With a name like "Cloud", I thought you were a chick!
- Artyukhin76

Does that mean the bet is off?

Does that mean the bet is off?
- Cloud

Nope

With a name like "Cloud", I thought you were a chick!
- Artyukhin76

Oh snap

Oh snap
- Cptmjl

Crackle....

The numbers don't lie carle and gudas are terrible together
- todd1a

Well then... you obviously didn't see them together in Vermont

Well then... you obviously didn't see them together in Vermont
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Anybody see this? I love what his dad says when the Flyers don't draft his son.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aG5tIkFB5iA

48 minutes at 5v5.
- Michael_Stuart

Wow, they did play as little together as I thought.

To me this has as much to do with the other 2 in last season's top 4 as it does with Carle's ability to play with Hedman. Considering how bad Carle and Gudas were, and given how bad Salo was, it would have been even worse putting Salo and Gudas together.

Wow, they did play as little together as I thought.

To me this has as much to do with the other 2 in last season's top 4 as it does with Carle's ability to play with Hedman. Considering how bad Carle and Gudas were, and given how bad Salo was, it would have been even worse putting Salo and Gudas together.
- uf1910

Not sure how that works, Gudas IMPROVES Carle's numbers.

Wow, they did play as little together as I thought.

To me this has as much to do with the other 2 in last season's top 4 as it does with Carle's ability to play with Hedman. Considering how bad Carle and Gudas were, and given how bad Salo was, it would have been even worse putting Salo and Gudas together.
- uf1910

Agreed. Salo and Gudas together wouldn't have worked. I really don't think Salo was as bad as people think, though. He was a serviceable partner with Hedman for a couple years.

Not sure how that works, Gudas IMPROVES Carle's numbers.
- Artyukhin76

This is subjective to the situation. How was Gudas utilized when he wasn't with Carle (which is where he spent the vast majority of his time due to our depth issues)? Did Gudas move down to the bottom pair with Brewer and thus was sheltered? Did he move up with Hedman? Also, who was Carle paired with that made his numbers go down? The possibilities are endless as to how and why. We've been back and forth on this, but noone is going to convince me that a top 4 of Hedman, Salo, Gudas, and Carle is a legitimate top 4 defense for today's NHL. Salo really needs to be a bottom pair mentor now (ala Brewer), Gudas needs more time to try and elevate himself to true top 4 status, Carle can't "carry" a below average top 4 d-man, and Hedman is the true #1 we know he is. That combination forced Carle into bad situations and do things he's not really capable of. But we were saying the same things about Brewer the previous season. Now sure Brewer got bumped down a pairing, but I expect we see the same affect on Carle's play with a better partner and a deeper top 4 overall.

Agreed. Salo and Gudas together wouldn't have worked. I really don't think Salo was as bad as people think, though. He was a serviceable partner with Hedman for a couple years.
- Michael_Stuart

Serviceable at best. His biggest issue is he is slow. With his experience he can anticipate plays but with the lack of foot speed spent alot of time chasing the puck. He's got the "big shot" on the offensive end when he can get himself in position to have an open lane and put it on net. At this point he certainly isn't top pairing caliber any longer even with Hedman carrying the load for the pair. His best spot would be a Brewer type bottom pair/mentor type with a young d-man. Either way Stralman or Garrison are upgrades to his spot

This is subjective to the situation. How was Gudas utilized when he wasn't with Carle (which is where he spent the vast majority of his time due to our depth issues)? Did Gudas move down to the bottom pair with Brewer and thus was sheltered? Did he move up with Hedman? Also, who was Carle paired with that made his numbers go down? The possibilities are endless as to how and why. We've been back and forth on this, but noone is going to convince me that a top 4 of Hedman, Salo, Gudas, and Carle is a legitimate top 4 defense for today's NHL. Salo really needs to be a bottom pair mentor now (ala Brewer), Gudas needs more time to try and elevate himself to true top 4 status, Carle can't "carry" a below average top 4 d-man, and Hedman is the true #1 we know he is. That combination forced Carle into bad situations and do things he's not really capable of. But we were saying the same things about Brewer the previous season. Now sure Brewer got bumped down a pairing, but I expect we see the same affect on Carle's play with a better partner and a deeper top 4 overall.
- uf1910

This is true.

But Hedman, Stralman, Garrison, Carle certainly is.

This is true.

But Hedman, Stralman, Garrison, Carle certainly is.
- Michael_Stuart

Agreed, and with this comes the main basis for my argument with Arty. Now with a true top to bottom solid top 4, I expect Carle's play to improve as well.

Agreed, and with this comes the main basis for my argument with Arty. Now with a true top to bottom solid top 4, I expect Carle's play to improve as well.
- uf1910

I completely agree. Gudas is a good defenseman and hopefully gets better now that he isn't over his head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU5th9fwMf4

This is true.

But Hedman, Stralman, Garrison, Carle certainly is.
- Michael_Stuart

Carle is only a top four because someone will carry him.

Carle is only a top four because someone will carry him.
- Artyukhin76

he had a bad year and needs to step it up, but so what, if carle is good when he plays with a good partner than give him a good partner and have 2 good guys

Its sick that when i look at our projected lineups, a player like Kucherov doesnt fit. We really have crazy depth.

And if TJ9 is as good as he was last season, i really cant see him starting as a 3C. He will probably continue on the first line with Stammer and Drouin/Connolly. Killorn will probably play 3C this year.

New blog tonight.

Its sick that when i look at our projected lineups, a player like Kucherov doesnt fit. We really have crazy depth.

And if TJ9 is as good as he was last season, i really cant see him starting as a 3C. He will probably continue on the first line with Stammer and Drouin/Connolly. Killorn will probably play 3C this year.
- Cloud

No way , Killorn deserves a spot in the top 6 more than Connolly does .. I think Killorn and stamkos play well together, and it's not like Killorn is a big dummy who just skates frontwards , he's can make some nice plays

No way , Killorn deserves a spot in the top 6 more than Connolly does .. I think Killorn and stamkos play well together, and it's not like Killorn is a big dummy who just skates frontwards , he's can make some nice plays
- RileyB77

I gotta start writing down these quotes from you so I can include them in post-game blogs during the season.

I gotta start writing down these quotes from you so I can include them in post-game blogs during the season.
- Michael_Stuart

Haha go right ahead sir