Mainly your assessments of Gryba and Korpikoski. We have tried adding toughness every year and ever year the fans get excited at the thought. Then reality sets in and we find out the players we brought in just aren't very good.
Everybody expected Ference to bring toughness to the team and he is/was a much better dman than Gryba has ever been. If Ference flopped so badly here, what hope is there for Gryba?
I didn't label anything. I said I'm not defending either, nor do I think Chia is at all worthy of an appreciation thread for signing Sekera and not much else.
Talbot meh
Gryba meh
Testube meh
Korpse absolutely stinks.
I'm fine with the Reinhart deal. Has the most promise imo. I think he faltered from there.
I think if all goes well, he will become a Petry type d-man in a couple of years. If not, he will be playing in Europe after his current contract. He's a good project, but the Oilers may not have been in the position to wait on him. I understand this part. Leafs are re-building and this may be the perfect spot for Marincin to prove his mettle under a good coach. If he can't cut it,he has himself alone to blame.
Mainly your assessments of Gryba and Korpikoski. We have tried adding toughness every year and ever year the fans get excited at the thought. Then reality sets in and we find out the players we brought in just aren't very good.
Everybody expected Ference to bring toughness to the team and he is/was a much better dman than Gryba has ever been. If Ference flopped so badly here, what hope is there for Gryba?
I'm not really a big fan of the Korpikoski deal but I'll trust Chia's call on that. I'd rather have had the free cap room for next summer and/or signed Chris Stewart for the same dollars on a 1-year.
I'm not really a big fan of the Korpikoski deal but I'll trust Chia's call on that. I'd rather have had the free cap room for next summer and/or signed Chris Stewart for the same dollars on a 1-year.
I actually do not see much downside with acquiring Korpikoski. He's still in his prime years, reportedly was playing hurt last year and has scored 40points a few years ago, while playing good two way game. If he comes here, kills penalties, plays well defenisvely and scores some 30 points on the third line, we should be happy. Definition of low risk, high reward acquisition.
\i'd prefer almost any player we've had to korpikoski who is **** on a stick. About the most useless player in the NHL.If you are trying to say that Chia = MacT then you are either out to lunch or flat out trolling.
Talbot has a better track record than Scrivens or Fasth ever did and was seen as the top trade target for goalies this offseason.
Korpikoski gives us some physical play and Korpi + Letestu >> Gordon. I guess you'd prefer the likes of Joensuu here instead of Korpi?
Another nothing addition.Gryba was gotten for a 4th round pick and has a one year audition period here.
McLellan pretty much wanted to come hear and paid his own airfare after we won the the McDavid sweepstakesChia's deals:
Added McLellan which was a great move
Good move, not great.Added Sekera which was a great move
For less of a player than Gordon.Added Letestu for a reasonable deal ($1.2 million less than Gordon)
FFS these are two of the most useless players in the league with zero talent. May as well have the bookend set I guess.Added Korpikoski to add more depth down the lineup at the very least he's an upgrade on Klinkhammer.
You know I liked the Reinhart deal. That showed promise. I've been disappointed with most of whats gone on since.Added Reinhart who is a stud defense prospect that's years ahead of any D selected at the 16th or 33rd spots and he fits right into our core groups age range and right between Klefbom and Nurse age wise.
Gryba looks physical playing for Ottawa in the EC. Welcome to the WC where he'll be a lot tamer than seen. Oh wait, Ference, Fayne, etc.In essence dealt Marincin for Gryba, Gryba is a proven commodity and adds a physical element to a defense that sorely lacks that element for a defenseman that wanted out and is clearly a lesser player than Nurse, Klefbom and Reinhart who are all LHD.
Talbot is likely another nothing and it won't take until November until people on this board, maybe even you are asking why this club didn't go out and get a bonafide #1.Traded picks for the top goalie on the trade market, considering what Lehner returned I think that he scored on this deal.
Fine with this.Is taking Schultz to arbitration which opens up a buyout window and makes sure that Schultz doesn't hold out since he seems like a PITA in negotiations or at least his agent seems to be.
But Korpikoski was poor alongside Gagner, because Gagner is such a world beater that he makes everyone that plays alongside him better or something
I'd say Reinhart turning into a new Vlasic is near to the BEST case scenario for him, lol. Vlasic is damn good.
And to be fair to Replacement I think a lot of people read his questioning of moves and an early appreciation thread are equivalent to calling for Chiarelli's head. He definitely isn't. Go read some of his old posts on Eakins if you want to see him demanding blood.
Completely unfair.
Every year, we are excited about our marginal off-season acquisitions. A lot harder to find faults with players that you haven't seen very much. Grass is always greener as they say.
Korpikoski played through a high ankle sprain.Is Gagner responsible for Korpse being one of the worst players in Phoenix 3 years running? Hanzal played very well with Gagner before getting injured. They were getting quite a run going on a bad team. Really about the most productive guys on the team in their 20 games together. Completely contrasted to that absolute uselessness of Korpikoski who was the short straw assignment on any line that nobody wanted to play with. Complete garbage hockey player. Not at all the type of bottomsix player that adds to your lineup.
Korpikoski played through a high ankle sprain.
Korpikoski played through a high ankle sprain.
You know I liked the Reinhart deal. That showed promise. I've been disappointed with most of whats gone on since.
He was also a 0.40 ppg player in the season prior as well.
I don't get this at all. You're disappointed with adding one of the top FA defensemen and dealing a 4th liner for another one? What exactly were you expecting from Chiarelli?
Also, Letestu is not a downgrade from Gordon. Not as good on faceoffs, Gordon is slightly better defensively but Letestu is better offensively, a better skater and more versatile, can play up and down the lineup if needed and on wing or at center. Seems like a pretty even trade off for $1.2 less.
And why are you so dismissive of Talbot? Is this based on live viewings or are you just assuming he's going to fail because Scrivens and Fasth did?
They're not exactly an offensive juggernaut.
I'm fine with korpi being a bust or a project.
I'd put my money on him being a useful utility player who scores 40 pts though.
Gordon was a warrior. Letestsu and lander have some shoes to fill there that is for sure.
I agree that this is based on the same principle of gambles, but they are better gambles.Sekera Is fine albeit not at all the type of D we need that is more suited for WC play. I think he'll have more struggles in this conference with the hitting and close checking. Stick check this guy and you're dead. But how many WC clubs other than us actually do that?
Letestu, big deal. Nothing addition. Give up size, give up faceoff ability. Cheaper than Gordon, so what? Gordon was one of the very few players here that was great at his role. I can't even classify this as a sideways move. We gave up the better Center.
Talbot? Hardly anybody even knows the player. 28 yr old that was unheard of as recently as a year ago. Sorry, but the OIL have been playing this game for countless years trying to get some kind of goalie. Its not just Scrivens, Fasth, its the dynamic. A team with a bunch of players that are beyond playing D, bothering to cover, that overpursue and never pick up a trailer are going to leave Talbot out to dry like anybody else. Our first concern was a shutdown D and next would be a vet established goalie that can handle huge minutes and that we know he can. Not yet another in a series of project gambles.
Sekera Is fine albeit not at all the type of D we need that is more suited for WC play. I think he'll have more struggles in this conference with the hitting and close checking. Stick check this guy and you're dead. But how many WC clubs other than us actually do that?
Letestu, big deal. Nothing addition. Give up size, give up faceoff ability. Cheaper than Gordon, so what? Gordon was one of the very few players here that was great at his role. I can't even classify this as a sideways move. We gave up the better Center.
Talbot? Hardly anybody even knows the player. 28 yr old that was unheard of as recently as a year ago. Sorry, but the OIL have been playing this game for countless years trying to get some kind of goalie. Its not just Scrivens, Fasth, its the dynamic. A team with a bunch of players that are beyond playing D, bothering to cover, that overpursue and never pick up a trailer are going to leave Talbot out to dry like anybody else. Our first concern was a shutdown D and next would be a vet established goalie that can handle huge minutes and that we know he can. Not yet another in a series of project gambles.
They're not exactly an offensive juggernaut.
I'm fine with korpi being a bust or a project.
I'd put my money on him being a useful utility player who scores 40 pts though.
Gordon was a warrior. Letestsu and lander have some shoes to fill there that is for sure.