The ending Matt Duchene thread (Duchene traded to Ottawa)

[Xoggz22]

This thread is awesome. Go away for a couple days and come back to realize how bad this team so deep into the season. I was at opening night and Wennberg was more than fine. I couldn't care less about face offs. I'm sure every fan base is the same way but wow it's funny to read .

 

[EDM]

I was there Opening night and Wennie was mediocre. But he has always been mediocre but some people love him anyway.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I was there Opening night and Wennie was mediocre. But he has always been mediocre but some people love him anyway.

That 60 point mediocrity

 

[Theo Von]

That 60 point mediocrity

59 point* lol
One season, bud.
This season will be big when it comes to telling what exactly we have in wenny.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

59 point* lol
One season, bud.
This season will be big when it comes to telling what exactly we have in wenny.

He's improved every season he's been in the league. At worst, he's been a 3rd liner. I'm not saying he's amazing, or a first line center, but mediocre is far from what he is.

 

[EDM]

Without getting into a tit for tat on Wennberg, I do have to wonder why he has improved so little on face offs. Hard for your power play to get started when you can't win the first face-off in the offensive zone. His improvement in this area has been so marginal. I would think that in the off-season he would go to a coach who is a specialist in face-offs and work his arse off trying to improve his technique. If he could be a reliable 50% face off guy, it would significantly increase his value.

 

[CBJx614]

Without getting into a tit for tat on Wennberg, I do have to wonder why he has improved so little on face offs. Hard for your power play to get started when you can't win the first face-off in the offensive zone. His improvement in this area has been so marginal. I would think that in the off-season he would go to a coach who is a specialist in face-offs and work his arse off trying to improve his technique. If he could be a reliable 50% face off guy, it would significantly increase his value.

It just doesn't click for some people. Also could be a confidence thing, combined with the new rules, it could take him awhile to get adjusted. I really don't know.

It's not the end of the world, but I think we can all agree it needs to get better.

 

[KJ Dangler]

Without getting into a tit for tat on Wennberg, I do have to wonder why he has improved so little on face offs. Hard for your power play to get started when you can't win the first face-off in the offensive zone. His improvement in this area has been so marginal. I would think that in the off-season he would go to a coach who is a specialist in face-offs and work his arse off trying to improve his technique. If he could be a reliable 50% face off guy, it would significantly increase his value.

Strongly agree, although some will say he has faced a couple players that are strong on the face off , but you atleast have to be remotely competitive , which he wasn’t , at 34%. He was better last night , on the face off . My problem with Wennberg , he’s too passive. Teams know he won’t shoot the puck , and play off him, able to cover the passing lanes . He’s not a threat to beat you with his shot , which makes it hard for him to break down the defense .Honestly , I would rather see Milano on the power play with Foligno and Panarin, it does little good to have a player on your power play that the defense doesn’t have to honor . It’s why I’ve been such a strong proponent of giving up whatever we need to , to get Duchene . Duchene is the best faceoff men in the league , he’s fast, he can beat you one on one , he can score goals, but he opens up the ice with his aggressive play . Wennberg doesn’t do that . Yes he had 1 good season , but if he continues to play so passive , he might be better suited as a 3rd line center , used for his defensive capabilities . We have a huge hole in need of a center .

 

[Crede777]

For Wennberg's FO on PP1, our PP1 unit should be:

Atkinson - Foligno - Wennberg
Panarin - Werenski

With Foligno taking first crack at face-offs.

PP2 should be:

Bjorkstrand - Dubinsky - Dubois
Jones - Milano

 

[CoachWithNoTeam]

Well, I feel like Murray has been our best defenseman through 3 games. Not that I expect that to stay that way all season. But what it has done is allowed us to keep rolling pair after pair when any of the other guys have struggled. I think all of the other 5 guys have struggled at times and Murray has played great. Any package involving Murray+ will hurt, and make it a necessity that our top 4 play lights out. Call him a 3rd pair guy if you want, but he was still playing lockdown duty late in the game last night.

I would like to believe that we are looking more at trading futures.

And that Murray + Milano should be off the table.

Having watched almost all of Colorados games this season, Murray is a maaajor upgrade over all of their LHDs. On the right side, Barrie has been fairly impressive, and EJ has been so-so.

I would hope this team could be mostly kept intact and we could make a deal out of draft picks, depth D with upside (Nuti or Gabe - who would be looking at big minutes in Colorado already), and prospects not currently on the team (Abramov, Motte, Gavrikov, Stenlund, Texier, Merzlikins, Tarasov, etc.)

If that's not enough, just throw a draft pick at Vegas or something for Eakin or Ship, since you know they're looking for futures... There are options out there that have to cost less than what the fans have been asking for.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I agree that Murray+Milano should be off the table. Mostly due to the fact it sends a terrible message to the rest of the team. Aside from Bob, these are the best two players so far in the three games. Everyone sucked in Chicago, but Murray has been our best defenseman. Milano is the only creative forward on the team right now.

We need a center. Badly. But it might be better to wait until we can trade a prospect or pick for one.

 

[KJ Dangler]

Just saw this article that Turris may be available ,

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/colu...l&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

[JohnnyJacket13]

For Wennberg's FO on PP1, our PP1 unit should be:

Atkinson - Foligno - Wennberg
Panarin - Werenski

With Foligno taking first crack at face-offs.

PP2 should be:

Bjorkstrand - Dubinsky - Dubois
Jones - Milano

Pretty sure that's the way it's been so far this season. Something I've noticed is that Wennberg takes draws on one side of the ice, and Nick on the other

 

[JohnnyJacket13]

I agree that Murray+Milano should be off the table. Mostly due to the fact it sends a terrible message to the rest of the team. Aside from Bob, these are the best two players so far in the three games. Everyone sucked in Chicago, but Murray has been our best defenseman. Milano is the only creative forward on the team right now.

We need a center. Badly. But it might be better to wait until we can trade a prospect or pick for one.

I'm in the same boat and agree with everything you've mentioned. I'd sooner give up Carlsson+Jenner in a trade for Duchene.



Small sample size (and we just played one of the best defensive teams in the league), but this is a bit concerning. We need to add more "danger" to our offense.

If Duchene doesn't happen, there are a few other options we could look in to.

Turris is obviously one, but that would be a short term fix for this season, as I don't see us re-signing him. I'd only be willing to move a prospect+pick for him, maybe Johnson+.

What about Shipachyov? What a weird situation for him and Vegas. He's a bit of an unknown at the NHL level, but he's very offensive minded.

Galchenyuk is currently on MTL's fourth lien, although I doubt they'd want to move him for what we'd be willing to give up as they have a glaring hole at center as well.

And then, ofcourse, there is John Tavares...but that's not going to sort itself out for a few more months. Only way Jarmo would consider giving up what it would take to land him is if he's guaranteed to re-sign.

 

[Viqsi]

Just saw this article that Turris may be available ,

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/colu...l&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

That discussion has been going on at TR&FA for quite some time now. And I can end the interest of most of the folks on this board simply by mentioning one name: Kurt Overhardt.

 

[blahblah]

Meh, I'm to the point I don't want to give up Carlsson or Murray. This is likely JJ's last season and it looks like the front office and coaching staff are going to keep Savard around.

I like what I've seen from those two. Carlsson has show the ability to move the puck. I say just forget it and move on.

 

[Crede777]

I'd give up Carlsson if it meant getting a top-6 center. I like his size and his youth, but that's no guarantee of further success.

Granted, I'd need to be reasonably assured that the center factors into the team's ~3 year plan and so Duchene would need extended.

 

[Columbus Jack]

Wennberg gets signled out because he is our number one C who doesnt exactly put up 100 points a season. I have no doubts he will bounce back as the entire teams needs to wake up. Cam, Zach, Seth, Bjorkstand, Dubi, Foligno, once everyone gets going, watch out.

 

[Tony Quinn]

As things stand now, Wennberg needs to be on the line Panarin. Or they need to swing a trade for Duchene. Otherwise, they are hamstringing Panarin's scoring ability because Foligno , Dubinsky, et al, are too slow for Panarin's game.

 

[MAHJ71]

As things stand now, Wennberg needs to be on the line Panarin. Or they need to swing a trade for Duchene. Otherwise, they are hamstringing Panarin's scoring ability because Foligno , Dubinsky, et al, are too slow for Panarin's game.

I agree with this.. feels like we have handicapped Panarin's style of play a lot the past few games.

 

[EDM]

Why does Wennberg need to be on a line with Panarin? To make it easier to defend Panarin by easing up on Wennberg to put more pressure on Panarin?

And please, don't just say speed. There is a lot more to it than just speed. Like say being aggressive near the net, actually willingness to shoot, etc. Things that Wennie has not yet shown in his career to date.

 

[MAHJ71]

Why does Wennberg need to be on a line with Panarin? To make it easier to defend Panarin by easing up on Wennberg to put more pressure on Panarin?

And please, don't just say speed. There is a lot more to it than just speed. Like say being aggressive near the net, actually willingness to shoot, etc. Things that Wennie has not yet shown in his career to date.

Who else is going to center him without slowing him down?

 

[Kington91]

Why does Wennberg need to be on a line with Panarin? To make it easier to defend Panarin by easing up on Wennberg to put more pressure on Panarin?

And please, don't just say speed. There is a lot more to it than just speed. Like say being aggressive near the net, actually willingness to shoot, etc. Things that Wennie has not yet shown in his career to date.

For me it comes down to not foot speed, but mental speed. You want someone with Panarin who thinks the game at a high level and that is one of Wennberg's strengths.

 

[hardkorejackets]

As things stand now, Wennberg needs to be on the line Panarin. Or they need to swing a trade for Duchene. Otherwise, they are hamstringing Panarin's scoring ability because Foligno , Dubinsky, et al, are too slow for Panarin's game.

From the games that I have watched, I agree with you here. Panarin makes some very fast decisions with the puck that just hasn't seemed to gel with our team just yet. I'm not a huge Wennberg fan, but I think he's about our only center that could play with Panarin.

Duchene and the Avalanche have both had a really good start to the season thus far. Duchene would probably be a good fit for Panarin honestly.

 

[MAHJ71]

Duchene and the Avalanche have both had a really good start to the season thus far. Duchene would probably be a good fit for Panarin honestly.

Unfortunately for us that good start has likely only reaffirmed the 'crazy' price Sakic is looking for.

On the flip side, does seeing Duchene's solid play mean Jarmo might be willing to up his offer? Doubtful but, who knows...