Its funny because we have had some turnover. Presently, we have a second year player in Bo and a raw rookie in McCann as our 2nd and 3rd line centres, and Cracknell, who thought he wasn't even going to be playing in the NHL, as 4th line centre.

Sven is seeing sheltered minutes with his first real run in the NHL after short stints.

Can't expect much from Dorsett and Prust, except a bit more grit than they have shown, not expected to light it up and with the way everyone else is playing, maybe they are trying to do too much other stuff.

Higgins, same old song and dance.

Vrbata is under producing. Burrows has to do more too.t

Hansen is playing well, and so are the Sedins.

Those in game nuggets last night showed the inexperience of our d corps, Weber with the 3rd most games played often looks the shakiest. I thought Bartkowski had played more games. Can't expect any more from Hutton as a rookie. Tanev and Edler have been playing well enough. Biega has been okay in a limited role too.

Hamhuis is hurt and had been struggling. Wondering what ailments he has, if he is putting off a surgery or should have had one last season?

What can WD do? My only thought is leave the Sedins together and try to load up the second line with what's left, but there isn't much after that besides Vrbata that has had a history of scoring without the Sedins...

Maybe put McCann on the 2nd unit pp instead of Higgins. not a lot of options that I can see WD considering.

Either way, we have to be patient, JB is going to give some time to try to play through it.
- hillbillydeluxe

The secret is replacing them with proper pieces. We still don't have a power forward, or a power Dman. We don't have a PMD . We still don't have someone to clear the net. We have two middleweights as the enforcer.

We need team toughness on every line not just the fourth.

We have 4 top 6 forwards that don't belong. Baertschi should be in the AHL , not shuffling back between second and third line.

Higgins should be in the AHL

Hansen should be a third liner.

Tanev should be a 3/4 Dman not 1/2
You can find a million things wrong with the lineup. The good news is it is fixable

Hedman after next season
- SRam19

There. Are some good ones this year and you could get them for a first second third

I actually feel bad for Miller. He stands on his head and gets no support. He needs to be on a contending team that needs goaltending.
- thundachunk

I'm not a Miller fan but I felt really bad for him last night. I noticed a lot of WTF glares at his 'team mates'.

The secret is replacing them with proper pieces. We still don't have a power forward, or a power Dman. We don't have a PMD . We still don't have someone to clear the net. We have two middleweights as the enforcer.

We need team toughness on every line not just the fourth.

We have 4 top 6 forwards that don't belong. Baertschi should be in the AHL , not shuffling back between second and third line.

Higgins should be in the AHL

Hansen should be a third liner.

Tanev should be a 3/4 Dman not 1/2
You can find a million things wrong with the lineup. The good news is it is fixable
- VANTEL

These all sound like problems left by Gillis.

The secret is replacing them with proper pieces. We still don't have a power forward, or a power Dman. We don't have a PMD . We still don't have someone to clear the net. We have two middleweights as the enforcer.

We need team toughness on every line not just the fourth.

We have 4 top 6 forwards that don't belong. Baertschi should be in the AHL , not shuffling back between second and third line.

Higgins should be in the AHL

Hansen should be a third liner.

Tanev should be a 3/4 Dman not 1/2
You can find a million things wrong with the lineup. The good news is it is fixable
- VANTEL

It is, but requires a little patience and luck. Can't blame WD. Maybe blame JB a bit, but if these guys aren't worth much, trades can't be expected to bring much back.

You can have a Sven in the lineup, but it might not be best to have him with a Horvat or McCann or Higgins. We have complementary players but not the real central pieces, or those pieces aren't ready to have a bigger role.

Can't argue with your assessments. sometimes players are top pairing or top 6 because they are on a team without any better. What I do appreciate is, Tanev is often willing to take the hit to make the pass. Don't see that from so many others, like Higgins who isn't willing to put themselves at risk for a fringe team and the more guys play like that, the more they appear to be fringe players on a fringe team.

It is, but requires a little patience and luck. Can't blame WD. Maybe blame JB a bit, but if these guys aren't worth much, trades can't be expected to bring much back.

You can have a Sven in the lineup, but it might not be best to have him with a Horvat or McCann or Higgins. We have complementary players but not the real central pieces, or those pieces aren't ready to have a bigger role.

Can't argue with your assessments. sometimes players are top pairing or top 6 because they are on a team without any better. What I do appreciate is, Tanev is often willing to take the hit to make the pass. Don't see that from so many others, like Higgins who isn't willing to put themselves at risk for a fringe team and the more guys play like that, the more they appear to be fringe players on a fringe team.
- hillbillydeluxe

I think Tanev would look more like a #2 if he actually had a #1 with him instead of needing to carry Edler like he does. Edler is a #2 i would say and I agree Tanev at #3 right now with #2 upside in the future. The softness of our D makes me hope Benning can get Tryamkin here as I see a lot of potential there if he gets used to NA ice. Solves a lot of problems in toughness on D. Trying everything to get Edler to waive to NYI and using him to get Hamonic helps us too much not to try IMO.

I think Tanev would look more like a #2 if he actually had a #1 with him instead of needing to carry Edler like he does. Edler is a #2 i would say and I agree Tanev at #3 right now with #2 upside in the future. The softness of our D makes me hope Benning can get Tryamkin here as I see a lot of potential there if he gets used to NA ice. Solves a lot of problems in toughness on D. Trying everything to get Edler to waive to NYI and using him to get Hamonic helps us too much not to try IMO.
- Retinalz

Whenever I hear Trymakin mentioned, I wonder how far along he is compared to Pedan? And with that thought, if WD doesn't see Pedan as worth a shot over Weber for a game or two, why would Trymakin be in a rush to get over here?

While I don't think WD is the issue (unless he has something against big heavy players), more the players and their inconsistent effort, I still don't see why WD is reluctant to give certain options a look. We have guys that are getting close to needing to clear waivers to be moved back and forth, we need to see what these guys can do in the NHL.

It is, but requires a little patience and luck. Can't blame WD. Maybe blame JB a bit, but if these guys aren't worth much, trades can't be expected to bring much back.

You can have a Sven in the lineup, but it might not be best to have him with a Horvat or McCann or Higgins. We have complementary players but not the real central pieces, or those pieces aren't ready to have a bigger role.

Can't argue with your assessments. sometimes players are top pairing or top 6 because they are on a team without any better. What I do appreciate is, Tanev is often willing to take the hit to make the pass. Don't see that from so many others, like Higgins who isn't willing to put themselves at risk for a fringe team and the more guys play like that, the more they appear to be fringe players on a fringe team.
- hillbillydeluxe

Not to say I told you so (not you) but I did. I said trade Vrbata and Hamhuis at the draft when they had value.We could have had Franson (. .who I thought would be a good addition ). We could have had a younger different top 6 forward instead Vrbata plus a draft pick. I said put Higgins on waivers and was laughed at. Ten minutes ago Tony Gallagher just asked the1040 crew "How is Higgins not on waivers and let Grenier play?"

Benning is partial blame for trying to do the loyal thing for the previous regime.

Iam telling you ,kids aside this team needs a major shakeup

Kassian clears waivers.
No surprises there.

Kassian clears waivers.
No surprises there.
- Marwood

I wonder if he ever plays again

I wonder if he ever plays again
- VANTEL

He may get a chance if he does very well in the AHL and cleans up his drug problem...

I wonder if he ever plays again
- VANTEL

I doubt he plays in the NHL again.
What a waste of talent and opportunity.

Not to say I told you so (not you) but I did. I said trade Vrbata and Hamhuis at the draft when they had value.We could have had Franson (. .who I thought would be a good addition ). We could have had a younger different top 6 forward instead Vrbata plus a draft pick. I said put Higgins on waivers and was laughed at. Ten minutes ago Tony Gallagher just asked the1040 crew "How is Higgins not on waivers and let Grenier play?"

Benning is partial blame for trying to do the loyal thing for the previous regime.

Iam telling you ,kids aside this team needs a major shakeup
- VANTEL

heard that too. if he has little to no value, it is no loss if he is claimed, and if he does go to Utica, maybe he will smarten up.

IF Sutter wasn't injured, I don't think we would be in the same rut the club is today. His injury has had a bigger impact than say if Daniel was injured. However, if it was Henrik that was injured, we would be at the bottom of every category.

Lots of time left for JB to clean house of vets. Just their value is in question. I think Vrbata is still worth at least a 2nd rounder. Everyone else, i'm not so sure.

Not to say I told you so (not you) but I did. I said trade Vrbata and Hamhuis at the draft when they had value.We could have had Franson (. .who I thought would be a good addition ). We could have had a younger different top 6 forward instead Vrbata plus a draft pick. I said put Higgins on waivers and was laughed at. Ten minutes ago Tony Gallagher just asked the1040 crew "How is Higgins not on waivers and let Grenier play?"

Benning is partial blame for trying to do the loyal thing for the previous regime.

Iam telling you ,kids aside this team needs a major shakeup
- VANTEL

They never listen.

Hi,

New blog is up. Management's headed to Utica tonight to see if they can find some reinforcements on the Comets to stop this bleeding.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...-Hits-Low-Point/194/73298

These all sound like problems left by Gillis.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Yup. and we knew it was going to be awhile before they all get cleaned up.

I'm not a Miller fan but I felt really bad for him last night. I noticed a lot of WTF glares at his 'team mates'.
- Marwood

Other than Miller and the Sedins Nobody has been even remotely good. Lots of players aren't even playing at an NHL level. Some shouldn't even be in the NHL right now the way they are playing.