Player Discussion: Anton Stralman

[Coopers Gum]

Never understood all the Carle hate. Still don't. He gets caught out of position, what, once every 10 games?

He's a good #3/4. If anyone on D is disappointing right now, it's Sustr and Garrison. They've both strung a really rough set of games together.

 

[Werewolf]

Naw, Stralman is perfect with Hedman. Looks like we both agree that overall there should be more of a physical force than Gudas, but I'm ok with it coming from somewhere else. Stralman's defensive prowess allows Hedman to do what he does best, rush the puck up the ice. Playing on the right side, his shot is also probably the best we've had since Dan Boyle, and that is saying a ton. He rarely misses and isn't a total flake defensively(cough MAB).

Perfect combo, plus he does add some physical play from time to time, I can't complain.

I've harped on this before, but I think Carle's days are numbered. I don't think Carle is bad, but he's turned into a bad fit now, mostly due to the lack of a shutdown physical presence. Funny, because I thought he was the perfect pickup when we signed him. We have the perfect #3 in Koekkoek who should supplant him in the near future, that is where I think we will get the increased physical presence from. A more conservative estimate is that Koekkoek plays #5 minutes as Brewer's replacement next year.

Any opinions or predictions on what happens to Barbario and Sustr?

Koekkoek needs two years in the AHL. The depth in Syracuse at Left D is: Koekkoek, Cote, Nesterov, Mormina. Conceivable that Koekkoek gets injury call up next year since we probably don't re-sign Brewer. It would take three injuries for Koekkoek to get a shot at the NHL right now. That is Hedman, Garrison, Carle, Brewer, and Barberio ahead of Koekkoek on the left side this year. Next year he'll be fourth on the left side as far as depth: Hedman/Garrison/Carle and Brewer/Barberio is gone. I'm thinking we might miss Barb's flexibility to play both sides...however, I think he plays both sides bad so really doesn't matter. Barberio's flexibility to play both sides (he plays the left side better) might get him an extra year of insurance to allow for one more year of Koekkoek in the AHL.

My take is Barberio is gone after this year and Witkowski plays #7D next year. This allows Blujus/Dotchin to move up on the AHL pairings and opens up a spot for DeAngelo who is eligible to play in the AHL next year on the right side. Sustr gets contract and plays #6D on the right side that year - everyone else is already signed and can't really predict trades:

Hedman/Stralman
Garrison/Gudas
Carle/Sustr
Witkowski

and in the AHL:

Koekkoek/Blujus
Cote/DeAngelo
Nesterov/Dotchin
Corrente
(Mormina's contract runs out - not re-signed)

This is the most logical best guess I can come up with for depth next year. For the reasons above...don't think Koekkoek is Brewer's replacement - we don't have to replace him at all to continue with this year's lineup and still have sufficient depth. My guess is we run with 7D instead of the 8D we ran with this year which opens up a spot on the roster for an extra forward.

 

[The Macho King]

Never understood all the Carle hate. Still don't. He gets caught out of position, what, once every 10 games?

He's a good #3/4. If anyone on D is disappointing right now, it's Sustr and Garrison. They've both strung a really rough set of games together.

I can explain it.

Most nights you don't notice Carle. He's one of those quiet Dmen who doesn't look especially good or bad - you only notice him when he makes a mistake. This makes it easy to focus on him when he does mess up, even though it's not very common.

Sustr has looked like hot garbage the past few games. He's been too active but he doesn't have the foot speed to catch up when he's out of position. Last year he played a steady game - this year I feel that he feels he needs to "take the next step", but he's taking risks he shouldn't.

 

[Werewolf]

"By the Numbers: After posting a goal and 12 assists in his final year with the Rangers, defenseman Anton Stralman has a goal and six assists in nine games this season. Stralman's seven points are one fewer than the entire Rangers' defense corps in 2014-15" - Bleacher Report.

 

[The Macho King]

He had another assist tonight, I think.

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

He had another assist tonight, I think.

Every one of the D got a point tonight except Garrison

 

[Mikeaveli]

This guy is a legend. Great UFA pickup by Steve.

 

[m4tt145]

He is really racking up points, compared to when he played on the Rangers. Is he getting much PP time?

 

[The Macho King]

He is really racking up points, compared to when he played on the Rangers. Is he getting much PP time?

He is, but I think he's getting a good number of his points ES.

Just checked - 8 ES points and 1 PP point.

 

[Lord Stan 2020]

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hock...alman-has-been-better-than-advertised/2203814

stralman by joe smith

 

[Rschmitz]

He's a righty with a great shot, perfectly compliments the team offensively.

 

[Rschmitz]

Carle has had a rough stretch, but he's not a bad Dman. He's just playing over his head right now with Hedman out.

Never understood all the Carle hate. Still don't. He gets caught out of position, what, once every 10 games?

He's a good #3/4. If anyone on D is disappointing right now, it's Sustr and Garrison. They've both strung a really rough set of games together.

Carle isn't bad. He eats a ton of minutes, plays a solid positional game, and produces offensively. He's just a bad fit due to the length of his contract, lefty shot, and lack of physical presence. Pairing him with Garrison or Gudas has been a perfect way to minimize his lack of shut down ability while playing towards his strengths.

Speaking of Garrison, I definitely disagree that he's been disappointing. He's played a solid, physical brand of hockey on the top 4 which I was expecting out of Brewer when we signed him. With fewer minutes Brewer has excelled as well.

Koekkoek needs two years in the AHL.

Well obviously I wasn't talking about him being in the mix this year, but there is a good chance he is ready by next year.

 

[LightningStrikes]

I love how Stralman hugs Bishop after a win rather than just giving him a tap on the helmet like everybody else.

 

[Coopers Gum]

Carle isn't bad. He eats a ton of minutes, plays a solid positional game, and produces offensively. He's just a bad fit due to the length of his contract, lefty shot, and lack of physical presence. Pairing him with Garrison or Gudas has been a perfect way to minimize his lack of shut down ability while playing towards his strengths.

Speaking of Garrison, I definitely disagree that he's been disappointing. He's played a solid, physical brand of hockey on the top 4 which I was expecting out of Brewer when we signed him. With fewer minutes Brewer has excelled as well.



Well obviously I wasn't talking about him being in the mix this year, but there is a good chance he is ready by next year.

I wrote that about Garrison after he had a rough 2 games. Pinched at bad times, and couldn't hold the puck in the Ozone to save his life. He still has trouble with that every now and then, it's his biggest flaw right now I'd say. Keeping the play in the ozone. But other than that, he's improved since that statement.

 

[Brie]

When Cally says it you know it's true since he have played with Strålman for a long time.

Joe Smith @TBTimes_JSmith

#tblightning Callahan says Stralman is playing the best hockey he's seen from him. "Sensational," Cooper said.

 

[Mikeaveli]

Yet EA Sports has him rated at an 81 overall. The same overall given to Chris Butler.

 

[JS91]

Yet EA Sports has him rated at an 81 overall. The same overall given to Chris Butler.

Well EA Sports is almost as accurate in their ratings as Eklund is in his "speculations", so no wonder.

 

[AlphaCatalyst]

Story about Stralman breif time in Calgary as a Flame

 

[Brie]

I am going to prey to every hockey god out there for this to be nothing and it's just a rest day becuase we don't need it to be anything else:

Joe Smith @TBTimes_JSmith

No Anton Stralman on ice for #tblightning. Body maintenance day. Missed second half of second period Thurs but came back in.

 

[Leonardo87]

I am going to prey to every hockey god out there for this to be nothing and it's just a rest day becuase we don't need it to be anything else:

Joe Smith @TBTimes_JSmith

He got banged up a little but nothing serious, just an extra day of rest that's all really.

 

[Cookiefist]

Could you imagine losing Stralman right now? It would be like New York Rangers losing Dan Boyle and Ryan McDonagh...Oh wait...

 

[DFC]

+15. Tops in the league.

 

[The Macho King]

Could you imagine losing Stralman right now? It would be like New York Rangers losing Dan Boyle and Ryan McDonagh...Oh wait...

More like losing McD and Girardi. Or Nash losing Weber and Josi.

Even then, we have pretty good depth on D to where we could still win without him for awhile. Carle-Garrison-Brewer down the left side and Gudas-Sustr-Barbs down the right. It wouldn't strike fear into anyone, but we'd be able to keep our head above water.

 

[Ace88*]

Stralman has been fantastic for fourish years now. Hes a brillant 3/4, adequate #2 and i dont have a problem saying that.

 

[CarpeNoctem]

Stralman has been fantastic for fourish years now. Hes a brillant 3/4, adequate #2 and i dont have a problem saying that.

Right now, it sure seems he's an adequate #1 for the time being.