Ray Martyniuk
Registered User
- Mar 13, 2019
- 5,275
- 1,316
Does Blake deserve a Raise,new contract...well yes and no...Didn't and haven't liked how he decided against popular wisdom to throw all our elite prospects to the "Farm" which is an asinine way to build. But the Kings look like they are coming alive? Didn't like some of Blake's moves though the Lemieux one seems a good one for the 4th line,while the Andersson one is still unfolding. Keeping Petersen instead of Campbell and getting value for him and Clifford were good trades. The Muzzin yielded the Kings a top 4(Bjornfot) D-man,a versatile Winger in Grundstrom and an Offensive D-man in Durzi. The signing of Edler helped stabilize the youngsters on the back-end while the Danault signing brought Defensive and faceoff acumen to the 2nd line even though it seemed like a overpriced contract in value and term. Danault is a team player and his play rubs off on others...So my biggest bitch is having all our prospects developing at the "same" time in Ontario where they are competing against each other. After year 3 some will be cast-off while some will be 4th liners or maybe 3rd liners...not exactly what you want from top draft choices! Would have liked to have Blake temper his excitement with some logic of getting players into situations where they are playing the most on their respective teams and with optimal development curves...Fagemo, Kupari, Madden, Turcotte, JAD, Vilardi, Clague...And Blake will do what with Chromiak and Faber next year? Hope they leave Simontaival and Lee alone and let them percolate for another season or two/three...Byfield is another matter...Leave the players or suggest the best course for them is not to turn pro so soon because of what agents, father's or Blake wants or say. Turn pro at the NHL level when your body development/skills meet up with Maturity(22-23 years old) ala T Selanne,P Forsberg to name but a few...better than to have 6-7 end up on the scrap heap of broken dreams...If you don't believe me ask a guy like D Chyzowski(2nd OA 1989)...who turned pro at 18 and regretted it...the money will always be there...the players have to put themselves in the best possible position to be long serving NHL pros and not Minor leaguers with the occasional NHL call up...so there's my take
