Julie Robenhymer: Jones, Kristo, Lecavalier, Coyotes

I don't know I think Homer just found a replacement for Briere and who's to say Homer did not get Vinnie's Loyalty by giving him the same gentlemen's agreement he gave Vinnie Prospal saying that he'd trade him back to Tampa after one year.

Streit was an interesting signing. I thought they should have let Coburn rebound and Meszaros heal up before making rash moves. I don't hate it, but we need to move one of them now and let Gus take his earned position as our Number 6 guy.

Vinny doesnt need to wait til friday to sign. He was bought out and those players are free to sign whenever!!

Preds fans who are mad now that Jones was picked, because most wanted a forward. About 2-5 years from now, they will take back their negative comments about drafting Jones. As long as Jones plays to his potential. Our defense will shut down teams on most nights, giving the forwards confidence and maybe enough to score some goals.

Love your writing, can you replace the Oiler blogger?

Preds fans who are mad now that Jones was picked, because most wanted a forward. About 2-5 years from now, they will take back their negative comments about drafting Jones. As long as Jones plays to his potential. Our defense will shut down teams on most nights, giving the forwards confidence and maybe enough to score some goals.
- alphakilo615

Any Preds fan that is mad about that pick needs a head check. Jones was CLEARLY the best pick left on the board. You don't reach for a forward if you are the Preds.

No way Colorado regrets taking Nate over Jones and was it really any surprise he dropped after teams seen him at the combine he looked like big buffs little brother. No doubt that Nashville got a very good prospect but there was certainly good reasons why he dropped and was taken behind Nate,Barkov, Drouin and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if at least 2 of those 3 end up being more impactful then Jones.

Any Preds fan that is mad about that pick needs a head check. Jones was CLEARLY the best pick left on the board. You don't reach for a forward if you are the Preds.
- PoileRulezzzYo

I know several who are mad about it, but at the end of the day, it was a smart move from Poile.

Thanks for the info on Kristo! I'm looking forward to seeing him on a line with Step one day soon.

How far away do you think he is from being NHL ready?

Thanks for the info on Kristo! I'm looking forward to seeing him on a line with Step one day soon.

How far away do you think he is from being NHL ready?
- Moshe52792

Habs have tried to bring him in the ahl 2 years ago. So I guess very soon.

Now, it just seems like they're playing a game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos trying to gobble up every free agent they can find regardless of how they actually fit into the team or more importantly under the cap.
- jules

You made some good points, but I can't agree with this one.

We needed a #2 center, badly. We found a legit #2 center for under $5M cap hit. And Vinny's French Canadian with experience as a Captain so he fits in with the young Canadian core of this team.

Mark Streit is Timonen's replacement for when Timonen retires next season. His cap hit is $750,000 less than Timonen's.

Yeah, yeah, they aren't young players anymore. But they cost us nothing other than a 4th round pick and a minor league forward. To acquire a young #2 center and a young top 4 defenseman would have cost this team a pile of assets.

Thanks for the info on Kristo! I'm looking forward to seeing him on a line with Step one day soon.

How far away do you think he is from being NHL ready?
- Moshe52792

He's probably gonna start the year in the AHL.... from there I have no idea if he can make the transition this year.

Don't expect an impact player though, he is a small 3rd liner, 2nd line filler at best.

Habs have tried to bring him in the ahl 2 years ago. So I guess very soon.
- Toball777

He'll have to show something in the AHL first.

He'll have to show something in the AHL first.
- jugkope

Often, talented NCAA graduate spend little to no time in the AHL (Even undrafted one like Bozak, Dekayser, Gilroy), but considering (according to Martin McGwire) that Kristo cadiovascular system is like someone who smoke 1 packs of cigs per day, he might spend a year or 2 in the A.

I'm hoping that this trade won't bite us in the ass. Kristo is a very talented players but a 'tete brulé'. Is anyone missing Grabovsky?

He'll have to show something in the AHL first.
- jugkope

Why? If to comes to the Rangers camp and has a real strong showing, he might stick as many other players have. Just saying.

MTL was confident they had a good 2round pick with Kristo...... 5 years ago! He finally showed up at the end of last season with our farm team in Hamilton and played 11 of their remaining games with them....he didn't compete very well collecting a meager 3 assists in the process. Freshly signed by the CH we were expecting him to start in Hamilton and be our top forward there next season...... the CH decided otherwise, not because of his past but because they saw something that turned them off on him.... but no one knows what.

You made some good points, but I can't agree with this one.

We needed a #2 center, badly. We found a legit #2 center for under $5M cap hit. And Vinny's French Canadian with experience as a Captain so he fits in with the young Canadian core of this team.

Mark Streit is Timonen's replacement for when Timonen retires next season. His cap hit is $750,000 less than Timonen's.

Yeah, yeah, they aren't young players anymore. But they cost us nothing other than a 4th round pick and a minor league forward. To acquire a young #2 center and a young top 4 defenseman would have cost this team a pile of assets.
- Coburns_Nose

I agree with you, the configuration of your forward lines are perfectly alligned to introduce him in smoothly as a second line center, one line lower than the Captain but one line ahead of a young center player who is still learning the trade..... the resulting scoring depth of this team is immediatly improved thus inssuring Lecavalier a wealth of offensive talents to be partenerd with and the Flyer's commitment to be a good offensive team..... the brand of hockey he favors.

Of course Lecavalier might regress sooner rather than later, last season Eric Cole at around the same age had his best season ever scoring 35 goals for the CH after signing a four year contrac but was traded anyway the following year were he played his worst ever season with Dallas..... yet still has two years left to play at 4.5m. a year. After a bad year Flyers taking Lecavalier is worth the gamble...... specially because the present lines configuration is highly favorable to such an aquisition.

You made some good points, but I can't agree with this one.

We needed a #2 center, badly. We found a legit #2 center for under $5M cap hit. And Vinny's French Canadian with experience as a Captain so he fits in with the young Canadian core of this team.

Mark Streit is Timonen's replacement for when Timonen retires next season. His cap hit is $750,000 less than Timonen's.

Yeah, yeah, they aren't young players anymore. But they cost us nothing other than a 4th round pick and a minor league forward. To acquire a young #2 center and a young top 4 defenseman would have cost this team a pile of assets.
- Coburns_Nose

I agree with you, the configuration of your forward lines are perfectly alligned to introduce him in smoothly as a second line center, one line lower than the Captain but one line ahead of a young center player who is still learning the trade..... the resulting scoring depth of this team is immediatly improved thus inssuring Lecavalier a wealth of offensive talents to be partenerd with and the Flyer's commitment to be a good offensive team..... the brand of hockey he favors.

Of course Lecavalier might regress sooner rather than later, last season Eric Cole at around the same age had his best season ever scoring 35 goals for the CH after signing a four year contrac but was traded anyway the following year were he played his worst ever season with Dallas..... yet still has two years left to play at 4.5m. a year. After a bad year Flyers taking Lecavalier is worth the gamble...... specially because the present lines configuration is highly favorable to such an aquisition.

Why? If to comes to the Rangers camp and has a real strong showing, he might stick as many other players have. Just saying.
- Blueshirts16

Indeed. Such a thing is the case with every team.

I'm just saying he played 9 games in the AHL last year and he wasn't good, so I don't expect him to suddenly be good enough to stick in the NHL.

Vinny doesnt need to wait til friday to sign. He was bought out and those players are free to sign whenever!!
- BernieKorch

Incorrect....he can negotiate, make a decision and work out a contract, but he - as well as other bought out free agents - can't officially sign until Friday.

Thanks for the info on Kristo! I'm looking forward to seeing him on a line with Step one day soon.

How far away do you think he is from being NHL ready?
- Moshe52792

Danny needs to work on his strength and protecting the puck. I think he relies too much on his speed to make plays and that won't work as easily for him at the NHL. Could he crack the NHL this season, yes, but he will have to work really hard this off-season.

You made some good points, but I can't agree with this one.

We needed a #2 center, badly. We found a legit #2 center for under $5M cap hit. And Vinny's French Canadian with experience as a Captain so he fits in with the young Canadian core of this team.

Mark Streit is Timonen's replacement for when Timonen retires next season. His cap hit is $750,000 less than Timonen's.

Yeah, yeah, they aren't young players anymore. But they cost us nothing other than a 4th round pick and a minor league forward. To acquire a young #2 center and a young top 4 defenseman would have cost this team a pile of assets.
- Coburns_Nose

The point is they don't have a pile of assets...at least not a pile of assets of worth! I was using the analogy to describe their new development strategy...as in they don't really have one. They just gobble up free agents.

Danny needs to work on his strength and protecting the puck. I think he relies too much on his speed to make plays and that won't work as easily for him at the NHL. Could he crack the NHL this season, yes, but he will have to work really hard this off-season.
- jules

Bang on assessment of the Kristo situation I believe..... now Julie maybe you can tell us a bit about your take on the two years younger Christian Thomas which MTL has received in return for Kristo.

I know that Thomas at 5'9" would need to be quite a special player in order to make it to the NHL one day but here in Montreal with the Giontas, the Gallaghers and the Desharnais we are believers that with enough talents and determination nothing will stop a good one from being a good one, could Thomas one day succeed too ??

The point is they don't have a pile of assets...at least not a pile of assets of worth! I was using the analogy to describe their new development strategy...as in they don't really have one. They just gobble up free agents.
- jules

I understand why you see it that way.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Flyers led the NHL in games played by rookies two years ago. We've kept our first round pick in the two drafts since then (Laughton and Morin) and we haven't traded away any of our top prospects or young players (except JVR for Luke Schenn which was youth for youth) since then.

What you were describing is the Flyers' old development strategy. The Flyers' new development strategy is different, as the evidence suggests.