Nilson's a checking line winger, he's 6-2 195 and plays a gritty, high energy game. He's good for 10-15 goals but I don't think there's any chance that he's a top 6 player.
I don't see any reason to grab Nilson, especially when we already have Dackell and Sundstrom on the 3rd line. Plus we have Begin, Ward and Gratton ready to step into the checking line role.
Marcus Nilson is a good player, he reminds me of Jan Bulis as they are both very good forecheckers and play a high energy game, however, Nilson's offensive upside is nowhere near Jan Bulis, I think he'd be an upgrade on the 3rd line over Sundstrom or Dackell, I wouldn't mind a deal for Nilson, but we would have to get rid of one of our one-dimensional 3rd and/or 4th liners
Marcus Nilson is a good player, he reminds me of Jan Bulis as they are both very good forecheckers and play a high energy game, however, Nilson's offensive upside is nowhere near Jan Bulis, I think he'd be an upgrade on the 3rd line over Sundstrom or Dackell, I wouldn't mind a deal for Nilson, but we would have to get rid of one of our one-dimensional 3rd and/or 4th liners
i agree a trade for Nillson would surprise me.
Florida won't take one of our overpaid foward and a Nillson for 2nd round pick (for exemple) would be bad for us.
Same for Kozlov, we have already too many C and the only one they would want is Saku, so no deal...
I would love to see the habs acquire Marcus Nilson as long as it didn't mean parting with any of our good prospects or young players (which I assume Fla would want).
I remember hearing people talk about Nilson as a future Selke winner. Can't have enough 25 year old Selke type's in my opinion. The habs of the 80's and early 90's had quite a few of them.
Hope it's true. Zednik, Bulis, Ryder, Dagenais, Nilson and Ward/Sundstrom/Dackell as our top-6 wingers would be quite nice. Nilson plays with lots of grit and uses his size very well to neutralize the opposition. We don't have enough of those guys. I'm pretty sure that would be a BG/CJ type of player. Although of course we cannot afford to give something really good for him (ie: top prospect) as this guy isn't anything more than a 3rd line checker (albeit a good one IMO).
He wouldn't be a bad addition, but he seems like more of a middle of the road guy. His energy and size would be welcomed, but I think he would further plug up the bottom two lines, when we seem to have, in Julien's mind, a number of guys capable of bottom six duty.
I can't see Nilson being that costly. He's been playing the fourth line in Florida along with Ritchie and McDonald, providing a good solid young energy line with speed and lots of hits. Nilson's an agitator who will finish all his checks, play responsible defensive hockey and will go to danger areas.
He has some talent, as witnessed by his being a first round selection and being consistent in putting 30+ points on the board, but he's certainly not a top six forward. His talent is more or less limited to being able to keep the puck deep and cycle well, and not quite as rough around the edges as Begin is in passing or puck control.
I wouldn't expect Nilson's cost to be that great. The Panthers have Nedorost, Novoseltsev and Shvidki that need some NHL ice time, and there isn't all that much room available to them. That said, Nilson's been playing quite well in a fourth line energy role, so there's no desperate need (that I know of) to shed him from the roster.
My question is: where would he fit in Montreal? I'd like to see him added but, the timing doesn't seem right. There's currently a glut of forwards here. Adding a player like Nilson would only make the mess more difficult to fix.
Kilger or a 3rd round pick (we have 2) for Nilson ???
Kilger is pretty useless right now because he doesn't bring any energy and rarely hits. Nilson is a Begin-type player and we need those players in MTL to win because thet can make slumping players wake up.
Langdon-Begin-Nilson would be a solid 4th line (considering that Begin doesn't get Juneau's spot before the end of the year)
i would try to ship sundstrom. Dackell does more for us than him. A guy that i would love to see in MTL is Josef Vasicek. Hes big and he plays big. Hes been struggling a bit last year and this season. Hes 23 and i would be ready to give Hossa and maybe rivet for him.
My question is: where would he fit in Montreal? I'd like to see him added but, the timing doesn't seem right. There's currently a glut of forwards here. Adding a player like Nilson would only make the mess more difficult to fix.
Well I'm pretty sure BG would give the edge to a young and physical forward like Nilson over our soon to be UFAs. So it all comes down to whether or not BG feels he could unload the likes of Perreault, Audette, Dackell or Sundstrom and Kilger via a trade/buy out/demotion to the AHL.
Having a 3rd line of Bulis/Higgins - Gratton/Begin - Nilson next year would be amazing considering the importance of a good reliable 1st checking line in a defensive system like the one in Montreal. We all know our UFAs and even some RFAs won't be resigned, so I think BG, if the opportunity presents itself, should consider acquiring such player, even if it means a bigger glut on the bottom lines for a while.
We have a bunch of forwards that no longer fit in CJ's plans and are barely used (Perreault, Audette, Kilger) so I don't think those guys will keep BG from doing a move. Audette is AHL/ECHL material and the other two could probably easily be traded/waved if need be.
i would try to ship sundstrom. Dackell does more for us than him. A guy that i would love to see in MTL is Josef Vasicek. Hes big and he plays big. Hes been struggling a bit last year and this season. Hes 23 and i would be ready to give Hossa and maybe rivet for him.
Vasicek is on pace for 23 goals and 38 points. Not great numbers, but on an offensive depleted team, he's the leading goal scorer. He's been moved to LW and is on the top line with Francis and O'Neill and has been among Carolina's better players this year. I wouldn't count on him being available, especially not for such a cheap price.
Also keep in mind Brind'Amour's winding down and Francis is close to retirement, and it seems likely that Vasicek and Staal are being groomed for the future 1-2 punch in Carolina.
I think both are UFA next year. So is it for the team or for their money that they play like that ?
Dacks is UFA, but I think Sunds will be RFA. And I think they are both playing better because of their stint with Begin. I don't feel they were playing that good before Steve centered them.
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i would try to ship sundstrom. Dackell does more for us than him.
No way ! Sundstrom is Dackell with a tad more talent.
Rivet played on a def pairing with Bouwmeester in International competition didn't he?
If FLA felt he had a positive impact on the kid who'll lead their franchise in years to come...
Nilsson for Rivet??
Hmmm... Save $1.4 million (or whatever's left of it for the season) and make room for our young D-Men
Interesting thought.... I don't know the Panthers defensive situation too well, but it looks like they're depending way too much on young defensemen. Van Ryn, Bouwmeester, Mezei, Biron, Odelein and Lilja are their regular top 6, with Trnka and Krajicek filling in every so often from what I've seen.
Rivet is superior to Mezei, Biron and Odelein at this stage, but Biron and Mezei would need to pass through waivers to be sent down. Added to that, Florida seems intent on running with youth through the lineup, regardless of results or how they're developing.
It's worth a thought though.. pitch the idea on the Trade board and see what kind of reaction you get.
No way ! Sundstrom is Dackell with a tad more talent.
And a heck of a lot less desire and with a bigger salary. I'd keep Dackell over him anytime. I think that a Nilsson-Begin-Ward line would an instant fan favorite, a real nice 3rd or 4th line.
