We need a reliable one just in case Pavs goes down with an injury! I laugh how most mentioned have ties to the Moose or old Jets.
Can we get Fred Brathwaite out of retirement?
I think the only viable back up option available to the organization is Edward Pasquale. Carrozzi is still pretty raw in his development and Mannino isn't with the organization anymore.
Of the last free agents left I wouldn't mind seeing Ellis, Mueller, and Kubina signed.
Ellis is pretty self explanatory. We need a back-up goaltender and he looks like the best one available.
Mueller is a guy who has had injury problems, but I think we could risk an offensive reclamation project of this ilk. His main use would be at RW, but his versatility on both wings will never be a bad thing, especially if injuries occur.
Kubina is getting old, but he's still a big tough right handed d-man. I feel more comfortable with him than with Clitsome, Postma, Kulda, or Meech.
D-lines of:
Enstrom-Byfuglien
Hainsey-Bogosian
Stuart-Kubina
look very solid defensively to me.
Don't know if I want Kubina. He can be expensive and could look long-term contract.
Defensemen that interests me are Colaiacovo and Jurcina. Colaiacovo is solid d-man who can make smart play and if we still want to add size we could sign Jurcina. Jurcina also shoots from right, so that would be a "special talent" too.
Then we could put ice left-handed - right-handed d-men pairs. But Colaiacovo could be an good addition with his offensive skills. Don't know if there is any else true puck-mover in our defense than Toby in next year.
No interest in a D at all*. I think Kulda should be in the NHL this year. Postma as well in fact. I really think that whoever of Kulda/Clitsome/Postma is placed on waivers will be claimed, all should be NHLers next season, IMO.
*=Unless it's Ryan Suter
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2012 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS LA KINGS!!! GO JETS GO!
No interest in a D at all*. I think Kulda should be in the NHL this year. Postma as well in fact. I really think that whoever of Kulda/Clitsome/Postma is placed on waivers will be claimed, all should be NHLers next season, IMO.
*=Unless it's Ryan Suter
I expect both Postma and Kulda to be up in Winnipeg next year.They are ready.
Only fear as you said is waivers but Kulda was on waivers already this season and cleared?Postma I don't think would.
No interest in a D at all*. I think Kulda should be in the NHL this year. Postma as well in fact. I really think that whoever of Kulda/Clitsome/Postma is placed on waivers will be claimed, all should be NHLers next season, IMO.
*=Unless it's Ryan Suter
I have more faith in Clitsome and Kulda than Postma.
Can Postma actually play on the PK? If not that would be putting way too much work on the backs of the other 4 (not including Byfuglien) other D.
I'm also just not as big a fan of Kulda as others here. In his few games I noticed he kept missing D assignments and would get jumbled up with his own D partner.
No interest in a D at all*. I think Kulda should be in the NHL this year. Postma as well in fact. I really think that whoever of Kulda/Clitsome/Postma is placed on waivers will be claimed, all should be NHLers next season, IMO.
*=Unless it's Ryan Suter
Agree 100%. At some point Kulda and or Postma need a shot (if they've earned it, which it looks like they have).
By the looks of it, we have more 5-6 D men than spots (Stuart (lock), Clitsome, Kulda, Postma). If anything, if we were going to make a move on defense (baring an Enstrom trade) would be to upgrade Hainsey.
Quote:
Originally Posted by morningwood
All these potential D line-ups and no mention of Flood, whats up with that, he was solid last year when called upon
I don't think Flood is better than Enstrom, Bogosian, Hainsey, Buff, Stuart, or Clitsome. And at some point, we need to see what we have in Kulda and Postma.
Agree 100%. At some point Kulda and or Postma need a shot (if they've earned it, which it looks like they have).
By the looks of it, we have more 5-6 D men than spots (Stuart (lock), Clitsome, Kulda, Postma). If anything, if we were going to make a move on defense (baring an Enstrom trade) would be to upgrade Hainsey.
I don't think Flood is better than Enstrom, Bogosian, Hainsey, Buff, Stuart, or Clitsome. And at some point, we need to see what we have in Kulda and Postma.
Agreed, but he still deserves mention because I think the coaching staff gained confidence from his play last season so they may have him as a potential starter. I guess we'll see who brings there A game for training camp, there will be a battle for a starting role on D, can't wait!!!!
Agree 100%. At some point Kulda and or Postma need a shot (if they've earned it, which it looks like they have).
By the looks of it, we have more 5-6 D men than spots (Stuart (lock), Clitsome, Kulda, Postma). If anything, if we were going to make a move on defense (baring an Enstrom trade) would be to upgrade Hainsey.
I don't think Flood is better than Enstrom, Bogosian, Hainsey, Buff, Stuart, or Clitsome. And at some point, we need to see what we have in Kulda and Postma.
I've a somewhat limited view toward both Kulda & Clitsome, in that my viewings of Kulda are limited to all of his games played for Winnipeg and as well those with St. Johns that were available online during the AHL playoffs, and my viewings of Clitsome are limited to 20 or so Blue Jackets games and all with Winnipeg. As a Rick Nash fan I tried to catch as many Jackets games as possible in the past.
While Kulda's game isn't exactly aesthetically pretty, I view him as a guy that does what it takes to get things done within the scope of his abilities, and he seems fairly safe with the puck in his own end. Clitsome has better wheels and is more skilled, but he often makes questionable decisions with the puck, and he committed several glaring giveaways in his final few games with Winnipeg last season. He started out well with the Jets but ended poorly, IMO. Clitsome is a guy that couldn't stick with the weakest D in the league at the time he was turfed by Columbus. He looked to be much the same player in his final few games with the Jets. As of now I've far more confidence in Kulda at the moment, and I really hope the Jets give him a fair look this season. He doesn't look like much but gets it done and that is all that matters.
I loved his game in the pre-season here last year and thought for sure they'd give him a spot this coming season, and management's comments to date lead me to believe they indeed will; he'll be the first to get a look, IMO. They've stressed repeatedly that his defensive game has improved.
That said, for all of the offensive tools he brings to the table - and there are many, and even taking into consideration that his skating is actually a bit underrated as well in my view, he was also throwing the puck away left, right, and center in the IceCaps season-ending series. He was a one man giveaway machine. I hope that was just a case of a small sample of some bad games skewing my view.
Agreed, but he still deserves mention because I think the coaching staff gained confidence from his play last season so they may have him as a potential starter. I guess we'll see who brings there A game for training camp, there will be a battle for a starting role on D, can't wait!!!!
Having battles for spots is going to be great.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gump Hasek
I've a somewhat limited view toward both Kulda & Clitsome, in that my viewings of Kulda are limited to all of his games played for Winnipeg and as well those with St. Johns that were available online during the AHL playoffs, and my viewings of Clitsome are limited to 20 or so Blue Jackets games and all with Winnipeg. As a Rick Nash fan I tried to catch as many Jackets games as possible in the past.
While Kulda's game isn't exactly aesthetically pretty, I view him as a guy that does what it takes to get things done within the scope of his abilities, and he seems fairly safe with the puck in his own end. Clitsome has better wheels and is more skilled, but he often makes questionable decisions with the puck, and he committed several glaring giveaways in his final few games with Winnipeg last season. He started out well with the Jets but ended poorly, IMO. Clitsome is a guy that couldn't stick with the weakest D in the league at the time he was turfed by Columbus. He looked to be much the same player in his final few games with the Jets. As of now I've far more confidence in Kulda at the moment, and I really hope the Jets give him a fair look this season. He doesn't look like much but gets it done and that is all that matters.
I agree with you Gump. Clitsome looked great when he first played for the Jets, and might have peaked in the Washington game. It will be interesting to see how much of a chance he gets going forward.
I really don't have a huge amount of viewings for Kulda either, I just liked what I saw from him during TC and for the few games he was with the Jets. What I liked from him was that he played simple, but very tough. I might go so far as to say that Kulda could be the type of guy to play with a mean "edge". That's what I hope to get out of him anyway if he sticks with the Jets at some point. A mean SOB on the backend that makes other forwards think twice, and makes them pay in front of the net. A few points from him would just be gravy.
Thankfully, I think he just signed for a Swiss league team:
