Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread | Is It Hockey Yet?

Status
Not open for further replies.

MoneyGuy

Wandering
Oct 19, 2009
6,975
1,366
I'll be a contrarian here and say that I think long term the team is better off if both Nurse and Reiner start in the AHL. I don't think Reiner is NHL ready. Nurse may be but I think we'll have a better defenseman if he gets 40 games in Bakersfield.
 

McDrai

Registered User
Mar 29, 2009
23,891
18,289
Bored.

Do you think the team is better off starting the year with nurse/reinhart/both on the team?

Do you think nurse/reinhart are better off in the ahl?

Is the team better off winning at all costs this year vs next year?

I think when all is said and done, Nurse will make the team this season. They will probably give him bottom pairing minutes to start off but by the end of the season I could see him in the top pairing. Reinhart is probably better than Ference/Nikitin for sure but I think he would benefit most from another year in the AHL.
 

rasarhdasd

Registered User
Apr 12, 2013
2,846
0
I bet they think Reinhart is more NHL ready than Nurse but Nurse will force the issue and make the team out of camp.
 

oilexport

Registered User
Aug 29, 2010
2,019
624
I want them both on the team. No more ference and nikitin ! Clear out the deadwood, now !!! Let's get this show on the road
 

oStealthKiller*

Master Monkey Herder
Jul 2, 2012
1,342
0
Edmonton
I want them both on the team. No more ference and nikitin ! Clear out the deadwood, now !!! Let's get this show on the road

That's a very young team, I think I'd let the team gain confidence the first 20-40 before bringing up that youth, especially on the blue line. Who knows though both have the potential to force the coaches hand
 

lakai17

Registered User
Aug 10, 2006
20,918
1,325
What are thoughts on Davidson? I am high on him because he is a defensive defenceman. You all know I enjoy the Gryba signing.

I see many talking of Reinhart and Nurse but Davidson will also be in the mix competing.

I love goal scoring in hockey but one of my favourite defenceman will always be Jason Smith.
 

Aerchon

Registered User
Jul 20, 2011
10,491
3,668
What are thoughts on Davidson? I am high on him because he is a defensive defenceman. You all know I enjoy the Gryba signing.

I see many talking of Reinhart and Nurse but Davidson will also be in the mix competing.

I love goal scoring in hockey but one of my favourite defenceman will always be Jason Smith.

All our defensive prospects like Davidson, Simpson, Musil, Hunt, Osterle... etc. All of them are a big step away from being an NHL regular. Davidson is probably the closest but really it's so hard to say if he can be a consistent NHLer.

I personally think he is a weak #7 atm. This year hopefully some of these guys can at least establish themselves as solid #7 call up options.
 

nabob

Big Daddy Kane
Aug 3, 2005
34,291
20,671
HF boards
That's a very young team, I think I'd let the team gain confidence the first 20-40 before bringing up that youth, especially on the blue line. Who knows though both have the potential to force the coaches hand
Does playing Nikitin instill confidence? We had exhibition lineup juggling for 20 games into the regular season last year. No need to do it again.
 

ChaoticOrange

Registered User
Jun 29, 2008
50,532
29,152
Edmonton
If Nikitin comes to camp sluggish and out of shape and just happy to collect his contract, I'm convinced he's AHL bound - especially with how beastish Nurse is looking.
 

nabob

Big Daddy Kane
Aug 3, 2005
34,291
20,671
HF boards
If Nikitin comes to camp sluggish and out of shape and just happy to collect his contract, I'm convinced he's AHL bound - especially with how beastish Nurse is looking.

If that happens then they should suspend him and then if he ever gets in game shape send him to the minors. Send a clear message that this team is about effort and winning. Not just showing up.
 

harpoon

Registered User
Dec 23, 2005
14,182
11,328
Does playing Nikitin instill confidence? We had exhibition lineup juggling for 20 games into the regular season last year. No need to do it again.
I agree with what you say about the exhibition lineup and the futility of repeating that particular experiment.

Not sure about Nikitin though. Something off about the whole Nikitin story since he showed up in Edmonton. I want to see him a) healthy, b) with a competent, regular partner, c) under a coach who has a ****ing clue what a defensive scheme is supposed to look like.

Some reasons I'm disinclined to throw Nikitin to the scrap heap before the season even starts. He's big. He's the right age. He has a demonstrated record of success in the NHL and in international competition (regular on WC and on Russian Olympic squad 2014). He's better than Ference.
 

McTrashBoat

Show me the deed
Nov 28, 2014
9,536
3,078
If Nikitin comes to camp sluggish and out of shape and just happy to collect his contract, I'm convinced he's AHL bound - especially with how beastish Nurse is looking.

Has anybody heard about Nikitin doing any sort of camp like the BioSteel or the new Hall/McDavid one?

You'd think he' would want to dispel rumors about his shape and dedication
 

nabob

Big Daddy Kane
Aug 3, 2005
34,291
20,671
HF boards
I agree with what you say about the exhibition lineup and the futility of repeating that particular experiment.

Not sure about Nikitin though. Something off about the whole Nikitin story since he showed up in Edmonton. I want to see him a) healthy, b) with a competent, regular partner, c) under a coach who has a ****ing clue what a defensive scheme is supposed to look like.

Some reasons I'm disinclined to throw Nikitin to the scrap heap before the season even starts. He's big. He's the right age. He has a demonstrated record of success in the NHL and in international competition (regular on WC and on Russian Olympic squad 2014). He's better than Ference.

I agree that he could be better than Ference and has all the tools to be the top 4 Dman that MacT insists that he is. He came to camp out of shape and hurt his back. He played through the pain which to me shows that he has some heart. A big warning sign to me came when he was a healthy scratch / #6 Dman on a Columbus team that was pretty thin on the back end.
 

Spawn

Something in the water
Feb 20, 2006
43,588
14,951
Edmonton
I agree that he could be better than Ference and has all the tools to be the top 4 Dman that MacT insists that he is. He came to camp out of shape and hurt his back. He played through the pain which to me shows that he has some heart. A big warning sign to me came when he was a healthy scratch / #6 Dman on a Columbus team that was pretty thin on the back end.


I didn't actually think Nikitin was all that bad last year when he was playing. The main issue was that he only was able to get into 1/2 the games.

I genuinely think he's objectively better than both Ference and Gryba and when he's actually playing brings more to the table than either of them.
 

McShogun99

Registered User
Aug 30, 2009
17,789
13,179
Edmonton
Nikitin looked really good on Columbus 3 years ago then his game just went downhill. I'm sure it has to do with injuries but if he's healthy and in shape then he's a decent defenceman. He's just not worth 4.5/season.
 

guymez

The Seldom Seen Kid
Mar 3, 2004
32,644
12,154
Nikitin looked really good on Columbus 3 years ago then his game just went downhill. I'm sure it has to do with injuries but if he's healthy and in shape then he's a decent defenceman. He's just not worth 4.5/season.

Indeed...he was a decent dman a few years ago and he just turned 29.

I cant remember where I heard it but there is word out there that his back issues have been a problem for a few years now.
That may explain the dramatic falloff in his play because he is not at the point in his career when this typically happens.
He was a solid NHL player before the back issues.

If he can manage to correct his cranky back he would be a solid bottom pairing (short term #4) dman and a decent option on the PP.
Thats a big IF though because it looks very much like his back issues are chronic and his career may be in jeopardy.
 

Samus44

Enjoy the ride.
Aug 5, 2010
9,317
2,088
I didn't actually think Nikitin was all that bad last year when he was playing. The main issue was that he only was able to get into 1/2 the games.

I genuinely think he's objectively better than both Ference and Gryba and when he's actually playing brings more to the table than either of them.

He looked good at times, he's got a hell of a shot, but he also made some really terrible passes and pinches that were completely inexcusable. He was poor no doubt about it, he may be better than Ference but he makes far worse mistakes, doesn't bring leadership, and he doesn't have a NMC guaranteeing him a roster spot. Gryba isn't easy to compare, he's a PK defensive specialist who's a far safer player. Nikitin is meant to be a two way dman who plays a variety of roles, but doesn't necessarily excel at one, Gryba however is a role player who can only play a particular role but can be useful if deployed correctly. Nikitin may be better all around but given competent coaching i would suggest Gryba is the more easily utilized asset, unless Nikitin's back issues see him have a Joensuu like revival of course.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->