Roy coached him in the Q, and there were Russian papers saying he was going to sign or a deal is already in place to come to the Avs after this season (transfer agreement was suppose to happen this summer but didnt get finalized). If he comes back to the NHL, Roy will be all over to get his boy back again.
- DDM-Coga

The kid can play... Watched him a bit in Nashville.

The kid can play... Watched him a bit in Nashville.
- jochfr

my guess is that they move Iginla at the deadline to chase a cup somewhere else, and open up a Top 6 spot and cap space for Radulov next season with that move.

The kid can play... Watched him a bit in Nashville.
- jochfr

he can play..... when he wants to.


He is basically Zherdov all over again. Even on Philly on a team in the prime of a cup chase... he didn't show up constantly.

I'd be stressed if we were primed for a run at the cup this year. We aren't. The good news is that we've got a LOT of the pieces in place. They are young, which is a good thing. We are probably missing another DMan but we've got a GM that is willing to spend to get guys that we need. Everything is good.
- Slump Buster

Risto, Pysyk and Bogo look like long term fixtures. Only one IMO are top 2 material

McCabe and Ghule look like good prospects, but are complete ?'s.

Franson is on a 2 year deal

Coli, Weber, Gorges are no where near a top 4 on a cup team.

There are question marks on the defense. Murray did a ton to help the offense, not so much the defense

Risto, Pysyk and Bogo look like long term fixtures. Only one IMO are top 2 material

McCabe and Ghule look like good prospects, but are complete ?'s.

Franson is on a 2 year deal

Coli, Weber, Gorges are no where near a top 4 on a cup team.

There are question marks on the defense. Murray did a ton to help the offense, not so much the defense
- sbroads24

Once again, hardly enough to be worried about. I think you're going to be amazed at how much better some of these guys look when the ice isn't constantly tilted in their direction. Our roster might only be missing 1 player to be complete in a couple of years. How many teams can say that? TM will get it done.

Once again, hardly enough to be worried about. I think you're going to be amazed at how much better some of these guys look when the ice isn't constantly tilted in their direction. Our roster might only be missing 1 player to be complete in a couple of years. How many teams can say that? TM will get it done.
- Slump Buster

It also overstates it to say McCabe and Guhle are "complete" question marks. And I don't see what the problem is if our bottom pairing guys are not top pairing guys. That's why they're in the bottom pair.

No team needs to go undefeated, we just have to be better than our opponent four games out of seven, in four series.

It also overstates it to say McCabe and Guhle are "complete" question marks. And I don't see what the problem is if our bottom pairing guys are not top pairing guys. That's why they're in the bottom pair.

No team needs to go undefeated, we just have to be better than our opponent four games out of seven, in four series.
- Der Kaiser

Exactly my point earlier as well.

People are exploding about some guys being "week to week". We just need guys to fill in the back pairings for about 3-10 games or so.

It also overstates it to say McCabe and Guhle are "complete" question marks. And I don't see what the problem is if our bottom pairing guys are not top pairing guys. That's why they're in the bottom pair.

No team needs to go undefeated, we just have to be better than our opponent four games out of seven, in four series.
- Der Kaiser

They have combined for 9 NHL games. Calling them ?'s are exactly what they are.

The point is, on offense our top 6 looks pretty secure. And it looks pretty damn good.

On defense, there are potential holes. No one is doom and gloom. The poster who brought it up has a valid point. With Gorges and Bogo potentiall out, it's a lot to shoulder for Pysyk and Risto

It also overstates it to say McCabe and Guhle are "complete" question marks. And I don't see what the problem is if our bottom pairing guys are not top pairing guys. That's why they're in the bottom pair.

No team needs to go undefeated, we just have to be better than our opponent four games out of seven, in four series.
- Der Kaiser

Right, exactly. Some of these guys are going to pan out. Most good teams have a superstart D and we might very well have ours. A lot of other guys are goign to have a shot to play with him and for all we know the ceiling for Pysyk, McCabe, and Guhle is a 2 - 4.

Also don't overstate the importance of having an actual system in place (as opposed to just telling the guys to go out there and compete).

Right, exactly. Some of these guys are going to pan out. Most good teams have a superstart D and we might very well have ours. A lot of other guys are goign to have a shot to play with him and for all we know the ceiling for Pysyk, McCabe, and Guhle is a 2 - 4.

Also don't overstate the importance of having an actual system in place (as opposed to just telling the guys to go out there and compete).
- Slump Buster

Right, and some won't. Just like we are reminded every time someone brings up what we moved out to acquire the pieces we did.

If we took a poll 2 years ago whether Jake McCabe would be an NHL'er by this point, I'd be willing to bet most would say yes. It looks like he's Rochester bound

Right, exactly. Some of these guys are going to pan out. Most good teams have a superstart D and we might very well have ours. A lot of other guys are goign to have a shot to play with him and for all we know the ceiling for Pysyk, McCabe, and Guhle is a 2 - 4.

Also don't overstate the importance of having an actual system in place (as opposed to just telling the guys to go out there and compete).
- Slump Buster

Right, and some won't. Just like we are reminded every time someone brings up what we moved out to acquire the pieces we did.

If we took a poll 2 years ago whether Jake McCabe would be an NHL'er by this point, I'd be willing to bet most would say yes. It looks like he's Rochester bound
- sbroads24

McCabe is about the only question mark and the question mark is probably what his ceiling is (not whether he will play in the league). You make it sound like he is a disappointment and that is completely untrue. He (and Pysyk) were left in Rochester for a reason.

Right, and some won't. Just like we are reminded every time someone brings up what we moved out to acquire the pieces we did.

If we took a poll 2 years ago whether Jake McCabe would be an NHL'er by this point, I'd be willing to bet most would say yes. It looks like he's Rochester bound
- sbroads24

If the team lands a top 5 pick in next year's draft and get's a top D with that pick, that would really solidify things with the D overall.

We all know if the goal wasn't Eichel last year, Pysyk would have been in the NHL and there's a good chance McCabe would have been by the last quarter of the season as well.

McCabe is about the only question mark and the question mark is probably what his ceiling is (not whether he will play in the league). You make it sound like he is a disappointment and that is completely untrue. He (and Pysyk) were left in Rochester for a reason.
- Slump Buster

No, he is not a dissapointment. The point I'm making is that a lot changes over the course of a year or two. Again, you are just pretending to know how everyone will project.

The entire point is that the defense as a whole is a question mark. There literally is no debate about it at this point. Our best player back there is 20 who hasn't really done much yet.

No, he is not a dissapointment. The point I'm making is that a lot changes over the course of a year or two. Again, you are just pretending to know how everyone will project.

The entire point is that the defense as a whole is a question mark. There literally is no debate about it at this point. Our best player back there is 20 who hasn't really done much yet.
- sbroads24

And when we are ready to compete we will have figured all of this out. I think this year it will be average and that is certainly good enough for now.

If the team lands a top 5 pick in next year's draft and get's a top D with that pick, that would really solidify things with the D overall.

We all know if the goal wasn't Eichel last year, Pysyk would have been in the NHL and there's a good chance McCabe would have been by the last quarter of the season as well.
- kingcong39

No way we finish in the bottom 5 this year.

If the team lands a top 5 pick in next year's draft and get's a top D with that pick, that would really solidify things with the D overall.

We all know if the goal wasn't Eichel last year, Pysyk would have been in the NHL and there's a good chance McCabe would have been by the last quarter of the season as well.
- kingcong39

Lets hope we dont

And when we are ready to compete we will have figured all of this out. I think this year it will be average and that is certainly good enough for now.
- Slump Buster

I hope so. I think we will competing for the cup after this season. Especially if Reinhart starts to really come into his prime.

Eichel is a legit superstar. He should take off year 2 like most superstars do.

No way we finish in the bottom 5 this year.
- Slump Buster

We're hardly a lock to be outside the bottom 5. Ice might not be "tilted" as you said but that D is still suspect both in terms of on ice play and the fact that half of them can't seem to stay healthy for more than a few games at a time.

This team could jump to 80 points and still be the fifth worst team. Wasn't last years 8th seed a 100 pt team?

Lets hope we dont
- MCGUIZZY

Might be the only way to get that final piece though

They have combined for 9 NHL games. Calling them ?'s are exactly what they are.

The point is, on offense our top 6 looks pretty secure. And it looks pretty damn good.

On defense, there are potential holes. No one is doom and gloom. The poster who brought it up has a valid point. With Gorges and Bogo potentiall out, it's a lot to shoulder for Pysyk and Risto
- sbroads24

Stay patient my friend; drafts, UFA's and trades occur every year.
Next yer's draft I suspect goes more heavily to the D side.

I look at this season as if it were the second year of a new franchise, we got some good players, and we got some question marks...time to enjoy the rideto the top...not just when we get there.
Watching this team develop, and management fill in the blanks is going to be fun...can't wait for next week....one week baby!

We're hardly a lock to be outside the bottom 5. Ice might not be "tilted" as you said but that D is still suspect both in terms of on ice play and the fact that half of them can't seem to stay healthy for more than a few games at a time.

This team could jump to 80 points and still be the fifth worst team. Wasn't last years 8th seed a 100 pt team?
- Sabresfan-365

I'm not one to say that we can't be on the edge of the playoffs because it would mean us being x points better than last year. This is a completely different roster with a competent coach. Also, they aren't trying to lose. I think we make the playoffs this year.

I'm not one to say that we can't be on the edge of the playoffs because it would mean us being x points better than last year. This is a completely different roster with a competent coach. Also, they aren't trying to lose. I think we make the playoffs this year.
- Slump Buster

I'm not saying that because im comparing us to last year. The fact is it took close to 100 pts to make the playoffs last year. You look at past standings and the makeup of some of the other teams competing for a playoff spot, we're not there yet.

I look at this season as if it were the second year of a new franchise, we got some good players, and we got some question marks...time to enjoy the rideto the top...not just when we get there.
Watching this team develop, and management fill in the blanks is going to be fun...can't wait for next week....one week baby!
- IonSabres

I feel the same way. They're going to be fun to watch this year, unless you've got ridiculous expectations.