Because of their injuries, people are forgetting about Strait and Bortuzzo it seems. These guys are ready now for the NHL and a guy like Harrington we can only hope develops as well as Strait has (since they both play a similar type of game).
I still rank this teams org depth on the farm as Morrow, Despres, Bortuzzo and Strait.
Then you have the next tier with Harrington, D'Agostino etc who have a lot more to prove IMHO before I would rank them with the top 4 above.
Either way, I am excited about the blueline depth Shero has built at all levels. It is pretty remarkable.
I think it's safer to assume Despres, Morrow and Harrington will be in this organization for years to come since none of them will be eligible for waivers anytime soon. I'm not sure we can assume the same for Bortuzzo and Strait since both will be eligible for waivers next season. We'll have to move some guys to find room for Strait and Bortuzzo. It could happen, but it's not a lock. I could see either of them used as trade bait much like Noah Welch was the year before he was due to become eligible for waivers.
Uher was pointless and a +1 when the Czech Republic beat Denmark 7-0. I didnt watch the game, just saw the stats. Ill get a chance later tonight tho to watch both Uher and Harrington when the Czechs are playing Team Canada.
I think it's safer to assume Despres, Morrow and Harrington will be in this organization for years to come since none of them will be eligible for waivers anytime soon. I'm not sure we can assume the same for Bortuzzo and Strait since both will be eligible for waivers next season. We'll have to move some guys to find room for Strait and Bortuzzo. It could happen, but it's not a lock. I could see either of them used as trade bait much like Noah Welch was the year before he was due to become eligible for waivers.
Losing either of them to waivers is totally unacceptable and horrible asset mgmt - can't see that happening.
One may be moved in a trade, but since neither is fully developed and not a sexy prospect, I don't see Shero getting max value for them.
It is more likely Nisky and Lovejoy are moved to make space for these two IMHO.
I especially don't see Nisky around past this Summer. He is due a raise (at least 1m+ on top of what he makes now). With what the Pens have invested in their top 4, their pivots and Neal due a big raise, I can't see how Shero keeps him.
Not with good young talent like Bortuzzo, Strait and Despres ready to step in on the cheap.
I'm not so sure any defenseman gets moved this season. I could honestly see us signing Niskanen to a 1 year deal (which I believe would make him a UFA after that 1 year), have him show up to camp, and allow Niskanen, Lovejoy, Engelland, Bortuzzo, Strait, and Despres battling it out for the bottom 3 spots. Best 3 stay. Other 2 get traded.
If our current bottom pairing options play this well the whole year, I think dealing Martin to open up cap space becomes a possibility Shero should explore...over the summer.
If our current bottom pairing options play this well the whole year, I think dealing Martin to open up cap space becomes a possibility Shero should explore...over the summer.
I think Despres still has a steep road to travel to cement himself as a top 4 defenseman. I without a single shadow of doubt think that he will be on our middle pair in the next 2 or 3 years. Niskanen has played well, and has logged the mins, but I'm not so sure I see him as anything more than a good #5. That could change though.
I think there's a very clear division between our top 4 and our bottom pair. Tons of competition for those last 3 spots, but not so much competition for the top 4.
I think Despres still has a steep road to travel to cement himself as a top 4 defenseman. I without a single shadow of doubt think that he will be on our middle pair in the next 2 or 3 years. Niskanen has played well, and has logged the mins, but I'm not so sure I see him as anything more than a good #5. That could change though.
I think there's a very clear division between our top 4 and our bottom pair. Tons of competition for those last 3 spots, but not so much competition for the top 4.
Like I said though, it's all contingent on those guys (and Engelland/Lovejoy) playing as well as they're playing now all year long. That's a blueline I'd be comfortable with, and a safe bet to have a good complementary option for Michalek emerge.
Especially considering the extra money that would open up for winger upgrades.
I could see Martin moved in the next year or so, but he has a lot of control with his NTC. He'd be perfect for a team like Edmonton and they could probably afford to part with a promising young forward like Paajarvi, but Martin ain't waiving his NTC to go to Edmonton. That's going to be the problem if we go in that direction.
Sweden's Sebastian Collberg is my new man-crush. If we can somehow land this kid late in the first round in June, I'd be a happy happy camper. We've passed up a lot of similarly skilled guys the last few seasons, but I think this guy has the goods.
If he keeps showing off his hands, though, he may move up in Round 1. That's the catch.
Uher was pointless and a +1 when the Czech Republic beat Denmark 7-0. I didnt watch the game, just saw the stats. Ill get a chance later tonight tho to watch both Uher and Harrington when the Czechs are playing Team Canada.
Gord Miller of TSN is pronouncing his name "OOH-hair". If that's really the way he'll be pronounced, how can you not root for this kid?
Or since Oleksiak has been shaky as hell. Curious eh?
Was he touting Oleksiak over Harrington? I know for sure he was crying because his mancrush Ryan Murphy got cut.
Anyway, Harrington's impressed me this tournament. It's not just that he's solid, but the fact he's impressed Don Hay enough to earn himself the shutdown pairing role, and the top PK role. And this is a kid that's only 18 and can return next year! Usually these roles are given to either 19 year olds, or to top NHL picks (ie. Drew Doughty a few years ago).
One thing that's impressed me is Harrington's ability to clear the garbage around the net. He's made two or three goal area clears where if he wasn't there, it would be an easy tap in for the opposition. And he's positionally sound, too. Doesn't seem to be out of position ever, and has made a few nice stick checks to break up chances.
Was he touting Oleksiak over Harrington? I know for sure he was crying because his mancrush Ryan Murphy got cut.
Anyway, Harrington's impressed me this tournament. It's not just that he's solid, but the fact he's impressed Don Hay enough to earn himself the shutdown pairing role, and the top PK role. And this is a kid that's only 18 and can return next year! Usually these roles are given to either 19 year olds, or to top NHL picks (ie. Drew Doughty a few years ago).
One thing that's impressed me is Harrington's ability to clear the garbage around the net. He's made two or three goal area clears where if he wasn't there, it would be an easy tap in for the opposition. And he's positionally sound, too. Doesn't seem to be out of position ever, and has made a few nice stick checks to break up chances.
It's not totally unusual though for Canada to stick a totally defensive defenseman without elite talent in a shutdown role. They've done it before. I remember a guy named Brent Tully, who was Chris Pronger's partner in Peterborough, playing that role. More recently, Ryan Parent stands out.
Harrington has played the role to perfection, for sure.
Was he touting Oleksiak over Harrington? I know for sure he was crying because his mancrush Ryan Murphy got cut.
He sure was.
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Anyway, Harrington's impressed me this tournament. It's not just that he's solid, but the fact he's impressed Don Hay enough to earn himself the shutdown pairing role, and the top PK role. And this is a kid that's only 18 and can return next year! Usually these roles are given to either 19 year olds, or to top NHL picks (ie. Drew Doughty a few years ago).
Harrington's showing why BPA is always the best option. Even when it can be frustrating as hell, haha.
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One thing that's impressed me is Harrington's ability to clear the garbage around the net. He's made two or three goal area clears where if he wasn't there, it would be an easy tap in for the opposition. And he's positionally sound, too. Doesn't seem to be out of position ever, and has made a few nice stick checks to break up chances.
Yep, it's that composure. He always seems to know how much time he has.
His stick-check is great (stick on puck!) and he has a knack for closing gaps quickly and pinching guys off, then making an efficient pass to start transition. Kid could use a little more speed, but that's about it.
It's not totally unusual though for Canada to stick a totally defensive defenseman without elite talent in a shutdown role. They've done it before. I remember a guy named Brent Tully, who was Chris Pronger's partner in Peterborough, playing that role. More recently, Ryan Parent stands out.
Harrington has played the role to perfection, for sure.
It's not totally unusual though for Canada to stick a totally defensive defenseman without elite talent in a shutdown role. They've done it before. I remember a guy named Brent Tully, who was Chris Pronger's partner in Peterborough, playing that role. More recently, Ryan Parent stands out.
In the case of Tully, that was more to do with him and Pronger being defense partners in Peterborough and being familiar with one another. And since Pronger was being used in the role, might as well put someone who already had chemistry with him.
In Parent's case, at the time he was considered a top shutdown prospect. As a junior, he was a pretty good shutdown D. His issues arose after he left junior, when injuries and questionable overall skill made it impossible for him to translate his game to the NHL level.
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Originally Posted by Champagne Wishes
Yep, it's that composure. He always seems to know how much time he has.
His stick-check is great (stick on puck!) and he has a knack for closing gaps quickly and pinching guys off, then making an efficient pass to start transition. Kid could use a little more speed, but that's about it.
Really, really liking that pick.
If you watch Harrington when the puck isn't near him, he's constantly moving his head around to glance to make sure he knows where his man is. Combine this with solid gap, and it's rare to see Harrington lose his man.
Two things I see as things he'll definitely need improving. One, as you said, overall speed. And two, more crispness on his passing, especially when he wings it around the net to his D partner. A couple of times he sent Murray a pass around the boards that wasn't quite on the tape, causing Murray to have to take an extra second to control the puck before he could do something with it.
In Parent's case, at the time he was considered a top shutdown prospect. As a junior, he was a pretty good shutdown D. His issues arose after he left junior, when injuries and questionable overall skill made it impossible for him to translate his game to the NHL level.
I was a huge Parent fan - he was outstanding in the WJCs. Sucks he was derailed by injuries.
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If you watch Harrington when the puck isn't near him, he's constantly moving his head around to glance to make sure he knows where his man is. Combine this with solid gap, and it's rare to see Harrington lose his man.
Two things I see as things he'll definitely need improving. One, as you said, overall speed. And two, more crispness on his passing, especially when he wings it around the net to his D partner. A couple of times he sent Murray a pass around the boards that wasn't quite on the tape, causing Murray to have to take an extra second to control the puck before he could do something with it.
Overall though, he's impressing me.
All true. He also has a Michalek-esque tendency to end up on his stomach a lot, but like Z, it seems to work well for him.
