Wyatt Kaiser will wear Patrick Poulin’s #44.
- DarthKane

#legacy
- dahawks8819

as Poulin's son #44
has yet to play regularly in the NHL for Pens...

I guess that is why he was given sweater #22 on his call ups.
Half as good

I always go with Orr, with Lemieux a close second. No one has done what Orr did, a defenseman winning scoring titles. Orr could play any style, finesse, speed, physical, he was good defensively and fought if needed. One thing I love that is all but gone in todays over the top goal celebrations is he acted like he scored before and unless it was a big goal didn’t even raise his arms. He just skated back to his end and waited for the face off. And the crazy thing was he basically did it on one leg throughout his career.
- paulr

No argument from me on Orr, the only weak counter I have is how short his career was in terms of games played.

One thing about Orr that is often not considered was how great he played in the 1976 Canada Cup and that was truly on one leg. He had to retire just after that.

And one more thing that we will never know - that epic series of 1972 vs the Russian Putins - that wouldn't even been close if Orr didn't have to miss the series with the knee problem. And to make matters even worse, the NHL didn't allow the Golden Jet to play either. With Orr and Hull playing Vladdy Tretiak would have been fishing 10 pucks a game out of his net.

#99 brought unbelievable scoring ability, smarts and passion for the game. And playing with the Oilers he had an incredibly great backup band playing with him.

But, IMO the most skilled and talented player far and away after the Bobby Orr era was #66 Mario. Size, length, skill and the ability to control the game every shift he was on the ice. But it took Gretzky to push him to a higher level competitively.

Then, retires for 3 seasons with back problems and a Hodgkins diagnosis and then decides to come back at age 35 and posts a ho hum 35 goals/41 assists in 43 games. in the clutch and grab football tactics era of the NHL (Not knocking him, but I wonder how McDavid would have done playing in that goon hockey era).

And how about that very nice season he had in his last year of junior hockey - 133 goals/282 points in 70 games.

I nominate Mario as 1 or 2 best of all time.
- RickJ

Where would Lindros' skill/size combo rank?

Where would Lindros' skill/size combo rank?
- Mr Ricochet

Right there with Lemieux if he didn’t go through his career with his head down. He had many of the same attributes as Lemieux, size, speed, skill with a huge mean streak.

Silinger 3 goals and 7 assists in 62 games (and a minus 20). Snapped a 45 game goalless streak last night. But he still could turn out to be very good. Still only 19 years old.
- -Doh-

Yep, Sillinger is still a very young player. Plays a fun power game. Kid has a helluva shot and is a high compete player.

Potential? Possible? Likely? Winnable games:
Jackets - none
Sharks - at Vancouver, at Arizona
Ducks - Vancouver, at Arizona, Vancouver
Blackhawks - at Arizona, Vancouver, at Vancouver, Philly
Canadiens - Columbus, at Philly
Flyers - Columbus

Final standings (in reverse)
32) Jackets 49 points
31) Sharks 56 points
30) Hawks 62 points (tiebreaker 1 win vs Ducks)
29) Ducks 62 points (tiebreaker 2 wins vs Hawks)
28) Flyers 63 points
27) Canadiens 64 points

Where would Lindros' skill/size combo rank?
- Mr Ricochet

For me, not close to Mario.

But in fairness to Eric, he was a man among boys physically and outstanding as a player until the concussions affected performance and ultimately curtailed his career. Great player for awhile tho.

You want to win scoring titles, then you take Gretzky, you want cups, you take Forsberg or Messier. JMHO
- Angotti

Forsberg is my favorite player ever. Crazy compete, good size, really skilled and one tough/mean SOB.

Forsberg is my favorite player ever. Crazy compete, good size, really skilled and one tough/mean SOB.
- Mr Ricochet

Yes sir, some players bring a lot more than skill. Nothing against #99, great player, one of the best of all time(top three), but he was the ultimate cherry picker, watched him play live many games, but man, he sure camped out by the red line. He could get away with it due to all the talent on those Oilers teams. Messier won two cups without #99, Gretzky won none without Messier.

https://twitter.com/BenPo...fS7TQYVo1NNPZ-lukuAQ&s=01

This is what i really like about LR, he can explains things even to a reporter to relay us good information

I'm not a Laine guy but don't forget 3rd overall Kent Johnson and Sillinger too. Good chance they add a top 3 pick from the 2023 draft too, maybe Bedard. .... 6th overall Dman Jiricek in the pipeline and 2 1st rd picks this yr.

And I'm still a fan of their Finn GM.
- Mr Ricochet

Another (like Yzerman) that gets a ton of praise, and for what???

If the GM here did what he did for the last 10 years he'd been fired 9 times here.

What have they won, 1 or 2 playoff series in a decade? Started a rebuild 5 times in a decade??

I just don't understand, thought pro sports was about winning championships

Yes sir, some players bring a lot more than skill. Nothing against #99, great player, one of the best of all time(top three), but he was the ultimate cherry picker, watched him play live many games, but man, he sure camped out by the red line. He could get away with it due to all the talent on those Oilers teams. Messier won two cups without #99, Gretzky won none without Messier.
- Angotti

Just think in today’s NHL with no center line offside.

https://twitter.com/BenPo...xwxTL9Q1nj9s6mMos-1Q&s=01

Hey hey look who is getting their first start tonight

Just think in today’s NHL with no center line offside.
- LAHawk

Imagine if his coach was Torterella or Hitchcock, his offense would have been coached out of him. He’d be a fourth line checking centerman and shotblocker.

https://twitter.com/BenPopeCST/status/1637169637887717376?t=14xwxTL9Q1nj9s6mMos-1Q&s=01

Hey hey look who is getting their first start tonight
- BetweenTheDots

Kept C Jones in, the tank is still strong .

Kept C Jones in, the tank is still strong .
- oldduffman

I can't agree, the brothers have been playing well together.

I'm excited to see the rookie tonight, I'm sure he'll struggle but that's okay.

I can't agree, the brothers have been playing well together.

I'm excited to see the rookie tonight, I'm sure he'll struggle but that's okay.
- BetweenTheDots

Ya guess you could say that ,just means he due for a major reversal of fortune . Schmaltz is back in Air line-up could help the cause.

https://twitter.com/BenPopeCST/status/1637169637887717376?t=14xwxTL9Q1nj9s6mMos-1Q&s=01

Hey hey look who is getting their first start tonight
- BetweenTheDots

Rookie dman probably cannot hurt the tank.

Wherever we end up, I just hope the scouts get it right and we end up taking the best guys to move us back into relevancy. Sooner than later. Like most of us, I got spoiled with 3 cups in 6 years. I want that again! Hopefully we don't have to go through too many seasons like this one. I'm hoping this is the worst we'll ever see.

Another (like Yzerman) that gets a ton of praise, and for what???

If the GM here did what he did for the last 10 years he'd been fired 9 times here.

What have they won, 1 or 2 playoff series in a decade? Started a rebuild 5 times in a decade??

I just don't understand, thought pro sports was about winning championships
- vabeachbear

You too VABB. Another Stevie Y hater? ..... Was listening to 32 Thoughts to hear about Briere running PHI and they mentioned he ran the PHI ECHL club to get his feet wet in management. That he's not taking shortcuts and mentioned a story about Stevie Y coming thru the ranks.

A scout was in CZE in a small cold arena scouting. Who does he see there as well? Stevie Y...... To me it was another example why I like this guy.

I'm biased towards CLB, always enjoyed their north-south knock people down style and they're kind of an underdog. Yea, the Finn GM has had his share of misses but some hits too. Loved that he took Dubious, a rugged skilled type, 3rd when everyone thought he was nuts. I guess the way he rag dolled StanBow has something to do with that too.

Anxious to see Kaiser and better performance from Mitchell. So C Jones has been better lately? The Coyotes have a couple young dmen who are underrated. And perhaps Rolston plays his first game? Would love to hear a progress report on Roos

Potential? Possible? Likely? Winnable games:
Jackets - none
Sharks - at Vancouver, at Arizona
Ducks - Vancouver, at Arizona, Vancouver
Blackhawks - at Arizona, Vancouver, at Vancouver, Philly
Canadiens - Columbus, at Philly
Flyers - Columbus

Final standings (in reverse)
32) Jackets 49 points
31) Sharks 56 points
30) Hawks 62 points (tiebreaker 1 win vs Ducks)
29) Ducks 62 points (tiebreaker 2 wins vs Hawks)
28) Flyers 63 points
27) Canadiens 64 points
- -Doh-

Nice work here, Doh. Hopefully the Hawks draft no lower than 4th. If they do they might have a huge decision to make if Michkov is still on the board. ....... By most accounts the kid would go #1 in most drafts but man, you just can't miss on a top 5 pick during a rebuild.

Lotta risk involved but IIRC the Hawks have a scout in Russia so they may have a line to talk to the kid. Anyone have an idea if he has an agent? I'm assuming he does but wonder if he's worked with the NHL?

https://twitter.com/BenPopeCST/status/1637169637887717376?t=14xwxTL9Q1nj9s6mMos-1Q&s=01

Hey hey look who is getting their first start tonight
- BetweenTheDots

Be interesting to see Kaiser make his NHL debut. Not sure what to expect of him as a pro. 6ft 175lbs he not big and he's not really a scorer. A plus skater with a good IQ. He is just 20 with 3 full NCAA seasons. He played as a true freshman so he has a lot of runway to develop his offense. ...... Gotta think LR will have a good development plan for him. Good place for the kid to land the last games of the season.

https://www.eliteprospect...layer/201852/wyatt-kaiser

Helluva game Minnesota/Michigan

Be interesting to see Kaiser make his NHL debut. Not sure what to expect of him as a pro. 6ft 175lbs he not big and he's not really a scorer. A plus skater with a good IQ. He is just 20 with 3 full NCAA seasons. He played as a true freshman so he has a lot of runway to develop his offense. ...... Gotta think LR will have a good development plan for him. Good place for the kid to land the last games of the season.

https://www.eliteprospect...layer/201852/wyatt-kaiser
- Mr Ricochet

Too bad his NHL debut is in a college rink, maybe it will help his nerves.

Tank!