just watched Dom Moore's goal from game 6 in between while waiting for my trial advocacy class (instead of reading) This team needs a 2 forwards to put in the bottom 6 to create an identity for the 4th line. Last year we dont go to the SCF without Boyle-Moore-Dorsett/Carcillo and Pouliot-Brassard-Zuccarello. Sather has to work what he has and tweak a few parts Im not going lines like i normally do but i think that lacking identity in the bottom 6 is going to get the team ousted in the 1st or 2nd round.
I still stay they stick with Fast. Patience. However, they need a winger to go with him and D. Moore. Stempniak isn't it. First choice would be Foligno on Buffalo. Great size, only 23 with upside. I don't see him developing quickly with the Sabres having so many young players. They might be able to steal him for the right price. Now, I would prefer to keep Fast. However, if you dealt him, that would be a guy that I would do it for. Ryan Carter would be my second choice. He's also tough enough to deal with dopes like Martin. He's a pretty good skater also. Third choice would be Chipchura who the morons could have picked up off of waivers for nothing. He's got size and wins 51% of his draws. Third line center will have to be a Zucc deal. Not sure what to do there. Maybe they could swing a Zucc and Stempniak deal for Riley Nash and Tlusty. Figure, the Canes probably could sign Zucc. He's a good guy and likes playing in the NHL. Rangers could probably sign Tlusty. Hayes is starting to fade. Platooning him and Miller might not be a bad idea at this point. Kreider-Stepan-St. Louis Tlusty-Brassard-Nash Hagelin-Nash-Hayes/Miller Foligno-D. Moore-Carter
We shouldn't be building our 3rd and 4th lines with guys who are strictly going to be at most a 3rd line player. I like carter but foligno can stay in buffalo. I truly believe that in order to win the cup we need veteran experience. I know you arent big on stempniak but I have to disagree with you there. He is a very smart player who can still bury the puck from the top of the circle. From what I've seen of him, in person too is that LEE finds way to get open on his own. he roughly 6 foot 200 lbs but plays a little bigger. Also did we forget about ryan malone? dude was a monster in the pre season and he can clearly still play. What I'm saying is, we can look within for 3rd or 4th line help but if we go elsewhere. we should look at veteran guys who are having a down year and maybe have outstayed their welcome but who at one time were a top 6 forward. I've never agreed with the philosophy of filling in holes with guys who typically play that role. If sather looks hard enough he could get someone who is very skilled and could contribute on the PP or 2nd line but can also fulfill his duties as a bottom 6 forward. my two cents.
I don't think the third and fourth line help is available in our system. Malone, that ship has sailed. I bet you could get a third, Stewart and Foligno for Hagelin. Then it would be a question of whether you wanted to attempt to sign Stewart. He was vastly overpaid last time. Or possible Hagelin for Foligno, Stafford and a 2nd. Buffalo would have to include that pick. You can't trade Hagelin for Foligno if Stafford signs somewhere else.
I have no issue keeping Fast. I have no issue trading Fast if another team is high on him and would give us what we need for this season. What if Buffalo wants Fast and a pick for Stewart...I do that in one second, Stewart would be a great fit here. Fast to me has 3rd line upside in a year or two. Now there is value in that, but certainly not value that I couldn't trade to help the team now. We have a handful of prospects better than Fast, and you can't keep them all. There are clearly moves to be made, and we should have only a few kids that are untouchable as we called out in the other thread dump. That's how I feel at least.
to me fast is expendable. we have guys who can replace him right now in the system. i always liked him, a lot. but his balence is still iffy and I'm not sure he's going to develope into a top 6 forward which I initially projected him to be. Now kriedertime if your talking about getting drew stafford here. I am ALL for that. He's a perfect example of my veteran guy who can be a top 6 forward. and i agree with chris stewart too. def needs a more realistic contract this time around but hey. don't blame him blame the idiots who offered it
Malone is a better skater than Boyle and the guys plays with an edge. He could fight too. But dump is right that that ship has sailed . Again that's AV's dumb speed mindset about players. Malone-Moore-Stempniak would be a good 4th line.
