I think Cally will have to switch sides if they resign Zherdev
But this is where it starts to get tricky.
I think that if we place Zherdev in one of these spots, and he appears to be a goner, I'll re-poll that spot and if the spot is filled by someone else that won a different poll, I'll re-poll that spot too.
I was going to start listing "Zherdev if signed, if not, <name>", but that would get a little annoying to track.
Last edited by captain9nyr: 07-25-2009 at 07:23 PM.
Sean Avery i believe would be the most suited for the 2nd line. Have Drury center this line and have Ryan Callahan play right wing (AS IS HIS NATURAL POSITION!!!!).
There you have a line that is gritty, pretty damn quick, forchecks hard and is actually defensively responsible (Cally and Drury definitely are, not too sure about Avery but definitely has the speed to get the last man).
That line can definitely produce as well, Avery just plays the best hockey in his life in NY for some reason. Callahan explodes under Torts and Drury will have a breath of fresh air under this system. If i have to predict rough point totals, i say Avery gets around 50, Drury around 60, and Callahan around 55. A very respectable and damn good second line if all pans out.
I really feel they brought in Kotalik to be the 2nd line RW to Drury (re-kindle the Buffalo success), and both Zherdev and Callahan are too good to be 3rd liners, which is why I really think Zherdev is as good as gone.
Unless Zherdev or Callahan move to this spot, Zherdev is gone, because he's not going to be 3rd line. We could see a 3rd line of Avery - Anisimov - Lisin and Callahan be the left wing here.
I like Kotalik's shot with Drury and Cally working around the net. If Kotalik and Drury can revive their old chemistry, you have to keep them together. Avery could mix into the rotation just fine when we need a spark. Whoever slides in, our second line should be pretty solid.
Kotalik. I think Avery might earn some time there during the year, but Kotalik - Drury - Callahan is the probable 2nd line to me.
There really just does not appear to be a spot for Nikolai Zherdev on this team. This would have been an absolutely unthinkable thought just a few months ago.
Everyone keeps saying Zherdev will be gone....we better get something decent for him...we gave up Tyutin in that deal. What can we get for Zherdev? I personally want to keep him -- but then you run into a stacked team. What return can you possibly get that wouldnt be nhl ready and still fair value for Z?
Everyone keeps saying Zherdev will be gone....we better get something decent for him...we gave up Tyutin in that deal. What can we get for Zherdev? I personally want to keep him -- but then you run into a stacked team. What return can you possibly get that wouldnt be nhl ready and still fair value for Z?
Everyone keeps saying Zherdev will be gone....we better get something decent for him...we gave up Tyutin in that deal. What can we get for Zherdev? I personally want to keep him -- but then you run into a stacked team. What return can you possibly get that wouldnt be nhl ready and still fair value for Z?
I'm not sure why people continue to write Staal and Girardi as our first D-pairing when they were absolutely brutal together during the playoffs.
I always thought Rozy and Staal played well together and would like to see them reunited.
Girardi gets way too much of a free pass around here. He regressed both offensively and defensively and didn't resemble anything close to a 1st pairing d-man last season. I'm not sure if it's because he's homegrown, or because he makes less money than some of our other d-man, but Girardi is criticized way less than Rozy and Redden, and I don't think Girardi played any better than them. Girardi really needs to rebound this year and regain his prior form.
--here's my lines based on the thought that Zherdev will be signed...but traded before the cap hit is finalized for something else...to lose 2 2nd rounders(the cost of tyutin and backman)
--here's my lines based on the thought that Zherdev will be signed...but traded before the cap hit is finalized for something else...to lose 2 2nd rounders(the cost of tyutin and backman)
I can go with either Kotalik or Avery as the 2nd line LWer. I think they'll swap back and forth during the season depending on who's hot or if the lines just gets cold and needs a change.
I would like to start the season with Avery on the 2nd line though. He brings so much to the game even when he's not scoring.
Even though we're paying Kotalik 3M a year, I have no problem having him on the 3rd line and playing him 1st pairing on the PP. I think he's a steal if he's solid on 3rd line, solid on PP, and solid on shootouts. Him alone can be a difference maker of about 5 games just with the PP and shootout.
