That's really all you can hope for but not what you expect from a guy who has also played 41 playoff games.
Because he sucks so bad, the team needs to make a considerable deal. I never bought into this win streak as Chuck knows. This team has one finisher. Not enough unless you play insane defense which this team can't do. Good defense. Not as good as last year. Stralman was considerably better than Boyle on defense. Not nearly as good as a ton of our fans made Stralman out to be but he was better defensively than Boyle. Boyle is average at best defensively. Much better offensively when he's playing well. Heard last night that Dallas was heavily recruiting Glass. Thank God. Send him there for any pick you can get. They can have him. Then get rid of Stempniak with some prospects and bring in a finisher. I can't believe I'm saying this because I'm not terribly high on him but maybe they should take a chance on Yakupov. Duclair is a finisher, he's just young. Buchnevich profiles as that type of guy. They need a guy now who is cheap. Starting to think maybe they move Hagelin in a deal. I really have no interest in paying Hagelin 3+ million next season. Maybe put together a package of McIlrath, Hagelin, Lindberg and Skapski. No telling how high the Oilers are on Yakupov. Personally, I don't think he has a ton of value right now. I've always been in favor of having the moron Oilers trade back Pouliot to us while retaining 40% of his salary. They can take back Glass, Stempniak and Lindberg.
First of all I like how you say you never bought into the win streak like there is something proven here because they lost a game. They weren't going to win the last 50 games of the season sadly. Let's also remember, which you like to forget and act like I have been saying we are this dominant SC team, I have been saying for MONTHS now we need another top 9 forward. Pretty sure I was the first one to say that, and win streak or not it still is something we need. We need another top 9 forward to complete the team and really give us a legit shot to make a long run in the playoffs again. I am confident Sather sees it as well and will move accordingly. I also think if AV would get his head out of his a** with Miller he would be in the top 9 instead of Stemp. Stemp is a 4th line guy IMO. Miller has the skills to be in the top 9. That flip would be much better for the team I think. As for Hags, since he seems to be the new whipping boy after Kreider, he is on pace for the exact same goals and points as last season. Now with that said, maybe we expected more. Maybe we feel that the raise he will want this summer isn't worth it. I can totally get on board with that thinking. I can totally see including him in a package for a scorer. I wouldn't be upset by that, but just remember he is on pace for the same #'s as last season AND he is also a valued PK guy and his speed helps the team as well. I'd be very surprised if we dealt Hags unless the return was really good. On Kreider, I would move him down. I would try Miller with Step and MSL for the moment. Move Kreider down with Hayes and Hags for now (maybe Hayes and CK have some chemistry). Move Stemp to the 4th line. Move Glass to Hartford. And speaking of Glass, they said the Stars were pushing for him this past summer and he chose the Rangers. I seriously doubt they are interested now considering how awful he is. If I could get a 92nd round pick for him I would deal him...LOL. Tomorrow night is interesting. Last night started a very tough 13 game stretch. You don't want to start that stretch losing 2 straight. Get a win tomorrow night and all is good IMO.
Stars are still a 2 line team. As bad as Glass sucks, he's better than the rejects they are using on their 4th line.
Glass is not better than the rejects on the 3rd and 4th lines of the Stars. Come on now...think about what you are saying.... The Stars are playing well right now. I figured last night would be a tough game to win. We actually played better than I thought we would, just couldn't finish. Hence the need for another top 9 forward.
Memo to Kreider. You're one of the biggest, fastest forwards in the league. You are averaging two shots per game. Wake up you dope. Kreider should be getting 3 to 8 shots every game with his size and speed. Right now he has one move. Come out of the corner and throw it to the point. Gimme a break. Skate as fast as your can out of the corner, cut it towards the middle. Either you'll get a shot off or draw a penalty. These other players can't skate with you. Get a clue.
He drew a penalty last night, and had a few chances, just cannot finish. That's what is frustrating. With his size, speed, and shot he should be scoring a lot more. He has such a good shot and we don't get to see it nearly enough. That is a knock on him.
He simply needs to wake up and have a much better second half. It might even be worth it right now to scratch him a couple of games. I'm tired of Sam and Joe commenting on how he looks good in a particular game. It results in nothing that helps this team.
I wouldn't say he does nothing to help the team, did negate an icing that led to chances late against NJ and last night drew a penalty which we scored a PPG on, BUT he is here to score mainly and he just doesn't do it. To me that is the bottom line. For a while he got a lot of chances and didn't finish. Then the chances went away. Now he is getting a few chances, not as many as he was earlier but a few, but again does not score. A guy with his skills who gets chances has to score more. The CK thing is very puzzling to me. He simply does not score goals. Must be mental as dump mentions.
Yakupov sucks. The team ranks 5th in the league in scoring, they need to add another C and move Hayes to RW
Guys, we just have to be patient with kreids. The kid seems like he's been around forever but its still only his second full season and last year he started in the minors. And best of all he's only TWENTY THREE years old, is 6'3" 230lbs, skates like the wind and has a rocket shot. Despite not scoring yet the kid does other things like park his big body in front of the goalie on the pp, a good forecheck and is always there to protect a teammate in trouble before anything bad happens. You guys make good points in that the kid just doesn't shoot enough for someone with a shot like that. Almost wish AV would come out publicly and say Kreider needs to shoot more. He's getting opportunities and if we're patient he'll start converting these and putting the puck in the net. Way too talented a kid with his size and speed and shot to give up on so soon. I'd also like to see him play with hayes and miller. Once it comes together for this kid and I don't see anyway it doesn't we are going to be very happy he's a ranger for a long time to come.
I would take Hall or Yakupov for sure. Put them on a team with vets and leaders and watch them shine. Amazing the leading goal scorer on that team only has 10, RNH and Hall. They don't score considering all the talent, which is amazing. Yakupov is a -18 and only has 4 goals and 8 points...wow he is having a terrible season. Means we should be able to get him for a lower price...come on Glen go to the Edmonton well again buddy.
You guys are nuts. Everyone here is all over Kreider for being lazy and not playing good defense, and the solution is to get a guy like Yakupov? If that goes down I give it half a game before this board wants him run out of town. Not to mention hes another sub 6 foot, sub 190 guy...don't we have enough smurfs?
News on Stewart: (Dreger on TSN 1200 on Chris Stewart) There is a market for Stewart and the asking price has dropped a bit. The Senators would be in the mix. “And Chris Stewart is going to be a player that’s on the move. And the same teams that have kicked tires to this point will probably circle back. Maybe not Ottawa so much, unless they jump back into the playoff picture here in short order. Pittsburgh had limited interest initially. I think that still remains the same. “But he’s a gritty, physical guy who’s got some upside. And as long as he continues to play well – or as we said earlier, improves his performance – that’s also going to better the teams on the list of those who are most interested.” News on O'Reilly: (Adrian Dater): Avs Ryan O’Reilly is being offered around the league for a good defenseman. The Panthers, Jets, Maple Leafs and Canadiens are showing some interest. People will publicly deny that he is available, but he’s definitely in play. Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 radio on the trade market: Ryan O’Reilly’s name is starting to come up. Send a pick and midlevel prospect for Chris Stewart, send Glass to Hartford and use Stempniak as a spare. That's the move to make. Stewart is exactly what this team needs for the second half, size and skating ability, and has an expiring contract. If we dont get him the Pens or Bruins almost certainly will. I dont think there's a match for us to get O'Reilly unless we send Staal and that scares the hell out of me looking at our defense for the rest of the year.
I have no issue with Stewart, and agree he is a good fit for the 3rd line and adds some size/strength. As for O'Reilly, I see no fit here. They wouldn't want Staal as a UFA who won't re-sign in Colorado. Not sure we have a match elsewhere with them, and we couldn't afford his cap hit anyway. Stewart would be a solid guy to target, but who knows if Sather will (seems to small a fish for him). I would make an offer for Stewart now and be done with it. As for Yakupov, I will say two things. 1. We are not a fit for him. I think we are talking in general the guy has talent. 2. I will not judge him playing on that team with no leaders or vets. I want to see him in a good situation with leaders around him. I bet he does really well.
