Might not be a bad bargaining chip for a new 3C if/when Brassard moves on next summer though.
I suppose it boils down to where your faith lies . . . in Riikola being a steady top 6 defenseman OR in Simon/Sprong being a steady top 9 winger.
I don't think he gets moved either, but next summer's gonna open a lotta holes with Hags, Brass, Sheahan, Cullen on the way out. We're gonna need to make several moves, imo, by this time next year.They don't have a hole at wing big enough to justify moving Maatta for a winger. I really don't think it's likely at all that Maatta gets moved, the organization seems to love him and they don't have any areas that need improved to the point of moving him.
Might not be a bad bargaining chip for a new 3C if/when Brassard moves on next summer though.
Our defense has the potential to be wayyyy better than last year.
Might not be a bad bargaining chip for a new 3C if/when Brassard moves on next summer though.
Yeah, Dmen are more valuable than wings and it's not like we're particularly strong in that domain anyway.Ya. I hate the idea of trading a D as accomplished as Maatta for a wing we might not even need. Center next summer's a different story, though.
it all depends on Letang, if he takes a steaming pile of corn infested dump on the ice like he did last year on a nightly basis, it won't matter how good our other defensemen play.
I know Olli's more effective than his lowlights suggest, but I will never get used to how consistently he gets beaten by guys starting from a standstill within a couple strides.
It was treated as a joke before but he may actually be Scuderi Slow™. Is anyone in the media still pushing the "faster Maatta this year" narrative any more?
This. Our d core lives and dies on Letang. I've never seen a more bipolar player. Either the best or worst.it all depends on Letang, if he takes a steaming pile of corn infested dump on the ice like he did last year on a nightly basis, it won't matter how good our other defensemen play.
if Riikola doesnt make the squad ill be seriously confused.As I wrote in the other thread, this doesn't end up with Riikola in WBS now. Either he survives the pairing and sticks with the big club . . . or he needs a room with white padded walls for a very long time.
I don't think he gets moved either, but next summer's gonna open a lotta holes with Hags, Brass, Sheahan, Cullen on the way out. We're gonna need to make several moves, imo, by this time next year.
Ya. I hate the idea of trading a D as accomplished as Maatta for a wing we might not even need. Center next summer's a different story, though.
We need a top six LW next year and we are likely going to be trading Kessel, Letang or Maatta for it.