On the Oil?

After a decade of watching fast/skilled forwards try and fail to win in the NHL, I'm not willing to trade mobile, mean defenders. Larsson doesn't play a flashy game. He doesn't score a lot of points. But he does play 20+ minutes a night, is a bitch to play against, jives well with Klefbom, is a RH shot, and is signed to a sweet ass contract.

For all these reasons I consider him untouchable.
- Wildschwein

👍 regardless of what people may think of him, he an important part of a quality top pairing.
He’s the furthest thing from an issue of ours right now.
The other two pairs on the other hand ...

On the Oil?

After a decade of watching fast/skilled forwards try and fail to win in the NHL, I'm not willing to trade mobile, mean defenders. Larsson doesn't play a flashy game. He doesn't score a lot of points. But he does play 20+ minutes a night, is a bitch to play against, jives well with Klefbom, is a RH shot, and is signed to a sweet ass contract.

For all these reasons I consider him untouchable.
- Wildschwein

That makes him valuable, but not untouchable. I'm not saying that you go shopping him, but if somebody makes a good offer you at least engage in discussions.

👍 regardless of what people may think of him, he an important part of a quality top pairing.
He’s the furthest thing from an issue of ours right now.
The other two pairs on the other hand ...
- HB77

That's an issue, as is the forward depth. Your top end talent is unreal, but the guys on lines 3/4 are pretty poor overall...

That makes him valuable, but not untouchable. I'm not saying that you go shopping him, but if somebody makes a good offer you at least engage in discussions.
- lumlums

To clarify I'm not saying he is "actually" untouchable. I'm saying if it were up to me he would be untouchable.

Especially since his replacement would be Russell.

That's an issue, as is the forward depth. Your top end talent is unreal, but the guys on lines 3/4 are pretty poor overall...
- lumlums

I see whats going on here, and NO you cannot have him.

That's an issue, as is the forward depth. Your top end talent is unreal, but the guys on lines 3/4 are pretty poor overall...
- lumlums

This I agree with.

I see whats going on here, and NO you cannot have him.
- Wildschwein

Damn, I'll just have to make eyes at Klefbom instead...

Damn, I'll just have to make eyes at Klefbom instead...
- lumlums

You'll take Gryba and be (frank)ing happy about it!

This I agree with.
- Wildschwein

And that's the difference for us - I mean, Matt Martin is replacement level, but we also have a guy who just scored 20 in his rookie year skating on the 4th line because of a logjam at RW. Our defense also sucks, but there are 3.3 lines who can outscore many other teams out there (although the Bozak line is a (frank)ing horrorshow defensively... )

You'll take Gryba and be (frank)ing happy about it!
- Wildschwein

Honestly, I'm not *overly* worried about our D - we have three solid guys and three younger guys, with Borgman at least looking like he's a gamer at this level... plus Liljegren at 18 years old seasoning in the minors

And that's the difference for us - I mean, Matt Martin is replacement level, but we also have a guy who just scored 20 in his rookie year skating on the 4th line because of a logjam at RW. Our defense also sucks, but there are 3.3 lines who can outscore many other teams out there (although the Bozak line is a (frank)ing horrorshow defensively... )
- lumlums

Logjam at RW eh?

What'll you give us for Benning?

This I agree with.
- Wildschwein

I have way less concerns with our plumbers up front than I do with the guys we need to count on to score.

Logjam at RW eh?

What'll you give us for Benning?
- Wildschwein

A favourable reference letter...?

I have way less concerns with our plumbers up front than I do with the guys we need to count on to score.
- Larsson_fan

The problem is too many plumbers...

Honestly, I'm not *overly* worried about our D - we have three solid guys and three younger guys, with Borgman at least looking like he's a gamer at this level... plus Liljegren at 18 years old seasoning in the minors
- lumlums

Your d is a tire fire.

You're getting lucky with fluke goals right now but you're getting outplayed every game. Not sustainable.

The problem is too many plumbers...
- lumlums

Thanks Chia.

I have way less concerns with our plumbers up front than I do with the guys we need to count on to score.
- Larsson_fan

Really? What are your expectations from them? I'm figuring 40-ish points from Maroon and 50-ish from Lucic and Nuge.

No (frank)ing idea with the rest.

A favourable reference letter...?
- lumlums

And a few pics of missus Lums sporting beach wear. Do that and we have a deal.

Really? What are your expectations from them? I'm figuring 40-ish points from Maroon and 50-ish from Lucic and Nuge.

No (frank)ing idea with the rest.
- Wildschwein

I want to see Nuge get rw time with McD and put Drai with Luc and see if they can get two lines going.

Your d is a tire fire.

You're getting lucky with fluke goals right now but you're getting outplayed every game. Not sustainable.
- Iggysbff

I'm not so impressed with Hainsey, but Zaitsev has been much better so far, as has Gardiner. Having two rookies on the bottom pair doesn't help, but they'll get it all figured out.

Rielly has been poor to start but I know that he can do better. Rosen had one good and one rough game, but he's just getting it figured out. Most of our defensive issues this year have been the Bozak/JvR/Marner line - they've been just awful, regardless of who paired with.

The main thing is to stop taking penalties, as the PK has been rough.

I wouldn't say that there has been many "fluke" goals though - most have been either ridiculous shots or lots of sustained pressure...

Thanks Chia.
- Iggysbff

Yeah.

Heck, I'm not convinced by all of Lou's moves, but so far he's about even by bringing in some decent Euro signings and getting Kadri/Rielly at a discount.

That's an issue, as is the forward depth. Your top end talent is unreal, but the guys on lines 3/4 are pretty poor overall...
- lumlums

Yeah it's not looking great as of now, but the team is also shooting at like 2% without McDavid on the ice (unsustainably low) and around 6% with him on. Both will even out with an increase of around 3-4%.

Not only are Puljujarvi and Slepyshev not yet pulling their weight, but even a solid bet like Jokinen isn't working. Same for Strome.

I want to see Nuge get rw time with McD and put Drai with Luc and see if they can get two lines going.
- Iggysbff

I'd really welcome that.

And a few pics of missus Lums sporting beach wear. Do that and we have a deal.
- Wildschwein

I see what you're thinking... My mom is also the Mrs Lums to the original Mr Lums....

I see what you're thinking... My mom is also the Mrs Lums to the original Mr Lums....
- lumlums

Well now you've done it, I demand pics of both!