Probably not a great help this year but they have Connor Hellebyuck from UMASS Lowell who was really good. I could see him making the team over Pavlec, but then again that's not saying to much.
- glove_was_stuck

Maybe an offer of Fasth and Petry for Buff? I doubt Win goes for it though, maybe if Fasth and Petry were signed longer but I still doubt it without a + on our side still.

I just think it's tough to improve your d game if you're potentially a step behind the play. One of the reasons I feel Gagner could never be that 2 way guy is due to his skating. I should mention, i've seen Draisaitl get up and down the ice and he is much faster and more powerful in his stride that Gagner so I don't think that'll be a problem.

I only have limited viewings vs. scouts who say he could work on those. I will say though, at the WHC against the USA, he did not look behind at all, he actually played very well.

He is working on his skating, him and Yak. Good to see them bonding off the ice.
- ystoil

I just don't see kids that are drafted this high learning much in Junior. They are going to be pissed off and go down to Junior and do what they do best to prove the coaches wrong. He'll go down try put up 140 and show that he should've been in the NHL. Especially a big guy who was drafted on a small team. If this was one pull Bennett or Reinhart then things might be different as they have some potential size issues.

Maybe an offer of Fasth and Petry for Buff? I doubt Win goes for it though, maybe if Fasth and Petry were signed longer but I still doubt it without a + on our side still.
- Horseguts

Only in my dreams, I think

It's stupid that he can't play in the AHL, I agree. And your argument makes sense. Still, I might rather have the kid dominate the Junior level in every situation instead of play in the NHL and struggle for stretches at a time, potentially get his confidence rocked, not learn the defensive side of the game, play in a losing culture, etc. Drouin probably could've played last year but he didn't and now they're even more hyped for him this year.
- rangerdanger94

What the hell is this? A losing culture? This is not Florida where ownership and management made moves to constantly set the team back. It's not a place where Hallsy looks around and says, "Mac T aint doing sh!t".

A losing culture....malarkey. When times are tough you toughen up. You learn that winning takes effort. Look at Sakic and the Nords, Iggy and the Flames. They learned how to work, how to lead and eventually win. Good hard, tough lessons got them there.

Look at Logan Couture. By all accounts he is on the same level if not above our superkids. Landed in a winning room surrounded by elite talent. Has he learned the tough lessons? Has he learned how hard you have to work to win when it counts? Does he have the mentality to carry his team through the toughest of times, and onward to victory?

In the grand scheme of things, these players will look back at these tough years and recognize the benefit and lessons learned.

Losing culture my ass.

Only in my dreams, I think
- Matt_Henderson

Good old wet dreams?

What the hell is this? A losing culture? This is not Florida where ownership and management made moves to constantly set the team back. It's not a place where Hallsy looks around and says, "Mac T aint doing sh!t".

A losing culture....malarkey. When times are tough you toughen up. You learn that winning takes effort. Look at Sakic and the Nords, Iggy and the Flames. They learned how to work, how to lead and eventually win. Good hard, tough lessons got them there.

Look at Logan Couture. By all accounts he is on the same level if not above our superkids. Landed in a winning room surrounded by elite talent. Has he learned the tough lessons? Has he learned how hard you have to work to win when it counts? Does he have the mentality to carry his team through the toughest of times, and onward to victory?

In the grand scheme of things, these players will look back at these tough years and recognize the benefit and lessons learned.

Losing culture my ass.
- Jeropotato

Bargaining chip to work out a deal for Couture?

2nd + Musil!

Some people would argue RNH playing in the NHL was a mistake.
- rangerdanger94

some people would be wrong

- eichiefs9

Is that who Wang brought in instead of cheerleaders?

If your super young 1st overall players keep getting injured by "freak injuries" isn't there something to it?
- rangerdanger94

you're just parroting arguments from people who clearly don't watch the team. Seriously, you don't know what you're talking about.

Bargaining chip to work out a deal for Couture?

2nd + Musil!
- ystoil

Looking more and more like a waste of a pick

What the hell is this? A losing culture? This is not Florida where ownership and management made moves to constantly set the team back. It's not a place where Hallsy looks around and says, "Mac T aint doing sh!t".

A losing culture....malarkey. When times are tough you toughen up. You learn that winning takes effort. Look at Sakic and the Nords, Iggy and the Flames. They learned how to work, how to lead and eventually win. Good hard, tough lessons got them there.

Look at Logan Couture. By all accounts he is on the same level if not above our superkids. Landed in a winning room surrounded by elite talent. Has he learned the tough lessons? Has he learned how hard you have to work to win when it counts? Does he have the mentality to carry his team through the toughest of times, and onward to victory?

In the grand scheme of things, these players will look back at these tough years and recognize the benefit and lessons learned.

Losing culture my ass.
- Jeropotato

Logan Couture has endured some tough playoff losses and those playoff experiences are much more meaningful than all the "hard times" Hall and company have faced by the time they're eliminated and playing for nothing every January. Logan Couture has learned how hard it is to be successful in the playoffs AND how to win in the regular season.

Losing culture might've been the wrong term...how about losing atmosphere?

Logan Couture has endured some tough playoff losses and those playoff experiences are much more meaningful than all the "hard times" Hall and company have faced by the time they're eliminated and playing for nothing every January. Logan Couture has learned how hard it is to be successful in the playoffs AND how to win in the regular season.

Losing culture might've been the wrong term...how about losing atmosphere?
- rangerdanger94

Eliminated by November, get it right

Looking more and more like a waste of a pick
- saskoil21

I heard a lot of good things about him. I just don't think he was picked in the right spot, but if we can get past where he was picked I think the player is still a solid prospect.

I heard a lot of good things about him. I just don't think he was picked in the right spot, but if we can get past where he was picked I think the player is still a solid prospect.
- Lahey

I think he will end up being a decent third pairing guy. Just not what you hope for at the 31 spot especially with the talent that went after him.

I heard a lot of good things about him. I just don't think he was picked in the right spot, but if we can get past where he was picked I think the player is still a solid prospect.
- Lahey

a lot of it is who they passed over, too. No home run picks in the 2012 second round like Jenner/Saad/Gibson or top notch picks like Jurco/Rattie/Jaskin/Nieto/Kucherov/etc.

moroz was probably an equally bad pick but there aren't as many guys from the 2012 second round that I'd take over him

a lot of it is who they passed over, too. No home run picks in the 2012 second round like Jenner/Saad/Gibson or top notch picks like Jurco/Rattie/Jaskin/Nieto/Kucherov/etc.

moroz was probably an equally bad pick but there aren't as many guys from the 2012 second round that I'd take over him
- TheNugeIsHuge

I'm just not a fan of drafting guys you can get for dirt cheap or on waivers or at the trade deadline.

I still would've liked Jurco or Jenner rather than Musil

I think he will end up being a decent third pairing guy. Just not what you hope for at the 31 spot especially with the talent that went after him.
- ystoil

I see a Smid/Greene out of him. Not bad guys, but really at best you get a couple years of #4 d-man.

I'm just not a fan of drafting guys you can get for dirt cheap or on waivers or at the trade deadline.

I still would've liked Jurco or Jenner rather than Musil
- Lahey

My thoughts exactly- the 5/6 guys are (frank)ing waiver wire add ons... (frank) sakes not 31st overall... Currently we have alot of (frank)ing ground to make up with Fat Bastard there... Thus far we have Petry and Marincin on this team that were taken outside the 1st round and not 1st overalls... Tick tock scouting crew tick tock...

I see a Smid/Greene out of him. Not bad guys, but really at best you get a couple years of #4 d-man.
- Lahey

I've read the following:

- good first pass
- slow feet
- big, tough, mean and aggressive

Hopefully he can develop into a better Smid

Smid scared nobody though

I've read the following:

- good first pass
- slow feet
- big, tough, mean and aggressive

Hopefully he can develop into a better Smid

Smid scared nobody though
- ystoil

Depending who you talked to people say Smid is an aggressive player that brings and edge, but it was mostly after the whistle.

My thoughts exactly- the 5/6 guys are (frank)ing waiver wire add ons... (frank) sakes not 31st overall... Currently we have alot of (frank)ing ground to make up with Fat Bastard there... Thus far we have Petry and Marincin on this team that were taken outside the 1st round and not 1st overalls... Tick tock scouting crew tick tock...
- saskoil21

I really don't blame bastard. It's really on the GM. Bastard can only rank the players how his GM wants him too.

Depending who you talked to people say Smid is an aggressive player that brings and edge, but it was mostly after the whistle.
- Lahey

I agree, he brought an edge and feistiness but the most you'd get from him is a verbal lashing and a good facewash.

My thoughts exactly- the 5/6 guys are (frank)ing waiver wire add ons... (frank) sakes not 31st overall... Currently we have alot of (frank)ing ground to make up with Fat Bastard there... Thus far we have Petry and Marincin on this team that were taken outside the 1st round and not 1st overalls... Tick tock scouting crew tick tock...
- saskoil21

Petry is from the old regime. We started with bastard at the Eberle draft, but even then it was KP that said they must take Harti.

Although if 2 of Marincin, Klefbom, Pitlick and Lander have good years then he buys a lot of time.

Logan Couture has endured some tough playoff losses and those playoff experiences are much more meaningful than all the "hard times" Hall and company have faced by the time they're eliminated and playing for nothing every January. Logan Couture has learned how hard it is to be successful in the playoffs AND how to win in the regular season.

Losing culture might've been the wrong term...how about losing atmosphere?
- rangerdanger94

I think theres certainly something to this.

Players are constantly talking about learning how to win. And that usually comes in the playoffs, or at the very least, some form of success that ultimately came up short in the regular season.
I really dont think perennial bottom feeding teaches a whole lot in terms of getting to the next level.

At most id say maybe gets the players tired of it but then looking elsewhere to achieve team success

I think therescertainly something to this.

Players are constantly talking about learning how to win. And that usually comes in the playoffs, or at the very least, some form of success that ultimately came up short in the regular season.
I really dont think perennial bottom feeding teaches a whole lot in terms of getting to the next level.
- hugefemale dog77

Meh, not to discount it, but there are a ton of players that became stars without playing in the playoffs or with very limited action.

Tavares, Stamkos, Doughty, Duchene, Hall, Kopitar, etc...

There isn't one way to become a star in this game. If you want it you have to put the time and effort in and that's where I think we have had issues in the past. Hall busted his balls a lot since getting here, but where were RNH, Eberle, Yak, Schultz, Gagner? How many games did those guys have where you looked and said "wow that guy took the team on his back tonight"? Now how many times can you say that about Hall?

Long story short, Hall has had more games then the rest of those guys combined. That's the issue we have. We have to want it enough, and so far we don't want it.