11/8 The Fabbri Era GDT - Bruins @ Red Wings - 7:30 PM ET (NHLN)

[krsmith17 7,191]

3 minutes ago, marcaractac said:

A diminutive defenseman who has consistently put up 40+ points per season his entire NHL career, including being a playoff beast. 

I'm not arguing whether or not he's a good defenseman. I just don't think we should be trying to lure any of the big fish right now. Nor do I think any of the big fish would have any interest in signing with a bottom 5 team... We (LGW) had the same argument last offseason with Karlsson...

6 minutes ago, The 91 of Ryans said:

"Krug would definitely help but I don't want him". Makes sense. 

First of all, I never said "I don't want him". I said I don't want him on the contract I expect he will be looking for (long term, high AAV). Secondly, we're rebuilding. How often do you see cellar dwellers going after top name UFA's? And how often do you see top name UFA's sign with cellar dwellers? It just doesn't make much sense for either side... 

[marcaractac 3,963]

2 minutes ago, krsmith17 said:

I'm not arguing whether or not he's a good defenseman. I just don't think we should be trying to lure any of the big fish right now. Nor do I think any of the big fish would have any interest in signing with a bottom 5 team... We (LGW) had the same argument last offseason with Karlsson... 

Karlsson was damaged goods going into that free agency period to be fair. He was never the same player since his surgery a few years back. 

[The 91 of Ryans 3,019]

1 minute ago, krsmith17 said:

I'm not arguing whether or not he's a good defenseman. I just don't think we should be trying to lure any of the big fish right now. Nor do I think any of the big fish would have any interest in signing with a bottom 5 team... We (LGW) had the same argument last offseason with Karlsson...

First of all, I never said "I don't want him". I said I don't want him on the contract I expect he will be looking for (long term, high AAV). Secondly, we're rebuilding. How often do you see cellar dwellers going after top name UFA's? And how often do you see top name UFA's sign with cellar dwellers? It just doesn't make much sense for either side... 

I just watched NYR trade for Trouba and sign Panarin after getting punk-azz lucky in the draft.

If, come the last week of June, this team has drafted Lafreniere or Byfield and has had the AHL progress they'd like with Veleno/Ras/Zadina/Seider would it not make sense to add Krug? I'm all for it, as long as they still suck a little bit  for one more year. 

[krsmith17 7,191]

10 minutes ago, ChristopherReevesLegs said:

Say it with me folks: HOCKEY AT EVERY SIZE

Nah, it's not that. I advocated trading for Spurgeon a few years ago. Again, I like Krug a lot, and under different circumstances I'd be all in on him. And it's not even as if I'm saying I don't want to sign him. If he's willing to take a hometown discount, sure, but I don't see that happening...

4 minutes ago, marcaractac said:

Karlsson was damaged goods going into that free agency period to be fair. He was never the same player since his surgery a few years back. 

He's still producing at the same pace he always has... The argument (from me at least), was never that that injury would diminish him. It was that father-time would catch up to him (like everyone), and he would be a shell of his former self, when this team was finally ready to compete. Same applies to Krug for me.

[Dabura 12,232]

6 minutes ago, krsmith17 said:

I'd rather just roll with...

DeKeyser - Hronek
Nemeth - Seider
Cholowski - Bowey

... for another season, in which we're expected to be bad... once again...

I think Krug would be worth that contract for the first 2-3 seasons. After that, when we should finally start to see this team emerge as a threat, he'll likely be on his way out...

Roll with what we have for now. Maybe make a trade to upgrade the D, or a smaller free agent signing to add depth. I'm not interested in going after any of the big fish at this point in the rebuild.

3 minutes ago, The 91 of Ryans said:

This team is 5 years away from doing anything worthwhile. Doesn't mean they have to be eye-bleedingly bad for that entire time. 

Ideally we have two more big drafts and then start winning a bit. Krug would help. He'd also help boost the development of young guys like Zadina. 

I reckon Yzerman would like to avoid making a big splash in free agency this summer, if possible. Because, yeah, we're probably a few years from being An Actual NHL Team, and also because Yzerman's track record suggests he's not big on signing big UFAs. (Granted, he had Stamkos and Hedman right from the get-go.)

At the same time tho, we can't continue this way. I feel Yzerman has to throw the team a bone on the back end. Nemeth hasn't impressed me at all; he's basically Ericsson. Cholowski is Kindl until he proves otherwise. Bowey...exists. If Seider's a Red Wing next season and we want him paired with a veteran, I'd like that veteran to be someone with some scoring chops.

We've trained ourselves to reflexively say there are no quick and easy fixes. And for the most part it's probably true. But I'd rate Krug as one of the league's elite PP QBs and so I think it's possible he'd give our power play a big boost. Even if the power play goes from unmitigated disaster to merely middling, that would be huge for the team and the rebuild. It'd eliminate one of our biggest morale-killers. It'd allow us to be more competitive. It'd mean more key goals, which would boost confidence, which everyone on our team is seriously lacking.

If we get Lafreniere or Byfield, I think Yzerman definitely makes a big move or two or three in the hopes of making the playoffs next season.

[marcaractac 3,963]

3 minutes ago, krsmith17 said:

Nah, it's not that. I advocated trading for Spurgeon a few years ago. Again, I like Krug a lot, and under different circumstances I'd be all in on him. And it's not even as if I'm saying I don't want to sign him. If he's willing to take a hometown discount, sure, but I don't see that happening...

He's still producing at the same pace he always has... The argument (from me at least), was never that that injury would diminish him. It was that father-time would catch up to him (like everyone), and he would be a shell of his former self, when this team was finally ready to compete. Same applies to Krug for me.

his scoring definitely came down, and he has seemingly lost his ability to take over games. The guy dragged the Sens to the final 4 a few years ago. He was a beast. 

[ChristopherReevesLegs 7,022]

Be Irish
Live on coastal Island for 10,000 years
Never learn how to fish because stupid and Irish
Run out of potatoes and whiskey
Pack up entire life and immigrate to Boston instead of even trying to learn how to fish

These are the brainlets we're up against

[krsmith17 7,191]

4 minutes ago, The 91 of Ryans said:

I just watched NYR trade for Trouba and sign Panarin after getting punk-azz lucky in the draft.

If, come the last week of June, this team has drafted Lafreniere or Byfield and has had the AHL progress they'd like with Veleno/Ras/Zadina/Seider would it not make sense to add Krug? I'm all for it, as long as they still suck a little bit  for one more year. 

If all of that happens, then sure, maybe I would change my mind. But at that point, I'd probably trade a forward or two and address the defense that way. Or maybe I would say F*** it, go all in on Krug. A lot can change in the next 8 months...

[marcaractac 3,963]

2 minutes ago, ChristopherReevesLegs said:

Be Irish
Live on coastal Island for 10,000 years
Never learn how to fish because stupid and Irish
Run out of potatoes and whiskey
Pack up entire life and immigrate to Boston instead of even trying to learn how to fish

These are the brainlets we're up against

#SPUDLYFE

[krsmith17 7,191]

4 minutes ago, Dabura said:

I reckon Yzerman would like to avoid making a big splash in free agency this summer, if possible. Because, yeah, we're probably a few years from being An Actual NHL Team, and also because Yzerman's track record suggests he's not big on signing big UFAs. (Granted, he had Stamkos and Hedman right from the get-go.)

At the same time tho, we can't continue this way. I feel Yzerman has to throw the team a bone on the back end. Nemeth hasn't impressed me at all; he's basically Ericsson. Cholowski is Kindl until he proves otherwise. Bowey...exists. If Seider's a Red Wing next season and we want him paired with a veteran, I'd like that veteran to be someone with some scoring chops.

We've trained ourselves to reflexively say there are no quick and easy fixes. And for the most part it's probably true. But I'd rate Krug as one of the league's elite PP QBs and so I think it's possible he'd give our power play a big boost. Even if the power play goes from unmitigated disaster to merely middling, that would be huge for the team and the rebuild. It'd eliminate one of our biggest morale-killers. It'd allow us to be more competitive. It'd mean more key goals, which would boost confidence, which everyone on our team is seriously lacking.

If we get Lafreniere or Byfield, I think Yzerman definitely makes a big move or two or three in the hopes of making the playoffs next season.

The bold is pretty much where I'm at.

The underlined, want to give our offense / power-play a big boost? Add some high-end, right-handed shooting forwards... F*** Torey Krug...

10 minutes ago, marcaractac said:

his scoring definitely came down, and he has seemingly lost his ability to take over games. The guy dragged the Sens to the final 4 a few years ago. He was a beast. 

Actual goal scoring, yeah, but his assists have gone up, and points about the same.

[The 91 of Ryans 3,019]

18 minutes ago, ChristopherReevesLegs said:

Be Irish
Live on coastal Island for 10,000 years
Never learn how to fish because stupid and Irish
Run out of potatoes and whiskey
Pack up entire life and immigrate to Boston instead of even trying to learn how to fish

These are the brainlets we're up against

I hope Joe Biden makes you US ambassador to the Republic. 

[ChristopherReevesLegs 7,022]

10 minutes ago, marcaractac said:

#SPUDLYFE

Hey yoos guys seen that Zdeno Chair-ah?
Who's Zdeno Chair-ah?
You know ZDENO CHAIR-AH
LIKE DA HACKEY PLAYA ZDENO CHAIR-AH?
THATS WAT I SAID ZDENO CHAIR-AH
Ohhhh Zdeno CHAIR-AH
...boys I'm fuccin hammehed who needs a ride home? I got my mahms cah

This exact scenario will play out in 1000+ boston metropolitan bars tonight. Together we can stop these ppl.
 

[ChristopherReevesLegs 7,022]

4 minutes ago, The 91 of Ryans said:

I hope Joe Biden makes you US ambassador to the Republic. 

Day 1
Land in Dublin
TV crews follow me to local pub
Order a guinness and a shot of well whiskey
Drop shot into my guinness
Watch all of Ireland implode
WW3

[The 91 of Ryans 3,019]

4 minutes ago, ChristopherReevesLegs said:

Day 1
Land in Dublin
TV crews follow me to local pub
Order a guinness and a shot of well whiskey
Drop shot into my guinness
Watch all of Ireland implode
WW3

Heinous. 

 

[Neomaxizoomdweebie 3,083]

3 hours ago, krsmith17 said:

Way to use the most useless stat in an awful attempt to make a point... Our team is trash right now. Mantha is and has been one of our best players all season. He's a -8. Helm and Abdelkader are our only plus players. Does that mean they're the only two players on the team that have been "fine"? +/- is a joke of a stat.

Yes, Athanasiou has been fine. He's generating offense as good or better than anyone on the team. For a team that sorely lacks offense, that's a good thing...

Also, give me a break with the "he's on pace to finish at a -102" bulls***. It's not going to happen, so why even bring it up?

Yes. For a guy who isnt known for defense and is supposed to be a goal scorer, this is very concerning. I expect him to get scored on, but if he's minus 19, that means he isnt scoring either. That's bad.

But the guy who was only on the ice for one goal against in the last 5 horrendous games sucks even tho he actually is doing what he is supposed to do...play defense.

[krsmith17 7,191]

3 minutes ago, Neomaxizoomdweebie said:

Yes. For a guy who isnt known for defense and is supposed to be a goal scorer, this is very concerning. I expect him to get scored on, but if he's minus 19, that means he isnt scoring either. That's bad.

Again, creating quality chances, and 5 points in last 6 games, on a terrible team that struggles creating offense. That's good.

The goals will come. I'm not concerned about that.

Athanasiou - minus 19 / Mantha - minus 8 = bad 

Helm - plus 5 / Abdelkader - plus 1 = good

I think I'm getting it...

9 minutes ago, Neomaxizoomdweebie said:

But the guy who was only on the ice for one goal against in the last 5 horrendous games sucks even tho he actually is doing what he is supposed to do...play defense.

Who exactly are you referring to? Please tell me you're not referencing Ehn... LOL

[Neomaxizoomdweebie 3,083]

Only the marquis players deserve praise and we must be apologists for them when they're struggling.

Secondary players never deserve any recognition, even when they're doing their jobs. Is that right?

I don't see any harm in acknowledging a good performance from a mediocre player. Hell, the secondary guys on this team are the only positives on this team right now as far as I'm concerned.

If you think they don't deserve any notice because they aren't top end skill guys, then that's you.

But from what I see, the ones who normally get all the praise are the ones failing right now. If a lesser player gives me something to feel positive about, I am going to mention it, because at least someone is actually earning their paycheck.

[ChristopherReevesLegs 7,022]

37 minutes ago, krsmith17 said:

Who exactly are you referring to? Please tell me you're not referencing Ehn... LOL

It's too soon to tell if Ehn is a bust yet. He's played well for a 23 year old.

[ChristopherReevesLegs 7,022]

Hicketts sent to GR

Fabbri confirms Yzerman is in Europe right now

Fabbri, 21st overall pick, joins the Blues at 19 and scores 37 NHL points

Zadina, 6th overall pick, still in the AHL at 19 and on pace for 32 AHL points

Hmmmmm

[krsmith17 7,191]

34 minutes ago, Neomaxizoomdweebie said:

Only the marquis players deserve praise and we must be apologists for them when they're struggling.

Secondary players never deserve any recognition, even when they're doing their jobs. Is that right?

I don't see any harm in acknowledging a good performance from a mediocre player. Hell, the secondary guys on this team are the only positives on this team right now as far as I'm concerned.

If you think they don't deserve any notice because they aren't top end skill guys, then that's you.

But from what I see, the ones who normally get all the praise are the ones failing right now. If a lesser player gives me something to feel positive about, I am going to mention it, because at least someone is actually earning their paycheck.

So Athanasiou is a "marquis player" now? Everyone is well aware of AA's early season struggles. No one is disputing that. I pointed out that he has been playing well these past few games. You can't dispute that, other than the air tight +/- stat...

I recognize secondary players all the time. Ehn isn't even that though. He's a scrub. Dime and dozen player. You can literally get an Ehn at any point in the year, from free agency, waivers or in the minors.

"Secondary guys are the only positives on this team right now"?... Is this a joke? Larkin, Mantha, Bertuzzi and Hronek have been our best players, basically only bright spots all season. Sure, Helm and Abdelkader have had good games (and I've acknowledged that), but overall every other player on the roster has been pretty meh...

[Dabura 12,232]

I'm starting to think Green is going to retire after this season.

[krsmith17 7,191]

29 minutes ago, ChristopherReevesLegs said:

It's too soon to tell if Ehn is a bust yet. He's played well for a 23 year old.

Ehn is a 4th round pick that has played 70 games in the NHL. If he doesn't play another game after tonight, I wouldn't consider him a bust. He is what he is though, a borderline NHL player. He's not a player worth keeping around long term (beyond this season). He's just a placeholder...

[TLGTrico 663]

Wow.  4 Right handed defenseman, and Mcilrath playing higher in the lineup than Green

[krsmith17 7,191]

17 minutes ago, TLGTrico said:

Wow.  4 Right handed defenseman, and Mcilrath playing higher in the lineup than Green

And not a single right-handed forward...

[puckloo39 5,686]

I like the two top lines... I think.  I agree with 91/Ryans earlier comment.   I can't believe I will be watching this.. but yes -- of course, I will watch it.  They have to win sometime (it might not be tonigt, but what can we do?)   LGRW!!