I could see Puempel taking a roster spot away from Hoffman out of camp.
- synthetek

i can't.....hoffman isn't waiver exempt, which means that if he doesn't make the team, he has to be put on waivers in order to be sent down.....and then we lose him for nothing, because there's no way he doesn't get claimed.

This could be a fun year for both our clubs or a completely terrible year... I'm excited. Can't wait for hockey season to start.
- ClarksonDavid

You should be. They added an entire, capable third line for less than what Dave (frank)ing Bolland got. You now have real depth and don't have to rely on three lines and a face punching line.

I'd love to be in the room when Dubas tries to explain to Carlyle that Bozak is a marginal 3rd/4th line centre, and Holland should be up top between Kessel and JVR.

Guessing on some chemistry working. Also need Cowen to step-up his game.

MacArthur -- Turris -- Chiasson
Hoffman -- Legwand -- Ryan
Michaelek -- Zibanejad -- Stone
Greening/Lazar -- Smith -- Condra

Cowen -- Karlsson
Methot -- Ceci
Weircioch -- Gryba

Lehner
Anderson

Scratches,
Neil, Phillips, Boro
- jimrobin

See, this looks a little weird, but I think it would work. you've got two defensively responsible players on each of the top 3 lines. Replacing Neil with Condra makes the 4th line serviceable, and should be able to play a shut-down style role. Mac won't see this though.

I could see Puempel taking a roster spot away from Hoffman out of camp.
- synthetek

No chance in hell.

Just because Puempel was drafted in rd 1 doesn't make him a better prospect. Hoffman has been twice the player Puempel is in the AHL, and hasn't looked out of place at all in the NHL.

I don't get why there is no love for Hoffman in here, when he has been better for our org. than Stone, Puempel, Prince, Pageau, you name them, he's looked better.

When Luke Richardson gives you a vote of confidence as a special player, and you light up the AHL for well over a point per game, and you can skate like the wind, there's no reason you shouldn't have success at the NHL level if given the opportunity.

I, for one, would much rather see Hoffman given a shot in the top 6 this year than Michalek or Stone, and would much rather see him on the ice than rushing Lazar into the NHL for no good reason onto a team that isn't ready to contend anyway.

See, this looks a little weird, but I think it would work. you've got two defensively responsible players on each of the top 3 lines. Replacing Neil with Condra makes the 4th line serviceable, and should be able to play a shut-down style role. Mac won't see this though.
- Stringer74

That's the issue.

If we could unload one of greening/Neil, we would have a great 4 line team. If we could unload both, even better, but that won't happen.

One of these guys needs to be riding the pine this season, IMO.

No chance in hell.

Just because Puempel was drafted in rd 1 doesn't make him a better prospect. Hoffman has been twice the player Puempel is in the AHL, and hasn't looked out of place at all in the NHL.

I don't get why there is no love for Hoffman in here, when he has been better for our org. than Stone, Puempel, Prince, Pageau, you name them, he's looked better.

When Luke Richardson gives you a vote of confidence as a special player, and you light up the AHL for well over a point per game, and you can skate like the wind, there's no reason you shouldn't have success at the NHL level if given the opportunity.

I, for one, would much rather see Hoffman given a shot in the top 6 this year than Michalek or Stone, and would much rather see him on the ice than rushing Lazar into the NHL for no good reason onto a team that isn't ready to contend anyway.
- TommyDeVito

I've been way more impressed with Stone then Hoffman - Hoff has been a perimiter player in his time in Ottawa - he has hit a few cross bars with his shot off the rush which is maybe the best on the team - but overall I don't really see him as someone we need to get into the lineup.

Stone hits and is good everywhere in the O-zone, he always seems to be around the puck and the puck likes him and he uses his teammtes better - it could be a chemistry thing and if Hoff hits it off with Legwand he could finally make the impact we've all been hoping for, but he is small and can only really play on the 2nd line - Stone can play on any line and on the PP - much more usefull player for a coach

No chance in hell.

Just because Puempel was drafted in rd 1 doesn't make him a better prospect. Hoffman has been twice the player Puempel is in the AHL, and hasn't looked out of place at all in the NHL.

I don't get why there is no love for Hoffman in here, when he has been better for our org. than Stone, Puempel, Prince, Pageau, you name them, he's looked better.

When Luke Richardson gives you a vote of confidence as a special player, and you light up the AHL for well over a point per game, and you can skate like the wind, there's no reason you shouldn't have success at the NHL level if given the opportunity.

I, for one, would much rather see Hoffman given a shot in the top 6 this year than Michalek or Stone, and would much rather see him on the ice than rushing Lazar into the NHL for no good reason onto a team that isn't ready to contend anyway.
- TommyDeVito

This makes a lot of sense in regard to Hoffman.

Problem in keeping Lazar down is that he already plays a very strong defensive game. Not much of a challenge (progression) for his development.

This makes a lot of sense in regard to Hoffman.

Problem in keeping Lazar down is that he already plays a very strong defensive game. Not much of a challenge (progression) for his development.
- spatso

Lazar might be good but that doesn't mean he's on the team - others are better. I don't think this team is in desperate need of a 2-way 3rd line winger, our bottom 6 is maybe one of the best in the East.

Lazar is going to be Captain of the WJC team in Montreal/Toronto and that's huge - he's can still learn a lot with an NHL training camp, a handfull of NHL games, Captain of a WJC team and a solid WHL playoff run

That's the issue.

If we could unload one of greening/Neil, we would have a great 4 line team. If we could unload both, even better, but that won't happen.

One of these guys needs to be riding the pine this season, IMO.
- TommyDeVito

I think the key to opening space will be moving Smith. I like him a lot, he has a great contract and he is a great fit for lots of teams. So the trick becomes trying to move Smith and including Greening or Neil in the package.

Both Lazar and Nick Paul scored for Canada in 6-2 victory over Czechoslovakia last night.

Both Lazar and Nick Paul scored for Canada in 6-2 victory over Czechoslovakia last night.
- spatso

Any highlights? When i was watching TSN they just jumped right over the Sens prospects goals and showed Ekblad getting smoked....saw a GIF of the Paul goal it was nice!

I've been way more impressed with Stone then Hoffman - Hoff has been a perimiter player in his time in Ottawa - he has hit a few cross bars with his shot off the rush which is maybe the best on the team - but overall I don't really see him as someone we need to get into the lineup.

Stone hits and is good everywhere in the O-zone, he always seems to be around the puck and the puck likes him and he uses his teammtes better - it could be a chemistry thing and if Hoff hits it off with Legwand he could finally make the impact we've all been hoping for, but he is small and can only really play on the 2nd line - Stone can play on any line and on the PP - much more usefull player for a coach
- tuna99

You're basing all of this opinion on 19 games for Stone, and 25 for Hoffman.

If you liked what you saw more, fine, your opinion, but it's not a legitimate sample size to evaluate players.

Both Lazar and Nick Paul scored for Canada in 6-2 victory over Czechoslovakia last night.
- spatso

The more I check into this Nick Paul kid, the more I like him.

Dallas has been quietly stockpiling a lot of good prospects, I'm happy we got a few out of them for Spezz even if they aren't blue-chippers.

The more I check into this Nick Paul kid, the more I like him.

Dallas has been quietly stockpiling a lot of good prospects, I'm happy we got a few out of them for Spezz even if they aren't blue-chippers.
- TommyDeVito

The Dallas GM was quoted as saying that a lot of people were going to be surprised by how well ottawa made out in the spezza trade.....he mentioned the two prospects in particular, saying they were much better than people realized.

You're basing all of this opinion on 19 games for Stone, and 25 for Hoffman.

If you liked what you saw more, fine, your opinion, but it's not a legitimate sample size to evaluate players.
- TommyDeVito

Stone we've seen a lot of, WJC, WHL playoffs and in Ottawa in regular season and playoffs - and we've seen him progress from a guy who could barely keep up in the NHL to a player who is skating at an NHL level and was Ottawa's best forward some nights last season.

Poeple who think Stone is a nobody are the same people who thought Erik Karlsson as a 19 year old player was a nobody, Ottawa missed EK when they sent him to the AHL and when I said that everybody said he's only 19 years old - I don;t care if it's only been 25 games for Stone, the guy is an NHL player and a very good NHL player

The Dallas GM was quoted as saying that a lot of people were going to be surprised by how well ottawa made out in the spezza trade.....he mentioned the two prospects in particular, saying they were much better than people realized.
- sensarmy_11

Guptill is a bust, the guy looks like he's been working at KFC and not as a hockey player - Paul will be a bottom line player, the 2nd is the key to this deal, if we get a Silf / Lehner / Vermette / Fisher the deal is fair, if not Dallas wins this deal hands down.

Curious if Yost has any insight into who is going to be wearing the C? I got in an argument the other night saying there is no way Philips or Neil can wear the C since the C should be on the ice and hopefully those guys will be in the press box most nights.

Thoughts on who wears the C? I like Turris but who knows

Guptill is a bust, the guy looks like he's been working at KFC and not as a hockey player - Paul will be a bottom line player, the 2nd is the key to this deal, if we get a Silf / Lehner / Vermette / Fisher the deal is fair, if not Dallas wins this deal hands down.
- tuna99

I have an easier criteria on judging the impact of the trade. I think Ottawa improves in the standings. I think the Dallas D gets torched and gives up too many goals.

Curious if Yost has any insight into who is going to be wearing the C? I got in an argument the other night saying there is no way Philips or Neil can wear the C since the C should be on the ice and hopefully those guys will be in the press box most nights.

Thoughts on who wears the C? I like Turris but who knows
- tunmasterflex

I'm ok with Turris. Would prefer Karlsson especially if Alfredsson is coming back.

I have an easier criteria on judging the impact of the trade. I think Ottawa improves in the standings. I think the Dallas D gets torched and gives up too many goals.
- spatso

Spezza can completely turn your team defense into poop hey?

Spezza can completely turn your team defense into poop hey?
- ClarksonDavid

The other team is on the powerplay when Spezza is on the ice. He either heads for the bench or skates circles around the defensive blueline

The other team is on the powerplay when Spezza is on the ice. He either heads for the bench or skates circles around the defensive blueline
- tunmasterflex

Crazy.. Funny how things change. Before he was traded "Spezza is an elite #1 center, you won't get him for that!" After he was traded "He makes your team completely worse" every teams fans are like that I guess..

Crazy.. Funny how things change. Before he was traded "Spezza is an elite #1 center, you won't get him for that!" After he was traded "He makes your team completely worse" every teams fans are like that I guess..
- ClarksonDavid

i still think hes awesome and wish we could have kept him....i wont be ok with the trade until i really see what we got...i dont really know anything about any of the players we got back to be honest...i need to see them with my eyes

Crazy.. Funny how things change. Before he was traded "Spezza is an elite #1 center, you won't get him for that!" After he was traded "He makes your team completely worse"
- ClarksonDavid

I guess you did not read anything I posted over the last couple of years. I have been pretty consistent in my belief that Ottawa had to move Spezza if they had any ambitions of reestablish in themselves as an elite team.

I had the same view of the Leafs over the last three years that Sundin entrenched the idea that you can hang on as the team leader even when your body is in decline.

You're basing all of this opinion on 19 games for Stone, and 25 for Hoffman.

If you liked what you saw more, fine, your opinion, but it's not a legitimate sample size to evaluate players.
- TommyDeVito

To be fair, all your argument is Hoffman put up nice numbers in the AHL. He and Stone are in the same spot really, with Stone being younger and being able to be sent down easily if it becomes a numbers game.