That is rediculous. It was called the dead puck era because Lemaire demonstrated that teams lacking talent could be competitive by keeping the puck out of their own net. That was not entertaining hockey.

You have lofty expectations for the bottom of the roster, I hope you're right. I don't think you will be, but that's why they play the games.
- 1970vintage

You need to watch more hockey if you think Roussel is there to keep pucks out of the net .

You want to pay Gaunce 800 K to score four goals off his ass instead of paying a guy like Schaller 1 mil more who scored more last year than Gaunce will do in his NHL career.

Beagle is the cheaper Sutter 3 rd line and Sutter is the cheaper Hank (hopefully he can score more than 3 goals

Why would a prospect (Gaudette) have to be "so far ahead" of other players? Wouldn't he only need to be better? If Gaudette outplays Granlund (or Gagner, or whoever) for the 4th C roll how much better does he need to be?
- 1970vintage

Who do you think will get more icetime and better zone starts. EP or Gaudette? Take a wild guess

Yeah, i want entertaining hockey too, i just dont see how having the best 4th line in the league accomplishes that. Injecting talent that pushes marginal players down instead of injecting marginal players pushing slightly less marginal players up sounds like a better solution to me.
- 1970vintage

Where do you plan on instantly finding this talent?

Where do you plan on instantly finding this talent?
- manvanfan

Gaunce of course

NightHawk do you drive a big truck?

You need to watch more hockey if you think Roussel is there to keep pucks out of the net .

You want to pay Gaunce 800 K to score four goals off his ass instead of paying a guy like Schaller 1 mil more who scored more last year than Gaunce will do in his NHL career.

Beagle is the cheaper Sutter 3 rd line and Sutter is the cheaper Hank (hopefully he can score more than 3 goals
- VANTEL

You just said they are here to keep pucks out of the net, not me. Comparing Sutter to Sedin based on goals alone?

Who do you think will get more icetime and better zone starts. EP or Gaudette? Take a wild guess
- VANTEL

What does that have to do with anything?

Where do you plan on instantly finding this talent?
- manvanfan

Ask the universe, the universe provides.

Gaunce of course
- VANTEL

The people that complain the most about signing free agents are also the ones that figure that every drafted rookie in the first 3 rounds should be on the team within a year of being drafted.

So worried about FA's money.

Ask the universe, the universe provides.
- 1970vintage

I asked you because you seem to know what the team should have done instead of did. You sound as if you are able to right all the wrong and change fate for other players as well.

The people that complain the most about signing free agents are also the ones that figure that every drafted rookie in the first 3 rounds should be on the team within a year of being drafted.

So worried about FA's money.
- manvanfan

This is so ironic it isn't even funny.

You just said they are here to keep pucks out of the net, not me. Comparing Sutter to Sedin based on goals alone?
- 1970vintage

I could bring in the plus minus stat and shutting down other teams best lines but I didn't think getting into details on the obvious was needed.

Our second line had 36 goals last year .That is an embarrassment . 20 mil and 36 goals .

What does that have to do with anything?
- 1970vintage

You asked why Gaudette should come in better than others . That's the reason right there , for more ice time an better opportunities

Why would a prospect (Gaudette) have to be "so far ahead" of other players? Wouldn't he only need to be better? If Gaudette outplays Granlund (or Gagner, or whoever) for the 4th C roll how much better does he need to be?
- 1970vintage

Maybe I'm wrong, but there is having a good camp and then there is having history with a coach. TG knows what Granlund is like, maybe he wants to see little details in his game, but still knows what he brings. Gaudette will have had a good camp with a bunch of other prospects. Granlund has played in the pro's AHL and NHL.

Yeah, a prospect can have a good/great camp. even pre season, but not sure if that means they are ready or should start in the NHL.

McCann and Virtanen looked better than what we had at the time, expecting a similar scenario with some players this camp.

These prospects might be going at it at camp, veterans don't usually go at it as hard. Maybe this has changed a little, but I'd expect some to not be blocking shots, not wanting to get injured.

Maybe I'm wrong, but there is having a good camp and then there is having history with a coach. TG knows what Granlund is like, maybe he wants to see little details in his game, but still knows what he brings. Gaudette will have had a good camp with a bunch of other prospects. Granlund has played in the pro's AHL and NHL.

Yeah, a prospect can have a good/great camp. even pre season, but not sure if that means they are ready or should start in the NHL.

McCann and Virtanen looked better than what we had at the time, expecting a similar scenario with some players this camp.

These prospects might be going at it at camp, veterans don't usually go at it as hard.
- hillbillydeluxe

Sounds like they better this year

I asked you because you seem to know what the team should have done instead of did. You sound as if you are able to right all the wrong and change fate for other players as well.
- manvanfan

Very well, were I the GM I would have traded Baertschi, Granlund, Hutton (if I could) plus a few other spare parts. I would have targeted a more offensive C in free agency and I would be inviting PTO players to push from the bottom in competition with prospects. I may have gone after Rousel and or Schaller, I may even have been in on Beagle (but not the other two).

This is so ironic it isn't even funny.
- 1970vintage

They have 12 mil in cap space when the year starts , how much more would make you happy? Do you own stocks?

You asked why Gaudette should come in better than others . That's the reason right there , for more ice time an better opportunities
- VANTEL

No, I asked why Gaudette would have to be miles ahead of, say Granlund. I asked how much better one player has to be than another in order to play ahead of that player. I never said anything about Pettersson, I dont believe the teo of them are fighting for the same spot.

You need to watch more hockey if you think Roussel is there to keep pucks out of the net .

You want to pay Gaunce 800 K to score four goals off his ass instead of paying a guy like Schaller 1 mil more who scored more last year than Gaunce will do in his NHL career.

Beagle is the cheaper Sutter 3 rd line and Sutter is the cheaper Hank (hopefully he can score more than 3 goals
- VANTEL

How many assists does Sutter have in his best season? Less then Henriks worst season? Yes.


Gaunce improved his goal totals four fold each season he's played. I expect him to continue this trajectory and expect him to score 16 goals next season.

Sounds like they better this year
- VANTEL

I am really curious to see who is going to be on the bubble.

waiting for a list to come out on who is still waiver exempt.

Where is Dahlen at compared to Goldobin?

Could both Gaudette and Petterson make the lineup? Even possible that Gaudette makes it and Petterson goes to Utica?

I still think a veteran has a spot to lose while a rookie has to win it.

and not sure if Granlund is really a veteran or you can't look at yourself as being established when you are on a team at the bottom of the standings?

Maybe I'm wrong, but there is having a good camp and then there is having history with a coach. TG knows what Granlund is like, maybe he wants to see little details in his game, but still knows what he brings. Gaudette will have had a good camp with a bunch of other prospects. Granlund has played in the pro's AHL and NHL.

Yeah, a prospect can have a good/great camp. even pre season, but not sure if that means they are ready or should start in the NHL.

McCann and Virtanen looked better than what we had at the time, expecting a similar scenario with some players this camp.

These prospects might be going at it at camp, veterans don't usually go at it as hard. Maybe this has changed a little, but I'd expect some to not be blocking shots, not wanting to get injured.
- hillbillydeluxe

Benning has stated, and you sheep keep repeating it, if a prospect shows they are ready he will make room (waive/trade). Your perspective solidifies my arguement that prospects won't actually make the lineup over a veteran...

You asked why Gaudette should come in better than others . That's the reason right there , for more ice time an better opportunities
- VANTEL

EP's a top six player, i'd fully expect him to get more offensive zone starts and PP time. If not, i'd question his deployment.

Very well, were I the GM I would have traded Baertschi, Granlund, Hutton (if I could) plus a few other spare parts. I would have targeted a more offensive C in free agency and I would be inviting PTO players to push from the bottom in competition with prospects. I may have gone after Rousel and or Schaller, I may even have been in on Beagle (but not the other two).
- 1970vintage

They did target a two more offensive centers .Tavares (who was not interested) and fans asked if JB was crazy , then they kicked tires on ROR and the fan base went nuts.

Sven what if he scores 20 this year and you have a top 6 guy for 3 mil?

Hutton no one wanted

Granlund scraps .

EP's a top six player, i'd fully expect him to get more offensive zone starts and PP time. If not, i'd question his deployment.
- golfingsince

Definitely .

I am pointing out to Vintsy why it is important for a prospect to be better than the next player.

They have 12 mil in cap space when the year starts , how much more would make you happy? Do you own stocks?
- VANTEL

In four years we'll have 2x3m and 1x6m unproductive old slow players eating up 12m in cap space and doing nothing for us. This is when we should be competitive, in 4 years, and we'll have these anchors dragging us down.