I'm fine with...

flowerpower · Veteran Member

I'm fine with...

ScottishHAB · Veteran Member

I don't think we want to be talking about missing the play-offs more than 2 months before the season starts!Ideally the young guys can be brought into a team which is playing well and headed for the play-offs.

barry33 · Guru

flowerpower wrote:

Here is what I see: Higgins-Koivu-Ryder Samsonov-Ribs/Plekanac-Kovy Perez-Kosistyn/Johnson-Begin Get rid of Bonk, Murray, Downy and bring up young guns to get nhl time. I am fine with not making the playoffs to get players developed.

That lineup reminds me of a Tim Horton's Donut...nothing in the middle

macneil · Guru

barry your getting as bad as old and-o with your center cracks , we are not as bad or as good as some people think we are . but the fans want a winner not a team of rookies trying to develop, with that line up we wouldnt be too competitive and then what are the kids developing , bad habits and losing attitude.

barry33 · Guru

macneil wrote:

barry your getting as bad as old and-o with your center cracks , we are not as bad or as good as some people think we are . but the fans want a winner not a team of rookies trying to develop, with that line up we wouldnt be too competitive and then what are the kids developing , bad habits and losing attitude.

Sorry Mac..I know I am starting to sound like a broken record now. I justr cannot believe that we are effectively out of cap space and still have not addressed our number one need. Where did all our money go? Aside from Samsonov we have not brought in anyone new. (Johnston is a wash salary wise because we dumped Zednick).

As for And-O, as much as I love his new found positive attitude, he baffles me. All he did lats year was cry about our lack of a big physical center and how that was going to spell the end of the world....maybe he figures a bulked up Ribs will fill that role?

macneil · Guru

its all good big man , we still need a better center , not necessarily a big center , maybe ribs with his newfound work ethic (did i say that )and new linemates can be this years marc savard .

plouf · Guru

I have to agree with barry here. All four of our centres are very iffy in certain ways:

Bonk: will he ever get his offensive confidence back?
Koivu: could that injury be the end of the feisty Koivu?
Ribeiro: obviously a serious question mark in every way
Plekanec: will he have a sophomore slump or will he become consistent?

Looking at those four, the talent, and even the attitude (sort of) is there. But they are mostly small, and .....iffy.

So here's hoping Gainey does trade someone for a centre....how about Plekanec, Dandenault and a draft pick for a good, physical and talented centre, while Chipchura develops? (I like Pleks, but I'm just thinking he's worth more than most)

I do like that we've kept both goalies. At the absolute worst, we've got something to trade later on.

beakermania · Senior Member

If you want to bring up Young Guns why are you getting rid of Garth Murray. Hes old at 23??

Figaro · Guru

I just don't see Gainey trading our young talent for a centre. Especially a player who'll stick in the lineup and has such a huge upside. We are going to ice a competitive team and will not miss the playoff. I see us doing better than last season, though, by how much will be seen. There is no way we are regressing this year.

barry33 · Guru

Figaro wrote:

I just don't see Gainey trading our young talent for a centre. Especially a player who'll stick in the lineup and has such a huge upside. We are going to ice a competitive team and will not miss the playoff. I see us doing better than last season, though, by how much will be seen. There is no way we are regressing this year.

I do not disagree with you Figs..but the issue is that mostly every other team in the division is better than they were last year (the exceptions being Carolina, Washington, Atlanta and maybe Philly). As we squeaked into the playoffs last year will it be enough? Three variables for us that remain to be seen.

1) Can Ribs get the job done?

2) Will Saks stay healthy?

3) Is Huet the real deal?

Ando · Guru

barry33 wrote:

As for And-O, as much as I love his new found positive attitude, he baffles me. All he did lats year was cry about our lack of a big physical center and how that was going to spell the end of the world....maybe he figures a bulked up Ribs will fill that role?

Make no mistake...And-o knows that the centre slot is a joke as is...but what can And-o do about it???

Cripes, And-o remembers last year being one of maybe three posters who even dared question the ALMIGHT Saku as being a legit #1.

...And-o thinks that is progress!

barry33 · Guru

Ando wrote:

barry33 wrote: As for And-O, as much as I love his new found positive attitude, he baffles me. All he did lats year was cry about our lack of a big physical center and how that was going to spell the end of the world....maybe he figures a bulked up Ribs will fill that role? Make no mistake...And-o knows that the centre slot is a joke as is...but what can And-o do about it??? Cripes, And-o remembers last year being one of maybe three posters who even dared question the ALMIGHT Saku as being a legit #1. ...And-o thinks that is progress!

AHHHHHHHHHHH>>THERE he IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am with you ANd-O. I am gonna live with what we have and hope for the best. Not a thing I can do about Gainey's inaction.