So we added Boyle, which was good. We also added like 4 other dmen, and now another move has to be coming for a forward. Kreider/Step/Nash Hags/Brassard/Zucc Miller and MSL Glass and Moore Clearly we have a HUGE need at forward. That lineup isn't anywhere good enough. Miller is unproven and in the top 9. I guess Fast and Lindberg would fill it out, with one being in the top 9, and that is just not near enough. On D we have 9 or 10 guys who could play. Kids like Allen and McIlrath. Kostka, Humwick, and Kampfer were added today. We have too many dmen. I have to think a move is coming to deal a dman for some O. I liked Boyle being added. I liked re-signing Moore. I HATED signing Glass and just don't get it. Not a bad day, but now we need to see what we do upfront, because we need a lot more.
Maybe Glass turns out ok, AV did say he's a much better player than when he last coached him, so I'll have faith if he does. I wanted Carcillo back but whatever. I think Lindberg is more ready to contribute FT than Fast, especially with his supposed faceoff ability. Hunwick seems like he could be a decent 6th/7th along with Allen/Bodie. They could use a trade to clear a little space and add a Thornton at the top. Or maybe they look to clear space for a Vrbata/Kulemin type.
Comment from Gorton: Is another forward coming in, “I see that we will be finding a forward, how we will get him I don’t know yet, I can’t say that we will sign a UFA for sure.” We will be making a deal. No shot we sign all these dmen and not have a deal for a forward (hopefully a C) coming up. Maybe Dis is right and it will be Thornton.
On Dan Boyle’s age being a factor, “I think that obviously, in any player that you sign you are looking at different factors, age, price and what they can do for you and we went through all of that. He turned down significantly more money and another year from other places and I don’t think a lot of people around the league are worried about where he is as a player, we are not concerned, we think he can do it for us. He is a dimension we haven’t had and a player like that who wants to come here is important too.”
Miller stinks, this lineup will blow if they don't add some players. They have too much money committed to mediocre players
AV obviously had a hand in bringing Glass here. He must trust him to take Boyle's minutes and I'll give AV the benefit of the doubt for right now. We'll see what happens when he puts the sweater on. Glad to hear Gorton say that. We'll see something happen soon.
Not sure how the jury is already in on Miller but ok. He just turned 21 about 2 months ago and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with a regular, top 9 role.
That is the wildcard Prod. Maybe AV can get something out of Glass. Maybe he sees something he likes. That is the only reason I am not really going crazy about that signing. The biggest issue I have is why 3 years. Did we really need to go 3 years for Glass?
Miller is unproven. Could be good in the top 9, and might not be ready for that role. No one can say right now. I could live with Miller as a 3rd line winger, but we need to add a C to the top 9 so we can play him there. Then we could have: Hags/Step or C we add/Nash Kreider/Step or C we add/Zucc Miller/Brassard/MSL I like that top 9.
Hard to argue we are better right now. On D lost Stralman added Boyle. I guess I would say a wash. Boyle for O and Stralman better on D. Lost Pouliot. Lost Boyle. Lost Dorsett. Lost Richards. Added Glass. Yeah, we are clearly worse right now, which is why we have to be adding a big forward via trade. 3rd line was our best line, Pouliot gone. 4th line was very solid and played a big role for us, Boyle and Dorsett gone. And 20 goal Richards gone as well.
I like that top 9 too even if I may not agree with the combos, but I dont see how Thornton comes here without us giving up Brassard. If we can swing it I'd be pretty impressed. If we end up giving up Brassard, we're still a top 9 guy short.
Yeah, I just threw guys together, no clue on the combos right now. You are right though, Brassard or Miller would have to go you'd figure. Be it Thornton or other, someone pretty big needs to be here. We are clearly worse right now, and frankly the more I look it isn't close. Wouldn't shock me if Staal is dealt. Maybe he wants too much money. Staal and a kid for a big forward/C.
I would much rather keep staal then Girardi, i thought signing him was a bad idea he's been abused during the torts years. Girardi is going to regress a lot faster then staal.
I like Girardi better, plus I bet Staal gets more, and Girardi has a NTC anyway. A dman has to go, and it may be Staal if they believe in Klein or Moore in the top 4. Then McIlrath/Allen/some of the guys added today can be in the 3rd pair mix with Klein or Moore.
Question...Boyle or Stralman. Same cap hit, but I personally rather have Boyle for two years than Stralman for five. So I think it was the right move. I think 12 or so goals and 35 or so points are what we can expect from Boyle (those were his numbers each of the past two seasons when you strecth it out to 82 games during the lockout season). MAYBE he can go 13 or so and 40 or so if we are lucky and the PP clicks. We'll see.
I cannot see us starting the year with John Moore/Dan Boyle as the second pair. I dont think Staal moves, he's even more important now with Boyle in the top 4. Losing him would leave a huge hole and a ton of minutes to fill.
Here's the thing Prod, I think they have to move a dman. We have like 8 or 9 lined up. Unless we say Allen and especially McIlrath have no shot to make the team. Plus for the cap we need to move a dman who makes some money to add a forward. And Staal is a UFA next summer. Does make some sense. And they have said many times Klein could be top 4.
True, Klein could be top 4...but they've also said many times they want to keep going L-R down the pairs. If anybody goes I think (hope) it's Klein. Wouldn't get the return we would on Staal but his 3m could really be used elsewhere.
You nailed the issue with that, we aren't getting much for Klein. Maybe a 2nd or 3rd rounder. Maybe a bottom 6 forward, nothing special. Look at those lines. Look at our team today compared to yesterday, we are clearly worse. I also think a lot comes down to Staal's demands. Plus I also think they like the Hunwick kid: On Hunwick, “Matt can skate and is a character guy. Has a nice little blend of offense and defense and we thought he would be a good fit for us and fit in to what we are trying to do and a real character kid.” To add a forward someone has to move, and a dman seems the most likely due to the excess (or maybe they deal McIlrath). But they also need cap space to make a deal for a forward.
Have to be honest, as I look closer at the team right now, I don't love it at all. Our forwards are real weak. The Devs have better forwards for sure right now IMO. Not sure what to say. Hope we have a trick up our sleeve.
