Richdg

we are tied for 5th 25% of the way through the season. we need to keep moving up before the halfway mark.

This was one of those games that drive you mad. We were off the last 2 days, so we were rested. Got off to a 2-0lead, then slowly and surely pissed it away. We didn't give up a lot of shots, nor did we take many. Just a flat game by the whole team.....

Ok, that's one stat but let's look at the rest of his play... Took a silly penalty, is a minus, has three giveaways and no takeaways and no shots on goal. He has potential but he is not NHL ready verses a solid role player who has a wicked wrister, some speed and is very effective on the PK.


Eaves was out of the line up with a serious concussion.....give the brother a minute!

Just wondering if he is still dealing with that to some degree. They do seem to be finding every reason to not play him.

I will take the win, but man that was a bad call that gave us the game. 3-3 tie with 9 to go, and the refs gave us a 5 min PP on a phantom call. The down side is, sooner or later the same will happen to us.....

Notable teams currently out of a playoff spot.

 

Detroit Red Wings

Vancouver Canucks

Philadelphia Flyers

New York Rangers

Washington Capitals

 

By this logic, all of these teams are damned to having a terrible season, here's what I think we should do.

 

1) Watch hockey.

 

2) Repeat step 1 until 15-20 games into the season.

 

3) Use logic and see how teams are REALLY going to play the rest of the season after they actually play some hockey, get their bearings together from not playing in the NHL for so long, some not playing any hockey at all in 9 months, no preseason, and minimal training camps.

 

I've mentioned this before, look at the standings as we are 3 games into the season. The Flyers, Rangers, Canucks will in no way finish in the bottom of their respective conferences as they sit now, because determining the layout and future of a team this soon into the season is ridiculous. I'm not sure why this isn't understood better. This isn't the NFL where we play a dozen and a half games and even in a shortened season, starting 1-2-0 doesn't spell catastrophic scenario in my mind.

You don't need to watch 30 games to know and understand that the RW's are:

1. old

2. small

3. slow

4. have declining skills

5. injury prone.

All of which was true before the season, is true now, and will be true throughout the season, baring trade. Those 5 things together=average to poor team.

 

PS the other teams you mention are all bigger, younger, stronger, faster, equal or better skill and healthy. Those items combined = good to great team.

To quote Cpt. renault..... "I am shocked to find out gambling is happeneing here!"........... "here are your winnings sir'.......

sammy should have never been signed, water under the bridge. gus needs to play, to see if he can play. IMHO Gus will be lucky to be a 40 point per season guy. He is very small and not very fast. yes he can handle the puck, but that is hard to do while you are laying on your backside.

Trades of course take value. But what is better? a 23 year old Smith that has played 14 career games, or a 25 year old Yandle who is an AS caliber Dman? if your team has cap issues, you may wish to stick with the younger unrpoven guy. We don't have cap issues. In this case i want the proven performer. If I could a do a Smith, Emmerton, Tatar for yndle trade, it would be done so fast peoples head would spin. Yes prospects are nice. But that is all they are: propects. There are no guarantees they will ever work out. Yandle has however PROVEN he can play at a very high level and is still very young.

With options declining, prices will go up.

Things you know you will always get with Darren Helm:

1) Speed.
2) He will outwork anyone on the ice for either team.
3) He will kill penalties.
4) He will score the occasional goal.

Yes, 4 years for 2 million is a no-brainer for me.  Helm has made himself untouchable on this team.

Untouchabe? That is a little much. Yes good checkers are always needed. But so are stars that can take your team to the promised land. A team of stars isn't going to get it done, nor is aa team fo checkers. But there are packages where helm could be moved. But we are talking about picking up stars. If the pens were to offer us Staal for helm and others, I would do it in a heartbeat. No, I am not saying we can do that, but as an example it mkes the point.

Forums are so damn funny. First glad helm is back. very good checker. But a month ago I said, and I quote "it is going to take around 8 million per season to resign Helm, Abdelkader, and Quincey". Everyone on this forum, and I do mean everyone said I was nuts. no way that was going to happen. Now after the first signing, its all "great deal" or "should be a bargin in 2-3 years" etc....

Vanek is paid over $7m. This makes him perhaps the most overpaid 30-goal scorer in the league, given that he has no substantial defensive game and is only an average passer. His contract is up in two seasons; how much do you think he will be asking after having been paid so well since 2007? Drew Stafford has had one good season. He reverted back to his usual numbers last season: he's a 20-goal scorer. Those are nice to have, but Filppula just had a breakout season and is better than Stafford at passing and at playing defense. No thanks.

So no, they don't have what we need.

We need more 20 goal scorers. How many goals would Stafford score if he had a C to get him the puck?
As for vanek, he is about the same as parise. Both are scorers first and formost. We don't need great passers. We need guys to put the puck in the net. Vanek will end up being CHEAPER as well.Also keep in mind both Howard and Filppula are UFA's next year. Stafford would be a good 2line winger for us, and is signed for a few more seasons. Thus leaving some $$ on the table to get Howard resigned.

Strange things have happened! I would say if Holland doesn't land Parise, ANYTHING is possible and something like this could happen...He needs to fill the scoring hole, and he will do that any which way he can! (Right turn Clyde)

BTW: Thanks, now I AM thinking Buffalo Wings! Yummy!

LOL....gotchya

There are and have been some rumors around that the Sabers are looking for a true C. They have several good young wingers, but have a gapping hole in the middle. They are also a small market team that has to watch its pennies very carefully. We on the other hand have lots of cash and C's. if we load up at the C position, Filppula would be our number 3 C behind Z and Dat. Point is, there could be some deals that benefit both sides here. if Buf really wants to free up cash, Filppula for vaneck comes to mind. In his 7 year career he has averaged 33 goals per season. has decent size as well. Gives us another scoring winger and them a true number 1 type C. They also have 2 1st round picks. So we could try a Filppula for Stafford and their second 21st (IIRC) pick. Point is, they need what we have and we need what they have. Could be a good dancing partner.......

The best powerplays have the same things in common. On D you need a LH and RH shot. You need a F that can stand in front of the goal, and 2 other forwards that are good at passing AND shooting. We have some short comings here. Only 1 RH D on the team. Not sure who is going to stand in front of the net, and what F are great shooters? Great passing and plenty of LH D we have.