no he is not


if you look at ppg, they are about the same, and kane brings more to the game 5 on 5 then staff ever will
- homiedclown

He is though. Kane is playing 22 minutes a night and has 18 points.....

He is producing like a low tier 3rd liner this season

We will be a good team. No doubt. There are very little signs that this will become a great team though.

People like to point out Corsby's rookie year and how they were really bad, or the Hawks being bad for years, but there is a big difference. We have most of our "team" in their prime right now.
- sbroads24

I sort of understand your point but the core is really Ristolainen, Eichel, Girgensons, and Reinhart.

They are in their prime?

I get it on O'Reilly, and we both agree on Kane, unless he somehow magically gains a large amount of hockey knowledge when it comes to playing the game.

We will be a good team. No doubt. There are very little signs that this will become a great team though.

People like to point out Corsby's rookie year and how they were really bad, or the Hawks being bad for years, but there is a big difference. We have most of our "team" in their prime right now.
- sbroads24

not the core, however...the dead weight everyone alludes to after every game will be gone, and many of them are the older vets, by the time this group begins to hit it's stride

imo, Brodie, none of those teams from 2007 to last year could have made up a two-goal, third period deficit against a top-notch goalie like lundqvist...that to me is a big one
- Michael Pachla

Every time you call him Brodie, this is all I can think of...

So when the Coyotes make the playoffs this year can we just say management definitely paid them under the table last year to just pretend to suck

We will be a good team. No doubt. There are very little signs that this will become a great team though.

People like to point out Corsby's rookie year and how they were really bad, or the Hawks being bad for years, but there is a big difference. We have most of our "team" in their prime right now.
- sbroads24

???????

I know you think the falling off is the age of 24 but we have youngins not even 21 on the team.

I don't understand the hate Foligno constantly garners.

Nobody should have ever thought the production he had his rookie year in that small sample was in any way either repeatable or an indicator of his overall scoring ability.

His ceiling was always a 3rd line player, with the likelihood that he will be a 3rd/4th line winger.

At around $2M, what's wrong with that?

He's even filled in at center for the 4th line when needed.

I don't understand the hate Foligno constantly garners.

Nobody should have ever thought the production he had his rookie year in that small sample was in any way either repeatable or an indicator of his overall scoring ability.

His ceiling was always a 3rd line player, with the likelihood that he will be a 3rd/4th line winger.

At around $2M, what's wrong with that?

He's even filled in at center for the 4th line when needed.
- kingcong39

I agreed with your opinion.
I think the hate comes from when people see how productive he can be at his best compared to his usual game.

this is what is disturbing

plus the tick tack toe goals the rangers got with ease last not


bogo, risto, eichel, skunk, girgens, ror, kane

that is the core

it's good, not great
- homiedclown

I disagree, I know the hawks comparisons aren't welcome here but just work with me...

The core are the players who have been major contributors since day 1 (or cup 1 rather)

That list would be:

Hjalmarsson, Hossa, Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Keith. The rest (which include some very good secondary players) are all gone. Our problem right now isn't that the core is good not great, it's that it's not finished.

Bogo/Kane/Girgensons would be closer to Ladd/Byfuglien/sharp than anyone in the core. Good but complimentary. By my count they are short exactly 1 core player, probably on defense.

I don't understand the hate Foligno constantly garners.

Nobody should have ever thought the production he had his rookie year in that small sample was in any way either repeatable or an indicator of his overall scoring ability.

His ceiling was always a 3rd line player, with the likelihood that he will be a 3rd/4th line winger.

At around $2M, what's wrong with that?

He's even filled in at center for the 4th line when needed.
- kingcong39

People want/expect more becuase of his name. And the fact that he came in like a wrecking ball. The way he has played over the last 10 games or so is 100% ok with me.

We will be a good team. No doubt. There are very little signs that this will become a great team though.

People like to point out Corsby's rookie year and how they were really bad, or the Hawks being bad for years, but there is a big difference. We have most of our "team" in their prime right now.
- sbroads24

What???

According to CBC.CA " National Hockey League forwards reach their peak scoring performance at age 28 and defencemen peak at age 29"

So who on our roaster is in their prime?

I agreed with your opinion.
I think the hate comes from when people see how productive he can be at his best compared to his usual game.
- yen6d1

His high end production runs are the outlier and not the norm.

Those need to be compared to the overall total when the season is done.

I guess that can be difficult to understand for some. Ditto that these are human beings who will not always have their A game every game.

What???

According to CBC.CA " National Hockey League forwards reach their peak scoring performance at age 28 and defencemen peak at age 29"

So who on our roaster is in their prime?
- 13Vision

Turkey, followed closely by chicken

People want/expect more becuase of his name. And the fact that he came in like a wrecking ball. The way he has played over the last 10 games or so is 100% ok with me.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

How long did it take for his bro to take off ?

not the core, however...the dead weight everyone alludes to after every game will be gone, and many of them are the older vets, by the time this group begins to hit it's stride
- Michael Pachla

Right, and that's my point.

Like a poster pointed out in the previous blog, since the 2nd month of the year, Eichel's production is increasing, yet we are losing more.

Ristolainen is already very, very good. I'm not sure how much better he could possibly get. He certainly won't score much more than he is this year

Eichel and O'Reilly are producing like top line players.

The other 15 or so skaters are whats concerning or questionable

I don't understand the hate Foligno constantly garners.

Nobody should have ever thought the production he had his rookie year in that small sample was in any way either repeatable or an indicator of his overall scoring ability.

His ceiling was always a 3rd line player, with the likelihood that he will be a 3rd/4th line winger.

At around $2M, what's wrong with that?

He's even filled in at center for the 4th line when needed.
- kingcong39

It's not just that when he gets comfortable he goes back to the same old poop hes not consistent and it's annoying

I disagree, I know the hawks comparisons aren't welcome here but just work with me...

The core are the players who have been major contributors since day 1 (or cup 1 rather)

That list would be:

Hjalmarsson, Hossa, Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Keith. The rest (which include some very good secondary players) are all gone. Our problem right now isn't that the core is good not great, it's that it's not finished.

Bogo/Kane/Girgensons would be closer to Ladd/Byfuglien/sharp than anyone in the core. Good but complimentary. By my count they are short exactly 1 core player, probably on defense.
- Sabresfan-365

The only spot I will disagree with you is the bolded above.

I am likely in the minority opinion but I believe Girgensons can be an impact top 6 wing, whether that be mainly the 2nd line or sometimes the top line.

He, Eichel, O'Reilly, Reinhart, and winger X from this draft comprise 5 of your top 6, or it gives you the ability to have Reinhart center your 3rd line for a truly deep team.

Right, and that's my point.

Like a poster pointed out in the previous blog, since the 2nd month of the year, Eichel's production is increasing, yet we are losing more.

Ristolainen is already very, very good. I'm not sure how much better he could possibly get. He certainly won't score much more than he is this year

Eichel and O'Reilly are producing like top line players.

The other 115 or so skaters are whats concerning or questionable
- sbroads24

You don't know that he won't score more. None of us do.

It is merely guessing that he won't get much better.

If he scores at the same rate yearly going forward while also improving in the defensive zone, he will have turned into everything we hoped and thought he could be, and that is entirely possible.

What???

According to CBC.CA " National Hockey League forwards reach their peak scoring performance at age 28 and defencemen peak at age 29"

So who on our roaster is in their prime?
- 13Vision

Its all down hill after 25..... Its a FACT!

The only spot I will disagree with you is the bolded above.

I am likely in the minority opinion but I believe Girgensons can be an impact top 6 wing, whether that be mainly the 2nd line or sometimes the top line.

He, Eichel, O'Reilly, Reinhart, and winger X from this draft comprise 5 of your top 6, or it gives you the ability to have Reinhart center your 3rd line for a truly deep team.
- kingcong39

I am right there with you, but so were saad, sharp, ladd. I think the when we think about Core vs Complimentary players you have to look at the players who really stand out and have a major impact on other players no matter how bad the team is vs players who improve when the team does and often rely on the strength of core players.

If you're a cagey, wiley GM, do you go to Stamkos and his team and throw a max dollar, short term deal at him, something like 3 years for $14M per, with the thought that the cap will definitely go up enough by his 3rd year that he will be able to get an even larger AAV for his next deal?

I know he will be 29 at that point.

???????

I know you think the falling off is the age of 24 but we have youngins not even 21 on the team.
- cabin

Nah, and I never said that once. The whole point of that article I posted was to ahow that your typical player "is what he is" around the age of 22-25. Those are the years that define players.

So for example, I wouldn't expect Zach Bogosian at the age of 25 to all of the sudden grow a brain and play like an All-star. Same with Foligno, Kane, Larsson etc

I am right there with you, but so were saad, sharp, ladd. I think the when we think about Core vs Complimentary players you have to look at the players who really stand out and have a major impact on other players no matter how bad the team is vs players who improve when the team does and often rely on the strength of core players.
- Sabresfan-365

As has been mentioned, they are likely going to need to think of one of Girgensons or Reinhart as a complimentary player versus a core player due to the cap.

The question is which one?

I would prefer to rotate the entire bottom 6, plus one winger from the top 6, as far as forward go, but I am not sure they have enough money overall to pay 5 of the top 6, plus Risto and hopefully one more top quality D.

You don't know that he won't score more. None of us do.

It is merely guessing that he won't get much better.

If he scores at the same rate yearly going forward while also improving in the defensive zone, he will have turned into everything we hoped and thought he could be, and that is entirely possible.
- kingcong39

Right, and you don't know Girgensons will be an impact top 6 forward. You are just guessing

As has been mentioned, they are likely going to need to think of one of Girgensons or Reinhart as a complimentary player versus a core player due to the cap.

The question is which one?

I would prefer to rotate the entire bottom 6, plus one winger from the top 6, as far as forward go, but I am not sure they have enough money overall to pay 5 of the top 6, plus Risto and hopefully one more top quality D.
- kingcong39

I don't think it's as tough of a question, Both excellent possession players and very good defensively but Reinhart's offensive upside is much higher. I'd prefer to keep both long term but that's probably not realistic (unless they get girgensons on a cheap long term deal this year).