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Forums :: Blog World :: Matt Ross: Free Agency Score: C+
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Matt Ross
Joined: 03.15.2013

Jul 16 @ 9:43 AM ET
Matt Ross: Free Agency Score: C+
madhatter56
Joined: 11.09.2015

Jul 16 @ 10:03 AM ET
Zito was put in a bind by all the long overpaid free agent signings by Dale Tallon. That being said you don't jeopardize your future by trading three-year first-draft picks and two second-rounders to go for it for only one year. He had no hope of resigning them, and Giroux was not at the peak of his career. You build your team through the draft. Huberdeau, Ekblad and Barkov were all first draft picks. Even Tampa who had a late first-round pick found a gem in Issac Howard. You don't build a Stanley cup team through free agency. They are only supporting pieces.
Matt Ross
Joined: 03.15.2013

Jul 16 @ 10:27 AM ET
Zito was put in a bind by all the long overpaid free agent signings by Dale Tallon. That being said you don't jeopardize your future by trading three-year first-draft picks and two second-rounders to go for it for only one year. He had no hope of resigning them, and Giroux was not at the peak of his career. You build your team through the draft. Huberdeau, Ekblad and Barkov were all first draft picks. Even Tampa who had a late first-round pick found a gem in Issac Howard. You don't build a Stanley cup team through free agency. They are only supporting pieces.
- madhatter56


Totally agree that Zito is in a tough spot from previous GM moves and think he did a good job given the circumstances.

Was just hoping they could work out a deal of some kind to bring in a defenseman.
hockeyaddict89
Montreal Canadiens
Location: ON
Joined: 02.26.2015

Jul 16 @ 10:56 AM ET
I think White turns out to be the best signing of summer by the time the season is done. He needed a change of scenery. Florida is perfect for him.
Vladdie_Kon1
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Joined: 04.21.2007

Jul 16 @ 11:52 AM ET
Now that the Wings have signed Chiarot I'm wondering what to expect from him. I haven't seen him play much. Is he still an effective defenseman ? He'll be a top 4 defenseman in the Wings system... maybe paired up with Seider or Hronek. He's a complimentary piece to our up and coming core and I'm hoping he plays an effective physical game because our defense needs some size and sandpaper on the back end without being a defensive liability.
hockeyaddict89
Montreal Canadiens
Location: ON
Joined: 02.26.2015

Jul 16 @ 12:35 PM ET
Now that the Wings have signed Chiarot I'm wondering what to expect from him. I haven't seen him play much. Is he still an effective defenseman ? He'll be a top 4 defenseman in the Wings system... maybe paired up with Seider or Hronek. He's a complimentary piece to our up and coming core and I'm hoping he plays an effective physical game because our defense needs some size and sandpaper on the back end without being a defensive liability.
- Vladdie_Kon1



He is a steady stay at home defender who will generally keep the crease clear and allow his defensive partner more offensive upside. He also has a very underappreciated slap shot. It's not going to blow the speedometer in speed, but it is pretty accurate. Watch him when there are bodies in front.

That all being said, CHariot on occasion can be caught out of potisiton or accelerated around if he is not set up positionally. They are not frequent occurrences, but they do happen. He is steady overall. A solid addition for the right price.
madhatter56
Joined: 11.09.2015

Jul 16 @ 3:25 PM ET
We did bring in a defenseman, his name is Marc Staal. You don't think that's a good signing? Maybe Paul Maurice will change the defense so that they structure their play differently. I don't think they will step up in the play as much.
Vladdie_Kon1
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Joined: 04.21.2007

Jul 16 @ 3:34 PM ET
He is a steady stay at home defender who will generally keep the crease clear and allow his defensive partner more offensive upside. He also has a very underappreciated slap shot. It's not going to blow the speedometer in speed, but it is pretty accurate. Watch him when there are bodies in front.

That all being said, CHariot on occasion can be caught out of potisiton or accelerated around if he is not set up positionally. They are not frequent occurrences, but they do happen. He is steady overall. A solid addition for the right price.

- hockeyaddict89


Thanks for the info. on Chariot. Looking forward to this coming season and see how he fits in the Wings' new structure / system. Most likely he'll be paired with Seider which should free up Seider to rack up even more points than he did last year and shoot the puck alot more. Should be a nice tandem...
Matt Ross
Joined: 03.15.2013

Jul 16 @ 4:41 PM ET
We did bring in a defenseman, his name is Marc Staal. You don't think that's a good signing? Maybe Paul Maurice will change the defense so that they structure their play differently. I don't think they will step up in the play as much.
- madhatter56


I’m probably one of the few that likes the Marc Staal signing, as I think he’ll bring veteran leadership on the backend (which they’re really missing IMO).

I hope you’re right about the defense not constantly jumping up into the play under Maurice. To me, Forsling is the best guy back there in terms of knowing when to jump in and when not to. He’s good at picking his spots.
Shynes57
Florida Panthers
Joined: 11.12.2019

Jul 16 @ 7:19 PM ET
Staal is just one more immobile defender. Another year where far too many FA were brought in. At some point you need to bring up the young guys or they all end up walking. The staals were a ridiculous idea. There wasnt one up and coming defender better that an aging staal? Still looks like we have to shed some cap somewhere.
Matt Ross
Joined: 03.15.2013

Jul 16 @ 8:40 PM ET
Staal is just one more immobile defender. Another year where far too many FA were brought in. At some point you need to bring up the young guys or they all end up walking. The staals were a ridiculous idea. There wasnt one up and coming defender better that an aging staal? Still looks like we have to shed some cap somewhere.
- Shynes57


Kiersted is probably that up-and-coming defender based on how things look for the Cats.

The blue line as a whole is so shaky and I think Zito’s idea is to try and get a veteran back there to help (Staal). Ideally we’d have more money to spend in this are, but they’re doing what they can with the limited money and available resources they have - which isn’t ideal.

When I think of great defensive corps, I think of the Hawks during their Cup runs. Couple studs back there that were complimented by some “ugly” types that could eat minutes and let the stud’s legs/lungs rest so they were always pretty fresh. Chicago had those great combos back in the day.

Florida’s blue line is kind of the island of misfit toys right now to me.
madhatter56
Joined: 11.09.2015

Jul 16 @ 8:51 PM ET
I wonder why Maurice has not picked out his assistants yet. They need to get it going and discuss philosophies. Brunette was in charge of the powerplay. He liked to cycle the puck, which to me meant to much passing the puck and not enough shots on the net. Also it created a lot of turnovers. This failed many times yet he refused to change it up. Maybe they should revert to the 1-3-1 power play like the lightning. As far as defense goes, it's all about who gets to the puck first in their defensive zone. The Panther's defense has to be aware of dump-ins and blind passes out of their own zone and into the oppostion's sticks.
Matt Ross
Joined: 03.15.2013

Jul 16 @ 9:10 PM ET
I wonder why Maurice has not picked out his assistants yet. They need to get it going and discuss philosophies. Brunette was in charge of the powerplay. He liked to cycle the puck, which to me meant to much passing the puck and not enough shots on the net. Also it created a lot of turnovers. This failed many times yet he refused to change it up. Maybe they should revert to the 1-3-1 power play like the lightning. As far as defense goes, it's all about who gets to the puck first in their defensive zone. The Panther's defense has to be aware of dump-ins and blind passes out of their own zone and into the oppostion's sticks.
- madhatter56


I have no memory of that awful Power Play…

harveykline
Joined: 09.01.2009

Jul 16 @ 9:20 PM ET
I’m probably one of the few that likes the Marc Staal signing, as I think he’ll bring veteran leadership on the backend (which they’re really missing IMO).

I hope you’re right about the defense not constantly jumping up into the play under Maurice. To me, Forsling is the best guy back there in terms of knowing when to jump in and when not to. He’s good at picking his spots.

- Matt Ross

Veteran leadership doesn’t mean poop in my book. We have bright in veteran’s most every free agency and has got us nowhere. Just look a this past trade deadline. Staal equals Thorton equals Girouz equals Hornqvist equals name your poison.
Vladdie_Kon1
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Joined: 04.21.2007

Jul 17 @ 8:52 AM ET
I've watched Marc Stall for two seasons in Detroit...
What you're getting is a big, stay-at-home defenseman. He's good positionally and effective at clearing the crease. He sticks up for his teammates too. He's not going to add mush offense... but he plays his role well on a team that needs one of those type of players to complement their defense. He was one of the few bright spots on a crappy Wings defense the last two years (other than Seider and maybe Hronek).
Matt Ross
Joined: 03.15.2013

Jul 17 @ 9:08 AM ET
I've watched Marc Stall for two seasons in Detroit...
What you're getting is a big, stay-at-home defenseman. He's good positionally and effective at clearing the crease. He sticks up for his teammates too. He's not going to add mush offense... but he plays his role well on a team that needs one of those type of players to complement their defense. He was one of the few bright spots on a crappy Wings defense the last two years (other than Seider and maybe Hronek).

- Vladdie_Kon1


Exactly what I’m looking for on the backend!
madhatter56
Joined: 11.09.2015

Jul 17 @ 3:04 PM ET
We signed Michael Del Zotto, I love it. He has potential a great puck moving defenseman.
Shynes57
Florida Panthers
Joined: 11.12.2019

Jul 17 @ 4:29 PM ET
Oh sweet del zotto and tierney. Does that make the grade a D- ??? Collecting throw away sens. Perhaps zito should take a gander at the sens record last season......
Ratsreign
Florida Panthers
Location: Mo can stay awhile, FL
Joined: 10.27.2017

Jul 17 @ 5:50 PM ET
Oh sweet del zotto and tierney. Does that make the grade a D- ??? Collecting throw away sens. Perhaps zito should take a gander at the sens record last season......
- Shynes57

They shared their AHL team with Seattle last year, the year before they had their prospects with TB’s team in Syracuse. This year they have to field the full AHL team in Charlotte. Plenty of places for them, I would imagine.
If they earn a chance out of training camp over someone else, then so be it.
harveykline
Joined: 09.01.2009

Jul 17 @ 6:55 PM ET
I just don’t get it. We get rid of crap and we sign crap. Someone please explain
madhatter56
Joined: 11.09.2015

Jul 17 @ 8:21 PM ET
These are all depth signings. When an Ekblad, Verhaeghe, or a Lundell go down with injury these players will fill in the slot. This is all he could afford. He has too many main players under big contracts. Furthermore, he plans on signing Huberdeau and Weeger to big contracts.
Matt Ross
Joined: 03.15.2013

Jul 17 @ 11:05 PM ET
I saw a report that the Panthers had made a play for Brent Burns, but he chose CAR.
Shynes57
Florida Panthers
Joined: 11.12.2019

Jul 18 @ 8:02 AM ET
I saw a report that the Panthers had made a play for Brent Burns, but he chose CAR.
- Matt Ross

Thank goodness
Octavarium
New York Islanders
Joined: 01.03.2007

Jul 18 @ 10:26 AM ET
Couldn't agree more.
The guy produced when put with good players. He's a very VERY smart hockey player.
The Sens coach hated him. The Sens coach is a putz. 25 goals 60 point season for White.

MDZ.....an absolute PRO. When you pair this guy with some size he'll move the puck for you. His big offensive days are past but he'll get you out of the zone in a hurry.

madhatter56
Joined: 11.09.2015

Jul 20 @ 4:42 PM ET
I'd take Matthew Tkachuk in a heartbeat, who can we give them?
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