You may think that, but trading assets for another d-man who would undoubtedly be in the top four would show the organization has Romanov ticketed for the bottom pair. Unless we think one of Pulock or Pelech was given a roughly $6m/yr extension to be a bottom-pair d-man.
- UIF

I don't necessarily agree with that. Pelech is 28 and will be 29 at the start of next season. He'll start declining at some point in the not-so-distant future. Typically defenseman start to reach close to whatever their "peak" is around 25/26.

If Romanov establishes himself in 2-3 years as a reliable 2nd pairing defenseman it would, hypothetically of course, allow Chychrun to be the top-pair guy and Pelech could slide down to a defense-only/limited-minute 3rd pair role.

I agree that there's no reason to play Bailey next season other than to get another high draft pick in the 2024 draft. I see the rebuild taking a couple of years. So I am willing to absorb the pain of watching Bailey play the rest of this season as well as next season. But then the following season we are completely free of him and his cap hit.

Johnston is another subject. I don't care what they do with him. The Rangers traded Reaves and got a 5th round pick for him..........and started playing better! Maybe we can get a late round pick for Johnston.
- JohnScammo

The reason I mentioned Johnston was bcs burying him would nullify most of baileys cap hit in 24’ if we bought him out. Not sure what Lou’s plan is? I’m fairly certain he doesn’t even know yet. With that said I still don’t see the need to have him on the roster especially when it could potentially open up other opportunities for us like I listed in my previous post. I’ll also add if we’re bringing up young player he’s exactly who I don’t want helping with their development and maturation process.

The reason I mentioned Johnston was bcs burying him would nullify most of baileys cap hit in 24’ if we bought him out. Not sure what Lou’s plan is? I’m fairly certain he doesn’t even know yet. With that said I still don’t see the need to have him on the roster especially when it could potentially open up other opportunities for us like I listed in my previous post. I’ll also add if we’re bringing up young player he’s exactly who I don’t want helping with their development and maturation process.
- Cptmjl

Seems like all he should be focused on in the short-term is selling who he can at the deadline and getting the most for them

I would assume the "bigger" stuff would be dealt with in the offseason.

You may think that, but trading assets for another d-man who would undoubtedly be in the top four would show the organization has Romanov ticketed for the bottom pair. Unless we think one of Pulock or Pelech was given a roughly $6m/yr extension to be a bottom-pair d-man.
- UIF

I’m not as enamored as most seem to be on here with Romanov. We were told he would be a fan favorite. I don’t see that. Sure he’s young but I’m not overly impressed with what I’ve seen so far. Certainly not worth a 13th OA pick imo. Hopefully he grows into his game a bit but so far he’s a big whatever and I would’ve much rather we selected a player in the draft especially with our current situation.

Seems like all he should be focused on in the short-term is selling who he can at the deadline and getting the most for them

I would assume the "bigger" stuff would be dealt with in the offseason.
- eichiefs9

Hopefully he does a better job dealing with bigger stuff then he’s done any other offseason he has been with us. Like do something, anything.

The Lameriello era is over as far as I’m concerned. He did a lot of good for the franchise but it’s time to move on. I have zero faith with him handling a rebuild properly. Had enough of the guy.

I don't necessarily agree with that. Pelech is 28 and will be 29 at the start of next season. He'll start declining at some point in the not-so-distant future. Typically defenseman start to reach close to whatever their "peak" is around 25/26.

If Romanov establishes himself in 2-3 years as a reliable 2nd pairing defenseman it would, hypothetically of course, allow Chychrun to be the top-pair guy and Pelech could slide down to a defense-only/limited-minute 3rd pair role.
- eichiefs9

I guess that's one way of looking at it. Another way is all the moves on D over the past few years have been a tail-chasing, confusing mess where assets have been torched with little to show for it, only to still have the same need there and the same needs elsewhere, but now with fewer chips to trade in order to fill those needs.

I’m not as enamored as most seem to be on here with Romanov. We were told he would be a fan favorite. I don’t see that. Sure he’s young but I’m not overly impressed with what I’ve seen so far. Certainly not worth a 13th OA pick imo. Hopefully he grows into his game a bit but so far he’s a big whatever rt now and I would’ve much rather we selected a player in the draft especially with our current situation.
- Cptmjl

Yeah, I kind of agree so far. Maybe he wows me in the future. At the moment, I see a slightly more mobile but slightly less positionally sound Mayfield...which isn't terrible, by the way. I think he's a solid 5 d-man who could fill in on the top-4 when needed. That's fine, but a first rounder seems like a high price to pay for that when there were certainly other, greater needs it could have gone toward, imo.

I guess that's one way of looking at it. Another way is all the moves on D over the past few years have been a tail-chasing, confusing mess where assets have been torched with little to show for it, only to still have the same need there and the same needs elsewhere, but now with fewer chips to trade in order to fill those needs.
- UIF

I'm actually probably the happiest I've been with the defense in as long as I can remember.

I don't think Pulock has had a great year but he's still a good defenseman.

I like Aho as a 3rd pairing guy. He's got the wheels that nobody else does and has simplified his game to cut down on the giveaways. He's not perfect but he's a good, cheap 3rd pairing puck mover.

I think it's time to move on from Mayfield. He was a good solider but he's having a rough year.

I'm actually probably the happiest I've been with the defense in as long as I can remember.

I don't think Pulock has had a great year but he's still a good defenseman.

I like Aho as a 3rd pairing guy. He's got the wheels that nobody else does and has simplified his game to cut down on the giveaways. He's not perfect but he's a good, cheap 3rd pairing puck mover.

I think it's time to move on from Mayfield. He was a good solider but he's having a rough year.
- eichiefs9

When exactly did you stop watching games this season?

Didn't they just trade their first-round pick a few months ago at the draft to "round out the top-four?" I feel like trading for Chychrun would be an admission of sorts that Romanov is basically not much better than a solid bottom-pair d-man (which may be true...he's been OK, but not great), which makes trading a first rounder for him look kind of
- UIF

Yup that about sums it up

When exactly did you stop watching games this season?
- Cptmjl

Overall. Yes, they're playing bad right now. But they've had a rotating door of call-ups coming in and out of the lineup and the consistency isn't really there. Not to mention the forwards aren't exactly doing a whole lot to help them. I'm happy with the group on paper, for the most part. Not the way they're currently playing but I don't think they are as bad as they are right now.

I’m not as enamored as most seem to be on here with Romanov. We were told he would be a fan favorite. I don’t see that. Sure he’s young but I’m not overly impressed with what I’ve seen so far. Certainly not worth a 13th OA pick imo. Hopefully he grows into his game a bit but so far he’s a big whatever and I would’ve much rather we selected a player in the draft especially with our current situation.
- Cptmjl

He was labeled as a hard hitting d man that was in your grill. He does hit hard at times but not like I thought he would be. I hate the guy but a gudas would be great to
have, what an bumhole

Overall. Yes, they're playing bad right now. But they've had a rotating door of call-ups coming in and out of the lineup and the consistency isn't really there. Not to mention the forwards aren't exactly doing a whole lot to help them. I'm happy with the group on paper, for the most part. Not the way they're currently playing but I don't think they are as bad as they are right now.
- eichiefs9

Joking

I kind of agree with what you’re saying. Romanov needs to be better and aho needs to solidify his game a bit more before I fully agree. Hopefully they both improve next season instead of take a step back. Pulock has been fairly awful this year also so he needs to get back on track.

He was labeled as a hard hitting d man that was in your grill. He does hit hard at times but not like I thought he would be. I hate the guy but a gudas would be great to
have, what an bumhole
- Upstate_isles

From where I’m sitting he was far from being worth the 13th pick. I get it the team is imploding but on most nights he’s noticeable in a bad way. Even when we were playing “good” he kind of sucked.

Romanov is still only 23, he's one day older than Dobson. They have awhile to go before they know what he really is.

I don't know about adding Chychrun. He bounced back after a down year last year but he's injury-prone and the price ARI wants for him is honestly more than he's worth. He'd be a good addition to the back-end but I think they should be focusing their efforts elsewhere.
- eichiefs9

I agree. Does not make a lot of sense for Chychrun at this point.

From where I’m sitting he was far from being worth the 13th pick. I get it the team is imploding but on most nights he’s noticeable in a bad way. Even when we were playing “good” he kind of sucked.
- Cptmjl

Romanov is still young ,but he has not looked that great this year and not worthy of the 13th pick so far.

He is not "the" problem, but he is a big part of "the" problem
- eichiefs9

Jimmy never went full rip job on Bailey as far as I remember. I would have loved to see Bailey on that broad street bully Philly team. Wonder how Bailey avoiding hits would have went over with that team?

I'm actually probably the happiest I've been with the defense in as long as I can remember.

I don't think Pulock has had a great year but he's still a good defenseman.

I like Aho as a 3rd pairing guy. He's got the wheels that nobody else does and has simplified his game to cut down on the giveaways. He's not perfect but he's a good, cheap 3rd pairing puck mover.

I think it's time to move on from Mayfield. He was a good solider but he's having a rough year.
- eichiefs9

I don't have a real problem with the D. My point is I'm not sure if the D ever really was an issue that needed all this tinkering to begin with. And if still more assets need to be burned to shore it up, as we're discussing today, it seems like too many assets and too much energy spent just to land where they started. I feel like we'd have been just as -- and probably more -- happy with the D if essentially nothing at all had been done to it over the past several years beyond promoting Dobson and moving on from Boychuk and Leddy at the appropriate times.

I recognize the cap set a lot of it in motion, but I don't think it's out of bounds to question the overall asset management that led to this point...up to and including the first rounder for Romanov and whatever may need to be spent if they are in fact looking at Chychrun.

I don't have a real problem with the D. My point is I'm not sure if the D ever really was an issue that needed all this tinkering to begin with. And if still more assets need to be burned to shore it up, as we're discussing today, it seems like too many assets and too much energy spent just to land where they started. I feel like we'd have been just as -- and probably more -- happy with the D if essentially nothing at all had been done to it over the past several years beyond promoting Dobson and moving on from Boychuk and Leddy at the appropriate times.

I recognize the cap set a lot of it in motion, but I don't think it's out of bounds to question the overall asset management that led to this point...up to and including the first rounder for Romanov and whatever may need to be spent if they are in fact looking at Chychrun.
- UIF

I get the defense was lousy under Garth, Cappy, and Weight, but the continued over focus on the defense has not helped. The real issue is the forward group. The better the offense, the less pressure on the defense and goalies. Chychrun should not even be a thought at this point.

I’ll blow a gasket if we trade for another D-man. That’s the least of our worries. Frankly I was pleasantly surprised with Cholowski (puck skating was very strong) and Wotherspoon, Aho has held his own for the most part. Haven’t seen much of Bolduc but I think he has some potential and I haven’t completely written off Salo as a call up down the road as he showed some potential.

I get the defense was lousy under Garth, Cappy, and Weight, but the continued over focus on the defense has not helped. The real issue is the forward group. The better the offense, the less pressure on the defense and goalies. Chychrun should not even be a thought at this point.
- ses111

Right. And if he is a thought, I think it's legit to step back and question what the plan has been for the D.

But, it's probably not worth stressing about. I'd bet money I don't have that Chychrun to the Isles is all made up hockey media nonsense.

I’ll blow a gasket if we trade for another D-man. That’s the least of our worries. Frankly I was pleasantly surprised with Cholowski (puck skating was very strong) and Wotherspoon, Aho has held his own for the most part. Haven’t seen much of Bolduc but I think he has some potential and I haven’t completely written off Salo as a call up down the road as he showed some potential.
- streaks

I'll be right with you streaks. Should not be hard to figure out when the team needs at this point.

From where I’m sitting he was far from being worth the 13th pick. I get it the team is imploding but on most nights he’s noticeable in a bad way. Even when we were playing “good” he kind of sucked.
- Cptmjl

Young kid with potential, half the habs fans hated it and the other half loved it for them

I don't have a real problem with the D. My point is I'm not sure if the D ever really was an issue that needed all this tinkering to begin with. And if still more assets need to be burned to shore it up, as we're discussing today, it seems like too many assets and too much energy spent just to land where they started. I feel like we'd have been just as -- and probably more -- happy with the D if essentially nothing at all had been done to it over the past several years beyond promoting Dobson and moving on from Boychuk and Leddy at the appropriate times.

I recognize the cap set a lot of it in motion, but I don't think it's out of bounds to question the overall asset management that led to this point...up to and including the first rounder for Romanov and whatever may need to be spent if they are in fact looking at Chychrun.
- UIF

Didn't have space to keep toews......would shoot Bailey into the sun along with Martin and clutterbuck to have kept him

I’ll blow a gasket if we trade for another D-man. That’s the least of our worries. Frankly I was pleasantly surprised with Cholowski (puck skating was very strong) and Wotherspoon, Aho has held his own for the most part. Haven’t seen much of Bolduc but I think he has some potential and I haven’t completely written off Salo as a call up down the road as he showed some potential.
- streaks

This team needs talent up front in the worst way, speed and scoring