Commandant

I love what I read on Nieves. But I havent seen enough to give a true comment. If I put it down Im not regurgitating someone else, I've seen the kid play. Hudon reminds me so much of Mike Cammalleri (the good things of Cammy). Heres also a goal of Galchenyuk I found that is incredible at 1:10 <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6QxbHfxyDY8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If he's available certain segments of the media will push for Charles Hudon with our second rounder. I wouldnt mind him though as a natural goal scorer.

We should solidify a top 3 spot on the annual Western Canada trip. Gotta think Markov is 1-2 weeks away from playing and longer from being effective too. Hope they start Budaj a little more too

Some UND Highlites Friday www.fightingsioux.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=851591&db_oem_id=13500 Saturday http://www.fightings...db_oem_id=13500

Ok, sure he is. Sorry I misunderstood that. The point stands though: Do we spend 9-10 million to have both Price and Halak on the roster? Does that make cap sense?

Head and Shoulders above based on what? His stats are a reflection of the team and the coach, you have to take them with a grain of salt. Brian Elliot has similar stats. Pascal Leclair had 9 shutouts on a Hitchcock team. Steve Mason 10. Halak still hasnt proven he can handle more than 50 games per year. Hes a good goalie but its ridiculous to claim he's head and shoulders above Price. Also having both Halak and Price on the same team does not work under the salary cap. Amazing that people complain about Kaberle's money but want us to pay 9 or 10 million for a goaltending tandem.

Exactly

Engqvist back up

Even if he's a bit dirty he'd be doing something. Now he's doing nothing. I'm also concerned he only has 5 assists all season (including Calgary).

Possibly but they need to find a taker to trade with and a D who wont pull a pronger

http://futureconsiderations.ca/top-rankings/ New for March

Bourque is so frustrating. For a big body he doesn't hit. Did the suspensions turn him into a pussy?

Holland and Gallagher with 1 assist each on Sunday. Morgan Ellis with 1 goal.

Unless Cunney breaks up the 2 and a half men line there are no wingers to put with Plek. Gionta is hurt and Bourque sucks.

I certainly see the argument for Murray and I see the attraction. I'm just saying the oilers aren't set at centre. And they have a supporting cast even if they don't have a number 1 D. They very well might go Murray, but its no slam dunk.

Pleks hasn't really had the best of wingers this year either. Must be tough for him.

as it stands now, pleks,dd and eller are the three centres, but I think we have to assume that its a strong possibility that a centre will be drafted and will be on the team maybe next year, but for sure by october 2013.I think we also forget how good a goal scorer Pleks can be at centre even if he's not big.

2nd round I've looked at a few guys, but I'll have more info and opinion once we get closer to the draft. Still a lot of volatility before we have the CHL playoffs. For now I'll add names like Tom Wilson, Cristoval "boo" Nieves, Andreas Athanesou, Scott Laughton, and Daniil Zharkov, as 2nd round prospects to the names Don already gave.

Possible but the Wing and DD need to discuss exactly when they are going to switch roles, and it would take a lot of chemistry out there. The downsides is it would be a defensive role the winger isn't used to, and it would limit your ability to line juggle. They also both have to be on board with the switch, you don't want both DD and the winger both playing down low and leaving open the point man and not being in position on the boards to start a breakout and transition game. It could work but I think given the personnel (if a C is drafted) it might be more trouble than its worth and might be easier to just move DD to wing full time. As CK pointed out you also are leaving yourself open to mass confusion and it would really change your transition game.

I wouldn't assume that drafting a D is such a slam dunk for the Oilers if they are picking at #2. At last years draft they got Klefbom at 19th overall, who is a hell of a prospect. He was a WJC all-star this year for the gold medal Swedish team. They also took Musil at 31st overall (not quite, but basically a first rounder and traded for Teubert. That's pretty much three first rounders added. Then you have Ryan Whitney, Smid, Peckham and Petry who are all younger D and in the NHL. If they think Grigo is the BPA, they might go centre, and set up a 1-2 punch down the middle. Despite Gagner's 8 pt night, I'm not sure they believe in him, and let's not forget he has been heavily involved in trade rumors. In a defence heavy draft they'll have the opportunity to get another D at 31st overall too (new jersey will forfeit their first rounder). I have no doubt they'd like a D and Ryan murray and Matt dumba as Alberta boys are attractive, but its no sure thing here.

Reports out of Sarnia's OHL broadcast team are suggesting a March 14th return for Alex Galchenyuk.

I didn't know about the 88 thing until a few years ago when Machine of Loving Grace told me about it. At HF there is a Bruins fan who is a total douche and goes by the name Sarge88 and MOLG told me his username means he's a white supremicist, he wishes he was a Sargeant in the SS. I know what it means because of that, but I didn't before. I'm not convinced its common knowledge. What does this mean for Eric Lindros and Patrick Kane?

And if we bag a parise and a galchenyuk? I know, I'm dreaming, but in that scenario, Leblanc gets another year in the AHL while we try to dump Bourque.

I know it was his dad, but I always like to yell "Eat another Donut Koharski" when I am at a dogs game and he's the ref.

Just because he's on wing doesn't mean DD has to be the guy driving the net or the primary goal scoring presence on his line. He can still be the distributor and play maker from the wing like a poor man's St. Louis, or like a Tanguay is the playmaker on his line with Iginla, or like a Hemsky, or a whitney, or a Gerbe, or how a number of other wingers who are the primary playmaker on their line operate. The goal isn't to change DD's offensive game but rather to limit the defensive deficiencies I talked about in another thread, specifically the cycle game problem.