NO. (couldn't help it)
- 6628

You need to be on Jeopardy....
- UnnamedSource

I'll take Pop music for $400, Alex.

But I would always forget to posit it as a question.

If Stalberg is a 4th liner then so is Versteeg. 4th liners don't score 20 goals and hit 40 points. And before anyone talks about Nashville, no one on earth could score there, they haven't had a player have 60 points in 5 years. Versteeg's in the exact same role and can't score any more than Stalberg did with Shaw and Bickell and Versteeg had Kane. I don't argue that they couldn't pay him 3 million though, just didn't work money wise. Trotz is playing him in defensive situations, that's idiotic. I really think Trotz is a bad coach, got lucky having two of the best 5 defensemen in the league and a stud goalie to cover for an ineffective system.
- rollpards19

Versteeg at every facet of the game except skating is a better player than Stalberg.
Stalberg is a fundamentally poor player in some respects and makes no one around him better. Vertseeg can make others better.

Versteeg could play on any line for many teams and Stalberg can't.

Versteeg has his issues....Doesn't shoot enough, makes too many passes at times, dumb turnovers can be an issue but that said....A much better player than Stalberg.

I do agree Trotz is overrated as a head coach.

Coasters, Charlie Brown, 1957.
- StLBravesFan

I was thinking the same thing when I read the post.

Versteeg at every facet of the game except skating is a better player than Stalberg.
Stalberg is a fundamentally poor player in some respects and makes no one around him better. Vertseeg can make others better.

Versteeg could play on any line for many teams and Stalberg can't.

Versteeg has his issues....Doesn't shoot enough, makes too many passes at times, dumb turnovers can be an issue but that said....A much better player than Stalberg.

I do agree Trotz is overrated as a head coach.
- Al

If Barry Trotz is overrated David Poile is way over the top overrated as an NHL General Manager. He has had plenty of opportunities thru trades, extra draft picks etc to get the Predators beyond the 2nd round. Now he is going to be rebuilding again. Just a terrible General Manager, just like he was in Washington.

And then he decides Stalberg is worth $3 Million/year. Maybe Patric Hornqvist told him he knows a real fast skater back in Sweden and that he should give him the money.

The Hawks used Stalberg to perfection both on the ice and contractually and then let him walk. My bet is they didn't have one conversation with his agent, just told him they weren't interested in re-signing him.

If Barry Trotz is overrated David Poile is way over the top overrated as an NHL General Manager. He has had plenty of opportunities thru trades, extra draft picks etc to get the Predators beyond the 2nd round. Now he is going to be rebuilding again. Just a terrible General Manager, just like he was in Washington.

And then he decides Stalberg is worth $3 Million/year. Maybe Patric Hornqvist told him he knows a real fast skater back in Sweden and that he should give him the money.

The Hawks used Stalberg to perfection both on the ice and contractually and then let him walk. My bet is they didn't have one conversation with his agent, just told him they weren't interested in re-signing him.
- RickJ

You think Stalberg wanted to come back and live in Q's doghouse till further notice? I'm of the mind that both sides wanted to go their own separate ways.

If Barry Trotz is overrated David Poile is way over the top overrated as an NHL General Manager. He has had plenty of opportunities thru trades, extra draft picks etc to get the Predators beyond the 2nd round. Now he is going to be rebuilding again. Just a terrible General Manager, just like he was in Washington.

And then he decides Stalberg is worth $3 Million/year. Maybe Patric Hornqvist told him he knows a real fast skater back in Sweden and that he should give him the money.

The Hawks used Stalberg to perfection both on the ice and contractually and then let him walk. My bet is they didn't have one conversation with his agent, just told him they weren't interested in re-signing him.
- RickJ

I agree, unless he was willing to re-sign for the same amount there was no point in having a discussion. We all knew Stalberg was long gone before the Cup was hoisted. Stalberg probably wanted to leave as bad as we wanted him to.

I read it, too, and it was great stuff. Thanks for getting insomnia, and get some phucking rest, kid!!
- mohel

It cured mine.

Yeah reeder, Elbows is correct. Messier decided he was gonna win for his teams. It was like a spirit to control of a normal body and made it do things beyond the limit, to force his will on the play. I grew up with hearing the expression "go through a wall for his team" but he was one of the first guys who I actually saw actually do it in terms of superbeing like berserker action.
We may playdown that Toews has an edge when he needs to and you may recognize snippets in any game, but Messier got plain nasty aggressive, focus to a fanatical point to win.
I hates the Oiler teams but I think I hated that there was suddenly more than one player we just didn't have, and the very good hawk teams had no guy that could ever match the passion or results of the intensity...
- wiz1901

Thanks Wiz and Elbows. I appreciate your insight. I don't remember seeing anything live in the 80's even though I know I watched some games on HNIC as a child. I don't have any real vivid memories of Mess as a Ranger guaranteeing a win in 94, although I've seen the highlights. I only have the memories of the twilight of his career in Van. I have seen Toews live and in person in many games will the puck into the net. In this generation, I don't think there's anyone who compares

It cured mine.
- Elbows15

Well played, Chief.

You think Stalberg wanted to come back and live in Q's doghouse till further notice? I'm of the mind that both sides wanted to go their own separate ways.
- Beaver-Warrior

Like most players who get to UFA, #25 almost for sure wanted the most money he could get on the open market. Period, end of story. If Chicago had offered the most pecunia, Stalberg would have watered Q's plastic tulips every day if that's what the contract said he had to do. And Q would have had to deal with his GM's decision on the matter.

But you are right, it became an uncontested divorce.

You think Stalberg wanted to come back and live in Q's doghouse till further notice? I'm of the mind that both sides wanted to go their own separate ways.
- Beaver-Warrior

This.

Thanks Wiz and Elbows. I appreciate your insight. I don't remember seeing anything live in the 80's even though I know I watched some games on HNIC as a child. I don't have any real vivid memories of Mess as a Ranger guaranteeing a win in 94, although I've seen the highlights. I only have the memories of the twilight of his career in Van. I have seen Toews live and in person in many games will the puck into the net. In this generation, I don't think there's anyone who compares
- reeder16

the interesting thing to remember about Messier is this: He won 2 Cups without Gretzky. Gretzky didn't win any without Messier. Obviously much more to it that than.

You think Stalberg wanted to come back and live in Q's doghouse till further notice? I'm of the mind that both sides wanted to go their own separate ways.
- Beaver-Warrior

Who cares ? Stalberg sucks

Its Tuesday. Who are we pining for today?

Who cares ? Stalberg sucks
- mrpaulish

I haven't missed him at all.

Its Tuesday. Who are we pining for today?
- Elbows15

Regin.

Its Tuesday. Who are we pining for today?
- Elbows15

Hartman. Solves all the holes in our lineup.

Its Tuesday. Who are we pining for today?
- Elbows15

The fjords.

The fjords.
- StLBravesFan

Tomorrow's Chevvy day then, right?

Its Tuesday. Who are we pining for today?
- Elbows15

A win in Philly?

Its Tuesday. Who are we pining for today?
- Elbows15

I will always miss the Joey Crabb era, all two days of it.

Anybody with Direct TV, what channel will the game be on? White Sucks are on right now and will be until after puck drop.

the interesting thing to remember about Messier is this: He won 2 Cups without Gretzky. Gretzky didn't win any without Messier. Obviously much more to it that than.
- Elbows15

He did. One of them was with the 'almost' very same Oilers team that had won 4 in 5 years just one year after 99 was traded. Really, 99 didn't have a lot of help until around 93. But you're right. You can't argue with 2 more cups.

I haven't missed him at all.
- Elbows15

Versteeg, even on one healthy knee, is an upgrade over StAHLberg. Smith has nicely filled Frolik's role (can he convert playoff penalty shots?) at a far lower cap hit. It took a while on the PK, but it's there now. CC has been fine, but not exceptional, while the rest of the team is kinda treading water. Most of the questions coming into this season have been answered.

Is there someone who can fill Bolland's role come the playoffs? Will small improvements from Saad, Bollig, Kane be enough to cover that loss? That's my one question, roster wise. Obviously, the team needs to find it's mojo (maybe a motivational speech from Austin Powers?), but I think the roster is fine.