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

Bonino is very good on the PP, or at least he was last year player with two all-stars. Have to wait and see on that one. He may work well with Vrbata and another young player who steps up?

So many unknowns at this point?

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

Tinordi's crap IMO. Myers could bounce back & have a nice career... Will probably be a mess if he remains a Sabre though.

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.
- Nucker101

Ellers is a young reliable 2 way center also who will probably pass Pleks this year as Montreals 2 nd line centre .

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

Two different types of players IMO.

Tinordi's crap IMO. Myers could bounce back & have a nice career... Will probably be a mess if he remains a Sabre though.
- DrChristianTroy

he will be a tough SOB in two years.

Ellers is a young reliable 2 way center also who will probably pass Pleks this year as Montreals 2 nd line centre .
- VANTEL

You're trying to speed up the process, let's just develop our own draft picks, Horvat will be everything Eller is, hopefully more, in a couple years.

Ellers is a young reliable 2 way center also who will probably pass Pleks this year as Montreals 2 nd line centre .
- VANTEL

He's not a 2LC. He's a mediocre 3LC.

he will be a tough SOB in two years.
- VANTEL

Did Brian Burke die & possess you? I don't give 2 sh!ts how tough a player is if he doesn't have a well rounded skillset to go with it.

He's not a 2LC. He's a mediocre 3LC.
- Nucker101

I like Eller but never been a fan of Plekanec - it's like he's one of those 'tweeners' - he's almost sometimes possibly could-be good sometimes

Did Brian Burke die & possess you? I don't give 2 sh!ts how tough a player is if he doesn't have a well rounded skillset to go with it.
- DrChristianTroy

Just curious, what do you project Tinordi to be in his prime? 5-6 dman? I always though he had the upside to be a stay-at-home #4 D-man. Someone who needs a better d-man to play with on the 2nd pairing or he can carry a 3rd pairing.

I like Eller but never been a fan of Plekanec - it's like he's one of those 'tweeners' - he's almost sometimes possibly could-be good sometimes
- Zogg

Eller or Plekanec?

Eller or Plekanec?
- Nucker101

I like Eller - I think he's shown some decent upside (or at least that's been my perception the times I've seen him play). Plekanec, not so much

Just curious, what do you project Tinordi to be in his prime? 5-6 dman? I always though he had the upside to be a stay-at-home #4 D-man. Someone who needs a better d-man to play with on the 2nd pairing or he can carry a 3rd pairing.
- Nucker101

I thought of him as a big 2 nd pairing guy who will play tough and move players out of in front of the net.

Would be a nice 2 nd pairing behind the Russian bear

I like Eller - I think he's shown some decent upside (or at least that's been my perception the times I've seen him play). Plekanec, not so much
- Zogg

Eller is Horvat a few years from now.

Just curious, what do you project Tinordi to be in his prime? 5-6 dman? I always though he had the upside to be a stay-at-home #4 D-man. Someone who needs a better d-man to play with on the 2nd pairing or he can carry a 3rd pairing.
- Nucker101

Yeah... For me, he falls into the Douglas Murray category (and IMO that skillset is a thing of the past).

Yeah... For me, he falls into the Douglas Murray category (and IMO that skillset is a thing of the past).
- DrChristianTroy

He is a bigger Sbisa (whom you like)

Yeah... For me, he falls into the Douglas Murray category (and IMO that skillset is a thing of the past).
- DrChristianTroy

I think he has to be the slowest player in the league (and maybe part of that is, he's so @%@#% huge). But when a player's skating becomes that obvious, then I think it's time to hang em up. Like you said, players of his ilk are becoming extinct quickly.

Anyone remember Garth Butcher? same kind of style as Murray - tough in front of the next, fought, great team guy, but couldn't skate if his life depended on it

Eller is Horvat a few years from now.
- VANTEL

If that is the case, I will be quite happy

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.
- Nucker101

Wasn't Kelser projected to be a 3LC at best? He turned out to be pretty alright (aside from being a teammate's wife slaying demon, that is)

Eller is Horvat a few years from now.
- VANTEL

Horvat has a much greater offensive upside IMO. Eller's puck distribution skills are very poor. his upside is 3rd line centre and that's it. he's just a big body who can skate.... basically a slightly more skilled version of Matthias... only 3 more pts than matthias this past season

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.
- DrChristianTroy

.and demands a trade by January.

ok my rebuttal is Cassels is a long shot at best, but I like that kid and hope he makes it one day. Matthias isn't a prospect, neither is Bonino.
- LeftCoaster

I think Cassels will make it, Gaunce will play as a winger.

Horvat has a much greater offensive upside IMO. Eller's puck distribution skills are very poor. his upside is 3rd line centre and that's it. he's just a big body who can skate.... basically a slightly more skilled version of Matthias... only 3 more pts than matthias this past season
- Mungo

I have to disagree. Have you watched him play recently? he was dynamite in the playoffs (17 5 8 13 ), which I think is the best example of what type of player you are getting And you could see he's finally using that big body to make room for himself and line-mates. There is no way he is regressing or has flattened out. I guarantee the next few years he'll really break out (if he gets that ice-time)

Edit: One more thing, the guy has had some very back luck with injuries (especially that horrific concussion he suffered against Ottawa - frankly, I was amazed how quickly he came back. More importantly, that it didn't affect his style of play

Yeah... For me, he falls into the Douglas Murray category (and IMO that skillset is a thing of the past).
- DrChristianTroy

I think Tinordi skates and handles the puck better than Murray, but his total upside is as a shutdown D. Not saying we can't use him, but it's not like he's the 2nd coming of Pronger.

I have to disagree. Have you watched him play recently? he was dynamite in the playoffs (17 5 8 13 ), which I think is the best example of what type of player you are getting And you could see he's finally using that big body to make room for himself and line-mates. There is no way he is regressing or has flattened out. I guarantee the next few years he'll really break out (if he gets that ice-time)
- Zogg

Meh, his vision is questionable. If you ask Ducker, I spend way too much time with Habs fans not to see the guy's limitations. I really like Eller but he's best suited for a 3C role for the rest of his career.