DON

Stamkos would look good with the Habs also, but Doan aint ever coming to Quebec.

Yes, every year in every league he has been in, he has always improved or been promoted, so who knows if he is another Marc Savard type and racks up 20 goals and 55 assists this year (but i would be happy with exact same as last year from him)?? Whatever you say about him, he seems to always work hard and has already overcome long odds from ECHL, to 60 points in his 1st full year in the big club.

Dont see the Swede as a big upgrade nor needed (but i never even noticed his play before) and still say Yemelin will do fine as partner for Markov or Subban. But even Chicago was crying for a top 4 guy last year, so i doubt the Swede is that good at ll. But Bergevin should know i suppose.

nice signing, seems a nice smart player and should only get better

No problem at all, keep him, a top offensive puck-moving d-man (albeit a soft 3rd pairing guy) can be very usefull for a team that has had little offense for years. But what to do with the 2 swiss guys if Kaberle cant be moved?? they both cant sit in press box can they?

yes i totally agree and many smaller forwards still end up on their ass and unless blatent x-check, or 2-hander to ankles, all usually is allowed and i dont think much different around the net. But, the blue paint now is irrelevant and means zero, way too much goalie interferance and shoving of a covered puck under goalie, or actually shoving goalie into net or too the side and still count goal?? But again the refs have little (no?) integrity and are total puppets of owners via puppetmaster Bettman telling them what to call more or less of.

I know, i mentioned earlier that Moan-White-Prust were some of first to get signed, and i also said i am happy with the group of 8 and love Bouillon's grit. But to say this isnt a soft group is a bit off and what i was disagreeing with. Subban and Yemelin might be feared hitters, but that is it, if Price is run over a forward will need to answer the bell and stick up for Price, which may be fine, but a bigger guy like Nash/Pateryn/Tinordi/Ellis will be a bonus soon. Which is why many were for signing Allen, me included, but Bouillon will suffice for 1 more year till bigger reinforcements develop. If Bergevin can trade Kaberle, that might be super to free up a 3rd pairing spot for Diaz and would only ask for need to ask for picks/prospects back. But i am fine with Kaberle staying, he is a top scoring d-man at a reasonable cost.

so could be bottom six of; Prust-Eller-Moan White-Nok-Armstrong Poor Eller, he needs or deserves at least 1 skilled winger, such as Leblanc/Gallagher, dosent he?

Markov/Yemelin/Gorges/Kaberle/Subban are too small/soft to stand up for Price and drop the gloves if need be. Subban is almost outmatched by a small lightweight in Marchand and Gorges will try but too small, Yemelin had his face crushed in Russia, so neither he, Kaberle nor Markov will ever drop the gloves (which aint their job,they know it and is fine with me also). Bouillon is game and will fight above his weight class, but he is not a big hitter/crease clearer. So no way you cant say they arnt a soft group, if not the weakest in the league, but they make up for it in other ways.

But physical also generally equates to slower, evidenced by Plekanec and Desharnais normally making Chara look like a pylon every game, they just chip puck by him and they are gone. So always are pros and cons to size, big or small.

Yes i totally agree, a very soft group, with Bouillion the only grit if push came to shove. But i guess why Prust/White/Moan were some of first to get signed. And there is size in AHL which cant develop fast enough, but next year should see promotion of one or more of them and there are always injuries on d. But on other hand, they are smaller but quicker than most d-cores and Markov/Subban and Kaberle all move the puck well, so i aint too displeased at all with group.

So as it sit today, this is how the forward group should roll out eh? Pacioretty-Desharnais-Cole Bourque-Plekanec-Gionta Armstrong-Eller-Moan White-Nokalenin-Prust Gomez

I agree PK will likely be in the teens in goals, especially if Markov stays healthy. Markov makes everyone better. I think Subban will be an All Star soon and love his game and he is making progress, especially in own end. But 1/2 his shots from the point hit his own players in front of net, i bet Cole and Pacioretty took more shots in the back and mid section from PK than all the rest of d-men combined. He has a good 1-timer, but still wild and with his big wind-up slapshot, even he couldnt tell you where it is going. If he can crank it back a notch or learn to keep a bit lower, i think would be more effective. But like you say, diff of opinion, agree to disagree, and just a minor criticism of a super player.

Jagr? i would say we more like dodged a bullet with that old timer. Doan is a different story and would like to see it happen.

No Hjalmarsson and Kane is weak rumour, that might not be too far-fetched if Bergevin wants to put his stamp on team and PK is not his type of player? I wouldnt do a seemingly Chelios deal revisited, but maybe Bergevin really wants Kane and sees glut of young d-men on farm? The swede would give you top 4 minutes and Kane is almost point/game. The sooner Subban gets signed the better i will feel, till then who knows if he is being shopped?

2010-2011-2012 were probably fairly similar in quality and will likely play out to be "average" drafts. But when weak draft is brought up, 2004 seems to be a perfect example.

Markov-Yemelin Gorges-Hjalmarsson Kaberle-Bouillon Diaz

What the hell do i know? I see him as an Archambault the 2nd type, small and skilled but..even make the NHL? I just see so much more NHL potential in a Darnell Nurse or others i noted and havent been that impressed by Domi. He was the 1 in the top ten i question and would have more like 20th or later.

No question, either of the 2 swiss d-men, until Subban can learn how to hit the net and realize the huge telegraphed slap shot is unnecessary and inaccurate. And also that a well placed wrist shot is just as effective (maybe more so?).

OK; Subban 5 goals on PP in 82 games, Weber 4 goals in 60 games, with a tad fewer PP minutes/game also. So really no comparison who is more efficient on the PP point.

Subban shooting % was 3.4%, the only lower on team was Gorges and Gomez, he cant hit the broad side of a barn and the showboating wind-up is useless. i am sure Pacioretty and Cole just dread trying to screen with him shooting over the net, or 5 feet wide. Funny how any criticism of Subban at all, gets people all excited. and statistically i think, the 2 Swiss were both way ahead on actually getting pucks to the net with shots.

Sure Domi may be a good prospect but; not top ten is he? Domi was on a stacked OHL team; whereas, say a Josh Morrissey had 40 points as a d-man on a shit team, as a 16 year old Rychel had 41 goals Roy 53 points as a d-man and Nurse will be a solid big d-man most likely, with a bit better bloodlines than a goon. Should see how they all play in next months tourny's eh.

Seems a nice cheap signing and i expect an improved version with a full season of training and no having to rehab shoulder and miss training camp, same as Leblanc will come in to camp a bit bigger, bit faster and a bit stronger.

I would say the exact same about PLakanec/Desharnais, as both suck on faceoffs, but someone has to play there.

Good for the big guy, SJ should be a nice low-stress place to work.