Penn State blowing itttttt

The Weise signing was a strange one. All of the others have been short term things. I get the feeling he just likes having a ton of guys with NHL experience because he's terrified of having to play a young guy before he deems fit. When Ghost got his first call-up due to injury, it seemed like it took everything for him to finally relent.

Hexy definitely has a good deal of old school in him though. I just hope when the team is ready to win, they'll fill out the roster with better options.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's why I tried to come up with names that fit the old school 3C mold. Comfortable loading up with d-zone starts, reliable, not too young but not old, etc.. But also have decent-good advanced stats and some scoring ability. Honestly, I wouldn't even hesitate to pull the trigger on a trade for a 3C before the trade deadline if something presents. But I could imagine some guys might not be available before the season ends....and then it's flea market time. But in the back of my head I'm do wonder if they'll make the proper evaluation. It's been too constant a theme.

Penn State blowing itttttt
- PhillySportsGuy

Full blown meltdown. oh well

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/armchair-gm/team/237271

Is this the answer? It's somebody's

Laughton is still only 22. I like Zack Smith for a less expensive option if Hexy goes FA, maybe Bonino after his postseason play. While 3C might be a glaring hole it's not nearly as important as a legit #1 dman. 3C is more of a want than a need. I look at the Bruins, Hawks, Pens, and Kings.... All SC champs that have a legit top dman... the Pens lack a 3C, the Hawks couldn't find a legit 2C. We have decent centers but we lack a #1 dman until one of the prospects prove they can handle the role, if any. If I'm Hexy I don't trade a prospect for anything but a top dman. Do like the Hawks and Kings did.... Load up on picks, Keep drafting and developing prospects, once they mature fill in the gaps with value FAs.
- moylander

Provorov is the 1

On to other issues

Laughton is still only 22. I like Zack Smith for a less expensive option if Hexy goes FA, maybe Bonino after his postseason play. While 3C might be a glaring hole it's not nearly as important as a legit #1 dman. 3C is more of a want than a need. I look at the Bruins, Hawks, Pens, and Kings.... All SC champs that have a legit top dman... the Pens lack a 3C, the Hawks couldn't find a legit 2C. We have decent centers but we lack a #1 dman until one of the prospects prove they can handle the role, if any. If I'm Hexy I don't trade a prospect for anything but a top dman. Do like the Hawks and Kings did.... Load up on picks, Keep drafting and developing prospects, once they mature fill in the gaps with value FAs.
- moylander

You dont think Provorov is a #1 D man in the making? He seems to already be a top pairing Dman at least...

Great game. If your PP scores you win. To me this game came down to special team play.

You dont think Provorov is a #1 D man in the making? He seems to already be a top pairing Dman at least...
- WhirlingDervish

He could be one in the making.... Probably is.... But right now he's a 19 year old with 16 points in 39 games at -3 +/-. He's a long way from Doughty, Keith, and Chara-like #s. Let's hope his progression continues and he gets to that level.

By the same token we have a dman that nearly won the Calder Trophy last season (and would have with a full season) and people want to trade him+ for a third line center. Have we lost our minds?

Be patient. Acquire draft picks, develop prospects, then fill in the gaps with value FAs like the kings and Hawks did. If this team was one piece away from a deep playoff run then there's always the trade deadline to grab a 3C rental. I don't think we're there yet.

He could be one in the making.... Probably is.... But right now he's a 19 year old with 16 points in 39 games at -3 +/-. He's a long way from Doughty, Keith, and Chara-like #s. Let's hope his progression continues and he gets to that level.

By the same token we have a dman that nearly won the Calder Trophy last season (and would have with a full season) and people want to trade him+ for a third line center. Have we lost our minds?

Be patient. Acquire draft picks, develop prospects, then fill in the gaps with value FAs like the kings and Hawks did. If this team was one piece away from a deep playoff run then there's always the trade deadline to grab a 3C rental. I don't think we're there yet.
- moylander

Duncan Keith first year in NHL at 22 yoa 21 pts in 81 games -11
Drew Doughty rookie year as 18/19 yoa 27 pts in 81 games -17

Its more than just numbers. He's handling the toughest of defensive responsibilities and playing the top minutes on the D as a 19 year old.

Ghost will never touch Provorov's all around abilities. He had a Calder type year by his numbers, but come on give me a break I'd take Parayko any day over ghost I was saying that last year.

Duncan Keith first year in NHL at 22 yoa 21 pts in 81 games -11
Drew Doughty rookie year as 18/19 yoa 27 pts in 81 games -17

Its more than just numbers. He's handling the toughest of defensive responsibilities and playing the top minutes on the D as a 19 year old.

Ghost will never touch Provorov's all around abilities. He had a Calder type year by his numbers, but come on give me a break I'd take Parayko any day over ghost I was saying that last year.
- Just5

Call me when Provy puts up 69 points +21 (Keith) and 59 Points +20 (Doughty)... Then I'll tell you he's a legit #1. Right now he's looking very good over 39 games and he has the POTENTIAL to be a #1. I'll take the wait and see approach before annointing Provy the next Norris winner. I'll also take the wait and see approach to building this team, like the Hawks and Kings did. How soon we forget what it was like when Holmgren traded until the cupboards were bare. Remember JVR for Luke... And how's Bob doing in net these days?

If any dman is traded this season I hope it's MDZ and/or Streit for draft picks.

Call me when Provy puts up 69 points +21 (Keith) and 59 Points +20 (Doughty)... Then I'll tell you he's a legit #1. Right now he's looking very good over 39 games and he has the POTENTIAL to be a #1. I'll take the wait and see approach before annointing Provy the next Norris winner. I'll also take the wait and see approach to building this team, like the Hawks and Kings did. How soon we forget what it was like when Holmgren traded until the cupboards were bare. Remember JVR for Luke... And how's Bob doing in net these days?
- moylander

Not every #1 dman is a Norris winner/finalist

Provy isn't getting near those numbers with no PP1 time. It's just a luxury and rare that Ghost and Sanheim are and will be such great PP guys. And then you have Provorov and Myers potentially. They'll all manage to keep each other's points a bit deflated.

Call me when Provy puts up 69 points +21 (Keith) and 59 Points +20 (Doughty)... Then I'll tell you he's a legit #1. Right now he's looking very good over 39 games and he has the POTENTIAL to be a #1. I'll take the wait and see approach before annointing Provy the next Norris winner. I'll also take the wait and see approach to building this team, like the Hawks and Kings did. How soon we forget what it was like when Holmgren traded until the cupboards were bare. Remember JVR for Luke... And how's Bob doing in net these days?
- moylander

Need to keep in mind that with Gostisbehere on the team, Provorov may never see much first unit PP time, so that is going to keep his point totals down, if that is the case.

Penn State blowing itttttt
- PhillySportsGuy

f u buddy

Really, I kinda wanted to see more of him as a 2nd line center, and go with Coots as a 3rd line center.
That's one thing I'd like to see less of with Hak, all the line changes without much time for any of them to gel. Just cause things don't take off immediately doesn't always mean it won't work. Sometimes giving a line some time to work things out pays off. Not that Hak is the only coach guilty of that, it seems the days of having a set line are more of a thing of the past.
- WhirlingDervish

Rafll-G-Voracek and Konency-Schenn-Simmonds have been left together to gel for most of the past 20 games.

If they aren't gelling, it's not the coach's fault.

The Flyers should just trade him now, and try to get whatever value they can since hes obviously damaged goods.
- MJL

Toronto didn't do that with Nylander after he got knocked out of the last WJC, and now they are paying the price for being patient.

Need to keep in mind that with Gostisbehere on the team, Provorov may never see much first unit PP time, so that is going to keep his point totals down, if that is the case.
- MJL

Just pointing out what Stanley Cup champion #1 dmen look like. Provy has a long way to go before he's at that level. Point being, don't trade away the prospects until we know what we have. Let them all develop.

There is no bigger hole than 3C. I have been very vocal about that. If Lindblom and Schenn are potential 3rd line wingers next year (in name only, and maybe not even them), that 3rd line could be supercharged with just a solid 2-way center, like who I named. Berglund is the only free agent I can think of, and I agree that term and $$ could be an issue. I honestly prefer looking at a trade with the names I listed. Karlsson and Jarnkrok stand out to me personally.

There are no other internal options if Cousins is a no-go. There's just no one else for a couple years. They can't go into next year without addressing it and addressing it properly. That means no Boyd Gordons. They need a real answer.
- Mononoke

Scott Laughton will be on the team next year unless Vegas takes him or there's a trade. He might not be a good option, but he's definitely an option considering he was already used as the 3C as a 20 year old.

Just pointing out what Stanley Cup champion #1 dmen look like. Provy has a long way to go before he's at that level. Point being, don't trade away the prospects until we know what we have. Let them all develop.
- moylander

Did they win a cup and then become a #1 dman? Which comes first? Cup isn't required to watch Provorov play and see his talent level. Suggesting he needs a certain number of points to be considered a #1 is Millburish

Did they win a cup and then become a #1 dman? Which comes first? Cup isn't required to watch Provorov play and see his talent level. Suggesting he needs a certain number of points to be considered a #1 is Millburish
- YuenglingJagr

Guys like Ryan McDonagh, Ryan Suter, and even Drew Doughty regularly put up very good, but not jaw-dropping, numbers. To me, it's more about the ability to control the play on the ice as opposed to numbers. Now, if he's putting up 3 goals and 12 assists as a 25-year-old, there's an issue. But if he can come close to 12 goals and 40 points while playing very good defense both at ES and SH, then I'll be happy.

Also, if Sweden beats Canada tonight, will there be some more "technical difficulties" raising the Swedish flag after the game? I'm sure it was just a coincidence that the only time the flag couldn't be raised was when the USA beat Canada, I hope they've worked through their issues.

Guys like Ryan McDonagh, Ryan Suter, and even Drew Doughty regularly put up very good, but not jaw-dropping, numbers. To me, it's more about the ability to control the play on the ice as opposed to numbers. Now, if he's putting up 3 goals and 12 assists as a 25-year-old, there's an issue. But if he can come close to 12 goals and 40 points while playing very good defense both at ES and SH, then I'll be happy.
- jmatchett383

Suter has always been my comparison for Provorov, and if he produces and plays like him we have a #1D for the next decade.

http://www.eliteprospects...om/player.php?player=8897

Both January birthdays, both picked at 7th overall, both 6'1" and around 200 pounds, both lefties... it's kind of spooky. The main difference is Suter spent his 19-year old season in the AHL because of the lockout.

Suter has always been my comparison for Provorov, and if he produces and plays like him we have a #1D for the next decade.

http://www.eliteprospects...om/player.php?player=8897

Both January birthdays, both picked at 7th overall, both 6'1" and around 200 pounds, both lefties... it's kind of spooky. The main difference is Suter spent his 19-year old season in the AHL because of the lockout.
- Feanor

so you're saying we could've had provorov much sooner if we had just signed Suter to a 13 year contract?

so you're saying we could've had provorov much sooner if we had just signed Suter to a 13 year contract?
- YuenglingJagr

Didn't Homer try that after he lost out on Weber?