, in my simple opinion. Would love it if he was picked up, of course. And I would like to keep unicorns as pets as well..

Another shot for the elusive and this year much slimmed down Jurco. The good old eye test still tells me he has something but it hasn't manifested into anything tangible. Well, the ship is sinking, it most certainly couldn't hurt putting him in a top 9 position. I'm for it. Worst case scenario he helps us draft in the top 5. And fuels this forum. At any rate I'm getting tired of the elusiveness let's find out what dance moves he got.

Thanks for the update. We need both back, Vanek we need badly he change how we look instantly when hovering around the slot area.

Yup. Great. We are even struggling to lose good. Hopefully something happens around the all-star break as in deciding the long-term direction of this team.

<facepalm>

Don't mess this up, need the point to start. Then play the kids in the OT.

Damnit Zetterberg should have nailed that one, could be the only high quality chance we are going to get.

It's time to waive Errorson as well, he can't keep up, looks ridiculous at time.

If Zetterberg plays a few more games with this intensity he will be injured. I can guarantee it. We need someone else to step up and be the energy guy. Vanek makes me consider getting his jersey, nice pickup this year indeed. A big win.

I still watch those games against Colorado. The best hockey I've seen. Gotta schedule in some more of that.

Right, forgot about Sadowy, thanks. Well a 6th is better than nothing regarding Kindl. At the very least it increases our odds finding a golden needle in the haystack.

Cindy (Crosby) looking real good this year. Yes he's annoying but he has decreased his chirping and his game has stepped up, from an already elite level. I am weak for a superstar taking a small "another" step forward from an already supreme level. It shows dedication and work ethic. I am a little annoyed at myself praising Cindy but hey, credit where credit is due. He deserves it.

I am hopeful that a precious one or two of our late round picks in the last years should pan out. Names like Zetterberg and Datsyuk were picked very late. We need that great scouting back. We need an edge. On top of early drafting of course. Isn't this the year we get a 3rd round pick for Mike Babcock by the way?

I was supposed to attend this game however work hindered me. At least I could get a decent refund on all expenses for a later travel. Anyhow, I thought we looked pretty stable. A good game. And we are right where we shouldn't be standings wise. Great. Goalie reflection: I'd say send Coreau down, trade Howard for a 4th if possible and let Mrazek let in his 3.19GAA putting us bottom 5. Coreau gets dragged back up if Howard is gone of course.

Was that Datsyuk scoring the end to end goal with finesse and speed? He's back? What Athanasiou you say.. Could have fooled me. Kid is special, not many that can do that. Sure he had some puck luck along the way but a lot of speed and skill is needed for what he did. Good win. Crosby lost it at the end, that was the best part for me. Now I'll go out skate some, it's late morning here, sun is up and Red Wings just embarassed Pittsburgh. Life's good.

I agree Nielsen has been decent, about what I expected. It's his first year, should be a little smoother next year. Thing about him is that he is a legit blue collar worker, always gives what he can, unbothered, keeps tuffing on. Exactly what this team needs for the coming years. I hope nobody expected him to replace Datsyuk, it's simply not possible. I don't like the sum but overall a good signing even when we are going down. Good role model coupled with Z.

It seems to me that Larkin is being asked to go the "hard mile", meaning playing on a lower line as a center and focusing on defense first. In essence grooming him to be a 2-way center. If this is so it will take time, expect him to work hard and not look flashy for a year or two. Also take notice that he's not protected by the grunts as much as last year, they expect him to stand his ground a lil bit more. This also seems to point in that direction, although it is by no means conclusive. Add to that the captain-wibes when Z retires. I'd guess he's being projected as a second line C or possibly 1st line caliber C if all starts align right in a few years time.

Things are doom and gloom in Hockeytown but it was not so for a long time and we could use a nice history fallback to feel the sun again. My question is simple: who, at this year of 2017 is the best defenseman that has ever put on a pair of hockey skates? 1. Bobby Orr Bobby Orr played before my time but I have taken the time to study his readily available games. A supreme player who would outmatch Erik Karlsson by miles in my opinion. I have Never seen anyone like him, but his knees brought him down too early. "He revolutionized the defensive position", "His speed and control was unmatched by any defender", "Always played with an edge". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k74iUt5bKNs&t=3s 2. Nicklas Lidström Against Nicklas Lidström, stable, calm, almost always making the attacker look silly and so natural in taking away any attacking opportunity. Premier first pass, accurate slapshot. And the reason why I even dared making this comparison: durable, rarely injured. "The perfect human" as he was called. "Cerebral reading ability", "Made poke checks look ridiculously easy, even natural against the absolute best players". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAsnpOT4Gz4 Who, in your mind, is the best defender of all of known time?