hab29RETIRED

I hope Slafkovsky gets to 20 goals and Caufield to 30. I also hope Suzuki gets to 80 points. Ideally we lose 6-5 in regulation.

Don’t we also have to resign Guhle, or is that the following year? Slafkovsky is eligible for an extension this year as well.

The way Detroit had us hemmed in our zone in the third was ridiculous. I think they hit the post or crossbar around 8 or 9 times during the 2nd and 3rd periods. It really highlighted our weakness on D. Being able to hold leads is dependent on capability, and IMO our D still sucks. I get we were missing Guhle who is probably our best all round Dman, but we still suck on D even with him, and I think we will continue to suck on D until guys like Savard or Kovachavic are used as strictly bottom pairing 6th/7th dman and not playing in the top 4. How far our D progresses is going to depend on the pace that our current young Dmen (Guhle, Harris, Barron, Wifi), continue to progress and whether at least one of Hutson, Reinbacher, Mailloux are viable options as upgrades in our top 4. lastly, having Dach (and hopefully one other acquired scoring threat on the second line should help us not be in trouble as much when a line other than the Suzuki line is out there. we can’t have a lineup where Ylonen, Pezatta, RHP, and Anderson are in the lineup on the same night. I’ll also add that Dvorak also looked like crap last night. We had no answer for Larkin last night and it was pretty impresssive the way Raymond scored the winner after taking some pretty hard hits. If we have an infusion of talent and a substantial upgrade in the middle six (from our roster I think that would only be Dach, Newhook, and Roy), and the Armia-Evans-Gallagher is the the 4th line, we can make a push to be a playoff team. But that means we basically need one legit scorer for the second line, and 2/3 of the third line. lots to like with the young players we have, but still a lot of holes to fill.

I wish they’d play Hutson more when the Suzuki line is on

Any actual confirmation on Tuch yet? What’s the point of waiting? He won’t actually be able to play if he waits until the Eason is over?

100% agree. Going forward we have to be thinking longer term of contracts to Slafkovsky, Guhle, in another two to three years, Dach, Hutson, Reinbacher, Newhook, wifi. we can’t be giving contracts to guys like Armia and Anderson people get sucked into becuase of a size fetish, but have no track record for consistent production. The only consistency is long periods of inconsistency. im not opposed to keeping Armia until the next deadline, or end of year if we are battling for a playoff spot (highly u likely unless our young D including at least two of Hutson/Reinbacher/Mailloux progress and are big Reinbacher on D, young forwards continue to progress, Dach is healthy AND we get another solid second line scorer. only way I’d even consider resigning Armia is if it’s for thr original $1.5-$2m I said I’d be willing to sign him for after our cup run. If he wants more - Sayanara!

Id like to see both. We need an other scorer and a healthy Dach to make sure we do have a viable second line. Id even be okay picking up someone that can help Sach progress and be productive, even if it’s only for two years and a longer term scorers is acquired.

If we get a good offer for Armia if move him. He’s got one year left, so if we keep him not a big deal. Gives us a veteran on the bottom 6. I wanted Anderson moved last year when he had a hot spell, but everyone goes gaga over his size and speed, despite major shortcomings- zero consistency or hockey sense and really an inability to gel and play well with anyone - let alone being able to make others around him better!

Sat out their captain and apparently didn’t have a discussion with Couturier before he sat him.

Anderson, Gallagher, Dvorak. We have a complete overpaid 4th line.

If we can’t get the top three forwards. Parekh is the guy I’d want. He looks to be another Makar/Hughes - potentially even better.

Well as much as I hate losing to the leafs not a bad result. Suzuki gets two more points - still a chance at 80. Caufield gets a goal - hopefully goes on a tear in the remaining games to get to 30. Not likely, but if he goes on the type of tear like last year, it’s not impossible. would have been nice if the Sens won.

Good point out quite a few LD guys (other than wifi) came through the college system. Wonder if that’s an area we should look at during the draft - using 3rd/4th round picks on middle D potential RD that are going to college? with Barron, I agree with the approach they are taking with him - better send him down when you can, rather than be forced to when he is waiver eligible.

It seems kind of strange that all our young RD prospects are in Laval (until Barron’s emergency call up) - particularly with the premium placed on RD. Reinbacher obviously would be expected to be in Laval, but it seems like the LD prospects all seem to have progressed faster than Barron and Mailloux and haven’t had to spend as much time in the minors. I don’t recall any of our young LD prospects spend as much time in Laval. Guhle, Harris, Struble, and Wifi all were picked up to the big club a lot faster. Not trying to make any point - just an observation. Hopefully one of them progresses to the NHL level next year.

Both had cracked riibs. The difference was the B’s made it more public when they were knocked out, while Koivu didn’t say anything and it didn’t come out until well after the playoffs. not much different than the story about Gainey playing with TWO separated shoulders in the playoffs. Difference between players like Koivu and Gainey was that they never used their injuries as an excuse.