and you honestly think the sharks will trade douglas murray because they get knocked out of the playoffs? He's one of the hardest hitters in the league and probably not far behind in fan favorite D-men behind boyle.
and you honestly think the sharks will trade douglas murray because they get knocked out of the playoffs? He's one of the hardest hitters in the league and probably not far behind in fan favorite D-men behind boyle.
In a pipe dream all is possible - unicorns become zebras and snakes become beanstalks. And Gomez returns as our vet capitano...
Without too many exterior moves to be made, this could be our team in 2011:
Kreider - Stepan - Gaborik
Grachev - Anisimov - (someone who can score)
Avery - Dubinsky - Callahan
Hagelin - Drury - (someone who can fight)
Lisin/Boyle/whoever...
Staal - Del Zotto
Girardi - McDonaugh
Sangs - (someone who can hit)
Lundqvist
Johnson
Doesn't look too bad either IMO. Of course it's probably gonna take a little longer until Stepan and Kreider are first line players (if ever), but I think Kreider could be one who can actually keep up with Gabs, and Stepan already looks like the best passer in the Organization.
The only thing that really needs to be acquired (via trade, FA or maybe even draft) is another scoring winger, preferably a RW. I think every other hole could be filled from within.
a 7 foot Goon preferabely named Ogelthorpe, ev some AHL fodder (maybe Lisin, PAP, Weise or Hagelin)
Staal - MDZ
Liles - McDonaugh
Murray - Sangs
Girardi/Sauer
Hank
Backup goalie that is not over 6 foot 3 inches...
Kovalchuk is signed as a FA 2010
Rozie is gone at draft day 2010 for an upgraded pic (Columbus, Atlanta, St Louis, Toronto or Phoenix?)
Drury gone to Colorado at next deadline for Liles + junk
Redden waived, traded, bought out, assulted by wild stray dogs or just taking a dirt nap with *jimmy Hoffa at The meadowlands
Tootoo + ev Radulov are brought in from Nashville for whatever it takes (excluding above names - Hey they owe us for Les Specimines)
We get Murray in some miracle trade as the Sharks are eliminated in the 1st round again and shake up team (ev for Girardi?++).
All the above prospects pan out...
More whiskey
More beer
Slather is somehow gone under mysterious circumstances - last seen in Iceland
Dream on...
I tell you what... Looking at some the prospects here.. I think Sather has done a great job in building behind the barn with some of these prospects... Kreider, Stepan, Gratchev, Sangs, McDonough, and even MDZ (even though he is in the NHL)
The only concern I see is that most HF's are penciling in these Prospects as sure bet very good NHL'ers... They do seem to have a lot of promise but right now they are just prospects...
I don't see Stepan playing in the NHL right away next year, much less as a first line center. Kovalchuk is a major pipe dream but since there is a chance that it could happen that we sign him, even if it is a very small one... I'll put that in our plans. Here is my list of what probably won't happen but what would be fantastic:
Trade Rozy after this season for anything
Waive/Bury Redden
Find someone to take Brashear, please.
Sign Kovy
Release Higgins. Release Prospal unless he's willing to sign for cheap.
Resign Christensen, Lisin, Girardi, and Staal as RFAs.
Without too many exterior moves to be made, this could be our team in 2011:
Kreider - Stepan - Gaborik
Grachev - Anisimov - (someone who can score)
Avery - Dubinsky - Callahan
Hagelin - Drury - (someone who can fight)
Lisin/Boyle/whoever...
Staal - Del Zotto
Girardi - McDonaugh
Sangs - (someone who can hit)
Lundqvist
Johnson
Doesn't look too bad either IMO. Of course it's probably gonna take a little longer until Stepan and Kreider are first line players (if ever), but I think Kreider could be one who can actually keep up with Gabs, and Stepan already looks like the best passer in the Organization.
The only thing that really needs to be acquired (via trade, FA or maybe even draft) is another scoring winger, preferably a RW. I think every other hole could be filled from within.
after watching Kreider perform at the WJC I feel he may be a Erik Cole Clone. Same size, both raised in USA (NE), both shoot lefty, and both have blazing speed and very very very raw. To this day Cole creates a ton of chances a game. Love watching him play. After each game I see him perform I come away thinking if Cole really ever busts out he can pop in 40. (best he ever did was exactly 30 goals and 61 points) He just never did truly bust out but did carve out a first line winger gig in the NHL. He is downright scary to play against becuase its chance after chance with him. Just heave it down his side and let Cole get it. He just leaves you wanting more and expecting one day for it to happen. Think he was raised in upstate NY ( Oswego) so its always good to have a sort of home town kid make it...If I were a NHL GM, this is the guy I would want come deadline day, if healthy he would be a huge asset in the playoffs and in big games. Just like Kreider I feel. Real solid pick by the blue shirts. I dont think Kreider will ever be a 90 point guy but he will push defenses back, make them honest and just create a ton of chances every game and maybe one day the lighbulb clicks and bamm an all star is born for a few years. It will be interesting
I got the same impression from Kreider which would be a good thing right? Creates a ton of chances with the blazing speed and real good size.
I don't see Stepan playing in the NHL right away next year, much less as a first line center. Kovalchuk is a major pipe dream but since there is a chance that it could happen that we sign him, even if it is a very small one... I'll put that in our plans. Here is my list of what probably won't happen but what would be fantastic:
Trade Rozy after this season for anything
Waive/Bury Redden
Find someone to take Brashear, please.
Sign Kovy
Release Higgins. Release Prospal unless he's willing to sign for cheap.
Resign Christensen, Lisin, Girardi, and Staal as RFAs.
I just dont see huge huge upside in Stephan. His hockey IQ and passing are his strenghts obviously. Does he do anything ELITE? He is not a true goall scorer and is not a pure pure skater obviously. If he was fortunate enough to play with Gabby then that just may be his best shot at becoming a first line center. Stephan's smarts and leadership qualities may be a perfect match one day as Gabby's #1 pivot. he just may have 15 goals and 60 assists maxing out. (and that may be his career year) Just hope folks are not expecting a Joe Thorntonesque career from the Kid. It would be unfair to Stephan. Let's see how the kid develops, he has some time. Let him try to win a NCAA championship and add that to his belt of accomplishments, NHL teams are littered with potential first lines forwards playing NCAA. Some make it and some do not. Some are 19 and some are 20 or 21.
I just dont see huge huge upside in Stephan. His hockey IQ and passing are his strenghts obviously. Does he do anything ELITE? He is not a true goall scorer and is not a pure pure skater obviously. If he was fortunate enough to play with Gabby then that just may be his best shot at becoming a first line center. Stephan's smarts and leadership qualities may be a perfect match one day as Gabby's #1 pivot. he just may have 15 goals and 60 assists maxing out. (and that may be his career year) Just hope folks are not expecting a Joe Thorntonesque career from the Kid. It would be unfair to Stephan. Let's see how the kid develops, he has some time. Let him try to win a NCAA championship and add that to his belt of accomplishments, NHL teams are littered with potential first lines forwards playing NCAA. Some make it and some do not. Some are 19 and some are 20 or 21.
If anybody expects Stepan to be the next Joe Thornton, they should get their heads checked...
The thing why I think he could play well on the first line with gaborik is that he has good vision, probably better than either Anisimov and Dubinsky. And if he can pass the puck to Gaborik in the offensive zone, that can create a lot of goals. Kreider with his speed and (hopefully) hard work could do the dirty work of that line while being able to keep up with Gabs.
In theory that sounds like a good line, and I could see Stepan regularly getting around 60 assist with Gaborik, and if he works a bit on his shot, he could get to 20 goals as well. If Stepan turns into an 80 point center, I think no one here is gonna complain.
Of course that's all theory, and in the end everything will be different than we thought, and Christensen is gonna center our 1st line for years to come
I would believe this "pipe dream" more if/when these prospects are playing effectively in the NHL. And even then you can't go overboard.
I think the Rangers would be quite happy if they can produce a couple of stars out of those prospects. The rest will likely be solid contributors. Which I would take.
He's one of the hardest hitters in the league and probably not far behind in fan favorite D-men behind boyle.
