ChristopherReevesLegs

Franzen was a better playoff performer than both of them

he probably pitches and catches...

Casual homophobia... you're off to a great start this off-season already

I'd do it just for the chaos and trolling the fanbase lmao agreed that I doubt he comes back though Grubauer is 26 and is due for a shot at a #1 job. He'll probably get traded though before the Caps release him.

Which you know you and I disagree about, which is why I suggested we talk about who his backup is going to be instead, but here we are...

No He's been in the gym and the Hawks stated they expect him to start next season

I'd throw Hutton and Khudobin on the list as well. Dare I say we should consider the Hamburglar? The other interesting bit is the goalie RFA's. Does Vegas retain Dansk? Does Washington retain Grubauer? And the ultimate dark horse... does Philly retain Mrazek?

Which you know you and I disagree about, which is why I suggested we talk about who his backup is going to be instead, but here we are...

Among other things

Abdelkader - Zetterberg - Nyquist Athansiou - Larkin - Mantha Helm - Nielsen - Frk Bertuzzi - Glendening - Witkowski Booth Svechnikov Daley - Green Deksyer - Ericsson Kronwall - Ouellet Jensen Hicketts Howard Coreu Machovsky Green = Players who positively contribute to the team, all things considered Red = Players who are essentially overpaid for their role Grey = Players who do their job adequately, but are easily replaced if needed Blue = Call-ups that may or may not be promoted Does anyone disagree with this assessment? (Not trying to start a goalie war. Let's talk about who should be Howard's backup if you want to go down that road)

How I see it: Jensen: Cost-effective option, doesn't move the needle either way Kronwall: Enjoy your last season buddy Ouellet: Get Marc Bergevin on the phone before the rest of league catches wind that he's not good Dekeyser & Ericsson: Overpaid in dollars and term Green & Daley: Effective Dmen on fair contracts Hicketts: Time to promote I am, as most know, anti-scorched earth with this rebuild. I would like to see the team use this period of time to critically assess who helps us and who is fat. Keep the later, trim the former. Green & Daley, to me, are what is going right with this defense. I would like to keep both. Dekesyer & Ericsson on the other hand, represent all that is wrong with this defense. Unfortunately we are probably stuck with both. Kronwall, Jensen, & Ouellet I do not feel strongly about one way or the other. However, because we cannot move DD and E, I would like to see Jensen and XO go. I like Jensen's price tag, but this is not a playoff team in need of inexpensive backup players. Trade XO for whatever we can get while he still has value. Give their spots to Hicketts and/or Sulak/Free-Agent.

I just think this is getting way too bogged down in semantics at this point. It's quite simple. He left the team under contract and the team didn't like that. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

First bold: Yes I am. If were going to use examples there's going to be plenty of hindsight involved. It was a poor example on your part. Holland was right to block Babcock at the time. And what about Larkin? Does he exist in some weird alternative space/time where Holland's laws of prospects do not apply? Or did Holland simply see a player whose merit warranted he be on the team? So perhaps XO just wasn't good enough at the time (probably, hindsight suggests he still isn't)? The only real trend I've noticed with our prospects is most play about 100 regular AHL games - give or take - and then are promoted. Hicketts just hit two full AHL seasons for a total of 140 regular AHL games (Mantha, a much better prospect, got promoted after 2 full AHL seasons and a total of 132 regular AHL games). So I would say Hicketts is right on track. This year he did his duties as the #1 call-up and now it's time for a promotion. Second bold: Because I plan to segway this into the same point I always try to hammer home: This team is completely clueless when it comes to drafting and developing modern Dmen, so you better believe I think we ought to stock up on guys like Daley. Third bold: "9 you're a moron, Hicketts absolutely should have been on the team this year" Ok, I disagree, but fair enough. But's lets pretend i agree and I think Hicketts should have been on the team all season... my biggest problem would not be Daley, an effective Dman, it would be the fact that Holland did not do away with the useless pieces like Jensen and XO. If Hicketts was truly ready they both could have been waived for all I care.

The bolded is kinda the point though. Draper/Babcock/Fans can hoot n holler for young players all they want, but the smart one there was Holland. XO doesn't even look ready for full duties now, after multiple seasons with the wings, let alone back then. It would be one thing if we drafted a kid, held him back per usual, and then he lit up the league when we finally let him on to the squad full-time. That would be case in point that kids are being held back too long... but that hasn't happened. Every time we bring a kid on they've been completely underwhelming. Kindl, Smith, Jensen, Sproul, Marchenko, Ouellet, etc. Each one of those players were hyped and fans clamored and moaned that they should be on the team, then when they finally were, they turned out to be poop. At this point, why would Hicketts be the exception? Each one of those players was the exception at one point so forgive me if I'm skeptical...

NBCSN. Did anyone else see that Stephen A. Smith said yesterday "I won't talk about hockey because I'm black"? Another reason why ESPN is dying Doughnuts or doughnut holes? Or wild card option doughnuts + doughnut holes + glue?

He left the team, while under contract, to play for a different team His heart wasn't with the Red Wings And that's why he won't go up

Never forget

And that's why tanking guarantees nothing

I see we've devolved into fallacy and sarcasm to avoid an actual discussion, oh well. See you again this time next year!

But but but Torchetti raised our powerplay from 27th to 24th! Why have we done this?

Hicketts, Svech, Ras, Dahlin (if)