He's right. We have to test out Markov this year to make sure we have our best D at 100% next season. It's too risky going into this year without seeing him play before one of the biggest summers in our history. If we go into next year and something isn't right, we go through all this again.
Couldn't agree more. And if he comes back soon, he'll be playing in really tough games against hungry opposition, so what better way to see if he can handle it. It would also be great for the fans to have something to look forward to next year, if he comes back and plays well this year. There needs to be optimism about something besides a first round pick.
Couldn't agree more. And if he comes back soon, he'll be playing in really tough games against hungry opposition, so what better way to see if he can handle it. It would also be great for the fans to have something to look forward to next year, if he comes back and plays well this year. There needs to be optimism about something besides a first round pick.
Only people who are happy with mediocrity would say that!!!
JK.
We need to see how Markov can play. It will influence whether or not the habs go out and spend cap and roster space on an insurance policy for him. If he's ready to go and shows he's as good as ever, no need to look for an attempted replacement, or a defense that could help shoulder the burden.
If he's not as good as he once was, then the habs know that he needs to be replaced and to what extent he needs to be replaced(whether internally or externally:via trade or UFA signing).
Only people who are happy with mediocrity would say that!!!
JK.
We need to see how Markov can play. It will influence whether or not the habs go out and spend cap and roster space on an insurance policy for him. If he's ready to go and shows he's as good as ever, no need to look for an attempted replacement, or a defense that could help shoulder the burden.
If he's not as good as he once was, then the habs know that he needs to be replaced and to what extent he needs to be replaced(whether internally or externally:via trade or UFA signing).
Whether Markov plays well or not, it shouldn't influence anything.
We can't trust this guy to be healthy. It's that simple. Plan around him and hope for the best. If he plays 82 games you're that much better. If not, you're prepared. We have to assume that he's going to be hurt. We should've done this a long time ago.
Même s'il n'y a encore aucune date de retour ciblée, on sent qu'Andrei Markov s'approche sérieusement d'un retour à la compétition.
Markov "seriously" close to a come back... Reading the article, it feels like Markov could be back for Monday or Wednesday next week. Would be awesome, I have tickets for the Friday game in Ott. Markov live please!!!
Whether Markov plays well or not, it shouldn't influence anything.
We can't trust this guy to be healthy. It's that simple. Plan around him and hope for the best. If he plays 82 games you're that much better. If not, you're prepared. We have to assume that he's going to be hurt. We should've done this a long time ago.
Pittsburgh can't trust Crosby's health but i'm sure they are glad to have him back in the lineup any time they can.
It's one thing to not being able to count on a guy for 82 games, quite another to get ZERO games.
Pittsburgh has depth at center. They have a number one guy who can step in. We don't have the depth they do. We have Subban and uh, that's about it.
Again, if he comes back... great. But we've got to assume he's not healthy.
Unfortunately its one thing to say you have to be prepared to be without Markov and quite another one to actually be prepared for it. Replacement Markovs aren't easy to find.
They were doing pretty well with the combination of Hamrlik-Wisniewski together giving an approximation of his value but even finding two guys like that isn't an easy proposition. It would have been 9 million in salary for the two of them this year. And from the list of upcoming UFA's it doesn't look like even the equivalent of the two of them is available this season unless a Suter miracle happens. Maybe if you land two of Garrison/Carle/Jackman, which I kinda doubt would happen. They'd only really have the summer cap space to do that if there is an amnesty buyout and they use it both on Gomez and Kaberle. If the solution to Gomez is Hamilton/Europe then the summer cap will prevent using Markov's LTIR to get anyone for the upcoming year.
Realistically rolling the dice on Markov may be the most likely bet to get a strong blueline next season.
Pittsburgh has depth at center. They have a number one guy who can step in. We don't have the depth they do. We have Subban and uh, that's about it.
Again, if he comes back... great. But we've got to assume he's not healthy.
Actually...If Pittsburgh didn't have the beast known as Malkin, they wouldn't be anywhere near where they are. They may be "deep" at center, but they have nothing on the wings.
But alas, there's only one Malkin...if that guy went down, the Pens may as well throw in the towel.
Unfortunately its one thing to say you have to be prepared to be without Markov and quite another one to actually be prepared for it. Replacement Markovs aren't easy to find.
They were doing pretty well with the combination of Hamrlik-Wisniewski together giving an approximation of his value but even finding two guys like that isn't an easy proposition. It would have been 9 million in salary for the two of them this year. And from the list of upcoming UFA's it doesn't look like even the equivalent of the two of them is available this season unless a Suter miracle happens. Maybe if you land two of Garrison/Carle/Jackman, which I kinda doubt would happen. They'd only really have the summer cap space to do that if there is an amnesty buyout and they use it both on Gomez and Kaberle. If the solution to Gomez is Hamilton/Europe then the summer cap will prevent using Markov's LTIR to get anyone for the upcoming year.
Realistically rolling the dice on Markov may be the most likely bet to get a strong blueline next season.
I think in order for the blueline to take a big step forward next year...
1-Markov has to come back this year and show he is healthy and still has it, wether the last 8-10 NHL games or WC's.
2-We need to sign a top stay at home/shutdown type d-man like Jackman Allen Grossman who can play 19-22 minutes a night.
I think Subban will take a step forward next year, he had a bit of a setback this year but has played much better the last 12-15 games. Emelin and Diaz would be #5-6, both played bigger roles this year and should be ready to step up in case of injuries with a year NHL under their belt. That would give us a strong top 6 with Weber as #7(or St.Denis).
I think people are forgetting how good Markov was. If he can be 90% of his former self, then he will probably be the best defenseman on this team.
I remember stats of W-L with and without Markov in the lineup and the disparity was ridiculous.
This is a decent article showing what Markov can do. http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=42201
Lets just hope that he can be the Markov we used to have and that he can stay healthy.
Actually...If Pittsburgh didn't have the beast known as Malkin, they wouldn't be anywhere near where they are. They may be "deep" at center, but they have nothing on the wings.
But alas, there's only one Malkin...if that guy went down, the Pens may as well throw in the towel.
Whether Markov plays well or not, it shouldn't influence anything.
We can't trust this guy to be healthy. It's that simple. Plan around him and hope for the best. If he plays 82 games you're that much better. If not, you're prepared. We have to assume that he's going to be hurt. We should've done this a long time ago.
Agreed, Gauthier's mistake was not to sign Markov. His mistake was to not have a backup plan. I would have re-signed Markov, Hamrlik and Wisneski. Like that it would have had offered us the depth to compensate for Markov while he is out (turns out it was over 80% of the season) and we would have had assets to trade away once he get back (Wisnieski would have pulled in at least the 2nd round pick we offered to acquire him).
Unfortunately its one thing to say you have to be prepared to be without Markov and quite another one to actually be prepared for it. Replacement Markovs aren't easy to find.
They were doing pretty well with the combination of Hamrlik-Wisniewski together giving an approximation of his value but even finding two guys like that isn't an easy proposition. It would have been 9 million in salary for the two of them this year. And from the list of upcoming UFA's it doesn't look like even the equivalent of the two of them is available this season unless a Suter miracle happens. Maybe if you land two of Garrison/Carle/Jackman, which I kinda doubt would happen. They'd only really have the summer cap space to do that if there is an amnesty buyout and they use it both on Gomez and Kaberle. If the solution to Gomez is Hamilton/Europe then the summer cap will prevent using Markov's LTIR to get anyone for the upcoming year.
Realistically rolling the dice on Markov may be the most likely bet to get a strong blueline next season.
Wouldn't that be what an active and good GM would do though? Find a way to fix that obvious problem?
It did, on some level, cost us our season. We cannot go into next year with the same D squad, that would be retarded. So, we need to address that issue.
I know it's difficult to replace Markov. Even PK doesn't quite cut it, but we have to bring in someone. We can't plan around Markov anymore.
Agreed, Gauthier's mistake was not to sign Markov. His mistake was to not have a backup plan. I would have re-signed Markov, Hamrlik and Wisneski. Like that it would have had offered us the depth to compensate for Markov while he is out (turns out it was over 80% of the season) and we would have had assets to trade away once he get back (Wisnieski would have pulled in at least the 2nd round pick we offered to acquire him).
You can't sign Wiz to a 6-year $33 million contract and then trade him 8 months later for a 2nd round pick. Do you think anyone was willing to take that gross contract off the Blue Jackets last month? Heck no. No one was interested in picking up Hamrlik with another year at $3.5 million left either. Plus, we would have been way over the salary cap under that brilliant plan, so signing Cole wouldn't have happened.
Agreed, Gauthier's mistake was not to sign Markov. His mistake was to not have a backup plan. I would have re-signed Markov, Hamrlik and Wisneski. Like that it would have had offered us the depth to compensate for Markov while he is out (turns out it was over 80% of the season) and we would have had assets to trade away once he get back (Wisnieski would have pulled in at least the 2nd round pick we offered to acquire him).
