Hi
I've been thinking a lot about our roster recently. As it stands right now, we have 6.5 C (Z counting 0.5) on our roster, competing for four spots.
Datsyuk is penciled in for 1C. Sheahan has been playing really good and looks like a 3rd or 4th year player with his overall game. While I didn't really like the thought of having Glendening as our 4C a few months ago, I have to admit he really does a great job in his shutdown role.
That makes it three C competing for our second or third line center spot, depending on Sheahan's role.
Helm, Weiss, Andersson. The easiest decision is Andersson. I liked him on the Griffins with Goose and Tats and with Brunner and Nyquist two years ago. Now, he just hasn't evolved into an unreplaceable 3rd or 4th liner and that's why I think we will get rid of him after this season. So it's down to Helm and Weiss.. What's your take on this and who do you prefer?
I think Helm had a decent season so far, he found some kind of scoring touch for his measures with 18 pts in 38 gms so far. BUT... I'm still not sold on him and think he could be replaced. Sheahan replaced him as a C and we have a lot of talented wingers who could replace him there.
Weiss surprised me. I was suprised no one gave him credit, he was a decent C on a mediocre Panthers team and came into a talented team with good, scoring wingers. I'm confident he will score more with a proper preseason under his belt next year and a somewhat normal 2014-15 season.
Short-term, the departure of one of those guys (Weiss is not tradeable tho) would probably be compensated with superstar-forward Danny Cleary but it would give us more flexibility long term.
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abdelkader
Franzen-Weiss/Helm-Nyquist
Tatar-Sheahan-???
Miller-Glendening-Jurco
I know Franzen or Miller are not everyone's favorite players but there's no point in discussing a trade involving one of them because of Franzen's longterm contract and Miller's importance to the fourth line with his defensive game. Who would you consider trading away if we get a RHD in return? Someone HAS TO go, otherwise we're losing Pulkkinen, Callahan, Ferraro next year and also have to bury Mantha in the minors for another year.
After all, it looks like we're sittinig on a bunch of contracts that wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for the length, causing a logjam in GR. Franzen at 4m is great for his production (even if he's streaky) but not through 2019-20. Ericsson at 4.25 is alright, but not through 2019-20. Kindl/Q are in the same category but likely gone soon.
I've been thinking a lot about our roster recently. As it stands right now, we have 6.5 C (Z counting 0.5) on our roster, competing for four spots.
Datsyuk is penciled in for 1C. Sheahan has been playing really good and looks like a 3rd or 4th year player with his overall game. While I didn't really like the thought of having Glendening as our 4C a few months ago, I have to admit he really does a great job in his shutdown role.
That makes it three C competing for our second or third line center spot, depending on Sheahan's role.
Helm, Weiss, Andersson. The easiest decision is Andersson. I liked him on the Griffins with Goose and Tats and with Brunner and Nyquist two years ago. Now, he just hasn't evolved into an unreplaceable 3rd or 4th liner and that's why I think we will get rid of him after this season. So it's down to Helm and Weiss.. What's your take on this and who do you prefer?
I think Helm had a decent season so far, he found some kind of scoring touch for his measures with 18 pts in 38 gms so far. BUT... I'm still not sold on him and think he could be replaced. Sheahan replaced him as a C and we have a lot of talented wingers who could replace him there.
Weiss surprised me. I was suprised no one gave him credit, he was a decent C on a mediocre Panthers team and came into a talented team with good, scoring wingers. I'm confident he will score more with a proper preseason under his belt next year and a somewhat normal 2014-15 season.
Short-term, the departure of one of those guys (Weiss is not tradeable tho) would probably be compensated with superstar-forward Danny Cleary but it would give us more flexibility long term.
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abdelkader
Franzen-Weiss/Helm-Nyquist
Tatar-Sheahan-???
Miller-Glendening-Jurco
I know Franzen or Miller are not everyone's favorite players but there's no point in discussing a trade involving one of them because of Franzen's longterm contract and Miller's importance to the fourth line with his defensive game. Who would you consider trading away if we get a RHD in return? Someone HAS TO go, otherwise we're losing Pulkkinen, Callahan, Ferraro next year and also have to bury Mantha in the minors for another year.
After all, it looks like we're sittinig on a bunch of contracts that wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for the length, causing a logjam in GR. Franzen at 4m is great for his production (even if he's streaky) but not through 2019-20. Ericsson at 4.25 is alright, but not through 2019-20. Kindl/Q are in the same category but likely gone soon.