So, ya wanna start with that
Irrelevant. We must improve overall assets, both quantity and quality.
It this was a fine tuned machine ready to rock n roll, and moving someone screwed up the balance, I could see your point. We are NO WHERE near there.
We don't need a total blowup in the sense that our best guys aren't worth keeping.
But we need a complete restart and we may have to move our best guys to either facilitate or offset other moves needed to improve.
We need to move value for younger value with less cap, preferably ELCs.
That is the best overall plan.
Any of those guys would have looked good in Rangers jersey.
At least I vigorously make a creative effort to improve this team.
You would rather we lose with the same old same old than think outside the box.
Hey BB. Dare to dream. Just a little.
Gutting the club is irrelevant.
Relevant is bottom line overall improvement.
Kinda otherway around, more like patching up smaller multiple holes, leaving one big one.
I do not recant.
Kreider has looked good both times the shackles were taken off.
He will be fine now going forward.
He is WAY more gifted than Stepan, except atm, as to hockey IQ + experience.
Acceptable IF the counterplay, the return was worth it and more.
This is a point you conveniently forget to bring up.
What I find baffling is the attraction people have towards Burmistov. He played on ATL/WPG, never cracked the top two lines as a center, nor a winger, never posted .5 PPG, never proved to be a part of a top PP or PK, couldn't stay on the top two lines as a winger.
But he's got sick hands. Sounds like a younger Wolski to me, except more unproven, and a sure fire KHL risk, and a 21 yearold who has publicly demanded a trade.
You trade assets for proven scorers or guys that fill needs, so someone tell me why the fan base is so ardent on his acquisition.
80% of the season, hey? Seems like an aggressive estimate.What good is Briere if he is going to be injured for 80% of the season?
Id jump on him in a heartbeat if he was healthy, but hes not, he's an injury prone mess which is why Philly wants to get rid of him.
It's true. We're not Glen Sather. Not even if we combined our powers.
The return can be as grand as you'd like. No NHL team would win a Cup with that blue-line.
We also need to add more size to our top-six. How many times were we hemmed in our zone for half a period, maybe more? Briere's not my first choice. If Lecavalier gets bought out, I'd give him a look.
We also need to add more size to our top-six. How many times were we hemmed in our zone for half a period, maybe more? Briere's not my first choice. If Lecavalier gets bought out, I'd give him a look.
80% of the season, hey? Seems like an aggressive estimate.
How many times were we hemmed in our zone for half a period, maybe more?
Oh please. I could dig up just as many posts about dozens of other players from "informed" posters. Hell, I could dig up that many posts from the geniuses around here when talking about Kreider or McIlrath.
Reclamation project to see if we can end up with a semi-skilled bottom-six forward for next to nothing. Lunacy! Pure lunacy!
I agreed with most of your post and I disagree with bern's opinions a lot, but Tampa did get to the ECF with an embarassing defense and goaltending. With Hank in net, we can afford to focus a little more on offense.
He's 23. Would you like to know what my attitude and work-ethic was at that age?
He would cost very little as far as assets go. He has tremendous upside. It's a low risk option.
Would you like me to dig up some of your very own quotes since your debut on this board, Kershaw. . . . . . . ?
Because I like to put (real) numbers on everything:80% of the time he's injured every time.
That is totally irrelevant to this discussion and frankly, I'm not sure why it was brought up in the first place. There should obviously be different standards held between a professional hockey player and a poster on HFBoards. Besides, 23 years old and no NHL experience along with a mediocre track record in the AHL, what's to like about his game?
Beach has been known for his attitude problem since his draft year, which caused him to drop in the first place. And there is nothing to suggest he's changed in professional hockey. Bad attitude is a huge flag to any player.
Where is the tremendous upside? He's been a mediocre point producer in professional hockey, always being passed by superior prospects in the Hawks system.
Sure, but I am not sure how that is relevant to the topic at hand.
Because I like to put (real) numbers on everything:
Last season, Briere played in 70.8% of the games.
In the past 2 seasons, Briere played in 80.0% of the games.
In the past 3 seasons, Briere played in 85.4% of the games.
In the past 4 seasons, Briere played in 87.1% of the games.
In the past 5 seasons, Briere played in 75.8% of the games.
In the past 6 seasons, Briere played in 79.5% of the games.
It's true. We're not Glen Sather. Not even if we combined our powers.
You don't build a team by just collecting a bunch of assets. In your world, trading anyone over 25 for picks and prospects will ultimately lead to a Cup. Look at what a crappy team Edmonton is despite all their sexy high-end forwards.
And maybe you forgot, but this team finished second in the league the previous season. Playoff team this year that advanced to the second round. NO WHERE near?
Yea. Trade everyone over 25 for a ton of picks and prospects, and hopefully they can all develop at the same time, same pace, and explode on their ELC's while we win the Cup over and over.
If only it were that ****ing easy, Bern.
We're one of the youngest teams in the league. And you want to rebuild. Why aren't you advocating we move Lundqvist, then? That's step 1 in your rebuild.
Wrong.
Those guys would look good in ANY jersey. And that's why it's damn near impossible to acquire them.
Instead of flaunting your, uh, creative thinking, you should strive to make realistic proposals instead. With a lot less words. And less coke/pepsi analogies.
You value potential more than production.
Dream? Sure.
Fantasize? No.
There's a difference.
The problem with that logic Bern, is you can't guarantee improvement with your scenario's you fantasize about. The bottom line could very well result in less than we have now.
No, you're filling one hole and creating multiple ones. Not the way you tried to spin it.
Says it all. Kreider is more valuable than Stepan. And more gifted.
Bern, here are 2 guarantee's from me.
1). Kreider will never more valuable than Stepan.
2). Kreider will never outproduce Stepan.
Bookmark that ****.
The return can be as grand as you'd like. No NHL team would win a Cup with that blue-line.
Why aren't you advocating we move Lundqvist, then? That's step 1 in your rebuild.
Khabibulin was terrific during their run. And their defense was anything but embarrassing.
But, replicating a teams success from almost a decade ago, with different rules in place, doesn't sound like a recipe for success.
It kind of reminds me how some people here compare our line-up to the '94 team.
Kris Chreider said:I agreed with most of your post and I disagree with bern's opinions a lot, but Tampa did get to the ECF with an embarassing defense and goaltending. With Hank in net, we can afford to focus a little more on offense.
I meant 2011 Lightning.
Put Hank on that squad and they make the Finals, easy.
What good is Briere if he is going to be injured for 80% of the season?
Id jump on him in a heartbeat if he was healthy, but hes not, he's an injury prone mess which is why Philly wants to get rid of him.
Because I like to put (real) numbers on everything:
Last season, Briere played in 70.8% of the games.
In the past 2 seasons, Briere played in 80.0% of the games.
In the past 3 seasons, Briere played in 85.4% of the games.
In the past 4 seasons, Briere played in 87.1% of the games.
In the past 5 seasons, Briere played in 75.8% of the games.
In the past 6 seasons, Briere played in 79.5% of the games.