I honestly would say Giroux has improved a lot this year in terms of his defensive play. Giroux has 34 pts and is a +9 on a mediocre Philly team while Toews has 25 pts and is a +7 and Kopitar has 13 pts and is a -4 (I understand there's been injuries), both on stellar puck possesion/defensive driven teams.

I don't think either of them come close to G this year.
- kcm57

Giroux looks really good on that graph Tomohawk posted that was about Couturier.

TRADE:

Buffalo trades Luke Adam to 'Lumbus for Jerry D'Amigo


Interesting deal. Buffalo was supposedly pretty high on Adam. Both guys are productive AHLers

TRADE:

Buffalo trades Luke Adam to 'Lumbus for Jerry D'Amigo
- Jsaquella

whatever happened with his development?

Before Lucic won his Cup I would have welcomed him with open arms. He was a big, tough guy who backed down from nobody and was still able to put the puck in the net. He was easily the besr Power Forward in the game at this time but then something changed after that Championship victory.

Prior to Lucic's Cup win, Wayne Simmonds was a third line winger for LA without PP time. Wayne Simmonds has had better offensive production then Lucic the past three seasons, one of the best in the game along wall and top three in PP goals each season. Simmonds might not be built like Todd Fedork in terms of being a power forward but the entire league wishes they had him. Not to mention he's a clear cut leader for this team.


Wayne Simmonds is better.
- SuperSchennBros

i get what you are saying. i still have to ponder this one, if i am removing the fact that i really respect one and cant stomach the other.

TRADE:

Buffalo trades Luke Adam to 'Lumbus for Jerry D'Amigo


Interesting deal. Buffalo was supposedly pretty high on Adam. Both guys are productive AHLers
- Jsaquella

What a fall from grace for Adam. Was a top-6 C for them just awhile back, right?

I honestly would say Giroux has improved a lot this year in terms of his defensive play. Giroux has 34 pts and is a +9 on a mediocre Philly team while Toews has 25 pts and is a +7 and Kopitar has 13 pts and is a -4 (I understand there's been injuries), both on stellar puck possesion/defensive driven teams.

I don't think either of them come close to G this year.
- kcm57

I'd like to know the thoughts of fans around the league on Patrice Bergeron after starting the season with Chara this season. He's a very good player but as a two way player he doesn't produce like Toews or Kopitar offensive. Risk is a good goalie but I think Tim Thomas was criminally underrated for when that guy was healthy and ready to go.

TRADE:

Buffalo trades Luke Adam to 'Lumbus for Jerry D'Amigo


Interesting deal. Buffalo was supposedly pretty high on Adam. Both guys are productive AHLers
- Jsaquella

What the (frank)!?

whatever happened with his development?
- stayinthefnnet

Had a really productive season in AHL last year, scored 29 goals in just 59 games.

I'm guessing it's a "change of scenery" deal.

What a fall from grace for Adam. Was a top-6 C for them just awhile back, right?
- Tomahawk

Projected as one, for sure. Saw some time there on limited basis.

Projected as one, for sure. Saw some time there on limited basis.
- Jsaquella

Remember him having an insane either D+1 or D+2 season in the Q... been all downhill ever since.

Just spoke to a buddy who is a Sabres fan, says Adam fell out of favor, questions about his work ethic, et al.

Remember him having an insane either D+1 or D+2 season in the Q... been all downhill ever since.
- Tomahawk

He had a monster year in 2009-10 with Cape Breton, followed it up with an AHL season where he was over a PPG. He bounced back and forth between the Sabres and AHL, didn't really stand out at either level, but did well last year with the Amerks. 29 goals, 49 points in 59 games. 20 points in 27 games this year with Rochester.

Pens Beau Bennett has the mumps

He had a monster year in 2009-10 with Cape Breton, followed it up with an AHL season where he was over a PPG. He bounced back and forth between the Sabres and AHL, didn't really stand out at either level, but did well last year with the Amerks. 29 goals, 49 points in 59 games. 20 points in 27 games this year with Rochester.
- Jsaquella

might just be a tweener player then.

i just feel like if they believed in him, he would have been part of the solution going forward. they need young capable centers.

Pens Beau Bennett has the mumps
- Jsaquella

hes hurt anyway. that kid literally cant catch a break though.

might just be a tweener player then.

i just feel like if they believed in him, he would have been part of the solution going forward. they need young capable centers.
- stayinthefnnet

Reading the 'Lumbus beat guys & talking to my Sabres fan friend, seems like a couple of guys who hadn't done enough to impress their current teams and needed a change of scenery.

Reading the 'Lumbus beat guys & talking to my Sabres fan friend, seems like a couple of guys who hadn't done enough to impress their current teams and needed a change of scenery.
- Jsaquella

yeah. at that rate, why not?

if you think you have a better chance of getting a guy and sparking him in your organization, as opposed to waiting for a lightbulb to go off in the head of your own guy, its worth a shot.

yeah. at that rate, why not?

if you think you have a better chance of getting a guy and sparking him in your organization, as opposed to waiting for a lightbulb to go off in the head of your own guy, its worth a shot.
- stayinthefnnet

As my buddy noted, the Sabres recalled centers twice and passed over Adam both times, recalled Tim Schaller a couple times when injuries struck and last night recalled Grigorenko.

As my buddy noted, the Sabres recalled centers twice and passed over Adam both times, recalled Tim Schaller a couple times when injuries struck and last night recalled Grigorenko.
- Jsaquella

yeah. really appears to have fallen out of favor.

as a center, i really wouldnt have had any interest.

All valid points. I think if you swap G and Malkin though you would easily see Giroux putting up 120 points year to year facing lesser competition behind Crosby. Giroux/Voracek have also been saddled on a terrible defensive team compared to the Penguins. You can't score when your defense can't clear the zone.
- kcm57

great point.....imagine how good he would be if he got a breakout pass 2 or 3 times a game

yeah. he is an enigma.


i love him, but he is just such a confusing player.
- stayinthefnnet

When he was still a YUT playing the KHL or whatever they called it, with Dave King coaching and a few former NHL players on the roster, he did carry that team at times just like he sometimes does in Pittsburgh. It is something about the highly developed/skilled hockey automaton/robot player that Russian and formerly Soviet hockey builds/built. The best way to understand it is to read "Behind the Red Line" by Todd Hartje who was an NHL draftee that was the first US Born player who played in the Soviet League with Sokol Kiev in the early 90's. These guys used to live at the hockey base most of the year and trained relentlessly. The system supressed emotion and the team was still watched by the team Soviet Party "Kommisar". Its like the cliche, the nail that sticks up gets hammered down. And of course the late Viktor Tikhonov's book speaks about the "collectivism of the Soviet pass" in their system. Hockey as a means of expressing communism through teamwork, no "star"

I'd like to know the thoughts of fans around the league on Patrice Bergeron after starting the season with Chara this season. He's a very good player but as a two way player he doesn't produce like Toews or Kopitar offensive. Risk is a good goalie but I think Tim Thomas was criminally underrated for when that guy was healthy and ready to go.
- SuperSchennBros

My thoughts are that Bergeron is one of the best two way forwards in the League, and a top 10 center in the NHL.

great point.....imagine how good he would be if he got a breakout pass 2 or 3 times a game
- hogweed

a defense that could adequately move the puck would help the entire offense, for sure.

i'm not saying that he is some scrub propped up by his teammates, but just that he has consistently gotten to play with quality guys at even strength.

Pens Beau Bennett has the mumps
- Jsaquella

And his mother smells of elderberries!

I mean look at all the talent Stamkos has had around him his whole career.... Has yet to hit 100 pts....Giroux is also out scoring/pacing him so far again. Stamkos is not the complete package.... maybe one day but I doubt it. To me he is like Brett Hull which is nothing to balk at.....
- GOA88

How many players, currently playing in the NHL, have scored 100 points in a season?