Anyone saying we don't have the talent to be a playoff team is flat out wrong. A good coach would be using EJ, Hejda and Barrie a ton to offset their lack of strength defensively and we've got a very good group of talent up front if they had a system to work with.
Bring Jon Cooper in over the summer, we'll be in the playoffs.
Can I ask your reasoning? I look at Edmonton and think if they would have flipped even one of those picks for a fair value return they would be a far better team today.
But admittedly, I see the Avs' roster being 2-3 NHL ready players from being a consistent playoff team for the next 6-10 years assuming the core stays intact. The Dman we need most is the hardest to obtain, and outside of Jones i don't see one in the draft that will be ready before 2014-2015.
Because this draft is absolutely insane IMO.
All of Jones, MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, Nichushkin, Lindholm, Monahan have serious star potential. And there are quite a few other guys who have incredible upside. All of the named would go top 5 without a doubt in anyother year. If we got a Top 10 pick, odds are we get one of those guys.
I am beyond convinced in this draft. If Sherman trades away our 1st and does not get a superstar in return, I will be so pissed it is not even funny. The way we look now, we have a legit shot at one of the Top4.
There is no Dman available that I would trade a TOP4 pick in this draft. Not Yandle, not MDZ, not Kulikov and certainly not Gardiner (just had to add him sorry).
But this conversation is better suited in the draft thread I guess..
* Leafs either winning or losing a lot. Either outcome provides entertainment.
* Rangers losing and Tortorella being Tortorella.
* Flames doing their Sisyphus thing and ending up 9th-10th in the West.
* Detroit missing the playoffs.
* Holmgren/Schneider dabbling in the trade market.
* Avs fans and Caps fans arguing who won the Varlamov trade, Special Olympics style.
* Parenteau scoring bizarre goals.
* Columbus making a run and making the playoffs.
On a positive note: Nice to see Duchene tied with Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Vanek for 10th in points, the guy has really put it together this season, also PAP being 20th is nice too.
Even though I never did it myself when I played, I have zero problem with a player "chicken-winging" a stick. Hey, the stick shouldn't be up there in the first place. I certainly don't equate it with diving.
On a positive note: Nice to see Duchene tied with Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Vanek for 10th in points, the guy has really put it together this season, also PAP being 20th is nice too.
Anyone saying we don't have the talent to be a playoff team is flat out wrong. A good coach would be using EJ, Hejda and Barrie a ton to offset their lack of strength defensively and we've got a very good group of talent up front if they had a system to work with.
Bring Jon Cooper in over the summer, we'll be in the playoffs.
I completely agree that this team has the talent to be a playoff team, no doubt. Sacco should be applauded for preventing the team from making the playoffs - that has got to be some accomplishment. ...right?
I completely agree that this team has the talent to be a playoff team, no doubt. Sacco should be applauded for preventing the team from making the playoffs - that has got to be some accomplishment. ...right?
Zanon, O'Byrne, O'Brien and Hunwick say otherwise.
Zanon, O'Byrne, O'Brien and Hunwick say otherwise.
EJ, Hejda and Barrie can carry the load while O'Brien, O'Byrne and Wilson get lesser minutes more ideal for their roles. People act like you need a solid 1-6 to get into the playoffs.
Has anyone see the Bruins defense?
Chara, Seidenberg, Boychuk, Ference, McQuaid and last year Corvo, this year Hamilton.
Our defense doesn't quite have a Chara or Hamilton, EJ and Barrie are lesser players but adequate for those roles... but we absolutely could compete in the Seidenberg, Boychuk, Ference and McQuaid categories with Hejda, Wilson, O'Byrne and O'Brien.
EJ, Hejda and Barrie can carry the load while O'Brien, O'Byrne and Wilson get lesser minutes more ideal for their roles. People act like you need a solid 1-6 to get into the playoffs.
Has anyone see the Bruins defense?
Chara, Seidenberg, Boychuk, Ference, McQuaid and last year Corvo, this year Hamilton.
Our defense doesn't quite have a Chara or Hamilton, EJ and Barrie are lesser players but adequate for those roles... but we absolutely could compete in the Seidenberg, Boychuk, Ference and McQuaid categories with Hejda, Wilson, O'Byrne and O'Brien.
Just give us Julien.
Imo none of the bolded are what Seidenberg is.. they can do what Ference (esp. this season version) and McQuaid will bring and possibly Boychuk though he's been pretty good this year. But they are not at the level of Seidenberg. He's pretty close to EJ imo.
EJ, Hejda and Barrie can carry the load while O'Brien, O'Byrne and Wilson get lesser minutes more ideal for their roles. People act like you need a solid 1-6 to get into the playoffs.
Has anyone see the Bruins defense?
Chara, Seidenberg, Boychuk, Ference, McQuaid and last year Corvo, this year Hamilton.
Our defense doesn't quite have a Chara or Hamilton, EJ and Barrie are lesser players but adequate for those roles... but we absolutely could compete in the Seidenberg, Boychuk, Ference and McQuaid categories with Hejda, Wilson, O'Byrne and O'Brien.
Just give us Julien.
It's just not realistic to compare the two. Chara >>> EJ to the point that it makes comparing silly. Chara is like Pronger, making everyone around him look a lot better. Seidenberg also >>> Hejda and Hamilton > Barrie.
As much as it hurts me to compliment the Bruins, Dennis Seidenberg is one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL, he's much, much better than anyone on our sorry defense not named EJ.
