Matt Cullen
- Homer

Pass...

Tropp McCormick Kaleta is a solid 4th line.
- Homer

Not convinced on McCormick centering that line. Need to find a 4th line center thats a bit more skilled (in skating and puck handling) and responsible for playing defense.

Not convinced on McCormick centering that line. Need to find a 4th line center thats a bit more skilled (in skating and puck handling) and responsible for playing defense.
- theblueandgold

Meh 4th line centers aren't "skill" guys....McCormick is fine there...

Matt Cullen
- Homer

The kid from Minny??

Straight up Matt Cullen for Jordan Leopold... I would say it was smart to pass on that. Statiscally Leo was our best minute eating and most consistent D-Man last year. We already have young and developing centers in Ennis/Hodgson. Cullen is not proven by any virtue and would only have a stranglehold on our roster. Especially turn this down with the way the draft turned out in drafted 2 big time centers.

Meh 4th line centers aren't "skill" guys....McCormick is fine there...
- KINGTUFF17

Who said I wanted a skill guy? A center has to have good skating skills and good hands for creating turnovers and handling the puck a lot of break outs. McCormick has stone hands and his skating is sub par. Hes best suited on a wing.

Meh 4th line centers aren't "skill" guys....McCormick is fine there...
- KINGTUFF17

McCormick isn't good at winning faceoffs.. but he can win some.. He is a tougher guy.. he is our best fighter on the team...

I don't mind him... he played 80 games in 2010-2011

The kid from Minny??

Straight up Matt Cullen for Jordan Leopold... I would say it was smart to pass on that. Statiscally Leo was our best minute eating and most consistent D-Man last year. We already have young and developing centers in Ennis/Hodgson. Cullen is not proven by any virtue and would only have a stranglehold on our roster. Especially turn this down with the way the draft turned out in drafted 2 big time centers.
- JVince11

Matt Cullen is no kid, he's got a ring and plenty of experience but I still don't deal him for Leopold

If Roy is somehow still in Buffalo by opening night, thoughts on putting him on the wing? He played it back in the Drury and Briere days.

Who said I wanted a skill guy? A center has to have good skating skills and good hands for creating turnovers and handling the puck a lot of break outs. McCormick has stone hands and his skating is sub par. Hes best suited on a wing.
- theblueandgold

McCormick is not Gaustad.. and he never will be... McCormick is a tough guy that will either fight or intimidate when out there... he is not a defensive player like Gausted is/was.

FWIW Paul Hamilton believes Grigorenko has a roster spot to "lose"

Wow...

Matt Cullen is no kid, he's got a ring and plenty of experience but I still don't deal him for Leopold
- KINGTUFF17

oh I did mix them up.. I don't follow Minnesota too strong... I was thinking the kid Brodziak not Cullen.. my bad.

Our top 2 RW'ers are Pominville and Stafford, yes? PA would be an ideal candidate for the 3rd line RW and get some PP time. I'd rather have Parenteau at $3M per then Leino at $4.5. And everywhere PA has been he scores. Nuff said.
- mhp

well we already have Leino at 4.5 so one has nothing to do with the other. Everywhere he has been? He's only played two seasons and never scored more than 20...plus he isn't gonna put up those numbers on our third line playing with Lenio and fill in the blank. On top of that it's gonna take more than 3m to get him. I don't think he is what we need.

Rumor is Luongo blocked a trade to Toronto...Hahahaha

Not convinced on McCormick centering that line. Need to find a 4th line center thats a bit more skilled (in skating and puck handling) and responsible for playing defense.
- theblueandgold

I'm nt looking for skill out of my 4th line. I want guys who play with their hair on fire and can change the momentum of the game by being physical.

The kid from Minny??

Straight up Matt Cullen for Jordan Leopold... I would say it was smart to pass on that. Statiscally Leo was our best minute eating and most consistent D-Man last year. We already have young and developing centers in Ennis/Hodgson. Cullen is not proven by any virtue and would only have a stranglehold on our roster. Especially turn this down with the way the draft turned out in drafted 2 big time centers.
- JVince11

he's no kid, he's 36

The kid from Minny??

Straight up Matt Cullen for Jordan Leopold... I would say it was smart to pass on that. Statiscally Leo was our best minute eating and most consistent D-Man last year. We already have young and developing centers in Ennis/Hodgson. Cullen is not proven by any virtue and would only have a stranglehold on our roster. Especially turn this down with the way the draft turned out in drafted 2 big time centers.
- JVince11

Cullen is like 36 or 37, he was on the Carolina team that beat us in the playofs

Rumor is Luongo blocked a trade to Toronto...Hahahaha
- KINGTUFF17

He's a smart man

Who said I wanted a skill guy? A center has to have good skating skills and good hands for creating turnovers and handling the puck a lot of break outs. McCormick has stone hands and his skating is sub par. Hes best suited on a wing.
- theblueandgold

you did, twice now. Good skater, good hands..you're describing a skill guy more or less.

You don't create turnover with good hands, you create turnover with good puck pressure more so.

Paul Gaustad was not a good skater and did not have good hands yet he played against other teams top line....we're not asking McCormick to do that, just go out and play 8 mins a game, hit people, get into a scrap now and then. That's all we need out of a 4th line center, and that's what he does.

you did, twice now. Good skater, good hands..you're describing a skill guy more or less.

You don't create turnover with good hands, you create turnover with good puck pressure more so.

Paul Gaustad was not a good skater and did not have good hands yet he played against other teams top line....we're not asking McCormick to do that, just go out and play 8 mins a game, hit people, get into a scrap now and then. That's all we need out of a 4th line center, and that's what he does.
- Homer

Well said, who do we get to replace Guastad? What about a guy like Jay McClemment?

Rumor is Luongo blocked a trade to Toronto...Hahahaha
- KINGTUFF17

he also has blocked a trade to Chicago.

Well said, who do we get to replace Guastad? What about a guy like Jay McClemment?
- KINGTUFF17

IDK if they do get a guy to replace him persay

Cullen is like 36 or 37, he was on the Carolina team that beat us in the playofs
- sbroads24

I did address that already to both you and Homer's comments.. I mixed Cullen up with Brodziak...

IDK if they do get a guy to replace him persay
- Homer

Brandon Prust..?

maybe Konopka?

Vinny? C'mon way too big of a cap hit for a player that's 100% in decline
- KINGTUFF17

Fair point
However, I think a HEALTHY vinny is stil a ppg player
So, while he may be in decline... He was so much better than getzlaf or stastny to begin with... IMO, he's better than both right now

And he's LED his team to a cup (unlike getzlaf who was not THE guy, even though his line did play a big role)

Btw,
Can't I make an argument that both stastny & getzlaf are "in decline" also?
Look at their stats... ESP goals

I think people would actually rather have Stasnty than Vinny... and thats not easy for some people on here to say.. haha
- JVince11

Yeah, I do understand the arguments against
And can't say I really disagree with any of those points
But he is a much better "leader" IMO,
Which is something we are clearly lacking...

And I do think he can be a really good player again if he can stay healthy
Another thing to consider...
Vinny's stats dropping are probably partly due do playing with average players on his line since they moved StLouis onto the Stamkos line