A 6th defenseman tough guy checks well but lacks skill played decent for us during the season! But just was terrible in the playoffs!
- todd1a

Ok, thanks. We could be a little more physical on our blue line. So this makes more sense to me now.

Ok, thanks. We could be a little more physical on our blue line. So this makes more sense to me now.
- mdw7413

His nickname is Thor just look at him lol

His nickname is Thor just look at him lol
- todd1a

Saw his picture when I went looking for his stats.

You guys did pretty good with the Stralman pick up and Boyle. As long as Boyle stays on the 4th and the PK you will love him. Exceptional defensive hockey player. Stralman was good all year but incredible for us in the playoffs, no way we were keeping him because of our cap situation. He will be the one we miss the most this season.

Saw his picture when I went looking for his stats.

You guys did pretty good with the Stralman pick up and Boyle. As long as Boyle stays on the 4th and the PK you will love him. Exceptional defensive hockey player. Stralman was good all year but incredible for us in the playoffs, no way we were keeping him because of our cap situation. He will be the one we miss the most this season.
- mdw7413

Ya I see us playing Hedman and stralman together I hope he fits with Hedman ? Ya we needed a pk killer badly I'd bet we play Boyle and Callahan for that.

Ya I see us playing Hedman and stralman together I hope he fits with Hedman ? Ya we needed a pk killer badly I'd bet we play Boyle and Callahan for that.
- todd1a

I'd say put hedman and garrison together . Carle with stralman . Give carle some freedom , he was with gudas last year and had to make sure for gudas in case of rookie mistakes carle had to be there an because of that was heavily relied on . Give carle some support back there , my guess is we see a whole new defense an in carle this upcoming season

Honest opinion of Kostka. He played 19 games for you guys last season and seemed to have decent numbers. Whats his game?
- mdw7413

He's probably a number eight guy on a good team. If you've got Mike Kostka playing minutes every game, your team probably isn't going very far (See: Bay, Tampa).

He's probably a number eight guy on a good team. If you've got Mike Kostka playing minutes every game, your team probably isn't going very far (See: Bay, Tampa).
- Michael_Stuart

I think he does good in New York picks it up

I think he does good in New York picks it up
- todd1a

Nothing suggests to me that he's going to get better magically.

Ok, thanks. We could be a little more physical on our blue line. So this makes more sense to me now.
- mdw7413

You're going to hate his positioning, and his lack of defensive responsibility. he's just frustrating

Will join the rush occasionally and become caught deep because of it more than he scores

You're going to hate his positioning, and his lack of defensive responsibility. he's just frustrating

Will join the rush occasionally and become caught deep because of it more than he scores
- RileyB77

I think he does good in New York picks it up
- todd1a

He came to us from the Hawks. Granted he was buried behind a deep D corps in Chicago but there is nothing to suggest he is a true top 6 option on a good team

He's probably a number eight guy on a good team. If you've got Mike Kostka playing minutes every game, your team probably isn't going very far (See: Bay, Tampa).
- Michael_Stuart

Bingo

I can't figure out why everyone thinks that Tampa still is bad! We finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference and we have only gotten better while some other team in East has gotten worst. In the Hockeybuzz podcasts they thought Montreal, Toronto and Boston is going to the playoffs from Atlantic and the Panthers fighting Tampa for the last spot!

I can't figure out why everyone thinks that Tampa still is bad! We finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference and we have only gotten better while some other team in East has gotten worst. In the Hockeybuzz podcasts they thought Montreal, Toronto and Boston is going to the playoffs from Atlantic and the Panthers fighting Tampa for the last spot!
- TampaTalk

People are pretty high on the Canadiens even after the moves they made to make room for the younger players...Boston is till the Beast in the East, not sure why anyone thinks TO should make it and there is some who believe Bishop will come to Earth a bit and last year was an over achievement. There might also be some preparation for a sophomore slump or 2 on TB as well. I think the make the playoffs regardless.

People are pretty high on the Canadiens even after the moves they made to make room for the younger players...Boston is till the Beast in the East, not sure why anyone thinks TO should make it and there is some who believe Bishop will come to Earth a bit and last year was an over achievement. There might also be some preparation for a sophomore slump or 2 on TB as well. I think the make the playoffs regardless.
- Jeropotato

Yeah I know but why would Toronto be a safer bet than Tampa?

Yeah I know but why would Toronto be a safer bet than Tampa?
- TampaTalk

The only way you think Toronto finishes higher than Tampa is if you're (frank)ing crazy

People are pretty high on the Canadiens even after the moves they made to make room for the younger players...Boston is till the Beast in the East, not sure why anyone thinks TO should make it and there is some who believe Bishop will come to Earth a bit and last year was an over achievement. There might also be some preparation for a sophomore slump or 2 on TB as well. I think the make the playoffs regardless.
- Jeropotato

It's all true, but even with bishop hurt half the year he still finished with a vezina nominee, and our rookies show no sign of slowing down. don't forget we added a lot of vet presence during free agency. Vets for the D, the forwards, and the goalies.

It's all true, but even with bishop hurt half the year he still finished with a vezina nominee, and our rookies show no sign of slowing down. don't forget we added a lot of vet presence during free agency. Vets for the D, the forwards, and the goalies.
- RileyB77

And I think our defense will allow less shots against this year and because of that Bishop's save % will drop a little bit but still maintain the same goals against!

Yeah I know but why would Toronto be a safer bet than Tampa?
- TampaTalk

Leafs won't make the playoffs they did not improve at all

People are pretty high on the Canadiens even after the moves they made to make room for the younger players...Boston is till the Beast in the East, not sure why anyone thinks TO should make it and there is some who believe Bishop will come to Earth a bit and last year was an over achievement. There might also be some preparation for a sophomore slump or 2 on TB as well. I think the make the playoffs regardless.
- Jeropotato

Bishop will come back to earth more! He is not a 93 save percent goalie but he is a. 92. With the defense better in front of him he won't drop off big but a bit.

Florida is not making the playoffs they have stupid people running that team! There free agent signing were terrible and way overpaid!

Yeah I know but why would Toronto be a safer bet than Tampa?
- TampaTalk

Beats me? Not the same class , bubba.

Bishop will come back to earth more! He is not a 93 save percent goalie but he is a. 92. With the defense better in front of him he won't drop off big but a bit.
- todd1a

Well, someone asked where the doubt was....I don't share that doubt, personally .

Florida is not making the playoffs they have stupid people running that team! There free agent signing were terrible and way overpaid!
- todd1a

They did some stupid signings in 2011 to and won the division. What they pay a player should not determine how that player performs. They have a pretty solid team on both offense defense and in net. Don't really know much about their new coach but i would not count them out of the wildcard spot.

They did some stupid signings in 2011 to and won the division. What they pay a player should not determine how that player performs. They have a pretty solid team on both offense defense and in net. Don't really know much about their new coach but i would not count them out of the wildcard spot.
- Cloud

Agreed.

Plus, having Luongo for a full season instantly makes them semi-competitive. If some of their young players take a step forward, I could definitely see them taking a wildcard spot.