Yeah his goals have fallen off but you are not going to convince anyone that Karlsson is bad. He just isn't.

He has 13 assists in 16 PO games this year and is supposedly hurt.

Trust me, I am wary of the contract too but Karlsson is simply not bad.
- JRR1285

He's bad. It's settled.

He's bad. It's settled.
- tomburton99

Don't be Richard. This is a nice conversation.

What made Brian Leetch great was his offensive abilities, not his Defense. He’s probably the greatest Ranger dman ever. But defense is the only thing that matters I guess
- Slimtj100

Leetch was pretty damn good defensively though.

What made Brian Leetch great was his offensive abilities, not his Defense. He’s probably the greatest Ranger dman ever. But defense is the only thing that matters I guess
- Slimtj100

I think what made Leetch great was he was awesome at both, and if he slipped up being to aggressive offensively he had that monster Beuk watching his 6

Wow, that Doughty contract is INSANE. I did not realize the numbers on that one. HOLY poop.
- JRR1285

yeah, it reminds me of the Carey Price contract, just yikes

yeah, it reminds me of the Carey Price contract, just yikes
- jimbro83

These contracts are why we can't have nice things.

Next lockout is all but guaranteed.

I think what made Leetch great was he was awesome at both, and if he slipped up being to aggressive offensively he had that monster Beuk watching his 6
- mdw7413

That’s kind of my point. Play him with a defense first guy if it’s that much of a concern.

If you don’t want him for the contract and term of it that’s fine, but he’ll more then make up for defensive liabilities in so many other ways

These contracts are why we can't have nice things.

Next lockout is all but guaranteed.
- JRR1285

That’s another thing, they’d probably be able to compliance buy out the mfer eventually anyway

That’s kind of my point. Play him with a defense first guy if it’s that much of a concern.

If you don’t want him for the contract and term of it that’s fine, but he’ll more then make up for defensive liabilities in so many other ways
- Slimtj100

Yup I don't want him for the contract and term. Have no issue with his play.

Need to throw all the fishnagles at Panarin

That’s kind of my point. Play him with a defense first guy if it’s that much of a concern.

If you don’t want him for the contract and term of it that’s fine, but he’ll more then make up for defensive liabilities in so many other ways
- Slimtj100

I mean, healthy, the thought of Karlsson out there conducting the offense with thee new young forwards like Kravstov and Kakko out there would be insane

dynamic and skilled as it gets

I am not worried about Karlsson defensively at all, I am worried about health

Don't be Richard. This is a nice conversation.
- JRR1285

it's too late for that

That’s another thing, they’d probably be able to compliance buy out the mfer eventually anyway
- Slimtj100

These contracts are why we can't have nice things.

Next lockout is all but guaranteed.
- JRR1285

this is what I don't fully understand, the players don't make the contract offers the GMs do why punish the players and fans for GMs spending the money?

this is what I don't fully understand, the players don't make the contract offers the GMs do why punish the players and fans for GMs spending the money?
- blueshirts_fan

I don't know. It is so frustrating when it happens, it makes me want to give up the sport. It's a (frank)ing joke that they can't figure this poop out before a work stoppage.

I mean, healthy, the thought of Karlsson out there conducting the offense with thee new young forwards like Kravstov and Kakko out there would be insane

dynamic and skilled as it gets

I am not worried about Karlsson defensively at all, I am worried about health
- jimbro83

Fair point. I do think it theory they would need to have a good defensive D. Just for the sake of argument, let's remove the cap issues. Would you try moving up Hajek so they could have a defense first pair guy? I'd say Lindgren eventually, but I'm not sure is skating is good enough.

I don't know. It is so frustrating when it happens, it makes me want to give up the sport. It's a (frank)ing joke that they can't figure this poop out before a work stoppage.
- JRR1285

It is frustrating, I'd argue though the 04-05 one needed to happen. The league wasn't going to survive. The last one seemed to be stupid.

I think hockey is in a unique position when it comes to this. As the 4th sport, and more Canadian teams than the other sports, there really are issues that only hockey owns. I hope I'm wrong, but I think there will always be some labor strife because there is less of a pie, it's the only sport with a hard cap, and there are serious exchange rate issues.

Fair point. I do think it theory they would need to have a good defensive D. Just for the sake of argument, let's remove the cap issues. Would you try moving up Hajek so they could have a defense first pair guy? I'd say Lindgren eventually, but I'm not sure is skating is good enough.
- 2sticks1puck

I think if they can get someone positionally sound that speed would be less of a factor, think Girardi. Skjei could also be that guy I believe. Hajek looks good too.

Skjei - EK
Hajek - Shattenkirk/ADA
Staal - Fox

Swap Fox and ADA/Kirk as needed. Give Staal a break sometimes with Smith. Keep Smith playing on forward or shoot one of Shattenkirk, Staal or Smith into the Sun (or ship em out if at all possible). Trade ADA(or Kirk)+Georgiev for other needs.

Fair point. I do think it theory they would need to have a good defensive D. Just for the sake of argument, let's remove the cap issues. Would you try moving up Hajek so they could have a defense first pair guy? I'd say Lindgren eventually, but I'm not sure is skating is good enough.
- 2sticks1puck

No one but me and maybe JJR bring up his leadership qualities either. Like playing hurt. Players go through a wall when they see that. I haven’t seen that kind of will in a player in a long time.

No one but me and maybe JJR bring up his leadership qualities either. Like playing hurt. Players go through a wall when they see that. I haven’t that kind of will in a player in a long time
- Slimtj100

Imagine the Swedes EK and Hank just yelling at everyone not to suck. Loose that room quick.

I think if they can get someone positionally sound that speed would be less of a factor, think Girardi. Skjei could also be that guy I believe. Hajek looks good too.

Skjei - EK
Hajek - Shattenkirk/ADA
Staal - Fox

Swap Fox and ADA/Kirk as needed. Give Staal a break sometimes with Smith. Keep Smith playing on forward or shoot one of Shattenkirk, Staal or Smith into the Sun (or ship em out if at all possible). Trade ADA(or Kirk)+Georgiev for other needs.
- JRR1285

A dream 6 for me would be (2-3 yrs)

Miller - Karlsson
Skjei- Fox
Hajek/Lindgren - AD/Nils

It is frustrating, I'd argue though the 04-05 one needed to happen. The league wasn't going to survive. The last one seemed to be stupid.

I think hockey is in a unique position when it comes to this. As the 4th sport, and more Canadian teams than the other sports, there really are issues that only hockey owns. I hope I'm wrong, but I think there will always be some labor strife because there is less of a pie, it's the only sport with a hard cap, and there are serious exchange rate issues.
- 2sticks1puck

Yeah I agree but the complete lost season could've done them in too.

The last one I was in full rage mode. There was no excuse for losing that much of the season, or any of it for that matter.

A dream 6 for me would be (2-3 yrs)

Miller - Karlsson
Skjei- Fox
Hajek/Lindgren - AD
- Slimtj100

Yeah, that looks real good. I forgot about Miller but I don't think we will see him here for at least another year.

A dream 6 for me would be (2-3 yrs)

Miller - Karlsson
Skjei- Fox
Hajek/Lindgren - AD/Nils
- Slimtj100

So Lundkvist is a bust?

I'm saying it now. Lundkvist is our EK but younger and a hell of a lot cheaper.

So Lundkvist is a bust?

I'm saying it now. Lundkvist is our EK but younger and a hell of a lot cheaper.
- mdw7413

You shut up.

Yeah I agree but the complete lost season could've done them in too.

The last one I was in full rage mode. There was no excuse for losing that much of the season, or any of it for that matter.
- JRR1285

The only argument I could make with the last one is that this time the players needed to take a stand. The players did give up a bit, but we can see that Fehr really set them up nicely in the present.

Honestly, they should just extend this one with just a few minor tweaks. There are still some teams losing money, but that's going to happen in pretty much any situation.