No that’s just what he said today, now if teams start calling with knock your socks off deals for #3, I suppose that could change.
- walleyeb1

No I just meant that I'm very excited about the Draft and can't wait until Friday night LOL

One thing that I will be watching is the position of the players that are acquired. If he adds a center or two, I'm wondering if they just play out the year and trade the rights to Strome (obviously depending on the play of the acquisitions and any rookies). Yes, he has a ton of chemistry with ADB, but ADB did fine without him the year prior. Strome was not good defensively last year, an with all of the emphasis on defense it could be an option for more/better assets.

I don't hate his game, but Strome is the forward version of Gus to me.
- Chunk

Strome is willing but his lack of acceleration shows up on the D side. Hping a good off-season of work improves his burst a bit and he will be serviceable defensively. Not great but not a liability either. With his offensive game, serviceable is all he needs to be. I think he can get there and I was a guy who hated that trade.

Therein lies AA's values to the Hawks as of right now. AA was getting more 5 v 5 TOI and tougher QoC at the last part of the season. That allows Strome to be utilized to his strengths as of now.

Its not Maatta's speed, cause he doesn't have any, but Seabrook is far superior in his mobility even now. That is more of what the negatives are about him. He struggles in the turn and chase the puck. He NEEDS a mobile partner to be effective. He has struggled any time he is expected to carry a pairing.

If he can somehow help the PK, and the report are meh at best about that, he can be useful
- Elbows15

Gotcha. Do you think it is a footwork thing? Is it something that he can improve upon?

Lastly, considering it was mentioned a couple times, do you think that Jokiharju is mobile enough to be that partner, or do you need someone like Prime Keith, or Boqvist (assuming he would be NHL ready and not a disaster defensively).

Its not Maatta's speed, cause he doesn't have any, but Seabrook is far superior in his mobility even now. That is more of what the negatives are about him. He struggles in the turn and chase the puck. He NEEDS a mobile partner to be effective. He has struggled any time he is expected to carry a pairing.

If he can somehow help the PK, and the report are meh at best about that, he can be useful
- Elbows15

If Maatta is slow and a terrible skater how has he lasted in the league these past 5-6 years?

If Maatta is slow and a terrible skater how has he lasted in the league these past 5-6 years?
- boilermaker100

and won 2 cups....

No clue. Apparently he should have made into glue years ago.

Episode 2 of the “On The Clock” series on YouTube dropped today, and while there was nothing revealing there, if there’s anything to gather here it’s that the three players they analyzed were Byram, Cozens, and Dach. I wonder how they decide which clips to include.
- TommyHawk

Smoke screen

Gotcha. Do you think it is a footwork thing? Is it something that he can improve upon?

Lastly, considering it was mentioned a couple times, do you think that Jokiharju is mobile enough to be that partner, or do you need someone like Prime Keith, or Boqvist (assuming he would be NHL ready and not a disaster defensively).
- Chunk

By all accounts I have read, Maatta works at it a lot and at this point, it probably is what it is.

Boqvist is probably going back to London. He still needs more time to mature physically from what I have seen. Which is what was expected when they took him.

Jokesonyou is probably the best option as the roster stands right now. They need to find the right partner for him to maximize his effectiveness or the trade is not going to work out. If they do that, Maatta should prove useful.

If Maatta is slow and a terrible skater how has he lasted in the league these past 5-6 years?
- boilermaker100

It's a miracle. And play 17-20min a night on cup winners.

I heard he may use double runner skates next year, his skating is so poor

and won 2 cups....

No clue. Apparently he should have made into glue years ago.
- SteveRain

And was a healthy scratch for 3 games in the past playoffs.

If Maatta is slow and a terrible skater how has he lasted in the league these past 5-6 years?
- boilermaker100

He is slow. There is no debate about that. I never called him terrible so ask someone who did.

And was a healthy scratch for 3 games in the past playoffs.
- Elbows15

How did those games work out for Pittsburgh?

Its not Maatta's speed, cause he doesn't have any, but Seabrook is far superior in his mobility even now. That is more of what the negatives are about him. He struggles in the turn and chase the puck. He NEEDS a mobile partner to be effective. He has struggled any time he is expected to carry a pairing.

If he can somehow help the PK, and the report are meh at best about that, he can be useful
- Elbows15

Its his first few strides that are not as quick as you would like them to be but after that his speed is adequate. Seabrook is definitely not not far superior in comparing speed to Oli

And was a healthy scratch for 3 games in the past playoffs.
- Elbows15

Coming off an injury

He is slow. There is no debate about that. I never called him terrible so ask someone who did.
- Elbows15

It's implied e.g. "struggles in the turn"

He is slow. There is no debate about that. I never called him terrible so ask someone who did.
- Elbows15

Thats about the only thing you haven't called him in the last two blogs....

If you were going to trade with Pittsburgh for a left defenseman, Matta was the best choice IMO, Dummelin they are not going to trade, no one wants Jack Johnson, and Pettrerson is on his ELC, one year younger than Matta, and one good year in Pittsburgh. Plus I don't think Petterson is a defensive defenseman. If Matta lives up to prior years before injury, he is well worth $4 million.

It's implied e.g. "struggles in the turn"
- boilermaker100

Well the Penguins beat writer on NHL network radio this morning said there is no issue with his mobility, his turns are fine, its his straight away speed he lost, is not sure why, if there was an injury or not. He did say whatever lack of speed he makes up for with his positioning and his good stick.

Question for Wiz or whoever else is in tune. In 17 Dallas went from #8 to #3 in the draft lottery, and selected Heiskenen. How does Byram compare to Heiskenen, who had an excellent rookie season at 19?

How did those games work out for Pittsburgh?
- breadbag

Same way the first one did that he played.

Coming off an injury
- boilermaker100

Meh.

Well the Penguins beat writer on NHL network radio this morning said there is no issue with his mobility, his turns are fine, its his straight away speed he lost, is not sure why, if there was an injury or not. He did say whatever lack of speed he makes up for with his positioning and his good stick.
- LAHawk

Scouts do, tho.

Thats about the only thing you haven't called him in the last two blogs....
- Blackwater13

Not even close.

It's implied e.g. "struggles in the turn"
- boilermaker100

That is your interpretation. If I thought he was terrible, I would type it.

Its his first few strides that are not as quick as you would like them to be but after that his speed is adequate. Seabrook is definitely not not far superior in comparing speed to Oli
- rwilliams88

I said mobility. And yes, he is.

I said mobility. And yes, he is.
- Elbows15

but he's not....pretty convinced you haven't actually watched him on the ice