Dach mic'd up at prospect camp - love his playful attitude and enthusiasm.

https://www.nbcsports.com...spects-camp?ls=social-vid
- EbonyRaptor

"Bo...quer???"
LOL

Very sad.

https://t.co/Skdz9Xjvif

How many 20 goal seasons did AA have without Kane/Panarin for a huge portion of the season on his wing (including a lot of PP time)...

Who you play with matters, especially when they are top 10 offensive talent in the NHL. From 15/16 to 17/18 the guy lined up with Kane for 2600 minutes of icetime and ~2000 minutes with Panarin while being deployed offensively a lot. Panarin was gone for one of those seasons and he had some minutes with Schmaltz, but AA did not score much when playing with anyone else.

Smith might get less minutes and might score less than the 0.40 PPG he has had in 3 of the last 4 years, but he could put up 3rd line numbers like he has been doing.

As for the penalties...that is also yet to be determined. We've seen a lot of players change teams and have swings in their PIMs and number of minors they take. That is up to the coaching staff, the leadership of the players and how they approach the game. Some guys are more prone to bad penalties sure, but I think it is silly to just write a guy off before he has even taken a shift. I'm optimistic to have someone with some actual grit in their game.
- breadbag

AA was good enough to play with Kane and Panarin, not that he was good because he played with them. Smiths numbers are the same as a replacement player. He’s a 4th line/press box player period. If he lines up higher than that your team sucks.

Very sad.

https://t.co/Skdz9Xjvif
- Ogilthorpe2

I agree, this is a very real issue. Just awful

Over the years i was gung ho about attending the prospects camp games. This time, however, the extremely hot weather certainly with a throng of fandom is just too much. It is likely just too cramped and questionably comfortable - inside an ice rink!

Those who follow carefully and check all media know about the players, anyway. I will miss sitting with wiz but he is at home too around the pool with grandkids

So.....projecting successful is to at least make playoffs. I feel while this may occur next season, the defensemen collectively is just too weak. But if Keith leads the group.and the goaltending + Colliton system is lights out...maybe they sneak in.

Just compare us to other teams on paper though and be honest/don't let your emotion carry you. We have to be a darkhorse to get in

Whether or not attending prospects camp scrimmage friday, you can dream about the lineup skating next door at the next playoff appearance.

I believe next season is possible but ultimately we will fall short of that goal. Perhaps a trade deadline transaction and another team which is projected to make post regular season ....drops off. Often there is one team gets in that was not favored to make the "second season."

I am predicting that the make up of our next playoff appearance will look much different. The kids on defense will be a mobile asset as compared to next season's slower bunch. Wheras deHahn is ok, Maata is slow. Expecting Murphy and Gus to lead us beside Keith is possible for a late season run. But playoff hockey wratches up the intensity and physical battering.

The blueline crew is just not good enough and Dach is yet too green.

I really like a lot of the kids up front and back end to emerge. The youngsters may be too green themselves but i see hope and I am optimistic we will be improving. Next year some of the veterans added this off season plus some not too good current veterans will becone headlights. Especially with expansion coming some veterans are here for one at most two seasons

I am excited about all the dmen. Excited too regarding Kurasev, Dach, Entwhistle, Soderlund, Barrett, Hagel. Need to learn how soon some nasty tough big guys like Slavin could move in. And Re Johnson: good enough skill set to become #4 center?

I expect just Crawford and one or possibly two veterans on defense to move on. This may create space for one quality free agent.

Gus may still be here even after a Boqvist gets a look. Boqvist needs to play well defensively at Rockford and not be rushed. He means too much to push him ahead too fast.

There is going to be decisions to make because a lot of the kids - particularly the forwards - have the skill set to be strong in bottom line roles. Rolling four lines and a mobile dman crew to go along with the veterans with Lehner in net. Book it.

I bet if Krys emerges that he needs two seasons AHL. Then he is your third pair. Dangerous offensive player in his strengths as a Barrie on Avalanche is in his strength if he [Barrie] is a third pair. Just to cite an example.

the more I think about it the more I want Dach to get up to 9 games to start the season and then go back to the WHL. The main reason is something someone in an earlier post brought to my attention - Dach earning up to $2.5M in bonus money (if he plays as well as we hope he will) and most of that will be paid from the 2020/21 cap as there probably won't be enough cap space left at the end of the 2019/20 season. Let him get a taste of the NHL and then go back and dominate the WHL and come into the 2020/21 training camp with confidence supreme. It also wouldn't hurt to have his ELC slide a year so he, Boqvist and Beaudin aren't on co-terminus contracts.

And speaking of Boqvist - do the same thing with him. Give him up to 9 games or until de Haan is ready to come off IR and then play in Rockford the rest of the year.

the more I think about it the more I want Dach to get up to 9 games to start the season and then go back to the WHL. The main reason is something someone in an earlier post brought to my attention - Dach earning up to $2.5M in bonus money (if he plays as well as we hope he will) and most of that will be paid from the 2020/21 cap as there probably won't be enough cap space left at the end of the 2019/20 season. Let him get a taste of the NHL and then go back and dominate the WHL and come into the 2020/21 training camp with confidence supreme. It also wouldn't hurt to have his ELC slide a year so he, Boqvist and Beaudin aren't on co-terminus contracts.

And speaking of Boqvist - do the same thing with him. Give him up to 9 games or until de Haan is ready to come off IR and then play in Rockford the rest of the year.
- EbonyRaptor

There is no way that Boqvist should be considered for even one game. He has too far to come defensively. He cannot improve enough in the exhibition season. You recall how he was not entrusted, defensively, by Hunter for London in junior last season. Cmon' now. Ebony, you know better than to suggest that Boqvist gets a look. I would be surprised if he even gets a look late season. Even though he could be a fast riser yet NO if in a playoff chase you do NOT recall him.

There is no way that Boqvist should be considered for even one game. He has too far to come defensively. He cannot improve enough in the exhibition season. You recall how he was not entrusted, defensively, by Hunter for London in junior last season. Cmon' now. Ebony, you know better than to suggest that Boqvist gets a look. I would be surprised if he even gets a look late season. Even though he could be a fast riser yet NO if in a playoff chase you do NOT recall him.
- jhawk59

No, I don't know that. First - let's see how he looks at Traverse City and in training camp and preseason games before we judge him not ready. Second - I don't think giving him some games even when he's not totally ready is a bad thing for him or the team. If he's a train wreck - than no, but that will be seen in preseason games so he wouldn't get put into a position to hurt the team when the games count.

No, I don't know that. First - let's see how he looks at Traverse City and in training camp and preseason games before we judge him not ready. Second - I don't think giving him some games even when he's not totally ready is a bad thing for him or the team. If he's a train wreck - than no, but that will be seen in preseason games so he wouldn't get put into a position to hurt the team when the games count.
- EbonyRaptor

Fair enough. But i will be surprised if he receives any nhl regular season games. I trust he will not be rushed, so he has to make perhaps even huge strides in defensive aspects. If he is close to good enough and makes strides then it gets interesting.

I'm really excited to learn more about everyone's travel schedule!!

Can we get a blog dedicated to that Tyler??
- PatShart

I just got back from Reno/Carson City/Tahoe for 4 days visiting my girlfriend and then Vegas for 1. Was a nice little trip.

There is no way that Boqvist should be considered for even one game. He has too far to come defensively. He cannot improve enough in the exhibition season. You recall how he was not entrusted, defensively, by Hunter for London in junior last season. Cmon' now. Ebony, you know better than to suggest that Boqvist gets a look. I would be surprised if he even gets a look late season. Even though he could be a fast riser yet NO if in a playoff chase you do NOT recall him.
- jhawk59

If Dennis Gilbert can get 1 game, so can Boqvist. 1 game doesn't mean much as a trial. Playing him 10+ games if a top 6 defenseman got injured is another story.

Whether or not attending prospects camp scrimmage friday, you can dream about the lineup skating next door at the next playoff appearance.

I believe next season is possible but ultimately we will fall short of that goal. Perhaps a trade deadline transaction and another team which is projected to make post regular season ....drops off. Often there is one team gets in that was not favored to make the "second season."

I am predicting that the make up of our next playoff appearance will look much different. The kids on defense will be a mobile asset as compared to next season's slower bunch. Wheras deHahn is ok, Maata is slow. Expecting Murphy and Gus to lead us beside Keith is possible for a late season run. But playoff hockey wratches up the intensity and physical battering.

The blueline crew is just not good enough and Dach is yet too green.

I really like a lot of the kids up front and back end to emerge. The youngsters may be too green themselves but i see hope and I am optimistic we will be improving. Next year some of the veterans added this off season plus some not too good current veterans will becone headlights. Especially with expansion coming some veterans are here for one at most two seasons

I am excited about all the dmen. Excited too regarding Kurasev, Dach, Entwhistle, Soderlund, Barrett, Hagel. Need to learn how soon some nasty tough big guys like Slavin could move in. And Re Johnson: good enough skill set to become #4 center?

I expect just Crawford and one or possibly two veterans on defense to move on. This may create space for one quality free agent.

Gus may still be here even after a Boqvist gets a look. Boqvist needs to play well defensively at Rockford and not be rushed. He means too much to push him ahead too fast.

There is going to be decisions to make because a lot of the kids - particularly the forwards - have the skill set to be strong in bottom line roles. Rolling four lines and a mobile dman crew to go along with the veterans with Lehner in net. Book it.

I bet if Krys emerges that he needs two seasons AHL. Then he is your third pair. Dangerous offensive player in his strengths as a Barrie on Avalanche is in his strength if he
- jhawk59[Barrie] is a third pair. Just to cite an example.

. agreed voice of reason on expectations

*NEW* blog up: http://bit.ly/2JOMaxm

Some fun (and possible far-fetched) future headlines coming out of camp