I think he would be a good fit there. Plus, Edmonton has a ton of pieces I would like here in FLA. I like Omark.
- Panthers88

No omark is terrible he can't even get on the roster now somebody like Paajarvi there could be a deal to be found.

All true. But with at least 2 spots opening up next year (hopefully Jovo calls it quits and Kuba is a one year deal I think?) and you can see Weaver nearing the end- make that 3 spots, and the time it takes D-men to really hit their groove (thinking of Caruso, Robak and Petrovic here), Ellerby will be an important piece of the defense for the next 2 years in particular. Next year could see:
Campbell
Kulikov
Gudbranson
Ellerby
Strachan
Weaver
????
We like to carry 7 d-men, so .....

Once you look at it that way you can see how important he will be next season, as Caruso, Robak and Petrovic will have to go through the same process Guds did last season, Kuli did 2 and 3 years ago, and Ellerby is going through now. Matheson is years, and years away.
- clarkey

You forget that Free Agency and trades are options. I think Jovo gets bought out- the decision to make him Captain is still one that baffles me. He isn't even playing. He has some grit but the game is too fast for him. The free agent market is going to be nice and stacked over these next two years, so I would look for Tallon to fill some need that way. I like Ellerby. Like I said, I think he needs to be paired with Campbell.

No omark he is terrible he can't even get on the roster now somebody like Paajarvi there could be a deal to be found.
- Crazycaboose

Rofl, I mean Paajarvi!! I was looking at the Oilers' farm system and saw Omark. Yeah I agree, Paajarvi is a great younf prospect I would like.

You forget that Free Agency and trades are options. I think Jovo gets bought out- the decision to make him Captain is still one that baffles me. He isn't even playing. He has some grit but the game is too fast for him. The free agent market is going to be nice and stacked over these next two years, so I would look for Tallon to fill some need that way. I like Ellerby. Like I said, I think he needs to be paired with Campbell.
- Panthers88

Jovo is injured right now remember tampa kneed him.

Just took a look and unfortunately (the way he is playing) we have Kuba signed for this season and next. Same is true of Weaver. Strachan will be a UFA the end of this season and Ellerby and Caruso will be RFA's. So while we are loaded with prospects at defense, we have a contractual logjam next season of guys whose effectiveness appears to be waning: Jovo, Kuba, Weaver. Weaver may get his game back this season but right now he looks slow and smaller than ever as he is getting beat out of corners all over the place, is losing battles in front of the net and is turning the puck over at a rapid clip. Could be that he is just slow to regain his game form from the lockout, or it could be that not playing during the lockout at his age has led to him "jumping the shark." Tough to say right now, but it would be hard to stomach another season from him like what he is doing so far. Contractually speaking the Defense next season looks like this:

Campbell
Kuba
Kulikov
Weaver
Jovanoski
Gudbranson

with Ellerby and Caruso as RFA's who we get first shot and matching rights to, and Strachan probably gone as a UFA. Thats a little bit yikes.
- clarkey

I can't see Strachan not being brought back. He has shown in the 3 games he's been here that he deserves to stay. It's going to be a dog fight between him and Ellerby for the last spot, especially since it looks like Gudbranson is close to returning.

Jovo is injured right now remember tampa kneed him.
- Crazycaboose

Oh I know, but I don't think it's an injury that is going to put him on IR. If he is on IR he can't be bought out at seasons' end.

Rofl, I mean Paajarvi!! I was looking at the Oilers' farm system and saw Omark. Yeah I agree, Paajarvi is a great younf prospect I would like.
- Panthers88

Ok you were making me wonder.

Ya I think that would be a good move for both teams two high draft picks that haven't really found their game yet.

Here's an interesting question: What do we think ends up happening to Shawn Matthias, Skille, and Smithson. Matthias and Skille are RFA's and Smithson is an RFA. I would like to keep Matthias. Smithson is just so good on the dot. Tough to say let him go.. thoughts?

Ok you were making me wonder.

Ya I think that would be a good move for both teams two high draft picks that haven't really found their game yet.
- Crazycaboose

It's a fair swap, it really is. Paajarvi has no points this season if I'm not mistaken.

I can't see Strachan not being brought back. He has shown in the 3 games he's been here that he deserves to stay. It's going to be a dog fight between him and Ellerby for the last spot, especially since it looks like Gudbranson is close to returning.
- Panthers88

The real issue is that Strachan and Ellerby are both more worthwhile to keep around than Jovo and Kuba, and they are both giving Weaver a run for the money, but we would have to find a way to move Weaver or Kuba and buyout Jovo to create some space.

Oh I know, but I don't think it's an injury that is going to put him on IR. If he is on IR he can't be bought out at seasons' end.
- Panthers88

I still think we can get some good use out of him the lockout has really not helped with his game. But I think if we give him minimal ice time he would be a good just for his leadership.

Here's an interesting question: What do we think ends up happening to Shawn Matthias, Skille, and Smithson. Matthias and Skille are RFA's and Smithson is an RFA. I would like to keep Matthias. Smithson is just so good on the dot. Tough to say let him go.. thoughts?
- Panthers88

I think Smithson will be a UFA (when I looked earlier today).

We have to keep Skille and Matthias, they make a great 3rd or 4th line team with an Upshall or Smithson type. Especially in Skille's case, I think he has unrealized offensive upside because he's just so damn good on puck possession. It frustrates me to no end that KD plays him so little and pairs him with a guy like Kovalev. Skille does not have to play a dump and chase style because he is tough to knock off the puck and moves north-south so fast. A valuable and inexpensive player. Matthias is a real grinder with good speed. I find him more expendable than Skille because we are loaded depth wise at center and very shallow depth wise at right wing. At the right price Smithson is good to keep around.

Here's an interesting question: What do we think ends up happening to Shawn Matthias, Skille, and Smithson. Matthias and Skille are RFA's and Smithson is an RFA. I would like to keep Matthias. Smithson is just so good on the dot. Tough to say let him go.. thoughts?
- Panthers88

I think keeping all three is a good idea all are good young role players. I would want to keep matthias the most because of his size and still has some potential. Skille would most likely be the one to go even thou he is one of tallons favorites but he can't stay healthy.

The real issue is that Strachan and Ellerby are both more worthwhile to keep around than Jovo and Kuba, and they are both giving Weaver a run for the money, but we would have to find a way to move Weaver or Kuba and buyout Jovo to create some space.
- clarkey

If somebody has to go it should be Kuba he has been useless to far.

I think keeping all three is a good idea all are good young role players. I would want to keep matthias the most because of his size and still has some potential. Skille would most likely be the one to go even thou he is one of tallons favorites but he can't stay healthy.
- Crazycaboose

My opinion is that Matthias has had a hard time realizing that he is not a 1st or 2nd line type player, nor really a 3rd line scorer. He trys to make these moves with the puck sometimes as if he were and always ends up with the worst turnovers. He is maybe starting to realize that he is a big and quick mucker. Once he comes to that conclusion I think he can have some value, but he is not great on face-offs. So who of the 3 is expendable? In my book its Matthias. As I stated earlier- we are in big trouble depth wise at right wing- there are very few quality right wings in our system, whereas we are loaded at defense and center. Smithson is exellent at face-offs and on the PK giving him more value than Matthias, but he is also a lot older than Matty. To me Skille is the least expendable of the 3.

My opinion is that Matthias has had a hard time realizing that he is not a 1st or 2nd line type player, nor really a 3rd line scorer. He trys to make these moves with the puck sometimes as if he were and always ends up with the worst turnovers. He is maybe starting to realize that he is a big and quick mucker. Once he comes to that conclusion I think he can have some value, but he is not great on face-offs. So who of the 3 is expendable? In my book its Matthias. As I stated earlier- we are in big trouble depth wise at right wing- there are very few quality right wings in our system, whereas we are loaded at defense and center. Smithson is exellent at face-offs and on the PK giving him more value than Matthias, but he is also a lot older than Matty. To me Skille is the least expendable of the 3.
- clarkey

Ya i see your point hopefully we figure something out for right wing that poop is killing us.[/img]

Here is our right wing depth chart (outside the Panthers):

Jon Rheault 44 games in San Antonio 32 points
John McFarland 18 games in San Antonio 5 points.
Zach Hyman (U-Mich)
Anthony Luciani
Joanthan Hazen 30 games in San Antonio 9 pnts
Logan Shaw
Iro Pakarinen
Joe Basaraba

We also have Ortmeyer and Deveaux in San Antonio.

Outise of Rheault these guys are all a long way from making contributions on the Panthers.

My opinion is that Matthias has had a hard time realizing that he is not a 1st or 2nd line type player, nor really a 3rd line scorer. He trys to make these moves with the puck sometimes as if he were and always ends up with the worst turnovers. He is maybe starting to realize that he is a big and quick mucker. Once he comes to that conclusion I think he can have some value, but he is not great on face-offs. So who of the 3 is expendable? In my book its Matthias. As I stated earlier- we are in big trouble depth wise at right wing- there are very few quality right wings in our system, whereas we are loaded at defense and center. Smithson is exellent at face-offs and on the PK giving him more value than Matthias, but he is also a lot older than Matty. To me Skille is the least expendable of the 3.
- clarkey

Very interesting. And to correct my earlier post, Smithson IS UFA at the end of the season. I have to agree with you here. Smithson and Skille are the least expendable. Also, of the three, I think Matthias has the highest trade value. I have loved Smithson lately, I think he is a total workhorse.

Here is our right wing depth chart (outside the Panthers):

Jon Rheault 44 games in San Antonio 32 points
John McFarland 18 games in San Antonio 5 points.
Zach Hyman (U-Mich)
Anthony Luciani
Joanthan Hazen 30 games in San Antonio 9 pnts
Logan Shaw
Iro Pakarinen
Joe Basaraba

We also have Ortmeyer and Deveaux in San Antonio.

Outise of Rheault these guys are all a long way from making contributions on the Panthers.
- clarkey

And at that, I would wreckon that Rheault, McFarland, and Hazen are the only ones who may see ice time. I don't hear too much about Shaw, anyone ever hear anything about him. By the way, follow me on Twitter, like Dan does: Pantherss88

SHORE

It's a fair swap, it really is. Paajarvi has no points this season if I'm not mistaken.
- Panthers88

Omark just needs a change of scenery and I think the best team for him to go to is DET. He found chemistry with Zetterberg and Brunner in Europe.

But Omark for Ellerby be a steal for EDM, which won't happen. Ellerby for PRV? I actually would consider that straight trade. I like to believe in PRV still can develop into a top 6 forward, he just needs to adapt to the NHL and learn to use his body and speed go to the net.

God damn Kuba needs to go he has been absolutely useless!

God damn Kuba needs to go he has been absolutely useless!
- Crazycaboose

For $4M per season...yeah...could very much be our Bulin contract. I would say Horcoff, but he actually does a decent job for EDM, just overpaid. At least FLA don't have him signed beyond next season, which can make him somewhat marketable.

For $4M per season...yeah...could very much be our Bulin contract. I would say Horcoff, but he actually does a decent job for EDM, just overpaid. At least FLA don't have him signed beyond next season, which can make him somewhat marketable.
- deks1

Next season my arse. He not only put himself out of position, but then tried to compensate for it by using his stick. Stupid move. You're taught at a young age to force the winger to the outside. He over-committed himself.

And while we're at it, how about Ellerby?! I thought he was going to get the hattrick lastnight.. for Winnapeg that is. Goal #1: DO NOT TRY TO DEFLECT IT WITH YOUR STICK. If the winger commits to the shot, let the goalie see it. That's a goal that isn't scored if Ellerby just let's up. Goal #2: DON'T GET BEAT IN FRONT OF YOUR OWN NET. He was physically overmatched in front of Clem on that point shot, and it caused a bit of confusion for Scott. You have to clear the front of your own net, block those shots, and clear the zone.

Every save that Clem did make made mer nervous. He was real shaky last night. I would haverather had Theo in last night. Let Clem play against the Flyers, a team he has a ton of experience playing against. That would have allowed Theo to play the Caps, a team he is VERY familiar with, on a good amount of rest. But that's just me.

Oh, and if you still want to trade Ellerby for Paajarvi straight up, show me where to sign. I'll throw Kuba in for a yellow Gatorade.

I was just thinking... you know who I regreat trading away? Mike Kostka. He was a young stud who shined last year for us on defense, and we shipped him to Toronto. He's now a regular in the top pairing for the Leafs. He has 4 assists and while he is a -6, I would take him over Ellerby right now no questions.