They don't have a center worth a damn down there. That's a huge problem when you're trying to develop wingers.

Plus, Bailey was a 2nd rounder that was considered a project and Baptiste was a 3rd rounder. They're both going to need time to develop. Anyone who expected them to go into Rochester and tear it up this year needs to temper their expectations by a lot.
- HonkFortheGoose

Varone and Schaller were the top 2 centers weren't they?

Baptiste is a center though too isn't he? He is listed as one at least but I don't think he plays there. Same with Rodriguez listed as a C.

And a pretty good 3rd line. That would be our scoring 3rd line.

Kane-O'Reilly-Reinhart
Puljujarvi-Eichel-Fasching
McGinn-Girgensons-Ennis
Deslauries-Schaller-Foligno/Larsson

That 2nd line is way too young as is the rest of the team, but they could become really good. Or bad. But hopefully good.
- Zschalberg

Opposing teams/coaches be like:

I couldn't disagree with u more about deslauriers
Flynn played on our 1st line a little bit, that doesn't mean he's anything more than a 4th liner
We were horrible & had a lot of injuries

Let's put it this way
We have some injuries now...
Did Deslauriers get moved up to the Eichel line?
Or did they plug in Varone?
IMO, reason they did that was bc Deslauriers just doesn't have the skill to be anything more than a 4th line guy

It has nothing to do with patience

If I liked Fashing better I'd be fine with it, but I'm not as high on Fasching as most & don't think he'll be a top6 winger for us (even though I agree he does have potential)
- jdfitz77

Deslauriers can't exactly get moved up in the lineup if he's one of the guys currently injured....

CSS released their rankings today.

Baker is on WGR doing a prospect session.

Ranks: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=797902

Varone and Schaller were the top 2 centers weren't they?

Baptiste is a center though too isn't he? He is listed as one at least but I don't think he plays there. Same with Rodriguez listed as a C.
- JVince11

Baptiste is a winger. Schaller has been in Buffalo more than he's been in Rochester. I'm not sure Varone is a center either. He may actually play wing more than anything. And even if he was playing center there, it's not the same as having high end prospects that you're developing playing there. He's most likely a career AHLer/depth NHLer.

Baptiste is a winger. Schaller has been in Buffalo more than he's been in Rochester. I'm not sure Varone is a center either. He may actually play wing more than anything. And even if he was playing center there, it's not the same as having high end prospects that you're developing playing there. He's most likely a career AHLer/depth NHLer.
- HonkFortheGoose

Varone has also had a rough year. Been benched 3 times before his call-up. One of those times was the game in Buffalo against St. Johns.

He's not playing all of his ice time with Doughty though. Someone else posted a bit back that it's only like 28%.

I think that a guy like Deslauriers brings a lot to a team that is underestimated by the casual fans of the sport.

Also, you're making it sound like I'm saying he's a bad player, and I'm not. I just don't think he developed into the guy that he looked like he could be when he was drafted. Is he a capable NHL defenseman? Sure, seems like it to me. Does that mean that at the end of the day Murray thought he was a good fit here? No.

I'm glad to see he's having success out there. I'm sure you know that I was a fan of his. But I think that Deslauriers plays his role very well and it was something we needed here more than we needed McNabb at the time. Don't forget, he'd been passed on the depth chart by several other guys that had been drafted in subsequent years after him when that trade happened.
- HonkFortheGoose

Those are season long stats
McNabb is playing almost exclusively with Doughty the last 2 LA games I've watched
(Small sample size though, so I could be mistaken)

I like Deslauriers too, but he's not more than a 4th liner to me
I believe it was Vince that said earlier h more than Kaleta, but is he?
He doesn't kill penalties like Kaleta did
I don't dislike him, I think he's a prefect 4th liner
I just think that's all he is

And McNabb is a guy that could've been a solid 3rd pair guy with us
Seeing what he's done on LA, and knowing how high u are on Pysyk...
Wouldn't u be REALLY excited if that was our 3rd pair going forward?
That would mean we'd have one heck of a defense IMO!

Baptiste is a winger. Schaller has been in Buffalo more than he's been in Rochester. I'm not sure Varone is a center either. He may actually play wing more than anything. And even if he was playing center there, it's not the same as having high end prospects that you're developing playing there. He's most likely a career AHLer/depth NHLer.
- HonkFortheGoose

What do we know about Olofsson and karacabek? They were late round picks but are rated very highly on most websites. Olofsson is a project but is already 20. Most reading I've done on Karacabek states that he is a pure goal scorer being asked to play a 2 way game and struggling in the Q with that.

I was impressed with Rodrigues when I went to the game. Carrier was invisible to me. Baptiste impressed me with his speed. Bailey needs to hit the net but looked good. We agreed the big thing they all need is a good center. We have all of them up in the NHL but if they had Sam in Rochester I think they'd all look a lot better.

Speaking of Rochester, how good has Schaller looked this year? Excited for him to be here full time.
- Zschalberg

Thanks. Good reviews
Agree on Schaller. Again, just a 4th liner, but looks like he can really fill that role well.
Most likely Legwand is either traded or not brought back bc of Schaller

Most reports are stating that Possler would be NA bound next season as well. A lot of offensive talent there and an actual LW but his ceiling is listed a mid-line scorer.

Those are season long stats
McNabb is playing almost exclusively with Doughty the last 2 LA games I've watched
(Small sample size though, so I could be mistaken)

I like Deslauriers too, but he's not more than a 4th liner to me
I believe it was Vince that said earlier h more than Kaleta, but is he?
He doesn't kill penalties like Kaleta did
I don't dislike him, I think he's a prefect 4th liner
I just think that's all he is

And McNabb is a guy that could've been a solid 3rd pair guy with us
Seeing what he's done on LA, and knowing how high u are on Pysyk...
Wouldn't u be REALLY excited if that was our 3rd pair going forward?
That would mean we'd have one heck of a defense IMO!
- jdfitz77

I think it's a travesty to have Pysyk on the 3rd pair overall to be quite honest. I get the whole "if he's there it means your defense is really good" thing, but I still hate the idea of it. I think Pysyk should be on the 2nd pair getting 18 minutes a night. Not on the 3rd getting 14.

What do we know about Olofsson and karacabek? They were late round picks but are rated very highly on most websites. Olofsson is a project but is already 20. Most reading I've done on Karacabek states that he is a pure goal scorer being asked to play a 2 way game and struggling in the Q with that.
- JVince11

That's a big problem then. If he can't handle doing that at the Jr level, he's going to get eaten alive at a higher level. While I don't need my entire team to be defensive juggernauts, they need to be able to play a decent defensive game otherwise they're too big of a liability out there.

What do we know about Olofsson and karacabek? They were late round picks but are rated very highly on most websites. Olofsson is a project but is already 20. Most reading I've done on Karacabek states that he is a pure goal scorer being asked to play a 2 way game and struggling in the Q with that.
- JVince11

Karabacek was actually a 2nd round pick
(I was not a fan)
He hasn't progressed much at all offensively since being drafted
Seems like he just got hot in the playoffs in his draft year & we ended up reaching on him
That happens though, no biggie. Sometimes risks like that pay off, sometimes not.
I haven't seen him at all this year though...
He'll be in Rochester next year

Olofsson got great reviews after his draft year but has been relatively quiet since. Should also be in AHL next year

That's a big problem then. If he can't handle doing that at the Jr level, he's going to get eaten alive at a higher level. While I don't need my entire team to be defensive juggernauts, they need to be able to play a decent defensive game otherwise they're too big of a liability out there.
- HonkFortheGoose

Panarin couldn't even spell defense with google in front of him.

that is the most coddled and baby handed a rookie has ever been in NHL history. Offensive zone starts EVERY time then taken off the ice immediately in the neutral zone.

Thanks. Good reviews
Agree on Schaller. Again, just a 4th liner, but looks like he can really fill that role well.
Most likely Legwand is either traded or not brought back bc of Schaller
- jdfitz77

But we do need a good 4th liner. He has looked very good this year. Fast, able to move the puck, and has been smart. If he can do that and can fill that role it'll be a nice piece. Especially if he can keep potting some goals while he does it, just an added bonus.

I think it's a travesty to have Pysyk on the 3rd pair overall to be quite honest. I get the whole "if he's there it means your defense is really good" thing, but I still hate the idea of it. I think Pysyk should be on the 2nd pair getting 18 minutes a night. Not on the 3rd getting 14.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think if our 3rd pair was McNabb-Pysyk that they would get more minutes
It'd be more like we had two 2nd pairs

I used Pysyk to illustrate how I feel McNabb could've had an impact for us bc I think they're similar in that they could play on really any defensive pair & be fairly successful

Legit top4 talents

So I was trying to say, if we have six "top4" guys...
Then wow
We're pretty much set defensively
Even when injuries happen

But right now, seems like we're having an issue putting together our defense
Losing McNabb hurt in that regard

Karabacek was actually a 2nd round pick
(I was not a fan)
He hasn't progressed much at all offensively since being drafted
Seems like he just got hot in the playoffs in his draft year & we ended up reaching on him
That happens though, no biggie. Sometimes risks like that pay off, sometimes not.
I haven't seen him at all this year though...
He'll be in Rochester next year

Olofsson got great reviews after his draft year but has been relatively quiet since. Should also be in AHL next year
- jdfitz77

I don't agree with this.

was a .72 PPG in 13-14 and a 1.33PPG player in the playoffs

was a ..67 PPG in 14-15 and a .92 PPG player in the playoffs (was traded mid-season. He was a .81 PPG on original team but play dipped on new team)

Is a .72 PPG in 15-16 and now traded again.


EITHER WAY.. he is 19 years old until May and will probably end the year in Rochester.

Panarin couldn't even spell defense with google in front of him.

that is the most coddled and baby handed a rookie has ever been in NHL history. Offensive zone starts EVERY time then taken off the ice immediately in the neutral zone.
- JVince11

When you're lucky enough to get interest from Chicago, then you can play that way. The majority of the rest of the teams in the league cannot afford to have guys like that in their lineup.

I think if our 3rd pair was McNabb-Pysyk that they would get more minutes
It'd be more like we had two 2nd pairs

I used Pysyk to illustrate how I feel McNabb could've had an impact for us bc I think they're similar in that they could play on really any defensive pair & be fairly successful

Legit top4 talents

So I was trying to say, if we have six "top4" guys...
Then wow
We're pretty much set defensively
Even when injuries happen

But right now, seems like we're having an issue putting together our defense
Losing McNabb hurt in that regard
- jdfitz77

We are? Defense hasn't been the issue this year. Offense has been. And it's not like McNabb is out there creating all sorts of offense for LA. He has 2 goals and 5 assists.

But we do need a good 4th liner. He has looked very good this year. Fast, able to move the puck, and has been smart. If he can do that and can fill that role it'll be a nice piece. Especially if he can keep potting some goals while he does it, just an added bonus.
- Zschalberg

Agree
When I say stuff like "just a 4th liner" I'm not talking down on the guy
Those are important roles to fill
When Boston had that 4th line of
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
It was a big part of their success

I'm hoping our 4th line next year is
Deslauriers-Schaller-Gionta
That would bring a little bit of everything to the table for me

We are? Defense hasn't been the issue this year. Offense has been. And it's not like McNabb is out there creating all sorts of offense for LA. He has 2 goals and 5 assists.
- HonkFortheGoose

and leads the team in PIM. soooooooo probably the opposite.

and leads the team in PIM. soooooooo probably the opposite.
- JVince11

I'm not hating on the guy. I'm just not upset about having moved him at this point. You have to give to get and I just feel like we get just as much out of Deslauriers as we would be getting from McNabb at this point.

That's not a knock on either of them. I think it was a good hockey trade. Nothing more, nothing less.

We are? Defense hasn't been the issue this year. Offense has been. And it's not like McNabb is out there creating all sorts of offense for LA. He has 2 goals and 5 assists.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think you're misunderstanding what I mean
McNabb & Pysyk would be key parts to our future defense for the next decade
Injury to Pysyk & the trade of McNabb has us playing Georges, Franson, Weber & Coliacovo (sp?)...
All of whom are not in our long term plans
I didn't say defense was a problem,
I said we're still trying to put in together
And I meant in terms of what our future defense will look like

Agree
When I say stuff like "just a 4th liner" I'm not talking down on the guy
Those are important roles to fill
When Boston had that 4th line of
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
It was a big part of their success

I'm hoping our 4th line next year is
Deslauriers-Schaller-Gionta
That would bring a little bit of everything to the table for me
- jdfitz77

I hope Gionta retires and ROR is named Captain...then demands all the forwards attend ROR practice until they are averaging 3 goals per game.
If Gionta could convince Moulson it is time to go, I'd give them both a nice bonus from Uncle Terry.

Few 2016 prospect fun facts.

The top NA and European ranked players in the draft were both born in Phoenix.

The top 5 prospects according to ISS are either Finnish or American.

The highest ranked Canadian is 7th.

What an odd year.