Waived: Brian Strait (Claimed by NY Islanders)

[IcedCapp]

Yeah. I know Despres has been playing well enough... but, well... let's tell it like it is -- he still has waiver options. And his play in the A didn't exactly, like you said, warrant a firm spot on the roster.

Strait, in every way (including asset management), would have made more sense. But I guess done is done. So whatever. It still doesn't make watching him put a world class player like Malkin on his wallet, calmly collect the puck and move it to his partner (on the top pairing) any easier, though.

As for Bort... yeah... I am both looking forward to and dreading watching him try to make his way. It could be ugly, on this team but I'm a big believer in his ability.

Willing to give them a pass on Despres, if only because I'd like to think they are capable of thinking, "Maybe this player is just beyond the AHL and we need to move him up to continue to challenge him and force growth."

Now, given how they've treated every other player on the roster, I find it really hard to believe, but I'd like to wish it could be true.

 

[gordie]

Watching last night's game showed me the potential that Despres has. Soon as he started adding a little more physical edge to his game he looked much better. I don't expect him to be Scott Stevens but this coaching staff must make it clear to him that just a little more physical play will keep him in the NHL and will make an asset to this team.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Willing to give them a pass on Despres, if only because I'd like to think they are capable of thinking, "Maybe this player is just beyond the AHL and we need to move him up to continue to challenge him and force growth."

Now, given how they've treated every other player on the roster, I find it really hard to believe, but I'd like to wish it could be true.

Agreed. Owing to the fact that Despres has looked like he belongs... I can't exactly gripe about how the whole thing shook out. It's just... you can't help but think that the entire thing could have been handled much better. Strait is a player. Anyone paying any attention the last few years could see that.

It isn't surprising, though. Stuff like that happens when you logjam one position and one position only through the draft and FA. But yes yes... I know -- "BPA!!!"

 

[IcedCapp]

Agreed. Owing to the fact that Despres has looked like he belongs... I can't exactly gripe about how the whole thing shook out. It's just... you can't help but think that the entire thing could have been handled much better. Strait is a player. Anyone paying any attention the last few years could see that.

It isn't surprising, though. Stuff like that happens when you logjam one position and one position only through the draft and FA. But yes yes... I know -- "BPA!!!"

Well, see, I think the situation was botched and it has nothing to do with a logjam. We KNOW who/what Ben Lovejoy is. His ceiling is the best #10 Dman in the league. If you're unable to move him for a conditional 7th, put HIM on waivers and keep Strait, Bort, and Despres. There was no reason to keep Lovejoy, outside of some irrational love for something that isn't there.

 

[UnderratedBrooks44]

Agreed. Owing to the fact that Despres has looked like he belongs... I can't exactly gripe about how the whole thing shook out. It's just... you can't help but think that the entire thing could have been handled much better. Strait is a player. Anyone paying any attention the last few years could see that.

It isn't surprising, though. Stuff like that happens when you logjam one position and one position only through the draft and FA. But yes yes... I know -- "BPA!!!"

That sounds like some amazing hindsight. Can I borrow it some time?

Honesty I'm kidding, I still don't know why they let Strait go and not Lovejoy because there was absolutely nothing to lose. Let's not act like we all knew Strait was a top 4 guy though, and he still might not be. I'll wait until he actually has an established NHL career and isn't a minus player.

 

[Zen Arcade]

Yeah. I know Despres has been playing well enough... but, well... let's tell it like it is -- he still has waiver options. And his play in the A didn't exactly, like you said, warrant a firm spot on the roster.

Strait, in every way (including asset management), would have made more sense. But I guess done is done. So whatever. It still doesn't make watching him put a world class player like Malkin on his wallet, calmly collect the puck and move it to his partner (on the top pairing) any easier, though.

As for Bort... yeah... I am both looking forward to and dreading watching him try to make his way. It could be ugly, on this team but I'm a big believer in his ability.

I have this weird combination of annoyance and vindication when it comes to Strait.

"See, I told you he was ready, look at him stand up on Mal...damnit"

The fact that the treatment of young players is exactly the same in WB/S really concerns me.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Well, see, I think the situation was botched and it has nothing to do with a logjam. We KNOW who/what Ben Lovejoy is. His ceiling is the best #10 Dman in the league. If you're unable to move him for a conditional 7th, put HIM on waivers and keep Strait, Bort, and Despres. There was no reason to keep Lovejoy, outside of some irrational love for something that isn't there.

Ah, yes. Of course.

I don't know why that didn't occur to me. I guess maybe I've already conditioned my brain to accept that he's a permanent fixture on this team.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

That sounds like some amazing hindsight. Can I borrow it some time?

Honesty I'm kidding, I still don't know why they let Strait go and not Lovejoy because there was absolutely nothing to lose. Let's not act like we all knew Strait was a top 4 guy though, and he still might not be. I'll wait until he actually has an established NHL career and isn't a minus player.

???

OK.

I'm not saying he's a sure-fire top four NHL defenseman. I'm saying he's clearly an NHL contributor. And this was something I felt was established, at latest, last season.

I have this weird combination of annoyance and vindication when it comes to Strait.

"See, I told you he was ready, look at him stand up on Mal...damnit"

The fact that the treatment of young players is exactly the same in WB/S really concerns me.

Same. At least to start the game. Maybe it makes me a bad fan.. but after the Islanders scored their third goal, last night (Moulson, I believe -- which is just awesome, too) I was basically just pulling for Strait to get a point to sort of further rub it in.

And yeah... WB/S is, to me, a massive area of concern, in general.

 

[The Old Master]

That sounds like some amazing hindsight. Can I borrow it some time?

Honesty I'm kidding, I still don't know why they let Strait go and not Lovejoy because there was absolutely nothing to lose. Let's not act like we all knew Strait was a top 4 guy though, and he still might not be. I'll wait until he actually has an established NHL career and isn't a minus player.

i didn't want to leave anybody go.....if you couldn't move one of the bottom guys move on of the older top guys......ya i know it would be a down grade at d., but we would be improving in other areas to make up for it pluss gaining a littel more cap space.

 

[MtlPenFan]

???

OK.

I'm not saying he's a sure-fire top four NHL defenseman. I'm saying he's clearly an NHL contributor. And this was something I felt was established, at latest, last season.



Same. At least to start the game. Maybe it makes me a bad fan.. but after the Islanders scored their third goal, last night (Moulson, I believe -- which is just awesome, too) I was basically just pulling for Strait to get a point to sort of further rub it in.

And yeah... WB/S is, to me, a massive area of concern, in general.

Like I said earlier, I was bullish on him almost immediately, because I figured that at WORSE, we had a 5/6 guy on the cheap and wasn't a liability, with good skating and good puck management. Paired with the right guy, he could have been a decent #4.

In other words, he was already an NHL'er, a guy who was a little too good to be in the minors, with potential upside.

Lovejoy? Jesus ****ing Christ, he is what he is and will NEVER get better.

I'm gonna hurt someone in my league game tonight...

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Like I said earlier, I was bullish on him almost immediately, because I figured that at WORSE, we had a 5/6 guy on the cheap and wasn't a liability, with good skating and good puck management. Paired with the right guy, he could have been a decent #4.

In other words, he was already an NHL'er, a guy who was a little too good to be in the minors, with potential upside.

Lovejoy? Jesus ****ing Christ, he is what he is and will NEVER get better.

I'm gonna hurt someone in my league game tonight...

Mtl, Pey Pey says for you to take your meds:

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I think the issue is more specifically about why Lovejoy cracked the lineup than generally about the waiver wire process.

Oh, I'm as pissed off as anyone that we let Strait go for Lovejoy's sake. I think it was a dumb decision.

I just don't see anything in Strait's comments that would suggest they were "a brutal indictment of the coaching staff". His quote was exactly what you would expect any waiver wire pick-up to say.

 

[Zen Arcade]

Oh, I'm as pissed off as anyone that we let Strait go for Lovejoy's sake. I think it was a dumb decision.

I just don't see anything in Strait's comments that would suggest they were "a brutal indictment of the coaching staff". His quote was exactly what you would expect any waiver wire pick-up to say.

The part about it being a good opportunity, sure, that's pretty standard. The part about the coaching staff having faith in him and not having to worry about being benched for any mistake he makes like he has for the last 2 years? Not so much.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

The part about it being a good opportunity, sure, that's pretty standard. The part about the coaching staff having faith in him and not having to worry about being benched for any mistake he makes like he has for the last 2 years? Not so much.

He was a rookie defenseman trying to make a contender...10-12 minutes a night and a short leash are the order of the day. I'm sure getting 20 minutes on the Isles is a refreshing change for him, though.

I really wish we had kept the guy over Lovejoy. But I don't think anything he said is unusual or incendiary.

 

[Zen Arcade]

He was a rookie defenseman trying to make a contender...10-12 minutes a night and a short leash are the order of the day. I'm sure getting 20 minutes on the Isles is a refreshing change for him, though.

I really wish we had kept the guy over Lovejoy. But I don't think anything he said is unusual or incendiary.

I wouldn't say incendiary, but I'd say it was more candid than you'd normally see.

I wouldn't blame him for being frustrated, he did everything that asked of him and really never got a chance.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I wouldn't say incendiary, but I'd say it was more candid than you'd normally see.

I wouldn't blame him for being frustrated, he did everything that asked of him and really never got a chance.

I can agree with that. I don't fault him for being a bit frustrated either - by rights he should be playing regular minutes here and Lovejoy should be on the Isles candidly commenting on how he wasn't given much opportunity.

 

[luki here]

i normally appreciate when hockey players are candid in their press statements. Everything is so comercialised, that you hardly hear any authenticity. He wasnt spiteful, just finally had a chance to say what had been going for years already (probably). I wish the local media would work some articles about this angle.

 

[KIRK]

Oh, I'm as pissed off as anyone that we let Strait go for Lovejoy's sake. I think it was a dumb decision.

I just don't see anything in Strait's comments that would suggest they were "a brutal indictment of the coaching staff". His quote was exactly what you would expect any waiver wire pick-up to say.

I didn't call it a 'brutal indictment'. I would, however, call it a 'thinly veiled' one. And, frankly, the less hyperbolic adjective makes the noun no less true.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I didn't call it a 'brutal indictment'. I would, however, call it a 'thinly veiled' one. And, frankly, the less hyperbolic adjective makes the noun no less true.

But billybudd did.

I will say that if Strait ends up being a go-to guy for the Isles, I'm going to be livid. Good for him and all that crap, but we need a guy just like what he projects to be, and we don't need a Lovejoy by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[KIRK]

But billybudd did.

I will say that if Strait ends up being a go-to guy for the Isles, I'm going to be livid. Good for him and all that crap, but we need a guy just like what he projects to be, and we don't need a Lovejoy by any stretch of the imagination.

Hey, don't talk to me. Ask your buddy HCDB.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Hey, don't talk to me. Ask your buddy HCDB.

Haha, well, he sure ain't perfect.

 

[KIRK]

Haha, well, he sure ain't perfect.

Who are you and what did you do with RRP?

BTW, when you see him, ask him to google 'sunk cost effect'.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Who are you and what did you do with RRP?

BTW, when you see him, ask him to google 'sunk cost effect'.

Hey man, I know sunk cost. I studied Prophet of Glennie very closely in the WJC threads.

 

[KIRK]

Hey man, I know sunk cost. I studied Prophet of Glennie very closely in the WJC threads.

Ouch . . .

I know it too. I studied RRP in the Bylsma threads.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Ouch . . .

I know it too. I studied RRP in the Bylsma threads.