Commandant

I didn't see Potvin live (not in his prime anyway) but from what I've seen on film... yes, I'd take Lidstrom. Better for longer too... Lidstrom's spent nearly 15 years as the best D in the NHL (since the late 90s), and 20 years in the league, starting with a Calder so he was good from Day 1.

The team should just hire Benoit Groulx and be done with the search.

Just what this team needs.... to be placed in the middle of the Bertuzzi/Moore trial in October as the season is beginning. Bergevin played for Crawford for all of 1 month and it was the most turbulent month of Crawford's career, after the Bertuzzi incident. I don't think he's that close to him.

Id even go 30 years

Trevor Carrick of Mississauga in the OHL http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/05/31/nhl-draft-prospect-profile-53-trevor-carrick/ Good Hockey player name on that one, He was originally 63 on the ranks but I bumped him for that reason (just kidding)

I personally don't care. I'm just saying that the English media's argument will be that the coach can't communicate with the players. Something that the French media doesn't have a leg to stand on if they tried to claim in this debate. It would create more traction with many. On the other hand I look at the Euro soccer coaches and see many who work around this issue, and don't see why the same couldn't be done in hockey.

90% of the players in the league speak English, so no its not the same with a French only speaking coach

Bobby Orr and the ghosts of Doug Harvey and Eddie Shore all want to have a talk with you. There is no way Lidstrom is better than Orr. Who is number 2? Harvey, Shore and Lidstrom are all contenders... sadly there is not enough video of the two old timers to really judge, but those who saw them, swear they were the best.

Im not saying Sutter will get the job, but I am saying he's had an informal tryout/interview for it (at the very least)

The logic is dumb, but the vocal minority also makes distractions for an Anglo coach and its harder to win when they put you behind the 8 ball on day 1

9 goals 17 pts at the University of Miami (Ohio) as a freshmen, he's now left school and is headed for the OHL next year. A disappointing year overall for a first round pick, but not hugely so....

Don't forget Nash. Also St. Denis. I think that Nygren or Stejskel, could end up in the ECHL too. And I think they need to sign Stafford or another Vet... have one guy in a journeyman role to act almost as a player coach.

Oh come on... are we supposed to believe that Sutter and Kevin Lowe didn't talk when Sutter was coaching team Canada. Even if not a formal interview, there was informal conversations, and sometimes those mean as much or more.

3 years No terms as of yet, but I'm sure dlblair will get them.

it was one aspect of his game I talked about.... I said, "The other aspects of his game aren't like Cammalleri." so its not a comparison of everything... just one thing he does well. And as much as people can complain about Cammalleri there were a few things he did very well.

Winther is smart. You used to talk about Cammalleri a lot and how he would disappear in the defence on the PP and then all of the sudden he'd be wide open letting off a one timer. Winther reminds me of that. The other aspects of his game aren't like Cammalleri. And the shot isn't as good as Cammalleri... but he just has that ability that some how he disappears on defenders, and the next thing you know... bang! in the net. Charles Hudon is another guy in this draft class who does that.

IMO, All that would happen would be that he would take even more offensive chances. Saint John would need him for additional scoring, so he would be even more offensive than he is. And he would push the play more, because with his skating, its tough for him to get caught too far out of position at that level. Plus as an overager he'd develop even more of a size/strength advantage.

Back to the Profiles with Mike Winther of the Prince Albert Raiders http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/05/30/nhl-draft-prospect-profile-52-mike-winther/

I would say highly unlikely, unless Beaulieu doesn't want to sign. He's played 4 years in the QMJHL, he's a PPG defenceman down there... he's never gonna fix his defensive deficiency in that league because his skating is too good. Even when he makes a mistake, he recovers from it on pure skating 80% of the time. He needs to move to the next level IMO.

Boo Nieves stud or bust, based on the MOLG system?

If you didn't have so many posts I agree with, I'd think you were PJ Stock.

I personally wouldn't take him in the first, but I'm betting some team will. I gave my reasons for why i think it will be Gillis, but I could see the leafs trading up for him, or the Bruins grabbing him, etc... As you correctly point out with Kerdiles, Nieves, etc.... it only takes one GM/scout to fall in love with a player and suddenly a second rounder is taken in the first round, and this is what I think will happen with Wilson. There will be at least one team out there who sees him as a potential Lucic, whereas I think he tops out as a bigger Travis Moen.

The issue that PG failed to realize when Muller went off to coach in the AHL, was that JM and Muller had very much a "good cop/bad cop" dynamic with the team. The head coach was the "bad cop" the disciplinarian, play my system or else, gruff and removed from the players. Muller was the good cop, encouraging, in his players ears, and helping them. The guy they went to when they had issues etc... PG failed to grasp this dynamic and didn't install a new "good cop" when he put Cunneyworth and Ladoucer in as assistants.

Here's the thing though.... - Mellanby was broken by Bob McKenzie saying he was coming to Montreal almost immediately on hearing the news he quit in St. Louis. - Dudley came from Dreger (and we all know he has sources in the leaf organization, aka Nonis). But this Hartley thing isn't coming from TSN, so I don't buy this rumor with the same validity.

I think this would be a good place for MOLG to put in his theory about drafting based on whether or not the player has a "hockey name"