he's a keeper because they just signed him. what can you do. you don't screw with your ability to make future signings, at least with outside guys. you can screw over your own. as I am here with clarkson.
but they put themselves in a position to be able to somewhat absorb the stretch.
if we start 3-13-1, we are not coming back. these things are far worse when they happen to start the season, then when they happen when you're over .500
Well another 2-3 weeks of this and I won't be able to disagree.
In general, you are right that teams that start off like that can't come back, but it's usually because they don't have enough talent to win, which is why they have a crappy record to begin with. I honestly don't think that's the case (lack of talent)with the Devils, but they're doing a great job of proving me wrong so far.
We just signed Tallinder and he is "only" 31. I'm still willing to give him time to bounce back. He has looked much better recently.
He has looked better. Granted he could have only gone up, but seriously, he has been better.
Nevertheless, he's just not a guy that I like on this team long term. He's just not a difference maker out there. Doesn't really stand out with any particular skill.
You could sign similar guys for half that price (and probably less years) and save money to sign puck movers for the D.
I really did not think we played badly. I'm at the inexplicable, bewildered phase considering how much we controlled the pace of this game.
Tallinder is my personal scapegoat for these last two weeks. He's a guy who needs to be a leader but has been invisible and clumsy. I expected him to be efficient, if not creative or dynamic. And instead, he's been the softest Devils defender I've ever seen put on this uniform.
He has looked better. Granted he could have only gone up, but seriously, he has been better.
Nevertheless, he's just not a guy that I like on this team long term. He's just not a difference maker out there. Doesn't really stand out with any particular skill.
You could sign similar guys for half that price (and probably less years) and save money to sign puck movers for the D.
He's never been a difference maker though and if he was, he wouldn't make $3.4 million dollars. What he can become is a calming presence on the 2nd pairing. The problem is, we have a glut of 2nd pairing defenseman and no top-pairing guys.
I figured out why we suck. Over the past few seasons we've lost a lot of locker room clowns...You know, guys who lighten the mood. Gomez, Weekes, Rupp, Bergie (I think the guys were laughing at him though, poor fella). You know what they say, laughter is the best medicine.
i wouldn't be surprised once we get back from chicago that jmac is gone. we certainly do have heartless players but we also have one hell of an awful system.
