Todd Cordell: Capitals 5, Flames 3: Back to .500

This team DESPERATELY needs size up front.
Johnny, Mang, Ryan, Czarnick, Rieder are all well below the league average in height and weight.
IMO.... of the rest of our forwards only Lucic, Bennett, Lindy and Chucky are capable of playing a hard game. Not a good formula to win.
I mean you can engage all you want but if you cant consistently win 50/50 loose puck battles you're in trouble long term.

I really feel that we need to improve majorly on the exit of our own zone, their time and time again having to re group at our own blue line on the way out of the zone. Not to mention the struggles they have getting the lose pucks out when under attack.

This team DESPERATELY needs size up front.
Johnny, Mang, Ryan, Czarnick, Rieder are all well below the league average in height and weight.
IMO.... of the rest of our forwards only Lucic, Bennett, Lindy and Chucky are capable of playing a hard game. Not a good formula to win.
I mean you can engage all you want but if you cant consistently win 50/50 loose puck battles your in trouble long term.
- DEDDIE

I agree, been saying the same thing for a long time. This team disappeared last year when things got physical.

You can only draft so many talented small guys that are a "steal" at their draft position before you become a team of talented small players. A guy like Czarnick was let go by the Bruins, hell we waived Byron.

We need a stud in the top 6 that actually makes the other teams D worry about going into the corners. Those guys are not cheap and typically are drafted.

I agree, been saying the same thing for a long time. This team disappeared last year when things got physical.

You can only draft so many talented small guys that are a "steal" at their draft position before you become a team of talented small players. A guy like Czarnick was let go by the Bruins, hell we waived Byron.

We need a stud in the top 6 that actually makes the other teams D worry about going into the corners. Those guys are not cheap and typically are drafted.

This was the year IMO - Leason and Lavoie fell rather unexpectedly, and (getting that Kadri deal threw a wrench in the plans) would have liked to have seen the Brodie deal made when Philly acquired Braun...

Look at what Lavoie is doing already this year in 13 games...

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=195949

and, yeah, Leason hasn't lit things up in the A, but they are only 7 games in. Still a big body with hands... whether the feet are there is a question, but we're dressing Lucic FFS

Krieder is said to be available in NY.
If he played the right side you could not fined a better fit for the Flames (well maybe Josh Anderson) Heavy, skilled, fast!
I know he makes 4.625 and is a UFA at years end so that is not ideal but if we want to win now this type of acquisition needs to be explored.
Bottom line... we have to give up something to get something.

This team DESPERATELY needs size up front.

I would add 'USEFUL' to this, but totally agree.