Panda Bear
Registered User
- Apr 2, 2010
- 6,590
- 5,732
Nope.
Didn't watch much of PK Subban either.
He looked pretty similar to last year. Larsson didn't, though.Didn't see much of Justin Faulk either.
I didn't - so at the moment I'm basing my attitude only on the crushing feeling of having traded Hall.
Should Larsson turn out to be a great defenseman, I may feel better.
Larsson may not help our powerplay a lot, but he's exactly what we needed at even strength for puck movement: someone who can hit McDavid in stride.The problem isn't Larsson. The problem is trading Hall for Larsson. We are still a garbage team offensively even with McDavid. Hall provided needed balance. Larsson does address a need but he's not a PP player (Chia admitted as much).
He looked pretty similar to last year. Larsson didn't, though.
The Devils were such a bad team offensively. They would've been dead last in the standings it not for the Greene-Larsson-Schneider trifecta.
The problem isn't Larsson. The problem is trading Hall for Larsson. We are still a garbage team offensively even with McDavid. Hall provided needed balance. Larsson does address a need but he's not a PP player (Chia admitted as much).
The problem isn't Larsson. The problem is trading Hall for Larsson. We are still a garbage team offensively even with McDavid. Hall provided needed balance. Larsson does address a need but he's not a PP player (Chia admitted as much).
Larsson may not help our powerplay a lot, but he's exactly what we needed at even strength for puck movement: someone who can hit McDavid in stride.
I agree the problem is the trade, though. Hall's worth more.
Our offense was crap because our D was crap. They are connected. Our offense will be much, much better after this trade. Even if Larsson doesn't do as well as some think he might, he is still a great puck mover and solid defensively, which will help our forwards immensely.
I completely agree that they're connected, but the price was too high IMO. I doubt they'll improve. Hall was top 3 in the entire league behind Benn and Crosby for ES production the past 5 years.
I think if Chiarelli pushed for more, the trade probably doesn't happen. Larsson was a big deal to them. It had to take an overpay to get their attention, and the longer they think about it, I think the more likely they change their minds.
Also, remember that signing Demers is not a sure thing. He may prefer going elsewhere. Even trade options like Barrie or Shattenkirk are long shots really, and those players don't take the tough competition that Larsson does. The offer sheet route is a low percent wager, one that would result in a very bad cap hit on the roster. If we miss out on Larsson and then all these guys, before we know it we are doomed going into next season. For all Larsson's faults, having him gives me a lot more hope that we can make the playoffs next season. I know I'm "Mr Positive" but after we traded our picks last year for Reinhart instead of someone like Burns, I did say back then that we basically missed the playoffs just with that move (no offense to Reinhart, but we needed a top pairing guy). I am realistic about things.