We miss Murray, his part-time availability notwithstanding. It meant we only needed to play Kukan or Harrington sparingly, instead of asking them to be part of the 6.
To the rest of your post, that's what I was thinking past night as well. Kukan and Harrington are depth d-men. There's a reason they're never been roster regulars, and it's not because Torts never gave the a chance. Del Zotto is a part-time player at this stage of his career, too. And Peeke just needs some more seasoning. Problem is, with the trades and Zach's injury Savard's decline, we're relying on them.
It's a bit of a perfect storm and Jarmo could have seen it coming. Although it's generally assumed he moved them to save cash and cap.
Gavrikov looks poor to me, also. I can't figure if his struggles are because of the team's struggles or if his struggles are contributing to the team's, but I had hoped to see more, I guess.
Maybe with Gavrikov you're seeing the "ugly as sin" "octopus" that somehow gets it done, that's what Torts said last year. His results are just fine. The team is getting caved in with chances and goals against but it isn't happening with Gavrikov on the ice. My eye test likes him, I usually see him as being in control, he knows what he can do.
I'd take Johansen back. He's the kind of player we need in terms of play style (playmaker, center, can play all situations), the issue is the same with him as when he left though in terms of compete level.
I don't expect him to return but I'd take him with 4 years left at 8m per.
Rebuild.
This team is super imbalanced right now, I don't think they're lacking in talent. Before even thinking about rebuilding/retooling, don't you think it would be a good idea for Jarmo to first try balancing the roster? Is anyone curious about how the team would play if they had one solid all-around center?
This team is super imbalanced right now, I don't think they're lacking in talent. Before even thinking about rebuilding/retooling, don't you think it would be a good idea for Jarmo to first try balancing the roster? Is anyone curious about how the team would play if they had one solid all-around center?
Seth will be named captain this summer .. don’t think for a moment Jarmo hasn’t had this planned out .The only way this happens is if Jones refuses to negotiate this summer.
Seth will be named captain this summer .. don’t think for a moment Jarmo hasn’t had this planned out .
Just like he had planned out to fire Torts in two days last week?
Seth will be named captain this summer .. don’t think for a moment Jarmo hasn’t had this planned out .
Sure sweetens the offer they can make him . And if we are going to start singling out post on predictions , your the last person that wants that fire .And Duchene was staying. Etc
Even if that’s true (which it probably isn’t) What does that have to do with anything? Being a captain doesn’t extend your contract.
What makes you think so?I bet, not my last dollar but an extra dollar, that Jarmo gets Jeremy Bracco for a test run
Sure sweetens the offer they can make him . And if we are going to start singling out post on predictions , your the last person that wants that fire .
Seth Jones doesn't strike me as anything close to captain material, or wanting to be captain, and certainly wont have any impact on him asking for $10 million/year on his next deal.
Seth will be named captain this summer .. don’t think for a moment Jarmo hasn’t had this planned out .
And how does one get that solid all-around center without re-tooling?
We've been searching for that center for most of 20 seasons.
We thought we may have one in RyJo. We felt we really had one in PLD. We thought we had a veteran to lead PLD in Duchene. They.
Besides that we've always tried to bring over under the radar Euros (Espen K, Svitov), convert wingers (Domi), give 3rd lines guys a chance to step up (select anyone of probably 20 guys over the years).
Finding a top line C won't happen overnight. Maybe if we give up Seth (if other team feels confident they can resign him) or maybe a package centered around Z. But then at that point what does our blue line look like?
The giant circle of suck that is Columbus
He is playing fairly good in KalPa. A very good PP playmaker. Im not sure if he has enough for NHL 5 on 5. Still youngish guy, only 23, so theres some hopes.What makes you think so?
He is playing fairly good in KalPa. A very good PP playmaker. Im not sure if he has enough for NHL 5 on 5. Still youngish guy, only 23, so theres some hopes.
Yes Eric Staal - The Wild center we should have gone after.I'm talking about lower-hanging fruit. Like 36 year old Eric frikkin' Staal could make a big difference with this group. Just to have one strong center that could play some tougher lines and play with talented wingers.
Staal, by the way, was never available before because he didn't want to be traded and put every playoff team in need of a center on his NTC. He was blindsided when the Sabres traded for him. I'd expect he'd be more willing to get out of Buffalo.
Staal is just the first to come to mind.
A retained salary trade for Adam Henrique is another possibility.
Any responsible center (like Riley Nash) who can skate and play with talent (unlike Riley Nash) would make for a big marginal improvement in Columbus.