Ryan Wilson: News around the league News around the league

Does the Skinner deal set the market for Paccioretty?

Kes is a moron -

Rolling over from last thread:

Wasn't Murrays stats the best against the Caps of the teams the Caps beat in the playoffs - better than Vasi & Flowers?
- Aussiepenguin

Canadianscotchdutch Murray has proven now three playoffs that he is there when it matters... and that despite the last one being personal very challenging for him. And don't count out Cullen, this guy has character, faceoff-skill... expect a final rise out of the phoenix!

We'll be better just my take.
- Barnaby36

Also think so. Obviously modern days NHL is very challenging, there is always nearly the half league in mix...

I would say that ZAR and Sprong are replacing Sheary.
- hardnosed

Just hope ZAR is fine after that Wilson-crime and Sprong finally finds some continuity.

Why is Kessler such a capital D-Doosh?!

Sprong finally finds some continuity.
- VeryModernMan

This is one of my bigger concerns. JR has basically said Sprong will be in the lineup next year, but it's hard to tell how he'll be deployed.

Sprong did get some good ice time with Sid and while he didn't light the lamp, his underlying stats were pretty darn good. It's just hard to tell if Sullivan just doesn't like his style of play because of how he's been handled overall.

I really hope Sprong gets some solid top-nine time and doesn't get yanked around or loses ice time after one or two bad mistakes.

EDIT:
I think Sullivan is a great coach, but it seems to me when he gets a bug up his ass about certain players, he's quick to either lower their ice time, bench them or shuffle them down to the bottom lines after just one bad shift.

The reverse is true. When it's a player he clearly likes, he'll keep them where they are through bad mistakes.

Why is Kessler such a capital D-Doosh?!
- MnGump

Who knows. Why does Lucic threaten players during the playoff handshake? Why does Marchand lick player during a game? Why does Wilson look to end people's careers?

There are just d-bags.

While Sprong was only here for a minute, here's a comparison with him and Jake



If that's any indication of what he's capable of, Sully really needs to let him stick without juggling him through the lines.

While Sprong was only here for a minute, here's a comparison with him and Jake



If that's any indication of what he's capable of, Sully really needs to let him stick without juggling him through the lines.
- Rinosaur

Sprong's stats are skewed because he got to play against DET twice in 8 games.

Buffalo has been having a pretty darn good offseason, but I feel like I've said that before and then they just end up sucking.

If Dahlen can come in and be a #1 right off the bat, I wonder if a decrease in role will positively impact Risto's play in a substantial way. If Risto can become a competent middle pairing guy, they have the groundworks for a blue line.

Sprong's stats are skewed because he got to play against DET twice in 8 games.
- Feds91Stammer

Way to get my hopes up.

Way to get my hopes up.
- Rinosaur

I still wonder if a hole was torn in the hockey universe when Vigneault actually unleashed a line of Kesler, Burrows, and Lapierre. I don't think that much obnoxiousness has ever stepped on the ice at once ever in the past. Most teams do not have anyone as mouthy, cheap, embellishing, and dirty as any one of these players and Vancouver not only had three but had them all play at the same time. I have to wonder if Vigneault cursed himself and the Cannucks to never win a Stanley Cup by doing this.

This is one of my bigger concerns. JR has basically said Sprong will be in the lineup next year, but it's hard to tell how he'll be deployed.

Sprong did get some good ice time with Sid and while he didn't light the lamp, his underlying stats were pretty darn good. It's just hard to tell if Sullivan just doesn't like his style of play because of how he's been handled overall.

I really hope Sprong gets some solid top-nine time and doesn't get yanked around or loses ice time after one or two bad mistakes.

EDIT:
I think Sullivan is a great coach, but it seems to me when he gets a bug up his ass about certain players, he's quick to either lower their ice time, bench them or shuffle them down to the bottom lines after just one bad shift.

The reverse is true. When it's a player he clearly likes, he'll keep them where they are through bad mistakes.
- Rinosaur

The edit part isn't a Sullivan thing, that's true of all coaches.

The edit part isn't a Sullivan thing, that's true of all coaches.
- jmatchett383

Well, yeah... lol

To rephrase, I hope Sprong doesn’t start the season on a short leash.

ZAR went to Sochi for the World Cup with Rust, Simon and Oleksiak at the beginning of July on a buds trip. Something tells me not only is ZAR completely fine but the first game against the Caps JO will knock Wilson’s teeth down his throat. I can’t wait for that game because Wilson will have no excuse to run away.

ZAR went to Sochi for the World Cup with Rust, Simon and Oleksiak at the beginning of July on a buds trip. Something tells me not only is ZAR completely fine but the first game against the Caps JO will knock Wilson’s teeth down his throat. I can’t wait for that game because Wilson will have no excuse to run away.
- dcoms77

I haven't seen much of Oleksiak to point to him being an enforcer. Out of curiosity would Ole be the guy to do that? I always saw him more as a physical bottom paring guy, not really an enforcer.

The term on the gibson deal is ok. It would be better if he didn't have 1 year left on his contract making this essentially a 9 year term.

I think 9 years from now you can price the cap 50% higher than it is now. If Gibson is still performing you have a very cheap deal. $4 million for a starting goalie (at today's cap) would be very cheap.

Huge term is a risks...but its also a reward.

Way better than the carey price contract since that guy is older and at a higher rate; and potentially already in decline; plus price is 5 years older.

I haven't seen much of Oleksiak to point to him being an enforcer. Out of curiosity would Ole be the guy to do that? I always saw him more as a physical bottom paring guy, not really an enforcer.
- Thrill81

He’s definitely not an enforcer, but he’s not shy about throwing his weight around. He was in one fight this year that I remember.

He was in one fight this year that I remember.
- Rinosaur

The day after the next one you can read here how dumb it is and that there is no place for it in NHL'19.

He’s definitely not an enforcer, but he’s not shy about throwing his weight around. He was in one fight this year that I remember.
- Rinosaur

I'm okay with that. I have to admit a part of me does want someone to beat up Wilson, but I don't want the pens dressing a sestito kind of guy where his only instruction is to hunt wilson.

I haven't seen much of Oleksiak to point to him being an enforcer. Out of curiosity would Ole be the guy to do that? I always saw him more as a physical bottom paring guy, not really an enforcer.
- Thrill81

He fought Chara, Gudas, and Mccarron(Montreal, probably spelled his name wrong). He wanted to fight Wilson but Wilson wouldn't. He's just a huge dude at 6-7 and around 255lbs. He moves guys from the front of the net easily. If you are gonna have a guy who can fight that's the guy you want a third pairing dman that is competent at playing the game as well.

I'm okay with that. I have to admit a part of me does want someone to beat up Wilson, but I don't want the pens dressing a sestito kind of guy where his only instruction is to hunt wilson.
- Thrill81

No we don't need to do that at all, nor should we.Just play the game. Nothing is gonna stop Wilson from being Wilson but I'd like to see Big Rig jack him up.

I only hate Kesler when my favorite teams plays him. In a Kesler vs Johanson scenario I’m all for Kesler.

ZAR went to Sochi for the World Cup with Rust, Simon and Oleksiak at the beginning of July on a buds trip. Something tells me not only is ZAR completely fine but the first game against the Caps JO will knock Wilson’s teeth down his throat. I can’t wait for that game because Wilson will have no excuse to run away.
- dcoms77

We have a coach who purposely tells his players not to fight. That’s the problem.