Then he needs to produce high when he is on his game. You need to give him proper line mates. If he is going to take twenty or so games of disappearing then when he is hot trade him for a more consistent meat and potatoes type.
- VANTEL

Well it's definitely a mental thing since he has the talent and is a damn good player when "switch is on". I liked enough of his game with the Sedins to give that line another shot, but it doesn't sound like that's the plan, at least to start the season.

If he or any other young player not named Vey/Kassian makes the team out of camp up front and everyone is healthy then I fully expect a trade(I'm guessing Hansen). I'd much rather trade Higgins though.

For once I completely agree with you.
- Nucker101

Where do I start with this?

You can't change the entire player base in one summer, it'll happen over the next few years, guys like Higgins, Burrows, Hansen etc will all be gone in a few years. Miller and Vrbata are simply stop gap players until some youth can show they've earned a spot on the club.

Henrik is our PPQB, Edler is more then capable of another 40+ point year! We're gonna be fine. Are we gonna win the Cup, no, but the team will compete hard as they build towards a brighter future.
- LeftCoaster

we're better than people think we are and worse than people think we are (wrap your snouts around that deep thought of the day)

As I've said ad nauseum, the Sedins are still 75-85 point players. And they've had a lot of success with Burrows. That first line is still as good as any

we're better than people think we are and worse than people think we are (wrap your snouts around that deep thought of the day)
- Zogg

Change is coming


Sedin Sedin Burrows

Cycle game for aging players. No PPQB on D. No Booming Shot from the point.

Higgins Hansen third Line

Where is the Change ? We picked up Miller and Vrbata who are equals to Luongo Demitra .

Vey who most question if he is an NHLer
Bonino sounds good.
Dorsett is ok.

A franchise who is bragging about change is coming seems to be throwing out the same old crap with new faces.
- VANTEL

I don't think you're being negative enough

McCann
Horvat
Bonino
Cassels
Vey
Mathias
And I didn't even mention Lain
- VANTEL

1) You can't include Horvat if you're suggesting trading him.
2) McCann and Cassels have yet to even play in the AHL, far too early to suggest that they'll be regular top 9 players in the NHL.
3) Bonino is the only one who's shown any top 6 ability in the NHL on that list.
4) Matthias is a career depth player.
5) Lain's a scrub

- LeftCoaster

Must be the avatar chemistry.

Where do I start with this?

You can't change the entire player base in one summer, it'll happen over the next few years, guys like Higgins, Burrows, Hansen etc will all be gone in a few years. Miller and Vrbata are simply stop gap players until some youth can show they've earned a spot on the club.

Henrik is our PPQB, Edler is more then capable of another 40+ point year! We're gonna be fine. Are we gonna win the Cup, no, but the team will compete hard as they build towards a brighter future.
- LeftCoaster

I know why they got Vrbata and Miller.. I know that you can't change an entire team all in one year.

Where do I start? I have seen that same inept PP which has been trending to the bottom 3 in the league for the past two years with Hank as the QB and Edler as the Top D Keystone Kop. This is the kid still trying to fit that square peg in round hole syndrome .

Higgins Hansen third line is saying I love being mediocre.

This lineup next year will finish bottom 8 in the league.

Must be the avatar chemistry.
- Nucker101

1) You can't include Horvat if you're suggesting trading him.
2) McCann and Cassels have yet to even play in the AHL, far too early to suggest that they'll be regular top 9 players in the NHL.
3) Bonino is the only one who's shown any top 6 ability in the NHL on that list.
4) Matthias is a career depth player.
5) Lain's a scrub
- Nucker101

How many AHL games has Horvat played yet you are suggesting he will be top 9?

I don't think you're being negative enough
- A_SteamingLombardi

It's July

I know why they got Vrbata and Miller.. I know that you can't change an entire team all in one year.

Where do I start? I have seen that same inept PP which has been trending to the bottom 3 in the league for the past two years with Hank as the QB and Edler as the Top D Keystone Kop. This is the kid still trying to fit that square peg in round hole syndrome .

Higgins Hansen third line is saying I love being mediocre.

This lineup next year will finish bottom 8 in the league.
- VANTEL

I think there's a chance they will finish bottom 8, especially if the Sedins don't bounceback and the defense/Miller play mediocre.

I can't imagine the PP being any worse, Willie/Lidster have typically had strong special teams, where as the Torts/Sully/Gully trio last year all had a bad PP record(Rangers and Stars fans did mention this over at HF last summer).

I do agree that it'd be nice to have a booming shot on the PP, Edler has the ability but seems to prefer the long range wrist shot.

Higgins and Hansen are good enough 3rd liners, hell we made it to game 7 of the SCF with them in that role. The problem is that over the past 2 years we as fans are judging these 3rd liners with 2nd line criteria and thus we're ripping them.

I'm on board with moving Higgins, I don't see him as a fit in an up-tempo more creative style of attack, he's all about the dump, chase, cycle game. Hansen IMO even with his below average finishing ability has the better wheels and is a better open-ice player than Higgins.

McCann
Horvat
Bonino
Cassels
Vey
Mathias
And I didn't even mention Lain
- VANTEL

And likely not one 1C among them.

I know why they got Vrbata and Miller.. I know that you can't change an entire team all in one year.

Where do I start? I have seen that same inept PP which has been trending to the bottom 3 in the league for the past two years with Hank as the QB and Edler as the Top D Keystone Kop. This is the kid still trying to fit that square peg in round hole syndrome .

Higgins Hansen third line is saying I love being mediocre.

This lineup next year will finish bottom 8 in the league.
- VANTEL

They don't have to have the best PP in the league, middle of the row is fine, which I think they're more than capable of and it'll help them win a few more games.

Higgins and Hansen are actually very good third line players, what they aren't is top six guys, that said, I wouldn't be heart broken to see them both (frank) off.

How many AHL games has Horvat played yet you are suggesting he will be top 9?
- VANTEL

None, that's why you keep these lottery tickets, develop them properly, and hope a couple of them pan out. Having just 3 future centers and banking on all 3 panning out is just asking for trouble.

And likely not one 1C among them.
- AlexF

If McCann grows & fills out like people think he might (based on family height/size), he's the only one with the potential to become one.

And likely not one 1C among them.
- AlexF

Hopefully next year's draft hype is legit. Supposed to be pretty deep in the top 10/15.

And likely not one 1C among them.
- AlexF

So my point was that if Horvat was traded we still have others. When I seen Horvat last year he looked like he had 3 rd line potential yet he is untouchable in most eyes.As I said over and over it is still way to early to judge ,but we need to tone down this untouchables status .

They don't have to have the best PP in the league, middle of the row is fine, which I think they're more than capable of and it'll help them win a few more games.

Higgins and Hansen are actually very good third line players, what they aren't is top six guys, that said, I wouldn't be heart broken to see them both (frank) off.
- LeftCoaster

Middle of the road would be nice , but I am not sure an aging Vrbata is going to bring us up to that level.

So my point was that if Horvat was traded we still have others. When I seen Horvat last year he looked like he had 3 rd line potential yet he is untouchable in most eyes.As I said over and over it is still way to early to judge ,but we need to tone down this untouchables status .
- VANTEL

Well his realistic upside is a solid two-way 2LC, those aren't exactly easy to acquire either. What if you trade him and McCann busts? There's a good chance you'll be one of the first ones to say #firebenning because we don't have any future centers.

Middle of the road would be nice , but I am not sure an aging Vrbata is going to bring us up to that level.
- VANTEL

It's not nice if we're looking at a 9th place finish. I hope they sell at the TDL unless they shock the world and are looking like a decent bet to make the playoffs.

So my point was that if Horvat was traded we still have others. When I seen Horvat last year he looked like he had 3 rd line potential yet he is untouchable in most eyes.As I said over and over it is still way to early to judge ,but we need to tone down this untouchables status .
- VANTEL

No one is "untouchable", but you need to trade from a position of strength, center is not a strength for us. Unless you're getting a major piece back, which Tinordi and Eller are definitely NOT!!

It's not nice if we're looking at a 9th place finish. I hope they sell at the TDL unless they shock the world and are looking like a decent bet to make the playoffs.
- Nucker101

THIS. It actually would make the Vrbata signing well worth it if we could rent him out for future pieces after he flops with the twins & produces on the 2nd line & PP.

It's not nice if we're looking at a 9th place finish. I hope they sell at the TDL unless they shock the world and are looking like a decent bet to make the playoffs.
- Nucker101

As I said before I have penciled you in as caption of the Tank Nation ship

No one is "untouchable", but you need to trade from a position of strength, center is not a strength for us. Unless you're getting a major piece back, which Tinordi and Eller are definitely NOT!!
- LeftCoaster

Do you really see a big difference in Tinordi and Myers in two years?