I don't think it is pointless at all Prod. He has spent a few years in the AHL now. I 100% see the value in him being up with the pros learning the way and practicing with the team. And you know what...the 7th dman plays a lot of games during a long 82 game marathon. He certainly doesn't need to be a great skater, but he does need to be able to skate well enough to stay with forwards and stay in front of them. If he can do that...awesome. I have no issue if he is here. But unless it is a no doubt type of deal I wouldn't make him my # 6 right at the start and feel good about it.
Al, do you really see the triplets sitting near the crease like they did this series if big mac is in the vicinity. I don't
And this McIlrath thing is simply OUT OF CONTROL. My lord you would think this kid is some top prospect or highly rated guy, neither of which is the case. It really is insane how we build guys up. The grass is always greener...LOL.
Very doubtful mel. If/when McIlrath is a bust I will laugh my as* off. I certainly would give him a shot here as the 7th dman, but the fact that all you guys are obsessed with a guy who simply hasn't been close to good enough to get a shot yet is comical. Let him prove he deserves to be here by making the big club as the 7th dman. Let him play some games here and there and learn to be a pro. If he shows he has game then give him a larger role. I have zero issue with that. But all you guys simply wanting to hand him a spot, or acting as if just him being here will stop teams from playing their game is comical.
Chuck, you saying you'd laugh at a first round pick not panning out so you can say you were right is pretty low dude. Now I remember why I didn't post here for a few weeks, thanks for the reminder.
Stop being so dramatic Prod...LOL. AS I SAID I want him to be up here and pair as the # 7 with a solid vet at # 6. BUT if he didn't pan out it would be pretty damn funny considering the way some of you guys are talking about him being this savior. I mean come on bro it is funny stuff and you know it. DESPITE the fact that we lost games 5 & 7 on home ice being shutout 2-0 each game all you guys have talked about is Mac Mac Mac...it is comical now. Dump mentions Chara. Others saying of if Mac was here no team would ever hit us from behind. If you cannot see the comedy in that I am not sure what to tell you man.
It's not being dramatic at all, I'm trying to make a point and you keep getting hysterical and pulling out bits and pieces you don't agree with. Nobody disagrees that offense was the problem in the losses. But how do you expect to improve the offense and get that right wing without making changes on D? If you know of a way please walk me thru it because I don't see it. Without nhlnumbers in front of me so these numbers are ballpark, we have MSL coming off at 5.6, Hunwick at 600k, and Shep with a pro rated hit at about 200k. That's 6.4. Cap going up 2m, so we have roughly 8.5m in space. Staal has a 2m raise, Zucc has a 1m raise, Stepan gets a 3m raise. That's 6 right there, leaving 2.5m. Say Fast and Miller get combined .5. That's 2 million left for your right wing difference maker, and we haven't even discussed Hagelin yet who you hope to resign. So how does the cap work? That's what brings me to subbing McIlrath for Boyle. McIlrath is the only right shot in the system who can take that over. Not to mention the things he brings that this team lacks. All of a sudden we have a few million dollars more to get a RW whos actually worth something, instead of resigning MSL for a million which is probably what we'd end up with otherwise. It's not about talking defense for the sake of talking defense, it's about taking a slight step back on D, which was a strength, in order to improve the weakness up front.
One of the funnier stretches on the board this season was when Chuck was dead wrong about Talbot being competent enough to fill in as a starter when Hank went down to injury. Even when it became obvious to even the casual follower of hockey that Cam was more than up to the job Chuck was still posting nonsensical save % comparisons and repeatedly telling the rest of us that he's not starter material. Probably sat on the edge of his seat during games hoping Cam would shit the bed so he could race to his computer and say I told you so.
Swing and a miss Panzer...but we are used to that...LOL. I freely admitted I was wrong about Cam. He was awful at first, but then settled into his role and played really really well and helped us finish 1st. So much so that I think there is a market for us to trade him this summer. Good for him so he can get a shot at being a # 1 somewhere. I have ZERO issue admitting I was wrong about Cam after his poor start...ZERO. And you and I are on the same page Prod...I have no issue giving Mac a shot as well. I would do it in more of a 7th dman role with a solid vet brought in to play the 6th spot until we know if Mac can do it, but overall we agree on giving Mac a shot. Boyle out and a cheaper vet brought in to be the 6th dman and Mac in as the 7th dman who clearly gets a chance to play a good amount of games. The top 5 does not get touched. That's how I'd play the D. My point on Mac has nothing to do with you actually...it has everything to do with the rest of the guys who mention Chara, say things like oh with Mac here no one will get hit from behind again, or no one will do anything dirty against us again, or no one will get hurt because Mac is here to police that. I'm sorry but I find that all comical. Your opinion on how we should play the D is very sound and logical Prod. You said leave the top 5 alone. You said sub Mac in for Boyle. Nothing crazy there, even if we disagree very slightly on how we'd put Mac in.
Right, but remember, if you want to go true vet at 6 and Mac at 7, rather than Mac at 6 and Hunwick type at 7, that vet 6 is going to cost up to a mil more than a 600k Hunwick. That mil could be a big difference in getting a right wing that's worth something, especially if part of Boyle's hit remains on the books after a buyout.
If we can go from 4.5 for Boyle down to 2 mill +/- for a vet 6th dman I think we'd be okay. But of course the cap plays into it. If the difference means no R shot top 9 winger then yeah I hear you, but I don't think it will.
You have to understand Chuck's thinking. He is willing to completely destroy the future for 10 to 15 years if the team can win one cup. If they do or don't, during those 10-15 years of misery, he won't be here. He'll root for some other team when they completely suck because they traded all their prospects and picks. He can't grasp the concept of trading for the present and future. Much like the Blackhawks did when they tore some down but built some up so they took a one year hit to be good for another 5-6 years. He doesn't get it and probably never will get it. Both he and Al are so f'n gullible that they think every coach we have doesn't make mistakes in personnel and systems.
The Blackhawks were top-5 pick awful for 2-3y Dump, which is a bad comparison. The Rangers will never be that bad so dealing 3 or 4 late 1sts for high level guys really was something that needed to be done. We still have enough prospects to jump into the mix to help go for a Cup in this 4-5y window. As for McIlrath, if he shows he's able to fill in next year as the spare then perhaps use him against certain teams here and there. I just doubt he even gets to that point, much less a regular. Hopefully he can so we can say we got some value out of the pick. Skjei seems like he's really on the cusp, maybe a half year in Hartford.
Still gullible to believe every pick works out. Tell me oh wise one, how did making huge deadline deals work out of the Kings.. Oh wait they won two cups.... So great one.. What coach out there is perfect? Please tell us that coach who never makes mistakes. You loved torts hire... Then you loved AV who was going to bring that exciting offense, now he is an idiot too because his team lost game 5 and 7 at home. Meanwhile you are missing games to watch the NFL Draft.
All you can do is laugh Al. Dump LOVED the Yandle deal, now he is whining and crying about it. Dump is on the 37 year plan, when he actually watches the games and isn't sleeping or watching the NFL draft that is. And well said 71. Dump has said for years F the Hawks and Pens because all they did was suck to get top 3 picks. He has whined and cried about that and said the NHL should stop that. Now he is talking about the Hawks as the model...funny sh*t. Our system is awesome is all we hear despite all the rankings showing otherwise. This kid is great and that kid is great. McIlrath is now Chara. NOW the system sucks overnight. Now we need to change 1/2 the team. We all know in here that he has no clue what he is talking about, but we humor him anyway...we love our dumpy...LOL.
