I think Filp will mostly be in the top 9, playing LW. I like the idea of Filp playing LW and Konceny playing RW for some reason, I'm not sure exactly why. You can put them next to either Couts or Patrick and I could see it going well.

These line combos are so much more fun to put together than years past.
- VladDrag

Man, that is the truth!

I think Filp will mostly be in the top 9, playing LW. I like the idea of Filp playing LW and Konceny playing RW for some reason, I'm not sure exactly why. You can put them next to either Couts or Patrick and I could see it going well.

These line combos are so much more fun to put together than years past.
- VladDrag

I think these line combos are as ugly as they have ever been. I think simply sticking player X in just any position and hoping it goes well is wishful thinking.

I think these line combos are as ugly as they have ever been. I think simply sticking player X in just any position and hoping it goes well is wishful thinking.
- SuperSchennBros

So, by your logic, no rookie can ever come in and succeed?

Patrick was the 2nd overall pick and put up good numbers while playing the entire season injured. Lindblom was arguably the best player in the 3rd best pro league in the world playing against grown men. These aren't a couple of undrafted nobodies just being plugged in with fingers crossed, these are top notch, highly regarded by all scouts, prospects. Every player has to be a rookie at some point.

Vecchione, who is less than three months younger than veteran Couturier
- Bill Meltzer

woah, that's old for a college player

Did he take some time after high school to play somewhere before starting college, or was he red-shirted during college?

Oh dear god, 80s pop!

- BiggE

The Power Station was great

I think these line combos are as ugly as they have ever been. I think simply sticking player X in just any position and hoping it goes well is wishful thinking.
- SuperSchennBros

No need to keep bringing up the failed Schenn as center experiment.

I read that this kids parents were bodybuilders and he was raised with great nutrition and also working out properly young. Can this strength give him an edge over say Laughs and Raffs...
- Konalover

Allow me to mansplain (mainly because work is slow):

Bodybuilding and sport specific training are different animals (although the nutrition is similar).

Bodybuilding is strictly about building muscle (hypertrophy). Usually, strength increases are associated with hypertrophy, but not always. Power (strength and speed) development is not associated with bodybuilding at all. Additionally, strength and power development training does not always produce hypertorphy.

In a sport like hockey where power is mostly derived from the speed at which players are traveling, strength training is not as important (although having a baseline of strength is important prior to starting power training). What becomes more important is the ability to transfer power generated from the lower body to the upper body. That's why core training is so important in hockey. It's also the reason why hockey players are not "Jacked", but rather lean and cut.

No need to keep bringing up the failed Schenn as center experiment.
- Feanor

So, by your logic, no rookie can ever come in and succeed?

Patrick was the 2nd overall pick and put up good numbers while playing the entire season injured. Lindblom was arguably the best player in the 3rd best pro league in the world playing against grown men. These aren't a couple of undrafted nobodies just being plugged in with fingers crossed, these are top notch, highly regarded by all scouts, prospects. Every player has to be a rookie at some point.
- BiggE

Except for Artemi Panarin

woah, that's old for a college player

Did he take some time after high school to play somewhere before starting college, or was he red-shirted during college?
- Scoob

He played in the USHL as a 18 and 19 year old, and started college when he was 20. So he was a freshman in 13-14 when Ghost was a Junior, even though he's two months older than Ghost.

http://www.eliteprospects...m/player.php?player=98845
http://www.eliteprospects.../player.php?player=122787

I'm going to guess he had a good time at Union, in addition to graduating.

woah, that's old for a college player

Did he take some time after high school to play somewhere before starting college, or was he red-shirted during college?
- Scoob

2 years in the USHL

That happens a lot though, it isn't like football where freshman is a freshman. Some guys get called freshmen and they are 20

2 years in the USHL

That happens a lot though, it isn't like football where freshman is a freshman. Some guys get called freshmen and they are 20
- YuenglingJagr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1umEXpGHc0E

I think these line combos are as ugly as they have ever been. I think simply sticking player X in just any position and hoping it goes well is wishful thinking.
- SuperSchennBros

Is player "X" related to Racer "X"?

Is player "X" related to Racer "X"?
- riverfly

lol I loved that show. The Mammoth Car scared the crap out of me for some reason.

I still believe Matt Read has trade value at 50 % salary retained. Might as well start acquiring draft picks for the 19 draft. Going to be very interesting to see what Hextall does with this roster. Sanheim can't wait to see what he does in preseason. I think he has a real chance to be the 2nd best dman in the organization eventually.

I hate to say it but the world seems to have changed enough that most people are insufferable douchenozzles. I try to just let to go and live the best I can and try not to be one of those idiots myself.
- dragonoffrost

I read an article this morning about some teens in Florida who were witnessing a disabled man drowning. They got there phones out and.......filmed it!!!. No call to 911. And to top it off, they were mocking him as he was drowning.

My opinion is that Lehtera is playing this year, and playing a lot (65-70g). I do not think Hextall would have acquired him without thinking the same thing, but I'm not Hextall.

My gut is telling me a 'vet' forward gets moved prior to camp, and Leier and Veccione go to the Phantoms.
-VladDrag

Disagree. Hextall took Lehtera because St. Louis needed the Space to take Schenn hence why we got such a high return for Schenn. We got extra value for taking Lehtera off their plate. Hextall has no interest in him and would waive him in a second if there was a benefit to the team. That being said, I don't know that 950k or whatever the cap relief would be is worth it. The only upside would be if his spot on the team blocks a younger player from being on the team which is doubtful in my mind as I see Lehtera with 4th line minutes. Not exactly a spot you want your young players but you could move some one like Raffl down to 4th line and play the young guy on 3rd line I guess

Allow me to mansplain (mainly because work is slow):

Bodybuilding and sport specific training are different animals (although the nutrition is similar).

Bodybuilding is strictly about building muscle (hypertrophy). Usually, strength increases are associated with hypertrophy, but not always. Power (strength and speed) development is not associated with bodybuilding at all. Additionally, strength and power development training does not always produce hypertorphy.

In a sport like hockey where power is mostly derived from the speed at which players are traveling, strength training is not as important (although having a baseline of strength is important prior to starting power training). What becomes more important is the ability to transfer power generated from the lower body to the upper body. That's why core training is so important in hockey. It's also the reason why hockey players are not "Jacked", but rather lean and cut.
- VladDrag

I didn't say he was training to be a body builder. I said working out properly and eating right but i really don't need your (frank)ing patronizing mansplaining whatever the (frank) that means. Since work is slow try reading before trying to be a wienerhead mansplaining!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Vecchione's Outlook for 2017-18 and Beyond
- bmeltzer

I personally feel he is a waste of a contract slot

I read an article this morning about some teens in Florida who were witnessing a disabled man drowning. They got there phones out and.......filmed it!!!. No call to 911. And to top it off, they were mocking him as he was drowning.
- riverfly

I think they broke the Good Samaritan law.

Is player "X" related to Racer "X"?
- riverfly

No he is Chim Chims distant cousin.

I personally feel he is a waste of a contract slot
- corduroy

Based on what?

I read an article this morning about some teens in Florida who were witnessing a disabled man drowning. They got there phones out and.......filmed it!!!. No call to 911. And to top it off, they were mocking him as he was drowning.
- riverfly

Dear lord, I hope this isn't true. But if it is, man, what have we become?

Disagree. Hextall took Lehtera because St. Louis needed the Space to take Schenn hence why we got such a high return for Schenn. We got extra value for taking Lehtera off their plate. Hextall has no interest in him and would waive him in a second if there was a benefit to the team. That being said, I don't know that 950k or whatever the cap relief would be is worth it. The only upside would be if his spot on the team blocks a younger player from being on the team which is doubtful in my mind as I see Lehtera with 4th line minutes. Not exactly a spot you want your young players but you could move some one like Raffl down to 4th line and play the young guy on 3rd line I guess
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Those are not mutually exclusive, he could have taken Lehtera for both reasons - to make the deal work and because he liked him as a bottom six player for two seasons. We all know Hextall likes to make rookies earn their spots, so maybe his plan was to bring in another center during this offseason. Two birds, one stone type thing.That is just a hunch.

FWIW, I think Schenn's trade wasn't extra value, I think a top 6 forward who can score 25/25/50 + in his prime, signed to a reasonable contract for length is worth 2 higher first round picks. I think Hextall could have gotten a comparable trade from another team.

Dear lord, I hope this isn't true. But if it is, man, what have we become?
- BiggE

Good parenting is a lost skill