Actually, that first line is fine. It's the other lines that have been the issue. I personally hope that Giroux waives and is moved to a contending team. I think he deserves a legit shot at the Cup. He's no longer a player that can carry a team, as he did not that long ago. However he is still a really good player and would be coveted my many teams as a playoff rental.
- MJL

And we can use the assets Giroux could land us.

There were also Pitlick and Hartman that did not stick here
- missingmike

Hartman is lighting it up this year, I can't imagine this will continue but I wish he did this for us in his time here.

And we can use the assets Giroux could land us.
- jd250

I don't believe they are going to get as much as you think they are.

Hartman is lighting it up this year, I can't imagine this will continue but I wish he did this for us in his time here.
- jd250

Hartman obviously waited three years to finally light it up to stick it to the Flyers.

Im missing Risto chat. Need a fix.
- Robert's Plant

Risto is the greatest defenseman of all time, the Bobby Orr of our generation!!

Risto is the greatest defenseman of all time, the Bobby Orr of our generation!!
- jd250

That's a reach. I would go with Scott Stevens.

I don't believe they are going to get as much as you think they are.
- MJL

you just said "Giroux would be coveted my many teams as a playoff rental", but somehow this does not translate to getting a good return at the deadline??

That's a reach. I would go with Scott Stevens.
- MJL

You know, I can't deny his impact and talent, but there is not a player that has ever played or will ever play that I hate more than Scott Stevens! I hate him with a passion, even more than any Boston Bruin that has ever laced it up, and for me that is the pinnacle of hatred! He was a dirty player, blind siding players from the side and taking them out, so much so they had to change the rules of the game. I really wish he gets blindsided by a tractor trailer truck, it would be a fitting end to his existence!

you just said "Giroux would be coveted my many teams as a playoff rental", but somehow this does not translate to getting a good return at the deadline??
- jd250

Somehow you read what I said as saying they wouldn't get a good return.

You know, I can't deny his impact and talent, but there is not a player that has ever played or will ever play that I hate more than Scott Stevens! I hate him with a passion, even more than any Boston Bruin that has ever laced it up, and for me that is the pinnacle of hatred! He was a dirty player, blind siding players from the side and taking them out, so much so they had to change the rules of the game. I really wish he gets blindsided by a tractor trailer truck, it would be a fitting end to his existence!
- jd250

He was a tough player that actually wasn't a dirty player. You always talk about how you like a defenseman who intimidates players and makes them pay a price. Stevens was that kind of player.

Dave Scott should be fired
Fletcher never did anything in Minnesota should have never been hired

Coaches should be fired. Can’t adjust their game worth poop.

Roster should be gutted by new qualified veteran gm. For (frank)s sake hire a GM that’s won a cup

Bring iron mike back to bag skate this team into the ground

You know, I can't deny his impact and talent, but there is not a player that has ever played or will ever play that I hate more than Scott Stevens! I hate him with a passion, even more than any Boston Bruin that has ever laced it up, and for me that is the pinnacle of hatred! He was a dirty player, blind siding players from the side and taking them out, so much so they had to change the rules of the game. I really wish he gets blindsided by a tractor trailer truck, it would be a fitting end to his existence!
- jd250

Scott Gomez has gone on record to say that after the Lindros hit, Stevens was so shook up by it that he went into the tunnel for a few minutes.

CBA does not prohibit Optional Practices...they happen all the time.
- hfc355

But it does mandate days off.

Risto is the greatest defenseman of all time, the Bobby Orr of our generation!!
- jd250

Thanks man. Brightened up a very dull work afternoon with that comment.

you just said "Giroux would be coveted my many teams as a playoff rental", but somehow this does not translate to getting a good return at the deadline??
- jd250

As I was trying to point out yesterday, it depends on what you consider a good return.

You know, I can't deny his impact and talent, but there is not a player that has ever played or will ever play that I hate more than Scott Stevens! I hate him with a passion, even more than any Boston Bruin that has ever laced it up, and for me that is the pinnacle of hatred! He was a dirty player, blind siding players from the side and taking them out, so much so they had to change the rules of the game. I really wish he gets blindsided by a tractor trailer truck, it would be a fitting end to his existence!
- jd250

that last sentence is gonna earn you some bad karma

Actually, that first line is fine. It's the other lines that have been the issue. I personally hope that Giroux waives and is moved to a contending team. I think he deserves a legit shot at the Cup. He's no longer a player that can carry a team, as he did not that long ago. However he is still a really good player and would be coveted my many teams as a playoff rental.
- MJL

Well, there is some truth to what you say. And a lot of untruth. The truth is their possession stats are pretty good. The untruth is that their ppg ranges from just ok (Couturier) to mediocre (Giroux) to terrible (Jake). Further, Couturier is about average in +/1, the other two are solidly negative. (All 5-on-5, and all last few playoff seasons).

Having seen them play every min of their last 40 odd playoff games, that line is going to be a threat to playoff teams only if the other team's 2nd/3rd pairing D starts to giggle. They are staggeringly uncreative as a 1st line. A huge wad of meh.

You know, I can't deny his impact and talent, but there is not a player that has ever played or will ever play that I hate more than Scott Stevens! I hate him with a passion, even more than any Boston Bruin that has ever laced it up, and for me that is the pinnacle of hatred! He was a dirty player, blind siding players from the side and taking them out, so much so they had to change the rules of the game. I really wish he gets blindsided by a tractor trailer truck, it would be a fitting end to his existence!
- jd250

Wtf?

Hmm .. the Wild are a top team this year, and most of those players came from Fletcher, including one of the most dynamic forwards in the game today, Kaprizov, whom Fletcher drafted!
- jd250

It is true. This is another reason why I say he should have more time but without Homer and Scott. Bring in management who will let him run things as he sees fit. Bring in a "president" to consult with him and let's see what he can do. That could be the case now but it seems likely that it is not.

He was a tough player that actually wasn't a dirty player. You always talk about how you like a defenseman who intimidates players and makes them pay a price. Stevens was that kind of player.
- MJL

He was great but i go lidstrom

You know, I can't deny his impact and talent, but there is not a player that has ever played or will ever play that I hate more than Scott Stevens! I hate him with a passion, even more than any Boston Bruin that has ever laced it up, and for me that is the pinnacle of hatred! He was a dirty player, blind siding players from the side and taking them out, so much so they had to change the rules of the game. I really wish he gets blindsided by a tractor trailer truck, it would be a fitting end to his existence!
- jd250

Gomez talked about him on Spiitin Chicklets
I forget the exact words, but it was how he held everyone accountable and how hard he worked.

I can’t stand the devils organization from top to bottom. But he was one badass defenseman and wished he was a Flyer.

He is not Forsberg of 2005, who can singlehandedly take a bad team to playoff success. You don't win too many playoff series if Giroux/Couturier/Voracek are your first line.

Doesn't have much to do with his captaincy though.
- PT21

you guys are all over the place
sometimes the best player is the captain but sometimes it's not but he's done nothing in the playoffs

He's not the best player and he's not a leader so he's a bad captain

He was a tough player that actually wasn't a dirty player. You always talk about how you like a defenseman who intimidates players and makes them pay a price. Stevens was that kind of player.
- MJL

Yes, he absolutely intimidated players, no doubt. What I didn't like was the blind side hits at the blue line, that seriously injured a lot of players including Lindros, that to me was dirty.

Gomez talked about him on Spiitin Chicklets
I forget the exact words, but it was how he held everyone accountable and how hard he worked.

I can’t stand the devils organization from top to bottom. But he was one badass defenseman and wished he was a Flyer.
- Robert's Plant

True, if he were a Flyer I would somehow find a way to love him. He was a winner, no one can doubt that .. but I still hate him :-)

Well, there is some truth to what you say. And a lot of untruth. The truth is their possession stats are pretty good. The untruth is that their ppg ranges from just ok (Couturier) to mediocre (Giroux) to terrible (Jake). Further, Couturier is about average in +/1, the other two are solidly negative. (All 5-on-5, and all last few playoff seasons).

Having seen them play every min of their last 40 odd playoff games, that line is going to be a threat to playoff teams only if the other team's 2nd/3rd pairing D starts to giggle. They are staggeringly uncreative as a 1st line. A huge wad of meh.
- PT21

Put any of those players or even that line on a championship quality team and watch their playoff production rise.