Tony Dean: Hopefully Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder Wild State of Affairs

Tony!!

Great blog. I hope things are well.........AZ is the exact same with the shaming / passive aggressive stuff - I have so many Coyotes fans rip into me on facebook because unlike the main coverage of the team, I am not a cheer leader. In fact, over the last two years I believe every facebook group I posted in that was specifically Coyotes kicked me out for being "too negative" about the team.

Anyways, I relate is all I'm saying. Hope life is good. Nice to see you back.

Tony Dean: Hopefully Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder Wild State of Affairs
- Tony Dean

Welcome Tony. Always been one of my favorite writers on HockeyBuzz. Right up there with Garth and Tanner.

Well put Tony, well put. Wish you could write more often because I tend to be on the same page with you. I don't think anything short of a finals appearance saves Fletch or at least I hope so, he has shown an inability to sign good contracts so no way in hell I want him in charge of any kind of rebuilding.

Yay! Big T! Nice to see you grace the HB Wild blog once again!

Only thing I disagree a little with here T is the placement of Haula. I've been saying this since last season, and that's that I think he can be a tremendous offensive asset if Yeo would just surround him with some skilled players.

I think the last few games have more than proven that Haula is a player ready to break out offensively given the chance to play with a couple of the top 2 line wingers.

I honestly would like to see Granlund and Haula swapped out. Put Haula up with Parise and Coyle and let Granlund be the 3rd line center.

Maybe now with Yeo gone and the veteran double standards with him, Torch will stand by his philosophy of EVERONE earning their ice time.

I'm just curious about why you would want to break up Niederreiter, Haula, Pominville? That line seems to be clicking right now, if only for 2 games so far. I would suggest keeping that line together. Move Granlund to wing. Bring Graovac up. Roll these lines.

Parise-Graovac-Coyle (if it doesn't work, Graovac must not be a top 6 forward)
Zucker-Koivu-Granlund (gives Grannie space to work in at wing)
El Nino-Haula-Pominville
Vanek-Stoll-Fontaine

No real checking line there (possibly the 1st line listed), but riding a good thing until it proves otherwise.

On a side note, glad to see you blogging Tony. Been reading your blogs for the last several months before the season started, then I started posting. Was hoping I wasn't posting stupidly every time, chasing you away from blogging.

I'm just curious about why you would want to break up Niederreiter, Haula, Pominville? That line seems to be clicking right now, if only for 2 games so far. I would suggest keeping that line together. Move Granlund to wing. Bring Graovac up. Roll these lines.

Parise-Graovac-Coyle (if it doesn't work, Graovac must not be a top 6 forward)
Zucker-Koivu-Granlund (gives Grannie space to work in at wing)
El Nino-Haula-Pominville
Vanek-Stoll-Fontaine

No real checking line there (possibly the 1st line listed), but riding a good thing until it proves otherwise.

On a side note, glad to see you blogging Tony. Been reading your blogs for the last several months before the season started, then I started posting. Was hoping I wasn't posting stupidly every time, chasing you away from blogging.
- Gusrichards

Don't worry, I doubt your stupid posts had any impact on Tony either way.

Don't worry, I doubt your stupid posts had any impact on Tony either way.
- TheIronSheik

Kind of ironic don't you think?... YOU calling someone else's posts stupid?!!!

Kind of ironic don't you think?... YOU calling someone else's posts stupid?!!!
- MnGump

Is the the guy who can't figure out why the Oilers didn't trade a forward for defence this year with Eberle, Yak, McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins all experiencing lengthy injuries? Or maybe you figure Mark Letestu is a good enough top 6 forward in a stop-gap scenario ?

Is the the guy who can't figure out why the Oilers didn't trade a forward for defence this year with Eberle, Yak, McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins all experiencing lengthy injuries? Or maybe you figure Mark Letestu is a good enough top 6 forward in a stop-gap scenario ?
- TheIronSheik

Listen dummy. When McDavid was hurt , is that the time to trade RNH? Think.
- TheIronSheik

Oh, I see! I see your point now! If they trade RNH away with McDavid hurt they seriously risk slipping into that last place in the league position instead of that ever sought after 2nd to last spot...
- MnGump

You're all kinds of brilliant aren't you?!

You're all kinds of brilliant aren't you?!
- MnGump

When was McDavid injured? It wasn't and isn't the Oilers intent on not competing in December. Are you serious?