Where does RW get the charts for corsi pairings btw? Interested to see who Perron looked better with advanced stat wise...

well... I liked him out there. not sad he's gone... instantly replaceable.
- ChrisMS

Definitely on the same page there. I did like the guy, but I also liked 100 other guys just like him who are replaceable on the bottom lines. Hell, I loved Downie, and I wish that he could have stayed out of the box.

He could have been a guy who could really make a difference on those bottom lines with the skill he has. Too bad he was always busy doing something stupid instead.

I think we have questions over our whole D lineup. Who starts with who & how they go early will determine how much trouble we are in. If we can get through the learning curve for these young guys without too many losses then great. If we can't then the chopping & changing is going to cause great argument on here.

Can our young D develop into a force - I think & hope so. Will it happen this year???? Can we out score our issues - that's going to be great to see. Mike Lange is starting to roll them out in the shower already!
- Aussiepenguin

Yep, pretty much of the same opinion. I have nothing against going with our young guys, but we have to be prepared that this probably means no cup this year. It doesn't mean the season won't be exciting and all but I just don't see us winning the cup with that D lineup... it would really be unheard of.

Potato, Potatoe? I just meant that I feel we should at least make it to the final every year. That's what I have come to expect from this team or its a let down otherwise.

Not saying its plausible, or that its not difficult (especially given out division and its increasing talent level), or that injuries don't play a factor. I realize all this. But I'm a diehard fan with high expectations. And I think, given the talent our team has, that more has been expected of them since 2009. Especially when you look at the Hawks and think "that could have been us".
- thickman1178

hawks had among the least man games lost... that is the key. Now they have two albatross contracts that cost them a rising star traded for an underwhelming return... needing to move out other peices to get under the cap... its coming at a cost... worth it Im sure... but its not all parades and cereal.

Give me:
Perron-Sid-Kessel
Kuni-malkin-hornqvist
Plotnikov-sutter-dupuis
???-sundqvist-???

The ??? Are for whoever shows in training camp that they can take a spot.

Give me:
Perron-Sid-Kessel
Kuni-malkin-hornqvist
Plotnikov-sutter-dupuis
???-sundqvist-???

The ??? Are for whoever shows in training camp that they can take a spot.
- drummer829

What if Mike Johnston is reading the comments here and sees the questions marks. You've got to do a better job of creating your 4 lines. Mike J is counting on you.

Think Heatly and Richards bad work ethic and conditioning and the decline started at 30.

My shot a possible roster; No trades and only minor UFA signings.

https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/13480

Would love to see Sutter's cap hit moved as well as Scuderi, but less and less likely as time goes by (especially Scuderi).

What if Mike Johnston is reading the comments here and sees the questions marks. You've got to do a better job of creating your 4 lines. Mike J is counting on you.
- nurk

I think if any coach reads any of these blog's comments for stuff to consider we have a lot more things to worry about.

Why do people keep saying we have depth issues? It's been true in the past, but weirdly enough, after adding another super star we're the deepest we've been in a while and its not even close.

Perron/Crosby/Kessel
Plotnikov/Malkin/Hornqvist
Kunitz/Sutter/Dupuis

That is a very good top 9 as it is and we're not officially done making moves. We could still shake things up by moving Kunitz and Sutter and bringing in whoever we get back for them and sign guys like Fehr and Matthias. Bennett can also play top 9 if not traded. We can fill out the bottom line with NHL ready WBS guys like Sundqvist, Rust, and Wilson and a cheap signing like Santorelli. Recency bias should really bring down his price. I look at teams like NYI and CBJ and I'm terrified but I am cautiously optimistic that if the right game plan is in place we can hang with the best of the Met which will be a female dog of a devision this coming year. I'd say we're the third best team in this devision. Maybe second depending on how CBJ's D shakes out.

As for this hypothetical Plotnikov/Malkin/Hornqvist line, I don't like it at all. Plotnikov has a pretty good shot from what I can tell but he thrives as a net front banger, where Hornqvist already lives. I think they're redundant players and need to be separated. I still think that due to his game Hornqvist should be able to play the LW no issue. His chemistry with Crosby was incredible last year and his game is the perfect compliment to the Crosby-Kessel dynamic. It merits a mid season experiment if nothing else.

Also... someone better put Farnham in our 4th line! Come onnnnn who doesn't love Farnham

Also... someone better put Farnham in our 4th line! Come onnnnn who doesn't love Farnham
- Guile

This guy...


Dude can't skate. I don't mind him as a call up, but if he's an NHL regular he's just a young Zach Sill with more bite. I thought we learned our lesson on these types of players.

I think if any coach reads any of these blog's comments for stuff to consider we have a lot more things to worry about.
- Guile

I know one GM in the league that doesn't read these comments. Sweeney of the Bruins. If he read the comments after the Lucic and Hamilton deals he would have hurt himself. But now the Bruins fans love him and are probably planning a parade for him.

What if Mike Johnston is reading the comments here and sees the questions marks. You've got to do a better job of creating your 4 lines. Mike J is counting on you.
- nurk

Fine.
I'll say Wilson-sundqvist-Sheary with Bennett being traded

Also... someone better put Farnham in our 4th line! Come onnnnn who doesn't love Farnham
- Guile

if he stayed out of trouble he'd be ok.

This guy...


Dude can't skate. I don't mind him as a call up, but if he's an NHL regular he's just a young Zach Sill with more bite. I thought we learned our lesson on these types of players.
- Victoro311

His ability to draw penalties... best in the AHL, and in his stint in the NHL, best as well.

Until that is proven a limited sample size and not his forte, I want him up here to draw penalties. He gave back under half that Downie did as well.

His ability to draw penalties... best in the AHL, and in his stint in the NHL, best as well.

Until that is proven a limited sample size and not his forte, I want him up here to draw penalties. He gave back under half that Downie did as well.
- Guile

He was good at that, but do we really want to give a roster spot to a guy who can only draw penalties? Say he draws .3 penalties a game. Is it worth the amount of scoring chances he'll give up or his inability to keep the puck in the offensive zone due to poor skating ability and hockey IQ? Penalties will happen anyways. I have a feeling that Plotnikov is going to be drawing a lot himself. He seems like a big time agitator.

He was good at that, but do we really want to give a roster spot to a guy who can only draw penalties? Say he draws .3 penalties a game. Is it worth the amount of scoring chances he'll give up or his inability to keep the puck in the offensive zone due to poor skating ability and hockey IQ? Penalties will happen anyways. I have a feeling that Plotnikov is going to be drawing a lot himself. He seems like a big time agitator.
- Victoro311

Its not like he was worse than Sill or Adams as a player... but let me do the RW hero chart thing before going gung-ho on that. Can't have an argument without a chart here


Nvm... his isn't available.


edit: Odd, Sill's isn't either... just Adams. Adams would be minimum in most categories... and only near the worst in making his teammates give up more shots and goals

Where does RW get the charts for corsi pairings btw? Interested to see who Perron looked better with advanced stat wise...
- Guile

http://stats.hockeyanalys...p=1&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/ratings.php?db=201415&sit=5v5&type=individual&teamid=24&pos=skaters&minutes=50&disp=1&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC
- jfkst1

Then I don't know how to use that site to find the charts... unless hes manually making them... (frank) that.



Anyway... Perron with Crosby/Malkin, taking stats that matter...

................................ TOI GF60 GA60 GF% CF60 CF%
CROSBY, SIDNEY 444:53 2.70 2.70 50.0 64.60 58.6
MALKIN, EVGENI . 53:21 2.25 2.25 50.0 78.63 61.4


So... Seems like with Malkin they drove and had possession way better, but less points. Reasonable considering both were injurred for the bulk of that time. I'd give Perron to Malkin first, see what they do when healthy.

Its not like he was worse than Sill or Adams as a player... but let me do the RW hero chart thing before going gung-ho on that. Can't have an argument without a chart here


Nvm... his isn't available.


edit: Odd, Sill's isn't either... just Adams. Adams would be minimum in most categories... and only near the worst in making his teammates give up more shots and goals
- Guile

Yeah I mean I'd say he was more useful than them because even though he couldn't skate he could at least agitate and draw penalties, but the point is I thought we moved on from those guys.

Then I don't know how to use that site to find the charts... unless hes manually making them... (frank) that.



Anyway... Perron with Crosby/Malkin, taking stats that matter...

................................ TOI GF60 GA60 GF% CF60 CF%
CROSBY, SIDNEY 444:53 2.70 2.70 50.0 64.60 58.6
MALKIN, EVGENI . 53:21 2.25 2.25 50.0 78.63 61.4


So... Seems like with Malkin they drove and had possession way better, but less points. Reasonable considering both were injurred for the bulk of that time. I'd give Perron to Malkin first, see what they do when healthy.
- Guile

I thought they looked good. Just couldn't finish. That'll be fixed by health.

Yeah I mean I'd say he was more useful than them because even though he couldn't skate he could at least agitate and draw penalties, but the point is I thought we moved on from those guys.
- Victoro311

Tad limited cap space for what is likely our final forward spot... If we can't get a deal on a 1 year player... Farnham is a huge improvement from the Adams and Sills we've used, and unlike Downie, he draws more penalties without giving them back.


Something I've said in the past... if your one 4th line winger is the biggest cause of concern on a team, you got a damn good team.

I thought they looked good. Just couldn't finish. That'll be fixed by health.
- Victoro311

As did I, but was really hard to tell with a lack of points. But seems the raw data supports he might be even better with Malkin.

Then I don't know how to use that site to find the charts... unless hes manually making them... (frank) that.



Anyway... Perron with Crosby/Malkin, taking stats that matter...

................................ TOI GF60 GA60 GF% CF60 CF%
CROSBY, SIDNEY 444:53 2.70 2.70 50.0 64.60 58.6
MALKIN, EVGENI . 53:21 2.25 2.25 50.0 78.63 61.4


So... Seems like with Malkin they drove and had possession way better, but less points. Reasonable considering both were injurred for the bulk of that time. I'd give Perron to Malkin first, see what they do when healthy.
- Guile

Pretty sure his charts are all standard excel products. At least it looks that way to me.