Resigning Prust is a must. Signing Gaustad is also a bigger acquisition than some here think. That allows Boyle to go to the 4th line, where he'll excel. One of our biggest areas of weakness was the 4th line in the playoffs. Prust and Boyle would be better suited on the 4th line than the 3rd and would allow us to play all 4 rather than just 3. Gaustad would also be huge for our faceoffs and penalty kill. We were average, if not below average this past season. Words can't describe how frustrating it was to watch us constantly lose face offs.
Can someone remind me why Boyle is a 4th line center and Gaustad is not?
Gaustad is more mobile, probably better at face offs (haven't checked stats), and Boyle is more of a defensive specialist, while the 3rd line should be able to score more than ours did this year.
The Predators are trying to re-sign Gaustad, who is reportedly seeking the kind of money fellow third-line centre Jarret Stoll recently got from the Los Angeles Kings - three years at $3.25 a season.
Everyone on the market is going to be overpaid it is what it is. If we want to enhance our chances for a cup, were going to have to join the party and either give up talent or pay the money
Everyone on the market is going to be overpaid it is what it is. If we want to enhance our chances for a cup, were going to have to join the party and either give up talent or pay the money
Hopefully it's spent on someone that fills a need, however.
Might have to swing a deal for a bottom pairing defender. Sarich coming off the market hurts. There are some decent ones left, but my guess is they'll get overpayed with the lack of players on the market. Milan Jurchina is a likely candidate for the 3rd pairing D spot on this team. He might be looking for a bigger pay day though. He's 27 and hasn't made a lot of money yet.
If we don't get Schultz, it might come down to the point of having Eminger/Player of his caliber on the 3rd pair and hoping McIlrath can be NHL ready mid season, Sauer comes back and play at a bottom pairing level at least, or getting someone at the deadline.
I would not be opposed to bringing Eminger to be the 6th and getting someone at the deadline or hoping the other two options take affect.
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-MDZ
Erixon-Eminger
Sauer/McIlrath waiting to come in a play.
If they can get Schultz and have Sauer back by February/March their D going into the playoffs could be:
If Sauer can show he can play at the NHL level and remain healthy and Schultz is at least an NHL player, one of Del Zotto or Erixon could be moved to improve the forwards in the following offseason. With the prospects this team has it could turn into an embarrassment of riches in a couple seasons with guys like Fast, Miller, St. Croix, Skjei, Thomas, and Yogan in the system.
Finally, the team has a system in place and young players being pumped out of the pipeline to be used in trades on top of the young talented players we already have in the NHL. We can also replace players that look for the big payday with guys they've been developing over time. Maybe this is what it feels like to be Detroit, without winning the titles..... yet.
Might have to swing a deal for a bottom pairing defender. Sarich coming off the market hurts. There are some decent ones left, but my guess is they'll get overpayed with the lack of players on the market. Milan Jurchina is a likely candidate for the 3rd pairing D spot on this team. He might be looking for a bigger pay day though. He's 27 and hasn't made a lot of money yet.
If we don't get Schultz, it might come down to the point of having Eminger/Player of his caliber on the 3rd pair and hoping McIlrath can be NHL ready mid season, Sauer comes back and play at a bottom pairing level at least, or getting someone at the deadline.
I would not be opposed to bringing Eminger to be the 6th and getting someone at the deadline or hoping the other two options take affect.
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-MDZ
Erixon-Eminger
Sauer/McIlrath waiting to come in a play.
If they can get Schultz and have Sauer back by February/March their D going into the playoffs could be:
If Sauer can show he can play at the NHL level and remain healthy and Schultz is at least an NHL player, one of Del Zotto or Erixon could be moved to improve the forwards in the following offseason. With the prospects this team has it could turn into an embarrassment of riches in a couple seasons with guys like Fast, Miller, St. Croix, Skjei, Thomas, and Yogan in the system.
Finally, the team has a system in place and young players being pumped out of the pipeline to be used in trades on top of the young talented players we already have in the NHL. We can also replace players that look for the big payday with guys they've been developing over time. Maybe this is what it feels like to be Detroit, without winning the titles..... yet.
Your forgetting Strahlman, and no way is Schultz starting top 4 minutes if he is signed. Especially, if Sauer is back.
Your forgetting Strahlman, and no way is Schultz starting top 4 minutes if he is signed. Especially, if Sauer is back.
Yea, Stralman could come back. I just think that he is going to be playing in Sweden tbh. If he is back, then he's perfect for the bottom pairing.
Also, I think if Sauer does come back around the time of February/March, they might not want to overwhelm him, even after 20 or so games back. His concussion is very serious, even more than Staals was. It's going to take him time. Having him playing on the 3rd pairing would possibly be very beneficial for him. His conditioning might not be where it needs to be even at the point to play top 4 minutes on the Rangers.
About Schultz, it'd be more about who he is being paired with. I think having him with one of McDonagh or Staal would be better than having him with Erixon or MDZ. Also, McDonagh got top 4 minutes after he came up from the AHL. Schultz is a good player on both ends of the ice, but his offense stands out more than his defense. Doesn't mean he's bad on defense. I think he'd receive more 5th minutes than 4th because MDZ would take icetime from him. It'd be similar to Stralman being paired with Staal initally, but MDZ getting some shifts in that spot as well.
Your forgetting Strahlman, and no way is Schultz starting top 4 minutes if he is signed. Especially, if Sauer is back.
Right now he would get the chance to keep it, he would be on the 2nd pair with mcd unless mcd or staal can switch sides, because girardi is our only RHD
too bad Moen resigned. we could have used his size in our lineup. I'm hoping that we acquire some players that make us more difficult to play against. Holding out for Tootoo and Carnker...
Everyone on the market is going to be overpaid it is what it is. If we want to enhance our chances for a cup, were going to have to join the party and either give up talent or pay the money
The team got here by doing the exact opposite of this. I dont mind spending money, when its the right fit.
Give team needs, how does overpaying someone in a brutal FA class good for the team in any way?
The Rangers don't have those type of dollars for Gaustad.
you think they have that money for a Doan or Whitney cause that's what i'm hoping for. Then just a 4th line faceoff guy and depth 3rd liner like Tootoo
