So basically this means we're screwed as far as moving one of Bo/Gunny until late in the offseason/training camp, right?
Yeah. It’s difficult to see anyone taking Gunnarsson until he is, at least, skating again.So basically this means we're screwed as far as moving one of Bo/Gunny until late in the offseason/training camp, right?
That was my thought as well.Yeah. It’s difficult to see anyone taking Gunnarsson until he is, at least, skating again.
On the positive side, maybe it convinces him to move on from both Berglund and Sobotka.
I don't think it will change anything with Schmaltz. We'll carry 8 defensemen to open the season if we have to. It's difficult to look at moving a defenseman, leaving only 7, when 2 are injured until camp. It's a complication that we'll need to deal with.That was my thought as well.
We had 4 guys that were candidates to be cap casualties. I wanted to move 2 of them.
2 of them are now injured.... leaving the other 2.
And potentially makes Jordan Schmaltz a throw-in piece in a package if we're trading for a top 6 forward too. That's a different story though. For now, hopefully Armstrong can move the two redundant forwards to clear room. The 2 defensemen will be gone in a year anyways.
Fabbri first tore his ACL, and had surgery, last February and was cleared for contact in July.Wasn't Fabbri ACL injury too, so Gunnar will be out over 1-year?
I agree about Schmaltz. It looks like he'll be a big part of the defense next season. Bouwmeester returning at all from his injury is still a question mark and Gunnarsson coming back could be a couple months into the season. And those two plus Bortuzzo all have expiring contracts after the year. You can bet at least one of them won't be coming back the next year. Schmaltz should get a good opportunity to prove he's a quality NHL defenseman next year and from what I've seen so far I think he'll do fine with sheltered 3rd pairing minutes. Might even be able to squeeze into PP2 and add a little offense to the mix.I don't think it will change anything with Schmaltz. We'll carry 8 defensemen to open the season if we have to. It's difficult to look at moving a defenseman, leaving only 7, when 2 are injured until camp. It's a complication that we'll need to deal with.
We could make a run at Tavares by only moving Sobotka, the problem is that we then aren't going to be improving at wing. We'll be solely reliant on prospects making a difference. We need a combination.
Fabbri first tore his ACL, and had surgery, last February and was cleared for contact in July.
His second injury resulted in surgery in November. His timeline to miss the entire season is partially down to when the offseason is.
Depending on how soon Gunnarsson can have his surgery, there is a 50/50 chance he be cleared for contact before camp.
Maybe Mikkola. You figure it has to be someone from within since Gunny/Bo coming back make it difficult to sign another NHL defenseman. The new injury news definitely complicates the blue line situation for next year. Just have to hope that a) Schmaltz can handle a full time roll b) one of Gunny/Bo returns at 100% c) there are no major injuries to the 6 main guys in the meantime. Seems like a lot of what-ifs now.Ed - Petro
Dunn - Parayko
Bortz / Walman - Schmaltz
Getting mighty thin with depth. Mikkola ?
I mean we still have 6 quality defensemen to it’s not a concern.Maybe Mikkola. You figure it has to be someone from within since Gunny/Bo coming back make it difficult to sign another NHL defenseman. The new injury news definitely complicates the blue line situation for next year. Just have to hope that a) Schmaltz can handle a full time roll b) one of Gunny/Bo returns at 100% c) there are no major injuries to the 6 main guys in the meantime. Seems like a lot of what-ifs now.
Butler is bad. Schmaltz actually played down the stretch last year and was fine.I realize that Schmaltz is on the roster but, considering the immediate future, wouldn't Butler make the most sense? He's got the experience even though his ceiling has already been reached. I like Schmaltz but a stretch run for the playoffs is no time for on-the-job training IMO.
Bortuzzo-Butler
Dunn-Parayko
Petro-Edmundson
???
Butler is bad. Schmaltz actually played down the stretch last year and was fine.
Wouldn't count on him? To say that it takes time to be "fully healed", I assume you mean it would take him that amount of time be be back into rhythm?I wouldn’t count on Gunnar before Jan 1. You really need 9-10 months to be fully healed. Hopefully Walman impresses at camp. His time is coming
Schmaltz is the better player in the AHL and he performed better when used in the NHL this season.I realize that Schmaltz is on the roster but, considering the immediate future, wouldn't Butler make the most sense? He's got the experience even though his ceiling has already been reached. I like Schmaltz but a stretch run for the playoffs is no time for on-the-job training IMO.
Bortuzzo-Butler
Dunn-Parayko
Petro-Edmundson
???
Wouldn't count on him? To say that it takes time to be "fully healed", I assume you mean it would take him that amount of time be be back into rhythm?
Malkin had surgery on his ACL in February 2011 and won the Hart in 2011/12. Plenty of players are back up to speed in 6-7 months.
Schmaltz is the better player in the AHL and he performed better when used in the NHL this season.
I'd trust a Bortuzzo-Schmaltz pairing a lot more than Butler-Bortuzzo.
Malkin, Kovalev, Galchenyuk, Thornton, Beauchemin, Burish. That's just after a quick search, and omitting all the players where 6 months would have fallen in the offseason.Plenty of players? I dont know of plenty of players who have came from ACL after 6-7 months fully healed.
He'll hopefully be back in about 9 monthsWasn't Fabbri ACL injury too, so Gunnar will be out over 1-year?