Father Ryan
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Well said! I've had this feeling that this year will be when Hutton "gets" it. His game, right now, is transitioning into a more physical game. It's kinda like most of us in 10th-11th grade, when our coordination had not kept pace with our growth. I do expect that somewhere around game 30 or so, Hutton will become more of what he will play like for his career. I doubt he will be a consistent 40 point scorer; more like consistently in the 25-30 point range, but could have the odd 35-40 point year once or twice in his career. The improvement will be in his positioning, and in his board play. Take the Eichel rush last night. Hutton initially had good position. When Eichel started going around him, Hutton appeared to not make a quick enough decision between playing the man, or the puck. He did (temporarily) have the puck in his skates but lost it, as (to me) he made a lame attempt at a hip check, WAY too late. That decision making process is where Hutton just needs to keep playing. He should use practice time to figure out how he will play similar rushes. If he had just played the man from the start, he could have easily steered Eichel out wide and eliminated the goal threat; conversely if he had used both his skates and his stick to play the puck from the onset, he likely could have stopped the rush, maybe; this is Eichel so maybe not. Either way, a commitment to finishing the check, instead of trying to think his way through, would have most likely saved that goal. I still think Hutton is a better option that Puillot, Weircioch or any other Dman in system that was not one of the top 6 to start with. I would keep him with Tanev for the time being, and let MDZ stay with Guddy.
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These two guys; get 'em signed! Give them a year in Utica, and for the '19-20 season, guys like Eriksson and Baer need to be looking over their shoulders. Provided Virt keeps up what he is doing now, try a line of Virt-Gaudette-Gadjovich as a 3rd line. Plenty of speed, plenty of grit, lotsa size, good amount of skill. Then go Lind-Horvat-Boeser as another, and then Dahlen-Petersson-(yet to be acquired/drafted/Granlund?). That's three lines that would be a mulit-year core for this team.
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He didn't cost anything to acquire, so if he's gone, we haven't lost anything either. He very well could be a short version of Grenier; pretty good at the AHL level, just not quite good enough at the NHL level.
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I was just going with what the team did last year. I duly note your opinion, and honestly I can see having the personnel either way. Biega and Pedan...Biega is very replaceable, but I'd like to have Pedan around for trade bait.
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A really good signing by Benning. He does a lot of things well, and his shots seem to find their way at least to the goalie and are on net; not someone shin guards (ehem, cough, cough, Edler) or easily deflected before getting there. I'd like to see him and Brisebois paired in Utica; their games seem like they could be complimentary.
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If he is healthy, then my choice is Rodin. Pedan, right now, is a big body, with speed and snarl, but otherwise too inconsistent for the NHL level. Rodin is a proven scoring forward (at least in Sweden) and looked really good last camp, even on one leg.
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Ok, didn't know that about McEneny. That does change things. With that, I keep McEneny and Wiercioch in Vancouver, send Pedan down along with Biega. Wiercioch has proved he can play at the NHL level, albeit not much above a 6-7, but that's better than Pedan (for now).
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From this, I go with 13 forwards, 8 defensemen; keep Burmistrov, Pedan and Wiercioch up. The rest go down. The only one I would see getting claimed would be Boucher. Chaput and Biega provide some value, but guys like them are fairly common, and are usually available at younger ages. McEneny is still waiver eligible (I think) and Megna provides very little value except as a speedy warm body (at the NHL level)
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I've got this guy as a dark horse for the 18/19 team. I figure this year, Utica bound, learn the two way game at that professional level. Next year, will end up in Utica, but will get called up once or twice. For the 19/20 season, he makes the team maybe as the 13th forward (to start) but ends up as a regular. From what I've seen (tapes from his junior days, and watching Prospects Camp), he looks like the real deal; good to very good skater, among the fastest out there, and not afraid in the least to use his physicality. I doubt he'll ever go beyond centering the 4th line, but...he wouldn't be one of those guys that is easily replaceable every year. Like Malhotra (not playing like him, at all; more like how hard it was to replace him, ie we still haven't!)
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Totally agree with this. Although fighting is down, you still need a player or three to keep the other team honest. Dorsett supplied some of that two seasons ago, and yeah, last year we were pushed around a bit. I am concerned about Dorsett's future. Neck injuries, requiring the repair level his did, don't usually come all the way back. I would rather not see Dorsett laid out and crippled. We have some up-and-coming players, like Labate, Pedan and don't forget about McEwen; Laplante has a chance, but very slim, I don't think he has enough talent to play full time in the NHL. The aforementioned guys would likely be less expensive than the somewhat extravagant contract Dorsett has.
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In our top nine, we have a couple of places where there are two centers playing on a line (Sedin-Granlund, or Granlund-Sutter, with Gagner likely to add to this). Not this coming year, but maybe next...what would you think of a 4th line that has McEwen and Cassels on it (of course, provided they both earn their way on to the team). This gives you two guys with grit, so that if one is in the box, the other is still around; also gives you a second center for those faceoffs where the first two get tossed, any maybe now you get a center going against a winger which should provide a much higher percentage of winning said faceoff.
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I could easily see, by the 21-22 season, our top three lines looking like: Gadjovich - Petersson - Dahlen Baer - Horvat - Boeser Virtanen - Gaudette - Lind If they are all at or close to their ultimate potential, that makes for a pretty good top nine!
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I think Virt gets it this year. Not so much on the score sheet, but...I feel he will make the team and play 4th line minutes most of the year. Somewhere around game 50, he will start to be able to fill in on 2nd-3rd line, and will end the year on the 3rd line. He'll get 10-12 goals, around 10 assists, just over 20 points. I don't think he will ever score 30 goals or 60 points, unless he REALLY finds some hockey IQ out of nowhere. Now...using the 6th overall for a career 2nd/3rd line winger that gets 20-25 in a good year...that wasn't a good use of the pick. But, he has a chance to be a good player, and an integral piece of the team for years. Playing him year before last was a disservice to him (and to McCann, but...that story is over). Playing him in Utica last year, all year, without a call up, was probably the best thing we could have done for him. Green, if I remember, was starting to use him in a few different times than just on his line.
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Yep, those are 45s. So that makes it a 225lb x15 set. Not very far from pro linebacker status, and the kid isn't 21 yet. Now...can he play? If so, and he apparently isn't adverse to playing a "heavy" game, he's could be one of those D-men that keeps little bitty forwards hyper aware of where he is, and maybe just a little distracted.
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That, indeed, is likely why he was in the 2nd round. Everything I saw had him going in the mid to lower teens. And yes, another pylon is the last thing we need. Which is likely why we did not select Rasanen in the 4th round, despite his size; horrid skating. Hey, we keep getting forwards like Lind and Radjovich, we can afford some smaller Dmen; forwards with good size and willing to back check can make a MAJOR difference!
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Good pick. Has a frame he can grow into, already has some grit in his game. Does a lot of things well. Couple of years under his belt, gain weight up to 190-195 and he looks to have top 6 potential. I wanted Hague with this pick, very badly. We need someone in system that has the potential for back end strength. I do note he went to Vegas with the very next pick. While I think Benning got a good-very good player here, I think we will regret not grabbing Hague in years to come. This will be my one and only gripe about this draft (this year), I don't know enough about the remaining players available to make a good judgment. So, welcome aboard kid!
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I see we just resigned Guddy; one yr @ $3.5M. That, I feel, is a pretty good signing. He gets a one year "show me" contract. Last year, he didn't really show us anything, but when you play injured, then miss the majority of the season, well...you don't really get much of a chance. This contract strictly reflects his status as a younger player with some still unrealized potential. Next year, around game 50-55, will be decision time for him. If he hasn't played well, we either offer him a two year deal closer to 3M or he gets moved at the deadline. We are beginning to get enough depth in system to move players like him, without long term damage. If he is playing well, then....it becomes a whole lot easier to move one of Edler or Tanev, again without too much long term damage. Personally, I hope he comes to camp in great shape, forms a good tandem with Hutton, and gives us a very solid 2nd pairing.
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This guy is almost a key player this year. We've been yacking about needing a couple of true goal scorers/snipers. Boeser certainly appears to fill those shoes. But Goldy...if he can fill another, then we are a step ahead in team development. If one of Dahlen or Goldobin turns out to be a 25+ goal scorer, on a consistent basis, with 35+ on a really good year...that would certainly be "a pot of Gold" falling into our laps. (I know, baaad pun...couldn't resist!)
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Looking at this, I'd say Baer - Horvat - Boeser Granlund - Sutter - Eriksson Dahlen - Vilardi (I'd take Glass over him, but that's just personal preference) - Goldobin That leaves Virt and Rodin. I would actually be a little surprised if Rodin was here for the '18-19 season, hence no slot for him. Virt goes 4th line, but is available to slot in higher whenever there is an absence. That's just my opinion. Goldy and Eriksson are interchangeable, Eriksson seeing more defensive situations until Goldy either: 1) shows better two way play 2) becomes so valuable offensively that his D can be "overlooked", or 3) one of he or Eriksson is gone. By this time, Eriksson contract will be half done. The Twins are likely retired or somewhere else, Honey Badger's contract is off the books, leaving us with two slots available to us for contract absorption after a trade. 3 years @ 3M yearly would certainly be more palatable to a potential buyer that 6M yearly. I'm just a little leery of what happens when Luongo finally hangs it up, and the settlement we will be on the hooks for could cripple us for a year or two.
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Very tempted to agree with you on the not making it. Honestly, where does he fit in? Let's see - 1st line: Baer, Horvat and...likely Boeser. Boucher isn't going to be out Brock, not unless there is an injury Ok, next - 2nd line: Sedin, Sedin and...either Goldobin or Eriksson. Boucher just does not fit in with the Twins, other than being a shooter. Again, barring injury, no chance on this line So then - 3rd line: Granlund, Sutter and...hmm, maybe. Eriksson (if not with the twins), possibly Virt, possibly Dahlen. Boucher could go here, IF...Virt doesn't show it in training camp and Dahlen needs some North American rink adjustment time. But wait, Eriksson... so no, not here That leaves - 4th line: Dorsett, Gaunce (or Chaput) and...no, not gritty enough or fast enough. Best fits here would be Molina, Virt or Crammarosa. Oh yeah, just remembered, Rodin also (if he's back next year). I don't doubt that Boucher is talented. He scored way too much in junior for him not to be. But I just have problems seeing him make the team next year. To me, he most likely will be sent down to Utica, if he makes it through waivers (no guarantee). If he does, then I would hope he 1) sees it as a chance to get some serious ice time and get noticed, 2) work on his two-way game, and 3) don't mope because he just isn't quite true NHL material. He would have been better than Vey, I think, but he happened along at about the time the team is finally starting to get some depth. Maybe not real high end skill, but definitely a little depth.
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Imagine that! Botchford actually voicing an intelligent opinion, and one that a lot of people agree with.
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2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
Father Ryan replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Alright, the suspense is over, we know where we are picking. Sure, it is disappointing, but if there was going to be a year where the first and/or second pick really wasn't all that, it's this year. So, hopefully everyone (who felt the need) cried in your beer last night. It's time to get over it and move on. We pick 5th. I would hope a center is where we go. I would be happy with any of Mittlestadt, Rasmussen or Vilardi (prefer Vilardi, to be specific). I don't see that picking another Dman high this year would be long term beneficial, at least not as much as a center. We have wingers galore, but someone to fill in for when Henrik is gone, no. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
Father Ryan replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Its Popugaev that I'm thinking of. Also, for our 2nd, you say a Dman? How's about Eemeli Rasanen? Few years down the road, we have two 6'7" and a 6'5" Dman; don't think too many teams will want to crash the net with them around. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
Father Ryan replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
I'm a little torn between Patrick and Hischier (spelling?) if we miraculously get the #1. Do you go for pretty good all around, with better size, but showing some injury risk; or do you go with better offense and speed, but size is a question mark, just waiting to get crunched into the boards and short circuit a career? I'm leaning Patrick, but yeah...injuries already. This might be the year to trade down and take a run at Mittlestadt or Rasmussen, plus gain draft picks. There is a Russian player, ranked somewhere around 20-25, whose name escapes me right now, that looks to be a serious goal scorer, with some serious size; that's intriguing. -
That, or possibly a replacement for Grenier, when we don't resign him at all. Similar size, both of them seem to have stats that reflect being a playmaker vs a pure goal scorer. I see this kid as a dark horse for the 4th line not next season, but the 2018-19 season. Good size, good speed, some offensive talent, good amount of "grit".