Let's see, he has a direct link to Lombardi, he's a leader, and he can show Dustin Brown how to throw his body around in a way that will better enable him to put goals on the scoreboard.
One of my major concerns about Nolan is the fact he hast played in over 2 years. Who knows how long it will take him to get the necessary skills back to be an effective NHL player. How long will it take for him to get his timing back? How long before hes in game shape? And then theres the issue of his knee. How will it hold up?
Hmmm...Allison and Carter are best friends, no? I wonder if they are looking to sign in the same place. Perhaps that is why neither of them has signed yet.
As for Nolan, he is a physical veteran winger who can score. This is EXACTLY what we need right now. And he is cheap. There is no other player on the market that can offer those attributes.
Hmmm...Allison and Carter are best friends, no? I wonder if they are looking to sign in the same place. Perhaps that is why neither of them has signed yet.
As for Nolan, he is a physical veteran winger who can score. This is EXACTLY what we need right now. And he is cheap. There is no other player on the market that can offer those attributes.
Well I am sure he won't be too physical anymore.....I expect to see him out there floating more than he use to.
No chance that he will be the player he was. But he should still be somewhat physical compared to what we have on the top 2 lines right now.
Allison and Carter! Ha. Allison didn't leave on the best of terms and his skating is questionable the new NHL, Carter...I don't even want to talk about him. A guy like him needs to be in a hockey city that puts pressure on him where he cant get distracted. The Sedins twins made him look genius.
Nolan is a leader, he is tough, he can score, he can fight, and even if he can't score he is doing other things...If Allison and Carter ain't scoring they aren't contributing nothing. They are both a-holes off the ice also from what I've heard.
Well I am sure he won't be too physical anymore.....I expect to see him out there floating more than he use to.
This points out a difference between our schools of thought then. I'm a strong proponent of a Nolan signing for the leadership, the toughness, and his ability to teach those skills to the Kings' young forwards. I expect that he'll be *somewhat* near his previous physical form and be able to pot 25-30 if things go well. You expect him to "not be too physical" and "float more".
I hope for the best - you expect the worst - with players and with the team as a whole it would seem. Neither way of looking at it is better than the other. Just an observation.
Allison and Carter! Ha. Allison didn't leave on the best of terms and his skating is questionable the new NHL, Carter...I don't even want to talk about him. A guy like him needs to be in a hockey city that puts pressure on him where he cant get distracted. The Sedins twins made him look genius.
Nolan is a leader, he is tough, he can score, he can fight, and even if he can't score he is doing other things...If Allison and Carter ain't scoring they aren't contributing nothing. They are both a-holes off the ice also from what I've heard.
Allison proved he can play in the new NHL last year and he put up good numbers in TO. I would rather have the guy who can put up good numbers but has some attitude issues than the guy who hasn't played in over two years and is a BIG question mark. AM is gone anyway so Allison shouldn't have any problems. He didn't have any last year in TO.
This points out a difference between our schools of thought then. I'm a strong proponent of a Nolan signing for the leadership, the toughness, and his ability to teach those skills to the Kings' young forwards. I expect that he'll be *somewhat* near his previous physical form and be able to pot 25-30 if things go well. You expect him to "not be too physical" and "float more".
I hope for the best - you expect the worst - with players and with the team as a whole it would seem. Neither way of looking at it is better than the other. Just an observation.
Well you could be entirely right about Nolan.....but if I were in his situation and just missed over 2 years of hockey because of a back injury....I would be alot more reluctant to play a "physical" game. I think he will be as well.
OK - LA goes after a vet forward via trade - who for who?????
I think Buffalo may unload a few players. On Buffalo, a guy like Dumont catches my eye. Ebel would fit in extremely well in Buffalo. They could really use Aaron Miller as well (and he is a hometown boy).
I really wish Langenbrunner went UFA and came here. He may not be the biggest guy, but he is made of sandpaper.
I think Buffalo may unload a few players. On Buffalo, a guy like Dumont catches my eye. Ebel would fit in extremely well in Buffalo. They could really use Aaron Miller as well (and he is a hometown boy).
I really wish Langenbrunner went UFA and came here. He may not be the biggest guy, but he is made of sandpaper.
Well Jersey might have to unload Gomez. He could be the #1 center LA is looking for....but the Kings would have to probably give up a cheap established player and a pick to get him.
Well Jersey might have to unload Gomez. He could be the #1 center LA is looking for....but the Kings would have to probably give up a cheap established player and a pick to get him.
IF the Kings are planning on adding Owen Nolan, I would hope his career parallels Gary Roberts' comeback from neck surgery.
Quote:
Roberts was forced to wonder if he should retire rather than subject his neck to more abuse, and on June 17, 1996, at the age of 30, he even announced that his career was over. At an emotional news conference, he told reporters it was too risky for him to keep playing and opted to retire two days before he received the Masterton Trophy.
The Flames revealed that they had asked Roberts to retire because team doctor Winne Meeuwisse felt it was too dangerous for Roberts to continue playing. Calgary agreed to honor the final year of Roberts' contract in full -- paying him $2 million (Canadian) for 1996-97.
Roberts sat out the entire season in what he and the Flames had both called retirement, but he had never signed retirement papers and was actually involved in a rigid training program that enabled him to regain his health. By January 1997, Roberts announced that he was pain-free for the first time in years.
In July 1997, Calgary made Roberts a $2 million qualifying offer to retain his rights, and head coach Brian Sutter called Roberts to ask him to return to the team for 1997-98. Roberts signed Calgary's offer, but said he would be only return to the NHL if he were traded to an Eastern Conference team. Carolina and the N.Y. Rangers expressed immediate interest in obtaining him. On Aug. 25, 1997, a deal with Carolina finally materialized, and Roberts passed the necessary NHL physical that allowed the trade to go through. http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1984/84012.html
Nolan and Roberts are VERY similar players. Their health may be questioned, but their toughness, courage, grit and effort aren't. He was the corner stone and leader of the Sharks seven seasons. In his last season, he was able to net 19 goals in 65 games.
And we have to remember, these athletes go through a vigorous physical before a team signs them. So if he is still broken down, he won't be passing any physicals or medical exams.
If they were able to bring in a healthy Owen Nolan in excellent physical condition, then it would be a big coup for the Kings. Otherwise, this will be JR revisited. And I think Lombardi would be smart and give him a deal heavily loaded with incentives.
I think the big difference between Nolan and Roberts is Roberts' conditioning. He is probably one of the top 5 conditioned athletes in the NHL (beyond "excellent"). Nolan is nowhere near that in terms of off-ice dedication.
But yeah, I guess if Nolan is in unreal shape, it would be a great deal for whoever signs him. Its not like he has a serious concussion history like Lindros...the kind of injury that no matter what shape you are in, you can get knocked the eff out at any second.
