GDT: ALL Vegas Expansion talk here -who do the Bruins protect

[sarge88]

No they are not easy to find, McQuaid and K.Miller get way to much crap here from the fans who dislike aggressive hockey and rely on stats to evaluate players. Finding a third or fourth line forward who can hit, fight and not hurt the team 5 on 5 is also rare. I would take Cody McLeod, J.T.Miller, Cedric Paquette, Chris Stewart, Michael Ferland, Antoine Roussel or Kyle Clifford over any of the third line wingers the Bruins rolled out this season.

The Bruins are developing skill and speed with prospects like Senyshyn, DeBrusk, JFK, Bjork, etc, the only forward prospect they have with any real physical game is Jessie Gabrielle who is years away from being an NHL regular. They need some size and toughness badly to go with the skill and speed on the wings.

I have seen Blues fans speculating that Ryan Reeves may be unprotected, if so Sweeney should move a good prospect/pick for him immediately. Kyle Clifford has also been speculated, while concerned about his concussion history, I would also push hard for him if Reeves was off the table.

I think something else that gets overlooked in regard to McQuaid and KM, is that they are tough --- but they are smart tough.

There are dozens of tough guys in the league, but many of them take dumb penalties or use their toughness to the detriment of the team.

I'm sure it's happened, but I can't remember either of them taking dumb or bad retaliatory penalties or getting instigator's at bad times.

 

[bb_fan]

disagree, there will likely be many young(er) players on their roster who they won`t want to see get pushed around and a guy like Reaves will help reduce that from happening each shift

I want no part of Reaves on the Bruins as I don`t like the absence of ability to chip in like I think the Acciari`s/Kuraly`s can/will do

I can see the B`s trading Spooner to them for some picks

would you trade last years Reeves for last years Belesky?

Honeslty, are we that far off from Vegas in that regard?

A bunch of young kids, some not so physical older forwards and d-men....

a fourth line with Accari and a guy like Reeves would be a fun checking line to watch.....

 

[bb_fan]

I think something else that gets overlooked in regard to McQuaid and KM, is that they are tough --- but they are smart tough.

There are dozens of tough guys in the league, but many of them take dumb penalties or use their toughness to the detriment of the team.

I'm sure it's happened, but I can't remember either of them taking dumb or bad retaliatory penalties or getting instigator's at bad times.

exactly.

Mcquaids highest number of PIM's in the post season, 14 in 23 games in 2011, 10 in 22 games in 2012-13.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

I think something else that gets overlooked in regard to McQuaid and KM, is that they are tough --- but they are smart tough.

There are dozens of tough guys in the league, but many of them take dumb penalties or use their toughness to the detriment of the team.

I'm sure it's happened, but I can't remember either of them taking dumb or bad retaliatory penalties or getting instigator's at bad times.

No one is saying they are bad defensemen. They are good at what they do.

BUT it's terrible asset management to let a potential top 4 skilled defensemen go to "protect" a career bottom pair stay-at-home guy.

Whether C. Miller reaches that, still remains to be seen, but I stick by the idea that skilled defensemen are harder to acquire than bottom pair defensemen. Especially if they pan out. If they don't, it's still probably worth the risk. There ARE going to be plenty of bottom pair, defensive defensemen available almost every single off-season.

I understand C. Miller not being in the plans. But we better be moving him instead of wasting the spot on protecting a bottom pair ceiling guy. If the team is in love with protecting McQuaid or K. Miller. I'd move C. Miller + Ryan Spooner for an upgrade on either one of them.

 

[bb_fan]

No one is saying they are bad defensemen. They are good at what they do.

BUT it's terrible asset management to let a potential top 4 skilled defensemen go to "protect" a career bottom pair stay-at-home guy.

Whether C. Miller reaches that, still remains to be seen, but I stick by the idea that skilled defensemen are harder to acquire than bottom pair defensemen. Especially if they pan out. If they don't, it's still probably worth the risk. There ARE going to be plenty of bottom pair, defensive defensemen available almost every single off-season.

I understand C. Miller not being in the plans. But we better be moving him instead of wasting the spot on protecting a bottom pair ceiling guy. If the team is in love with protecting McQuaid or K. Miller. I'd move C. Miller + Ryan Spooner for an upgrade on either one of them.

Depends on what they bring to the team not necessarily to an individual skills comp.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

Depends on what they bring to the team not necessarily to an individual skills comp.

Bottom pair right handed defensemen, that shouldn't both be dressed on a good defensive squad. Both bring leadership and toughness to the team. That again, in my opinion is the easier and cheaper role to be filled should we need to.

At least that's the way I see it. I'm sure people disagree at this point.

Anyways, guess we'll just see what happens.

 

[Pia8988]

I think 31. What the heck have they earned. Nothing. Some experimental case study franchise that will draw 10k a night should get no freebies.

I'll bet they don't finish last in attendance next season.

 

[KrejciMVP]

I'll bet they don't finish last in attendance next season.

Vegas has no hockey tradition. Just tourists passing through and older citizens IMO. Tickets will be 7$ on stub hub week nights

 

[Pia8988]

Vegas has no hockey tradition. Just tourists passing through and older citizens IMO

You know nothing of the city then or the team so far. They already sold 10k+ season tickets without the support of the hotels. The wranglers also drew well for what they were, they are only gone because they lost their arena. An ECHL team drew an average of nearly 5k over 11 years. You think an NHL team will struggle to even double that?

 

[KrejciMVP]

You know nothing of the city then or the team so far. They already sold 10k+ season tickets without the support of the hotels. The wranglers also drew well for what they were, they are only gone because they lost their arena. An ECHL team drew an average of nearly 5k over 11 years. You think an NHL team will struggle to even double that?

I know plenty of the city, don't jump to baseless assumptions UNLV basketball OK. NHL hockey? No no no. Not sustainable with the hockey base

 

[Pia8988]

I know plenty of the city. UNLV basketball OK. NHL hockey? No no no.

You don't, but it's cute to continue to play that you do.

 

[KrejciMVP]

You don't, but it's cute to continue to play that you do.

You may win on the boards but time and attendance will prove you wrong

 

[Pia8988]

You may win on the boards but time and attendance will prove you wrong

If the team is a bottom feeder for a long time, they won't draw. That would be true of a lot of teams.

They also don't have location issues that plague a team like Arizona.

You say there is no hockey in Vegas, yet somehow a ECHL team stayed here for 11 years and only left because they lost their place to play.

The Thunder also drew well in the beginning and only left because UNLV refused to negotiate a new agreement and were left with no where to play. The Thunder drew around 8k for 4 years in Vegas in the late 90's.

Because Vegas isn't Minnesota or an north eastern team they are automatically denied a team? They are selling tickets, people are going to go to their games, and people will fly in from all over to go to games.

 

[Lockheed]

Vegas will do fine, there are so many transplants from hockey areas that will fill those seats.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

So Nashville is going the route of 8 and 1. Would be so curious to pull a blockbuster with them then. Ditto Tampa and a few others actually. Ducks too.

 

[ODAAT]

I think 31. What the heck have they earned. Nothing. Some experimental case study franchise that will draw 10k a night should get no freebies.

they haven`t "earned" anything however, when ya plunk $500 million down for a franchise.....

 

[ODAAT]

Vegas will do fine, there are so many transplants from hockey areas that will fill those seats.

but for how long? In a city with so many events/distractions, I think the team won`t have quite the grace period other expansion teams received and not because the fans will demand more, but that there are just so many entertainment options

 

[Pia8988]

but for how long? In a city with so many events/distractions, I think the team won`t have quite the grace period other expansion teams received and not because the fans will demand more, but that there are just so many entertainment options

Arena placement will go a long way to help keeping the numbers up even if they struggle. As well, I think they'll be better than most expansion teams of the past. There will be a lot of defensive talent and goaltenders available to be picked.

As for competing with other events. It's not like the locals spend all their time on the strip or going to casino shows. Those won't be the competition for them

 

[ODAAT]

Arena placement will go a long way to help keeping the numbers up even if they struggle. As well, I think they'll be better than most expansion teams of the past. There will be a lot of defensive talent and goaltenders available to be picked.

As for competing with other events. It's not like the locals spend all their time on the strip or going to casino shows. Those won't be the competition for them

they may not be an expansion team that gets lit up nightly but I`m wondering just how "entertaining" they will be in a market that is all about being entertained?

Let`s not kid ourselves, sure they`ll have some NHL talent on their roster, but were not going to be seeing true top 6 talent nor top 2 D talent being scooped up by them.

Who the Knights wind up playing those spots typically, on an established roster, wouldn`t be playing those roles IMO

 

[Pia8988]

they may not be an expansion team that gets lit up nightly but I`m wondering just how "entertaining" they will be in a market that is all about being entertained?

Let`s not kid ourselves, sure they`ll have some NHL talent on their roster, but were not going to be seeing true top 6 talent nor top 2 D talent being scooped up by them.

Who the Knights wind up playing those spots typically, on an established roster, wouldn`t be playing those roles IMO

How much time have you spent in Vegas outside of the strip? Vegas is a pretty normal city once you get past that. The whole being 'entertained' thing is for tourists.

There are people that move to Vegas for that type of life and partying, but it's not the entire population in the area.

 

[ODAAT]

How much time have you spent in Vegas outside of the strip? Vegas is a pretty normal city once you get past that. The whole being 'entertained' thing is for tourists.

There are people that move to Vegas for that type of life and partying, but it's not the entire population in the area.

Visited Boulder City where a friend lives, never been to the strip, not my thing. Time will tell, I am one who is very pessimistic that this will work as you can see, you aren`t and that`s fine, time will tell.

 

[Flannelman]

How much time have you spent in Vegas outside of the strip? Vegas is a pretty normal city once you get past that. The whole being 'entertained' thing is for tourists.

There are people that move to Vegas for that type of life and partying, but it's not the entire population in the area.

600,000+ full time residents .
Agree, they're not all partiers and there are smaller populations that do well.

Part of me thinks of influence of younger players in that city for lifestyle, but others could make counterpoint of NYC, LA, etc.

 

[Pia8988]

600,000+ full time residents .
Agree, they're not all partiers and there are smaller populations that do well.

Part of me thinks of influence of younger players in that city for lifestyle, but others could make counterpoint of NYC, LA, etc.

That is just "Las Vegas". Las Vegas Valley is up to about 2 million. For reference, just the area inside the red is "Las Vegas".

 

[Flannelman]

I'd give you a like button or thumbs up.

 

[KrejciMVP]

when is Vegas going to have an HF board team page?

edit. NM see it