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Everything posted by kloubek
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I would say that we do have the best youth movement ever. I cannot speak to times prior to the early 90's. But it is also a different league where youth and speed rule, and ALL teams are getting fresh new talent depending on where they are in their cycle. I believe the level of player abilities overall are increasing each generation. I am not sure it is a level playing field for comparison tbh. An additional reality is living in a cap space world. Lots of young talent means lots of ridiculously high priced contracts as a percentage of cap. "If HE can get THAT then so can I" mentality will kill ya. Also, career potential is a really difficult thing to gauge sometimes as it always has been. How good is Gaudette really going to end up? Hogs? Pods? We have some dark horses too in guys like Rafferty. At least I am confident we know what we can expect out of our core. And expectations are high. Our core has really, really high potential. Then there is the supporting cast of all our vets - though some aren't exactly old themselves. The supporting cast need to help bolster the young guys both on and off the ice. I actually think we have a really solid such cast, actually, with guys like Pearson and JT performing well above expectations. I believe this team will turn heads in the upcoming playoffs and beyond. If we manage to have all cylinders firing, I believe we have serious dark horse potential even this year. We have super high quality forward depth and if bottom six guys don't perform, we have plenty who will. I believe we have great size to not be pushed around like we have grown accustomed to. If Marky stands on his head as we expect him to, I believe we will do some damage. Going forward, I would have liked to see a really high end defensive prospect. We tried with Juolevi, but he's a big question mark. The positive part is that we have so much forward depth we should be able to acquire that piece if required. If you can't tell, I'm pretty content with our young guns and believe with a bit more guidence Jim has built a winner. Once we get rid of our bad contracts we should be gtg.
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[Signing] Tryamkin Re-signs in KHL for 1 Year
kloubek replied to Odjick29willkillyou's topic in Trades, Rumours, Signings
lol. I was agreeing with you up until you suggested Tryamkin was simply "tall". He will probably never be more than a 5th or 6th guy. We have more talented guys in the pipeline. If he excels, then great. But even if he doesn't, he is defensively responsible, great reach, and most importantly, he hits like a truck and will not back down to anyone. He could choose to intimidate, and if so that can be a pretty powerful message to a smaller guy considering getting close. So really, he is imo exactly what we need. It isn't like Benn or Fanta have shown us anything more than being a placeholder. I doubt he has really regressed and he must be even more game wise now if nothing else. To me, it's about having role players. Quinn dazzles. Edler is pretty good at everything. Tanev the defensive guy. Tryamkin crushes. It is an important role and can change a series. Remember Ferland with Calgary? Now we can have both. -
Boo hoo. Cry me a river. It only extends the time for a bit and it helps ensure your team gets the opportunity to win a cup. I know players are people and have families. I get it would be hard. Very hard. I am a father myself. But lots of sacrifices will need to be made by all to get a full playoffs here. I think when you sign for millions, you kind of sign up to work through difficult times. And let's not forget players CAN opt out. America was heading in the wrong direction with Covid when return to play was announced so it is of little surprise that teams training in America have the virus on their doorstep. How tightly controlled are their interactions outside the rink? This is a disaster waiting to happen imo. My fingers are tightly crossed. I want hockey so badly!
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This is a cut and paste from TSN. I regretfully agree with the doctor's assessment. There is a LOT that can go wrong for a team in these hotspots. If any one of their players gets covid, the entire team is in jeopardy of having to bow out. And if any infected get into the hub city bubbles? Forget about it. I am super stoked hockey is planned to be back. Especially considering the positive implications for our team if or when the playoffs happen. But this is a pretty risky affair. https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-training-camps-in-u-s-a-reckless-health-risk-for-players-doctors-say-1.1496246 Infectious disease specialist Dr. John Swartzberg says the NHL and NHL Players’ Association have made a massive mistake by staging team training camps in Southern U.S. cities where Covid infection rates are spiking. “This is unwise, it’s bad judgement, it’s a horrific decision,” Dr. Swartzberg, a physician and researcher at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health in California, said in an interview with TSN Dr. Michael Silverman, a London, Ont., infectious disease specialist, said it was "crazy" and "reckless" for the NHL to stage training camps in states where infection rates are rising so rapidly. Dr. Jeffrey Kwong, an epidemiologist from the Dalla Lama School of Public Health in Toronto, called the NHL decision “mindboggling.” Community transmission is an important metric for Covid and right now in the U.S., it’s nuclear, it’s gargantuan especially in Florida,” Dr. Chakrabarti said. “Having training camps in the U.S. is a terrible non-evidence-based decision. I’m sure players will be wearing masks and washing hands but it’s like having a small umbrella outside. In the light rain it works well and you’re ok. But if you start getting winds and torrential rains, that umbrella isn’t going to do anything for you. Even in a ‘bubble’ you’re in a bucket of Covid ... You want to be charitable and maybe the NHL is so far into this that it’s just hard for them to pull back. But you look at this and say, ‘What are you thinking?’”
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1000th page. Woo hoo! Here in Alberta most things are open. Mostly with covid protocols in place. But I tell ya - the beaches are packed, more people are not keeping their space, and less people are wearing masks. We have already doubled or tripled our positive daily infection rates since reopening. While things here in Canada are somewhat in control, there are still too many cases. We are going to go into the flu season already in rough shape. Could be worse I guess. Just look South. They are absolutely f'd.
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Bet once again he was waiting on a test result. Great to see him back. If he manges to play his game, it will be a huge boost for us.
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Jim has some work to do, but a TT/BB combo on the right side looks pretty solid. Boeser isn't done showing us what he can do.
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I agree with overpayment, but not crap. And not overpayment by much, either. Just based on this season, really. Rouse had a bad season. Life was not kind to him. But last season he was a point every other game. Which is right around 2nd line level. For 3m? There isn't really much to complain about there. I feel we will see him refreshed, and with even on the 3rd line I could see him play well in these playoffs. He's the kind of tenacious guy you need on a run.
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Great news. I am not sold that Juolevi is going to end up top 4 material so to have another guy with that potential is pretty important imo. Also interested to see what Rafferty can do at the NHL level... Anyway, welcome, Jack!
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Maybe this time off to heal fully and a playoff to play will bring out the Sutter we had. Dare to dream.
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If they agree to end the contract (not actually retire) he can sign elsewhere for a fresh start and maybe be somewhere he isn't hated and still play. It isn't like there is a lot more real money to be had in staying once he signs his bonus. That is IF he even has the desire to play. Not certain he does, based on how he played for us. I was rooting for Loui. I thought for sure there was no way he went from a top 6 guy to a 4th line guy in one offseason. I was clearly wrong. The only explanation I have is he did it all for the big, last contract. Once pen met paper, the deal was done.
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I would imagine a healthy athlete would likely overcome Covid well. May not even show any symptoms. Does the NHL have their own fast-track testers in every city or do they have to wait a few days like everyone else? Couldn't he just he waiting on a test result?
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I understand what you are saying. Ferland needs to crash and bang to be effective. He absolutely does. But if he and all the experts around him believe he can still play like that, perhaps he can? As hard as it would be to effectively risk his life out there every night, I imagine he knows that kind of play is what keeps him in the league. I expect he will avoid fighting - as he should. Please don't write him off as a lost cause just because of a concussion history. Many players have had multiple concussions and still went on to continue playing fine.
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See - I feel the same way. To me, health is more important than playoffs. Just to be sure. With that said, his concussion woes are well documented, and as they mount there is greater scrutiny on returning him to play. Especially in a hard played playoff environment, you gotta think both the organization and Ferland himself are pretty confident it is safe to have him out there. In no way is having him reconcussed good for any party. I would imagine he has been told at this point his concussion is healed - until it has been proven not to be if he suffers more symptoms. I figure it is the ol' wait and see approach, but all indications are a go. You know - just like his first game back in the AHL... As for him being held out, Benning saying "be back soon" leads me to believe he is waiting on covid test results. Just a guess.
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He has played very few games for us. It is not unusual to see a player struggle with new teammates and systems. It is so hard to play when you have any kind of post concussion symptoms. I think it is too early to claim a miss. Yes, he has had lots of struggles but I am not writing him off quite yet. Not happy with this though. I felt he had the possibility of being a real difference maker for us. Apparently they expect him back soon but this is valuable time to get into game shape and to try to generate chemistry.
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I would do the Miller trade for sure. No, he hasn't played well this season but not many have in Buffalo. I feel he has the potential of regaining some form that helped him score well in Vegas, whereas LE is clearly never to be a useful player for us.
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I do feel we could be a dark horse team for sure. If you look up and down a healthy lineup, we have guys throughout who really could play higher if there was room. In turn, individually our forward lines look pretty sweet on paper, imo. Even our d doesn't look bad, just looking at the names and what attributes those players are expected to bring. We have the steady (albeit oft injured) Tanev shutting guys down. Towering Myers who, quite honestly, needs to bring it. Hughes is Hughes... we all know what he can do for us. Steady Eddie as well. The third pairing is really the only place where we don't have much to offer - but Stech is fine in a 3rd pairing role even if he is undersized, and if Fanta or especially Benn play to their ability it could be worse. In short, I feel we have the tools. But our success will mainly come down to 3 things: - If Marky can stand on his head the whole competition. - If our players play to the level they are capable of. This means our skill guys like Petey and Huggy find ways to NOT get shut down, and it means our heavy guys play heavy. - If we find a way to play systems thar work. This one scares me, because Green hasn't found it yet. Our 5 on 5 play was similar to that of basement dwelling teams. We relied way too much on the PP and Markstrom. If this doesn't change, I feel the chances of being that Dark Horse team is very dim indeed.
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You almost make it sound like sacrifices need to be made to earn those millions...
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Agree the comment was speculation. Though the source seems solid at least. Tryamkin likely still wants to avoid the AHL so to fit him on the roster, something will have to change one way or another to move out bodies. As I said, he does little to solve our woes on D so changes are likely regardless. Benn becomes 100% expendable, so gotta find a suitor there. Shame he didn't work out.
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Talk that the contract could be just shy of a million? That'd be value, and gives him a chance to show he is worth more. Would be stoked to see him play. But he won't be that element that "fixes" our d.
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Well that's the thing. First Tampa. Now the Blues. These players knew they would be coming back and practicing and managed to get it anyway. Hell, there is fallout from JV not doing his part. It could be anywhere. Any team can fall victim and the closer we get to drop dead time with this still happening the less chance a covid-free playoff could even happen. I can't see players too eager to play when other players keep getting infected. I know there are all sorts of protocols but they are clearly not enough so far. The bubbles these players will have to live in to avoid a cluster will be tight. If one occurs after resuming of play I can't see how anything could continue. Especially since the 2-hub plan means everyone shares facilities. This is a season that will be impossible to forget. As much as we may all want to...
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Things that don't make sense about hockey.
kloubek replied to milk and honey's topic in General Hockey Discussion
I personally get annoyed with the offside rule - usually as it pertains to a coaches challenge. I don't feel it should be so closely policed. If a player has a full stride on another while offside, then fine - it could make a difference. But we are calling back plays and goals if a guy is literally a half inch offside when it really had no bearing on the play. IMO, it is s had as the old "toe in the blue paint" rule.