hall should have been there

he may be the second best lw in the game today
- homiedclown

I can't believe we couldn't get in on that action

That's where last year's draft & this past draft will come into play for the most part
Also, like Detroit, we need to continue to develop player once they do come up

Example: Abdelkader played on the 4th line for a few years & gradually made his way up to be a top6 guy who can score
Some guys we have that might develop that way:
Baptiste, Rodrigues, Cornel, Asplund, Estephan, Malone, Olofsson, Carrier, Possler, Karabacek (I don't like him though), Hurley... All pretty talented guys
- jdfitz77

I'm so ready for the season to start. Usually football tides me over, but it's not this year. Maybe it's because of the WCH. I just can't wait for games that really matter at this point.

I can't believe we couldn't get in on that action
- SomeoneGerman

The only way we were getting Hall is if we gave up Risto. Murray called, was told that, and promptly hung up the phone.

The only way we were getting Hall is if we gave up Risto. Murray called, was told that, and promptly hung up the phone.
- HonkFortheGoose

I would have done it, and moved Reinhart or another player for defense. 90% chance Hall is the best player in that deal.

I wouldn't do more than a 1 for 1 though

I would have done it, and moved Reinhart or another player for defense. 90% chance Hall is the best player in that deal.

I wouldn't do more than a 1 for 1 though
- sbroads24

Too many moving parts. Hall is a good player, but by moving Risto, all you do is end up more like Edmonton. I know I don't want that. There's no guarantee that you'd have gotten someone good enough back in return.

I'm so ready for the season to start. Usually football tides me over, but it's not this year. Maybe it's because of the WCH. I just can't wait for games that really matter at this point.
- HonkFortheGoose

You're probably also getting psyched bc it's the first time in a while that we should legit compete for a playoff spot!
Goaltending makes me nervous though

Let's be fair though, John Tortarella is an NHL coach. He isn't a 1996 re-tread.

Dean Lombardi is a current NHL GM who was won 2 cups pretty recently.

IMO this is a giant over reaction. Justin Abdelkader did not deserve to be there, which is a fair criticism. Although, I believe he has more goals than Bobby Ryan over the past two seasons.

It's not like they literally picked goons to try and fight the other teams.
- sbroads24

I know we've pretty much moved on, but i just read this and it summarizes a lot of what I was reading and agreed with leading up to and through the tournament.

http://www.thescore.com/n...ars-ignores-deeper-issues

Mine

G- Edwards, Sauve, Biron, Enroth

D- Dunn, Bodger, Carriere, Hajt, Ledyard, McKee, Virta
LW- Arniel, Brown, Dudley, Khmylev, Varada
C- Barnes, Holzinger, Priestlay, Ruuttu, Savard
RW- Audette, Dawe, Dumont, Grier, Hamel, Hogue, Peterson
- mhp

Can Stu really be underrated? He was captain for a while.

I always felt Boughner was a bit underrated as far as a pest, maybe because he could actually back it up by throwing down.

Holzinger was one of my favorite guys growing up, that guy could fly.

I know we've pretty much moved on, but i just read this and it summarizes a lot of what I was reading and agreed with leading up to and through the tournament.

http://www.thescore.com/n...ars-ignores-deeper-issues
- SomeoneGerman

I don't disagree with the criticism. They made mistakes. My overall point was that a lot of teams make roster decisions based on coaching or "fit", or a style of play. It's not strictly the US. Canada just has a ton of talent to mask not bringing the absolute best roster they could

as of right now

locks for roster
ror
eichel
reinhart
okposo
kane
ennis
girgens
larsson
foligno
gionta
moulson


that leaves 2 or 3 spots

deslaurers
nylander
bailey
cor
fasching
carrier
- homiedclown

dee-lowe
COR
JB

If USA hockey has any balls they will demand the dissolution of Team NA before the next World Cup
- feetontheair22

They won't have to. NA and Europe were a one time thing. There will be a qualifying tourney for the 2 last spots. Permanent members are USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Czech Republic.

You're probably also getting psyched bc it's the first time in a while that we should legit compete for a playoff spot!
Goaltending makes me nervous though
- jdfitz77

The goaltending makes me nervous from the standpoint of the backup. I have confidence in Lehner. But he's going to need nights off. Can't just sacrifice those points, especially when you're probably going to be fighting a tight battle for the last spot of two in the playoffs.

I know we've pretty much moved on, but i just read this and it summarizes a lot of what I was reading and agreed with leading up to and through the tournament.

http://www.thescore.com/n...ars-ignores-deeper-issues
- SomeoneGerman

I'm not a Kessel fan...
But it's baffling that he wasn't on the team

The goaltending makes me nervous from the standpoint of the backup. I have confidence in Lehner. But he's going to need nights off. Can't just sacrifice those points, especially when you're probably going to be fighting a tight battle for the last spot of two in the playoffs.
- HonkFortheGoose

Agree totally
Every point will count

I can't come up with any kind of reasoning at all that makes sense to have Nilsson as our backup

And I like Lehner,
But I don't have "confidence" bc he's been hurt or inconsistent so often
I'd have felt much better if we brought back Johnson or Enroth, or really any experienced backup that's had some success

Too many moving parts. Hall is a good player, but by moving Risto, all you do is end up more like Edmonton. I know I don't want that. There's no guarantee that you'd have gotten someone good enough back in return.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yeah, I would've had to make the move to the defenseman first and then trade Risto. I still probably wouldn't do it though, we already have a logjam at F. Say what you will about rolling 3 lines, but you can't have a $12M 3rd line. Sure it'd be fine for the next 2 years, but then we're losing someone big.

They won't have to. NA and Europe were a one time thing. There will be a qualifying tourney for the 2 last spots. Permanent members are USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Czech Republic.
- Wetbandit1

Am I the only one who LOVES that there's a Team North America?

Sorry USA
Do a better job selecting your players,
And especially your coach!
Then maybe we won't lose to the Euro squad in embarrassing fashion

We sucked


I like the way it's set up this year though
Teams like Slovakia, Germany & the Swiss will just get beat up on more often than not
Let them all stay combined
The 8 teams they have now is perfect

Yeah, I would've had to make the move to the defenseman first and then trade Risto. I still probably wouldn't do it though, we already have a logjam at F. Say what you will about rolling 3 lines, but you can't have a $12M 3rd line. Sure it'd be fine for the next 2 years, but then we're losing someone big.
- Wetbandit1

I'm probably most interested in watching this year is Kulikov & McCabe this season to see if either can form a top pair tandem w Risto that can shut down the best players on other teams

If they can, then I like our top4
And we've got Guhle coming & Borgen has taken really nice strides as well
Defense might not be as big an issue as we think

Yeah, I would've had to make the move to the defenseman first and then trade Risto. I still probably wouldn't do it though, we already have a logjam at F. Say what you will about rolling 3 lines, but you can't have a $12M 3rd line. Sure it'd be fine for the next 2 years, but then we're losing someone big.
- Wetbandit1

Eh, Hall is a bargain at 6 for the next 4 or 5 years.

Sam would be lucky to be as good, and maybe cost more depending on what he does next two years.


I would also would have probably needed a deal for a D man first.

You guys can walk away from the ledge now. Eichel's had a nice bounce back game, and hes trying real hard

Eh, Hall is a bargain at 6 for the next 4 or 5 years.

Sam would be lucky to be as good, and maybe cost more depending on what he does next two years.


I would also would have probably needed a deal for a D man first.
- sbroads24

Hopefully we'll smarten up & extend Jack & Sam after THIS season & not wait until after their 3rd season when the pricetag will likely go up even more

Hopefully we'll smarten up & extend Jack & Sam after THIS season & not wait until after their 3rd season when the pricetag will likely go up even more
- jdfitz77

But then why would they want to sign after this season?

But then why would they want to sign after this season?
- Sabresfan-365

Exactly, it's really in no one's interest to do it sooner than during next(17-18) season.

I just read that Vice article. That writer had an odd obsession with Torts' goatee.

You guys can walk away from the ledge now. Eichel's had a nice bounce back game, and hes trying real hard
- Sabresfan-365

The sky isn't falling?

For those of us who can't watch the game...thank you.

The sky isn't falling?

For those of us who can't watch the game...thank you.
- RhinoFan

No problem although its just my opinion, you may want to ask the leafs fans...


Edit: nice from eichel