His offense is fine, it's his defense that's been the issue. Valimaki is considered to be pretty decent defensively for his age.

Guys like Pouliot and Clendening put up good offensive numbers in the AHL as young players as well but they sucked defensively.

Hopefully OJ can stay healthy and improve his defensive play. Because his playmaking from the back end would be nice to have.
- Nucker101

It's almost like when OJ was top pairing defender and Finland wins the gold medal. Next season it's Valimaki on top pairing instead of OJ and they barely avoid relegation. Again next season OJ second pairing to Valimaki and a QF loss.

The same in London. OJ's top pairing and they win a memorial cup. Next season he's got to split time with Mete and not so good for London.

In TPS lead the defence in scoring in the post season.

It's almost like when OJ was top pairing defender and Finland wins the gold medal. Next season it's Valimaki on top pairing instead of OJ and they barely avoid relegation. Again next season OJ second pairing to Valimaki and a QF loss.
- manvanfan

Seems like we’re missing some key details and a larger sample size here

OJ was fantastic at the WJHC’s during his draft year, no doubt about that. But so did Jordan Schroeder the year after he got drafted by Vancouver and we all know what happened there. That’s the danger of a small sample size

Seems like we’re missing some key details and a larger sample size here

OJ was fantastic at the WJHC’s during his draft year, no doubt about that. But so did Jordan Schroeder the year after he got drafted by Vancouver and we all know what happened there. That’s the danger of a small sample size
- Nucker101

Says Schroeder in his draft year played in the NCAA and scored 45 points in 34 games. Not sure why but he seemed to take off with a bang wherever he went and next season sucked.

Says Schroeder in his draft year played in the NCAA and scored 45 points in 34 games. Not sure why but he seemed to take off with a bang wherever he went and next season sucked.
- manvanfan

I remember him being raked top 5 nearly all season and fell fast toward the end of the season and slipping even further in the draft.

If I recall, he had a not bad run in his rookie year. Then he had a shoulder injury the following season and he seemed to avoid traffic after that and never really found his game....

Hughes will not be signing at 10 mill, thats a chicken little scenario. Given only TWO defensemen currently make over 9 and 3 over 8.25.....all have earned it, youre dreaming.

IF Hughes turns out to be the player we hope he will be, I'm willing to bet Pacificgem's virginity that he won't sign for more than 7 on a bridge.


And your math is shite.....90-59.5 is 30.5 not 20.........30.5 is a lot of money to spend on 8 players especially if 2 or 3 of those are league minimum or ELC's.....see Gaudette, Lind, Podkolzin....

(frank)in Special K gang around here....
- chompsey

Add to that Demko’s next contract will not be more than 4m. The back-up if Marky is gone even cheaper at 2m most.

Dude, I never said I was bright!
- chompsey

44k ppl in NYC power outage are envious lol

I remember him being raked top 5 nearly all season and fell fast toward the end of the season and slipping even further in the draft.

If I recall, he had a not bad run in his rookie year. Then he had a shoulder injury the following season and he seemed to avoid traffic after that and never really found his game....
- chompsey

This sounds about right.

Eerily similar to Shinkaruk, was touted as a top 5/10 pick, fell down the draft board, had a major injury and proceeded to flame out.

Plus Schroeder's top end speed was pretty meh for a dude of his stature, he was shifty, but couldn't really pull away from defenders. Same with Shink. I remember being pretty hyped when Bob McKenzie and co. were calling him an elite skater, but it was underwhelming watching him play in the pros and not really pull away from defenders in open ice. He was shifty, but his top end speed wasn't anything exciting for a smaller dude. I assume his hip surgery was the reason for that.

If your team isn't running into a bit of a cap issue, you probably aren't doing a very good job as a GM.
- manvanfan

Gorton the cap guru endorses this message

Benning said in an interview, they have done cap projections for the team for the next 2-4-6 years ahead. The only thing that will change that too much will most likely be players doing better than they were projected to. Which is a very good thing.
- manvanfan

Bingo

Add to that Demko’s next contract will not be more than 4m. The back-up if Marky is gone even cheaper at 2m most.
- Nighthawk

I have no idea what issues lie ahead in terms of roster and cap but there is nothing to see and the Special K gang can put their tinfoil hats away....

Because buying out guys still means you have a portion of the cap hit, and you have to pay another player to fill that spot.
- 1970vintage

Or as JB said many times...
If a kid makes the team he will make room.
The savings is redistributed.

Leftcoaster= Lefty. His love for Hextall.

Ron Francis would have been a very good replacement. He's about the only guy I would have replaced him with.

It seems to be a job for the younger now. Going to need to come up with new names. Dubas, Chyka types.
- manvanfan

Assuming there is big truth to Francis going to Seattle why not FA offer him big $$$’s to be our Pres. The man can team up with the JB’s to take us long into the future. He left a pretty good roster behind in Caneville.

Assuming there is big truth to Francis going to Seattle why not FA offer him big $$$’s to be our Pres. The man can team up with the JB’s to take us long into the future. He left a pretty good roster behind in Caneville.
- Nighthawk

Francis to Seattle is already a done deal.

https://www.nhl.com/video...gm/t-277350912/c-68647203

I have no idea what issues lie ahead in terms of roster and cap but there is nothing to see and the Special K gang can put their tinfoil hats away....
- chompsey

Lots can change in 2yrs. Ppl projecting 2 players hitting homerun contracts don’t include other options in between as if it’s static while other parts are not.

Francis to Seattle is already a done deal.

https://www.nhl.com/video...gm/t-277350912/c-68647203
- Nucker101

Bummer thx

Francis to Seattle is already a done deal.

https://www.nhl.com/video...gm/t-277350912/c-68647203
- Nucker101

By the looks of their colours, it looks like they won't be taking the blue and green.

By the looks of their colours, it looks like they won't be taking the blue and green.
- 93Nucks

Those were just black plain jersey's. If they are the "kraken's" I'd like to see kind of ocean green with the Kraken being red.

By the looks of their colours, it looks like they won't be taking the blue and green.
- 93Nucks

Back in the day the Kings owner didn’t like the colour purple & refused to call it purple lol

I don’t recall if it was Dr Buss or before him.

Bummer thx
- Nighthawk

He wanted to be GM anyways not president.

He wanted to be GM anyways not president.
- manvanfan

Only a title that could’ve had a sharing of roles aka think tank mentality. Pat Quinn was a Superboss but had others under him delegated for roles.

Seems like we’re missing some key details and a larger sample size here

OJ was fantastic at the WJHC’s during his draft year, no doubt about that. But so did Jordan Schroeder the year after he got drafted by Vancouver and we all know what happened there. That’s the danger of a small sample size
- Nucker101

OJ will recover from these hard luck injuries and demonstrate he can be a top pairing D. The sample size shows he's got what it takes. He just needs time now.

He's had a slower path not only being a D man but his physical growth was something he needed to adjust with his game. He didn't seem comfortable with his timing and pivoting threw him off.

Plus he got frustrated being so lauded and then getting bounced around he let things get to him. I think he's now coming around. The injury bug should be gone to allow him to round out his game playing top minutes in the AHL. I say develop him with key roles down there and he'll be ready to replace Edler.

OJ will recover from these hard luck injuries and demonstrate he can be a top pairing D. The sample size shows he's got what it takes. He just needs time now.

He's had a slower path not only being a D man but his physical growth was something he needed to adjust with his game. He didn't seem comfortable with his timing and pivoting threw him off.

Plus he got frustrated being so lauded and then getting bounced around he let things get to him. I think he's now coming around. The injury bug should be gone to allow him to round out his game playing top minutes in the AHL. I say develop him with key roles down there and he'll be ready to replace Edler.
- NuckUp

Are you his therapist?

Vancouver had a young core of Scandinavian studs in need of a mentor. Sami Salo, Alex Edler and the Sedin twins all bubbled with admiration for Sundin. Seeing how a European Hall of Famer lived his daily life and carried himself like a professional was invaluable, albeit during a four-month denouement to Sundin’s career.

“We got crushed for it, but he was instrumental in changing the fabric of that team,” Gillis maintained Friday, addressing one of his most controversial moves.

“He elevated our level of professionalism internally, even though there was a cost associated with it. We didn’t realize people would be so critical of Mats. It took him a while to get going, but the level of criticism he got was just remarkable.

“We can’t even calculate the benefit we got out of that guy.”

Rest of the article.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...tain-canucks-maple-leafs/

Are you his therapist?
- Marwood

Sorry, can't help you there. HB rules of ethics and all. Peace be with you.