Quote:
Originally Posted by Esa 10
I agree with the OP's concern. I applaud Sather for not acceding to CBJ's demands on Nash, but extra depth, particularly at F would have been helpful.
As pld mentioned, BC's position makes it likely Kreider won't be available til the play-offs. He'll need at least a few practices once signed. Avery is not an option, he hasn't played for Hartford in weeks. Even if Torts had a miraculous change of heart, Avery is not in shape to help anyone. He won't anyway. Scott and Bickel aren't capable of more than 5 minutes on the 4th line to give the others a break. You just hope the other team is kept at bay when they're on the ice. Devaux and Newbury are no better. MZA is the only option until Kreider's arrival for the play-offs if someone in the top 9 is injured or needs a break. That's why Feds and Mitchell have moved up, making the 4th line utterly toothless. Just pray for health. Not a good situation.
Too bad Torts couldn't stomach putting Wolski in the line-up. Sure his defense is suspect and he's weak on the boards, but it's not like he's causing goals against every time he's on the ice in Florida. They play defense there too, Winnipeg game notwithstanding. Rolston off waivers or Pahlsson for 2 mid round picks also would've been a decent depth move. AK from Montreal was probably considered too similar to Wolski to pursue. He was certainly worth spending a 2nd on for a 1st place team otherwise. Torts has done a great job this year, but his intransigence on Wolski and Avery may come back to haunt this team in the play-offs. They are a couple of injuries away from not having enough viable forwards. Not adding one of the cheap available options while disposing of Wolski seems like a mistake waiting to happen.
The D is in better shape. Plenty of depth for the 3rd pairing and Erixon can probably be called up by now if they want to reduce the top 4's minutes. Still a chance Sauer is back for the play-offs. Girardi and McD had a bad game last night that can be directly attributed to being tired. Something to monitor, but Staal's rounding into form should reduce their minutes.
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This is the key right now.
Currently you have Girardi as the only guy who will be nearly always solid on the right side. Once we get Sauer back we're looking at:
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Stralman
Del Zotto - Sauer
There is nice balance on those pairings. Furthermore, when things neat to tighten up you could always go back to McDonagh-Sauer, and Staal - Girardi.
