conundrumed

But I'm also of the mind that the huge increase in scoring last year is not sustainable. These covid years have been very odd. Hopefully they are over.

This is why I'd prefer getting younger players that need a chance as returns rather than Kadri-types at 30+. Also, too many changes can be a problem. If you don't have much patience now, wait until you're stuck in a full rebuild. Sometimes you get stuck in it. Van, Detroit has been stuck there for years. It's really easy to say rebuild, but watching one is like your eyes bleeding, very slowly. I've been watching Detroit's for about 5 years and they're still unlikely to be a playoff team. Still hoping the prospect pool will come through in 2 years. Be careful what you wish for. Even Bedard isn't making you an instant contender.

Well then...you wouldn't believe how an angry Getzlaf would completely roll him in in the WHL. Phaneuf>Getzlaf? Goddammit you guys.

And he wasn't exactly easy on him in the media scrums. That tells me that Vladar is going to be good. Typical Daryl stuff. Deflect everything away from young players. He's very good at it.

The fun part is having competent G after sooo long of none. Wolf, Sergeev, Chechelev in the pipeline. We're sitting pretty solid at G. If the goal is to be elite all over the ice, prepare to be sorely disappointed. Finding stats to support the argument that Vladar good/Markstrom bad is far from being substantiated. Markstrom was a very worthy Vezina finalist last year. It really was a year of, "who is our MVP"? between Markstrom and JG. Ironically, Tanev's injury exposed us, big time. Not ironically, we go out and get Weegar, and a 24 yr old Meloche, who may grow into a Tanev. Particularly when Tanev's your new teacher. But Tanev goes down again, they're putting pieces in place so it's not such a huge drop. Why did Edmonton keep scoring from where Tanev usually is? Totally exposed his absence. That affects Markstrom too. You know how it will be played, and then you don't.

Owen Tippett's another, but Philly is a bit of a cesspool though D looks okay. What the heck happened to Ryan Ellis? Is his career unofficially over?

Without question. I want it all, and I want it now.lol

What a ton of character this young man has. So composed and well spoken in interviews. The kind of guy that I'll cheer for. Both Weegar and Huberdeau (when asked to assess each others game, assessed Schwindt's, I LOVED that) said that he is close and a really good player. But damn you can just tell this kid has his Satoshi Nakamoto together

A new RHS center prospect.Yay.

Then we'd have a very good problem on our hands. That is something to address when it actually happens.

Blashill refused to give him much offence space. Pretty much made him play 3rd line to improve his 200' game which he did. Not sure if Lalonde will utilize his bomb of a shot better. Let's just say no one misses Blashill. Space is tight on D's roster: Bert-Larkin-Raymond Vrana-Copp-Perron Rasmussen-Suter-Kubalik Then there are still blue chip fwd prospects in Veleno and Berggren. LD is weak with Chiarot, Maata and Oesterle but Edvinsson could potentially bust out similarly to Seider. Hanifin would be a good fit regardless. They can't offer much at C though. Veleno or Ras probably. Then they still have a bunch of good D prospects in Wallinder, Johannsen, Sebrango, McIsaac etc.

I agree to an extent. He would become a cap issue for next year. That's the main reason that I say no. Not that I don't love the idea.

I agree, but I'll add that there is such a thing as, "too much change". That part worries me a bit. It's a world of change already. I think we need to see the current product of those changes. Read the holes then. Huberdeau vs Gaudreau is a massive shift imho. 2 elite LWers for completely different reasons.

I generally agree. My brother broke this news to me when I was working too much. He's a Bruins guy so I thought for sure that he was pulling a dick move, knowing FLA's my third team, probably. That return is massive for a player I see as a good player, but not franchise-altering vs the return..

That's because he saved the other ones.lol

It really is great right? I love so much in this. "Lose the battle, win the war". Rebuilding Lucic, treating 4th line players the same as 1st line, putting the 4th line out on the PP to send a message, telling Conny and Iginla, "it's alright boys, I'll give you the night off, I know it's hard out there".lol Glad you liked it.

I get what you're saying, but I think you're underplaying just how good Oettinger was. He WAS the story of that series. He had a ton of highlight reel saves. Did we pump his SA stats up? Probably. But you can't deny that he was spectacular. He was the story of the playoffs in the 1st round as far as performance goes. You can't take anything away from him, that's a 23 yr old goalie to boot. That was an amazing clinic that he had going on. Can't wait to watch his future, he'll be challenging the Vas/Shesterkin rarified air. And he ain't Russian.

I’m not sure Zadina would be available from Detroit, but I hope that’s the type of RW we can acquire. Young with lots of upside that D forced to work on his 200’ game so his stats don’t show his offence. Could cost Hanifin though due to upside. Detroit has thrown a lot of depth in front of him, so it’s hard to read their plan with him. They could add to that for Hanifin I believe, but it’s an in-season move I’d bet. They have a ton of really good prospects. Dependant on Edvinnson or Berggren making the team this year, they could use LD help.

I agree. That series we witnessed a great young goalie that grabbed the starter reigns during the regular season. That was an amazing feat for Oettinger. Clearly broke out last year. Dallas could barely compete with us but for an incredible G performance for a dude that turned 23 in December. Still RFA without arb rights. Pay the guy. They're good in net for a long while.

This is pretty damn good for some insight into Sutter. Hope you enjoy...

The overtones of nightlife and all-season golf made me a bit nervous for him. Lots of distractions that I hope that he doesn't get caught up in. Interesting he'll be back in Calgary for parts of summer.

Your loss. There are some really good insights in that interview.

I had no idea where to put this, so I guess it's here. Tkachuk interview on the Missin' Curfew podcast with the alleged toxic twins. Good interview though. Worth the 21 minutes. Take away from it what you may.lol The interview begins at 28:25.

Okay Sutter.lol

On the plus, I get Midget hockey NA championships and the IIHF 2014 U17 Championship. So I know a lot about the draft that you speak of.lol