Why was Svedberg called back up anyhow?
- walleyeb1

Taking the spot of one of Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, or Hjammer. No need for any of them to play just in case.

How do we go from being excited about all the young prospect to roasting Stan's GM career because he didn't trade for Yakupov?
- DarthKane

No reason to at all. Definitely good to be excited about the young bloods (while also tempering expectations). It's not a huge loss either. Yak is a one dimensional player. The Hawks or Q especially, does not need that.

I'll be honest yeah our guys may not have done too much offensively production wise but I thought our guys really held their own I was expecting this to be a 4-0 loss not a 2-1 loss where our 5v5 goals were even against a blues team that had everyone basically and I figured that some of our guys would make some big errors but they fought hard and I am very impressed with this game! This can be looked at none other than a positive imo

It's not like Crawford was barraged and had to bail us out either we almost had an even number of shots on goal we really held our own in there I mean there was a point when watching where I thought we could win the game that was unthinkable to me before the game started

Not exactly the same - Pokka is likely to be a bottom pair guy eventually with some movement up if he develops well over the next few years. Considering he just turned 22, he's on a generally acceptable development curve for d-prospects. He'd have more potential than the ECHLer the Blues gave up, anyway, which was obviously just a throw in to move the contract for the Blues. The Hawks deal would slightly better, but EDM was obvs stuck on not having to retain anything / less than the Hawks could handle.
- L_B_R

Pokka is going to have to gain a lot from experience, because he has some serious (lack of) quickness issues and he is a pylon at the NHL level.

Pokka is going to have to gain a lot from experience, because he has some serious (lack of) quickness issues and he is a pylon at the NHL level.
- John Jaeckel

Yes.
I recall having said much the same thing when folks were talking about him being one of the top Hog defenders last year. Might have been true but only spoke to the dearth of quality D at the AHL level.

IMO Pokka will never be an NHL-level defender regardless of pairing placement. Likely will not even be a trade chip for Stan, just an ever-present reminder of the "wait too long" position he took with moving Leddy (and others) and getting nothing in return.

And John, as you have cautioned folks here, once the big-boy players are all playing, let's wait and see how some of these young guys look. Interesting to note that Forsling (as much as I and others like him) didn't look so hot last night. Nor did Fortin. You were spot-on my friend. Keep telling it like it is!

Pokka is going to have to gain a lot from experience, because he has some serious (lack of) quickness issues and he is a pylon at the NHL level.
- John Jaeckel

It is essential more work in his pivot to get in backward skating mode that he continues to have; it is almost like his head is taking time to decide whether to attempt the pivot, or just try and barrel up bnext to the outside attacking wingers, ala Trevor Daley.

The management etam purposefully sent a large roojie contingent out against a Blues line up full of starters with intent to see just what these guys without our core guys in there. Not bad thinking, extra rest and no injuries for your solid real lineup.

It didn't leave questions about Motter, Hinostroza, or Hartman, it just gave them enough new info to ask Forsling to wait and return at the playoffs, Fortin to go back to junior with a terrifically positive attitude.

You can throw a dart as to whether Nickie Schmaltz is staying, or whether vets are going...

You can debate who and why, but I certainly can't decide across the board...but would keep Schmaltz, Hulkiing, ah Forsling.

I am gla d we didn't give up a possible second rounder for Yak, because with good players he might have a good offensiev end, if not the rest...
Anybody think he gets protected away from Las Vegas ?