Parise is extremely good defensively.. So is Stastny.. Both are sick two way players for their position. A little different than Landeskog/O'Reilly but only because they have more offensive skill. Duchene's line is the only thing close to being a liability defensively. But Mueller is not actually that bad.. McGinn is a beast fore-checker.. And Duchene is still developing. I would give their line the best "shut down" pair.

The other lines are all highly skilled and defensively responsible. I am telling you there is serious data to support that while playing with Downie, Stamkos put up better numbers. In the same article I read they compare them to other skill/grinder tandems like Giroux & Hartnell. In every case the skilled guys production increased by a certain percentage. Lucic & Bergeron were another one.. if I remember correctly.
- Steve-B

I am fine with the Idea of a grinder with a skilled player but I still think downie and Mcginn should be 3rd liners.

I would want a Backes, Clowe, Hartnell, brown, richards(if he wasn't a center),benn, wilson(from nash), JVR, ect. but a real top 6 grinder. Downie can play top 6 for sure but he would be better as a bottom 6 and move up when there is an injury.

Parise is extremely good defensively.. So is Stastny.. Both are sick two way players for their position. A little different than Landeskog/O'Reilly but only because they have more offensive skill. Duchene's line is the only thing close to being a liability defensively. But Mueller is not actually that bad.. McGinn is a beast fore-checker.. And Duchene is still developing. I would give their line the best "shut down" pair.

The other lines are all highly skilled and defensively responsible. I am telling you there is serious data to support that while playing with Downie, Stamkos put up better numbers. In the same article I read they compare them to other skill/grinder tandems like Giroux & Hartnell. In every case the skilled guys production increased by a certain percentage. Lucic & Bergeron were another one.. if I remember correctly.

I think my lineup creates nightmares for opposing teams to match up against. Who do you waste your top defensive guys against? While your doing that the other two lines are running you around the ice..

Like say Stastny's line gets the other teams "3rd line" then O'Reilly's line gets the other teams 1st line.. Duchene gets to run around against another unit that is not nearly as good defensively. While McGinn creates space and Mueller + Duchene make plays all day..
- Steve-B

I just don't think the lineup is deep enough to win the cup. The rest is just the real difference in opinion. I.E. how do you want the avs to look.

I dont like the idea of a top 9. However Stastny would be a good asset to help bring in Parise, however he would most likely be too expensive for the avs taste.

You know what trade I want to make, Stastny, barrie and a 4th to STL for Backes and Tarasenko !

Lmao I have no idea why the blues would do that but I would bust a nut for those 2 players. NHL 12 here I come!
- Meeqsb

I don't know much about Tarasenko to be honest. But no.. Backes is a franchise player for them.

I just don't think the lineup is deep enough to win the cup. The rest is just the real difference in opinion. I.E. how do you want the avs to look.
- Meeqsb

See and I see it as being a combination of skill, speed, defense, and toughness.. With every single player in the top 9 having potential to score 20+ goals. And easily 4 of them possible 30 goal guys.

Landeskog, Parise, Duchene, Mueller and Jones all have or have the potential to put up 30..

I don't know much about Tarasenko to be honest. But no.. Backes is a franchise player for them.
- Steve-B

Lmao no way it would happen, but when I think about the perfect top 6 for my line up

Lando Raydar Backes
Mueller Duchene Tarasenko

Would be PERFECT lmao. Never going to happen. Realistically it would be Stastny, hishon and a 1st which I would still be fine with lol.

Think of Tarasenko as a mix between Kovi and Semin

Lmao no way it would happen, but when I think about the perfect top 6 for my line up

Lando Raydar Backes
Mueller Duchene Tarasenko

Would be PERFECT lmao. Never going to happen. Realistically it would be Stastny, hishon and a 1st which I would still be fine with lol.

Think of Tarasenko as a mix between Kovi and Semin
- Meeqsb

What.. no way.. If that were true the kid would be in the NHL right now and way more talked about.

See and I see it as being a combination of skill, speed, defense, and toughness.. With every single player in the top 9 having potential to score 20+ goals. And easily 4 of them possible 30 goal guys.
- Steve-B

What team in the past 15 years have been able to win a cup like that though? The last time I think a team had a bunch of players get 20 and 30 goals, they were the islanders last year and they sucked.

I am sticking with build down the middle, top 6 bottom 6 style. It works, we know it works, the avs have the right pieces. Size skill speed and goaltending wins now adays.

What.. no way.. If that were true the kid would be in the NHL right now and way more talked about.
- Steve-B

Style wise lol not it current ability. He is a russian with a bomb of a shot that the avs wanted before the Blues jumped up and stole him from us, causing the avs to draft Hishon (off the board).

http://www.hockeysfuture....spects/vladimir_tarasenko

Currently #8 on hockeysfuture top 100 prospects.

What team in the past 15 years have been able to win a cup like that though? The last time I think a team had a bunch of players get 20 and 30 goals, they were the islanders last year and they sucked.

I am sticking with build down the middle, top 6 bottom 6 style. It works, we know it works, the avs have the right pieces. Size skill speed and goaltending wins now adays.
- Meeqsb

I think it depends on how you look at it.. If you look at Landeskog - O'Reilly - Downie as a third line. That is probably one of if not the best 3rd lines in the NHL. Stastny - Parise = a top line easy..

Duchene + Mueller is a damn good second line as well.. They only slot in that way for defensive purposes though. On any given night depending on the team we are playing one line could end up with a little more time than the other two..

I think it depends on how you look at it.. If you look at Landeskog - O'Reilly - Downie as a third line. That is probably one of if not the best 3rd line in the NHL. Stastny - Parise = a top line easy..

Duchene + Mueller is a damn good second line as well.. They only slot in that way for defensive purposes though. On any given night depending on the team we are playing one line could end up with a little more time than the other two..
- Steve-B

I will never see Lando and Raydar as a 3rd line and if they aren't getting 1st line minutes and paired with a true top 3 winger I think you are wasting their potential.

What do you guys think of McGinn so far? I love Winnik & Galiardi, but I was disappointed to see McGinn go. Looks like he's fitting in though

I also think this is the longest I have ever gone without saying "FIRE SACCO!"

I also think this is the longest I have ever gone without saying "FIRE SACCO!"

What do you guys think of McGinn so far? I love Winnik & Galiardi, but I was disappointed to see McGinn go. Looks like he's fitting in though
- Hockeygirl101

We actually are debating him a little.. I think he has top 6 power forward potential. Others Think he is a 3rd line guy even in the future.

I also think this is the longest I have ever gone without saying "FIRE SACCO!"
- Meeqsb

Yeah I would say I am about 60/40 in your favor on that one.. I don't like how long it took Sacco to put Duchene back at center. At the same time I am not going to harp on that anymore until I see what this team does with what remains of the season.

What do you guys think of McGinn so far? I love Winnik & Galiardi, but I was disappointed to see McGinn go. Looks like he's fitting in though
- Hockeygirl101

He is still adjusting and finding some line mates to play him with. He looked very good tonight with stastny and Jones. He is starting to pick up his physical play but if he stays parked around the net he will be great.

What did you think about losing Sgarbossa ?

Yeah I would say I am about 60/40 in your favor on that one.. I don't like how long it took Sacco to put Duchene back at center. At the same time I am not going to harp on that anymore until I see what this team does with what remains of the season.
- Steve-B

He has been here for a few years. Playoffs or not he has to go. He is a decent coach, but not a NHL level head coach. His system has flaws and he has trouble playing players to their potential. Duchene and Stastny will never play up to their potential under sacco

He has been here for a few years. Playoffs or not he has to go. He is a decent coach, but not a NHL level head coach. His system has flaws and he has trouble playing players to their potential. Duchene and Stastny will never play up to their potential under sacco
- Meeqsb

The thing that scared me most.. Was Duchene's comment about "Trying to keep the things that made him the player he was in the first place" While trying to conform to what Sacco wants.

Not sure if that is just a frustrated young all star. Or if there is more to it.. But our high end skill guys seem to decline under him. Stastny has.. Duchene has once he had been around more than 2 years..

They are the pivots for their respective offensive units. Any system I would imagine the learning starts with them.

Like you said before.. You just don't see either of those guys "creativity" being utilized in the offensive zone. I think Sacco believes in the cycle first.. always

What do you guys think of McGinn so far? I love Winnik & Galiardi, but I was disappointed to see McGinn go. Looks like he's fitting in though
- Hockeygirl101

Why ask this question and then not respond? I am curious as to how much potential Sharks fans think McGinn has..

The thing that scared me most.. Was Duchene's comment about "Trying to keep the things that made him the player he was in the first place" While trying to conform to what Sacco wants.

Not sure if that is just a frustrated young all star. Or if there is more to it.. But our high end skill guys seem to decline under him. Stastny has.. Duchene has once he had been around more than 2 years..

They are the pivots for their respective offensive units. Any system I would imagine the learning starts with them.

Like you said before.. You just don't see either of those guys "creativity" being utilized in the offensive zone. I think Sacco believes in the cycle first.. always
- Steve-B

Sacco's system has no offensive potential, he has no ability to motivate his players, all "stick" and doesn't have the ability to adapt. Just Push square cubes through triangle holes and if you dont fit you are in the dog house.

Him keeping Duchene at wing for so long should prove that.

He is decent defensively but the avs need a real Coach

Sacco's system has no offensive potential, he has no ability to motivate his players, all "stick" and doesn't have the ability to adapt. Just Push square cubes through triangle holes and if you dont fit you are in the dog house.

Him keeping Duchene at wing for so long should prove that.

He is decent defensively but the avs need a real Coach
- Meeqsb

The question then is who.. I wanted Hitch before St. Louis got him.. But management did not act..

Hitchcock made a comment before being hired about how he learned something about letting offensive players play their game and how important offense is compared to his systems in the past. I had a feeling he might keep the defensive mind set but adapt more in the offensive end.

That is exactly what he has done.. I don't think anyone would question how smart the guy is. I just had a feeling. Now look at the Blues..

The question then is who.. I wanted Hitch before St. Louis got him.. But management did not act..

Hitchcock made a comment before being hired about how he learned something about letting offensive players play their game and how important offense is compared to his systems in the past. I had a feeling he might keep the defensive mind set but adapt more in the offensive end.

That is exactly what he has done.. I don't think anyone would question how smart the guy is. I just had a feeling. Now look at the Blues..
- Steve-B

Roy would be a risk but it is one possibility as well as the avs current AHL coach, Quinn, I feel would do very well.

i have 1 simple question for everyone.

everyone is saying we have 3 top 2 centers, but what happens if next year Ryan O'Rielly goes back to 30 points a year?

The thing that scared me most.. Was Duchene's comment about "Trying to keep the things that made him the player he was in the first place" While trying to conform to what Sacco wants.

Not sure if that is just a frustrated young all star. Or if there is more to it.. But our high end skill guys seem to decline under him. Stastny has.. Duchene has once he had been around more than 2 years..

They are the pivots for their respective offensive units. Any system I would imagine the learning starts with them.

Like you said before.. You just don't see either of those guys "creativity" being utilized in the offensive zone. I think Sacco believes in the cycle first.. always
- Steve-B

This goes to Quinn as well but look at players who come up from Lake Erie and play outstanding to start and then fall off. They get sent back down, come back up and own again.

Whatever Quinn is doing down there it appears to be working as can be seen by what Elliott, Shattenkirk and co. have done with their call-ups.

i have 1 simple question for everyone.

everyone is saying we have 3 top 2 centers, but what happens if next year Ryan O'Rielly goes back to 30 points a year?
- jonathonpeddle

They still have Hishon, Connolly and Sgabossa if that happens.