Regula has the size and offensive skill but not phyiscal enough, IMO.

Demin could come closest as far as potential (excellent skating, size, physicality, defensive awareness, puck movement).

Even then, Demin would be hard pressed to be a #1 or even top pair. Maybe the complementary half to a 2nd pair or anchor to a solid 3rd pair.
- AEL_Fox

Vlasic some day or is he just a freak?

Regula has the size and offensive skill but not phyiscal enough, IMO.

Demin could come closest as far as potential (excellent skating, size, physicality, defensive awareness, puck movement).

Even then, Demin would be hard pressed to be a #1 or even top pair. Maybe the complementary half to a 2nd pair or anchor to a solid 3rd pair.
- AEL_Fox

I knew we should have drafted Byram!!

I knew we should have drafted Byram!!
- Chunk

Watching Willie Nylander last night, I thought they were really dressing Alex.

Vlasic some day or is he just a freak?
- rpeters01

Most of what I've seen and read about him says that he is still trying to figure out how to play with his size. He isn't overly physical. He is a pretty good skater for his size and has some good puck instincts (he doesn't look like he's thinking too much). That said, if you are hoping for a Chara-like player he is not there at this point. Closer to Tyler Myers right now, but he still young.

Most of what I've seen and read about him says that he is still trying to figure out how to play with his size. He isn't overly physical. He is a pretty good skater for his size and has some good puck instincts (he doesn't look like he's thinking too much). That said, if you are hoping for a Chara-like player he is not there at this point. Closer to Tyler Myers right now, but he still young.
- Chunk

Victor Svedberg II.

Watching Willie Nylander last night, I thought they were really dressing Alex.
- LAHawk

Yeah, Willie looked pretty good. Oh, you meant....never mind.

Most of what I've seen and read about him says that he is still trying to figure out how to play with his size. He isn't overly physical. He is a pretty good skater for his size and has some good puck instincts (he doesn't look like he's thinking too much). That said, if you are hoping for a Chara-like player he is not there at this point. Closer to Tyler Myers right now, but he still young.
- Chunk

Chara was a slow starter Think he may have been the worse player in the league at one time .I really like Regula not real physical but that could come offense out the wazoo

9:30 really?

Rags are toast.

Svechnikov with the franchise’s first playoff hat trick, Hartford and Raleigh.

9:30 really?
- BetweenTheDots

There's a lot of hockey to squeeze into one facility. It will be interesting to see the condition of the ice being the last game.

That said, it's 7:30 for me!

Original 6 match up in the 2020 SCF, CHI v MTL.

Hawks finally get revenge for 1971.
- scottak

Sorry, a lil throw up in my mouth thinking of 1971. My first recountable memory of hockey from my youth. I was 7 I think, or there-abouts. Espo my hero...that shot from outside the blueline...Lemeire??? Anyway....hate the Habs. HATE them!!!!

Chara was a slow starter Think he may have been the worse player in the league at one time .I really like Regula not real physical but that could come offense out the wazoo
- oldduffman

I remember seeing a lot of Chara early with Ottawa, being from Canada they were on TV often. He couldn't skate, was clumbsy. Man, did he ever improve over a couple of year span to become a BEAST on defence!!!

Sorry, a lil throw up in my mouth thinking of 1971. My first recountable memory of hockey from my youth. I was 7 I think, or there-abouts. Espo my hero...that shot from outside the blueline...Lemeire??? Anyway....hate the Habs. HATE them!!!!
- hawk35

I was at that game, Espo had a hard time on seeing long shots as it was. The Stadium was one big fog. Hawks up 2-0 early on goals by D.Hull and O'Shea. Then the long shot going in, Nesterenko making a bad turnover in his own zone. Magnuson got beat wide by H. Richard, Dryden stoning Pappin all alone in the slot, game and series over. Stayed to see the cup (the team didn't individually skate around with it in those days. Heartbreaking.

Koskinen gets the start tonight.

Seems like there have been an unusual number of “own goals” in this return season - off of skates, shoulders, goalie asses - Calgary just got one off of a Jet skate.

Koskinen gets the start tonight.
- LAHawk

5-0 Oilers

5-0 Oilers
- DarthKane

Why are you only counting McDavid's goals?

Vlasic some day or is he just a freak?
- rpeters01

Chunk is spot on with his anaylsis of Vlasic. Somewhere between Regula and Demin as far as big D prospects on the physicality spectrum (least to most).

On the offensive spectrum. Regula is the most offensively gifted, then Demin and Vlasic 3rd.

All 3 may be reliable defensively with long wing spans to stick check, great skating to manage gaps, and varying levels of physicality to take the body.

However, none will be Seth Jones caliber to play a mean game as a #1 shutdown defender. Not even close.

Why are you only counting McDavid's goals?
- tvetter

Just trying to go easy on people.

Not a fan of Spittin Chiclets but Mark Lazerus tweeted this from their latest podcast:

"Interesting to hear Duncan Keith talk about how the Erik Gustafsson trade allowed him to regain some of the minutes and offensive responsibilities, which he wasn't thrilled about ceding in the first place."

Not a fan of Spittin Chiclets but Mark Lazerus tweeted this from their latest podcast:

"Interesting to hear Duncan Keith talk about how the Erik Gustafsson trade allowed him to regain some of the minutes and offensive responsibilities, which he wasn't thrilled about ceding in the first place."
- AEL_Fox

So not only was Gus a disaster in the defensive zone, he also took some responsibilities from Keith and ticked him off? What took so long to get rid of him?

Lehner just gave up three in the second period, let’s sign him after these playoffs are over, $60M/6 years.

Lehner just gave up three in the second period, let’s sign him after these playoffs are over, $60M/6 years.
- Angotti

all the cool kids are in the new blog. They will let you in, too.

Ouch not the start we all wanted.