Adam French: Top-10 Prospects: Tampa Bay Lightning

What's your take on the Bolts Frenchie ? Do you see them competing for the cup soon?

What's your take on the Bolts Frenchie ? Do you see them competing for the cup soon?
- VANTEL

Think they're a playoff team. Can't see them competing against the best of the West with Matt Carle as your number two, ask the Flyers how that went. Depends on if Hedman's progression is real and last season is what to expect (elite) and if Bishop is also this Vezina contender.

Think they're a playoff team. Can't see them competing against the best of the West with Matt Carle as your number two, ask the Flyers how that went. Depends on if Hedman's progression is real and last season is what to expect (elite) and if Bishop is also this Vezina contender.
- AdamFrench

Tampa fans sure are excited tho.

Tampa fans sure are excited tho.
- Jeropotato

Aren't we all at this point of the year?

Aren't we all at this point of the year?
- AdamFrench

Nope. Until the Oilers are not a lottery team, they are just a lottery team.

Nope. Until the Oilers are not a lottery team, they are just a lottery team.
- Jeropotato

RC's loss has really been felt on these boards. A year ago, we'd have 90% of Oilers fans proclaiming playoffs and maybe a second round appearance. Now...despair and hollowing.

Think they're a playoff team. Can't see them competing against the best of the West with Matt Carle as your number two, ask the Flyers how that went. Depends on if Hedman's progression is real and last season is what to expect (elite) and if Bishop is also this Vezina contender.
- AdamFrench

Edler or Boychuck could help .

Aren't we all at this point of the year?
- AdamFrench

Undefeated baby

Nope. Until the Oilers are not a lottery team, they are just a lottery team.
- Jeropotato

Won't be this year

RC's loss has really been felt on these boards. A year ago, we'd have 90% of Oilers fans proclaiming playoffs and maybe a second round appearance. Now...despair and hollowing.
- AdamFrench

Fck all to do with Cloutier....call them hard lessons learned, or fool me thrice, shame on me or whatever.

Won't be this year
- VANTEL

I hope your right, but I think it's more realistic to think we will be in a dog fight to not be in the lottery in March than fighting for a playoff spot.

Adam French: Top-10 Prospects: Tampa Bay Lightning
- AdamFrench

havent really heard of these guys except Drouin
are they actually high level prospects?

havent really heard of these guys except Drouin
are they actually high level prospects?
- cpltanto

Couple of ex-first rounders so yes. Though only Drouin and Vasilevski are really in the "elite" category.

Think they're a playoff team. Can't see them competing against the best of the West with Matt Carle as your number two, ask the Flyers how that went. Depends on if Hedman's progression is real and last season is what to expect (elite) and if Bishop is also this Vezina contender.
- AdamFrench

I think Stralman was likely brought in to be that number two guy, which isn't the worst thing in the world. Bishop is due for some regression. Hedman has been real good for a long time; the difference this year was the big offensive totals.

Like you, I think they're a playoff team. Not sure they're ready to compete for the Cup yet, but I don't think that it's unreasonable to suggest that they'll be a contender in a few years.

Edler or Boychuck could help .
- VANTEL

Don't think there's room, cap or roster.

Hedman, Stralman, Carle, Garrison, Brewer, Gudas, Barberio, Sustr.

It's a solid enough top-eight.

I think Stralman was likely brought in to be that number two guy, which isn't the worst thing in the world. Bishop is due for some regression. Hedman has been real good for a long time; the difference this year was the big offensive totals.

Like you, I think they're a playoff team. Not sure they're ready to compete for the Cup yet, but I don't think that it's unreasonable to suggest that they'll be a contender in a few years.
- Michael_Stuart

I've loved Hedman for awhile, I really hate how quick people are to label players a bust because some talking head calls them the next "Pronger" and he never really had much in common with said player other than being his size. It is odd how nobody really mentioned his season though, even I'm shocked when I look up on NHL.com the points by defensemen and see him in an improbable 4th

Couple of ex-first rounders so yes. Though only Drouin and Vasilevski are really in the "elite" category.
- AdamFrench

Outside the top five, nobody talks about the possible next Palat and Johnson (diamonds in the rough). Other then Vasilevski, I'm very interested to see what Masin and Ikonen are going to do.

I've loved Hedman for awhile, I really hate how quick people are to label players a bust because some talking head calls them the next "Pronger" and he never really had much in common with said player other than being his size. It is odd how nobody really mentioned his season though, even I'm shocked when I look up on NHL.com the points by defensemen and see him in an improbable 4th
- AdamFrench

So true.

His even strength offensive numbers last year were unreal. He didn't start getting real PP time until midway through the campaign, so it's hard not to imagine what could have been. I'm interested to see what he can do this year.

I've loved Hedman for awhile, I really hate how quick people are to label players a bust because some talking head calls them the next "Pronger" and he never really had much in common with said player other than being his size. It is odd how nobody really mentioned his season though, even I'm shocked when I look up on NHL.com the points by defensemen and see him in an improbable 4th
- AdamFrench

Agree 100 percent on that look at our bust Larsson because he isn't nick lidstrom at 21 and likely never will be but the kid has looked solid when given chances and he hasn't seen barely any pp time

Agree 100 percent on that look at our bust Larsson because he isn't nick lidstrom at 21 and likely never will be but the kid has looked solid when given chances and he hasn't seen barely any pp time
- blizzzard

We'll take that "bust" off your hand for you.

We'll take that "bust" off your hand for you.
- Artyukhin76

I personally like him and he got royally screwed last year because Lou refuses to move a defence man. He was and is better then volchenkov and Salvador but Larsson had a two way contract last year and Lou doesn't like guys on one ways in the minors so for a good portion of the season we where icing guys who where poop over guys who could play because of contracts. I thought when together him and felines where our best pair and he was the best defender at training camp but the coaches have (frank)ed with his head but scratching him for making the odd rookie mistake and not sitting vets who constantly made poor choices with the puck (Salvador and volchenkov ) then Pete fell in love with Merrill who I don't think is better then Larsson just got a way better opportunity then Larsson. To sum it up he has been (frank)ed around and miss used and his stats and lack of points don't show his skill. To be honest us devil fans talked about it last year ever since Pete deboer has been coaching he hasn't developed a single player he likes vets a lot more then kids and if we aren't going to use this kid properly I would rather see him traded for an asset we are going to use instead of diminishing his value until it's nothing lol

Adam French: Top-10 Prospects: Tampa Bay Lightning
- AdamFrench

Are you going in any order or just off of which requests you get because you know I love a good devils prospects blog lol and since someone is going to say something I'll just say it for them it will likely only be a top five list right since we have none lol

Are you going in any order or just off of which requests you get because you know I love a good devils prospects blog lol and since someone is going to say something I'll just say it for them it will likely only be a top five list right since we have none lol
- blizzzard

Nah I have a bunch pre-written, was stumped by the site malfunctioning. I'll get the Devils (not written atm) like I get every team. Even the non-viewed ones But now I need to sleep

I personally like him and he got royally screwed last year because Lou refuses to move a defence man. He was and is better then volchenkov and Salvador but Larsson had a two way contract last year and Lou doesn't like guys on one ways in the minors so for a good portion of the season we where icing guys who where poop over guys who could play because of contracts. I thought when together him and felines where our best pair and he was the best defender at training camp but the coaches have (frank)ed with his head but scratching him for making the odd rookie mistake and not sitting vets who constantly made poor choices with the puck (Salvador and volchenkov ) then Pete fell in love with Merrill who I don't think is better then Larsson just got a way better opportunity then Larsson. To sum it up he has been (frank)ed around and miss used and his stats and lack of points don't show his skill. To be honest us devil fans talked about it last year ever since Pete deboer has been coaching he hasn't developed a single player he likes vets a lot more then kids and if we aren't going to use this kid properly I would rather see him traded for an asset we are going to use instead of diminishing his value until it's nothing lol
- blizzzard

I do too, that's why we'll take him.