GDT: Lightning V. Hurricane

Vagrant

The Czech Condor
Feb 27, 2002
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oddly enough, i am advocating for caution with projecting gauthier as making the team this year. he still has a lot of work to do in charlotte being a primary option. there has been some positive movement on the needle for him, but the same defense i used to justify his slow start to his career is the same caution against rushing him now that he's showing some pulse. he needs time to figure out how to best utilize his skills. there are far better options for immediate impact, but few with higher ultimate upside if achieved. the time is now to see what zykov, wallmark, foegele, etc. have than to try to push gauthier in for looking not too far out of place in traverse city and this first preseason game. now that we have a little more thump in our bottom six with mcginn, ferland, and martinook we might not need his style so desperately that we have to expedite his timeline. let the power forward put up a 25-25 season in charlotte and come in next year with an awareness of how to incorporate scoring into his game.

aside from that, guys like foegele and zykov are as ready as they ever will be in my estimation. it's time to see what they can do with steady minutes. i don't see mckegg as a realistic option for this team. he doesn't specialize in enough.
 

WreckingCrew

Registered User
Feb 4, 2015
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I'm going to pretty much echo a lot of the thoughts in here:
1) I think Zykov and McLovin are pretty much locks for the opening roster. Both made strong cases for themselves in the AHL last year and during their late year callups, and they have continued in their preseason appearances to impress. Small sample sizes, but I think they've earned the first shot.

2) PDG is the safe bet for 12th/13th forward. He's a known quantity, and while he's nothing special, he's also not terrible. He can hold his own on the roster until someone forces him off.

3) I think Goat and Kooks both need another year in Charlotte. Goat was very slow to start last year and was even a healthy scratch a number of times as a result. It wasn't until about halfway through he started to put things together, but even then, he was a guy who could surprise and make great things happen, but not the guy you watched for things to happen (that was Zyk/Walmart). Kooks can make some amazing things happen, but can also completely fail on beautiful chances. I remember a game in the middle of last year where he had 3 or 4 open net, cross-ice one-timers and he shanked all 3 wide of the net. He needs the year in an increased role in Charlotte to put it together.

4) Keg & Walmart I think are likely those "fringe" guys who are closest to ready, and while they may not blow the doors off, also won't look like they're too far in over their heads. I put them as most likely candidates for that other spot.
 
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geehaad

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Aug 24, 2006
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I was at Mission Valley on Monday with the boys I coach when a car drove into the parking lot that caught their attention. It wasn't until he walked out of the restaurant with his girlfriend that I noticed and said "huh, that's Scott Darling". Then I put 2 & 2 together as I saw him walking toward the car that caught the attention of the boys...Rolls Royce? They had no idea who Scott Darling was, of course.
 

NotOpie

"Puck don't lie"
Jun 12, 2006
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That was fun.

It doesn't mean ****.

Uh...it means it was fun...fun for fun's sake is a good thing. :naughty:

Assuming 13 forwards on the roster: 1

Aho, TT, Svech, Ferland, Necas, Zykov, Williams, McGinn, Staal, Foegele, Martinook, PDG = 12

My sense is that Zykov is already on this team. He stayed in town to work out all summer. His first game was very solid (his skating even looked better from what I could tell). To me the remaining battle is essentially between Wallmark, Foegele, Kuokkanen, and McKegg, with an outside shot, for two remaining forward positions. I believe that if he continues to show the way he has so far this year (and in his 2 game audition last season), one of those slots is Foegele's to lose. It feels like it's between Wallmark and Kuokkanen for that last position. Personally based on the structure of his contract, I think the team wanted one more monster season out of Wallmark in Charlotte, but with Rask's injury that messed up their plans. Kuokkanen just continues to surprise in camp. McKegg's a long shot who has team leader in Charlotte written all over him. The fact that he's paid $250,000 in minor league salary sort of cements that for me.

Doubtful that all three of them make the team with 2 way contracts. Kuokkanen and Gauthier didn't exaclty light it up in the minors last season either.

Kuokkanen, like Gauthier, also came on toward the end of last season. Also, with a late may birthday, he just turned 20. He's a pup.
 

Joe McGrath

Registered User
Oct 29, 2009
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Can somebody tell me why the NHL has 1 way and 2 way contracts and the need to clear waivers?

As long as you're getting paid your negotiated salary, you should be forced to play wherever the **** they tell you (and that team shouldn't have to risk losing you to another team).

Because your salary differs based on what league you play in.
 

Boom Boom Apathy

I am the Professor. Deal with it!
Sep 6, 2006
48,174
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Maybe..... or maybe the other team should just draft and develop players better instead of stealing :)

If a guy was good enough to be stolen, a team wouldn't waive him. It's a non-issue. It's almost always non-NHLrs, fringe NHLrs, or guys teams want to get rid of.

If the Owners had their way, there would be no waivers and they could do as they choose. The players (and players union), want to make sure that IF a player is NHL ready, a team can't keep him from making a good living indefinitely. Imagine if you were a good enough player to play in the NHL, but your team was stacked at your position so they kept you in the minors for 7 years, earning a minor league salary. This prevents that, and IMO, that's a good thing.
 

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
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One of the things that led directly to the formation of the NHLPA was the old practice of offering someone a **** contract and then burying him in the minors if he tried to negotiate it.

See: goalie Mike Karakas carrying a bad (14-25-9) Blackhawks team to the Stanley Cup with a broken foot, then getting buried in the minors for the prime of his career because he asked management for a $500 raise.

That's why we have waivers. Prevents teams from having absolute control over an established player's destiny.
 

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
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Hey guys, how are the shiny new toys Hamilton and Svech looking? Also, hope all of you and family/friends avoided the worst of Florence and are recovering okay.

Thanks for the well wishes. Both Hamilton and Svechnikov are as-advertised so far. Hamilton looks like a fantastic fit as Slavin's partner and the top PP option, and Svechnikov is well beyond his age developmentally (both physically and mentally).
 

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