legitimate question. which struggling (formerly?) guy finishes with more goals you think at the end of the year. malkin or giroux?
- stayinthefnnet

Giroux will finish with less goals...because Giroux was never known to be a goal scorer to begin with.

Giroux will finish with less goals...because Giroux was never known to be a goal scorer to begin with.
- Schenn2shine

i dont know. i would definitely still put him into the playmaker category. i would for both of them. but when he picks his spots to use it giroux has a pretty damn good wrister.

He was very solid last year. Just like he was every other season in Toronto.

That's the problem. One year he looks like he's got it figured out, the next, he's getting healthy scratched for Hal Gill
- Jsaquella

Isn't this fairly common for a young D man put under pressure while developing his game? Consistency is one of the last things young players attain during the arc of their development.

i dont know. i would definitely still put him into the playmaker category. i would for both of them. but when he picks his spots to use it giroux has a pretty damn good wrister.
- stayinthefnnet

I've never found Giroux to have an overly threatening shot. He can put the puck into the back of the net of course but it seems he has to put as much power as he's got into his arms/wrists in doing so.

I've never found Giroux to have an overly threatening shot. He can put the puck into the back of the net of course but it seems he has to put as much power as he's got into his arms/wrists in doing so.
- Schenn2shine

no hes never going to be the rocket of like stamkos or something. but when he made goal scoring a priority against the pens in that series, he had some snipes. and i remember being impressed because i always viewed him more as the creative, deke tic tac toe type. not saying you cant score goals that way as well, but still. it may be tough given the slow start, but over the course of a full year i dont think mid 30s is an overzealous estimation for him.

Isn't this fairly common for a young D man put under pressure while developing his game? Consistency is one of the last things young players attain during the arc of their development.
- exlund

Yes and we're still waiting on good positioning, puck moving, shot release, skating ability. Don't hold your breath

- Jsaquella

Gudas is a really solid looking young D man... I added him to my FHT a few weeks ago and he's added a lot to my PIMs and Hits and Blocks...but he a bit of offensive game too.

no hes never going to be the rocket of like stamkos or something. but when he made goal scoring a priority against the pens in that series, he had some snipes. and i remember being impressed because i always viewed him more as the creative, deke tic tac toe type. not saying you cant score goals that way as well, but still. it may be tough given the slow start, but over the course of a full year i dont think mid 30s is an overzealous estimation for him.
- stayinthefnnet

That series was a weird anomaly. Couturier got a hat trick, he hasn't scored yet this year, etc. I don't take much from it, other than the Pens have a pretty fragile psyche.

Yes and we're still waiting on good positioning, puck moving, shot release, skating ability. Don't hold your breath
- Just5

He's had games where he's shown decent ability in these areas. He's never going to be Scott Niedermayer, but he may something akin to a mid 90s Scott Stevens type.

That series was a weird anomaly. Couturier got a hat trick, he hasn't scored yet this year, etc. I don't take much from it, other than the Pens have a pretty fragile psyche.
- Just5

im a big fan of couturiers, but yeah, i would say that offensive outburst by him was largely due to weirdness/pens implosion. that being said, i still think giroux has a little more sniping capability than many may think. its not as if malkin has been displaying an accurate howitzer this year either.

He's had games where he's shown decent ability in these areas. He's never going to be Scott Niedermayer, but he may something akin to a mid 90s Scott Stevens type.
- exlund

Ok I'm speechless

He's had games where he's shown decent ability in these areas. He's never going to be Scott Niedermayer, but he may something akin to a mid 90s Scott Stevens type.
- exlund

Ok I'm speechless
- Just5

Mind you, I'm not saying he will become Scott Stevens, but really, if you look at Stevens game in the mid-late 90s, it was strong, tone setting physical play, solid defense and 20-30 pts. That's attainable for Schenn.

Chicgao just traded Jimmy Hayes for Kris Versteeg...firesale is on in Miami

The NHL app just sent me an alert saying "Blackhawks acquire forwards Kris Versteeg ...". When I tapped to update to find out about who else got traded to CHI and for what, it just loaded the schedule on the NHL app, with no story about a trade in rhe news section. Now I cant find a whiff of this news anywhere else... Whats going on?

Chicgao just traded Jimmy Hayes for Kris Versteeg...firesale is on in Miami
- Jsaquella

Ah, there it is. Couldve sworn it said chicago acquired forwardS.

Mind you, I'm not saying he will become Scott Stevens, but really, if you look at Stevens game in the mid-late 90s, it was strong, tone setting physical play, solid defense and 20-30 pts. That's attainable for Schenn.
- exlund

Yeah but the game is very different now. Luke would look a lot better in 1995, dont think many can doubt that.

Isn't this fairly common for a young D man put under pressure while developing his game? Consistency is one of the last things young players attain during the arc of their development.
- exlund

I'm not saying he'll never be a decent defenseman, I just doubt he has as high a ceiling as anticipated.

As for the Stevens comparison, he might match the 20-30 points, but I doubt he'll match Stevens' all around game. Prior to his Devils days, Stevens 50-70 point defenseman, as well as being a physical beast.

Schenn's weaknesses are two fold. First, he's still struggling with his positioning and reading plays. Unfortunately, his other big weakness is that he's not an exceptionally good skater...and that kind of makes the first problem really stand out.

The NHL app just sent me an alert saying "Blackhawks acquire forwards Kris Versteeg ...". When I tapped to update to find out about who else got traded to CHI and for what, it just loaded the schedule on the NHL app, with no story about a trade in rhe news section. Now I cant find a whiff of this news anywhere else... Whats going on?
- JAKEw1234

Full trade is Versteeg and prospect Phillippe Lefebrve to the 'Hawks for Jimmy Hayes and Dylan Olsen.

That's two big kids going to the Panthers. Hayes is 6'6" 220, Olsen is 6'2" 215.

Oh, and per Bob McKenzie, FLA is keeping half of Versteeg's money

The NHL app just sent me an alert saying "Blackhawks acquire forwards Kris Versteeg ...". When I tapped to update to find out about who else got traded to CHI and for what, it just loaded the schedule on the NHL app, with no story about a trade in rhe news section. Now I cant find a whiff of this news anywhere else... Whats going on?
- JAKEw1234

That same crap happens to me with that app...been that way for months. They really need to add the story to the news section right before the release of the alert.

I'm not saying he'll never be a decent defenseman, I just doubt he has as high a ceiling as anticipated.

As for the Stevens comparison, he might match the 20-30 points, but I doubt he'll match Stevens' all around game. Prior to his Devils days, Stevens 50-70 point defenseman, as well as being a physical beast.

Schenn's weaknesses are two fold. First, he's still struggling with his positioning and reading plays. Unfortunately, his other big weakness is that he's not an exceptionally good skater...and that kind of makes the first problem really stand out.
- Jsaquella

I hear ya...I just think between the different shades of Schenn that we've seen, we don't know what we're going to have here just yet...people are trying to peg him as this or that, but really we have to wait to see what strides he can make in the next year or two before we know. I'm willing to be patient...for now.

I hear ya...I just think between the different shades of Schenn that we've seen, we don't know what we're going to have here just yet...people are trying to peg him as this or that, but really we have to wait to see what strides he can make in the next year or two before we know. I'm willing to be patient...for now.
- exlund

As am I.

But, I'm also realistic. I'd be content if he ends up as a somewhat better Nicklas Grossmann.

As am I.

But, I'm also realistic. I'd be content if he ends up as a somewhat better Nicklas Grossmann.
- Jsaquella

Well, we all know how much you love Grossmann.

In other news, Luca Sbisa has really fallen out of favor in Anaheim...fans have soured on him and think he's not a fit anymore... Boudreau basically benched him game prior to tonight...he played 20+ mins tonight in a big loss.

Chicago's eating Versteeg's cash for the rest of his deal...Jesus.


Wonder if Tallon will eat half of Campbell's money for 3 years

Well, we all know how much you love Grossmann.
- exlund

I like him, just despise his contract.