The right side was suspect before - now worse! Need to wheel and deal! But no to Neon Dion!
- grahamzky

If Buff retires, doesn’t that leave you with a ton of cap space?

Kill the retirement talk....

You completely missed the point of my post!
- TheUltimateJet

You know what, Ultimate? Probably!

Kill the retirement talk....
- bennythehat

Agreed. He is a huge part of this team and that 7.6M is money well spent. Top UFA RD's are Girardi and McQuaid. Top LD is probably Ben Hutton. Maybe one of those guys can help with depth.

Agreed. He is a huge part of this team and that 7.6M is money well spent. Top UFA RD's are Girardi and McQuaid. Top LD is probably Ben Hutton. Maybe one of those guys can help with depth.
- bikeguy99

I am not concerned about losing Byfuglien. We got the Messiah, in Tucker Poolman, getting ready to make a massive jump into the NHL. I don't think we'll miss the "Big Dog" one bit.

Do you think Chevy knew in advance that Byfuglien was going to go on personal leave when he inked Morrissey to term? Was this the catalyst for getting it done?

Do you think Chevy knew in advance that Byfuglien was going to go on personal leave when he inked Morrissey to term? Was this the catalyst for getting it done?
- 2.0

Not!

Agreed. He is a huge part of this team and that 7.6M is money well spent. Top UFA RD's are Girardi and McQuaid. Top LD is probably Ben Hutton. Maybe one of those guys can help with depth.
- bikeguy99

Those are terrible options compared to Phaneuf.

Those are terrible options compared to Phaneuf.
- DrunkenCanuck

Phaneuf isn’t the best player in that little group

I am not concerned about losing Byfuglien. We got the Messiah, in Tucker Poolman, getting ready to make a massive jump into the NHL. I don't think we'll miss the "Big Dog" one bit.
- TheUltimateJet

Haha is this because I said he was a competent bottom pairing D that might impress you? If that is the case, I would look into potential trade targets unless you believe Niku is ready for serious responsibility. If he can bring that AHL confidence to the show, he may do well. So far his NHL play has been timid and hesitant. New year, new Niku?

Haha is this because I said he was a competent bottom pairing D that might impress you? If that is the case, I would look into potential trade targets unless you believe Niku is ready for serious responsibility. If he can bring that AHL confidence to the show, he may do well. So far his NHL play has been timid and hesitant. New year, new Niku?
- bikeguy99

Last year Niku - 176 lbs. This year - 190+ lbs. that extra muscle will make a world of difference. Don't be surprised to see Sammy step up big time. Last year all he lacked was muscle. A grade A NHL d-man? I think (hope) so!

Still, the Jets need to deal for a top RH d-man! Hello Patrik!

Last year Niku - 176 lbs. This year - 190+ lbs. that extra muscle will make a world of difference. Don't be surprised to see Sammy step up big time. Last year all he lacked was muscle. A grade A NHL d-man? I think (hope) so!

Still, the Jets need to deal for a top RH d-man! Hello Patrik!
- grahamzky

I do believe that defense is an overrated position, just look at what Barry Trotz was able to do with the NYI. He took a defense core that was last in goals against and then took same group and made them number 1 in goals against. That is while losing their franchise player at the same time. Looking at past cup champs, none of their defences screamed all stars.

I would rather the Jets go all in and acquire another number one Center. Centres are what create cup champs.

Just some Friday night Ultimate thoughts.....

Look no further than Vegas’ no name defence .

Last year Niku - 176 lbs. This year - 190+ lbs. that extra muscle will make a world of difference. Don't be surprised to see Sammy step up big time. Last year all he lacked was muscle. A grade A NHL d-man? I think (hope) so!

Still, the Jets need to deal for a top RH d-man! Hello Patrik!
- grahamzky

I did not know that Niku beefed up a bit! That will hopefully help. Above all he needs to play assertive. In the AHL he did not hesitate to force a play and you could just see his confidence waivering. Now if he is given a reasonably responsible LD to play with, I hope he takes off.

But if anything happens with Laine, it better be for another RW, or an offer sheet that sees the jets get 4 1st round picks, especially if it is from a potentially weak team.

Byfuglien is not retiring




He’s going to be the Bartolo Colon of hockey!

I do believe that defense is an overrated position, just look at what Barry Trotz was able to do with the NYI. He took a defense core that was last in goals against and then took same group and made them number 1 in goals against. That is while losing their franchise player at the same time. Looking at past cup champs, none of their defences screamed all stars.

I would rather the Jets go all in and acquire another number one Center. Centres are what create cup champs.

Just some Friday night Ultimate thoughts.....
- TheUltimateJet

While I think you’re absolutely right about defence being overrated, especially if you’ve got the cast to keep the puck moving up the ice, you’re not giving Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss any credit here.
The Islanders got legendarily excellent goaltending ( should’ve won the ), and nothing about the Islanders season suggests that they can keep winning games while being massacred on the shot clock like that. Especially with Varlamov.

While I think you’re absolutely right about defence being overrated, especially if you’ve got the cast to keep the puck moving up the ice, you’re not giving Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss any credit here.
The Islanders got legendarily excellent goaltending ( should’ve won the ), and nothing about the Islanders season suggests that they can keep winning games while being massacred on the shot clock like that. Especially with Varlamov.
- Rexypoo

Have you considered that maybe shot quality against and high danger opportunities also went down.

I did not know that Niku beefed up a bit! That will hopefully help. Above all he needs to play assertive. In the AHL he did not hesitate to force a play and you could just see his confidence waivering. Now if he is given a reasonably responsible LD to play with, I hope he takes off.

But if anything happens with Laine, it better be for another RW, or an offer sheet that sees the jets get 4 1st round picks, especially if it is from a potentially weak team.
- bikeguy99

How much more depth on the wing do we need? It's our deepest position. Wheeler, Connor, Ehlers, Laine, Roslovis, Appelton, Vesalainen, Perreault, etc.... Copp and Little are also good wingers if they have to play that position.

Center is this teams biggest weakness.

[quote=Rexypoo]In reply to some comments last go round:

Benny:
https://evolving-hockey.com/
Look at the Jets GAR list for 17-18. Laine leads the team

Should this cherry picked stat impress me ?

[quote=Rexypoo]In reply to some comments last go round:

Benny:
https://evolving-hockey.com/
Look at the Jets GAR list for 17-18. Laine leads the team

Should this cherry picked stat impress me ?
- bennythehat

Well Benny, he's telling me to look at Zubrus's stats between 07-09, and all I see is a Center who had 35 points per year average and he's telling me that Zubrus is better than Bryan Little. I get confused by his arguments. :

Well Benny, he's telling me to look at Zubrus's stats between 07-09, and all I see is a Center who had 35 points per year average and he's telling me that Zubrus is better than Bryan Little. I get confused by his arguments. :
- TheUltimateJet

Ovechkin’s Zubrus is absolutely, and easily, better than Laine’s Little

[quote=Rexypoo]In reply to some comments last go round:

Benny:
https://evolving-hockey.com/
Look at the Jets GAR list for 17-18. Laine leads the team

Should this cherry picked stat impress me ?
- bennythehat

Cherrypicked? In the sense that it’s super easy to understand, accounts for most variables, and is in line with most of what we know Laine has done, can do, and will continue to improve upon?

Have you considered that maybe shot quality against and high danger opportunities also went down.
- TheUltimateJet

With volume usually comes quality. The Jets taught us this lesson again just last season.
We were content to turtle and let the other team fire shots from the outside, and we wound up getting shredded from all over the ice
We were focusing on trying to shoot from quality areas, and ended up not really shooting at all, and especially not in the slot

Cherrypicked? In the sense that it’s super easy to understand, accounts for most variables, and is in line with most of what we know Laine has done, can do, and will continue to improve upon?
- Rexypoo

Look at his GAR 2018-19 dead last among all regular forwards. Rexpoo I don't know why you want to dismiss 1/3 of his career (and what also happens to be his most recent season) as an aberration? What happens if the same thing happens this year?

Don't you wish there was an "ignore " feature on Hockeybuzz forums like there is on so many other forums ?