DKH
10-08-2003, 02:01 AM
whats your guess? If you categorize a team as excellent/outstanding as 110 points or above; very good as 100-109; good as 90-99; average as 80-89; lotter below 80.....you'd have to say our Broons 'should' be a good team.
But they have something different this year (maybe) WATCHABILITY. Besides having one of the 5 top lines in hockey should they choose to put Joe with Sammy and Murray; they have 3 or 4 kids that could form the second tier support- Bergeron, Jillson, Raycroft are the big three; and then there is Jurcina & Huml for now; others to follow- Zinovjev (hopefully); Samuelsson, Hilbert....even maybe Toivonen. How Raycroft, Jillson and to a degree Bergeron play could have a long way to what point total the Broons end up at.
Quickie
Forwards- beyond the Big 3, these 5 second tier guys like Rolston, Axelsson, Knuble, Green and Lapointe need to and should be able to score 100 goals.(I expect big things from him- and maybe having Bergeron to have an interest in will make him feel less inclined to worry about his goals and assists and look at the big picture of leadership, energy, grit....if he can stay on the ice healty I see no reason why close to 20 goals and an in your face team first toughness isn't reachable)
my realistic 75 game projections- Rolston (25-30); Knuble, Lapointe, Green and Ax all at (15-20)
The first line should be able to score 100 +/- 10 goals by themselves
Samsonov (25-35); Thornton & Murray both between (30-40)
I don't see a problem scoring goals.....I see the defense as decent with a chance to be a sleeper with health and continued improvement from Boynton and Jillson.
The goaltending should be fine- if the defense does their job of eliminating rebounds and giving the goalies good looks, the forwards pick up their checks and eliminate odd man rushes they should be good (and these are vet forwards that should know better- even Bergeron's resume is says defensive awareness an attribute)
put me down for 96 points and the Broons back on the radar screen and packing the house starting in January...eventual playoff death to the Sens after two tough rounds.
But they have something different this year (maybe) WATCHABILITY. Besides having one of the 5 top lines in hockey should they choose to put Joe with Sammy and Murray; they have 3 or 4 kids that could form the second tier support- Bergeron, Jillson, Raycroft are the big three; and then there is Jurcina & Huml for now; others to follow- Zinovjev (hopefully); Samuelsson, Hilbert....even maybe Toivonen. How Raycroft, Jillson and to a degree Bergeron play could have a long way to what point total the Broons end up at.
Quickie
Forwards- beyond the Big 3, these 5 second tier guys like Rolston, Axelsson, Knuble, Green and Lapointe need to and should be able to score 100 goals.(I expect big things from him- and maybe having Bergeron to have an interest in will make him feel less inclined to worry about his goals and assists and look at the big picture of leadership, energy, grit....if he can stay on the ice healty I see no reason why close to 20 goals and an in your face team first toughness isn't reachable)
my realistic 75 game projections- Rolston (25-30); Knuble, Lapointe, Green and Ax all at (15-20)
The first line should be able to score 100 +/- 10 goals by themselves
Samsonov (25-35); Thornton & Murray both between (30-40)
I don't see a problem scoring goals.....I see the defense as decent with a chance to be a sleeper with health and continued improvement from Boynton and Jillson.
The goaltending should be fine- if the defense does their job of eliminating rebounds and giving the goalies good looks, the forwards pick up their checks and eliminate odd man rushes they should be good (and these are vet forwards that should know better- even Bergeron's resume is says defensive awareness an attribute)
put me down for 96 points and the Broons back on the radar screen and packing the house starting in January...eventual playoff death to the Sens after two tough rounds.