With forwards, I'd rather have speed than size

With forwards, I'd rather have speed than size
- PhillySportsGuy

As long as they can HIT SOMEBODY! and DO SUMTHING WIDDIT! I have no problem with speed over size.

If I was a betting man.. I'd probably bet hextall will pick the best player available every draft for the rest of eternity. Unless it's an organizational deficiency ie: 2 goalie prospects and only 1 legit one. Now he fixed it but he didn't trade up to draft samsomov he waited until he had someone match his board value of them. So looking at next year's draft of course he will target forwards.. scout them aggressively but.. He will take them where he values them and not a pick higher

2016 NHL mock draft:

Philadelphia takes Sean Day.

Stocking the defensive pipeline.

Read is (and has almost been since his rookie season) a top-flight NHL PKer. Granted, he entered the league in his mid-20's, I don't think NAK has that kind of defensive upside, but I could be wrong.
- jmatchett383

He killed enough penalties as an 18 year old to score 3 SHGs, and he has a shot at making the WJC Canada team as a 4th liner.

http://stats.hockeycanada.../1946351?subseason=232764

When Read was 18 he wasn't playing in a league that kept stats according to this.

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8476177

2012: Tough forward Tom Sestito, a restricted free agent, signs a one-year, $605,000 contract with the Flyers.

make it happen again. phantoms need someone to replace stortini at least

He'll get caramel and like it!
- jmatchett383

With peanuts?

If you don't know how to use your size to your advantage, it's irrelevant. I'm 6'4 and 214lbs. Am I in the NHL or NBA? Nope.

If you don't know how to use your size to your advantage, it's irrelevant. I'm 6'4 and 214lbs. Am I in the NHL or NBA? Nope.
- MatveiDmitrii

I'll bet you're a terror around the coffee machine, though.

tough job getting paid 4.5 mill to eat popcorn
- vejim

5% of that is $225,000
Yeah you could live off the interest from that invested wisely
VLC better be a gourmet chef for the press box at that rate and pay for all the fixins, including Dom Perignon

Talks with Jon Scott and Garrett Klotz are ongoing.
- jmatchett383

I think Klotz was cut from the ECHL team in Indy late in the season.....
They started out with him as captain

I'll bet you're a terror around the coffee machine, though.
- Scoob

Once I get inside position, forget about it.

Seriously though I kind of get irritated when you ask about what they like in a player, and they respond with "well he has size".

Size is an attribute not a skill. Think Datsyuk would have been a 6th rounder if would have been 6'3?

It does have its advantages, but team make far too big of an issue over it.

With forwards, I'd rather have speed than size
- PhillySportsGuy

I want both. Also some breakfast would be nice too.

With peanuts?
- Scoob

Peanuts are for winners, Vinny.

2012: Tough forward Tom Sestito, a restricted free agent, signs a one-year, $605,000 contract with the Flyers.

make it happen again. phantoms need someone to replace stortini at least
- rinaldo

No,no,no.
Sestito was sent down to AHL Utica last year. I think I read that he is considering retiring due to injury. Besides, he plays like a dog in the minors. No intensity, no desire. If Hextall wants an enforcer in LV, there are better options.

No,no,no.
Sestito was sent down to AHL Utica last year. I think I read that he is considering retiring due to injury. Besides, he plays like a dog in the minors. No intensity, no desire. If Hextall wants an enforcer in LV, there are better options.
- AHLTraveler

Could just re-sign Rosehill to a 2 way deal.

Hexy should bring Rosie back. You need a legit HW on the farm. Spot callups based on opposition

Peanuts are for winners, Vinny.
- BiggE

Dang it!

dips 2004 Cup ring adorned hand back into peanut-free caramel popcorn bag

Bill who were some guys drafted say over the last 20 years who you thought would be nhl players and just didn't pan out? Some guys you liked.

for me a few guys:
shane Kenny
Petr Hubacek
Jason Beckett
Ryan Potulny
Stefan Ruzicka

No,no,no.
Sestito was sent down to AHL Utica last year. I think I read that he is considering retiring due to injury. Besides, he plays like a dog in the minors. No intensity, no desire. If Hextall wants an enforcer in LV, there are better options.
- AHLTraveler

yes yes yes

Could just re-sign Rosehill to a 2 way deal.
- BiggE

I would rather sign Rosehill if they think they need that.

They had plenty of guys that went last year in Mathers, Desilsle and Manning. Also if Morin starts in the AHL he can handle is own.

Thanks Bill. It's nice to see articles that view topics from all angles. In my opinion, size, and speed are hard to find in one particular player. Then, when you try to add skill to the mix, you really are asking for the "Golden Child." With the direction the league is headed in, the average, and smaller players should thrive. The larger, and slower players will then become the support players, and will move around the league more; shorter contracts. Plus, you have the x-factor with larger players; they don't always use their size.
Now, as the Habs have found out, having a large number of smaller players doesn't always mean more scoring or a faster paced game. Why? Ever since the Devils made the "Trap"popular, there have been several different versions of that system of play. If the league wishes to speed up the game, and allow the smaller "stars" more room, they will have to eventually stop this type of defensive system. In addition, they should allow the goalie to play the puck without limitations. The NBA calls a penalty for an illegal defensive formation, why not the NHL? But, as I see it, the league is inconsistent with it's rules, and how they are enforced.
These are just a few points to ponder.

With forwards, I'd rather have speed than size
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, and when it comes time, those HQ smaller skilled/speedy forwards can always be parlayed into some size/grits, if needed.

Keep taking the best player in the top-120 picks, even if that guy is a smurf.

Thanks Bill. It's nice to see articles that view topics from all angles. In my opinion, size, and speed are hard to find in one particular player. Then, when you try to add skill to the mix, you really are asking for the "Golden Child." With the direction the league is headed in, the average, and smaller players should thrive. The larger, and slower players will then become the support players, and will move around the league more; shorter contracts. Plus, you have the x-factor with larger players; they don't always use their size.
Now, as the Habs have found out, having a large number of smaller players doesn't always mean more scoring or a faster paced game. Why? Ever since the Devils made the "Trap"popular, there have been several different versions of that system of play. If the league wishes to speed up the game, and allow the smaller "stars" more room, they will have to eventually stop this type of defensive system. In addition, they should allow the goalie to play the puck without limitations. The NBA calls a penalty for an illegal defensive formation, why not the NHL? But, as I see it, the league is inconsistent with it's rules, and how they are enforced.
These are just a few points to ponder.
- OrangeAndBlack1

I dont know if there is single NHL team that uses the trap as it's main forecheck scheme like the Devils did. Most teams will play a hybrid trap or other neutral zone checking scheme in certain situations. Today's NHL is a skating game, and teams systems are based in the forecheck.

Once I get inside position, forget about it.

Seriously though I kind of get irritated when you ask about what they like in a player, and they respond with "well he has size".

Size is an attribute not a skill. Think Datsyuk would have been a 6th rounder if would have been 6'3?

It does have its advantages, but team make far too big of an issue over it.
- MatveiDmitrii

When we are talking about players in the NHL, most of them have exceptional puck skills, even the 'grinders' and 'enforcers'. We've seen big guys score some pretty goals the last couple of years (Sestito twice, Rosehill -- even Asham a couple of pretty goals).

My point is that when you exam the NHL as a whole, your typical NHL player has approximately the same amount of skills, and speed, and smarts. Some players have a little more than skill, others a bit better skater etc.

So when your skill level is so close, the next thing that works for you is your attributes, such as size and strength. That's where it comes in handy.

BTW, this isn't referring to the group of players that are elite. They have their own set of rules.