I think McBain is trade bait on draft day. With Domoulin and Murphy coming over, there isn't room for his one dimensional play. The only way Joslin stays is if Muller liked him on the 4th line. I also think Allen signs for 2 more years.
Forwards: I think Jimmy makes one big move, probably dealing away McBain and one other forward, probably LaRose or Dwyer landing either a higher draft position or a 2nd line calibre forward.
I don't see how Dumoulin and Murphy both come in and there is still room for Allen unless you see Pitkanen and McBain being moved. While I can see one D moved, I don't think we'll see Pitkanen and McBain moved in the same off-season. Gleason obviously isn't going anywhere, and Faulk is a big piece of the future.
I think the chances of moving McBain and Pitkanen are very good. Especially is Jimmy is really going after Suter.
Faulk/Gleason/Suter/Domoulin/Murphy/Harrison
I don't think Jimmy tries to sign Allen, until after he's taken a shot at Suter. It would be foolish to sign Allen now, unless he never had any intentions of going after Suter.
We most certainly won't be moving both of McBain and Pitkanen even if we do sign Suter. Suter is a completely different player, if people are expecting him to step in and be an elite do-it-all defenseman they're going to be highly disappointed. You might be able to move one of the two if you sign Suter, but trading both is absolute insanity. In fact the only way he should be on our top PP unit if we do sign him is if we do in fact move both out.
JR more or less said he was happy with his top 4 dmen on Saturday naming Faulk, Gleason, Pitkanen and McBain. I dont think any of them are going anywhere. If he cant sign a forward to play with Staal this year then we will wait one more year and try again. Even if JR has more money to spend he isnt going to veer too far off his typical operating procedure. He never fills a hole at all costs.
What exactly does McBain do that can't be replicated or replaced? Give up turnovers?
The guy can't skate. His a huge liability in his own end. Other than some limited scoring, what exactly does he do?
The guy just turned 24. He'll get better in his own end, and probably on offense as well. He doesn't strike me as lazy, stupid or selfish so it's fair to think he's going to work on his weaknesses between now and his career peak.
Considering this team is still at least a couple years from serious contention, now is probably not the time to trade a defenseman who will be entering his prime in a couple years. Patience pays off when it comes to blueliners (see: Seidenberg, Dennis).
I just don't see the upside to McBain that you guys do. Sure, he scores a few goals....but so does LaRose. And I have serious doubts that Jimmy considers McBain to be a top 4 d-men over Harrison.
I just don't see the upside to McBain that you guys do. Sure, he scores a few goals....but so does LaRose. And I have serious doubts that Jimmy considers McBain to be a top 4 d-men over Harrison.
+1
McBain is the one guy on our team who consistently makes me go OH****OH****OH**** if he's the only guy back on a partial breakaway.
I just don't see the upside to McBain that you guys do. Sure, he scores a few goals....but so does LaRose. And I have serious doubts that Jimmy considers McBain to be a top 4 d-men over Harrison.
Because McBain actually processes the skill to break down a play and react to it before it has actually happened. Even if it is just a few seconds before, that is still better than all of the defensemen on our current roster. Faulk is getting there, but he is still adjusting to NHL speed.
I don't know what it is about Pitkanen, but I think McBain was fantastic the last 10 games ... when paired with Joni. As long as those two are together, I think we're fine. And I think Muller broke up Gleason/Allen and put Gleason/Faulk together the last three games is because Allen probably won't be back and he wanted to see how they looked as a pairing. I think Allen is going to get a Gleason-type deal and we're not going to pay it. That leaves us with an opening on the third pairing with Harrison for Murphy/Dumoulin. I'm not saying it's a great way to go, and I'd be happier if there was a "Suter" in that list, but it's not a bad group of six, and it will actually cost *less* than we paid this season, leaving more money to spend on forwards.
Does anyone remember Faulk costing us two games in ot on direct turnovers? Colorado and was it NJ where he blew a tire and they scored on the play? I'm sick of the this Mcbain turns over the puck but Faulk doesn't crap. Faulk had a major gaffe in every single canes game I watched this year. He gets forgiven for being the new hotness and Mcbain gets crucified when his turnovers are rarely that direct. At times Mcbain was our best offnsive dman this season. He's significantly more mobile than Faulk laterally, has a more effective shot at this point, and has added more velocity to it as well. The thought of Mcbain being a whipping boy around here is a joke.
As is the thought of us having dumo, Murphy, and Faulk in the lineup as part of our top six next year while being a playoff team. Two rookies and a 20 year old sophmore?!? Are we tanking? Are we selling suter in those three and Mcbain as his surrounding cast?
Does anyone remember Faulk costing us two games in ot on direct turnovers? Colorado and was it NJ where he blew a tire and they scored on the play? I'm sick of the this Mcbain turns over the puck but Faulk doesn't crap. Faulk had a major gaffe in every single canes game I watched this year. He gets forgiven for being the new hotness and Mcbain gets crucified when his turnovers are rarely that direct. At times Mcbain was our best offnsive dman this season. He's significantly more mobile than Faulk laterally, has a more effective shot at this point, and has added more velocity to it as well. The thought of Mcbain being a whipping boy around here is a joke.
If we're going to pick and chose moments where each player screwed up, McBain's is definitely more recent. Twice in the final game, he failed to stay on his skates when trying to receive a simple pass. One led to a goal, the other to a 2-on-0 break that Boucher somehow saved.
McBain and Pitkanen are great offensive contributors, but I don't trust either of them in the defensive zone. Especially not paired together. For whatever reason, it always seems to be those two that get caught behind the net, leaving every Tom, Dick and Harry in front of Ward all alone.
I thought Faulk was the best dman throughout whole season.. he doesnt make alot of mistakes... Kid from Bc is a stud, hes big, maybe he makes it in top 9 .. we shall see.. i dont like the idea of penner at all, too soft.. whitney back?? I think he would come back in a heart beat, and hope he still has what he showed this yr..or close to it.. vrbata too.. what a year he had.. i know both we wont get..
Because McBain actually processes the skill to break down a play and react to it before it has actually happened. Even if it is just a few seconds before, that is still better than all of the defensemen on our current roster. Faulk is getting there, but he is still adjusting to NHL speed.
We must be talking about two different McBains here. McBain is the WORST Canes d-men in his own zone, Period. He's blown more goals and coverages than Faulk....guaranteed.
Neither of those moments cost the canes the game. Faulk was the goat in two games and no one says a thing. He makes huge errors every game. Mcbain did fall twice, last game. I also remember him falling early in the season. These plays are different than giving away the puck to oreilly in OT for a breakaway. If that was Mcbain he would've been crucified.
I like Faulk but he has some significant faults that he shows regularly. To put him over Mcbain in development at this point is flat out wrong. To say he could be better in time, fine. Flogging Mcbain and giving Faulk a free pass makes no sense to me. It isn't his fault, he should be developing in the minors. He's had almost no development. One year of NCAA to top four d. He isn't that good. He's being put in the role because jr is betting on him to make it. Just like tanabe. It could work it could blow up in his face.
I think the chances of moving McBain and Pitkanen are very good. Especially is Jimmy is really going after Suter.
Faulk/Gleason/Suter/Domoulin/Murphy/Harrison
I don't think Jimmy tries to sign Allen, until after he's taken a shot at Suter. It would be foolish to sign Allen now, unless he never had any intentions of going after Suter.
JR won't move both McBain and Pitkanen, and not sure he'll even move one. Did you listen to his interview during the intermission Saturday night? Not that you can take what JR says to be 100% truth, but he tends to give you some information on what he's thinking.
To summarize: He said he really likes the top 4 with Gleason/Faulk and Pitkanen/McBain. He also mentioned how getting a top 6 winger is a priority.
I know it was mentioned that we are looking at Parise and Suter, but after listening to JR, his mind is on that top 6 winger which hopefully ends up being Parise.
IMO, Welsh will be on this roster in some sort of capcity. He'll go hard after that top 6 winger and sign a depth defenseman.
ETA: Adding my supposed line
Ruutu-Staal-Acquired top 6
Skinner-Welsh-Jokinen
Tlusty-Sutter-Dwyer
???-Brent-LaRose
Mcbain does a hell of a lot more with the puck than Faulk does. Faulk is still freaking out every time he gets the puck in his end and chipping it off the glass. Mcbain is trying to hold the puck and make plays. That will lead to more giveaways. Stats based arguments don't work in hockey.
McBain is almost 4 years older, and has over a full season of experience over Faulk. And I still think Faulk is hands down the better d-men. His game is much more well rounded. the offense and big shot are there. It'll develop.
Did you not see the bombs Mcbain scored? Off side one timers picking corners. Some of the prettiest point shots we've had in years.
I agree the basis of faulks all around game is more well rounded and in the end he may be better. He just isn't it now. Mcbains all around game could just a easily come around, an it has. I don't think he's been bad in his end at all. Spacek was an anchor around his neck.
