I think that is a decent 3rd line also. Issue is we have ZERO ability to get any goals from our 4th line, or even physical pounding play from our 4th line. Stepan has been shaky. He is on pace for 15 goals and 55 points, but we need more like 18 goals and 65-70 points. I personally am not too concerned about Stepan. I think he will get better as the season goes on, just like last season. Maybe I will be wrong on that, but that's how I feel. We need another top 6 winger with size. That is what this team needs badly. A big top 6 winger to go with Nash and Kreider. That would be a good trio. Cally as the 4th guy. Then You have MZA in the 3rd line mix with Brass/Miller/Hags. BTW...Hags has 1 goal and 3 assists in his last 14 games...not good. We need another scorer, and real size that has some ability upfront. Our 4th line must get bigger and supply more pounding. That is what we need from them. We do not have that. Our 4th line is the worst because they cannot score at all AND they aren't big and don't pound, so they are a flat out zero. We also need size on the BL, which hopefully McIlrath can be.
I disagree about the mediocrity, this team took it to Pittsburgh a few weeks ago like no other team has this year. They have underachieved this year, slow start and sketchy play against teams they should beat which I would put on AV. While AV has improved the PP and breakout, some guys play with no accountability while others are scratched for a loose tape strip on their stick, don't think favoritism crap like that isn't noticed in the locker room. D. Moore wouldn't be on any other NHL team's roster if he was cut loose today, Pyatt might because another team would be suckered in by his size but in AV land they are everyday starters. This team lacks a Prust-type player and it should be a relatively easy acquisition unless you're Glen Sather. If the recently acquired Beach is any type of fighter I'd bring him up to play, enforcers are still a necessary evil in the regular season and Dorsett is too small to be that guy.
That's why Dom Moore is so useless, as many have pointed out. Love the guy but we have to be real here. He isn't big and doesn't pound anybody. But he also can't score. Yes he's decent on the kill and in the circle but Boyle does both of those things too and has more size, even if he doesn't use it as well. If I'm Sather I put Moore on waivers and get Ott out of Buff. Shouldn't take much. Boyle-Ott-Dorsett is a decent 4th line with toughness and scoring ability. Then build a package around MDZ and either Miller or Hagelin (I think I'm leaning Hagelin at this point) for the best top 6 winger with size he can get. Any other prospect they want minus Skeji and McIlrath. Still think Kane is available and can be had for that, but the more we wait and continue to scratch MDZ the less chance we have of pulling that off. Also now need to factor in Staal's injury and who is taking those minutes. The reason I'd try to trade Hagelin now instead of Miller is that if we keep Hags and get a top 6 winger that leaves a third line of MZA-Brassard-Hagelin. That line would be small even in a high school game.
Thanks for proving the point panzer. That is what makes them mediocore. One game they play well against Pitt. Play well against LA. Play well against Det. The next game they are blowing 2 goal leads against NJ. Getting beat by Winnipeg. On and on. That is exactly what makes them a mediocore team buddy. And again, outside of ONE season this is exactly what we have been in every single one of Sather's seasons as GM, so why would it be different now??? People need to open their eyes on this team. We are what we are fellas. And have been that way for 15 seasons now. Come on.
Scratching MDZ game after game shows just how lost this franchise is really. A GM who is useless and does nothing. A coach who clearly is not a fan of MDZ. So the GM does nothing. The coach scratches MDZ game after game. And MDZ's trade value falls. No logic to it AT ALL. Moore, Pyatt, Boyle all pretty useless IMO. I could live with one on my 4th line, Boyle would be the guy, but to have them all in your lineup is a death sentence. That makes your 4th line terrible. No bang and no scoring. The perfect combo...LOL. Boyle/Ott/Dorsett would be a decent 4th line, Ott adds a touch of scoring and some bang along with being good on faceoffs, but again that means Sather actually has to do some work, which is unlikely. I also would package an MDZ with a Miller or Hags for a top 6 winger with size, and we could get one for that package with another mid kid, but again Sather...work...unlikely.
