Getting Spurgeon back should be a nice shot in the arm. Even with him gone I've felt pretty confident in the defense, which is not something I ever would have expected when he went down.I'll take it but I have a feeling we are trying to get our defense right lately. Once we are confident with that I want us to be more aggressive on offense. Most of this year has felt out of sync but it can still come together
Should've said something earlier and we could've let one in for the OT. Strangely as it seems, we actually like OT nowAs a Leaf fan, don't like losing the 2 points...
As a Leaf fan, don't like losing the 2 points...
But...
...over the broadcast, learned about Stalock's time here in Toronto. Where he was acquired in a trade, told he was 4th in the minors on the depth chart and sent home.
To come back to the NHL, face the team that buried you, and shut them out in front of the home town fans.... well that's a feel good sports story if I ever heard one.
Congratulations
Spurgeon will help a lot. I still have faith that Parise will help too. Even if he isn't fully the Parise we knew a few years ago I think he will still help with offenseGetting Spurgeon back should be a nice shot in the arm. Even with him gone I've felt pretty confident in the defense, which is not something I ever would have expected when he went down.
I think the main thing is that Murphy is a RHD, and is meshing with Brodin into a decent pairing that can put in 18-20 min/night if need be. This unlooked for development gives the Wild all sorts of options when it comes to reforming the D units once Spurgeon is back. I would like Spurgeon to play with the two young LHD, which would allow them a better chance to learn the ropes. Then use Spurge for PP, PK, and end of game duties to pump up his minutes.Getting Spurgeon back should be a nice shot in the arm. Even with him gone I've felt pretty confident in the defense, which is not something I ever would have expected when he went down.
If Parise comes back close to 100%, it'll be an immense boost. We're looking at two legit top 6 lines + a guy like Coyle or Nino on the 3rd line with a talented rookie (Eriksson Ek) and a good veteran (Cullen).
If Murphy is in the lineup, Spurgeon shouldn't see the PP. Also not sold on his abillity to carry a guy like Olofsson.I think the main thing is that Murphy is a RHD, and is meshing with Brodin into a decent pairing that can put in 18-20 min/night if need be. This unlooked for development gives the Wild all sorts of options when it comes to reforming the D units once Spurgeon is back. I would like Spurgeon to play with the two young LHD, which would allow them a better chance to learn the ropes. Then use Spurge for PP, PK, and end of game duties to pump up his minutes.
I've been very hard on Fletcher's summer, but gotta hand it to him on picking up Murphy for free.
No interest in Parise playing with either Koivu or Staal.If Parise comes back close to 100%, it'll be an immense boost. We're looking at two legit top 6 lines + a guy like Coyle or Nino (or Parise) on the 3rd line with a talented rookie (Eriksson Ek) and a good veteran (Cullen).
If Murphy is in the lineup, Spurgeon shouldn't see the PP. Also not sold on his abillity to carry a guy like Olofsson.
No interest in Parise playing with either Koivu or Staal.
How is he going to come off of back surgery and be better than he has been for two years?It depends on how he looks. If he's the same guy as two or three years ago, then they can play him anywhere they'd like.
If you have Suter, Reilly, Dumba, and Murphy in the lineup, then that should absolutely move Spurgeon off of the PP.Murphy doesn't move a guy like Spurgeon off of the PP. But it likely doesn't matter, because those two plus Suter and Dumba would be the PP defensemen in some combination.
His back was messed up last year but he was trying to see if he could play through it without surgery. He will either be better than last year, or done.How is he going to come off of back surgery and be better than he has been for two years?