be nice to the new guy. he's not on the same page yet.
- Pomegrant

He’s doomed.

Vats is a very good D. He didn't put up the numbers last year, but he is still very valuable. Tho with the Jets losing Buff for an undisclosed amount of time, they are desperate for a RD. Otherwise their top 3 RD are Niku, Pionk, Poolman......That isn't good enough.
- bikeguy99

I agree. Unless Smith is unreal, I want Vatanen next to Subban on the top pair.

I agree. Unless Smith is unreal, I want Vatanen next to Subban on the top pair.
- MartysBetter88

Smith sucked in the rookie games. If that is an indication we'll need another guy to step up this year.

I agree. Unless Smith is unreal, I want Vatanen next to Subban on the top pair.
- MartysBetter88

Vatanen is bad though.

Vatanen is bad though.
- ScrantonDangler

oh, how foolish of me

Smith sucked in the rookie games. If that is an indication we'll need another guy to step up this year.
- Leniwm1

It’s not

It’s not
- Senor_Elias

Hope you’re right. Wonder why he stunk in the prospect challenge. ..

I think Greene is a better option than Mueller.

Top IMO is:

PK>Severson>Butcher>Vats>Greene>Smith>Mueller>Carrick

... Smith is still a question mark in the NHL also.. so this may even be generous, sure he is supposed to be good but so was all the others like Santini, etc...until they were here and ended up just being so-so.
- TRDevil

So if you are killing a penalty or holding a one goal lead with two minutes left to play, who do you have out there?

Smith sucked in the rookie games. If that is an indication we'll need another guy to step up this year.
- Leniwm1

One thing I noticed about Smith is that he plays badly when he doesn't know a system and he's stuck in a situation where he has to fill in and make his own decisions, he struggles, because he plays the game a little differently than others do, and maybe he has difficulty reading his teammates.

He wasn't great for Canada at the world junior tournaments, and he wasn't great in the Cherry-Orr game.

Yet, I predict he'll be fine at the NHL level so long as he knows what everyone is doing. He'll have a 0 point in 7 game start, but then he'll pick it up, maybe get 25-30 this year in limited situations. I certainly don't expect Miro Heiskanen - but in five years, I do see him as being like an Ellis type of player.

Boqvist with the 2 first goals of training camp in the first 4 minutes of scrimmage

Hope you’re right. Wonder why he stunk in the prospect challenge. ..
- Queenie_5_hole

Because they weren't really a team. it was just a bunch of random guys, a lot of them not going anywhere ever, playing together. Don't read anything from it.

People are commenting like he hasnt declined every year... Just stating facts.

Some people are commenting like their words and thoughts are facts.

Some people are taking other peoples comments and throwing them way out of context for others to come in on.

Some People arent even reading the actual comments ppl are writing....

Can you tell me exactly how much any player is going to drop off ever ? No so why (frank) would every single one of you act like it would be impossible for time to have made a bigger dent in his game then season previous?

Some of you act like you literally predicted Heatley would go from 50 goals to a nobody in a span of a couple of years . it really is amazing al the facts you guus have on decisions that the staff hasnt even made yet but some how a few of you already know..
- Devilish4

There are many factors, and some of them have nothing to do with their game declining, so much as the league moving to smaller, faster, skilled players coming into the league. You look at what was a two minute interference/hooking penalty from when Greene entered the league, to what it is now, and it is incredible how that has changed. I think Greene was always a 4D, even in his prime, and has slipped to a bottom pairing at best in light of the changing game. Great shutdown capabilities, leadership, and vision. Just a high influx of younger talent pushing him out is all I am saying. I don't mean to strike a chord when I say he is a fringe D on this team, but if you are playing your best players, he is on the bubble.

I don't know Poolman, but if Pionk is better then him they're screwed.

If you listen, you can almost hear Ray Ray circling.....
- Queenie_5_hole

Exactly. Niku lit up the AHL but looked bad in the NHL. So if he can't step up, Pionk will be their 1RD in Buffs absence. Help them out Ray! We have a plethora of D and they have none! Wouldn't mind Raslovic or Appleton on this squad.

Hall hischier palms

Boqvist zajac bratt

Lines in the scrimmage today, interesting even though it doesn't mean much right now.....well sounds like the top line remains the same

Exactly. Niku lit up the AHL but looked bad in the NHL. So if he can't step up, Pionk will be their 1RD in Buffs absence. Help them out Ray! We have a plethora of D and they have none! Wouldn't mind Raslovic or Appleton on this squad.
- bikeguy99

A "plethora" is an overstatement. We have an aging Greene, an unproven Smith, and Carrick in our top 7. Mueller sucks and is our 8th guy. I'm ok keeping everyone we have.
There WILL be injuries. I'm already predicting Vatanen to miss 20 games