Michael Stuart: Bishop Posts Shutout in Burkie's Barn

Palat is sure as hell making me rethink getting a Kucherov jersey...You can't not love the guy and the way he plays. I think at this point you have to keep him with Marty and Stammer once everyone's healthy. Boy is that gonna be a great line to watch.

Palat is sure as hell making me rethink getting a Kucherov jersey...You can't not love the guy and the way he plays. I think at this point you have to keep him with Marty and Stammer once everyone's healthy. Boy is that gonna be a great line to watch.
- norbs

Agreed.

Palat-Stammer-Marty
Killorn-Fil-Purcell
Brown-Johnson-Kucherov
Malone-Thompson-(Panik/Crombeen/Pyatt)

I really like that line up for the rest of the season. If it can stay healthy...oh boy.

That or you send Brown down, but I'd prefer having him up. Though Pyatt could slide in on that 3rd line to provide some veteran presence.
Having said that Johnson and Kooch on a line is a ridiculous amount of speed

I was waiting for Bishop to do a crotch shot suck it motion towards the press box and Brian Burke.

The rookies are playing great, its a good mix of youth and veterans.

I have a feeling when Stamkos comes back Kucherov will move to the Palat-Johnson line and Brown will go with Filppula-Purcell and Killorn goes back to Stamkos-St Louis with Crombeen-Thompson-Panik or Pyatt.

Either way that's a long way off and I will just continue to enjoy this team right now.

I was waiting for Bishop to do a crotch shot suck it motion towards the press box and Brian Burke.

The rookies are playing great, its a good mix of youth and veterans.

I have a feeling when Stamkos comes back Kucherov will move to the Palat-Johnson line and Brown will go with Filppula-Purcell and Killorn goes back to Stamkos-St Louis with Crombeen-Thompson-Panik or Pyatt.

Either way that's a long way off and I will just continue to enjoy this team right now.
- stammerman

this sounds like it would make the most sense. or at least what I believe will probably happen.

Palat-Stammer-Marty
Killorn-Fil-Purcell
Brown-Johnson-Kucherov
Malone-Thompson-(Panik/Crombeen/Pyatt)

I really like that line up for the rest of the season. If it can stay healthy...oh boy.

That or you send Brown down, but I'd prefer having him up. Though Pyatt could slide in on that 3rd line to provide some veteran presence.
Having said that Johnson and Kooch on a line is a ridiculous amount of speed
- norbs

I also wouldn't mind seeing this:

Killorn-Stamkos-St. Louis
Kucherov-Filppula-Purcell
Palat-Johnson-Brown
Malone-Thompson-(Panik/Crombeen/Pyatt)

I like the idea of giving 51 and 16 a real trigger guy. The chemistry between Johnson and Palat can't be understated, either.

makes Bish's shutout that. much. sweeter. being in Burke's barn. Eat crow Burke! jk I'm still gonna rep the hell out of USA, but really? comon man. I don't care how little experience he has, he deserves that third spot on the roster. BISHOP FOR USAAAA!!!!!!

I also wouldn't mind seeing this:

Killorn-Stamkos-St. Louis
Kucherov-Filppula-Purcell
Palat-Johnson-Brown
Malone-Thompson-(Panik/Crombeen/Pyatt)

I like the idea of giving 51 and 16 a real trigger guy. The chemistry between Johnson and Palat can't be understated, either.
- Michael_Stuart

actually yes this one makes even more sense. this is what I was thinking in my head. good call Mikey boy.

I can see this as well, you can flip both Kucherov and Brown between the two lines.

So Cote goes down when Aulie is ready and Panik goes down from Stamkos is ready. Cant see them letting Malone, Crombeen or Pyatt go to waivers.

I also wouldn't mind seeing this:

Killorn-Stamkos-St. Louis
Kucherov-Filppula-Purcell
Palat-Johnson-Brown
Malone-Thompson-(Panik/Crombeen/Pyatt)

I like the idea of giving 51 and 16 a real trigger guy. The chemistry between Johnson and Palat can't be understated, either.
- Michael_Stuart

I can see this as well, you can flip both Kucherov and Brown between the two lines.

So Cote goes down when Aulie is ready and Panik goes down from Stamkos is ready. Cant see them letting Malone, Crombeen or Pyatt go to waivers.
- stammerman

yeah definitely. so im guessing they are gonna leave Cote up though when Salo comes back which should be about....next game?

Cooper has been going with 13 forwards, 8 defensemen, 2 goalies all year. We have had 7 defensemen all year on the active roster and always sit one so if Salo comes back one of Sustr, Cote, Barberio will sit. Then Aulie comes back and Cote will go down at that point.

yeah definitely. so im guessing they are gonna leave Cote up though when Salo comes back which should be about....next game?
- BoltsFan4Life

I can see this as well, you can flip both Kucherov and Brown between the two lines.

So Cote goes down when Aulie is ready and Panik goes down from Stamkos is ready. Cant see them letting Malone, Crombeen or Pyatt go to waivers.
- stammerman

I mean he's gone at the end of the season anyway so I wouldn't be entirely surprised if they waived him. It would serve Panik more good though to go down and play some meaningful minutes.

Don't have center ice and don't follow this team.

But how are they doing what they are doing this year? Bishop? Or should I just read your blogs?

Don't have center ice and don't follow this team.

But how are they doing what they are doing this year? Bishop? Or should I just read your blogs?
- rmiethaner

A little of both

Bishop has been a huge part of it. Jon Cooper's coaching has been great. The rookies' performances have been huge. TB has 88 points from rookies this season. Next highest is Dallas at 53, per Sun Sports.

Got to admit, when Tampa won a cup as an expansion team before the team I route for, it sucked. But Tampa has never given a reason for anyone to hate them.

Here is to continued success...

Got to admit, when Tampa won a cup as an expansion team before the team I route for, it sucked. But Tampa has never given a reason for anyone to hate them.

Here is to continued success...
- rmiethaner

A little of both

Bishop has been a huge part of it. Jon Cooper's coaching has been great. The rookies' performances have been huge. TB has 88 points from rookies this season. Next highest is Dallas at 53, per Sun Sports.
- Michael_Stuart

Yeah, that Cooper was a hot commodity, so good catch.

Good info on the rookies. Thanks.

Cooper has been going with 13 forwards, 8 defensemen, 2 goalies all year. We have had 7 defensemen all year on the active roster and always sit one so if Salo comes back one of Sustr, Cote, Barberio will sit. Then Aulie comes back and Cote will go down at that point.
- stammerman

I'd take Cote over Aulie 19 days a week.

I'd take Cote over Aulie 19 days a week.
- Artyukhin76

At this point...me too.

Further to that...

Small sample size, obviously, but Cote's possession numbers are so, so, so, so much better than Aulie's. It's night and day, really.

At this point...me too.

Further to that...

Small sample size, obviously, but Cote's possession numbers are so, so, so, so much better than Aulie's. It's night and day, really.
- Michael_Stuart

Aulie has SO many turnovers that he should think about quitting hockey and opening up a bakery. At least then the turnovers would have different flavors!

I'd take Cote over Aulie 19 days a week.
- Artyukhin76

hes gotten more of an opportunity with Tampa than i think he wouldve ever been provided elsewhere, and whats the guy do? walks with the puck and rarely plays his huge body.. yikes, waive him already

I completely agree with you, I to would take Cote over Aulie anyday of the week. I was just summarizing the Yzerman MO which is keep Aulie around for some reason once healthy.

JP has skated in as many games as Aulie this year already. That says it all in my opinion.

Maybe Yzerman surprises and sends Aulie to the waivers to see if he clears back to the Crunch, with the way he has played so far he might not get picked up. But I don't see Yzerman doing this because then his trade of Ashton for Aulie will be officially shown as a bust.

I'd take Cote over Aulie 19 days a week.
- Artyukhin76

And another thing how in the world is Barberio a +11 on the season so far, he doesn't get a lot of minutes and he is still a defensive liability in his own zone. He shows flashes of being a good offensive d-man but I cannot figure out how he is +11 on the year.

I completely agree with you, I to would take Cote over Aulie anyday of the week. I was just summarizing the Yzerman MO which is keep Aulie around for some reason once healthy.

JP has skated in as many games as Aulie this year already. That says it all in my opinion.

Maybe Yzerman surprises and sends Aulie to the waivers to see if he clears back to the Crunch, with the way he has played so far he might not get picked up. But I don't see Yzerman doing this because then his trade of Ashton for Aulie will be officially shown as a bust.
- stammerman

Disagree. It shows that Yzerman's serious about icing the best roster. It's not as though Ashton is lighting the world on fire in the NHL.