Do you think that with Pronger on LTIR we will have room for both?
- Hextall271

Cap-wise, maybe. But roster-wise, no.

Second on the Red Wings in playoff scoring, with 10 points in 14 games.
- Jsaquella

Very surprising to me. I've known him to have flashes but streaky at best.

Gagne in my opinion is the perfect compliment to Couturier and Read on that third line, so question.
- dingo8urbaby

3rd line's need more grit and or size and gags has neither. it's not that i'm against the plyr, it's about the mix.

Aside from his concussion in 2012, Gagne has missed 28 games since 2010. Cleary has missed 39. I know a concussion's a big one, but it's like like Gagne's more prone than Cleary.
- jmatchett383

Gagne has not played in 77 out of 212 possible games over the last 3 seasons. He missed 19 games in his lone year in Tampa, then played 34 games during his first year with LA, before playing in 38 out of 48 last year.

I realize that he was a healthy scratch for the Kings last season, but 77 games missed in 3 years is hardly something to hang your hat on in discussing durability

Gagne has not played in 77 out of 212 possible games over the last 3 seasons. He missed 19 games in his lone year in Tampa, then played 34 games during his first year with LA, before playing in 38 out of 48 last year.

I realize that he was a healthy scratch for the Kings last season, but 77 games missed in 3 years is hardly something to hang your hat on in discussing durability
- Jsaquella

I never said it was. I just said that Cleary was far from this model of durability over the last several years. I also think, personally, that Gagne is a better fit.

3rd line's need more grit and or size and gags has neither. it's not that i'm against the plyr, it's about the mix.
- isaiah520

Guess Read and Talbot are horrible 3rd line players then. And Sami Kapanen was as well for his stint(s) on the 3rd line.

To go along with his 15 points and -6 in the regular season.

Edit: 5 of those points were PPG, and he'd get zero PP time here.
- jmatchett383

Yes, they were. I'm also looking at him being a third liner here, on a line with Couturier & Read, which definitely lacks grit. Gagne isn't bringing much of that. Cleary is a capable player and can handle a third line role very well.

Should we mention Gagne's 16 points(and 4 fewer goals), of which 4 came on the PP?

I never said it was. I just said that Cleary was far from this model of durability over the last several years. I also think, personally, that Gagne is a better fit.
- jmatchett383

Never said Cleary was Doug Jarvis, just that he's not as injury prone as Gagne.

I'm not gonna get into the whole Laughton thing. Far past beating a dead horse.

So, do you not want Gagne back? If you do, and he's not a compliment for the 3rd line, where do you see him? He's not a top-6 player, and the top-6 is full. He's not a 4th liner either.
- jmatchett383

unfortunately, i don't see a fit w/ our current mix. if we had a chimera instead of read, i would be gung ho for gags. we can't have two finesse guys w/ couts.

Guess Read and Talbot are horrible 3rd line players then. And Sami Kapanen was as well for his stint(s) on the 3rd line.
- jmatchett383

Talbot and Kapanen have tons of grit. Read being a third liner is a great argument for why I'd prefer Cleary, because using Couturier and Read means that they need a bit more sandpaper on the line than the skill Gagne brings.

Yes, they were. I'm also looking at him being a third liner here, on a line with Couturier & Read, which definitely lacks grit. Gagne isn't bringing much of that. Cleary is a capable player and can handle a third line role very well.

Should we mention Gagne's 16 points(and 4 fewer goals), of which 4 came on the PP?
- Jsaquella

You're the one who wanted to post last year's stats. Gagne outscored him, they had the same amount of ES goals, and Gagne did it in 10 less games since he was sitting out games in LA. I can't compare the playoff #s, unfortunately.

Bought my Wings/Flyers tickets in Detroit for October 12th. NHL14 comes out tomorrow. Preseason game coming this Sunday I believe. Rookie game today. Center ice on the way.
- dingo8urbaby

Talbot and Kapanen have tons of grit. Read being a third liner is a great argument for why I'd prefer Cleary, because using Couturier and Read means that they need a bit more sandpaper on the line than the skill Gagne brings.
- Jsaquella

I'm just not a fan of Cleary, probably bringing his off-ice personality into the equation. Just gonna have to disagree.

Yes, they were. I'm also looking at him being a third liner here, on a line with Couturier & Read, which definitely lacks grit. Gagne isn't bringing much of that. Cleary is a capable player and can handle a third line role very well.

Should we mention Gagne's 16 points(and 4 fewer goals), of which 4 came on the PP?
- Jsaquella

One point I'd make is that we will most likely need better grit and play in the D zone from forwards than we need goal scoring. I don't think this group will have problems scoring goals.

I can't wait for real games to start.

Hell, I'll even count next Monday's game split squad game against the Crapitals as a "real game".

You're the one who wanted to post last year's stats. Gagne outscored him, they had the same amount of ES goals, and Gagne did it in 10 less games since he was sitting out games in LA. I can't compare the playoff #s, unfortunately.
- jmatchett383

I'm not necessarily looking for scoring on the third line. The point I was making is that Cleary is capable of providing offense while bringing grit to the third line.

3rd line's need more grit and or size and gags has neither. it's not that i'm against the plyr, it's about the mix.
- isaiah520

We have mix threw the entire line up. Lines change, players move up and down. Hartnell, Simmonds, Lecavalier all provide size. If Sean couturier filled out nicely, he has size on the third line. I do remember a successful Gagne-Primeau-Kapanen line in the early 2000's which was just fine.

We have mix threw the entire line up. Lines change, players move up and down. Hartnell, Simmonds, Lecavalier all provide size. If Sean couturier filled out nicely, he has size on the third line. I do remember a successful Gagne-Primeau-Kapanen line in the early 2000's which was just fine.
- dingo8urbaby

primeau was an absolute beast, sami played gritty in the corners and we're talking about a 3rd line in 2013.

Brayden Schenn would look good on a line with Couturier and Read.

Brayden Schenn would look good on a line with Couturier and Read.
- bradleyc4

What's your take on the Hal Gill tryout?

Brayden Schenn would look good on a line with Couturier and Read.
- bradleyc4

He'd look great on that line. But who plays with Lecavalier on Simmonds? Gagne?

I'm not sure how much Gagne can do in a top six role or how many games he can play

laughton is better off playing center in juniors this yr and gags is not the right complement for couts/read. cleary would also be ok.
- isaiah520

I disagree on both fronts. I think Laughton is better off on the Flyers, even if he has to play Wing. And I'm not an advocate of signing Gagne. But not because he's not the the right compliment to Couturier and Read. A 2 way player, with good hands, why isn't he the the right kind of player for that spot?

I'm just not a fan of Cleary, probably bringing his off-ice personality into the equation. Just gonna have to disagree.
- jmatchett383

I'd just prefer Cleary. If Gagne does end up staying, I'd have no issue with it.

Honestly, I'd still rather see Tye McGinn or even Laughton start the year with Couturier & Read.

To go along with his 15 points and -6 in the regular season.

Edit: 5 of those points were PPG, and he'd get zero PP time here.
- jmatchett383

I'm not in favor of signing either player, but if I have to choose. I choose Gagne over Cleary.

He'd look great on that line. But who plays with Lecavalier on Simmonds? Gagne?

I'm not sure how much Gagne can do in a top six role or how many games he can play
- Jsaquella

Good point.

Talbot will likely play on the 3rd line with Couturier and Read.