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nyr7andcounting · 08-01-2004, 10:13 PM

Thornton is a great player and I would love to have him in NY.... if he was a UFA and didn't cost us part of the core we are trying to put together.

You have to realize that Thornton or no Thornton, this team isn't going to make the playoffs for atleast 2 years. And it will probably be 4-5 years before this team becomes a real contender (if Sather stays the path and all goes well). Thornton will make us a 75 pt team instead of a 67 pt team. Either way, we aren't in the playoffs. Plus who knows what will become of Thornton by the time the rest of this team is ready to contend.

Bottom line is it doesn't make sense to trade any top young assets at this point, no matter who we are getting back. Tyutin is one of our top 2 dmen... the defense will be built around him. Balej looks like he can be a consistent 2nd line RW if he learns a little d, and with the right chemistry he could easily put up 25-30 goals in his prime. And the 1st rounder next year... no it probably won't be Crosby, maybe not Brule... But theres a good chance it could Johnson or Anikeenko, who would both be perfect for us. Or a potential 2nd line forward, atleast. Why would we remove these building blocks for a guy in his prime NOW who might not be all that much help when we are ready to win years down the road?

08-01-2004, 10:13 PM	#41
nyr7andcounting Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,919 vCash: 500	Thornton is a great player and I would love to have him in NY.... if he was a UFA and didn't cost us part of the core we are trying to put together. You have to realize that Thornton or no Thornton, this team isn't going to make the playoffs for atleast 2 years. And it will probably be 4-5 years before this team becomes a real contender (if Sather stays the path and all goes well). Thornton will make us a 75 pt team instead of a 67 pt team. Either way, we aren't in the playoffs. Plus who knows what will become of Thornton by the time the rest of this team is ready to contend. Bottom line is it doesn't make sense to trade any top young assets at this point, no matter who we are getting back. Tyutin is one of our top 2 dmen... the defense will be built around him. Balej looks like he can be a consistent 2nd line RW if he learns a little d, and with the right chemistry he could easily put up 25-30 goals in his prime. And the 1st rounder next year... no it probably won't be Crosby, maybe not Brule... But theres a good chance it could Johnson or Anikeenko, who would both be perfect for us. Or a potential 2nd line forward, atleast. Why would we remove these building blocks for a guy in his prime NOW who might not be all that much help when we are ready to win years down the road?