Speculation: Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2018-19

[xECK29x]

Being the training camp thread was our general catch all I'll spin this up and sticky it.

Also start with this:

Click to read more...

 

[LeapOnOver]

Still trying to figure out how Tanner Fritz is on the opening night roster and people still don't accept this is a tank season....

 

[Satan'sIsland81]

Still trying to figure out how Tanner Fritz is on the opening night roster and people still don't accept this is a tank season....

It truly is sad that so many on here instead see Fritz as a legit NHL starter.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Still trying to figure out how Tanner Fritz is on the opening night roster and people still don't accept this is a tank season....

There must be something about the guy's work ethic or "glue guy" quality that we simply don't get to see on the outside.

It's not like Trotz doesn't have plenty of experience with building in guys like this and I'm willing to bet it has a lot more to do with certain behind-the-scenes intangibles than we simply can't detect by watching the on-ice product.

 

[LeapOnOver]

There must be something about the guy's work ethic or "glue guy" quality that we simply don't get to see on the outside.

It's not like Trotz doesn't have plenty of experience with building in guys like this and I'm willing to bet it has a lot more to do with certain behind-the-scenes intangibles than we simply can't detect by watching the on-ice product.

Sounds like the kind of bullpop that lead to the signing of the incomparable Andrew Ladd...smh

 

[buud]

i trust LL&Trotz.

they are likely telling the youth that they have to earn their promotion, by not just being good, but by being consistently good (at the AHL level, obviously).

right now, i see LL&Trotz just setting the table. taking at least 10 games to see what they have.

some of you guys need to breathe. this is supposed to be fun

 

[steveat]

I like Lee a lot, but would rather have Eberle..if Eberle is willing to take a discount, I say sign him too.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Still trying to figure out how Tanner Fritz is on the opening night roster and people still don't accept this is a tank season....

Coaches always seem to have their own little pet projects who don't seem to add much to the casual fan. Sometimes it comes down to something as simple as that player plays the system the coach wants played perfectly, so it's one less player the coach has to worry about micro-managing.

The Pens had two of them last season, unfortunately, in Kuhnhackl and Carter Rowney. Thankfully Rutherford took away both of those toys from Sullivan (not that you care about the Pens; they're just an example that came straight to my head from a team that isn't tanking, yet employed questionable players due to a coach's "love" of them).

 

[PK Cronin]

Coaches always seem to have their own little pet projects who don't seem to add much to the casual fan. Sometimes it comes down to something as simple as that player plays the system the coach wants played perfectly, so it's one less player the coach has to worry about micro-managing.

The Pens had two of them last season, unfortunately, in Kuhnhackl and Carter Rowney. Thankfully Rutherford took away both of those toys from Sullivan (not that you care about the Pens; they're just an example that came straight to my head from a team that isn't tanking, yet employed questionable players due to a coach's "love" of them).

Can we give Kuhnhackl back?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Can we give Kuhnhackl back?

God no. The Pens have a 4th line that should have the potential to produce like a 3rd line again.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Under the guise of speculation, and in light of the season opener tonight after an interesting preseason, here's my prediction for the team's G-A-TP stats this season.

I'll not bother mentioning how many games I figure each guy will play.

Lehner GAA 2.66 SV% .921
Greiss GAA 2.92 SV% .913
Gibson GAA 2.48 SV% .918

Barzal 25-67-92
Bailey 21-39-60
Eberle 19-37-56
Beauvillier 29-26-55
Lee 34-19-53
Nelson 23-26-49
Pulock 20-27-47
Leddy 8-31-39
Pelech 5-21-26
Clutterbuck 14-10-24
Ladd 9-13-22
Toews 4-18-22
Cizikas 5-16-21
Kovar 11-8-19
Filppula 4-14-18
Boychuk 6-11-17
Kuhnhackl 7-9-16
HoSang 3-11-14
Hickey 2-12-14
Mayfield 1-13-14
Komarov 5-8-13
Bellows 9-3-12
Fritz 4-6-10
Martin 4-4-8
Sbisa 2-6-8
Johnston 3-2-5
Aho 2-2-4
Wotherspoon 0-1-1

 

[notDatsyuk]

279 goals? Excellent! 18 more than last year, which would have put us second overall.

Using just the worst GAA of 2.92, that's still only 240 goals, an improvement of 53 over last year.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Under the guise of speculation, and in light of the season opener tonight after an interesting preseason, here's my prediction for the team's G-A-TP stats this season.

I'll not bother mentioning how many games I figure each guy will play.

Lehner GAA 2.66 SV% .921
Greiss GAA 2.92 SV% .913
Gibson GAA 2.48 SV% .918

Barzal 25-67-92
Bailey 21-39-60
Eberle 19-37-56
Beauvillier 29-26-55
Lee 34-19-53
Nelson 23-26-49
Pulock 20-27-47
Leddy 8-31-39
Pelech 5-21-26
Clutterbuck 14-10-24
Ladd 9-13-22
Toews 4-18-22
Cizikas 5-16-21
Kovar 11-8-19
Filppula 4-14-18
Boychuk 6-11-17
Kuhnhackl 7-9-16
HoSang 3-11-14
Hickey 2-12-14
Mayfield 1-13-14
Komarov 5-8-13
Bellows 9-3-12
Fritz 4-6-10
Martin 4-4-8
Sbisa 2-6-8
Johnston 3-2-5
Aho 2-2-4
Wotherspoon 0-1-1

LOL! That's a lot of goals. They're going to lose Tavares (replace him with Kovar) and score 15 more goals than last season? While playing a more defensive system? Don't think so. They would be #1 in the NHL in goals scored if the above happened.

 

[steveat]

I had the same prediction about Barzal's points. Additionally, I think Barzal will hit one more point than Traitores. Weird things happen in this league and I do believe you know who will get 91 points and Barzal 92. It just fits.

Assuming Kovar doesn't stay down too long, I think he'll score more than that

 

[crasherino]

There must be something about the guy's work ethic or "glue guy" quality that we simply don't get to see on the outside.

It's not like Trotz doesn't have plenty of experience with building in guys like this and I'm willing to bet it has a lot more to do with certain behind-the-scenes intangibles than we simply can't detect by watching the on-ice product.

There's nothing wrong with Fritz....in a vacuum. He plays tough, gives 100% all the time and on occasion can perhaps throw in some offense. Problem is, we have 6 guys like that in our opening day roster.

Fritz is the perfect 13th/14th forward. He can step in and not be a negative for the short term. There's value in that. Having him as a 3rd liner with several other "hold the fort" type guys, isn't all that helpful.

 

[seafoam]

I have no issues with Fritz.

When Ladd is healthy, I’d like to see him in for Martin, and have Komarov with Cizikas and Clutterbuck and Ladd with Filppula and Frtiz.

In a perfect world, I’d like to see Ho-Sang earn a call-up to play where Fritz is.

Not sure where Bellows fits when Ladd is healthy. I wonder if they’ll experiment with Beauvillier at center, although he still doesn’t look strong enough yet based on what we saw last night.

 

[buud]

Beau is better suited to C, IMO. as a winger, he is spending too much time doing board battles. he wins his share of battles, but only because he is smart. he gets overpowered easily. would rather he be roaming around open ice, setting up plays and firing one-timers from the high slot.

they certainly need to spread the talent around, try and keep the opponents from just solely focusing on Barzal.

 

[seafoam]

And I can’t say I’m surprised. I don’t know why everyone thought he would report.

 

[PWJunior]

And I can’t say I’m surprised. I don’t know why everyone thought he would report.

I hope he decides to stay, I think he'll get his NHL shot when Nelson is traded. As long as he's still making the big league money, it would soften the blow of having to be in the AHL. Plus this Bridgeport team isn't crap like it is most years.

 

[Spybot]

How many preseason games did Kovar even play in? Like 2? I guess risking losing Tanner Fritz to waivers just wasn't an option.

 

[Macch]

How many preseason games did Kovar even play in? Like 2? I guess risking losing Tanner Fritz to waivers just wasn't an option.

Fritz already passed through waivers...

Kovar couldn't beat our anyone in our bottom 6. By that account i assume Trotz doesn't think he's good enough.

If he stays great. If he decides to go i'm guessing he'll quickly be forgotten

 

[Spybot]

Fritz already passed through waivers...

Kovar couldn't beat our anyone in our bottom 6. By that account i assume Trotz doesn't think he's good enough.

If he stays great. If he decides to go i'm guessing he'll quickly be forgotten

My bad. Still don't think it's the best of moves to dump a potential free asset so quickly based only on 2(?) preseason games. Could have easily sent Fritz to Bridgeport for a few games. He's not gonna leave for Europe and I think the team would survive without him.

 

[buud]

Fritz already passed through waivers...

Kovar couldn't beat our anyone in our bottom 6. By that account i assume Trotz doesn't think he's good enough.

If he stays great. If he decides to go i'm guessing he'll quickly be forgotten

i hope that L&T were looking at him as a replacement for Nelson, not the bottom 6. dude was a great scorer in the KHL. and at 28, i don't think they need to put him through the ringer.

if he is any good, i am sure that L&T will try and hang on to him (seems like they are). just need to make a few adjustments.

if Kovar, who obviously wants to play in the NHL, signs with another team, and plays well, he won't be forgotten. in fact, just about everyone will enjoy pointing out how bad L&T are, for letting him go.

i am stubbornly holding on to the belief that he will be a decent 2nd C.

 

[Thrasymachus]

And I can’t say I’m surprised. I don’t know why everyone thought he would report.

Back to Europe I suspect

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

i am stubbornly holding on to the belief that he will be a decent 2nd C.

In the AHL maybe.