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"Every game, every point is a necessity." -- Ty Conklin, January 2007
"I'll have a chance to compete for the post of first issue. This is the most important thing." -- Sergei Bobrovsky, June 2012
Skoula, 29, is a big man (6-3, 225) who plays like a smaller man. He possesses decent offensive skill, but had a hard last few seasons with the Minnesota Wild. Skoula was in camp with Florida on a tryout agreement, but was released from that deal recently when the Panthers signed Dennis Seidenberg.
Great. We get a shot at the guy who was replaced by frickin' Dennis Seidenberg in Florida Panthers training camp. I thought we might have learned our lesson with the last overhyped ex-Colorado glory years defenseman. If we sign Skoula I hope its for the league minimum.
ASSETS: Is a solid two-way defenseman with excellent offensive potential. Owns a very projectable frame.
FLAWS: Still gets himself caught out of position too often, or makes the wrong play at the wrong time. Needs to use better judgment in the defensive zone and boost his production level.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top four defenseman.
We want an offensive D-man. I don't see a lot of O out of this guy the last 5 years.
There are levels of need. He's not what we want, but there is a need. He's a NHL dman and can fill in with injuries. If he's cheap and you eventually get what you really need, you can put this guy on waivers and see if someone grabs him up. Likely with injuries on other teams later.
With our lack of NHL ready depth on d, this is worth, at least, a look.
Did anyone really think we'd bring someone in on a tryout that would be what we haven't been able to aquire in the last three years?
This is like the Safe Auto of NHL Depth Insurance.
We want an offensive D-man. I don't see a lot of O out of this guy the last 5 years.
This is a good move.
This is a move in an effort to assemble some depth on our d corps (something that we DON'T have--I don't care how well Clitsome et all have looked). He is a legit NHL d man who will help us if/when injuries occur.
If anyone thinks that we are going to get an offensive, puck moving defenseman who is going to be the answer to our woes on a PTO, they are delusional.
This is a move in an effort to assemble some depth on our d corps (something that we DON'T have--I don't care how well Clitsome et all have looked). He is a legit NHL d man who will help us if/when injuries occur.
If anyone thinks that we are going to get an offensive, puck moving defenseman who is going to be the answer to our woes on a PTO, they are delusional.
This, basically. Hopefully he'll actually manage to stick on the roster and cover our butts.
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Remember - when you're a hockey fan, it's not "reckless driving", it's "good forechecking".
"Viqsi, you are our sweet humanist..." --mt-svk on the CBJ boards
Thanks, Howson, for cleaning up MacLean's toxic waste. Welcome, Kekalainen; let's get good things built!
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He's got a week(if that) to impress the hell out of the organization. I'm not sure how I fee about it. Depth isn't a bad thing, but Holden/Clitsome/Moore have me convinced we're in good shape at the 7/8 dman slots. I know others probably disagree. Lets see how Skoula looks on the ice.
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Florida wanted him to wait until they came back from Europe before they gave him a decision of his future. He didn't want to wait so he came to us.
He's got a week(if that) to impress the hell out of the organization. I'm not sure how I fee about it. Depth isn't a bad thing, but Holden/Clitsome/Moore have me convinced we're in good shape at the 7/8 dman slots. I know others probably disagree. Lets see how Skoula looks on the ice.
He doesn't have to 'impress the hell out of anyone'. He has been in the league for awhile, they know what to expect from him. He is NHL quality depth, something we are short on.
We are all very aware that you think it would be perfectly dandy to go into the season with what we have...thankfully those in charge see how faltered that thinking is and were able to find a guy to bring in. Barring injury and a TOTAL collapse, I believe he will be part of our team.
Like I said before Moore does NOTHING to help our depth situation.
Like I said before Moore does NOTHING to help our depth situation.
No kidding. Moore would be a desperation move attempted to fill in a skill gap you haven't been able to fill anywhere else. Skoula is an experienced d-man meant to replace one of the exisiting guys in case of an injury. The only things you are looking for is to verify your old scouting reports to where he is now and his general health. If you don't know what Skoula (coaching staff and management) is after being in the same conference with him over the last few years, there is a problem. Heck they might not even need a preseason game to figure out if they want to extend him a contract offer.
My question is how is could Holden have convinced anyone (at least the fans) that he's ready to be the 7th dman? I mean, Clitsome, at least you've seen him play the last two weeks.
