Has Clarkson II written all over it, doesn't it?
- Atomic Wedgie

I think he's a tad better than DC...but you could be right....and that would bite.

From the last boards...think it was Wedgie....

"Today @ 2:48 PM ET
After watching Laine highlights I wouldnt be disappointed at all if the Leafs ended up with the 2nd pick. He'd be the perfect addition to a Nylander Marner 1st line and that one timer on the power play is something the Leafs desperately need. And if they get Stamkos you have a big shot for the 1st and 2nd unit."


I watched the highlights and he's definitely good but I didn't see any body or board work or much in front of the net JVR type work---the work that JVR has been forced to do.

So then I watched Matthews, that kid seems like a possession hound. He is always down low, working the boards, going to the front of the net and then all the open ice stuff that Laine does.

Matthews seems like a really good player that needs to add very little to his game. JMO.

(hadn't really looked at either until now.)


If we get #1 Matthews.

#2, 3, or 4 I would have to go:.....Tchachuk...and this is because he has a ton of skill but also plays with edge and more body than Laine and Punjabi from what I've seen so far AND he has the Marner connection. (I do watch the Knights' games.)

Tchachuk, Stamkos, Marner
JVR, Nylander, Lucic

That would be my top 6 and start them all next season.

Get #1/2D and #1G....playoffs for BabRichard.



- underhill14

He'll be in LA or Vancouver next year is my guess.

Has Clarkson II written all over it, doesn't it?
- Atomic Wedgie

Yup, just feels like the guy's career is downhill from here - he will get slower and sloweer

Has Clarkson II written all over it, doesn't it?
- Atomic Wedgie

Nah, Lucic is much better than Clarkson....at least for scaring off the other teams from messing with our rookies.

But I guess if the sign him to a 7x7 deal....then YES or worse.

What do you think he would sign for or what would you sign him for?

(Assuming you agree with protecting the kids, as Babcock said...which is the only reason I even mention Lucic....Babcock's comment on toughening up the team.)

Nah, Lucic is much better than Clarkson....at least for scaring off the other teams from messing with our rookies.

But I guess if the sign him to a 7x7 deal....then YES or worse.

What do you think he would sign for or what would you sign him for?

(Assuming you agree with protecting the kids, as Babcock said...which is the only reason I even mention Lucic....Babcock's comment on toughening up the team.)
- underhill14

You do that without potentially risking complicating things cap wise in the future

American, no?

Son of Keith.
- Atomic Wedgie

Oops...I believe you are right. He's still gritty and not Ponikarovsky...I mean European.

He'll be in LA or Vancouver next year is my guess.
- zazzle

He's exactly what the Canucks need - some truculence.

But I wonder if that bridge is too burned for him to return.

Probably not. If he comes back and fights and scores in his first few games, the Vancouver fans will get over it.

Unless team USA is picking up Canadians left off our squads and Keith returned to Canada to sire his calves while playing in Pheonix..... I think the kid just might be a Yank.

Just sayin

He's exactly what the Canucks need - some truculence.

But I wonder if that bridge is too burned for him to return.

Probably not. If he comes back and fights and scores in his first few games, the Vancouver fans will get over it.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think they can warm up to him quickly - unless he doesnt perform very well through his contract (very real possibility), in which case he'll be an easy punching bag

Nah, Lucic is much better than Clarkson....at least for scaring off the other teams from messing with our rookies.

But I guess if the sign him to a 7x7 deal....then YES or worse.

What do you think he would sign for or what would you sign him for?

(Assuming you agree with protecting the kids, as Babcock said...which is the only reason I even mention Lucic....Babcock's comment on toughening up the team.)
- underhill14

It's a scary question.

I'm guessing he wants a 7 year deal. I'm just not that in love with the guy. I think the way that he plays virtually guarantees he'll be a drag on your salary cap in years 5-7.

If you have to do it, front-load the hell out of it, so you can deal him to a team with cap room who doesn't mind paying him $2 million a year in real money to play on their 3rd/4th line when he is 31-34.

It's a scary question.

I'm guessing he wants a 7 year deal. I'm just not that in love with the guy. I think the way that he plays virtually guarantees he'll be a drag on your salary cap in years 5-7.

If you have to do it, front-load the hell out of it, so you can deal him to a team with cap room who doesn't mind paying him $2 million a year in real money to play on their 3rd/4th line when he is 31-34.
- Atomic Wedgie

I would've signed that sort of a 7 year deal like four years ago, with a player like him

It's a scary question.

I'm guessing he wants a 7 year deal. I'm just not that in love with the guy. I think the way that he plays virtually guarantees he'll be a drag on your salary cap in years 5-7.

If you have to do it, front-load the hell out of it, so you can deal him to a team with cap room who doesn't mind paying him $2 million a year in real money to play on their 3rd/4th line when he is 31-34.
- Atomic Wedgie

Or you could probably get Chris Stewart on like a 1.5 mil deal for a year and have a slow, scrappy winger who sometimes fights.... if that's your thing

Okay so NO to Lucic.

Then I will go with this:

Tchachuk, Stamkos, Marner
JVR, Nylander, Brown
Sosh, Kadri, Komarov

It's a scary question.

I'm guessing he wants a 7 year deal. I'm just not that in love with the guy. I think the way that he plays virtually guarantees he'll be a drag on your salary cap in years 5-7.

If you have to do it, front-load the hell out of it, so you can deal him to a team with cap room who doesn't mind paying him $2 million a year in real money to play on their 3rd/4th line when he is 31-34.
- Atomic Wedgie

Ya, have to agree after thinking about it more. He's big and has played a hard game...he will decline quickly. Let Vancouver have him.

Has Clarkson II written all over it, doesn't it?
- Atomic Wedgie

yes

Has Clarkson II written all over it, doesn't it?
- Atomic Wedgie

Just like Bernier had Raycroft II written all over it..

And just to finish off my afternoon of Dubas-bashing, here's an article on NHL.com:

The Los Angeles Kings will win the Stanley Cup because that is exactly what they are built to do.

For years general manager Dean Lombardi has sought out heavy, skilled forwards who can execute perfectly the possession game plan of coach Darryl Sutter. The Kings have known modest success in the regular season using this model, but the time for it to shine is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, because that is when it is most effective.

The only forward on the roster who is shorter than 6-foot-1 and weighs less than 195 pounds is Kris Versteeg. Everyone else up front is a beast, and that group is tough enough for an opponent to deal with for one game. But whichever defense corps crosses the Kings' path during the course of the playoffs should remain in your thoughts and prayers for having to face these forwards at least four times in a row.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...n-stanley-cup/c-280224438

Wait, I thought you didn't need size anymore in today's NHL?

Just like Bernier had Raycroft II written all over it..
- the_eye

I really thought Bernier was more of a Toskala redux, but I guess you are entitled to your opinion.

And just to finish off my afternoon of Dubas-bashing, here's an article on NHL.com:

The Los Angeles Kings will win the Stanley Cup because that is exactly what they are built to do.

For years general manager Dean Lombardi has sought out heavy, skilled forwards who can execute perfectly the possession game plan of coach Darryl Sutter. The Kings have known modest success in the regular season using this model, but the time for it to shine is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, because that is when it is most effective.

The only forward on the roster who is shorter than 6-foot-1 and weighs less than 195 pounds is Kris Versteeg. Everyone else up front is a beast, and that group is tough enough for an opponent to deal with for one game. But whichever defense corps crosses the Kings' path during the course of the playoffs should remain in your thoughts and prayers for having to face these forwards at least four times in a row.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...n-stanley-cup/c-280224438

Wait, I thought you didn't need size anymore in today's NHL?
- Atomic Wedgie

You definitely do on the back end.

Okay so NO to Lucic.

Then I will go with this:

Tchachuk, Stamkos, Marner
JVR, Nylander, Brown
Sosh, Kadri, Komarov
- underhill14

Kadri>Nylander right now....

You definitely do on the back end.
- the_eye

Go on....

And just to finish off my afternoon of Dubas-bashing, here's an article on NHL.com:

The Los Angeles Kings will win the Stanley Cup because that is exactly what they are built to do.

For years general manager Dean Lombardi has sought out heavy, skilled forwards who can execute perfectly the possession game plan of coach Darryl Sutter. The Kings have known modest success in the regular season using this model, but the time for it to shine is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, because that is when it is most effective.

The only forward on the roster who is shorter than 6-foot-1 and weighs less than 195 pounds is Kris Versteeg. Everyone else up front is a beast, and that group is tough enough for an opponent to deal with for one game. But whichever defense corps crosses the Kings' path during the course of the playoffs should remain in your thoughts and prayers for having to face these forwards at least four times in a row.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...n-stanley-cup/c-280224438

Wait, I thought you didn't need size anymore in today's NHL?
- Atomic Wedgie

Ya, right!!!!

Some in here seem to think so.

Kadri>Nylander right now....
- Garnie

and forever

And just to finish off my afternoon of Dubas-bashing, here's an article on NHL.com:

The Los Angeles Kings will win the Stanley Cup because that is exactly what they are built to do.

For years general manager Dean Lombardi has sought out heavy, skilled forwards who can execute perfectly the possession game plan of coach Darryl Sutter. The Kings have known modest success in the regular season using this model, but the time for it to shine is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, because that is when it is most effective.

The only forward on the roster who is shorter than 6-foot-1 and weighs less than 195 pounds is Kris Versteeg. Everyone else up front is a beast, and that group is tough enough for an opponent to deal with for one game. But whichever defense corps crosses the Kings' path during the course of the playoffs should remain in your thoughts and prayers for having to face these forwards at least four times in a row.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...n-stanley-cup/c-280224438

Wait, I thought you didn't need size anymore in today's NHL?
- Atomic Wedgie

LA has a plan on how to build a roster and have made roster moves consistent with sticking to that plan.

i don't think it's the only way to build a winner.

but size mixed into the lineup including size at key positions - one of your top 2 centers and 1 or your top 2 dmen - to me is important.

and forever
- Symba007

who knows....but next year..he will be played more than Nylander IMO