A very narrow minded analysis of a talent player. You dont look at a guy like him in a vacuum by cherry picking 20 some games during a season that he is on one of the worst teams in hockey history.

Its clear to the Avs fandom that Dutchy is hurting, what I mean is this trade talk has really taken his toll on him. I think he was set on moving on at the deadline, all the signs were pointing there, and this process isnt over from him. His childhood team growing up was the Avs and his hero was Sakic. His heart isnt in it anymore.

I love that guy, but its time for him to move on too, he needs to be excited and have an opportunity to win. If he plays at the World this spring he is going to be lighting it up.
- DDM-Coga

He is an exceptionally talented hockey player, but he has been a big part of the problem in Colorado. I'd agree, it's time to move both him and Landescog and build around Mack-Daddy. He and Rantanen are both game-breakers on every shift.

Different era completely, but once upon a time there was this defensive center who didn't score much at all playing for the Montreal Canadiens in their mid-70's heyday. His name was Doug Jarvis. The Coach way back then is connected now to the Blackhawks. He seemed to think Jarvis was a very important part of his team and played him extensively in on ice situations that called for his skill set.

But of course that was long ago before the expertise of amateur capologists and fantasy league players shed light on the really important aspects of the game.
- RickJ

First of all, I don't mind Kruger....but at his price not a fan of keeping him beyond this year. Even though, I appreciate his defensive value.

That said....c'mon. Comparing to Jarvis is crazy. Jarvis scored 10-20 goals for six consectutive years with the Habs. He had over 35 points 3-4 times.

Compared to Kruger...Jarvis was a freakin' Mario Lemieux!!!!

(Ok, little exaggeration there....but you get the gist.....)

He is an exceptionally talented hockey player, but he has been a big part of the problem in Colorado. I'd agree, it's time to move both him and Landescog and build around Mack-Daddy. He and Rantanen are both game-breakers on every shift.
- EnzoD

You dont move Landeskog now, Avs have winger issues on roster and in prospect poo, believe it or not he is still a difference maker out there. He was a shadow of himself the 1st half of the season, but hes showing hes still the leader going fwd. HE didnt have a great game last night but him and duchene dont work on the same line. He works great with MacKinnon.

Duchene needs to move on, and Avs dont have the luxury of cherry picking his spot. They have to take the best package available even if thats in the division. Personally I think he ends up in Nashville

Come on DDM, I know that I and a bunch of us here would send you a year's supply of Gino's East pizza to ease your pain!!


- ILGolfer

It sounds more like you're trying to increase his pain by sending him on his way to a life of morbid obesity.

Sarcasm and arguing aside, I am interested to see how Jurco's situation will end up. While he hasn't been overwhelming he's played a lot better since returning to the line-up. I don't expect much of anything from Jurco this season, but it will be interesting to see if he can be a quality depth forward next year.
- DarthKane

He is a guy who needs to make a lot more effort to, as the old timers say, get his nose dirty.

When he seems to go more in that direction, he seems to get more scoring chances.

Right now and a tty send of his tenure in Detroit, he is as, Scotty Bowman (that guy) once said of former Hawk first round pick Dmitri Nabokov, "just a guy who looks good skating up and down his wing."

It sounds more like you're trying to increase his pain by sending him on his way to a life of morbid obesity.
- HawkintheD

I didnt say no....

Tough crowd today JJ.
- Hossa1881

Some days the silliness is a little tougher to wade through than others.

Different era completely, but once upon a time there was this defensive center who didn't score much at all playing for the Montreal Canadiens in their mid-70's heyday. His name was Doug Jarvis. The Coach way back then is connected now to the Blackhawks. He seemed to think Jarvis was a very important part of his team and played him extensively in on ice situations that called for his skill set.

But of course that was long ago before the expertise of amateur capologists and fantasy league players shed light on the really important aspects of the game.
- RickJ

Funny, same guy who brought the Red Wings scouting on Kruger to Chicago with him in the 2009 offseason and urged the Hawks to grab Kruger ahead of Detroit in round 5.

Dunno, maybe that's "fake news" too.

It sounds more like you're trying to increase his pain by sending him on his way to a life of morbid obesity.
- HawkintheD

Hey Hawk, I'm assuming DDM is smart enough to imbibe in moderation of said pizza. Don't think he's another Flounder..........

I didnt say no....
- DDM-Coga

True. You might want to accompany your pie with a Lipitor chaser...just sayin'.

A very narrow minded analysis of a talent player. You dont look at a guy like him in a vacuum by cherry picking 20 some games during a season that he is on one of the worst teams in hockey history.

Its clear to the Avs fandom that Dutchy is hurting, what I mean is this trade talk has really taken his toll on him. I think he was set on moving on at the deadline, all the signs were pointing there, and this process isnt over from him. His childhood team growing up was the Avs and his hero was Sakic. His heart isnt in it anymore.

I love that guy, but its time for him to move on too, he needs to be excited and have an opportunity to win. If he plays at the World this spring he is going to be lighting it up.
- DDM-Coga

Lightning fast, high end scoring touch, 55%+ in the dot and can play the wing, too. He is in a bad situation, because you're right, he was shopped and shopped hard.

Let's please stop with this Duchene is a loser nonsense. I have heard some hints he's maybe not the most likable guy in the dressing room (though they are vague). I do also know Toews personally lobbied for the Hawks to get him after playing with him in the WC.

You are also right, conversely, Sakic never seriously entertained moving Landeskog, because at this point, he doesn't want to.

Hey Hawk, I'm assuming DDM is smart enough to imbibe in moderation of said pizza. Don't think he's another Flounder..........


- ILGolfer

You never know. I gave him my dimestore medical advice anyways. I was looking up John Vernon (Dean Wormer) in IMDB. I knew he'd passed on but was surprised to see it was 12 years ago

Lightning fast, high end scoring touch, 55%+ in the dot and can play the wing, too. He is in a bad situation, because you're right, he was shopped and shopped hard.

Let's please stop with this Duchene is a loser nonsense. I have heard some hints he's maybe not the most likable guy in the dressing room (though they are vague). I do also know Toews personally lobbied for the Hawks to get him after playing with him in the WC.

You are also right, conversely, Sakic never seriously entertained moving Landeskog, because at this point, he doesn't want to.
- John Jaeckel

Duchene is like Toews IMO, they are very quiet guys and not really the "with the boys" crew that goes out and tears up the town. Avs have Landeskog, MacKinnon, Barrie, and Johnson. Those guys are always together. Duchene is a good cat but he comes to the rink, does his business and but outside the rink he likes to fish, play country music, with his fiancee doing charity stuff. I don think hes super tight with some of the Avs core but its not like hes unliked,

Lightning fast, high end scoring touch, 55%+ in the dot and can play the wing, too. He is in a bad situation, because you're right, he was shopped and shopped hard.

Let's please stop with this Duchene is a loser nonsense. I have heard some hints he's maybe not the most likable guy in the dressing room (though they are vague). I do also know Toews personally lobbied for the Hawks to get him after playing with him in the WC.

You are also right, conversely, Sakic never seriously entertained moving Landeskog, because at this point, he doesn't want to.
- John Jaeckel

Considering the leadership/skills that the Captain has provided over his career, I'll take ANYONE that he would recommend on my team in a heart beat. I think he knows the game pretty well on both the physical and psychological level.

Duchene is like Toews IMO, they are very quiet guys and not really the "with the boys" crew that goes out and tears up the town. Avs have Landeskog, MacKinnon, Barrie, and Johnson. Those guys are always together. Duchene is a good cat but he comes to the rink, does his business and but outside the rink he likes to fish, play country music, with his fiancee doing charity stuff. I don think hes super tight with some of the Avs core but its not like hes unliked,
- DDM-Coga

Interesting perspective.

The Blackhawks have been consistently good all year, I think - they have had several long (4 games +) winning streaks: 7-5-4-5-7-5, spread out since the beginning of November.

These winning streaks have been separated by a couple of .500 or worse interludes, but that's the way good teams amass their good records - win a bunch, lose a couple, win 5/6/7 in a row, lose 3 out of 5.

The number of good streaks - and their being spread out throughout the months - leads me to believe in this year's team certainly more than last year's team (IMO, basically a .500 team for almost the whole year, except for one 12 game streak in January), and to not worry about them peaking too soon in front of the play-offs.

IMO, they will be ready for the tournament - no matter who the sequential opponents - and while they may go out in the first round (doubtful, but it is more of a parity league than not) - they could just as easily get to the Caps, the Pens, the BJs or whoever comes out of the East.

You never know. I gave him my dimestore medical advice anyways. I was looking up John Vernon (Dean Wormer) in IMDB. I knew he'd passed on but was surprised to see it was 12 years ago
- HawkintheD

Yep Hawk, John Vernon has passed on to the great Faber College in the sky. All kidding aside, a very good character actor from, of all places, Zehner, Saskatchewan.

Seems a bit snippy in here today.
- BlazinMike

And for a team likely none of us would have had at 47-25 after 72 games.

Interesting perspective.
- John Jaeckel

You sort of get glimpse of it on social media too, Twitter, Instagram, those group of guys just rip on one another and seem to have all these inside stories. Duchene is never part of those. He just has that tailored Canadian Good Boy personality off the ice. He has trained with Crosby and O'Brien for years now and I think he really has shaped himself after Sid, always being a pro on and off the ice

First of all, I don't mind Kruger....but at his price not a fan of keeping him beyond this year. Even though, I appreciate his defensive value.

That said....c'mon. Comparing to Jarvis is crazy. Jarvis scored 10-20 goals for six consectutive years with the Habs. He had over 35 points 3-4 times.

Compared to Kruger...Jarvis was a freakin' Mario Lemieux!!!!

(Ok, little exaggeration there....but you get the gist.....)


- hawk35

Saying Jarvis is a Mario Lemieux compared to Kruger is about the same as me grouping Kruger or Jarvis with Ovechkin. Neither one of them were/are out there to score, they're there to defend, kill penalties and take faceoffs in important situations.

That was also an era when the Habs were scoring 350+ goals a year as a team and guys like Shutt and Lemieux were potting 50-60 goals each. What do the Hawks have so far - 220?

And for a team likely none of us would have had at 47-25 after 72 games.
- blackhawk24

Not sure Blackhawk but I think our fine friend here, ArlingtonRob had them at 48-24 after 72 games.

Lightning fast, high end scoring touch, 55%+ in the dot and can play the wing, too. He is in a bad situation, because you're right, he was shopped and shopped hard.

Let's please stop with this Duchene is a loser nonsense. I have heard some hints he's maybe not the most likable guy in the dressing room (though they are vague). I do also know Toews personally lobbied for the Hawks to get him after playing with him in the WC.

You are also right, conversely, Sakic never seriously entertained moving Landeskog, because at this point, he doesn't want to.
- John Jaeckel

Think a Duchene+ for Seabs+ this summer can happen? I love #7 but am scared as poop his game declines rapidly and the $6.875M AAV bites the 'Hawks after '18.

Think a Duchene+ for Seabs+ this summer can happen? I love #7 but am scared as poop his game declines rapidly and the $6.875M AAV bites the 'Hawks after '18.
- blackhawk24

never in a million years. They are not going to trade for a 31 year old Dman when they are only moving duchene to build something 2-3 years down the road. They will be targeting 23-24 year old Dmen so when they have their pieces in place they have that dman in their prime of their career. It just doesn't make any logical sense.

Not sure Blackhawk but I think our fine friend here, ArlingtonRob had them at 48-24 after 72 games.
- ILGolfer

Yeah but he would have turned off the TV in 60 of those games because he just can't watch them being so bad.

Don't forget modern hockey. Jarvis and whoever that coach is are relics of a bygone era. Modern hockey and really fast skating not defense, win Cups.
- HawkintheD

Did the bygone era start in 2015. Kings 2014 and 2012 Bruins 2011 were not that fast. There are many different operating models that you can win the Cup with.