Yes, but he gets out of position quite a bit. My problem with him is that he's not a thinker. He's the type of player that would sacrifice defense for offense at any point.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's where the system has to be made to fit him -- the winger on his side have to know to cover.

My guess is Coburn, Simmonds, and Cousins gets it done. And I would do it.
- youarewrong

I'd take Coburn out and replace him with Luke Schenn. I;d be trading for Byfuglien to pair him with Coburn

I like Simmonds, but he's hardly Tim Kerr.
- Jsaquella

Yea, Simmonds and Coburn for Buff also allows you to trade LSchenn and Laughton for Yakupov.....

I don't think one guy is necessarily going to do it... even Pronger had good Kimmo and Carle to help carry the mail... if you put 35-year-old Pronger in with this current group, I dare say that things wouldn't exactly be too terribly different.
- Tomahawk

All of the games early in the year (minus the Washington one) were games that were either 1-goal games or ties entering the 3rd. Having one anchor back them would probably have turned a few of the losses into wins.

I'd take Coburn out and replace him with Luke Schenn. I;d be trading for Byfuglien to pair him with Coburn
- Jsaquella

That I'd do for sure.

Simmonds is every bit as inconsistent as the folks who rail against Byfuglien say that Big Buf is. Simmonds runs hot or cold, and does a lot of damage on the PP.

Not that he's a bad player at all, but he's streaky, especially at 5 on 5.
- Jsaquella

I know. I would trade Simmer, Cousins and a 2nd for him. I just won't give up a top 6 forward and top 4 d-man. (Schenn has played poorly this year, but I believe he is a top 4 dman)

Everyone enjoy this mild afternoon. Lunch is over.

That's where the system has to be made to fit him -- the winger on his side have to know to cover.
- Flyskippy

So you give up prospects/picks/roster player for a guy that you need to build a system around to help with deficiencies?

I'd take Coburn out and replace him with Luke Schenn. I;d be trading for Byfuglien to pair him with Coburn
- Jsaquella

If I'm sending Simmonds 24 and Schenn 24 for Buff, Little better be coming with him.... Too much youth going that way.

Everyone enjoy this mild afternoon. Lunch is over.
- Flyskippy

I don't know why, but your avatar makes me angreee.

That's where the system has to be made to fit him -- the winger on his side have to know to cover.
- Flyskippy

So you give up prospect/pick/roster player for a guy you need to change the system for because of his deficiencies?

My guess is Coburn, Simmonds, and Cousins gets it done. And I would do it.
- youarewrong

Our D gets substantially worse if we're swapping Coburn for Byfuglien on our first or second pairings. Substantially, for years, unless another defeseman is brought in.

Our D gets substantially worse if we're swapping Coburn for Byfuglien on our first or second pairings. Substantially, for years, unless another defeseman is brought in.
- wolfhounds

But we'll score more points and thats all that matters.

Everyone enjoy this mild afternoon. Lunch is over.
- Flyskippy

So you give up prospect/pick/roster player for a guy you need to change the system for because of his deficiencies?
- PhillySportsGuy

That's not a system change, that's common sense. You can call it a deficiency, others would call it a strength.

All of the games early in the year (minus the Washington one) were games that were either 1-goal games or ties entering the 3rd. Having one anchor back them would probably have turned a few of the losses into wins.
- jmatchett383

Maybe, but the pervasive mentality that this team is still just One Special Player from magically turning the franchise around is maddening.

Outside of goaltending (which may or may not be sustainable), we know that this team needs to improve from top to bottom, and there are glaring holes that no one player could fill.

I'd rather pursue 2-3 affordable puck-movers this summer than make a splashy move for that One Guy. Maybe I'm alone in that sentiment.

Maybe, but the pervasive mentality that this team is still just One Special Player from magically turning the franchise around is maddening.

Outside of goaltending (which may or may not be sustainable), we know that this team needs to improve from top to bottom, and there are glaring holes that no one player could fill.

I'd rather pursue 2-3 affordable puck-movers this summer than make a splashy move for that One Guy. Maybe I'm alone in that sentiment.
- Tomahawk

No, I'd prefer they try to improve the defense across the board as opposed to banking on one #1 and a bunch of #4s. I think one elite defenseman (without giving up too much, which, well, you'd have to) makes them a top-3 Conference playoff team as opposed to a wild card (or whatever it is) contender. Still not a Cup favorite though.

That's not a system change, that's common sense. You can call it a deficiency, others would call it a strength.
- mayorofangrytown

I just think people are viewing Buff as a better player than he is. You can't just bring in a point producer and say "look he'll do this for us!"

Streit was supposed to be a guy who averaged .5 PPG.

This defense needs more of a massive overhaul than just a tweak here and there. Byfuglien by himself isn't going to just drastically change this team's transition game.

So you give up prospect/pick/roster player for a guy you need to change the system for because of his deficiencies?
- PhillySportsGuy

Would you trade for Keith Yandle? Michael Del Zotto? Slavs Voynov?

Most offensive defensemen are lacking in their defensive play. Unless it was a guy like Pietrangelo or OEL, you'd make some systemic tweaks. Also Byfuglien isn't much different in his own end as Streit, so it's not a massive adjustment

Would you trade for Keith Yandle? Michael Del Zotto? Slavs Voynov?

Most offensive defensemen are lacking in their defensive play. Unless it was a guy like Pietrangelo or OEL, you'd make some systemic tweaks. Also Byfuglien isn't much different in his own end as Streit, so it's not a massive adjustment
- Jsaquella

Voynov yes, because of his age.

Would you trade for Keith Yandle? Michael Del Zotto? Slavs Voynov?

Most offensive defensemen are lacking in their defensive play. Unless it was a guy like Pietrangelo or OEL, you'd make some systemic tweaks. Also Byfuglien isn't much different in his own end as Streit, so it's not a massive adjustment
- Jsaquella

With the exception of Yandle, those guys are much younger. There is reason to believe they will get better. Byfuglien is what he is at this point. Even Yandle is adequate in his own end. I haven't seen a ton of jets or Coyote games, but from what i've seen Yandle is better defensively than Byfuglien.

Coyotes play a defensive system, which really makes Yandles offensive numbers all the more impressive.

I just think people are viewing Buff as a better player than he is. You can't just bring in a point producer and say "look he'll do this for us!"

Streit was supposed to be a guy who averaged .5 PPG.

This defense needs more of a massive overhaul than just a tweak here and there. Byfuglien by himself isn't going to just drastically change this team's transition game.
- PhillySportsGuy

Actually, Adding any guy who is an exceptional transition player that plays 24 minutes a night will have a major impact on the transition game.

Couturier/Hamilton debate has been done here exhaustively, but Arctic Hockey recently did a head-to-head comparison of Couturier and Scheifele that had me wondering if given a choice between one of Strome, Scheifele, Zibanejad or Couturier, which one would I select if I had first dibs today?

I honestly don't know.

Actually, Adding any guy who is an exceptional transition player that plays 24 minutes a night will have a major impact on the transition game.
- Jsaquella

at 24 minutes per night, he'll be having a major impact on both team's transition games

I just think people are viewing Buff as a better player than he is. You can't just bring in a point producer and say "look he'll do this for us!"

Streit was supposed to be a guy who averaged .5 PPG.

This defense needs more of a massive overhaul than just a tweak here and there. Byfuglien by himself isn't going to just drastically change this team's transition game.
- PhillySportsGuy

All it's going to do is bring a different facet to this team. It would be something of a dramatic change over what we have out there now. Player expectations would change.

Streit wasn't ever going to bring that dynamic. Most of us were just hoping he could get the team moving up ice quicker and more effectively.