GDT: WAS @ MTL | Tough Act | Nov. 1, 2018 7:30pm ET, TSN2 RDS 690AM 98.5FM

[MarkovsKnee]

With Bryon injured and Scherbak in Laval that means Shaw slots in. What did you say about dumb penalties?

He's a worry, but so are Domi and Armia. Army has taken 2 stupid 3rd period tripping penalties and Domi has a temper. Shaw both takes dumb penalties AND is marked by the refs, so a lot of his penalties are of the "soft" variety too.

However, Shaw - more than anyone - needs to start putting together a series of penalty free games.

 

[Runner77]

Great work on the GDT as usual... but what the actual **** happened to my spectacular Lizard King hairdo? Did I sleep under a bridge? Bergevin's Land Rover?

Maybe if you had used a forum avatar that doesn't cut off the top of your head.

Is thomas Edison there because he needs to steal ideas? @Runner77

Brain cramp, shoulda been Tesla.

Although, there was some Edison in there -- the cartoon was stolen.

Shots fired

Shit-disturber.

It's funnier if you just play along and get @Runner77 riled up

Nice try, buster.

 

[Andrei79]

I still remember the days when Galchenyuk, Barkov, Scheifele, and Kuznestov were put in the same category. Pretty disappointing that we were the only one that couldn't develop him into a stud.

Scheifele and Kuznetsov probably arent the players they are if theyre put at LW at 18.

Barkov was NHL ready at 16 lol.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

I feel for the Kings. They have struggled very similar to the Habs and are impacted by injuries to Quick. Just like we have been with Price.

Are we allowed to say "The Kings are nothing without Quick" ???

AT least they had a generational center in their team!
and we have kotka now

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

I still remember the days when Galchenyuk, Barkov, Scheifele, and Kuznestov were put in the same category. Pretty disappointing that we were the only one that couldn't develop him into a stud.

I also remember the whole forum sleeping on Kuznestov
I remember after his second season how people said he was a bust, but once he carried the team in the playoffs it was a different story.

 

[Runner77]

All teams do this in one form or another. Just thought it was a nice gesture by Caps players (even if a some of them missed the kid completely):

 

[Slashers98]

All teams do this in one form or another. Just thought it was a nice gesture by Caps players (even if a some of them missed the kid completely):

Ovechkin is the one who gave him his stick! Such a class act.

 

[Runner77]

Ovechkin is the one who gave him his stick! Such a class act.

Nice of him to do that.

Edit: I've posted more Ovechkin acts of kindness in our Out of Town thread, so as not to derail this one.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'd say he took off two years before. He was already a ppg, or almost, center and highest scorer on his team as a 23 year old.

I realize he was already a top 2 center well before last year but dam, did I ever open my eyes to how good he was in the playoffs last year. For me, he increased his value with his last season over what he was prior to that.

 

[Habs Halifax]

They took their time with him as well. He stayed in the KHL for a good bit before getting adjusted here.

Exactly how I would of handled Kotkaniemi. EK came into the league at age 21? My plan for Kotkaniemi would of been Finland this year and AHL/NHL next year where he plays less than 40 NHL games in the NHL. Then we insert him as a full time player at age 20.

Why? Not because I don't believe in him. More about asset management and being patient.

 

[417]

Scheifele and Kuznetsov probably arent the players they are if theyre put at LW at 18.

Barkov was NHL ready at 16 lol.

I'm not sure about Kuznetsov...but Scheifele didn't jump straight into the #1C role in Winnipeg.

Joe Thornton started out as an 18yr old 4th line C...and he's going to the Hall of Fame.

So i'm not sure this argument is developed enough.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I still remember the days when Galchenyuk, Barkov, Scheifele, and Kuznestov were put in the same category. Pretty disappointing that we were the only one that couldn't develop him into a stud.

I said it before and will say it again. If Galchenyuk plays center all year and scores 30 goals and 60+ pts for the Coyotes, Bergevin might end up being fired. But Domi's play has me thinking it might be a wash for a trade. He has exceeded my expectations thats for sure.

Very interested to see who ends up the better player in a few years. First test is what they both do on new teams for a complete season

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'm not sure about Kuznetsov...but Scheifele didn't jump straight into the #1C role in Winnipeg.

Joe Thornton started out as an 18yr old 4th line C...and he's going to the Hall of Fame.

So i'm not sure this argument is developed enough.

Good points and why I feel there is no terrible plan. Personally, I prefer the "no excuses" plan and rather not look back with regrets in 2 or 3 years down the road if he has stalled development in a top 2C role.

 

[admiralcadillac]

I said it before and will say it again. If Galchenyuk plays center all year and scores 30 goals and 60+ pts for the Coyotes, Bergevin might end up being fired. But Domi's play has me thinking it might be a wash for a trade. He has exceeded my expectations thats for sure.

Very interested to see who ends up the better player in a few years. First test is what they both do on new teams for a complete season

There is something to be said for the possibility that the habs just wanted to move on from the player. Without going into details no one has surefire proof of it sounds like more was going on than just his play (his father or whatever else). They may have known that they would give up a guy who can be a 60 point, 30 goal player moving forward and tried to acquire a similar piece.

There's also the factor that Galchenyuk doesn't play a game that mirrors the current speed of the team. Doesn't make him a bad player at all, but he would stick out a bit compared to the north/south speed they are trying to play.

 

[Mrb1p]

I'd say he took off two years before. He was already a ppg, or almost, center and highest scorer on his team as a 23 year old.

He reached a new level last year, maybe he peaked or something, but he had never shown this level of play prior to last year. His season in 15-16 wasn't that great, even though he produced a lot of points.

 

[417]

Exactly how I would of handled Kotkaniemi. EK came into the league at age 21? My plan for Kotkaniemi would of been Finland this year and AHL/NHL next year where he plays less than 40 NHL games in the NHL. Then we insert him as a full time player at age 20.

Why? Not because I don't believe in him. More about asset management and being patient.

Evgeni Kuznetsov his first year in the NHL (which was only 17 games)

He averaged 13:28 TOI/g...which placed him 11th on the Caps, behind Backstrom, Laich, Grabovsky & Fehr, who were the other listed C's on the Caps in 2013-14

Kuznetsov 2nd year, which was truly his first full year in the NHL (11 goals, 27 assists, 38pts in 80 games)

He averaged 13:20 TOI/G (slightly less than the previous year)...which placed him 8th on the Caps, behind Backstrom, Laich & Fehr, who were the other listed C's on the Caps in 2014-15

Playing a secondary and really even, a tertiary role...didn't destroy Kuznetsov, he turned out just fine.

 

[Andrei79]

I'm not sure about Kuznetsov...but Scheifele didn't jump straight into the #1C role in Winnipeg.

Joe Thornton started out as an 18yr old 4th line C...and he's going to the Hall of Fame.

So i'm not sure this argument is developed enough.

If the counter argument is to cite 1st overall picks, then right back at you.

 

[Andrei79]

Evgeni Kuznetsov his first year in the NHL (which was only 17 games)

He averaged 13:28 TOI/g...which placed him 11th on the Caps, behind Backstrom, Laich, Grabovsky & Fehr, who were the other listed C's on the Caps in 2013-14

Kuznetsov 2nd year, which was truly his first full year in the NHL (11 goals, 27 assists, 38pts in 80 games)

He averaged 13:20 TOI/G (slightly less than the previous year)...which placed him 8th on the Caps, behind Backstrom, Laich & Fehr, who were the other listed C's on the Caps in 2014-15

Playing a secondary and really even, a tertiary role...didn't destroy Kuznetsov, he turned out just fine.

Indeed, letting him round out his game and become a top player in the KHL was a good thing. Glad we agree it was a good thing he wasnt rushed.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Evgeni Kuznetsov his first year in the NHL (which was only 17 games)

He averaged 13:28 TOI/g...which placed him 11th on the Caps, behind Backstrom, Laich, Grabovsky & Fehr, who were the other listed C's on the Caps in 2013-14

Kuznetsov 2nd year, which was truly his first full year in the NHL (11 goals, 27 assists, 38pts in 80 games)

He averaged 13:20 TOI/G (slightly less than the previous year)...which placed him 8th on the Caps, behind Backstrom, Laich & Fehr, who were the other listed C's on the Caps in 2014-15

Playing a secondary and really even, a tertiary role...didn't destroy Kuznetsov, he turned out just fine.

Yes but he was 21 in that year when he played 17 games right? I'm not sure.

 

[Andrei79]

He reached a new level last year, maybe he peaked or something, but he had never shown this level of play prior to last year. His season in 15-16 wasn't that great, even though he produced a lot of points.

I disagree, I thought he looked real good that year and showed signs of elite skill.

 

[417]

If the counter argument is to cite 1st overall picks, then right back at you.

There are many more examples lol

Trust me, it's not worth me looking into this...but again, if you insist, I will oblige

 

[Habs Halifax]

There is something to be said for the possibility that the habs just wanted to move on from the player. Without going into details no one has surefire proof of it sounds like more was going on than just his play (his father or whatever else). They may have known that they would give up a guy who can be a 60 point, 30 goal player moving forward and tried to acquire a similar piece.

There's also the factor that Galchenyuk doesn't play a game that mirrors the current speed of the team. Doesn't make him a bad player at all, but he would stick out a bit compared to the north/south speed they are trying to play.

Good points. It does seem like a weird situation where we saw production when he played top line center with talent on the wings but then quickly moved him to the 3rd or 4th line once he came back from injury. Habs management clearly did not have confidence in him. I'm not sure how this plays out and I will always like the offensive ability Galchenyuk has. Can he smarten up? Not sure.

I was thinking about how the Domi/Galchenyuk trade developed. Was this offered before and Bergevin circled back once they realized they wanted to go with speed after our disaster year? Who called who and how/when did it develop? Very curious to know

 

[Andrei79]

There are many more examples lol

Trust me, it's not worth me looking into this...but again, if you insist, I will oblige

You'll come back with other players (and I hope theyre 18, or else I'm not going to be answering back) who had nothing left to learn from their respective leagues, were mature physically and already good skaters. Likely a lot of 1st and 2nd OA picks. That would be my theory and the point will be loss once more on you.

 

[417]

Indeed, letting him round out his game and become a top player in the KHL was a good thing. Glad we agree it was a good thing he wasnt rushed.

Those games in the KHL, combined with how the Caps worked him in slowly, not to mention his natural talent...are all reasons why he's the player he is today.

 

[417]

Yes but he was 21 in that year when he played 17 games right? I'm not sure.

that's correct