Chelios would be nice in the 10th spot
- funmaster18

If he sucks, Hexy could jump out on the ice and jump him, suit & tie and all.

If they were handing out spots only to guys who "earned" them in preseason, I'd say this team would be short a few dozen players.

With that said, I don't mind Gill -- the one that still irks me is Streit, especially in light of Liles, a better player, on waivers for free (with a less-risky contract, no less), and guys like Whitney and Gilbert signing for $900k.
- Tomahawk

I wasn't thrilled with the contract term and length but I think I'll give him a dozen games or so before I call it a mistake.

I think the miss in the off season is coming to town tonight. There will be a lot of teams who wish they had offered a spot to Mason Raymond. That astounded me.

Huh, the flyers are the 4th oldest team in the league

Streit for Liles, straight up?
- Tomahawk

Streit will not be a fan favorite. Just a theory I happen to agree with....

Streit for Liles, straight up?
- Tomahawk

Ummmmm.......no.

If they were handing out spots only to guys who "earned" them in preseason, I'd say this team would be short a few dozen players.

With that said, I don't mind Gill -- the one that still irks me is Streit, especially in light of Liles, a better player, on waivers for free (with a less-risky contract, no less), and guys like Whitney and Gilbert signing for $900k.
- Tomahawk

None of those players you named are better players then Striet. Espeically not Liles.

Streit will not be a fan favorite. Just a theory I happen to agree with....


- PLindbergh31

Nicely done.

He was certifiable, but he was also good at hockey.

The big guy who can't play hockey didn't really come around until the 90's, as skilled players were getting bigger and stronger. Not-so-smart teams would counter with bears on skates.
- bradleyc4

Guys like Dave Brown and Stu Grimson were around in the 80s. But yeah, in the 90s, tams would carry 2-3 goons as a standard.

I mostly agree, but that's a strictly 'five minutes or less' 4th line. Inoffensive, but not reliable for much except catching the other lines a breather.
- BulliesPhan87

I think they are a bit more then that. I think they are a momentum line. If your team has the momentum and is starting to lose it, you throw these guys out there and they take someone's head off and momentum back in your favor. And it works the other way. If the other team has momentum, send these guys out there to just throw bodies for a minute to fire up your bench. Not to mention the other situational time to play them... After a goal, when they play thier goons, ect...

If they were handing out spots only to guys who "earned" them in preseason, I'd say this team would be short a few dozen players.

With that said, I don't mind Gill -- the one that still irks me is Streit, especially in light of Liles, a better player, on waivers for free (with a less-risky contract, no less), and guys like Whitney and Gilbert signing for $900k.
- Tomahawk

Well yeah, but a half-hearted (or whatever adjective you prefer) preseason from a roster player whose role with the team is pretty certain is a lot different from a young player trying to solidify a role in the defense corps or a guy on a PTO. I'm not even upset about the Gill signing, I'm just saying I would describe Gill and Gustafsson as making the team 'by default'.

Definitely, I'd say the league wide proliferation of the big guy who can't play was in the '90's.

But if you can tell me what Dave Semenko did well when he played hockey in the '80's (other than protect Wayne Gretzky), I'll hang up and listen.
- johndewar

The one dimensional goon started in the 80s, When the league absorbed the WHA in 1979 and went to 21 teams, they were still getting nearly all of the players from Canada and their just weren't enough NHL caliber players available. It seemed every team in the 80s had one or 2 of those type of guys.

If he sucks, Hexy could jump out on the ice and jump him, suit & tie and all.
- Tomahawk

I would go into debt to pay to be there in person if this were to occur.

If the Penguins sign Bryzgalov it would come with a clause in the contract that he only speaks Russian to everyone and Malkin translates for him...

Shore was a maniac, but he was also one of the best players of his era and one of the best defenseman of all time.
- BiggE

But he's also responsible for the the all-star game, so I hate him for that.

Definitely, I'd say the league wide proliferation of the big guy who can't play was in the '90's.

But if you can tell me what Dave Semenko did well when he played hockey in the '80's (other than protect Wayne Gretzky), I'll hang up and listen.
- johndewar

There were a few guys like Semenko around in the 80's. That era was definitely the start of it.

But Semenko was also once a point-per-game player in juniors.

Guys like Dave Brown and Stu Grimson were around in the 80s. But yeah, in the 90s, tams would carry 2-3 goons as a standard.
- jmatchett383

Yup.

But he's also responsible for the the all-star game, so I hate him for that.
- Atomic Wedgie

If the Penguins sign Bryzgalov it would come with a clause in the contract that he only speaks Russian to everyone and Malkin translates for him...
- youarewrong

The contract also comes with a bear hunting license

There were a few guys like Semenko around in the 80's. That era was definitely the start of it.

But Semenko was also once a point-per-game player in juniors.
- bradleyc4

So was Dave Schultz.

That's Marv Albert
- Tomahawk

I think Google is messing with me...

But he's also responsible for the the all-star game, so I hate him for that.
- Atomic Wedgie

I can't imagine there are too many Leaf fans with a soft spot for Eddie Shore.

So was Dave Schultz.
- johndewar

That's my point. Those guys could play.

Guys like Rosehill and Rinaldo (and countless) others serve no purpose in the NHL other than their fists. They're not hockey players, they're brawlers.

Guys like Dave Brown and Stu Grimson were around in the 80s. But yeah, in the 90s, tams would carry 2-3 goons as a standard.
- jmatchett383

Lord knows, we've seen some of those guys here the last 30 years
Dave Hoyda
Shawn Antoski
Dan Kordic
Darryl Stanley
Riley Cote

At least guys like Cochrane, Brown, Berube, McCarthy and Brashear could actually play a little bit

I think they are a bit more then that. I think they are a momentum line. If your team has the momentum and is starting to lose it, you throw these guys out there and they take someone's head off and momentum back in your favor. And it works the other way. If the other team has momentum, send these guys out there to just throw bodies for a minute to fire up your bench. Not to mention the other situational time to play them... After a goal, when they play thier goons, ect...
- youarewrong

What mean you this "taking someone's head off", in specific?

They probably want an option of a defenseman who is bigger and more physical then Gervais is. If you think about the future just a little bit, it'll give some insight into why they signed Gill.
- MJL

Ahhh.... The future. Gill's presence will have an enormous impact on the Future.

In fact, I think Gill will be Mayor!