Where did I mention Leclair or Holmstrom??? All I said was that it takes skill to score 30 goals in the NHL. Thats it. Try and get your facts straight before responding.

Oh, and BTW, don't feel the need respond to this post because I'm done wasting my breath on you.
- BiggE

There's the charm.

Goal and an assist. Good stuff. Remember when Shane Corson made Team Canada?

Now maybe my uses of the word "Skilled guy" is different from others but Knuble would never be a shootout magician, speedster, or all around Jack-of-trades in all three zones. I viewed him as a really good gritty role player. Power Forwards are comparable to better versions of grinders. At least to me. You want these guys to go into the ugly areas that you don't want your skilled guys to go to.
- SuperSchennBros

The skill that players such as Mike Knuble and Wayne Simmonds have around the net, is indeed a skill. Knuble was scary good at deflecting shots around the net, and in potting rebounds, and also had the hands to finish when given a good setup by a teammate. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have scored the amount of goals that he did. Same thing with Simmonds, he is very good and highly skilled with the puck in tight and around the net.

Creamy, dry or al dente?
- KINGKENZO

Meh, I prefer lumpy oatmeal with brown sugar

Yzerman and Lidstrom playerd a lot of years together. And really some luck helps. Such as drafting Lidstrom in the 2nd round and having him turn into one of the best defenseman of all time. And drafting Datsyuk and Zetterberg in the 6th round. I wouldn't exactly call that ahead of the curve. And now that Lidstrom is gone, they're having issues replacing him, and the team is not seeing the same level of success. Getting lucky to drft a generational player that plays for 20 years goes a long way.
- MJL

A team still preoccupied with gritting out wins is not heavily investing in European scouting and expending a large % of picks on small/soft/finesse Euros.

Their entire idea of team building and tactics did a 180 in the 90's and they've never looked back.

As for the present, they're still turning out gems like Nyquist, Jurco, Mantha, Mrazek, etc later in the draft... seems they've got luck down to a science more or less.

Does anyone else hear that fly buzzing?

Joe Thornton, Peter Forsberg, Alex Ovechkin.
- SuperSchennBros

Do you think if Zac Rinaldo played with the same players in the same situations as Knuble did, that he would score the same amount of goals?

Do you think if Zac Rinaldo played with the same players in the same situations as Knuble did, that he would score the same amount of goals?
- MJL

A team still preoccupied with gritting out wins is not heavily investing in European scouting and expending a large % of picks on small/soft/finesse Euros.

Their entire idea of team building and tactics did a 180 in the 90's and they've never looked back.

As for the present, they're still turning out gems like Nyquist, Jurco, Mantha, Mrazek, etc later in the draft... seems they've got luck down to a science more or less.
- Tomahawk

Agreed, but they did luck out with Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Big time.

Creamy, dry or al dente?
- KINGKENZO

"The two hwat?"

Meh, I prefer lumpy oatmeal with brown sugar
- BiggE

I could go for a bowl of creamy grits w/ butter, cheese, & jalapeno

I could go for a bowl of creamy grits w/ butter, cheese, & jalapeno
- Tomahawk

Any chance we can change the subject from grits? Some people in the thread may not have tried them and may have trouble relating. Thanks.

Agreed, but they did luck out with Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Big time.
- jmatchett383

Should have taken Parros instead in '99.... they totally could have used the grit(s).

A team still preoccupied with gritting out wins is not heavily investing in European scouting and expending a large % of picks on small/soft/finesse Euros.

Their entire idea of team building and tactics did a 180 in the 90's and they've never looked back.

As for the present, they're still turning out gems like Nyquist, Jurco, Mantha, Mrazek, etc later in the draft... seems they've got luck down to a science more or less.
- Tomahawk

It has zero to do with gritting out wins, and everything to do with getting lucky when looking at players like Lidstrom and Datsyuk. They had one scout, Haken Andersson who went to look at another player and noticed Datsyuk. They took a chance with a 6th round pick. If they truly knew what they were getting in Datsyuk, they would've taken him much earlier.
We'll have to see how players like Jurco, Mantha, Mrazek turn out. Premature to call them gems at this point. And Mantha was a first round pick.
Let's look at some of their recent first round picks, and see how much they have it down to a science. They've done a good job in getting some good players with later picks, but there is undoubtedly a lot of luck involved.

MDZ is horrendous. A healthy scratch on a team that missed the playoffs. Engelland at least got ice time on the Pens.

MDZ for Engelland would be a great trade. Read for kassian is moronic.
- acd513

No, it wouldn't. Engelland is signed to an absurd contract because Burke over values grit so much.

And Engelland was a regular healthy scratch during the past season, and for the whole playoffs.

Meh, I prefer lumpy oatmeal with brown sugar
- BiggE

Eating oatmeal right now . Cinnamon, blueberries and a granny smith

that was a line from My Cousin Vinny

Any chance we can change the subject from grits? Some people in the thread may not have tried them and may have trouble relating. Thanks.
- tangent_man

Lets get back to Rinaldo turning into a Knuble.
Maybe Gotisbehere turns into Lidstrom, that would be cool.

"The two hwat?"
- ThirdEye

Oh, excuse me, the two defendants.

That was a great jitbag move

Would a tough small player be shrimp with grits?
I love shrimp grits.

Lets get back to Rinaldo turning into a Knuble.
Maybe Gotisbehere turns into Lidstrom, that would be cool.
- Marc D

Flyers are way overdue for some 2nd round luck!

The skill that players such as Mike Knuble and Wayne Simmonds have around the net, is indeed a skill. Knuble was scary good at deflecting shots around the net, and in potting rebounds, and also had the hands to finish when given a good setup by a teammate. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have scored the amount of goals that he did. Same thing with Simmonds, he is very good and highly skilled with the puck in tight and around the net.
- MJL

Fair enough, acceptable but I think the mistake being made is that I somehow said a hockey player can't play Hockey.

jeez crim was right
pack of wolves

Do you think if Zac Rinaldo played with the same players in the same situations as Knuble did, that he would score the same amount of goals?
- MJL

I think those guys could add to his point totals. Even Mario Lemieux got Steve McKenna points.

I dont care about winning %. I'd much rather them have one Cup in the last decade and have lows like Carolina that. Constantly be pretty good but never win.
- jmatchett383

Oh no, I would just stop watching hockey all together. One great season = missing the playoffs 7 out of the 8 years?

No thank you.

Would a tough small player be shrimp with grits?
- Marc D

Alas, Theo Fleury is long gone... would have been perfect for him.

Shrimp & Grits would also be a hell of a name for our Rinaldo/Akeson/Rosehill line.

Maybe Gotisbehere turns into Lidstrom, that would be cool.
- Marc D

We'd all take him being the new Duncan Keith, preferably without all the cheap shots.