Son of a Wing

How does Thornton over Abdelkader make us a better team. Especially when it matters... Abby plays a 200 foot game and can play in any situation without being a liability. He skates, usually leads our team in hits and plays with heart. (and is a Michigan boy) Thornton fights...

He's 37 years old next month... How could he possibly help our team and who's roster spot would he be taking?

No you're definitely interpreting it wrong. It's just outlining the details of over 35 performance based contracts. There is no mysterious extra penalty. LINK

That's a stand-up bass. I know this because I play the cello.

Looking forward to the addition of center depth in Grand Rapids. I think it's ironic that some are insisting on more local talent on the same day Louis Leblanc gets traded for a 5th rounder. (If you don't get it then check out the TSN comment section)

Can't say I really blame Colorado for taking this route. Second line centers shouldn't be making close to 7 million as RFAs.

What good is decent size if you don't use it? He has a reach advantage...that's about it... I like Spezza...but to be drooling over his size like he's some kind of power forward is just silly.

Corsi may be a factor in analyzing production/success but it is by no means some super stat that you use alone to prove anything. It's highly subjective and flawed (like many stats) but good for complimentary analysis. No it doesn't...

I just don't see Ottawa trading with us... Murray/Melnyk would not do that to their fanbase. Alfie AND Spezza going to a divisional rival within a year of each other? It just makes no sense.

So then at that point you trade or waive the weakest link. I really don't see how people perceive this as a bad thing... DEPTH IS YOUR FRIEND. Our defensive prospects are not even close to "over-ripened" so in a year or two if they can EARN a spot then they will.

Fedor Malykhin. LINK I don't think he ever had any interest in playing in the NHL or leaving Russia.

I'd hardly call it "a blow". He was asking for 2.7 million/year and has never stepped foot in the NHL. No thanks.

I didn't realize teams have been lining up to dump their star players on us for our picks and prospects.

In regards to Stralman... he did just play over 22 minutes in game 7 of the conference finals so he can't be too shabby...

I think both Z and D are fully aware of the depth of our organization and understand that we're in a unique position both personnel AND cap-wise to make a bold move or two to really put us in contention. Couple that with their ages and roles on the team and you can fully understand why they're getting frustrated and impatient. This could be the summer we finally see a move or two. Holland has to trade for a solid proven top 2-3 defenceman. Best guy you can get(Yandle, Carlson, Josi, Byfyglien). Trade Tatar+1st+ whatever else and get it done. One of our young forwards will go and it won't be Nyquist or Sheahan.

Unfortunately most don't see it that way. In fact I'd go further and say many don't care about making the playoffs unless we're a perennial favorite. So if we do have depth, the belief is it's only limiting our young players progress. Which of course ignores half of what goes into developing a player AND makes the team weaker. But hey if we're not going to make the conference finals for certain then we may as well tank and head for that lottery pick because no teams ever exceed expectations. Right New York? Montreal? (Sorry this whole don't sign UFAs because it might contribute to a log-jam in 2-3 years is absolutely ridiculous)

If we're only willing to offer a 1-year deal to a UFA defenceman than we better not expect anyone better than a Corvo or Komisarek. No defenceman with value is going to sign a 1-year deal unless they're rebounding from a horrendous season and all the aging guys will sacrifice salary for term. We will add a veteran defenceman but it will be for more than a year.

TSN Off-season Gameplan

Going to the game tonight. Really pumped to see Mantha. Go Knights. Go Mantha.

Are you trying to convince us or yourself?? Cause I'm calling bull s***.

Exactly. We need a guy that can play in the corners and be a puck retrieval guy for Dats and Z. Abby is good along the boards and holds his own in the corners but just doesn't have that higher level skill to put up points on the top lines. That's what I was thinking. He'd be perfect for that role and with the cap space it wouldn't be too big a risk. Considering it wouldn't cost any assets. As far as the names listed in this thread...most of the guys are bottom six forwards and that's really our last need. In fact it's a position of strength for us. We need grit in the top six. Dats, Z, Nyquist and Tatar need some bigger guys who can actually make a play and have that "relentless digger" mentality.

I just think it's a much better scenario to choose to go with the rookies rather than have to because of lack of depth. Especially with how this team is with staying healthy.

It was a pretty large consensus that our biggest weakness this year was our group of defencemen. Fan Solution: Trade two rosters defencemen (Kindl/Lashoff) Let Quincey walk, promote youth and rookies. I really don't see that improving our chances.....

This Niskanen talk is just silly. If you can add a legitimate top 4 defenceman for free you do it. I've never understood why people say this. So because he's not the final piece to put us in contention we shouldn't add them at all? How do you ever expect to get to contention?? I see you said it's because you don't want to lose young players for nothing but that just doesn't make sense. Depth is positive, not negative. Besides I think they learned from the Quincey waiver/trade debacle.