I'm leery of having any beloved legends running this team. Because if they aren't good at it, they get a much longer free pass than the average Joe (pun).
- BraxtanFILM

i agree somewhat...just like last year when Forsberg made his return - boy did this team tank when he reappeared into the picture - im thinking his return last year had something to do with the trades and troubles with Andy and Stewart

i'll agree that Sacco and his dump and chase system both have gotta go, but im not so sure we have a roster that IS good enough. I know Duchene is out and he is a very KEY piece. But we can and should upgrade on guys like Kobi, Van Dur Gulik, McLeod, Mcclement, Winnik, Porter. Some teams are forced to dress players like this as they are up against the CAP , but the AVS are nowhere near the CAP and therefore, either now or before the start of next season, they BETTER upgrade the talent on this team, or one by one, fans will be jumping ship. You can only sell in inferior product for so long.
- 10baci

Winnik and Mcclement are good bottom 6 players, and Mcleod is a decent leader for the team to get them fired up. The avs have holes for sure, but they are skilled enough to make the playoffs for sure. They just need to get a system that works better for the players on this team and a coach that can get them a little more consistent with their play/ motivation.

actually their drafts havent been too bad - problem is, they hang on to the wrong ones too long waiting for them to develop and get rid of the right ones too soon.

last 7 years.
2005 - stastny
2006- c.stewart
2007-shatty
2008 - nobody worth mentioning
2009 - duchene, o'reilly, elliot
2010 - hishon (injured so we dont know)
2011 - landy

I know stewie is struggling in st. louis, but IMHO i believe this team would have been better off if it was Stastny who went the other way instead of Stewie.

AVS need a proven GM, a proven coach, and some toothless bastards who can play and know the meaning of giving it all ! ! ! too much of the same type of players on this team ! ! what exactly is Stastny? he's not a goal scorer?? he's not a set up man, meaning he doesnt make the other guys on the ice with him better, he's not a captain, he's not a leader, he's a lets keep him so we can maintain our salary to the floor for salary cap purposes ! ! get rid of him ! !
- 10baci

I understand that you're frustrated, but you're borderline crazy with some of your comments.

Its absolutely astounding to see how much crap fans put Stastny through. The guy may be overpaid for his current production, but by all means, his current production is not his fault. The guy is a PURE set up man. How you dont see that, i have no idea.

If you've paid attention, you can see that his goal totals are pretty much on par with his usual. Somewhere between 20-25 goals is his pace right now.
What is incredibly low are his assists. SHOCKING!!! Until Mueller, he hasnt had a single player on the team that can compliment his style. Jones looks like hes been drunk all year, Hejduk is looking like an old man except for in the shootouts, Kobasew (please), Winnik?? Youve got to be kidding me. This team has one of the worst top line depth in wingers. Its filled with borderline 2nd line, 3rd line wingers. His only somewhat competent wingers were Galiardi, who while he does nice work, is not a goal scorer, and Duchene, a center playing wing for the first time in his career.

Statsny is great at finding open players for shots. Hes also very effective along the boards and in a cycling offense. The problem is, until mueller, none of his wingers get open, none of them set up properly, and most importantly none of them can finish. I would love to see the numbers on the amount of times Stastny has set up someone in the slot. Youd probably be truly surprised.

And now, amazingly, with Mueller on his wing, a talented winger who can shoot and find soft spots on the ice for shots, Stastny is a PPG player. Hes a complimentary center. He requires a decent skillset around him for him to be effective, just like ANY OTHER centerman who isnt a superstar in this league.

i understand its not his fault for getting over paid...and i have no personal issues with the man (i've never met him) im pissed at the Coach and Management giving him the #1 centreman title !!!! because "they" paid him to be. He's not a #1 centreman, nor is he a leader by example...there are FAR too many nights were he's been non existant. When the team needs a big goal does he provide it? no...when the team is running around like chickens with their heads cut off, does he rally the troops or call a time out? no ! ! If he was the AVS 2nd line centreman and paid accordingly, then he fits the role.

The management fails to realize their mistake and is keeping him around, Why? Management needs to cut their losses and replace him with Duchene and O'Reilly as 1 and 2. His salary can be easily distributed amongst the RFA's this summer. He's a good kid and has some skill set, but he's NOT the answer to a #1 centreman. call me crazy or call me whatever, but we're all entitled to opinions, and thats my 2cents.

GO AVS GO

i understand its not his fault for getting over paid...and i have no personal issues with the man (i've never met him) im pissed at the Coach and Management giving him the #1 centreman title !!!! because "they" paid him to be. He's not a #1 centreman, nor is he a leader by example...there are FAR too many nights were he's been non existant. When the team needs a big goal does he provide it? no...when the team is running around like chickens with their heads cut off, does he rally the troops or call a time out? no ! ! If he was the AVS 2nd line centreman and paid accordingly, then he fits the role.

The management fails to realize their mistake and is keeping him around, Why? Management needs to cut their losses and replace him with Duchene and O'Reilly as 1 and 2. His salary can be easily distributed amongst the RFA's this summer. He's a good kid and has some skill set, but he's NOT the answer to a #1 centreman. call me crazy or call me whatever, but we're all entitled to opinions, and thats my 2cents.

GO AVS GO
- 10baci

Except the main problem with your complaints are that youre asking of him things that hes never done before. You want him to be vocal and call a timeout? I think we're getting a little picky here.

The facts are that Stastny was never considered a goal scorer. He was always a set up man. No one complained about his vocalness or big goal scoring ability in the past, and yet now, its a big problem!

Its only because were losing that we point to players that are the easiest to pick on. And theyre the easiest because theyre usually the highest paid.

The fact that youre willing to play O'Reilly and Duchene as our top two centers is somewhat worrisome. Two player, barely the age of 20 years old, carrying the youngest team in the league, with the lowest salary cap, on a team with an incredible lack of quality wingers.

For the first time, Stastny has a quality winger, and he's producing like we know he can. Hes at a point per game. What more do you want? Hes generating a goal per game in each of his games, on average.

Our problem isnt stastny, and it hasnt been for a long time. Its the lack of a competent structure by our coach, our lack of quality, skilled, wingers. If anything, our centers (playing with atrocious wingers) are one of the main reasons were not at the basement of the standings.

Over the last 10 games, stas has 2G 7A, his teammates...

Galiardi 1G 1A
Hejduk 1G 4A
Landeskog 3G 3A (good for the rookie)
Kobasew 2G 1A
O'Reilly 4G 4A (our other center carrying the team)
Jones 2G 0A
Mueller 4G 1A (in 8 games)
McClement 0G 2A
Winnik 0G 1A

Of all our wingers not named Landeskog and Mueller, we have a total of 6G 9A among the other 6 wingers. Our defense, almost never scores any goals.

There are too many players not contributing enough.

Jones out Porter in for tonite against the WILD

also Elliot back in for O'Brien

Except the main problem with your complaints are that youre asking of him things that hes never done before. You want him to be vocal and call a timeout? I think we're getting a little picky here.

The facts are that Stastny was never considered a goal scorer. He was always a set up man. No one complained about his vocalness or big goal scoring ability in the past, and yet now, its a big problem!

Its only because were losing that we point to players that are the easiest to pick on. And theyre the easiest because theyre usually the highest paid.

The fact that youre willing to play O'Reilly and Duchene as our top two centers is somewhat worrisome. Two player, barely the age of 20 years old, carrying the youngest team in the league, with the lowest salary cap, on a team with an incredible lack of quality wingers.

For the first time, Stastny has a quality winger, and he's producing like we know he can. Hes at a point per game. What more do you want? Hes generating a goal per game in each of his games, on average.

Our problem isnt stastny, and it hasnt been for a long time. Its the lack of a competent structure by our coach, our lack of quality, skilled, wingers. If anything, our centers (playing with atrocious wingers) are one of the main reasons were not at the basement of the standings.

Over the last 10 games, stas has 2G 7A, his teammates...

Galiardi 1G 1A
Hejduk 1G 4A
Landeskog 3G 3A (good for the rookie)
Kobasew 2G 1A
O'Reilly 4G 4A (our other center carrying the team)
Jones 2G 0A
Mueller 4G 1A (in 8 games)
McClement 0G 2A
Winnik 0G 1A

Of all our wingers not named Landeskog and Mueller, we have a total of 6G 9A among the other 6 wingers. Our defense, almost never scores any goals.

There are too many players not contributing enough.
- eddieavs

They should try Mueller and Hejduk around Stastny with O'Reilly around Gali and Landeskog. Hejduk could use something to jump start him and Stastny has in the past.

Landeskog is going to be so good in 2-3 years once he physically matures.

Oh and one more thing: don't understate Cameron Gaunce when it comes to the 2008 draft. He'll be a great bottom pairing leadership guy. He's big, tough, will and can fight, plays well positionally and passes well.

He's not going to be a top 2 but a top 4/bottom 2 guy who'll be able to fill the role that O'Brien/Wilson play.