You keep missing the point. The team has size but the guys with it dont use it. Who is the most physical guy in the team?

Hint:he has a torn labrum because of it and hes not even 6'0 or 200 lbs

The fact that 90% of you think this team is physical enough to win 4 grueling knock em drag out series, drives me absolutely nuts


- Slimtj100

we made it to the ECF with a smaller roster than this one. the difference was depth and grit, not size. we had dubinsky, anisimov, prust, fedetenko, boyle, mitchell, and rupp (who played less than 4 minutes a game).

we replaced those guys, who were all willing to hit (minus anisimov and mitchell) and who had skill, chemistry, and could play hockey and score, with: pyatt, dorsett, asham, brassard or richards, powe, boyle, hagelin or clowe.

pyatt has the size you've been jizzing about but is useless. asham can't play hockey. brassard isn't a midget but he has no grit. powe is similar to prust in size but has no grit and can't score. etc. etc.

it's clear to me that the ECF had more depth in the bottom 6 and a lot more grit. we lost to the bruins not because they were bigger than us or because we were "scared" or "intimidated" (is a tortorella team led by ryan callahan really ever gonna be scared by being hit?) but because they were a lot deeper than us.

again, we lost midgets or soft big guys like prust, dubinsky, feds, and anisimov but these guys were good hockey players and most of them were willing to grind it out and hit everything that moved. we replaced them with useless plugs like pyatt and powe and asham.

dubinsky, prust, anisimov are MILES ahead of pyatt, powe, and asham and that's all it comes down to.

i've said it before and i'll say it again, WE ARE A BIGGER TEAM THAN THE ECF TEAM that you think was a lot tougher and more physical. size is not the issue.

I'm done boys. Ciao

Lost Prust, Dubinsky, Anisimov, Fedentenko and Gaborik.

Let's say that Dorsett cancels out Prust, which was virtually everyone's view when that deal was made. Is Anisimov really of that much more of hardass than Brassard.

Is Pyatt really that much softer than Feds?

So, we lost Dubinsky. Doesn't Kreider and/or Miller help to offset that. And Clowe if he re-signs.

All this top about being soft is fantasy, unless the Bruins and Hawks are the only teams you are comparing them to. We are never going to out muscle the Bruins, never. Have to find another way to beat them, like the Leafs almost did, and the Leafs aren't a collection of bad asses.
- Pete V

Pete-I do think we're getting sidetracked with way the team played in 2011-12. For whatever reason, they bought in to Torts all or nothing shot blocking style. But I don't think it's in the DNA of this club, to play the physically demanding game of the NHL today. The fact that Callahan leads the team in hits, is not really a good sign going forward.

Well maybe we lack that too
- Slimtj100

yes. our bottom 6 lost that when we lost prust, dubinsky, anisimov, and feds who all had chemistry and can score and replaced them with asham, powe, pyatt, and a dude like halpern or whoever was in and out of the 3rd and 4th line.

I fully expect Richards to bounce back to at least 2011-12 level, the lack of training camp really hurt him. That's no excuse for a pro but he never caught up, happened to a few of the older guys this season.

You've got to think Sather would look to move Richards during the season, think of Dallas or Tampa, we're paying him most of the cash now so his actual salary will be more reasonable for a smaller market team to accept. We can also keep a portion of his salary without it affecting our cap too much.

With the realignment, making the playoffs will be that much tougher. It's just as risky thinking Stepan, Brassard, Miller, Boyle would be good enough going into the season. I really like these guys as top 3 centers, but Brassard hasn't proven he'll be consistent, and Miller or Lindburg are still unproven and will be asked to play a defensive role. So Richards is a little bit of insurance for now.

I expect him to be moved like Gaborik was either via trade during the season or the final buyout next summer.

Pete-I do think we're getting sidetracked with way the team played in 2011-12. For whatever reason, they bought in to Torts all or nothing shot blocking style. But I don't think it's in the DNA of this club, to play the physically demanding game of the NHL today. The fact that Callahan leads the team in hits, is not really a good sign going forward.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

we need a total redo of the bottom 6.

You keep missing the point. The team has size but the guys with it dont use it. Who is the most physical guy in the team?

Hint:he has a torn labrum because of it and hes not even 6'0 or 200 lbs

The fact that 90% of you think this team is physical enough to win 4 grueling knock em drag out series, drives me absolutely nuts


- Slimtj100

Your infatuation with size is unbelievable. First of all we have a good amount of size and skill. Second cally didn't tear his labrum because he's not 6'0" and 200lbs it's because Max Talbot yanked on his should and it got progressively worse by playing with the injury.

we need a total redo of the bottom 6.
- rangerdanger94

Yes, and I thought that was the plan. Apparently not.

Your infatuation with size is unbelievable. First of all we have a good amount of size and skill. Second cally didn't tear his labrum because he's not 6'0" and 200lbs it's because Max Talbot yanked on his should and it got progressively worse by playing with the injury.
- beardo17

a player with size and skill like lucic would be useful on any team in the NHL, but those players are sooooo hard to find. size never hurts. but we need to make sure whatever player we go after with size can score and play hockey otherwise we have a bottom 6 of:
pyatt - boyle - pyatt
boyle - pyatt - boyle

biggest bottom 6 in the league but softer than charmin ultra and can't put the puck in the net.

if we had a 3rd line of prust - boyle - ott....2 "midgets" or "smurfs" oh MAN that line would kill people and be gritty and bury the puck and be exactly the line we need to counter a team like the bruins. but prust and ott aren't big, they just can score, play hockey, and are willing to hit everything that moves.

dubinsky, prust, anisimov are MILES ahead of pyatt, powe, and asham and that's all it comes down to.

- rangerdanger94

I think we can all agree on this statement, just looking at these names and it's such a HUGE gap. I think the only way to recreate this is through within which means so time. The guys we lost played together for 2-4 years, that's how you build that chemistry.

a player with size and skill like lucic would be useful on any team in the NHL, but those players are sooooo hard to find. size never hurts. but we need to make sure whatever player we go after with size can score and play hockey otherwise we have a bottom 6 of:
pyatt - boyle - pyatt
boyle - pyatt - boyle

biggest bottom 6 in the league but softer than charmin ultra and can't put the puck in the net.

if we had a 3rd line of prust - boyle - ott....2 "midgets" or "smurfs" oh MAN that line would kill people and be gritty and bury the puck and be exactly the line we need to counter a team like the bruins. but prust and ott aren't big, they just can score, play hockey, and are willing to hit everything that moves.
- rangerdanger94

That's the problem you aren't going to find a lot of players like lucic in the league. But some of the size people are talking about bringing in aren't worth it. There is no way we can get evander Kane without giving up a ton. We aren't signing Bickell, we will be lucky to get clowe back, Penner skates moves slower than pond water, Malone is a scrub, clutterbuck is gonna cost more than he's worth

That's the problem you aren't going to find a lot of players like lucic in the league. But some of the size people are talking about bringing in aren't worth it. There is no way we can get evander Kane without giving up a ton. We aren't signing Bickell, we will be lucky to get clowe back, Penner skates moves slower than pond water, Malone is a scrub, clutterbuck is gonna cost more than he's worth
- beardo17

I dont think Clutterbuck will get as much as you might think. In this years draft he might be worth a 3rd rounder at most and maybe a low end prospect.

First thing this team needs to do is trade MZA's rights for something. Hes kind of a thorn in the side of this line up...
-- Hagelin, Stepan, Nash

Our second line seems to be in good shape...
-- Kreider, Richards, Callahan

Our third line, the problem line... with MZA gone it makes things a bit easier... Id trade a 3rd rounder and Chris Thomas for Clutterbuck (maybe a MZA trade gets us Clutterbuck?).
-- Clowe, Brassard, Clutterbuck

Our fourth line, very easy...
-- Boyle, Miller, Dorsett

______________________________

If somehow we trade MDZ in some mega package for the #5 pick

Hagelin, Stepan, Nash
Kreider, Richards, Callahan/Nichushkin
Clowe, Brassard, Nichushkin/Callahan
Boyle, Miller, Dorsett

Hawks were not that physical, they're own fans said that, size doesn't matter, heart does.
- B2B76

Hawks power play was also pretty awful during the finals. Something like 3 for 19 ?

Makes me feel like we have hope

Hawks power play was also pretty awful during the finals. Something like 3 for 19 ?

Makes me feel like we have hope
- TrueBlue9182

But it was the best and most lethal in every other round... I think they were striking at around 25% on the power play prior to the SCF.

i think a lot of us realize that a young defenseman's development isn't linear. there will always be ups and downs.

what it comes down to is that we have 4 left-shooting defensemen and with the addition of a guy like moore who is similar to DZ offensively but has better skating, DZ is expendable for the right package. but ONLY for the right return.

we're not pushing him out the door and we would love to have him on the roster. but we have other holes and if we can make a deal that makes the team overall better, then he's expendable.
- rangerdanger94

I agree, for the right players we could trade Del Zotto, but thats a constant with any of our players really. It looks like Seguin's name is getting thrown around now. Thats a move I would make, Del Zotto and Hagelin for Seguin.

I agree, for the right players we could trade Del Zotto, but thats a constant with any of our players really. It looks like Seguin's name is getting thrown around now. Thats a move I would make, Del Zotto and Hagelin for Seguin.
- xcheckmajor

I think they will want more... wayyyyyyyy more... i.e. Kreider. Plus I think they want a top 10 pick, dont think they want roster players.

Yes, and I thought that was the plan. Apparently not.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

A couple of pieces are there, Miller and Dorsett maybe Zucc, the rest are not helping the team in any way

I think they will want more... wayyyyyyyy more... i.e. Kreider. Plus I think they want a top 10 pick, dont think they want roster players.
- aecliptic

We're not in play for Seguin, it's virtually impossible, this Clowe deal was in hindsight crippling

I agree, for the right players we could trade Del Zotto, but thats a constant with any of our players really. It looks like Seguin's name is getting thrown around now. Thats a move I would make, Del Zotto and Hagelin for Seguin.
- xcheckmajor

There is no way Boston trades Seguin to us. I think our only options for unloading Dz is in an unreal package for #5 pick or a prospect heavy package for Evander Kane

I agree, for the right players we could trade Del Zotto, but thats a constant with any of our players really. It looks like Seguin's name is getting thrown around now. Thats a move I would make, Del Zotto and Hagelin for Seguin.
- xcheckmajor

There is no way Boston trades Seguin to us. I think our only options for unloading Dz is in an unreal package for #5 pick or a prospect heavy package for Evander Kane

I hope Sather changes his mind, too much out there to work with and we can't do a god dam thing

There is no way Boston trades Seguin to us. I think our only options for unloading Dz is in an unreal package for #5 pick or a prospect heavy package for Evander Kane
- beardo17

Considering that theyre shopping JT Miller... and Fast probably has no shot to make the team with Hagelin, Kreider, Clowe ahead of him... its a possibility.

And also, my thoughts on MZA, he's got 34pts. in 67 career games in the NHL. Now he's never gotten a fair assignment, he's sparingly used and on the 3rd and 4th lines for the Rangers in the past. The guy has never been a - and he's a +13 overall in 67 games playing on the bottom 6. Thats fairly impressive to me. If he gets a full 82 game season with significant top 6 assignment, you could see him put up more than .5PPG. Zucc is a pure playmaker and makes his linemates more dangerous. At 2M or less, he is a HUGE asset. You can't say he's a liability because he doesn't allow goals to get scored against when he's on the ice. He possesses the puck and allows our team to keep it. I think its a mistake to get rid of MZA, I mean, considering how much Dubinksy and Callahan added to the scoresheet and the TOI they got and the linemates they played with, I think MZA is an even better offensive asset.

I hope Sather changes his mind, too much out there to work with and we can't do a god dam thing
- cranford93

Leave it to Sather, the one year where every team is pretty much willing to deal, to unplug his phone and be a by-stander.