I'd rather see Granlund with Koivu. I think that would be a dynamite line, I'm against seeing him with Cullen as his center. Maybe he'll move over to center earlier than we think though?
Just let EC walk and call him later in the summer if we swing and miss on everything.
Granlund could earn a top line spot, but it's not advisable to assume a rookie can jump from Europe and play on an NHL top line. However, as a thought experiment, this could be interesting:
I'm sure Jarick's not a fan of that second line, but all three more or less play on an island and can create their own offense (and wouldn't be ruining the others' work). Bulmer brings a lot of the same sort of game as Clutter to that third line, with Brodziak there as the steady eddy for him and Johnson plugging away as he always does.
Granlund could earn a top line spot, but it's not advisable to assume a rookie can jump from Europe and play on an NHL top line. However, as a thought experiment, this could be interesting:
I'm sure Jarick's not a fan of that second line, but all three more or less play on an island and can create their own offense (and wouldn't be ruining the others' work). Bulmer brings a lot of the same sort of game as Clutter to that third line, with Brodziak there as the steady eddy for him and Johnson plugging away as he always does.
I don't like the thought of us going into next year with Clutterbuck in the top 6.
With what we're stuck with on the existing contract front, I think a lack of a free agent home run or immediately contributing freshly drafted forward, we more or less have to go with two 2.5 lines instead of 2 and 3. Clutterbuck is usually a problem in the top 6 because you expect the players to grind a cycle together, work the puck together, and play on a line together. Seto, Cullen, and Clutterbuck all play more or less on an island, so there's not that same worry.
Yeah, it's not perfect, but that's a stacked top line, and this all assumes no Butch/Lats. Slot one of them in and slide Clutter down, kicking out Bulmer or slipping Johnson to 4th line and demoting that 4C (in favor of Powe) and you get a little better.
I guess I'd rather see us balance out the top 2 lines, rather than 2 and 3. Of course, my combo assumed that Coyle made the team, which could be a large assumption. If Larsson is NHL ready, I don't see the problem with letting him learn the NHL game on the wing and then move over.
He's a great 4th line energy guy. Sticks up for team mates, and forechecks pretty well. He's getting paid 1M per season, yet he shows more heart than most of our top-six.
Talk about being nit-picky if Powe is being singled out as one of this team's problems.
He's a great 4th line energy guy. He's getting paid 1M per season.
Exactly. Powe is a warrior. There aren't many players on the team who play with more grit than him. If he were to get injured or benched we would definitely notice a negative difference.
Exactly. Powe is a warrior. There aren't many players on the team who play with more grit than him. If he were to get benched we would definitely notice a negative difference.
Heh. I feel like anyone who ever played competitive sports doesn't get the mindset of trying to lose. Especially at this high of a level, it's not in their nature.. Well it shouldn't be, anyways.
Heh. I feel like anyone who ever played competitive sports doesn't get the mindset of trying to lose. Especially at this high of a level, it's not in their nature.. Well it shouldn't be, anyways.
They may not have the mindset to lose, but some have the mindset of this is my job. Aka. Bouwmeester. Go out and do your job, just don't go above and beyond.
Exactly. Powe is a warrior. There aren't many players on the team who play with more grit than him. If he were to get injured or benched we would definitely notice a negative difference.
I'm just peeved because we brought him in to kill penalties, hit guys, forecheck, and grind. He was forced to play situations that don't meet his strengths due to injuries, and he's been playing over his head for a lot of the year. I just don't think that's something you can fault the guy for.
christensen could be a 4th liner, sign him for cheap, seems ok for that role. better him than veilleux
That's the problem, his game is not suited for the 4th line at all. He can't play defense that well and he doesn't check. He's a finese player that needs to be in a top-6 role to succeed.
That's the problem, his game is not suited for the 4th line at all. He can't play defense that well and he doesn't check. He's a finese player that needs to be in a top-6 role to succeed.
cant be 3rd or 4th line? christensen-brodziak-johnson? i feel like that could be an ok line
Doesn't anyone here assume that we will get anyone out of somesort of value (top-6 guy or top-4 dman) in the FA in the summer? Are we really that none-likeable for a UFA?
And I do expect Lats to come back so atleast he could slot in instead of Clutter on that 2nd line. And Powe, I love him. He brings a lot of grit and heart in every shift and thats what you need from a 4th line guy. Nothing to say bad about him really.
Doesn't anyone here assume that we will get anyone out of somesort of value (top-6 guy or top-4 dman) in the FA in the summer? Are we really that none-likeable for a UFA?
And I do expect Lats to come back so atleast he could slot in instead of Clutter on that 2nd line. And Powe, I love him. He brings a lot of grit and heart in every shift and thats what you need from a 4th line guy. Nothing to say bad about him really.
Well there really isn't a ton out there for free agents. Aside from Suter as an UFA and Weber as a RFA about the only notable d-men available are Carle, Campoli, and Wideman.
For forwards it's a little better but not a ton. Besides of course Parise, and I'm not positive on all of these but I think some of the notable upcoming FA forwards are Hudler, Stoll, A. Kostitsyn, Semin, Penner, Ray Whitney, Doan, and I believe Mason Raymond is a RFA.
I'd rather just re-sign Lats than go after most of those forwards.
Why on earth does everyone have Clutter on the third line? The guy is an agitator plain and simple. Throw him on the 4th line and open that 3rd line spot up for one of the kids.
