Michael Stuart: The Roundtable on Intriguing Opponents

the Panthers.

waaah waaah waaaaaaaahhh... Redwings

I think playing in a tougher division will bring the best out of our boys. they tend to rise to the occasion when down and never give up. better opponents will give them that mindset the moment they hit the ice. I hope..

anyone else concerned that bishops five hole is about to look like a Christmas gift for snipers with the goalie pad reduction set to take place next season?

anyone else concerned that bishops five hole is about to look like a Christmas gift for snipers with the goalie pad reduction set to take place next season?
- Boltdolt84

Yes indeed.

anyone else concerned that bishops five hole is about to look like a Christmas gift for snipers with the goalie pad reduction set to take place next season?
- Boltdolt84

It hurts the smaller goes more actually since the pad size limits are based on the height of the actual goalie. So his pads will still be pretty (frank)ing big.

It hurts the smaller goes more actually since the pad size limits are based on the height of the actual goalie. So his pads will still be pretty (frank)ing big.
- Nucker101

the scouts report for Bishop likely said shoot fivehole 90% the end of last season and we REALLY got creamed because of it.. lets hope he can close that black hole a little, but I have a feeling this may be partially why lindback outperforms him..

sigh.. franz jean..

Good call. Boston ... oh Boston... going back to the 2011 series, won by 1 goal by the Bruins, I have felt a growing enmity between these two clubs. So happy to see we're in the same division now.

The Bolts are going to be very odd this year. You kinda get the feeling they've really under-achieved the past 2 seasons based on the roster they have. That being said, Boucher (as much as I love the guy) was probably the wrong coach for the team. Cooper seems to be more into the up-tempo, transition game that, historically, is the Bolts bread and butter.

Maybe we'll finish bottom 5... maybe we'll finish top 5. As odd as it sounds, the Bolts really are going to be that unpredictable this coming season (in my own humble opinion).

It hurts the smaller goes more actually since the pad size limits are based on the height of the actual goalie. So his pads will still be pretty (frank)ing big.
- Nucker101

Bishop's five hole has never been a strong point in his game. There were points last season, both in Ottawa and in Tampa, when his five hole seemed like it was the size of Florida. The scouting reports from day one have been to go five hole on him, and the reason for that isn't surprising. He's super tall. There's more space there on him than there is on your average goaltender. It's no fault of his own, but it is something that our goaltending coach needs to manage.

Good call. Boston ... oh Boston... going back to the 2011 series, won by 1 goal by the Bruins, I have felt a growing enmity between these two clubs. So happy to see we're in the same division now.

The Bolts are going to be very odd this year. You kinda get the feeling they've really under-achieved the past 2 seasons based on the roster they have. That being said, Boucher (as much as I love the guy) was probably the wrong coach for the team. Cooper seems to be more into the up-tempo, transition game that, historically, is the Bolts bread and butter.

Maybe we'll finish bottom 5... maybe we'll finish top 5. As odd as it sounds, the Bolts really are going to be that unpredictable this coming season (in my own humble opinion).
- OzBolts

Agree with all this.

Boucher's a fantastic coach. He wasn't the right coach for this roster. Cooper is also a great coach. His style seems to be a better fit with this roster. Like you said, Cooper wants an up-tempo, aggressive game out on the ice.

If the goaltending and defense hold up, I could definitely see the Lightning making the playoffs this year. If they falter, the team could be looking at another VERY high draft pick. Yzerman is NOT on the hot seat right now, but might he be if the team finishes with another top-5 pick? You'd have to think so. This is year six of the re-build (starting at the '08 draft). It's time for all the potential and promise to transition into on-ice results.

Overall, I like our roster. The forward group looks great. The defense looks like it has the potential to be really solid, with Hedman and Gudas taking another step forward. The goaltending is a bit of a question mark, but everyone here knows that I'm a HUGE believe in Anders Lindback.

Drouin-Stamkos-St. Louis
Killorn-Filppula-Purcell
Malone-Johnson-Connolly/Panik
Palat-Thompson-Crombeen
Labrie

Hedman-Salo
Carle-Gudas
Brewer-Aulie
Barberio/Sustr

Lindback
Bishop

It looks competitive, in my eyes.

whats your preseason roster?

mine

MSL - Stammer - Drouin
Kucherov - Filpulla - Killorn
Panik - Johnson - Connolly
Labrie - Thompson - Palat

Hedman - Barberio?
Carle - Sustr
Gudas - Aulie

Lindy

Agree with all this.

Boucher's a fantastic coach. He wasn't the right coach for this roster. Cooper is also a great coach. His style seems to be a better fit with this roster. Like you said, Cooper wants an up-tempo, aggressive game out on the ice.

If the goaltending and defense hold up, I could definitely see the Lightning making the playoffs this year. If they falter, the team could be looking at another VERY high draft pick. Yzerman is NOT on the hot seat right now, but might he be if the team finishes with another top-5 pick? You'd have to think so. This is year six of the re-build (starting at the '08 draft). It's time for all the potential and promise to transition into on-ice results.

Overall, I like our roster. The forward group looks great. The defense looks like it has the potential to be really solid, with Hedman and Gudas taking another step forward. The goaltending is a bit of a question mark, but everyone here knows that I'm a HUGE believe in Anders Lindback.

Drouin-Stamkos-St. Louis
Killorn-Filppula-Purcell
Malone-Johnson-Connolly/Panik
Palat-Thompson-Crombeen
Labrie

Hedman-Salo
Carle-Gudas
Brewer-Aulie
Barberio/Sustr

Lindback
Bishop

It looks competitive, in my eyes.
- Michael_Stuart

I think he earns the starting job this year or 14-15'

I have to say the Redwings because they have been the measuring stick since Stevie Y was hired. The Wings formula for prospects both drafting and signing overseas players and being a perennial playoff team are what we looked for when he was hired. We also have the Weiss/Flippula comparison argument this year plus at the top the Dynamic duos of Marty and Stammer and the Zetterberg Datsyuk. The new division has some interesting opponents like Boston because of the recent cup runs and our series in 11 but the Wings are the team to beat not Boston in my opinion. We also had the Davidson connection from 04 so I think this could become a great matchup.

Call me a homer,

But while Boston is a measuring stick for the whole division, I think a more intriguing match up for the Bolts will be Ottawa, while Ottawa might lack some of the star power up front, I believe they're a more balanced team and maybe a better gauge of where the bolts are vs where they would like to be.

the scouts report for Bishop likely said shoot fivehole 90% the end of last season and we REALLY got creamed because of it.. lets hope he can close that black hole a little, but I have a feeling this may be partially why lindback outperforms him..

sigh.. franz jean..
- Boltdolt84

Yeah because an inch in height makes all the difference.

whats your preseason roster?

mine

MSL - Stammer - Drouin
Kucherov - Filpulla - Killorn
Panik - Johnson - Connolly
Labrie - Thompson - Palat

Hedman - Barberio?
Carle - Sustr
Gudas - Aulie

Lindy
- Boltdolt84

there is no way yzerman and cooper are gunna bury all the contracts of malone, brewer, salo, purcell

Call me a homer,

But while Boston is a measuring stick for the whole division, I think a more intriguing match up for the Bolts will be Ottawa, while Ottawa might lack some of the star power up front, I believe they're a more balanced team and maybe a better gauge of where the bolts are vs where they would like to be.
- gutsandglory

At least it will be interesting watching how they both react to the loss of the captains and long time faces of the franchises. I personally think it hits the Sens harder because of Marty still being the heart and soul and Stammer the new face. Who steps up in Ottawa?

whats your preseason roster?

mine

MSL - Stammer - Drouin
Kucherov - Filpulla - Killorn
Panik - Johnson - Connolly
Labrie - Thompson - Palat

Hedman - Barberio?
Carle - Sustr
Gudas - Aulie

Lindy
- Boltdolt84

So what about Malone, Purcell, Brewer and Salo?

Interesting that the bloggers all picked original 6 teams; Toronto, Boston, Montreal and Detroit.

We are in a tough conference where very few games will not be meaningful.

the scouts report for Bishop likely said shoot fivehole 90% the end of last season and we REALLY got creamed because of it.. lets hope he can close that black hole a little, but I have a feeling this may be partially why lindback outperforms him..

sigh.. franz jean..
- Boltdolt84

Hopefully he has been working on it this summer.

While Boston should be a strong team this season, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a letdown in their play after a long playoff run, change in personnel and Chara aging. Okay, I hope there is a letdown.

I also think we need to keep our expectations in check since the Bolts are likely to be inconsistent for awhile with coaching and personnel changes.

(frank) the new NHL alignment...that is all

why does the blond chick have a set of testicles?

why does the blond chick have a set of testicles?
- hunglikeapuck

Get used to it. Chicks with Richards will be the new normal.