Richdg

Yes I understand that we can't have hockey games every other day for very long. The bodies wear down. But I do enjoy seeing the RW's on TV every other day. Now we have a 3 day break and I find myself going into withdrawls..........

I've got some news for you: seven points in 12 games, which equates to 1.167 points per game, is almost precisely the pace that every team in the west save Colorado, Anaheim, and Chicago is riding.

 

I guess all of them aren't good enough either.

No it is not. we are a team that competes for Cups! not to be "like everyone else".

Fil isn't a goal scorer. He is a passer. We have a bunch of those guys. No need to spend 4+ million to resign him. Move for picks prospects and spend our money of guys that put the puck in the net. How many years have we heard Babs, Holland, Micky and others talk about Filppula needs to shot more, needs more confidence, etc..... well he is 28 going on 29. If he ahsn't figured this out by now, he never will.

Now, this doesn't mean I hate Filppula or anything like that. But we have a bucnh of Filppula's. We don't have any Perry's or Clarksons. That is what we need.

Hopefully after they lose whatever game ends their season, Dekeyser gets notice from his coach that Ken Holland is on the line with a contract ready to sign.

would it be in poor taste for Holland to go to every game that WMU has left? With his briefcase.......

If the rumored amounts are true-5 million, Howard would be the 12th best paid G in the league. 12th! That is a bargin.

Ok Michigan won, but as I was watching they mentioned it is a best of 3 series. So at least 1 more game. But the same questions are there. if WMU is out of the CCHA this weekend, is their season done? if so Dekeyser gets signed when?

Ok here are 4 guys that have been rumored to be available/could be available, that fill needs for us:

Drew Stafford 27, RW, 6-2/215, 2 years left on contract, good 2 way player, good for 25 goals per year. 4 million cap hit.

Nikolai Kulemin 26, LW, 6-1/225, 1 year left on contract, very good defensive player, when played on scoring lines he has scored 30 goals in a season, 2.8 million cap hit.

Brandon Dubinsky 26, LW/C, 6-1/210, 2 years left, gritty 20+ goal per year guy, 4.2 million cap hit.

Patric Hornqvist, 26, RW, 5-11/190, RFA this year, true front of net player, good for 25+ goals per year. current cap hit is 3.1 million.

Now the first 3 have all been mentioned in various rumors. Hornqvist may be a cap move. the preds have a bunch of holes to fill this off season. All of these guys are good solid, young, hard working players that would help us a ton. These 4, plus datsyuk, Z, Brunner, and franzen, gives us 3 solid lines that can score. These 4 would add 100 goals in scoring per season, for around 16 million.

While thye may not be true homerun tranactions, we would get a bunch of doubles. Also have great depth once again. The trick of course is the how? Filppula in a sign and trade, tatar, Nyquist, Andersson, and some picks would all be in play no doubt. But all 4 are young enough we could expect them to be around for another 5-7 years. making each of them 31-34 years old depending on length of contracts. Not terrible at all.

Well..... not surprised. But think about this for a few minutes. Getz.... averages .93 points per game. Perry is at .82 and Ryan at .74. Those are each players NHL caareer numbers. he is also soon to be 28. So when his contract ends, he will be 36, not a real old age. According to capgeek, after this extension, the Ducks still are 19.5 million UNDER the cap for next year-64.3 million. They only have a handfull of UFA/RFA's to deal with. TBH this isn't that bad of a deal for the Ducks.

A shutout and Abby finally breaks through....... He has hit everything else this year, skates, stikes, posts, crossbars, goalies....... not the twine...... maybe he can get going a little bit now.

The development of our young D has been awesome!

Rinne*

lol.... sometimes my fingers betray me.......

Kindl is developing very nicely before our eyes. Same as Ericsson over the last 2 years. It seems like he has been around here forever, but he only has 120 or so career games. 1.5 seasons. Still has 2 more years before what should be his peak years. The hole D has been great for the last 10 games or so. Now that all 6 are healthy and playing in the same pairs every night. Good job by all of them and the staff for developing/drafting them.

Howard will and should get 4.5 to 5 million for 5 or 6 years. Putting in a 20/21 year old in net is a sure fire way to lose 50 games per year. he isn't ready. As for Golaies being over rated, please! What would the Preds be without Renni? How far would have the Kings got last year without Quick. G is the most important defensive player on the ice.

many RW fans have a skewed idea about G's because we had Nicky here for 20+ years to cover up for average ones. Now we don't, and the chances of finding another one anythime soon isn't very good. I could go on about Miller carrying the sabers for years, or Thomas winning the SC for Boston, but most of you know that. You are just blindly believing a myth.

I fully understand it take 2 to dance. But there is plenty of work for Holland to do with the players we currently have. Here is a good list:

1. resign Howard. Start at 5 years/20 million and get it done.

2. resign Brunner. start at 3 years/7.5 million and get it done.

3. resign Smith. RFA this year.

4. Resign Kindl. RFA this year.

Those 4 things should be done asap. It fills out your roster, keeps good young talent, and sets the amount you have to spend. Now you know how much can be added salary wise this year and in the upcoming off season.

Now start clearing out those not needed. Several teams are rumored to be looking for D. move White and Cola-picking up draft picks is fine with me. There is a deep draft this year, and draft picks are always asked for in trades. Now if we need to spend a pick to pick up a player we can.

Then do the same with the forward group. There are a few veteran guys that playoff bound teams always look for. Guys like sammy, bert, Cleary, eaves, etc....

None of those guys are going to get you 1st round picks, that is fine. But out of that group we should be able to add 3 picks between the 3rd and 5th round.

Once that is done we have a younger roster, more athletic roster, cheaper roster, and a bunch of picks. Now you can add pieces as needed. All of this can be and should be done over the next 2 weeks. Hopefully at the same time, more teams fall out of the PO race and the chance to buy improves.

Cleary ahs the puck, heads for the Avs zone, Datsyuk and tatar both stop at the blue line to chat with the Avs Dmen. Cleary now at the red line, tatar starts to kneel and datsyuk lays down to take a nap. tatar now falls over with a cramp in his up leg. Cleary now to the Abs blueline. What is wrong with datsyuk? he can't get off of the ice. Oh No! While napping he started to drool, and his face is stuck to the ice. Cleary decides to drive the puck in on the goal, he shoots..... JS waits for the puck.... and waits.........and waits.............. It is now 130am Wednesday morning, and JS decides to go take a shower. Finally the puck crosses the goal line and Cleary scores!!!!!!!!