They are playing every second night , the body needs a rest. If they are still not sure in the playoffs of what to do then a 60 minute practice won't help at this time of year
- VANTEL

ill agree there....this stuff needed to be practiced during the season....not waiting till playoffs to show the guys how to clear the zone

I heard Leafs are offering Kessel and Kadri for Semin and 5th overall.
- Scooby_Doo

I seen them offer that

championship teams work out their errors as they go.....through practicing.

btw morning skates arent practice.

Yah, once again, all of these players are unproven commodities. You can forecast ANYthing based on potential and possibility but that doesn't change the fact that it is only conjecture, and simply a prognostication. Please list players that have actually proven they are better than Higgins and at the salary level that he is at.

Oh, and here is some further data for you:

Brodziak - 20 points - 0 in the playoffs - $3 million cap hit
Ryder - 19 points (1/3rd of season missed due to injury?) - $3.5 million cap hit
Upshall - $3.5 million cap hit, 15 points
Fisher - $4.2 million cap hit - 39 points
Ward - $3 million cap hit (soon to be at least 50% higher) - 34 points
Stoll - 17 points - $3.25 million

So, what these stats say, is that it seems Higgins has not only greater cap value but much better performance
- Zogg

Unproven because you won't try something new but will bring back the proven ebbing forward that doesn't really fit third line needs


I don't think Ward gets a raise at 35 years old.

I bet Matthias gets 3.5 by some team

Comets going into quadruple overtime.

Comets going into quadruple overtime.
- CubanBuffet

I seen them offer that
- VANTEL

Must be their 18 year old assistant gm.

Higgins definitely has trade value, especially when guys like Matthias/Tlusty/Frolik/Stafford are gonna get paid like they're core players in this UFA market. A smarter team who needs a capable bottom 6 player would be better off trading a 3rd or random decent(not great) prospect for Higgins rather than overpay for a UFA.

Bieksa also has trade value, has a great rep around the league for being a tough, gritty dman that can play top 4. A team that's only scouted the Canucks a couple of times this year won't realize how much he's regressed, plus some teams have a hard-on for the "intangibles!!!" guys like Bieksa/Clarkson/Etc and are willing to overlook inconsistent play.

I just hope he'll waive.

Unproven because you won't try something new but will bring back the proven ebbing forward that doesn't really fit third line needs


I don't think Ward gets a raise at 35 years old.

I bet Matthias gets 3.5 by some team
- VANTEL

someone will easily give Ward at least $4.5- 5 million. He showed that he's a decent play-off performer over the years and the Caps were lucky to sign him at such a low cap hit. I GUARANTEE he will be receiving a fairly substantial raise.

As far as Matthias, not quite sure why the hard on you have for him, but if he gets $3.5 million then it just makes Higgins value/salary that much more favourable.

someone will easily give Ward at least $4.5- 5 million. He showed that he's a decent play-off performer over the years and the Caps were lucky to sign him at such a low cap hit. I GUARANTEE he will be receiving a fairly substantial raise.

As far as Matthias, not quite sure why the hard on you have for him, but if he gets $3.5 million then it just makes Higgins value/salary that much more favourable.
- Zogg

Yeah, I'll take Higgins at 2.5 over Matthias at 3.5. Rather just save that million and use it for an actual upgrade.

someone will easily give Ward at least $4.5- 5 million. He showed that he's a decent play-off performer over the years and the Caps were lucky to sign him at such a low cap hit. I GUARANTEE he will be receiving a fairly substantial raise.

As far as Matthias, not quite sure why the hard on you have for him, but if he gets $3.5 million then it just makes Higgins value/salary that much more favourable.
- Zogg

I don't have a thing for Matthias. People laughed at me for saying he is woth 3.5 for his 18 goals, but you are offering a 35 year old with 21 goals 4.5

traditionally yes. This year its defenseman....havent you been reading??
- SMBDragon

perhaps you missed my " traditionally " comment.

The goalies have been taking alot of heat for years just how bad the d core is.

The D-Core finally got what was coming to them.

perhaps you missed my " traditionally " comment.

The goalies have been taking alot of heat for years just how bad the d core is.

The D-Core finally got what was coming to them.
- rugdnit

Miller deserves some flack, for the money he's making he should be making the d-core look better than they actually are.


But overall, I agree. The defense is a big issue, as is the top 6.

OKC scores 16 seconds into 4th OT....they play again in 18 hrs brutal

Miller deserves some flack, for the money he's making he should be making the d-core look better than they actually are.


But overall, I agree. The defense is a big issue, as is the top 6.
- Nucker101

Don't forget our bottom 6

wheres the comets scores ?? nothing on tsn

wow you sure dont like practice.
so like ive said already theres a problem on D all season long, you practice that stuff 1 single day and it improves the team dramatically and we win. how can possibly say we dont need it? the smoking gun is right there

I suppose youd rather just trade everyone...whole team
- SMBDragon

This D Core is not going to practice it out... They suck.

The suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.

In case you missed it earlier... The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time.

They practice enough-- They can't execute under pressure. Practice does not generate the same intensity that actual games have.

Please understand this ^^^

wheres the comets scores ?? nothing on tsn
- SMBDragon

2-1 KFC I mean OKC

This D Core is not going to practice it out... They suck.

The suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.

In case you missed it earlier... The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time.

They practice enough-- They can't execute under pressure. Practice does not generate the same intensity that actual games have.

Please understand this ^^^
- rugdnit

Miller deserves some flack, for the money he's making he should be making the d-core look better than they actually are.


But overall, I agree. The defense is a big issue, as is the top 6.
- Nucker101

I can't imagine he had better offers. I gotta' think that deal for Miller gets done at 4.5 per.

perhaps you missed my " traditionally " comment.

The goalies have been taking alot of heat for years just how bad the d core is.

The D-Core finally got what was coming to them.
- rugdnit

100% with you there.

usually everyone who doesnt understand hockey blames the goalies, defense was bad all aLONG. now theyre seeing it cause it got bad enough to notice.

years of accumulated lack of practice on:

clearing their zone, forecheck, protecting our net

100% with you there.

usually everyone who doesnt understand hockey blames the goalies, defense was bad all aLONG. now theyre seeing it cause it got bad enough to notice.

years of accumulated lack of practice on:

clearing their zone, forecheck, protecting our net
- SMBDragon

Rewatch all those times Lou looked like a fool... Many times he was second guessing his D.

This D Core is not going to practice it out... They suck.

The suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.

In case you missed it earlier... The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time.

They practice enough-- They can't execute under pressure. Practice does not generate the same intensity that actual games have.

Please understand this ^^^
- rugdnit

so you think the GMs just somehow managed to build the team with nothing but bums? we collected them all just on our team?that's impossible. Everyone they picked cant execute...every one of them?

or is it more plausible that theres issues with the habits of the team?

of course its habits

Miller deserves some flack, for the money he's making he should be making the d-core look better than they actually are.


But overall, I agree. The defense is a big issue, as is the top 6.
- Nucker101

And he did for most of the season. Other than his paycheque being an issue he is not. Excellent goalie.

so you think the GMs just somehow managed to build the team with nothing but bums? we collected them all just on our team?that's impossible. Everyone they picked cant execute...every one of them?

or is it more plausible that theres issues with the habits of the team?

of course its habits
- SMBDragon

Bud... Practice does not have near the same intensity as games. It's something that's very hard to replicate in practice.