Absolutely they do...that's scary as a top 6, My Oil will have a good top 6 hopefully sooner than later

Hall-RNH-Eberle
Perron-Draisaitl-Yakupov
- yakattack

They haven't proved anything yet. Good potential but counting chicken's before they hatch

And i'll take Hossa over Landeskog, and Sharp over Tanguay.
- JerHAWK27

Hossa is a stud, but sadly he isnt the same player he used to be. He has glimpses of his dominating self, but the guy is entering his slowly decling years. Landeskog game is only getting better and more complete. Have to take Landy over Hossa right now, regardless of age and the future aspect of it.

They haven't proved anything yet. Good potential but counting chicken's before they hatch
- Danformo

thats why he said "hopefully sooner rather than later"

thats why he said "hopefully sooner rather than later"
- DDM-Coga

that's what she said

Claiming MacKinnon could slump is like saying Ovechkin might be a +35 this year.

Just not happening.

Anyone who watched more than 1 Avs game last year could tell you that it's not going to happen.
- DutchCanSaveUs

he was +45 one year, so I dunno

Claiming MacKinnon could slump is like saying Ovechkin might be a +35 this year.

Just not happening.

Anyone who watched more than 1 Avs game last year could tell you that it's not going to happen.
- DutchCanSaveUs

guys like MacKinnon don't slump. they just get better.

he was +45 one year, so I dunno
- BestRapperAlive

Noted.. but that was 5 years ago. He is a combined -41 over his past 3 years.

Trotz will help, but how much?

MacKinnon isn't gonna do anything but get better. He was a #1 overall pick for a reason.. was anyone talking about Crosby having a sophomore slump back when he was? I doubt it.

Or most of the other #1's? Nope. Maybe Tavares will hit a wall this year too

Absolutely they do...that's scary as a top 6, My Oil will have a good top 6 hopefully sooner than later

Hall-RNH-Eberle
Perron-Draisaitl-Yakupov
- yakattack

To me only Hall and at times Eberle have proven so far they are elite players.

Let's wait and see with the other guys.

Hossa is a stud, but sadly he isnt the same player he used to be. He has glimpses of his dominating self, but the guy is entering his slowly decling years. Landeskog game is only getting better and more complete. Have to take Landy over Hossa right now, regardless of age and the future aspect of it.
- DDM-Coga

Yeah, I'd probably take Landeskog over Hossa as well. Love Landeskog's game.

I say its probably Dallas Stars...

They will have Seguin, Benn on first line... and Second line with Spezza, Nichuskin and Hemsky. Seems like not many other teams in the league can match that point production in their first two lines.

Noted.. but that was 5 years ago. He is a combined -41 over his past 3 years.

Trotz will help, but how much?

MacKinnon isn't gonna do anything but get better. He was a #1 overall pick for a reason.. was anyone talking about Crosby having a sophomore slump back when he was? I doubt it.

Or most of the other #1's? Nope. Maybe Tavares will hit a wall this year too
- DutchCanSaveUs

i heard Trotz started by introducing Alex to the defencemen and goalies throughout the organization.

I say its probably Dallas Stars...

They will have Seguin, Benn on first line... and Second line with Spezza, Nichuskin and Hemsky. Seems like not many other teams in the league can match that point production in their first two lines.
- PtotheY

IMO you have to look at more than just total points, but I'm surprised Dallas has not been mentioned more either.

I dont think he slumps either, Claude Lemieux piped up about him recently in an interview and said the last 1/3rd of the season and the playoffs, he only got better and put that team on his back trying to win that series when some of the other vets disappeared.

To win series your best players have to be at their best and MacK was the only one who was (EJ, Varly, ROR, slept through that series)
- DDM-Coga

I agreed, I'm definetly not jealous at all though...

They haven't proved anything yet. Good potential but counting chicken's before they hatch
- Danformo

i guess you just completely side stepped the "hopefully" in that sentence hey?

IMO you have to look at more than just total points, but I'm surprised Dallas has not been mentioned more either.
- Nucker101

Dallas is gonna be good, but overall they are a top 4 over there.. not top 6 really.

Plus we know Spezza and Hemsky will be hurt at some point. So there's that.

IMO you have to look at more than just total points, but I'm surprised Dallas has not been mentioned more either.
- Nucker101

Same reason Anaheim isn't. Spezza and Kesler will play 60 games max. If Spezza could barely play 60+ games in the East... zero chance he makes it in the West.

Yeah, I'd probably take Landeskog over Hossa as well. Love Landeskog's game.
- Nucker101

Initially when we drafted the kid, I thouht he would be more like Dustin Brown (not bad but not unreal), but just last year showing his skill set to its potential. He is reminding me of a Hossa type winger.

If MacK has a good season, so will Landy. I think they are now linked at the hip

Initially when we drafted the kid, I thouht he would be more like Dustin Brown (not bad but not unreal), but just last year showing his skill set to its potential. He is reminding me of a Hossa type winger.

If MacK has a good season, so will Landy. I think they are now linked at the hip
- DDM-Coga

It's nice how we ended up with the gems of all these recent drafts, especially not picking 1st every year like the Oilers, hahah.

Hossa is a stud, but sadly he isnt the same player he used to be. He has glimpses of his dominating self, but the guy is entering his slowly decling years. Landeskog game is only getting better and more complete. Have to take Landy over Hossa right now, regardless of age and the future aspect of it.
- DDM-Coga

ya 60 points and +28 is really declining... Not to mention he led the entire playoffs in SOG. i like Landescog but Hossa brings way more to the table in the defensive end..Hossa over Landescog RIGHT NOW..3 years from now your comment might have merit but not today.

i heard Trotz started by introducing Alex to the defencemen and goalies throughout the organization.
- DoubleDown

He also had to look up the Russian word for "defense".

Same reason Anaheim isn't. Spezza and Kesler will play 60 games max. If Spezza could barely play 60+ games in the East... zero chance he makes it in the West.
- kneughter

And of course Top 6 players from other teams are immunned to injuries.

http://www.tsn.ca/bardown...n+North+America&id=462101

Noted.. but that was 5 years ago. He is a combined -41 over his past 3 years.

Trotz will help, but how much?

MacKinnon isn't gonna do anything but get better. He was a #1 overall pick for a reason.. was anyone talking about Crosby having a sophomore slump back when he was? I doubt it.

Or most of the other #1's? Nope. Maybe Tavares will hit a wall this year too
- DutchCanSaveUs

Ovechkin, fewer points his second year
Kane, fewer points his second year
RNH, fewer points his second year
Yakupov, fewer points his second year

That's half of the last 8 forwards taken first overall. And none of them had to deal with switching positions to one where they were required to be more defensively responsible. MacKinnon having a sophomore slump is not an outlandish idea.


As for who has the best top 6, the discussion gets pretty short when you remember forwards have to play on both ends of the ice. Colorado's top 6 is scary good on offense, but only decent defensively. Gives teams with two way guys like Toews the edge.

http://www.tsn.ca/bardown/Story.aspx?Toronto+Maple+Leafs+ranked+worst+sports+franchise+in+North+America&id=462101


- TheJerseyDevil1

Andrew MacDonald - Braydon Coburn
Nicklas Grossmann - Mark Streit
Michael Del Zotto - Luke Schenn
Brandon Manning - Nick Schultz

staring at that list makes me think that attaining last place is a reality