Baggins

Mikheyev hit less than Bo last season and Bo was tied with Highmore. Mikheyev is more comparable to Pearson as a player. But he's younger. faster, and more productive. I honestly don't get the hate for Garland. Among the forwards he's one of the best playmakers, he's tenacious offensively and defensely, led all forwards in penalties drawn and gives the opposition fits. Plus he's a pretty good producer. Honestly you could move Pearson and Mikheyev only adds 1.5m to the cap. But, they don't actually need to do anything before the season starts. That way they get a good look at everybody in camp and preseason, including rookies, before making a decision.

I agree. A step further is goal scoring versus playmakers. So many judge on goals and ignore assists. Good playmakers make goal scorers better. Garland led all forwards in 1st assists per 60 minutes ES last season with 1.11 wqhile 2nd was at 0.68. people made a big deal about his goal scoring drought but ignored his 10 asists. I don't care if you are scoring them or setting them up. You are contributing.

And yet Hogs was declared a core player his rookie season. The problem with Garland imo is we didn't draft him. People seem to overlook all that he adds that doesn't show up on the scoresheet.

Hey. I like Boeser the person. But the truth is he doesn't provide much other than scoring. So even if he scores 40 what does he provide the other 42 games? Nor is he that good defensively. For a North American kid he doesn't play particualry physical at all. Last season he was dead last in hits per 60 minutes among all our forwards with 20+ games. He doesn't PK, he's not particularly strong along the boards. What does really he provide other than being a shooter? Last season he was basically a PP specialist. Again among all forwards with 20+ games, he was 10th in in both ES goals and points per 60 minutes last season. I'll give him a mulligan on his production last year but the rest stands. He not that good defensively, not particularly strong along the boards, and isn't very physical. I'm not opposed to keeping him, but I wouldn't weep if he was moved.

Pittsburgh had two 1st overall and two second overall picks in four years. After drafting Crosby they missed the playoffs finishing last in their division. His second year they made the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round. His third season they made the playoffs and lost in the SCF. His fourth season they won the cup That's with the best player in trhe world at the time. We're just coming out of rebuilding. Step 1 for us - make the playoffs.

In hindsight I'm guessing...

Rob signed with Anaheim 3 years before Scott became a UFA. Burke was the canucks GM when Rob sined there.

Considering Sakic stayed in Colorado after retiring I'd say he had no real interest in coming back here. He didn't rejoin the Av's in management unit 2 years after retiring.

I'd take Garland over boeser. He does more for his money.

hey, the Sedins weren't particularly physical but they were incredibly tough along the boards and had a physical linemate throughout their best years. Both were also responsible defensively. Neither Petey or Boeser are as strong along the boards and would wouldn't even call Boeser strong on the puck. Did Hogs need a year in the AHL when he came over? This is why I said he's got his work cut out for him with those three added to the mix. In the offseason two years ago Virtanen was 100% expected to be in the top 6 with Tofi signing in Montreal. Was Hogs expected to even make the team? He was a question mark that not only made the team he stole the top six spot from Virtanen. Last season I saw Hogs much like Virtanen, an inconsistant effort and not particualrly good in his own end. particularly along the boards.

He's exempt for three season or 143 NHL games played. Meaning yes, he can be safely sent to Abby. he can play another 27 games before becoming waiver eligible.

True as long as everybody knows their role. But if we move Miller, Petey is going to be "the" C and taking more faceoffs. Miller is a C himself though. How many actual wingers are truly good at faceoffs? Petey played a fair number of games on Bo's wing last season. So was Bo the winger then? The simple truth is Petey has played wing in both the SHL and NHL. He may prefer the role center but it doesn't mean he's actually the best option for it.

The least phyical line in the NHL right there. They were the bottom three forwards with 20+ games on the team in hits per 60 minutes. Plus Petey loses more faceoffs than he wins (44.1%). Petey may actually be better used as a winger than at C. He took over 500 faceoffs last season and had no improvemnt from the first half to the second half. Podz Pettersson Mikheyev would make more sense. Two reasonably physical wingers and both are defensively responsible when Petey loses draws. At least the entire line is defensively repsonsible and there is some physicality to it. Garland is very responsible defensively but is only a little more physical than Petey. Even Garland Petey Mikheyev (or Podz) would be a better option. The improvement in Podz defenfensive was rather remarkable over the past season and Garland isn't particularly physical but he does really hound players defensively. if Hogs doesn't make the top nine I could see him playing in Abby to work on the defensive side of his game. He's not physical nor defensively responsible enough for 4th line. He'd be the weakest link there. Even third line he'd likely be the weakest link. With Mikheyev, Kuzmenko, and Karlsson coming in this year Hogs is going to be hard pressed. Podz has already passed him on the depth chart imo.There's going to be real competition this year for those middle six spots.

Miller took almost 700 more faceffs than Petey this past season, 1233 to 540.

Better than average defensively and above average shot blocker. Very physical. He didn't really get PK opportunity with the Blues. Very low risk signing.

You have no persective. Hamhuis signed for far less than market value to play here. Philly offered him 6 mill. Is a 25% discount a bargain? He's not the only player to do it. Garrison may not have been great but had highers offers as well. Paul Kariya signed a one year 1m deal with the Av's for a shot at the cup. Analysts predicted 7m x 7 years for Myers. He took less with a shorter term because he "wanted" to come here. Many fans here have very unrealistic ideas of market value. Just because NHL players make a lot doesn't mean they don't give salary breaks to teams under certain conditions. Even doing so they make a lot of money. That doesn't negate it being a deal for the team. What reason did Gudbranson have to sign with Columbus other than money? He didn't give them a deal. Perspective.

Realisticly he doesn't have to go any where. Abby had three goalies last year which allows one to be called up. It makes one moveable but it doesn't mean one has to be moved at all.

I don't understand the negativity over this signing. Decent size, physical, willing to fight, play C or wing. The cherry on top is he can be sent to the monirs with no effect on our cap. So who cares how long the deal is? This is a great no risk signing.

Points per game last season puts him in between Boeser and Pearson. Points per 60 minutes played puts him between Miller and Pearson (Miller was 2nd here to Garland). Hits per 60 minutes puts him between Horvat and Hoglander. In TO he played 3rd line ES minutes with PP2 and PK2 minutes. Top 6 here "could" see his production go up. Basically he's a younger and faster Pearson with more offensive upside. Signing Mikheyev is not good news for Hoglander. Competition for a top 6 spot just got tougher. As to the money, it's typical of fans here to believe free agents should sign at bargain basement salaries here. Free agency is not the place to find bargain basement prices. The only way you get a great deal from a UFA is you are a contender or it's been the players lifelong dream to play for that team. Even then, that desrie only gets so much goodwill. If you're a bad team you will overpay. In between those two you'll be paying market price balanced between best offer and best opportunity. Meaning a UFA "might" take a slightly lower deal if he sees better opportunity with one team over another but you'll be paying market price.

I always preach patience with young players. But I'm also a realist. As depth builds, young players may find themselves trade pieces because others have moved ahead of them. If you're not the best option for top six, and not good enough defensively for the bottom six, what is highly likely to happen? This is where Hogs is currently sitting. It's why I said he really needs to show improvement this coming season - particularly in his defensive game. Podz has already moved ahead of him imo. There are others in this years camp that could jump ahead of him just as he jumped ahead of Virtanen. Hogs could find himself in the AHL or even expendable as part of a trade. There's no preasure to trade him because he can be sent to the AHL. But if a little more is needed to complete a trade to address a need he could find himself that being the little more.

It doesn't really matter if he "wants" to be a responsible third line scoring threat. The real question is: does he want to play for a good team? Would you rather be 2nd line on a bad team or 3rd line on a good team? Or even second line on a good team or second line on a bad team? Fans often overlook the defensive side of the game and focus only on points. Well, your not much help if you score 20 goals but give up 40. Truly high end offensive players often get a bit of a break from their coaches. If you're not high end offensively you had best be better than ok defensively. Hogs is fun to watch without a doubt. But, and it's a big but, he needs to improve his offense, and in particular his defensive play, if he wants to stick with a good team in the top six. I doubt he will become a high end producer. That means he really needs to improve on the defensive side. The reason Pearson is valuable is he provides decent offence and is solid defensively. How often is Pearson on the ice in the last two minutes with a one goal lead? That's where Pearson's value is. I'd take a 35 point Peasron over a 35 point Hoglander any time, any day, regardless of how much fun Hoglander is to watch. The Keystone Cops were fun to watch but I wouldn't want them protecting my community. (really showing my age there )

Who is deluding themselve? Are you talking 1st round as a whole? I did say top 3 to 5 and possibly top 10 in a deep draft in reference to chosing between BPA or need. I don't delude myself at all as no draft spot comes with a guarantee. My point is you may draft by need near the top, rather than BPA, where players are likely to make the jump sooner rather than later. Beyond those draft picks drafting by need rather than BPA makes no sense. The exception would be two players, who in your view, are equal in value and potential. In that case to might select need as they are equally BPA.

I disagree. Podz earned a great deal of respect over the course of the season. There was a dramatic difference in his play from the beginning of the season to the end. The first half I was meh. There was potential there but he didn't knock the socks off anybody. But the second half the defensive side of his game really improved and he started playing more aggressive at both ends. Hoglander on the other hand hasn't shown much improvement on the defensive side of his game and wasn't even particularly good offensively. Add in his size disadvantage and he could find himself expendable unless he has a really good showing next season. With more offensive weapons coming as early as next season he really needs to step up his game. Particularly on the defensive side because if there are better options for top six you really need to be defensively responsible to stick in the bottom six long term.