Prospect update

[dumpstralmannow]

Duclair is off to a fast start in the Quebec league with 5 goals, 2 assists in 5 games. Buchnevich is pretty much doing nothing in the KHL through 12 games. Pack are doing a good job of imitating the big club as they are being shutout through 2 periods.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

Pack lost 3-2 in a shootout. Kristo and Powe scored but more importantly, Kreider had an assist and 7 shots on goal. The shots on goal is something I will watch every game with him. That to me was a main problem at the NHL. With his size and speed he should be getting 4 to 5 shots a game like Grabner does.

 

[Ranger71]

I'm interested to see how Nieves does being it's his 3rd year at Michigan. He should be pro ready after this year. I think he needed to still work on some defensive principles from what i'd seen.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

It's only his second year at Michigan

 

[Ranger71]

Right, for some reason I thought he was a junior.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

Miller with 2 G 1 A thru 2 periods today. Kreider with a goal.

 

[chuckd3534]

That's awesome. Meanwhile we have to see Boyle and Pyatt on the 3rd line (which means we don't have a real 3rd line). Head scratcher...

 

[dumpstralmannow]

I don't think we will see Pyatt and 1 other player on this team for long when Cally and Hagelin are back. Those days will be over with AV IMO.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

McIlrath just scored to put the Pack up 4-3. Must have bounced off his butt or something. Kristo has 2 A in the game.

 

[chuckd3534]

I hope not, but I will believe it when I see it. I rather have kids on the 3rd line than useless Boyle and Pyatt. They are both 4th lines guys. Pyatt should be in the minors. And Boyle should be in the 4th line mix. That is all.

 

[Ranger71]

This might be one of the 3 worst offensive teams in the league. On paper at least. They're once again a very poor passing and puck possession team. I don't know how they can change that without adding another player or two.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

I have no problem letting some of these kids mature in the AHL and play AV's system down there. However, if they don't see Del Zotto as a top 4 defenseman, at this point it would be wise to trade him for a fairly young, solid scoring winger. Hank isn't getting any younger in net.

 

[chuckd3534]

I've been saying deal MDZ for O for about 3 years dump. Glad to have you aboard finally....

 

[Ranger71]

Even in an up tempo system they may generate a few more opportunities but they just don't have many finishers.

 

[chuckd3534]

They don't. They need another professional scorer (trade MDZ for that), and personally I think they could also use a big physical dman to clear the front of the net. Maybe that can be McIlrath at some point.

 

[Ranger71]

At worst they will get a top 10 pick, and with BR coming off the books they can do a mini FA retool next year. AV can get players that he likes an fit his system. I'm not giving up the season after one game of course, but it looks like a 1st/2nd round exit roster at best. Hey at least they have a 1st rounder!!

 

[Ranger71]

1/3 of this roster will be gone after the year, which is a good thing. Keep the 7-8 core players and fill in with better FA, and hope guys like CK, Lindberg and McIlrath become contributors. Let Girardi walk too.

 

[chuckd3534]

1st rounder means nothing to me. Getting a top 10 pick means nothing to me.

1. Hank will be 36 by the time that guy is ready.
2. This team should be in win now (the next 2 or 3 seasons) mode.

We need to make some tweaks here. Just add another scorer. Same thing we needed this summer. Another good solider scorer. We'll see how it plays out the next few weeks. First thing is get Pyatt and Boyle off the 3rd line. That is a must. They are much better off with kids there over those two guys.

 

[chuckd3534]

Another plus, like you said, is we will have some room to make some changes next summer. The cap will go up some, some of the useless guys will be gone (we don't seem to want to bury them in the minors), and we will buy out Richards. So that is a plus also.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

I have never understood why this team never added Ryder. I mean, the guy went to the crappy Devils. He would be a perfect fit on the PP and one of the top 2 lines. He actually hits the net and scores goals.

 

[Ranger71]

Right, I'm just saying worst case they end up with a good pick, and alot of times those guys are skilled enough to make a roster right away. I don't think they'll be that bad, but I'm not sold it's a playoff team either, probably down to the last few weeks as always.

 

[Disturbed]

I wanted Ryder as well. I would have even settled for Raymond who will score 20+ in Toronto

 

[dumpstralmannow]

Pack won 5-4 in a shoot out. Lindberg had 2 A. Kristo has 1 G 1 A. Miller and Kreider had a goal. McIlrath had a 1 G , 4 shots, two fights and 14 PIM's.

The top prospects down there are playing like top prospects early. Finally, some good news. Duclair has 8 G and 4 A in 9 games in the Quebec league. Tambellini scored North Dakota's first goal of the season. Should be interesting to watch him. He's a stick so I don't expect much. He is about 160 pounds.

 

[chuckd3534]

It is funny, but seeing all thos names in Hartford, they have a better group than we have upfront right now. That is crazy to say, but I think true outside of 2 or 3 forwards up here.

Bring some of these guys up and get Pyatt and Boyle down. We cannot have those guys on the 2nd and 3rd lines. That is insane.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

Patience Chuck. Let them play a little down there. I thought Kristo, Miller and Lindberg all showed they would be quality pro's averaging in the 30 to 50 point range during the pre-season. Kreider can be what he wants to be. He just needs to find a consistent work ethic. I stressed from day one how important McIlrath is to our future as we badly need an enforcer who can play a regular shift on defense and intimidate back there. Let them keep improving down there. Fast should be down there also. Miller to me was the most NHL ready. However, I have no issue with this team trading Boyle and Pyatt for a pick and a stay at home defenseman with an edge and then bringing Yogan up to play on the 4th line. At least he plays like man instead of a sissy like Boyle and Pyatt.

 

[chuckd3534]

I hear you dump. The bigger issue is Pyatt and Boyle are useless. I could live with Boyle on the 4th line, I think he would be okay there, but having either of these guys in the top 9 is bad, let alone both of the in the top 9, let alone one of them in the top 6. Patience is the key with the kids, but truthfully if it means having to see Pyatt and Boyle in the top 9, bring up a kid until Nash and Hags are back.

Pyatt should just be sent down now. Takes 925 K of his salary off the cap, so we are on the books for only 600 K or so, not terrible. That guy is a total waste of space.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

I watched Carcillo throw a hard hit from behind yesterday, he was immediately confronted and pummeled seconds after. Phoenix won the game. Mashinter is a guy that can play the game a little and he's a very good fighter. At first, I was hopeful of creating an more offensive 4th line and having McIlrath on defense to enforce. However, since Mac isn't quite ready, the team needs another tough guy. I really have no idea what the heck this team is thinking by putting out Boyle, D. Moore, Asham and Pyatt. You can't have 1/4 of your forwards be that.

 

[chuckd3534]

That's a 1/3 of our forwards are Asham, Moore, Boyle, and Pyatt. That is HORRIBLE.

The 4th line should be Moore, Dorsett, and Boyle/Asham. That is fine as a 4th line. Pyatt should be in the minors or gone. The top 9 should not include Boyle and/or Pyatt.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Patience Chuck. Let them play a little down there. I thought Kristo, Miller and Lindberg all showed they would be quality pro's averaging in the 30 to 50 point range during the pre-season. Kreider can be what he wants to be. He just needs to find a consistent work ethic. I stressed from day one how important McIlrath is to our future as we badly need an enforcer who can play a regular shift on defense and intimidate back there. Let them keep improving down there. Fast should be down there also. Miller to me was the most NHL ready. However, I have no issue with this team trading Boyle and Pyatt for a pick and a stay at home defenseman with an edge and then bringing Yogan up to play on the 4th line. At least he plays like man instead of a sissy like Boyle and Pyatt.

I can't believe you are saying let them play in the minors to let them improve. Wow times have changed.

the dimished mind of a soon to be 40 year old

 

[strudwickisthebest]

I've been saying sine the season started that we needed another tough player, preferably an enforcer so he can actually intimidate players and deter runs on our players, asham and dorsett are just too small