Felt the same way, and still do for the most part.
Granted he's getting over injury and illness, but I don't think the coaches have any confidence in him taking faceoffs and neither do I. If he can improve over the summer and proves he is a bonafide center next season, I'm in. Otherwise cut our losses and move on.
- Fenrir

Im sure hes a good kid and he is a good player, but he's not a center. He doesnt play like a center.

Doesn't matter, he's not the 2C we're looking for.
- Fenrir

Strome has become a good player, however, its really easy to look at the points and have it throw a veil over your eyes. Hes terrible at faceoffs, hes not great in the corners and defensively. You can stick any good center in his spot and theyll produce. If hes not on the ice with Panarin, hes on the ice with Panarin and Zib. Furthermore, when his contract is up, hes going to be 29 years old when free agency hits. Hes gonna want to get paid. I dont want to have him on the hook for 6-7 years at a 7.8m AAV.

Strome has become a good player, however, its really easy to look at the points and have it throw a veil over your eyes. Hes terrible at faceoffs, hes not great in the corners and defensively. You can stick any good center in his spot and theyll produce. If hes not on the ice with Panarin, hes on the ice with Panarin and Zib. Furthermore, when his contract is up, hes going to be 29 years old when free agency hits. Hes gonna want to get paid. I dont want to have him on the hook for 6-7 years at a 7.8m AAV.
- aecliptic

Agree with all of your points (except he doesn't suck as much at faceoffs as Chytil) although I didn't realize he's going to be 29. Think you're right that after this contract is up he is going to want term, and I'm not sure I would do that.
He's been putting up points since he got here. He's a purely offensive center which I have no problem with, only problem is who to replace him with if they don't re-up him after this contract?

Quinn has no trust in the kids at all. Riding the vets like he’s trying to save his job which probably isn’t on the hook yet.

Also Trouba should never be out there in OT. Skates like Malik
- nyrangers2

And they still won! Look at that!

Agree with all of your points (except he doesn't suck as much at faceoffs as Chytil) although I didn't realize he's going to be 29. Think you're right that after this contract is up he is going to want term, and I'm not sure I would do that.
He's been putting up points since he got here. He's a purely offensive center which I have no problem with, only problem is who to replace him with if they don't re-up him after this contract?
- Fenrir

Well thats one of the big off-season questions. I dont hate the idea of bringing in a guy like Getzlaf. He wont crush our cap, leaving us plenty of room to resign guys. Then I think we follow that up with replacing Chytil and bringing in a true center to work with behind Getzlaf and Zib.

This is a game we would have lost 6 weeks ago. Team is now learning how to win 1 goal games. The growing process continues for the kids...

Why don't you watch it on paper you (frank).
- JRR1285

Can Kratsov please play next game?
- TPC

He won’t be in the line up until you spell his name right.

new blog up