travel_dude

I know it's just a practice, but it seems like the top 6 and bottom 6 are light years apart. Coleman is out for game 1, so are we running 11F and 7D against EDM? After Coleman returns: Assume that Dube replaces Lewis. 3rd line of Lucic-Backlund-Dube. Sorry, but Lucic is not the player he was. Clearly a step behind Backlund and Dube. Might it make sense to have a slightly better skater there? If Pitlick is back, then Dube-Backlund-Pitlick might be fine. As far as the defense go - yeesh. I don't really care whether the 5v5 minutes are basically the same between 3 pairs, but Zadorov-Tanev is the worst possible pair I could think of. We don't just need Zadorov and Gudbranson hitting everything in sight and taking penalties. We need solid pairs from the possible pairs below (bolded my preference): Hanifin-Tanev Hanifin-Ras Zadorov-Ras (might be okay). Valimaki-Ras Kylington-Ras (could be okay) Valimaki-Tanev Valimaki-Kylington (questionable) Valimaki-Gudbranson (questionable) Zadorov-Valimaki Kylington-Tanev Kylington-Gudbranson (yikes) Zadorov-Kylington Valimaki needs a solid partner or he will make poor decisions, or at least it seemed that wy. Hanifin-Ras seems the most likely pair that allows Tanev to grow the other pairing. Zadorov-Kylington is about the only scenario I can see using Zadorov. Kylington's strong skating makes up for Zadorov's slow speed.

Assume you mean Beck and Arsenii Sergeev. Ciona was between those two, and I don't think you are including him.

I think back to FF52's comments about the Tkachuk family. Prophetic. We see the "brand" in the way they negotiate. I have more time for him when he is playing to his strengths. Not my favorite personality type, though. I would be upset if we traded him, but not as much if we traded him for a better skating, more skilled player. I hate the between the legs stuff. Use it when there is nothing else, not every time you are close to the net. Lucic knows when to just shovel the garbage in.

If VAN had drafted Tkachuk, do you think we had a high enough opinion of him? I was shocked that he dropped, but you are right about scouts basing decisions on dumb things. I hated the thought of the young Nylander, but we were likely going with a forward.

3 of 4 years they sucked. The right years and the right amount of sucking.

1) Yes 2) VGK - not a run away, just a consistent team CGY - team scoring up, goals against down EDM - 2D and 2G a disaster waiting to happen, but enough wins against garbage teams to squeak in SEA - Gio on life support hekps them at a crack at Wild Card spot VAN - goaltending a better pair, but defense still suspect (OEL) LA - a year early ANA - a year early SJS - too little too late 3) Gaudreau, Lindholm, Tkachuk (Eichel??) 4) Extension

That's a stretch. Guddy and Stoney are both RD. Ok, they play RD. Good chance you see one or two on opening night.

My point is the draft is over, the same way the Tkachuk draft is over. TBH, I was never impressed with Joulevi. I thought he was a reach, would have prefered Chychrun way over him. But we were likely going to pick Nylander if we didn't have the equivalent of moving up.

We might have had Juolevi.

Arsenii Sergeev - Goaltender - Tri-City Storm 3-0-0 record, 1.00 GAA, .956 save percentage Not a bad start for the kid. Hope he has a good year.

Ok, my bad. Coleman actually takes up a roster spot. One move left and it's too late to waive anyone. So, the only possible move is Pitlick or Richardson to IR. Game 1 against the Oilers. Ugg. We haven't won game one since 2007? Good chance that Kassian will get back in, since he's only on a concussion protocol. Most certainly they will trot him out as the togh guy. A few players that seem to do well in the McDavid matrchup. Ras, Backlund, Tkachuk and Mangiapane. McWhiner will be crying foul every shift. Draisaitl will take a hit and slash away at the player. Hope they keep Keith and Ceci together. Defensive nightmare. The only thing that will keep thm in the game is Smith and outscoring us. Send in Lucic to get Smith off balance. He's only ever played against him.

5 sent to AHL today: Duehr, Froese, Kirklan, Mackey and Werner. Means we have 8D up and 13F. Richardson, Ritchie and Lewis stay up, no matter how bad they were. Gawdin and Kylington survive the cuts. However, Coleman is not being counted, so we have one extra body for game 1, unless they throw Pitlick to LTIR. Not sure why Stone is being kept up, though the timing of game 1 may have something to do with it. They will need to waive one player come Saturday, to coincide with Coleman coming back on the roster. At least that is my understanding. IMHO, too much beef and not enough skill. Gudbranson and Zadorov on the roster - do we need both up? Lewis and Ritchie - don't need to keep both. Gawdin made a strong case to be kept, as did Kylington. Duehr had a better showing than Lewis.

All these analogies... I like may on ham and cheese. Not with mustard added to it, though. I think we have a large pizza with the works. Not many people like anchovies (Lewis) and some are alergic to it. Onions add flavour, but it leaves a bad aftertaste (Gudbranson). Without a lot of cheese (Chucky), the pizza is a little boring. The sauce has to taste right or the pizza sucks (Giadreau). The crust has to be firm but tastey (Sutter).

Two name of waived players of more interest (should be) to Flames and BT: Logan Brown Alex Barre-Broulet

They break all their toys and then buy new ones. Probabl the old toys or useless ones will last for a long time.

Richardson injured. Pitlick out. Game 1 also no Coleman. Kylington stuck with Guddy. Valimaki looks good with Ranev (surprise?) Hani-Ras a good pair. Not sure who is playing tonight, due to the Richardson injury. JG-Mony-Lindholm Dube-Backlund-Mange Lucic-Gawdin-Lewis Kirkland-?-? Maybe Froese?

We lost Coleman to the season start due to a needless suspension. There's a bit of bad blood between these teams as it is. Keep Chucky's nose clean for game 1. It seems like they are playing basically the starting lineup minus Tkachuk. Kirkland is a fill in. Froese is there to see if he can look better than Lewis. Some comments about the lines: Dube on LW and Mangiapane at RW; is this to be able to use Tkachuk on LW? Gawdin seems to be getting the early nod for a C spot Lucic with Duehr; might be a good thing to go with Froese has looked better than Lewis, but I don't know he is NHL material Valimaki getting the Kylington treatment with Tanev; see if he can respond Kylington with Gudbranson; repeat...see if he can carry another weak D-man

Yeah, it was an unrealistic hope for me as well. I knew Monahan and Lindholm would be good 2nd tier players compared to those others. Glad at least that Drouin didn't fall. The reason why I thought that #2 was available was that I only heard about Feaster trying to get #1.

Yes, this was retaliation for an earlier hit on an Oiler. Not sure if was running Smith by him or Podkolzin. The Oilers are one of the dirtier teams in the league, so I laugh when I hear them whining about lack of calls the other way.

I watched the game. Not surprised that his bucket came off. That has happened with a stiff body check. He's douchebag, but I hope the Oilers do not play him for at least a week. He was out cold.

Sasha was one of my faves from that draft. Not sure why we weren't able to move up to 2nd overall that year. 1st was a lock, but 2nd was up in the air.

Cap frozen due to COVID? Must be melting.

I would suggest that any of those LD could play with any of those RD. Valimaki can play RD, so you have even more options. Hani-Ras Valimaki-Tanev Zaddy-Kyl Hani-Ras Kyl-Tanev Zaddy-Valimaki I think Dutter would like to experiment with both of those setups. You want your young guys to gro with a vet. Kyl and Vali both have that chance depending on which sets. Each of those pairs a skater with a guy capable of shutting down the offense. Hani-Ras is the long term future top pair. Let's face it, Tanev is older and more likely to be injured.

I think Sutter recognizes the need to balance beef with skating. Zadorov and Gudbranson absolutely should not play the same game. It does make things challenging. Hanifin-Ras works. Kylington-Tanev works. Hanifin-Tanev works. Zadorov-Tanev does not work. Gudbranson-Tanev has two RD together. Valimaki-Kylington is a bit of a wildcard, but also puts two "rookies" together. I do think that Kylington has done enough to warrant staying on the roster. Gudbranson is probably fighting with Stone for the 7 spot. How that shows in pairs will be a work in progress. Is it better to have one defined pair that you know is fine and have 2 pairs that you have to keep working on? Or have two that you have practiced with that have shown chemistry? Valimaki has difficulty handling bigger players. Gudbranson or Zadorov can at least contain those types on the boards or hit them.