Travis Yost: Enforcer

He's pretty useless, he's a decent fighter but not an enforcer - he just seemed to fight when he needed to or do staged fighting and he never seemed to stir the pot or provide emotion. If you have someone in that 4-5 minute roll get a Brian MacGratton who loves to fight and is always looking to fight and isn't afraid to throw the other team off their game by taking a skilled player into the boards hard or pushing and shoving after the whistle.

Kassian is the Golden Retriever of Enforcers

He's pretty useless, he's a decent fighter but not an enforcer - he just seemed to fight when he needed to or do staged fighting and he never seemed to stir the pot or provide emotion. If you have someone in that 4-5 minute roll get a Brian MacGratton who loves to fight and is always looking to fight and isn't afraid to throw the other team off their game by taking a skilled player into the boards hard or pushing and shoving after the whistle.

Kassian is the Golden Retriever of Enforcers
- tuna99

I would rather see a staged fight between two heavyweights ,than watch scum like Matt Cooke play his brand of cheap shot hockey.If the enforcer goes they way of the dinosaur ,then the league needs to throw guys like him out .

I would rather see a staged fight between two heavyweights ,than watch scum like Matt Cooke play his brand of cheap shot hockey.If the enforcer goes they way of the dinosaur ,then the league needs to throw guys like him out .
- top shelf 15

See, but the staged heavyweight fights do literally nothing to prevent the Matt Cookes of the world.

Travis, any thoughts on Nieuwendyk being added to Canes staff as Pro-scout/Advisor? Seems like a solid hire to me. The guy built the foundation in Dallas that Jim Nill is building a powerhouse upon.

- eichiefs9

My lasting memory of MK! Both of these plugs have zero business being in the NHL, or AHL for that matter.

Eklund has a Yakupov to Ottawa rumour so I'll take the bait:

Ott: Yakupov
Edm: Lazar, Methot, 2nd 2015, Guptill

See, but the staged heavyweight fights do literally nothing to prevent the Matt Cookes of the world.
- BINGO!

No they dont you are right ,iam just thinking maybe remove the rats first.Then worry about the old school goon after

Eklund has a Yakupov to Ottawa rumour so I'll take the bait:

Ott: Yakupov
Edm: Lazar, Methot, 2nd 2015, Guptill
- tuna99

Nope

My lasting memory of MK! Both of these plugs have zero business being in the NHL, or AHL for that matter.
- Upgrayedd

But guys like Kaletta ,Cooke do????Ever see a guy like Kassian headhunt a star??Or a Carkner target the knees on a cheapshot ??The may be limited in what they can do on the ice ,but at least they play the game right .

Nope

- top shelf 15

classic debate - both are about the same size and are NHL wingers - one has all the skill and one has all the heart. Yak will have better stats long term, but Lazar is one of those players who winning teams always seem to have on their roster.

I'm more for heart then skill, and we already have enough small forwards with skill, but Yakupov completely changes your PP and overall team speed.

classic debate - both are about the same size and are NHL wingers - one has all the skill and one has all the heart. Yak will have better stats long term, but Lazar is one of those players who winning teams always seem to have on their roster.

I'm more for heart then skill, and we already have enough small forwards with skill, but Yakupov completely changes your PP and overall team speed.
- tuna99

Meh...Yakupov has been good, not great, so far in his NHL career for what was expected of him.

Frankly, I'd rather roll the dice on the promising young guy we drafted ourselves and hope he turns out great instead of good.

classic debate - both are about the same size and are NHL wingers - one has all the skill and one has all the heart. Yak will have better stats long term, but Lazar is one of those players who winning teams always seem to have on their roster.

I'm more for heart then skill, and we already have enough small forwards with skill, but Yakupov completely changes your PP and overall team speed.
- tuna99

Ottawa has enough young wingers ,i personally would rather see what our kids can do before we spend a bunch of them on a another

Eklund has a Yakupov to Ottawa rumour so I'll take the bait:

Ott: Yakupov
Edm: Lazar, Methot, 2nd 2015, Guptill
- tuna99

too much for yakupov IMO.

the guy is good, definitely worth WAY more than boychuk (from last blog), but he isnt' worth that package.

I actually think lazar isn't THAT far off being worth close to yakupov straight up. obviusly i realize that in terms of straight up value, ottawa would need to add, but probably not THAT much......certainly not a top 4 dman, 2nd rd pick, and decent prospect.

too much for yakupov IMO.

the guy is good, definitely worth WAY more than boychuk (from last blog), but he isnt' worth that package.

I actually think lazar isn't THAT far off being worth close to yakupov straight up. obviusly i realize that in terms of straight up value, ottawa would need to add, but probably not THAT much......certainly not a top 4 dman, 2nd rd pick, and decent prospect.
- sensarmy_11

Tommy D said it best in his post 2 above yours

Meh...Yakupov has been good, not great, so far in his NHL career for what was expected of him.

Frankly, I'd rather roll the dice on the promising young guy we drafted ourselves and hope he turns out great instead of good.
- TommyDeVito

I know, but look at how the Oilers develop players and how Ottawa develops players. Yakupov in our system would improve by leaps and bounds - take Turris as an example, Karlsson, Lehner, Stone, Pageau, Zibby - for the talent they have drafted the Oilers don't get that in talent on the ice, Ottawa does - Yak would be a better player just by moving here

Eklund has a Yakupov to Ottawa rumour so I'll take the bait:
Ott: Yakupov
Edm: Lazar, Methot, 2nd 2015, Guptill
- tuna99

I'd rather see Chiasson, Puempel, or Stone in there, but to some extent you have to make a move like this if you get the opportunity - Yakupov has top-notch goal scoring ability, and is the kind of talent you rarely get a chance to acquire, especially in their early 20's.

you can pick up Patrick Bordeleau from the Avs once he goes on waivers, no way he is making the team out of camp now.

you can pick up Patrick Bordeleau from the Avs once he goes on waivers, no way he is making the team out of camp now.
- DDM-Coga

I would take him in a heartbeat

I would take him in a heartbeat

- top shelf 15

Hes not a terrible 4th liner, can chip in once in awhile for a big man fighter.
But avs depth really showed in the playoffs when they had to roll him out there, wasnt ideal to shorten the bench.

Winchester will take his spot, sneakily good depth signing I think for the Avs. You guys would know his game more than I do. McLeod Tablot Winchester will be rolled out as the 4th line

Hes not a terrible 4th liner, can chip in once in awhile for a big man fighter.
But avs depth really showed in the playoffs when they had to roll him out there, wasnt ideal to shorten the bench.

Winchester will take his spot, sneakily good depth signing I think for the Avs. You guys would know his game more than I do. McLeod Tablot Winchester will be rolled out as the 4th line
- DDM-Coga

Winny's a great player, Mike Fisher light on the 4th line. Tons of motor and can be an agitator from time to tim, Ovechkin hated playing against him.

Good solid 4th liner, not huge but solid on his skates, awesome on the PK, good energy player

I would rather see a staged fight between two heavyweights ,than watch scum like Matt Cooke play his brand of cheap shot hockey.If the enforcer goes they way of the dinosaur ,then the league needs to throw guys like him out .
- top shelf 15

Agreed.

I think the idea of enforcers to keep the other players honest is ridiculous and doesn't work.

Hand out some real punishment and get the crap out of the game, including the enforcers, that way.

Hes not a terrible 4th liner, can chip in once in awhile for a big man fighter.
But avs depth really showed in the playoffs when they had to roll him out there, wasnt ideal to shorten the bench.

Winchester will take his spot, sneakily good depth signing I think for the Avs. You guys would know his game more than I do. McLeod Tablot Winchester will be rolled out as the 4th line
- DDM-Coga

Neil replacment,BM loves his tough role players

Winny's a great player, Mike Fisher light on the 4th line. Tons of motor and can be an agitator from time to tim, Ovechkin hated playing against him.

Good solid 4th liner, not huge but solid on his skates, awesome on the PK, good energy player
- tuna99

I liked the signing bc of his PK ability too, plus a right handed shot, Avs really lacking them on the wings