Burnt Gravy

What is LaDumbo?

People either need to stop taking me seriously or I need to work on my delivery.

Why do you assume I meant we would be a top 10 team? We all know Jim Likes to take +\-5thbpa

I was actually worried about him making us too competitive. I'm happy we have him. It's the difference between Robert Thomas and Elias Pettersson. No way we pick fifth if he would have scored like he did with Boston a year prior. He is dead cap, which is exactly what we need right now. A good character guy who can mentor while holding Jim back from TJ Oshie's and stuff.

It would be a good problem if our young players performed good enough to force him out I guess.

Detrimental to our ability to sign our emerging prospect pool to NHL contracts over the next 5 years. While Concurrently increasing the quality of our prospect pool by taking up dead cap and forcing us to finish lower in the standings. I realize the Sedins will be coming off the books, but we got some pretty big potential including a possible generational defender from 2018 to get on the books if everything falls into place.

I don't disagree. However, there is a big difference between making the Stanley Cup your ultimate goal and making the playoffs your ultimate goal. Doing everything you can to make the playoffs almost never turns out benifical. See what Montreal is doing. That's the counterproductive madness I'm referring to.

Wouldn't sending him to Utica so he doesn't make mistakes on NHL ice be a stronger form of coddling? Im with @E. Lindros throw him out there and see if he sinks or swims. I noticed a huge lack off swagger at times. He has Markstromitis (when he first entered the league) dominate the AHL and completely come off the rails in the NHL because you're so afraid of making a mistake. Marksy had to play through it and I think this kid needs that same treatment.

If Gaunce can learn to skate anyone can.

Goldobin is a bonus. Worse case scenario we lose something we didn't expect to have anyway. Nothing wrong with having him as an option.

K

No need to be rude sir. His shoulder injury impeded his development IMO. When I saw him play live in his draft year he was the best player on the ice hands down. His shot and release was unbelievable. One of the best I've seen at the Jr level. D-men crumbled in his presence and he electrified the crowd. Maybe it was just a really good game that I happen to catch, IDK. Regardless, his potential was there. When we drafted him I was excited because of the impression he left with me. We all talk about how the Oilers ruined their young stars by pushing them into roles they weren't ready to assume, while the exact same thing unfolded before our eyes with Jake Virtanen. He should have been handled as a top 6 or nothing kinda guy. I don't like how he was forced into a checking role before he even experienced the AHL. People forget that this guy was drafted 6th OA because of his elite offensive talent. His offensive ability should have been the focus, not his physicality. Unfortunately, most players don't recover from this type of downtrend. Could he become a serviceable bottom 6 guy? Sure, but that's not what we should expect from a guy who had such raw talent and the potential to be selected 6th overall. I hope he recovers and becomes that player I saw a few years ago, but I don't expect that to happen. It's a shame.

It's great that he is lean and everything but from watching him play I didn't see his lack of conditioning holding him back. He appeared to struggle processing the game at NHL speed. If conditioning was the issue, he would have dominated in the AHL by the end of the season. He just hasn't been the same since his shoulder injury.

Watched a lot of this guy in Kelowna this year. I thought he would have been a dark horse to leap into the top 15 with how wide open the draft was. A lot of really average C's displaced a really good Right Shot RW'r. I would have thrown rocks at my house if we woulda skipped him.