When we are ready to contend, imo, of course:

The core: Jack, ROR, Sam, Risto, Kane

Highly important secondary players: Bogo, Pysyk, McCabe, Gus.

Take em or leave em (i.e. trade bait): Ennis, Foligno, McGinn (deadline, free agent to be)

Doesn't hurt the team/need a guy of his ilk: Deslauriers

Bye, bye: Gorges, Franson, Legwand, Carlo, Moulson, Gio, Weber.

There will obviously be free agents, trades, other current prospects, maybe couple future draft picks (one of those Finnish studs would be nice) added.

This team is, by no means, set.

Realistic expectations would do some on these boards well.
- grand-magus

What's up with Foligno? I liked him a lot in previous years, is he making an impact at all this year?

You're basically saying right now, that they're only going to get 20 more points over the final 42 games of the season. That's doubtful. They had 54 to finish the year. They're at 34 one game shy of the halfway point. If you double that, they'll finish with 68. I expected somewhere around 75-80 to be quite honest this year, which is still a distinct possibility.

Back away from the ledge. The situation is nowhere near that dire.
- HonkFortheGoose

Hopefully when Pysyk and Lehner come back we can send Ullmark down to Rochester and the caveman can give us at least a boost in quality of goaltending. Pysyk can replace a Coliocovo. Then it's just scoring and secondary scoring most of all. I don't have an answer for that other than letting the players develop and staying the course, at least for right now. I don't think a big trade is needed or warranted yet but perhaps it's getting to that point.

I didn't get to watch the game last night but hopefully we can do something in the short term. Get a few Boston type wins to hold us over. Throw us a bone.

They (frank)ing blow - that is all

What's up with Foligno? I liked him a lot in previous years, is he making an impact at all this year?
- TheIronSheik

Foligno has fallen off a cliff. He got hot to start his career, then threw the body, then stopped doing either. The only reason he is still on this team and not traded or waived is his last name.

They (frank)ing blow - that is all
- Buffalo--Sabres

This is true but they are on the right track. Need another young D man I think but overall you're just waiting for the younger guys to all be high end impact NHL players. Only the me and experience will get them there. Patience.

Poll: What kind of return could we get for McGinn?

I think 2nd and maybe a prospect

I disagree.
The posters on this particular blog would certainly be more upbeat and more jovial.
The "next year" rally cry for a team that you are passionate about is old and tiresome.
And it appears to me that Murray has done nothing to improve this franchise since he has been here.
The points and that product on the ice last night don't lie, especially when you can see it with your own eyes.
His first bad move was hiring a coach that had success with 2 future hall of famers as his "core".
I happen to love the rain, hence my name but this is a flooding rain that even Noah would not enjoy.
- Pluviophile

Could have been worse . or better. Would never know until it is played out.

We can blame goaltending all we want... reality is we aren't scoring. You gotta score more than 1-2 goals a game to win in this league

You're basically saying right now, that they're only going to get 20 more points over the final 42 games of the season. That's doubtful. They had 54 to finish the year. They're at 34 one game shy of the halfway point. If you double that, they'll finish with 68. I expected somewhere around 75-80 to be quite honest this year, which is still a distinct possibility.

Back away from the ledge. The situation is nowhere near that dire.
- HonkFortheGoose

Ledge?
I'm way way far from any ledge.
Simply pointing out and not blatantly ignoring Murray's failures is all as some seem to like to do here.
After 40 games last season this team was 14 wins 23 losses and 3 OTL's
This season after 40 games this team with all of the moves that Murray has made is.....15 wins 21 losses and 4 OTL's.
That is unacceptable to this fan for the amount that Murray has given up to be only 3 points ahead of last years pace.
Like Rex, I want Murray to start backing his talk up.
The product on the ice and the results to this point certainly are not helping him.
What happens if Lehner poops the bed ? Well, i'll wait to comment on that till he does and from what I saw of him in preseason, that seems inevitable.
But i'll wait for the huge excuse machine to fire up for Lehner so Murray fanatics can shelter him even more so.
In the end, I want to see progress with our team, and since Murray has been here, I have just not seen enough of.
If this Lehner deal nose dives, I really would like Murray to vacate the GM office at FNC before he cripples this franchise any more moving forward.
His one stellar move thus far, *tanking* for Jack Eichel, something anyone on this message board could have done, seriously!

Making a Murderer is great
- sbroads24

The petition on whitehouse.gov got the needed 100k signatures to pardon steve avery so now the president has to address the issue. He cannot pardon him becuase it was not a federal case but he can tell the gov. The guy is innocent for sure. He needs to get out and be put in witness protection. To stay away from all those sheriffs lol

We can blame goaltending all we want... reality is we aren't scoring. You gotta score more than 1-2 goals a game to win in this league
- Smittyx36

It's not the goaltending.
Linus gets very little goal support almost every time he plays.
He basically needs a shutout to win most nights.

Foligno has fallen off a cliff. He got hot to start his career, then threw the body, then stopped doing either. The only reason he is still on this team and not traded or waived is his last name.
- Zschalberg

He was throwing his body around A LOT last night.

It's not the goaltending.
Linus gets very little goal support almost every time he plays.
He basically needs a shutout to win most nights.
- Pluviophile

Most of the time, I agree with this. But last night, he wasn't good. The 2nd goal of the game is one he HAS to stop.

That said, he's still young and developing. There are aspects to his game that need some work. I'd be more than fine with him going to Rochester and being "the guy" for awhile and honing his skills.

So obvious. So, so obvious.

He was throwing his body around A LOT last night.
- HonkFortheGoose

I wasn't able to watch last night. I'm just saying over the course of the last 2 seasons he's gone from wrecking ball to consistently being outworked and losing puck battles.

We SUCK because we couldn't beat the Division leading and 10 game win streak team in Hockey..

God do I love you guys...


it is amazing how much of a scapegoat all of you make Evander Kane out to be... my god. He is officially the new Vanek.... but with a much less paycheck and more all around game.

Seeing an improvement in points is very important.
Think about all that Murray has given up to finish at par or worse in points as compared to last season.
So, there is certainly a huge difference between a 20th and 30th place finish !
I take it you would be okay with this team finishing with the same amount of points or worse than last year, especially with all that Murray has given up to achieve such substandard results?
- Pluviophile

It would be near impossible for the team to finish with 54 points, or worse this season.

They very well could finish with 20 more points than last year and still end up last.

A 20-25 point improvement is likely going to mean still finishing in the bottom 3.

I have no issue for that.

Ah i see the sky is falling and the trees are burning this morning... do i grab the flame thrower or the fire extinguisher?

It's not the goaltending.
Linus gets very little goal support almost every time he plays.
He basically needs a shutout to win most nights.
- Pluviophile

Didn't he also let in 4? You also need to let in less than that if you want to win most nights. Not saying he lost that game, but the blame for the losses goes all around.

We can blame goaltending all we want... reality is we aren't scoring. You gotta score more than 1-2 goals a game to win in this league
- Smittyx36

this



when risto is a top 10 point d man
ror is putting up decent numbers on the first line
skunk and eichel are producing
mcginn is almost a .5 ppg player


it really says a lot about the other 13 skaters

Ah i see the sky is falling and the trees are burning this morning... do i grab the flame thrower or the fire extinguisher?
- Havic3814

It took half a season for a lot of people to really start freaking out. I'd say that's progress

Ledge?
I'm way way far from any ledge.
Simply pointing out and not blatantly ignoring Murray's failures is all as some seem to like to do here.
After 40 games last season this team was 14 wins 23 losses and 3 OTL's
This season after 40 games this team with all of the moves that Murray has made is.....15 wins 21 losses and 4 OTL's.
That is unacceptable to this fan for the amount that Murray has given up to be only 3 points ahead of last years pace.
Like Rex, I want Murray to start backing his talk up.
The product on the ice and the results to this point certainly are not helping him.
What happens if Lehner poops the bed ? Well, i'll wait to comment on that till he does and from what I saw of him in preseason, that seems inevitable.
But i'll wait for the huge excuse machine to fire up for Lehner so Murray fanatics can shelter him even more so.
In the end, I want to see progress with our team, and since Murray has been here, I have just not seen enough of.
If this Lehner deal nose dives, I really would like Murray to vacate the GM office at FNC before he cripples this franchise any more moving forward.
His one stellar move thus far, *tanking* for Jack Eichel, something anyone on this message board could have done, seriously!
- Pluviophile

It's impossible they don't start winning all the close games they have lost, while controlling more of the play in those games, the 2nd half of the season?

I'll wait until the end of the season to judge how the season went before making sweeping statements.

this



when risto is a top 10 point d man
ror is putting up decent numbers on the first line
skunk and eichel are producing
mcginn is almost a .5 ppg player


it really says a lot about the other 13 skaters
- homiedclown

But... but... but... Kane has to put 45 goals this season!!!!! IT IS HIS FAULT!!!!

BRING YOUR TORCH AND PITCHFORKS!!!!

this

when risto is a top 10 point d man
ror is putting up decent numbers on the first line
skunk and eichel are producing
mcginn is almost a .5 ppg player


it really says a lot about the other 13 skaters
- homiedclown

The production from everyone aside from those you have mentioned above regarding goals has been pathetic.

From my seats in Section 307, we outworked the Panthers and out-chanced them in the first period. Jack's great chance early might have been called a penalty, and a couple other good opportunities didn't go in.

The Panthers play a smothering system that clogs up the ice - they stepped into passing lanes ALL night long.

Eventually, after all the chances don't go in, Ullmark lets one in, and the air goes out of the team. The dominance stops, they start to grip their sticks a little tighter, the Panthers keep stepping into lanes, and the ice tilts.

It's like an python with a groundhog, slow gradual suffocation.