Luongo makes their goaltending much better but losing Bolland would crush their centre depth and defensive play. With Bolland they are extremely thin up the middle and a club with poor team defense - take Bolland away and they're a nightmare waiting to happen.
If Chicago is likely to move out East I sure hope these 2 clubs are talking trade. With how we utilize zone starts/matchups, Bolland would be unbelievably valuable IMO...
To Chi- Luongo, Malhotra
To Van- Bolland, Shaw, 2nd
Toews, Sharp, Shaw, Kruger...thats servicable enough down the middle. Bolland is basically Higgins at center and while thats a good thing, its not enough for me to hand them a top end goalie.
Bolland is basically Higgins at center and while thats a good thing, its not enough for me to hand them a top end goalie.
But he's Mike Richards come playoff time. Bolland has a knack for elevating his play when it matters most. He's a notch above Higgins and Hansen IMO.
IMO Gillis needs to look long and hard at bringing in a 2nd line centre, due to Kesler's durability concerns. The team goes into the toilet if Kesler isn't playing at 100% and we need to insulated ourselves from that going forward. IMO a Bozak level player just doesn't do that for us. Plekanec, Weiss, Bolland level centremen should be the type of targets Gillis should be pursuing right now. 2nd line RW looks like the biggest hole on paper but that's a secondary concern IMO.
I don't like the Hawks chances at all against the Canucks in a 7 game series with a Bolland/Luongo swap. AV couldn't lose the matchup war with that trio up the middle and Chicago wouldn't have the edge in net. Not afraid of a Bolland'less Chicago team.
Bob Mac just mentioned Van trying to sign Edler to that 4.5M hit that most of our d is getting paid.
I think he'll likely get ~$4.75 mil, maybe even $5 mil.
He and his agent know that they could get a huge paycheck on July 5th (free agency date this year), but he would probably accept less to stay on a cup contender.
But he's Mike Richards come playoff time. Bolland has a knack for elevating his play when it matters most. He's a notch above Higgins and Hansen IMO.
IMO Gillis needs to look long and hard at bringing in a 2nd line centre, due to Kesler's durability concerns. The team goes into the toilet if Kesler isn't playing at 100% and we need to insulated ourselves from that going forward. IMO a Bozak level player just doesn't do that for us. Plekanec, Weiss, Bolland level centremen should be the type of targets Gillis should be pursuing right now. 2nd line RW looks like the biggest hole on paper but that's a secondary concern IMO.
I don't like the Hawks chances at all against the Canucks in a 7 game series with a Bolland/Luongo swap. AV couldn't lose the matchup war with that trio up the middle and Chicago wouldn't have the edge in net. Not afraid of a Bolland'less Chicago team.
He's not Mike Richards in the playoffs, he's Mike Richards against US in the playoffs...otherwise he's nothing special. I wouldn't mind any of those guys but I'd probably prefer Plekanec or Weiss over Bolland, but any of those 3 would be nice right now...I just don't place the kind of value on Bolland where I'd trade Luongo to Chicago without more coming back...quite a bit more.
He's not Mike Richards in the playoffs, he's Mike Richards against US in the playoffs...otherwise he's nothing special. I wouldn't mind any of those guys but I'd probably prefer Plekanec or Weiss over Bolland, but any of those 3 would be nice right now...I just don't place the kind of value on Bolland where I'd trade Luongo to Chicago without more coming back...quite a bit more.
Bolland also just seems to be Bolland vs US like Byfuglien
He's not Mike Richards in the playoffs, he's Mike Richards against US in the playoffs...otherwise he's nothing special. I wouldn't mind any of those guys but I'd probably prefer Plekanec or Weiss over Bolland, but any of those 3 would be nice right now...I just don't place the kind of value on Bolland where I'd trade Luongo to Chicago without more coming back...quite a bit more.
It's amazing how much we agree when you're not busy losing to me in hockey pools
I think Stephen Weiss would be an amazing pick up and would look good in our top 6:
But I will allow myself to be held to that. Might take me a while to get to Vancouver, mind you...
like Byfuglien
