Hopefully we have bigger fish to fry than Vesey.
- BigStew

like?

like?
- Michael Pachla

Everyone seems to love Stamkos, not sure he is actually a viable option but I wouldn't mind seeing a top 6 guy who has NHL experience added in the offseason rather than another rookie.

Hopefully we have bigger fish to fry than Vesey.
- BigStew

Well...
Trad for a defenseman at the draft
Sign Stamkos July 1st

If Vesey hasn't chosen where he wants to go yet, maybe that bumps us up towards the top of the list

He doesn't become a UFA till August 15th
But if he makes a decision before the draft, the Preds prob trade his rights

It's so unfair a lot of you live in Buffalo or the surrounding area, I want to go to a game so bad lol.
- Sabre_Tooth

Bet you say that to all the fans of other teams too.

How would you grade Evander Kane's season

A-F


I would do a C+

20 goals is ok
Suspension and injuries hurt him
Ended the year playing a more rounded game

It's so unfair a lot of you live in Buffalo or the surrounding area, I want to go to a game so bad lol.
- Sabre_Tooth

Same hahah

Where do u live?
Gotta be able to see a game somewhere reasonably close...
- jdfitz77

Minnesota is 5.5 hrs, Colorado is 7 hrs, St Louis is 8 hrs, and Chicago is 9hrs.

Went to a game in CO last year, it was cool but we had practically an AHL roster.

Would love to go back to Buff though, my uncle lives a couple of miles from FN center. Flights are around 350 Round trip from here and its hard to budget a trip, hopefully next year. Would love to catch a bills game at the Ralph too, saw them in KC this year.

How would you grade Evander Kane's season

A-F


I would do a C+

20 goals is ok
Suspension and injuries hurt him
Ended the year playing a more rounded game
- sbroads24

I think thats fair, maybe a B-. 20 goals this year seems to be a pretty good season relatively speaking.

Bet you say that to all the fans of other teams too.


- cabin

Preactically, It's a hell of a road trip to get to any sort of pro sport for me. Closest is the Royals and Chiefs in KC, but thats still a 3 and a half hour drive.

Well...
Trad for a defenseman at the draft
Sign Stamkos July 1st

If Vesey hasn't chosen where he wants to go yet, maybe that bumps us up towards the top of the list

He doesn't become a UFA till August 15th
But if he makes a decision before the draft, the Preds prob trade his rights
- jdfitz77

Murray and staff go all in this off-season. This team is close now and there's only really a few holes to fill ......... as opposed to needing EVERYTHING like in the past couple years.

How close are we right now? The difference between where we are compared to being a play-off team this year is six or seven more regulation wins. That's it.

Everyone seems to love Stamkos, not sure he is actually a viable option but I wouldn't mind seeing a top 6 guy who has NHL experience added in the offseason rather than another rookie.
- BigStew

word around here is that the sabres are hot after stamkos...that said, a nice fallback might be david backes who's been in a top-nine role in st. louis...word is the 32 yr. old's looking for $6m+/season on a longer term contract

How would you grade Evander Kane's season

A-F


I would do a C+

20 goals is ok
Suspension and injuries hurt him
Ended the year playing a more rounded game
- sbroads24

20 goals in 65games though
That's a pace for 25 goals in a full season
And that's with his lowest shooting % of his career

He had a rough start adjusting to linemates & Bylsma's system (he's not the only one)

I'll agree with your grade for now, maybe a B-
But I think we could see a nice jump next year in his production

Consistent linemates can help with chemistry
More time helps him learn the system
And both of the above should help his shooting %

A 25 goal ove this year could definitely become 30+
Then we'd be talking about a grade around an A

How would you grade Evander Kane's season

A-F


I would do a C+

20 goals is ok
Suspension and injuries hurt him
Ended the year playing a more rounded game
- sbroads24

B-

It's so unfair a lot of you live in Buffalo or the surrounding area, I want to go to a game so bad lol.
- Sabre_Tooth

This is Game 20 this year! Normally sell the TOR games but this is the last one for me and i want to see Fasching and Nelson.

20 goals in 65games though
That's a pace for 25 goals in a full season
And that's with his lowest shooting % of his career

He had a rough start adjusting to linemates & Bylsma's system (he's not the only one)

I'll agree with your grade for now, maybe a B-
But I think we could see a nice jump next year in his production

Consistent linemates can help with chemistry
More time helps him learn the system
And both of the above should help his shooting %

A 25 goal ove this year could definitely become 30+
Then we'd be talking about a grade around an A
- jdfitz77

well put, fitz...love his aggressive north/south game...plus, he may have gotten his head on straight this year too, which will benefit him even more

20 goals in 65games though
That's a pace for 25 goals in a full season
And that's with his lowest shooting % of his career

He had a rough start adjusting to linemates & Bylsma's system (he's not the only one)

I'll agree with your grade for now, maybe a B-
But I think we could see a nice jump next year in his production

Consistent linemates can help with chemistry
More time helps him learn the system
And both of the above should help his shooting %

A 25 goal ove this year could definitely become 30+
Then we'd be talking about a grade around an A
- jdfitz77

Kane does not play full seasons. That's the thing.

People keep talking about his pace. Pace means little when you never play 82.

Minnesota is 5.5 hrs, Colorado is 7 hrs, St Louis is 8 hrs, and Chicago is 9hrs.

Went to a game in CO last year, it was cool but we had practically an AHL roster.

Would love to go back to Buff though, my uncle lives a couple of miles from FN center. Flights are around 350 Round trip from here and its hard to budget a trip, hopefully next year. Would love to catch a bills game at the Ralph too, saw them in KC this year.
- Sabre_Tooth

If u can stay with your uncle it can be a pretty affordable trip
I'm sure there will be weekends where u can catch a Bills & Sabres game(s)
Next year should be a pretty fun season for both teams
Been a while since both were legit competing for the playoffs

Kane does not play full seasons. That's the thing.

People keep talking about his pace. Pace means little when you never play 82.
- sbroads24

Not necessarily
Sure... He prob won't play 82
But it gives u an idea of how well he's playing in general
If he can be that "30+" player,
And be healthy for the the playoffs...
Then I'm ok if he only plays 65-70 reg season games & gets 25-28 goals

With his physical style,
I wouldn't expect he'd play all 82
As long as he's good to go for the playoffs

Not necessarily
Sure... He prob won't play 82
But it gives u an idea of how well he's playing in general
If he can be that "30+" player,
And be healthy for the the playoffs...
Then I'm ok if he only plays 65-70 reg season games & gets 25-28 goals

With his physical style,
I wouldn't expect he'd play all 82
As long as he's good to go for the playoffs
- jdfitz77

In a way sure. It's also very misleading.

Murray and staff go all in this off-season. This team is close now and there's only really a few holes to fill ......... as opposed to needing EVERYTHING like in the past couple years.

How close are we right now? The difference between where we are compared to being a play-off team this year is six or seven more regulation wins. That's it.
- fastek

The other night, they mentioned on NBCsports that in the 2nd half of the season we were on pace for 92points over a full season

That would put us in the playoffs this year, or at least very close to it

And that's with the injuries & down seasons from key guys like Ennis & Girgs

Bounce back seasons from them, healthy Bogo & Lehner, general improvement from young guys and everyone learning Bylsma's complicated system better...

I really like our chances for the playoffs next year

Fill a couple holes, and we're almost a lock
Fill those holes with a partner for Risto, Stamkos, & maybe 1 other top9 winger...
We could win the division

In a way sure. It's also very misleading.
- sbroads24

his career goals/game average is .30 which means he'll probably be, in the very least, a 20-goal/season player...in looking at the way he's been playing the last couple of months, he could very well up that to the 25-30 range if he plays 70+ games...since January 16th, he scored 12 goals in 31 games (.39 goals/game)

In a way sure. It's also very misleading.
- sbroads24

Not really
Sure, you'd like every player for 82 games
But the playoffs is where it really matters

And to judge how good my players are...
Stats broken down to per game are a more accurate way to tell u just how good a team u have

We can still be a playoff team if Kane misses 10-15 games

The other night, they mentioned on NBCsports that in the 2nd half of the season we were on pace for 92points over a full season

That would put us in the playoffs this year, or at least very close to it

And that's with the injuries & down seasons from key guys like Ennis & Girgs

Bounce back seasons from them, healthy Bogo & Lehner, general improvement from young guys and everyone learning Bylsma's complicated system better...

I really like our chances for the playoffs next year

Fill a couple holes, and we're almost a lock
Fill those holes with a partner for Risto, Stamkos, & maybe 1 other top9 winger...
We could win the division
- jdfitz77

Kane will have a great season next year as well .........

his career goals/game average is .30 which means he'll probably be, in the very least, a 20-goal/season player...in looking at the way he's been playing the last couple of months, he could very well up that to the 25-30 range if he plays 70+ games...since January 16th, he scored 12 goals in 31 games (.39 goals/game)
- Michael Pachla

I expect a guy like Kane to miss time
So for me, as long as he's healthy for the playoffs & most of the season...
I'm more concerned about how good he is when he's in the line-up,
as opposed to how much time he misses

Says the guy with the not-so-hetero avatar!
Hahaha
F the Leafs!
- jdfitz77