Other problem is Canucks play Edmonton twice and Calgary once
Edmonton also plays Calgary
Calgary also plays Arizona
Winnipeg only remaining games against teams not in playoff contention are against us and Ottawa
Columbus plays Toronto and us.

I think we have to pick 1/3 of Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver and hope they win because if it's split that doesn't benefit us. Probably have to pull for Vancouver based on the fact they play three games against teams below us and Edmonton has like 2 or 3 games in hand on us. Winnipeg has the toughest schedule remaining and Columbus's isn't too grand either. I'm hoping for 3-5th but if thing's stay the course the best we can hope for is 5-7th
- bluengold12

Columbus is the team that looks like garbage right now .......... they are lifeless.

Vancouver isn't playing horrible right now. Miller simply cannot hold onto a 3rd period lead no matter how far ahead they are in the game. He's been on this stretch where he's a wall in periods one and two ........... but gives up one goal in the 3rd and it leads to numerous goals in the span of minutes. It's maddening actually.

Should we take a chance on Sean Day in the 2nd or 3rd?
- sbroads24

We do have a bunch of 3rd round picks
Might as well
Crazy how he's fallen off

Pretty sweet pass by Compher on Michigan's game winning 2ot goal against Notre Dame tonight

Love it. Could be a good center in Rochester for a year or two before either becoming trade bait or a solid actual point producing 3rd line center here.
- bluengold12

We really have some studs coming up through the system. I have the utmost faith in Tim Murray to keep the winners and trade off the marginal guys. I think that is his strength actually.

My prediction is they are going to give that guy a key to the city someday.

Vancouver down 2 and the first period isn't even over yet....

Pretty sweet pass by Compher on Michigan's game winning 2ot goal against Notre Dame tonight
- jdfitz77

Done with Compher. Not with the team anymore... Was hoping to see more offensive upside with Hurley but he seems more a defensive checking forward

It's usually just to start their careers. The two that are excellent players, because that's what we're talking about -no offense to Ennis, but he's not on Stamkos' or Getzlaf's level, hell, he's not even on Kessler's level- jump out at me are Kessler and Getzlaf. They play on the wing to learn the game and then jump back to their natural center position where they're most effective.

Why can't Filppula move to the wing if it's so easy for players to just play anywhere? There's way more to it than Tampa is letting on.
- Wetbandit1

I think trying to move Eichel to wing would be a massive mistake. It would be akin to putting a 80 mph governor on a Ferrari

Vancouver down 2 and the first period isn't even over yet....


- bluengold12

My hope in tonight's game was that it was a trap in that St. Louis travels to Washington and plays the Caps tomorrow.. thus overlooking the Canucks.

Wrong I was ......... as usual.

Tomorrow is the key .. we need to lose tomorrow .... no ifs ands or butts. After tomorrow we have Toronto and Columbus at home ........... that's it. All of the road games are very losable.
- fastek

Legwand will probably have the game of his life and screw us over.

Columbus is the team that looks like garbage right now .......... they are lifeless.

Vancouver isn't playing horrible right now. Miller simply cannot hold onto a 3rd period lead no matter how far ahead they are in the game. He's been on this stretch where he's a wall in periods one and two ........... but gives up one goal in the 3rd and it leads to numerous goals in the span of minutes. It's maddening actually.
- fastek

Miller at 6M. Johnson is a better value.

Legwand will probably have the game of his life and screw us over.
- Deuce81

So 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 "hit" and a -3?

It's usually just to start their careers. The two that are excellent players, because that's what we're talking about -no offense to Ennis, but he's not on Stamkos' or Getzlaf's level, hell, he's not even on Kessler's level- jump out at me are Kessler and Getzlaf. They play on the wing to learn the game and then jump back to their natural center position where they're most effective.

Why can't Filppula move to the wing if it's so easy for players to just play anywhere? There's way more to it than Tampa is letting on.
- Wetbandit1

The reason Tampa moved Stamkos to the wing was to free him up from defensive responsibility so he could be more effective offensively

It worked too
Got him scoring

I hear why you're saying about elite players starting at wing & then moving back to center eventually...
But if they're good at wing, then u don't have to move them back if u have other top talents at the center position already

If we win the lotto, would we really not wanna draft Matthews bc he's grown up playing center?
Or would we just see if someone feels comfortable & is effective on the wing?

My guess is that GMTM & Bylsma will talk about who would play wing...
And I'm sure they'd talk to Jack, ROR & Stamkos as well
If they all wanna play center,
Then u probably don't bring Stamkos in... Even if he wants to be here
If one (or all) of them says,
"I'll do whatever's best for the team"
Then I'm sure they're all talented enough that one would work out nicely on the wing for us

We'll just have to see what happens

Done with Compher. Not with the team anymore... Was hoping to see more offensive upside with Hurley but he seems more a defensive checking forward
- bluengold12

In all the prices we shipped out,
Compher was the one I hated to see go the most

Hurley hasn't busted out offensively yet...
But he's consistently gotten better
I only saw OT tonight, but I've seen Hirley ply about 5-6 times this year, & he's looked pretty good each time. Lots better than last year IMO
He's still got some time to develop at Notre Dame too... No rush

So 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 "hit" and a -3?
- mes418

That's all fair
I guess I'd say bring back Chad for the right price
1.75 tops
I can't imagine someone would give him starter type $$$
What's neuvirth getting in philly?
- jdfitz77

What is starting goalie money? Goalie's salaries are all over the place. I wouldn't give him anything north of $2M. But there are starters that make less than $3M. Lehner only makes $2.25M. Gibson in Anaheim is only making $2.3 next year to be their likely starter Andersen "only" makes $1.15M; although he's UFA after this year. Martin Jones makes $3M whom I'd bet Johnson uses as a comparable. Jones to Johnson 2.24 to 2.40 GAA, .920 to .919 SV%. Elliot and Allen only make $2.5M and $2.35M respectively. The majority seem to fall between $4M and $6M. With guys like Rinne, Lundqvist, Price, Bob, and Rask all above that from $6.5M to $8.5M, but also a fair amount of good guys beneath that too, so it's tough to pin down "starter" money.

I think trying to move Eichel to wing would be a massive mistake. It would be akin to putting a 80 mph governor on a Ferrari
- fastek

Ovechkin does just fine on the wing
Why can't Jack?

The reason Tampa moved Stamkos to the wing was to free him up from defensive responsibility so he could be more effective offensively

It worked too
Got him scoring

I hear why you're saying about elite players starting at wing & then moving back to center eventually...
But if they're good at wing, then u don't have to move them back if u have other top talents at the center position already

If we win the lotto, would we really not wanna draft Matthews bc he's grown up playing center?
Or would we just see if someone feels comfortable & is effective on the wing?

My guess is that GMTM & Bylsma will talk about who would play wing...
And I'm sure they'd talk to Jack, ROR & Stamkos as well
If they all wanna play center,
Then u probably don't bring Stamkos in... Even if he wants to be here
If one (or all) of them says,
"I'll do whatever's best for the team"
Then I'm sure they're all talented enough that one would work out nicely on the wing for us

We'll just have to see what happens
- jdfitz77

Matthews can be moved to wing forever .... no problem. We get him and there's zero room/need for a Stamkos. It's really the best case scenario. We save a TON of dough to use on the roster rebuild.

Ovechkin does just fine on the wing
Why can't Jack?
- jdfitz77

Completely different player.

They finally pulled Ulmark after they're down 5-1. Don't think he's ready to be a backup over Johnson.

Was it Gerbe saying that kid was going to be in the top 10 this year?
- jochfr

Maybe. I know I was saying after last year he had all the makings to make a run at the top of the draft. But that was before this season started and it was based mainly off the things I read about him. I don't even know the team he plays for. Sara?

Edit: Mississauga Steelheads. Steelheads, Sting. Close enough.

Double Edit: He's Belgian. Forget about it. Soft Euro trash.

What is starting goalie money? Goalie's salaries are all over the place. I wouldn't give him anything north of $2M. But there are starters that make less than $3M. Lehner only makes $2.25M. Gibson in Anaheim is only making $2.3 next year to be their likely starter Andersen "only" makes $1.15M; although he's UFA after this year. Martin Jones makes $3M whom I'd bet Johnson uses as a comparable. Jones to Johnson 2.24 to 2.40 GAA, .920 to .919 SV%. Elliot and Allen only make $2.5M and $2.35M respectively. The majority seem to fall between $4M and $6M. With guys like Rinne, Lundqvist, Price, Bob, and Rask all above that from $6.5M to $8.5M, but also a fair amount of good guys beneath that too, so it's tough to pin down "starter" money.
- Wetbandit1

Chad makes 1.3 now I believe
I know he wants a shot at starting somewhere, but I doubt he actually gets that chance without an injury
I also doubt anyone pays him 2mil
1.5-1.75 should more than do it
And I'd be ok if we made it a 2 year deal even
No need to rush Ullmark IMO

Completely different player.
- fastek

Well what type of player is Jack?
I see no reason at all that any of these super talented guys can't play on the wing
They all do it in the Olympics effectively
Canada's forwards are like 75% centers every time

This is where I absolutely agree. It doesn't make sense.

If it is for Moulson, it doesn't make sense. I can see them dumping him for a pretty good prospect from a contending team. I mean Vinny got traded this year so I really put nothing off limits. (Vinny is actually doing quite good in LA too the last I checked).

I could see a team like Florida, LA, NSH, or NJD taking a chance on him.
- JVince11

For those that think elite goal scorers don't tail off after 26, 27. Here is a prime example.

Edit: Apparently you can't embed the hockey DB tables.

His point totals from the age of 26-32 from 05-06 to 11-12. Which would be a Stamkos deal 75, 108, 92, 67, 70, 54, 49. 1 good year followed by 2 great years followed by 2 more pretty good years followed by 2 years where he fell off the table. Would you pay $10M for 54 points? I wouldn't. If it got me a cup 2 years before that? Probably, yeah, almost undoubtedly, but that's far, far from assured.

For those that think elite goal scorers don't tail off after 26, 27. Here is a prime example.


- Wetbandit1

The vinny contract is actually why i believe the lightning are stalling with stamkos. They've seen this almost exact scenario.

Ovechkin does just fine on the wing
Why can't Jack?
- jdfitz77

I heard on WGR this morning that the average length of all Eichel's goals is 30 ft.

He does not have a shot like OV, but put him on his off wing, and I think he can shoot it well.