I really don't know where Heatley fits on this team right now. He's just soo slow, turns the puck over a lot, and can't break the puck out of the defensive zone.
I really don't know where Heatley fits on this team right now. He's just soo slow, turns the puck over a lot, and can't break the puck out of the defensive zone.
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Originally Posted by DeuceMN
I don't mind Heatley, but I agree with this.
I feel the same way about Butch.
We need different pieces and they need new homes.
Agreed.
Heatley's great in the offensive zone, just a disaster everywhere else. Butch looks lost lately, falling into that old perimeter play.
Heatley's great in the offensive zone , just a disaster everywhere else. Butch looks lost lately, falling into that old perimeter play.
I wouldn't say great. He gets in front of the net and waits for Parise and Koivu to get him the puck. That's about it. He doesn't win puck battles. He loses ever foot race to a loose puck.
I sometimes feel bad for Parise. He has a winger too slow to help on the forecheck or recover any loose pucks.
Hes still hands down the best option we have for that top line when it comes to producing. And he should stay there until Coyle or someone shows otherwise.
Look at the chances he has been getting since being back on that line. He produces and is a big part of the team offensively. Move him and he's done.
fairly sure Heatley is supposed to be standing in front of the net waiting for shot opportunities. the idea behind that line is Parise and Koivu are great two-way players with enough skill to move the puck around by themselves.
Hes still hands down the best option we have for that top line when it comes to producing. And he should stay there until Coyle or someone shows otherwise.
Look at the chances he has been getting since being back on that line. He produces and is a big part of the team offensively. Move him and he's done.
That is true. I liked how Coyle did when he was up here. I thought he did well the things I criticize Heatley for, getting in on the forecheck and winning puck battles. Just lacked the finishing touch.
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Originally Posted by rynryn
fairly sure Heatley is supposed to be standing in front of the net waiting for shot opportunities. the idea behind that line is Parise and Koivu are great two-way players with enough skill to move the puck around by themselves.
Part of his job is to get in a scoring position. It's easy to cover someone that is just standing there. You need to get involved with the play. Sometimes help out in corners, win puck battles, recover loose pucks, get in on the forecheck so we don't have one man(Parise) putting pressure on 2 defensemen.
I am not saying Heatley is useless, but he is kind of a one-trick pony. And if we had someone with more of those other abilities that mentioned, then that 1st line would be even better. I think if Coyle develops a better scoring touch, he could be a good fit up there.
That is true. I liked how Coyle did when he was up here. I thought he did well the things I criticize Heatley for, getting in on the forecheck and winning puck battles. Just lacked the finishing touch.
Part of his job is to get in a scoring position. It's easy to cover someone that is just standing there. You need to get involved with the play. Sometimes help out in corners, win puck battles, recover loose pucks, get in on the forecheck so we don't have one man(Parise) putting pressure on 2 defensemen.
I am not saying Heatley is useless, but he is kind of a one-trick pony. And if we had someone with more of those other abilities that mentioned, then that 1st line would be even better. I think if Coyle develops a better scoring touch, he could be a good fit up there.
he's in a "scoring position" more often than anyone else. it may not look good to people because he's often tied up with defenders but he's where he is supposed to be, and gets enough shots off despite the attention. There is no chance in hell Coyle would be the threat Heatley is on that line. If you had someone with Heatley's shot + all those other things you'd have Heatley in his prime, and you aren't going to find one of those laying around anywhere. nor do we have one in the system, unfortunately.
Imagine if defenders left Heatley alone as consistently as we leave other teams' forwards un-touched. he'd have a million points! be careful not to look at how guys from other teams look like they're getting constant "good" shots off and blaming heatley for not getting them off as cleanly; it's more a symptom of our passive defense than any relative skill disparity between their shooters and Heatley.
So who wants to buyout Heatley at the end of the season?
*raises hand*
Who's going to score his goals? I don't like him in the top line any more than you do, but unless we have a guy who can produce like he does (or better), buying him out is not an option.
Who's going to score his goals? I don't like him in the top line any more than you do, but unless we have a guy who can produce like he does (or better), buying him out is not an option.
Buying him out frees up $7.5 million in cap space, not to mention the other $13 million that will be gone assuming we don't re-sign Backstrom, Bouchard, and Cullen. That's over $20 million to go out and get a solid free agent right wing (Horton, Perry, Semin are the big ones). Maybe down to about $15-17 million with Clutter and Spurgeon's likely pay raises. Not to mention there's always the trade route. Maybe we could even trade Heater himself and get something for him instead of buying him out. And is it too hard to believe that maybe Coyle could possibly be ready for a 1st line role next year? He hasn't looked great so far but he certainly hasn't looked completely out of place either. Basically what I'm saying is that there's plenty of ways to replace what Heater brings to the team.
Who's going to score his goals? I don't like him in the top line any more than you do, but unless we have a guy who can produce like he does (or better), buying him out is not an option.
One goal in his past 12 games? I don't think it will be to damn difficult to replace that.
One goal in his past 12 games? I don't think it will be to damn difficult to replace that.
That's still just 12 games. In a shortened season it's a significant fraction of the games, but still. I do question Heatley's conditioning and what the hell he was actually up to during the lockout, but he could bounce back next season. Not to mention that the organization seems to love him, which makes it unlikely for him to be bought out or traded.
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Buying him out frees up $7.5 million in cap space, not to mention the other $13 million that will be gone assuming we don't re-sign Backstrom, Bouchard, and Cullen. That's over $20 million to go out and get a solid free agent right wing (Horton, Perry, Semin are the big ones). Maybe down to about $15-17 million with Clutter and Spurgeon's likely pay raises. Not to mention there's always the trade route. Maybe we could even trade Heater himself and get something for him instead of buying him out. And is it too hard to believe that maybe Coyle could possibly be ready for a 1st line role next year? He hasn't looked great so far but he certainly hasn't looked completely out of place either. Basically what I'm saying is that there's plenty of ways to replace what Heater brings to the team.
I think we may have to use the buy-out on Harding, as sad as it is. That means Bäckström would be re-signed. But the other two will probably walk, like you said.
I'd imagine Heatley's trade value is far from high right now, so if anything, we could probably get a decent prospect, but not a winger upgrade. Unless he goes in a package deal. But he has a NMC, which makes things even more complicated.
Coyle may or may not be ready next year, but is he going to produce 30 goals? I doubt it. Eventually maybe, but next year may be too early.
I'd try and trade Heatley and hold back salary. Maybe buy out Harding unless he's just going on LTIR. Coyle can play on the top line, or Granlund, or Seto, or pretty much anyone else.
In my mind Heatley just doesn't have the passion for the game. Watch the Becoming Wild episode of him if you haven't. Then compare to Koivu or Parise. Pathetic that those guys get paid roughly the same.
No doubt about it he can still shoot. I actually don't give a crap if he even skates anymore as long as he has more games like last night. He is deadly in the shooting positions he was in last night. He needs linemates who can feed him and there you go.
I like when Greenlay caught himself mid sentence, saying something like "the shot is still there..." and probably would have talked about the diminishing everything else
He had a great game last night. He can still be effective in bursts. I wonder if he'd improve enough to get some trade value?
heatr may be slow but he rarely gets knocked off his feet, he's got a HULLUVA shot, and i think a terrific work ethic. his cap hit is high but he didnt cost us any prospects to acquire. (see leddy). after a 26G season w SJ we knew we werent getting a 50G scorer, but hes still a capable sniper. im glad hes on the team.
real dollars he's getting paid what this year? $5m? $6m? So far it seems his point-per-dollar value is as good as Parise and Koivu despite playing 2 minutes less a night.
