Robert I feel having a healthy Stamkos all year, keeping Hedman on the PP and putting Callahan in front of the net should help our PP. Getting Kostka and Salo off the 2nd unit should also help.
How is Barberio not big enough? Sure he needs to add some muscle but he's bigger then Vatanen and similar to Carle. Also I can easily see us shipping Barberio off and he turns into Dan Boyle for another team. He's got the offensive game Boyle has, he's bigger then Boyle he just needs to work on his defensive game. Boyle was always paired with a defensively reliable player so he can use his offense don't see why that would be an issue with Barberio.
To get a true #2 will cost us a lot but I think our #2 is Sustr but needs time, not 1-2 years in the A like you say. He's similar aged to Gelinas and Vatanen so don't see why he would need more time in the A but not them? He wore down late in the season but a lot of rookies do their first year. We can go with a stop gap like Gilbert if he hits FA or try for Shattenkirk who'll cost a bit but not gut us.
Killorn is expendable to an extent, if we get the right piece back them I'm all for moving him. Stone isn't bad but think Sustr has higher upside so rather play him. We don't have a Killorn replacement until Erne arrives, Drouin and Namestnikov don't bring the power game he does. Panik has struggled so we can't rely on him for that, Connolly is more finesse, we have Palat and Cally so I guess we can live without Killorn but think his value can still rise and we hold him until Erne is ready.
I agree we are a little thin in D prospects with big time potential but I see us just one player short. Hedman-missing piece, Carle-Sustr, Brewer-Gudas with Barberio as the 7th is just like our D to start the year which worked great till Gudas hit a wall, Salo's age caught up to him and Carle forgot how to play. We get a marginal Salo upgrade with offseason improvement from our 3 rookies we can be better then last season.
My friend I 100% disagree.
Killorns power game? WTH? Killorn has a power game? You got to be kidding me?
Seriously namestnikov plays same style as palat which is more of a power game better defensively than killorn.
Namestnikov is also like Johnson pass the puck go directly to net etc.. is natural and does it all the time killer has times he doesnt and that is frustrating yes he is gonna get better in time
Shattenkirk would absolutely GUT US. They want a top center. If he was available they will get a top center. Meaning we would have to give up TYJO plus. If that isnt gutting us I dont know what is?
I would love fayne or gilbert if price was right. I dont think the price will be right.
Here is the true problem and what I worry on myself.
We got lucky bishop had a career year. I do not see him hitting those numbers or any goalie basically for a full season. Not what he did first half with the PITIFUL defense we have and it is PITIFUL.
We had this issue with goalies for years. Tried lindback didnt work brought in bishop something finally works. That is what is needed now with the defense.
I do not think even WEBER coming could keep bishops stats as great as they were last year. Meaning one guy is not enough to me to sustain what he did. People can disagree if they want and maybe bishop is hasek but I think he will wind up being normal especially if the d plays like it did all year giving away odd man rushes over pinching letting guys into zone and setting up and not attacking the power play when on defense etc.
Sustr is one of only two righties he aint going to the AHL I was making a point. I like to overdevelop Defensemen just like I like to overdevelop goalies. I see no harm in it. Most kids that do that come in a lot better and seem to have higher success rates.
With Sustr we still have only 5 defensemen. You can name the others but they are primarily worthless. Barberio doesnt have it not calling him a bust yet but all the crap people said about paquette in playoffs go watch barberio jeezus he was a friggin train wreck and cost lindback and our team wins in my humble opinion. Not that many others did better besides brewer and hedman. Even though brewer was beat a bit by speed he wasnt beat by doing things entirely uncorrectly?
I dont see the love and fascination of barberio lol DAN BOYLE? I mean really? HAHA
If that happens I will become happiest man in Tampa but talking about over projection of a prospect?
Barberio on defense looks 100% like lindback looked the first 98% of the year in NET. PANIC MODE he aint comfortable he rushes and doesnt make the right decisions he cant work the boards as said is not big enough or doesnt choose to protect self good enough where he loses those battles constantly.
I have watched Vatanen he has a major swagger and confidence he wins those battles kind of like palat he aint the biggest guy he just attacks others correctly. Barberio I have not seen do that. To me he looks and plays scared. He also has seems to have no idea most of the time when to pinch not to pinch etc.
I aint giving up on him but I want at least TWO NEW GUYS on this team who look like they have a clue and know what they are doing.
Vatanen is not the end all Vatanen is because he looks like a 45-60 point guy who is adequate at playing defense. Never gonna be great probably but he looks like boyle. To say barberio looks like boyle I have no idea where your coming from seriously. He plays scared I dont remember boyle playing scared ever. It has been a long time since boyle started though so maybe im wrong.
Could simply be confidence thing with barberio but he needs to get past that pretty dammed quickly.
Hell smith for detroit to me is much better imho and I dont want him either for them