Streit is hurting the team. If he's not providing offense, he's a below average player. I was much more upset about the Streit signing because he already has some serious limitations. It will only get worse over time.

I was thrilled about the Vinny signing, but we will at least get a few good seasons out of him before his skills start to deteriorate.
- PhillySportsGuy

Well, Streit has shown flashes of what he can do...nice pass right in Vinny's wheelhouse for that laser, did some nice puck rushes, a couple good shots...he's been a bit careless with the puck at times, but I think he has the potential to settle in and play better...the contract is looking bad right now, but I do think (hope?) the guy can and will be better than what we're seeing.

The trade has done exactly what we thought. It made the forwards deeper and gave Read and Couturier a skilled player.

However, the PK has suffered since Talbot left. People keep saying it's easier to replace a grinder/pk type player than a skilled top 9 player. I agree with this, but now they need to find a player to replace Talbot, because the current forwards are not cutting it on the PK.
- PhillySportsGuy

Not true, the PK was fine until a few games ago, the fallout happened a while after Talbot left...there is a system/personnel problem they have to figure out and get back to what was working right after talbot left...Talbot was good on the PK, but he is only one guy and not out there for the entire 2 minutes...this is easily fixable with the guys they have...

However, the PK has suffered since Talbot left. People keep saying it's easier to replace a grinder/pk type player than a skilled top 9 player. I agree with this, but now they need to find a player to replace Talbot, because the current forwards are not cutting it on the PK.
- PhillySportsGuy

There's like 10-12 guys killing penalties each night, including the goalies... Talbot was a good PK'er, but he wasn't ever doing it all by himself.

Not true, the PK was fine until a few games ago, the fallout happened a while after Talbot left...there is a system/personnel problem they have to figure out and get back to what was working right after talbot left...Talbot was good on the PK, but he is only one guy and not out there for the entire 2 minutes...this is easily fixable with the guys they have...
- JW98FlyerFan

In my eyes, the PK is worse because they are using Rinaldo instead of Talbot. Most of the PK goals have come against Rinaldo, Hall or Giroux. Couts and Read have continued to be a good PK combo.

I'm not saying it was a bad trade. I'm saying they miss Talbot's PK ability.

One thing that bothers me is the way he makes poor reads. He's a veteran player, but is very susceptible to turning the puck over or making a bad decision.
- PhillySportsGuy

His risk/reward meter seems to be stuck on risk... some of those plays at the bluelines would get you benched in junior hockey/Edmonton.

The trade has done exactly what we thought. It made the forwards deeper and gave Read and Couturier a skilled player.

However, the PK has suffered since Talbot left. People keep saying it's easier to replace a grinder/pk type player than a skilled top 9 player. I agree with this, but now they need to find a player to replace Talbot, because the current forwards are not cutting it on the PK.
- PhillySportsGuy

I can see why some would want Raffl in and Rosehill out but I don't believe Raffl is enough of a difference on the PK. No more than Rinaldo that is. He's a round kid growing into the role as much as any youngster would. See Hall was a solid pick up because you got him for nothing and he does exactly what every fourth liner should do. Grind, win faceoffs, kill penalties. We just need to fine his Ranheim to his Manderville. His Powe to his Betts. We need another fourth line penalty killer to play with Hall as much as possible.

There's like 10-12 guys killing penalties each night, including the goalies... Talbot was a good PK'er, but he wasn't ever doing it all by himself.
- Tomahawk

The only guys that have killed penalties since Talbot left are Read, Couts, Hall, Raffl, Giroux and Rinaldo.

His risk/reward meter seems to be stuck on risk... some of those plays at the bluelines would get you benched in junior hockey/Edmonton.
- Tomahawk

He's a veteran player though. You'd think his anticipation and positional play would be a strength. That's what worries me about him long term. He's not getting any more athletic. In a couple years, his limitations may become even more noticeable.

I can see why some would want Raffl in and Rosehill out but I don't believe Raffl is enough of a difference on the PK. No more than Rinaldo that is. He's a round kid growing into the role as much as any youngster would. See Hall was a solid pick up because you got him for nothing and he does exactly what every fourth liner should do. Grind, win faceoffs, kill penalties. We just need to fine his Ranheim to his Manderville. His Powe to his Betts. We need another fourth line penalty killer to play with Hall as much as possible.
- Schenn2shine

Ya know what I was thinking last night? Wouldn't it be great to have a guy like Wellwood right now. He'd be a good combination on the PK with Hall. His speed would play well with Hall's savvy.

He's been passable these past few games -- I think that's the best we can ever hope from him.

He's not a terrible player, just monumentally overpaid, on an stupidly structured contract. For a guy making that kind of scratch, he's nowhere near as effective moving the puck as guys like Yandle, OEL, Keith, Enstrom, Byfuglien that take home similar pay stubs. He's nowhere near as good as Matt Carle, either.
- Tomahawk

I agree mostly, but alot of those guys are with the teams that drafted them and/or weren't UFAs when signing their deals and with the natural year to year inflation, Streit got a premium...as for the Carle comparison, I think the jury is still out. Streit is a better puck carrier and I want to say a better playmaker/passer, esp on the powerplay and has a better shot than Carle...he's also a little more physical defensively...both tend to make very visible mistakes with the puck now and again.

Well, Streit has shown flashes of what he can do...nice pass right in Vinny's wheelhouse for that laser, did some nice puck rushes, a couple good shots...he's been a bit careless with the puck at times, but I think he has the potential to settle in and play better...the contract is looking bad right now, but I do think (hope?) the guy can and will be better than what we're seeing.
- exlund

Winner or not, the team is on a transition period. Timonen is gone next season. I understand why Berube feels he needs to milk that top PP unit for all it's worth but I feel now is the time for Giroux and Streit to maybe start feeling one another out on the first Power Play unit. If Streit isn't putting up points, he's useless to us. Than you have Lecavalier on the second PP unit? You cannot teach that sort shooting ability. Vinny's shot is exactly what the first unit is missing. I think he's scored five or six of his eight goals in the same spot. Giroux and Lecavalier are our best players, we didn't split Lindros and LeClair on the PP. Let's get our best our there!

Ya know what I was thinking last night? Wouldn't it be great to have a guy like Wellwood right now. He'd be a good combination on the PK with Hall. His speed would play well with Hall's savvy.
- PhillySportsGuy

He's hurt right now but you might be right. Great wheels that kid has.

The only guys that have killed penalties since Talbot left are Read, Couts, Hall, Raffl, Giroux and Rinaldo.
- PhillySportsGuy

i saw hartnell and simmonds PKing in the ottawa game, which was startling.

The only guys that have killed penalties since Talbot left are Read, Couts, Hall, Raffl, Giroux and Rinaldo.
- PhillySportsGuy

I was counting the dmen and the goalies in that 10-12.

In my eyes, the PK is worse because they are using Rinaldo instead of Talbot. Most of the PK goals have come against Rinaldo, Hall or Giroux. Couts and Read have continued to be a good PK combo.

I'm not saying it was a bad trade. I'm saying they miss Talbot's PK ability.
- PhillySportsGuy

Looking at the numbers, we are also shorthanded a few minutes a game then when Talbot was here, so giving the opposition more chances is not helping either...

I have also noted that Rinaldo is not the reason for those goals, our defensive play down low or screening our own goalie has been the cause...

He's hurt right now but you might be right. Great wheels that kid has.
- Schenn2shine

But hands of stone...no scoring touch on NHL level goalies...

On an unrelated note. Dubnyk in Edmonton has been playing excellent hockey since Bryz was signed. It would be quite funny if Dubnyk ended up retaining the starting job with Bryz making 3 mill on the bench.

Also, our defensemen still scare the living daylights out of me. Team defense has been much improved since Berube took over but they still rely on the goalies to much to erase their mistakes. Luckily, both goalies are playing very well right now.

He's hurt right now but you might be right. Great wheels that kid has.
- Schenn2shine

Had. I would suspect his future speed will not be up to his past speed. Although we can certainly hope he recovers well enough to play in the NHL. Since he says "if" he returns, it's doesn't sound very likely.

The Fool on the Hill >>>>>>>>Solsbury Hill >>>> Blueberry Hill >>>> Jay Rosehill
- johndewar

As the kids these days say....

FTFY