I will be disappointed if VDV isn't in the AHL, or at least the 13th forward. Hakstol can love him all he wants as one of his "boys," the bottom 6 was brutal this season and a reason for many of the team's struggles. It's the biggest short term problem right now. Hopefully Hexy and Hak see reason.

It's not hard to upgrade -- call a prospect up (Leier?), make a subtle signing, maybe go bigger with Nielsen, who is my favorite FA, and bump a Read or Cousins down. The bottom 6 as is really can't defend, can't score, has some weak skaters (including VDV...sorry to disagree, but he is an average at best skater. And then there's White who people want to resign, who is a slug out there). This bottom 6 needs to either rack up points considering G and Coots are taking the tough minutes, or play great defense to free them up. It does neither now. Going in with the same unit next season is asking for it.
- Mononoke

id love neilsen, another solid 2 way guy on a third line maybe paired with laughton/raffl/read/leier. having G, Coots, Neilsen, and Cousins down the middle would be a solid pivot rotation.

read hasn't scored in 2 years and Laughton hasn't shown he can score at the nhl level. so not sure how you can say that line can score.
- rinaldo

I think he was talking about neilsen and laughton potentially potting more goals, more so than talking about read. i think read is brought up as the defensive stalwart of that group.

you also have to admit, his S% was extremely low this year, i guess as it was last year, maybe playing with a more skillful center can help. Last year he did play with coots but i think coots was still figuring out his 200 foot game so offense wasnt all that important, and this year he played with cousins mostly. neilsen i think could be a good acquisition not for only what he brings to the table, but how he may be able to help laughton and read.

granted he just turned 32, but he plays a solid game, hasnt shown any signs of declining, and may not command all that much in terms of dollars and term. id give a guy like that 2/3 years no problem.

id love neilsen, another solid 2 way guy on a third line maybe paired with laughton/raffl/read/leier. having G, Coots, Neilsen, and Cousins down the middle would be a solid pivot rotation.
- sjk540

I liken adding Nielsen to adding a second Couturier. Imagine what this team could be with that down the middle over the next few years. So let's see, that's an elite 1C who can play defense and match up, that's another Selke caliber 2C that can match up, and then add another elite 2-way 2C center that can match up. That's a nightmare for the opposition. It's a complete no win situation.

I liken adding Nielsen to adding a second Couturier. Imagine what this team could be with that down the middle over the next few years. So let's see, that's an elite 1C who can play defense and match up, that's another Selke caliber 2C that can match up, and then add another elite 2-way center that can match up. That's a nightmare for the opposition. It's a complete no win situation.
- Mononoke

yeah you guys totally shouldnt do that.

yeah you guys totally shouldnt do that.
- stayinthefnnet

We have one center for Crosby, one for Malkin, one for HBK. We will eat all your giblets.

Holy crap, game seven is tonight and the finals don't start until Monday?

id love neilsen, another solid 2 way guy on a third line maybe paired with laughton/raffl/read/leier. having G, Coots, Neilsen, and Cousins down the middle would be a solid pivot rotation.
- sjk540

Neilsen is going to cost some coin. He will be sought after so your going to have to out bid others.

I wouldn't mind looking at Colton Sceviour from Dallas.

Also as a possible upgrade on the wings I would have interest if Alex Chaisson isn't QO as a RFA.

yeah you guys totally shouldnt do that.
- stayinthefnnet

exactly what you dont want to see is the reason. good luck with TB tonight, i have a feeling this is gonna be a 4-4 game going into OT

Neilsen is going to cost some coin. He will be sought after so your going to have to out bid others.

I wouldn't mind looking at Colton Sceviour from Dallas.

Also as a possible upgrade on the wings I would have interest if Alex Chaisson isn't QO as a RFA.
- J35Bacher

And we have some cap space for that too, a 2 to 3 year deal would be perfect since it would expire before all the kids ELC's run out. not sure where the money would start, but for his Neilsen's skill set, id be willing to pay 4 mil a year for 3 years. pretty much the space we will get for cutting umby, think thats a solid trade off.

exactly what you dont want to see is the reason. good luck with TB tonight, i have a feeling this is gonna be a 4-4 game going into OT
- sjk540

haha i know, i was only being sarcastic to poke fun. i think neilson would be a good fit. he would also be able to help free up coots for other chances as well.

appreciate it. my stomach has the most uneasy feeling.

read hasn't scored in 2 years and Laughton hasn't shown he can score at the nhl level. so not sure how you can say that line can score.
- rinaldo

Laughton actually scored a lot of points in his limited ice time. It was the defensive side of the game where he struggled.

haha i know, i was only being sarcastic to poke fun. i think neilson would be a good fit. he would also be able to help free up coots for other chances as well.

appreciate it. my stomach has the most uneasy feeling.
- stayinthefnnet

maybe then he can score some GD goals!

Laughton actually scored a lot of points in his limited ice time. It was the defensive side of the game where he struggled.
- Feanor

theres no point in trying to reason with the #fancystats crowd

Is it because of our resident "troll" or have you felt that way before then?

I find them highly likeable. I was almost assuredly rooting for the Western Champ in the finals.
- mayorofangrytown

I have been a Marleau fan forever. And warmed to Joe T once he moved to SJ. And now I see so much to like about Joe P. I wouldn't have been upset to see SL in the finals. I love Tarasenko to pieces. But I was very happy to see SJ win last night. No one else's opinion of a team is going to push me one way or another. And I'll be rooting for SJ in the final no matter what. Although if TB wins it won't kill me.

And we have some cap space for that too, a 2 to 3 year deal would be perfect since it would expire before all the kids ELC's run out. not sure where the money would start, but for his Neilsen's skill set, id be willing to pay 4 mil a year for 3 years. pretty much the space we will get for cutting umby, think thats a solid trade off.
- sjk540

It might have to be 5 per. But I don't think that's an overpay. It's really about keeping it to 3 years I think. A bit more annual to entice him (he will have other suitors) is mandatory.

I don't think a lot of people realize how good Frans is. It's not adding a 30 pt competent 3C. It's adding a 50 pt 2B who can play the most difficult minutes. At that cost, it isn't even a luxury but a good investment, perhaps even a steal. Sceviour could be a decent stealth add, but this team needs a legit third center a lot more than a solid 20 pt winger. And you're right, another piece could be added too even with Nielsen. I think it'd be a brilliant add.

maybe then he can score some GD goals!
- YuenglingJagr

Unlikely. We will just have to settle for him getting assists. I know they only count 1/3 as much, but what can you do, right?

4 x 4.5 for a 10 point defensive d man who isn't even great at defense (he's not as bad as people like Yost say tbh, but he isn't good either)?

So Benning will have to offer an even bigger contract than that after giving up McCann and the 33rd pick? Frog tea.
- Mononoke

Gudbranson is a better player than you're giving him credit for. He's a solid defender.

Here are some comments from his former coach.


“He's a big, physical guy who plays a shutdown role for us,” coach Gerard Gallant said toward the end of the season. “He plays against the top players on the other team, blocks a lot of shots, kills a lot of penalties, does a real good job for us. Guddy has taken a big step for our team this year. He's very confident, moves the puck real well and is a big part of our blue line.”

I have been a Marleau fan forever. And warmed to Joe T once he moved to SJ. And now I see so much to like about Joe P. I wouldn't have been upset to see SL in the finals. I love Tarasenko to pieces. But I was very happy to see SJ win last night. No one else's opinion of a team is going to push me one way or another. And I'll be rooting for SJ in the final no matter what. Although if TB wins it won't kill me.
- bodiva88

I am a big Martin Jones fan too...and Peter fan...and Couture fan...and Donski fan

We have one center for Crosby, one for Malkin, one for HBK. We will eat all your giblets.
- Mononoke

you will eat 0 giblets. its not as if 87/71 have a hard time getting on the board. even when thinks dont go well, thats not the issue.

now, can you tell Cooper to just make a pairing of coburn and carle and play them about 34 minutes tonight?

The type of people who make "Snide" comments on someone elses appearance usually are worthless pieces of garbage themselves ! The internet, and social media, has created a special kind of coward.

Gudbranson is a better player than you're giving him credit for. He's a solid defender.

Here are some comments from his former coach.


“He's a big, physical guy who plays a shutdown role for us,” coach Gerard Gallant said toward the end of the season. “He plays against the top players on the other team, blocks a lot of shots, kills a lot of penalties, does a real good job for us. Guddy has taken a big step for our team this year. He's very confident, moves the puck real well and is a big part of our blue line.”
- MJL

He was crossing his fingers

And we have some cap space for that too, a 2 to 3 year deal would be perfect since it would expire before all the kids ELC's run out. not sure where the money would start, but for his Neilsen's skill set, id be willing to pay 4 mil a year for 3 years. pretty much the space we will get for cutting umby, think thats a solid trade off.
- sjk540

I'd love to get Neilson for that, but it'll cost significantly more I believe. 5+M a year.

I am a big Martin Jones fan too...and Peter fan...and Couture fan...and Donski fan
- YuenglingJagr

4Real

It might have to be 5 per. But I don't think that's an overpay. It's really about keeping it to 3 years I think. A bit more annual to entice him (he will have other suitors) is mandatory.

I don't think a lot of people realize how good Frans is. It's not adding a 30 pt 3C. It's adding a 50 pt 2B who can play the most difficult minutes. At that cost, it isn't even a luxury but a good investment, perhaps even a steal. Sceviour could be a decent stealth add, but this team needs a legit third center a lot more than a solid 20 pt winger. And you're right, another piece could be added too even with Nielsen. I think it'd be a brilliant add.
- Mononoke

5 mil per would almost be double his last contract, i agree though that in this day and age it may need to go that high. he does bring a lot of elements, and its really important that he still hasnt shown any signs of declining at 32, which makes me all the more confident of handing out 3 years as opposed to 2.

I would like to add Sceviour too but im secretly hoping konecny wows everyone and takes that 3rd line winger spot, maybe even a top 6 winger spot, pull a drouin possibly.

the main thing here is Hexy has us set up where the cap wont be a deterrent for us to sign someone, he has managed it as well as any executive in the whole league over the past 2 years.

5 mil per would almost be double his last contract, i agree though that in this day and age it may need to go that high. he does bring a lot of elements, and its really important that he still hasnt shown any signs of declining at 32, which makes me all the more confident of handing out 3 years as opposed to 2.

I would like to add Sceviour too but im secretly hoping konecny wows everyone and takes that 3rd line winger spot, maybe even a top 6 winger spot, pull a drouin possibly.

the main thing here is Hexy has us set up where the cap wont be a deterrent for us to sign someone, he has managed it as well as any executive in the whole league over the past 2 years.
- sjk540

50-50 I think on ConnectKnees. If he's ready, sure, I'd love to add him. That means Raffl or Schenn or Konecny would be on the third line. That'd be like Kessel on the third now though. It isn't a demotion, just ridiculous depth.