Wow, you guys really have your panties in a bunch over this, huh?

All fans have a tendency to fall in love with their own players. I get that. You're living in your little Tampa Bay bubble, and you find it completely outrageous that anyone would ever dare to claim that Radko Gudas and Ondrej Palat aren't future Hall of Famers

All I'm doing is providing some honest outside perspective. But you guys are refusing to hear it. Which is fine. You're homers, and homers are expected to be a bit delusional
- AxlRose91

yeah? and?

this is the only world I know, stay away

Bad comeback. All he said was Palat and Gudas aren't future hall of famers. Which isn't wrong...
- Icegirl94

that's correct, but going around sayng they have zero talent or skill is completely wrong, but it doesn't matter anymore lol , this has gone on for awhile

that's correct, but going around sayng they have zero talent or skill is completely wrong, but it doesn't matter anymore lol , this has gone on for awhile
- RileyB77

I must have missed that post then. I like our team and couldn't give a poop what other fans think and that's all that really matters at this point (especially since they are playing well )

I must have missed that post then. I like our team and couldn't give a poop what other fans think and that's all that really matters at this point (especially since they are playing well )
- Icegirl94

apparently Johnson is just a flash in the pan

good quote, I like it

I must have missed that post then. I like our team and couldn't give a poop what other fans think and that's all that really matters at this point (especially since they are playing well )
- Icegirl94

Agree. Arguing about whose team or players are better is fruitless if you are expecting to change somebodies mind. The Bolts are good and will be better. The proof of who's the best will be revealed in the playoffs. I for one hope we draw the Leafs and spank them.

Wow, you guys really have your panties in a bunch over this, huh?

All fans have a tendency to fall in love with their own players. I get that. You're living in your little Tampa Bay bubble, and you find it completely outrageous that anyone would ever dare to claim that Radko Gudas and Ondrej Palat aren't future Hall of Famers

All I'm doing is providing some honest outside perspective. But you guys are refusing to hear it. Which is fine. You're homers, and homers are expected to be a bit delusional
- AxlRose91

There is a difference between "high-end talent" and Future Hall of Famers. Nowhere was future hall of famer used to describe the Bolts current roster. However, on more than a few occasions were the words "lack of high-end talent" used to describe the Bolts roster. Then you guys used guys like Malone, who again I remind is playing on our 4th line and therefor isn't even looked at for his scoring, as proof that our roster lacks high-end talent. Don't make statements and then change them later when your arguments are refuted. The only drawback against the Bolts roster is the overall amount of youth, yet not once has that been used as an argument. Instead you guys say we lack talent which IS IN FACT A FALSE STATEMENT.

As for your "honest outside perspective", what is that perspective based on? I guarantee I have seen more Bolts players games in and outside of the NHL to generate my honest perspective. Yet you have a better one? Well what factors did you use to generate that perspective? If you're going to make a statement, then back it up with something of fact instead of making a statement and calling it fact.

Agree. Arguing about whose team or players are better is fruitless if you are expecting to change somebodies mind. The Bolts are good and will be better. The proof of whose the best will be revealed in the playoffs. I for one hope we draw the Leafs and spank them.
- Nuts-Bolts

OHHHHHHHHHHH YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

and it starts tonight! IN OTTAWA. SPANK THEM

Wow, you guys really have your panties in a bunch over this, huh?

All fans have a tendency to fall in love with their own players. I get that. You're living in your little Tampa Bay bubble, and you find it completely outrageous that anyone would ever dare to claim that Radko Gudas and Ondrej Palat aren't future Hall of Famers

All I'm doing is providing some honest outside perspective. But you guys are refusing to hear it. Which is fine. You're homers, and homers are expected to be a bit delusional
- AxlRose91

homers? so what does that make you then thinking your team is so good? when you are behind us in the standings, when we have been plagued with injuries all year, having about 8-10 rookies in the lineup at all times, missing arguably the second best player (arguably best scorer) in the entire league for about 35 games now. The rest of your fans came in this board with respectable opinions, yours are just moronic. You don't list Tyler Johnson, who was mvp of the AHL last year and a possible rookie of the year candidate, Kucherov who is an extremely dangerous offensive threat at his age! but apparently you know great talent, considering you have only made the playoffs once in the last 10 years. Tell me more about how you know how much talent is needed to succeed in the playoffs bud.

homers? so what does that make you then thinking your team is so good? when you are behind us in the standings, when we have been plagued with injuries all year, having about 8-10 rookies in the lineup at all times, missing arguably the second best player (arguably best scorer) in the entire league for about 35 games now. The rest of your fans came in this board with respectable opinions, yours are just moronic. You don't list Tyler Johnson, who was mvp of the AHL last year and a possible rookie of the year candidate, Kucherov who is an extremely dangerous offensive threat at his age! but apparently you know great talent, considering you have only made the playoffs once in the last 10 years. Tell me more about how you know how much talent is needed to succeed in the playoffs bud.
- BoltsFan4Life

yes! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- RileyB77

and let me save him from his next argument too which I believe he stated earlier about how close they were to beating the bruins last year. don't worry we almost beat them too. ONE GOAL away from the Stanley Cup Finals a couple years back. Don't bother bringing this up.

Here's a good article about one of our non "high end talent" players.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...standing-tall-rookie-race

Bad comeback. All he said was Palat and Gudas aren't future hall of famers. Which isn't wrong...
- Icegirl94

Thank you, Ice Girl....

I'm trying to be as honest as possible here. Believe me, I'm not the only person outside of Tampa Bay who believes that the Bolts lack high-end talent. That's the general consensus - you guys are very well-coached, you have a goaltender playing out of his mind, and you are thriving despite a lack of highly-skilled players. Yet you guys are all acting like I'm personally insulting your mothers

homers? so what does that make you then thinking your team is so good? when you are behind us in the standings, when we have been plagued with injuries all year, having about 8-10 rookies in the lineup at all times, missing arguably the second best player (arguably best scorer) in the entire league for about 35 games now. The rest of your fans came in this board with respectable opinions, yours are just moronic. You don't list Tyler Johnson, who was mvp of the AHL last year and a possible rookie of the year candidate, Kucherov who is an extremely dangerous offensive threat at his age! but apparently you know great talent, considering you have only made the playoffs once in the last 10 years. Tell me more about how you know how much talent is needed to succeed in the playoffs bud.
- BoltsFan4Life

Wow, you guys are grumpy

Clearly, my logical arguments are no match for your blind, ignorant homer-ism. I'd come back with another relevant point, but you'd undoubtedly counter it with a super-insightful and unbiased remark, like "Tyler Johnson is awesome. And really young!"

There is a difference between "high-end talent" and Future Hall of Famers. Nowhere was future hall of famer used to describe the Bolts current roster. However, on more than a few occasions were the words "lack of high-end talent" used to describe the Bolts roster. Then you guys used guys like Malone, who again I remind is playing on our 4th line and therefor isn't even looked at for his scoring, as proof that our roster lacks high-end talent. Don't make statements and then change them later when your arguments are refuted. The only drawback against the Bolts roster is the overall amount of youth, yet not once has that been used as an argument. Instead you guys say we lack talent which IS IN FACT A FALSE STATEMENT.

As for your "honest outside perspective", what is that perspective based on? I guarantee I have seen more Bolts players games in and outside of the NHL to generate my honest perspective. Yet you have a better one? Well what factors did you use to generate that perspective? If you're going to make a statement, then back it up with something of fact instead of making a statement and calling it fact.
- uf1910

"The only drawback against the Bolts roster is the overall amount of youth"

Yep, there you have it. Aside from the youthfulness, this is a flawless team

Continue to tell me how unbiased you are.....hahahaha.....

I just saw a Drouin for O'Reily proposal in the avs board...
- Icegirl94

He'll no

Thank you, Ice Girl....

I'm trying to be as honest as possible here. Believe me, I'm not the only person outside of Tampa Bay who believes that the Bolts lack high-end talent. That's the general consensus - you guys are very well-coached, you have a goaltender playing out of his mind, and you are thriving despite a lack of highly-skilled players. Yet you guys are all acting like I'm personally insulting your mothers
- AxlRose91

So now we're back to high end talent instead of hall of famers. Again they are not necessarily the same thing and definitely are not the same argument. Lacking high-end talent is what was said and again the players you listed as arguments for a lack of high-end talent AREN'T EVEN OUR MOST TALENTED PLAYERS. Does that point make any sense to you or do we need to keep driving that home? I'm wondering b/c at this point I'm not sure you understand.

You say we lack high-end talent yet back that up as your opinion. Newsflash, the Bolts roster is currently made up of 4 rookies just in the top-9 forward ranks. Of those 4, the most "talented" is Kucherov and if there is any argument to be made about him it is that he oozes offensive talent and if you have watched any of his games at any level that argument is true. TJ has an absolute laser for a shot and is a rocket ship when he skates and is near the top of the Calder list. Palat has been referred to as the "straw that stirs the drink" b/c of his overall level of play whether offensively OR defensively. But I can honestly say this about Palat, he is underrated offensively and I have watched more games than I can count for me to make that statement. JT Brown has plenty of talent and if you had watched any of his games you would see that talent on display. His biggest problem right now is actually finishing but that is a product of being young, not lacking talent.

Again, your argument has been this team lacks high-end talent. It doesn't. What this team lacks is experience for that high-end talent to fully reach it's potential. There is a reason the Bolts farm system was ranked #1 coming into this year and it's certainly not b/c we lack high-end talent. What we are seeing from the Bolts this year (and namely the Bolts rookies) is that those rankings are more or less deserved and with them performing this well as rookies would seem to back that up. So there may be plenty who believe the Bolts lack high-end talent, but there are plenty more who know just how much talent the Bolts have. Or put another way, the Bolts have so much offensive talent right now that we don't even have spots to put other talented players who otherwise should be in the NHL right now. Brett Connolly and Richard Panik are in Syracuse right now (and both have high-end talent) b/c we have too many talented forwards already here and the Bolts don't want them toiling away on the 4th line getting limited minutes. Oh and one more, there is a reason Drouin didn't make the Bolts this year and was sent back to Q and I highly doubt that reason was b/c the Bolts lack talent.

So I ask again, when are you going to back up any part of your argument with anything closely related to a basis of fact. As it is you keep making statements that do nothing to prove your supposed "fact" yet when asked for something, anything, we get

"The only drawback against the Bolts roster is the overall amount of youth"

Yep, there you have it. Aside from the youthfulness, this is a flawless team

Continue to tell me how unbiased you are.....hahahaha.....
- AxlRose91

Ok, I will keep going but that statement was made against your statement of "lacking high-end talent". Our top 4 defensively needs an upgrade at Salo's position. That is an unbiased position from someone who should be biased.

Goaltending wise Bishop has played outstanding, but I have mentioned in the past I worry about him wearing down.

I don't like the makeup of our 4th line with Crombeen and would like to see an upgrade there.

All of these are arguments I have made on HB boards in the past and anyone here will back those up.

So...what say you now?

So now we're back to high end talent instead of hall of famers. Again they are not necessarily the same thing and definitely are not the same argument. Lacking high-end talent is what was said and again the players you listed as arguments for a lack of high-end talent AREN'T EVEN OUR MOST TALENTED PLAYERS. Does that point make any sense to you or do we need to keep driving that home? I'm wondering b/c at this point I'm not sure you understand.

You say we lack high-end talent yet back that up as your opinion. Newsflash, the Bolts roster is currently made up of 4 rookies just in the top-9 forward ranks. Of those 4, the most "talented" is Kucherov and if there is any argument to be made about him it is that he oozes offensive talent and if you have watched any of his games at any level that argument is true. TJ has an absolute laser for a shot and is a rocket ship when he skates and is near the top of the Calder list. Palat has been referred to as the "straw that stirs the drink" b/c of his overall level of play whether offensively OR defensively. But I can honestly say this about Palat, he is underrated offensively and I have watched more games than I can count for me to make that statement. JT Brown has plenty of talent and if you had watched any of his games you would see that talent on display. His biggest problem right now is actually finishing but that is a product of being young, not lacking talent.

Again, your argument has been this team lacks high-end talent. It doesn't. What this team lacks is experience for that high-end talent to fully reach it's potential. There is a reason the Bolts farm system was ranked #1 coming into this year and it's certainly not b/c we lack high-end talent. What we are seeing from the Bolts this year (and namely the Bolts rookies) is that those rankings are more or less deserved and with them performing this well as rookies would seem to back that up. So there may be plenty who believe the Bolts lack high-end talent, but there are plenty more who know just how much talent the Bolts have. Or put another way, the Bolts have so much offensive talent right now that we don't even have spots to put other talented players who otherwise should be in the NHL right now. Brett Connolly and Richard Panik are in Syracuse right now (and both have high-end talent) b/c we have too many talented forwards already here and the Bolts don't want them toiling away on the 4th line getting limited minutes. Oh and one more, there is a reason Drouin didn't make the Bolts this year and was sent back to Q and I highly doubt that reason was b/c the Bolts lack talent.

So I ask again, when are you going to back up any part of your argument with anything closely related to a basis of fact. As it is you keep making statements that do nothing to prove your supposed "fact" yet when asked for something, anything, we get
- uf1910

"My rookies shoot harder than lasers, and skate faster than rocket ships!!"

I love you, Tampa Bay!

- Billy, Grade Two

"My rookies shoot harder than lasers, and skate faster than rocket ships!!"

I love you, Tampa Bay!

- Billy, Grade Two
- AxlRose91

And on that note good riddance

Wow, you guys are grumpy

Clearly, my logical arguments are no match for your blind, ignorant homer-ism. I'd come back with another relevant point, but you'd undoubtedly counter it with a super-insightful and unbiased remark, like "Tyler Johnson is awesome. And really young!
- AxlRose91[\b]"

at least you got something right today :D

"My rookies shoot harder than lasers, and skate faster than rocket ships!!"

I love you, Tampa Bay!

- Billy, Grade Two
- AxlRose91

oh! 2 things right!

"The only drawback against the Bolts roster is the overall amount of youth"

Yep, there you have it. Aside from the youthfulness, this is a flawless teamContinue to tell me how unbiased you are.....hahahaha.....
- AxlRose91

you're on a roll

The issue with the guys screaming advanced stats show that the Leafs are a poopty team, and will collapse any day now is that over the last two seasons (last year and this year) they have played 103 games and have a 54-38-11 record. Not amazing, but a winning, bottom playoff spot record, despite being out corsied many of those games.

So the question becomes, how big of a sample size is needed to provide evidence that maybe their system and players do work against the corsi/fenwick models?
- vermie22

Forget that you made the playoffs in a half season. One full year this year not halves of two will do.

you're on a roll
- RileyB77

Why are you trying to convince some idiot who calls himself axl rose a dying old coke head. He joined a few months ago - probably 15 or got banned got a new phone number and name to login. Let him be. When ol one nut runs out of juice in early March all the cracks will begin to show.

Why are you trying to convince some idiot who calls himself axl rose a dying old coke head. He joined a few months ago - probably 15 or got banned got a new phone number and name to login. Let him be. When ol one nut runs out of juice in early March all the cracks will begin to show.
- tpd11

Whoa....I won't stand for this Axl Rose bashing!

Use a comma, dude. It's called grammar