Posted 04 April 2008 - 03:13 PM
I dont want to deal with all the number crunching, but i'll point out my keys to the off-season, and then my realistic lineup proposal:
1. Hansen-Kesler-Burrows: Kesler and Burrows have both proven they can be 20 and 15 goal players respectively, and Hansen also has that 20 goal potential, all 3 guys are chippy, fast, boast sound if not terrific defensive capabilites, and you have the pest in Burrows, the shut-down guy in Kesler, and the corners kid in Hansen, this is a perfect checking line with ample scoring ability.
2. Naslund and Mo gone: We blew up the core once, we need to do it again, i love Mo but injuries are now a problem. As much as Naslund can still chip in the scoring department, for this team to find some new and invigorating leadership he CANNOT stay on board, stripping him of the C will do little if anything to solve the problem, he has to not be on the roster. Too many players are too used to seeing him as the Captain and seeing him in the room to readily shift allegiance to our new captain, the only way we can move on is if we move past our failures.
3. Mitchell gets the C, Ohlund gets an A, Kesler gets an A. See above post, we need to give the heart and soul guys the letters on their chest, and Ohlund an A because of how strong a mentor he is likely to be.
4. Give the prospects a shot: We gave Raymond a shot and he proved he can stick, time to do the same for Grabner, he's been outstanding this year in Manitoba and proved that when he is given an opportunity to play with the kind of players who can produce along side him, he can produce goals and excitement in bushels. Grabner is the kind of player who does poorly if given poor player to play with, but almost excels at a magnitude as he plays with better players, the difference between playing with 2nd liners on the Moose squad and playing with 1st liners on the Moose squad was more noticeable than most who would play with those two groups of players. Bourdon also needs to be given a full roster spot, he's a big game player and also has always played better when challenged, he was asked to completely refine his game in Cape Breton and to be a shutdown D-man, and he did so in glorious fashion, then he was asked to be the offensive dynamo earlier in the year for the Moose, and he did so.
5. As for free agents: all i can say is the Sedins need a linemate that is dangerous out there, the one thing the Sedins have never been is dangerous, they're systematic and sound, but not dangerous, they dont creep up on you and score, you can see their goals coming 5 seconds before they come. They need a dangerous player. Normally i would say they need a young Power Forward, but i dont think there's enough of those available this off-season. The guy i would go after is Ales Kotalik.
6. I would want to see either Bieksa or Salo traded: these are the only two expendable assets we have that still have some mrket value and can get us either a 1st line RW through trade if we throw in prospects, or a 2nd line winger if by themselves. Bieksa is young but we have depth to fill in for him, and Salo's hit is too much and he's not getting any younger, plus his offensive prowess can easily be made up by the emergence of Bourdon and Edler, they can easily notch 10-15 a piece next year, and Salo's shot is NOT want it once was.
As for the rest of the roster, i trust Nonis in getting some young top-6 talent, here's what my lineup would look like with holes: (and the players traded i would want traded)
Sedin-Sedin-Kotalik
Pettinger-Pyatt-Malone
Hansen-Kesler-Burrows
Raymond-Kessel-Grabner
Ohlund-Edler
Mitchell-Bieksa
Bourdon-Prospect/UFA*
Luongo
MacIntyre
*Ellington, Heshka, Fortunus, Weaver, Miller, who knows
This post has been edited by Toxic: 04 April 2008 - 03:24 PM
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