Preatty much what you've said, but I'd like to add Stef Elliott because of the way he seems to be progressing, Cody McLeod who's a great guy and he gives his best every shift and Bordy, he's much like McLeod only meaner and tougher.
IF we finish 29th (big IF), it will be a combination of Sacco hopefully getting fired, our "management" getting exposed and the draft pick we get.
PAP and Duchene obviously were the positive aspects of this team.
Other than those two?
Maybe the development (but not treatment!) of Barrie and recently even Elliott. But that had to be expected. Otherwise they would have been in serious danger of never living up to their potential.
I really don't think that getting O'Reilly back should count as a positive at this point. Wait for the next deadline/offseason before you give a verdict on that...
IF we get a top 3 draft pick this will be the most positive thing for me. If not it'll be either PAP or the good performances of Sgarbossa and Agozzino in the AHL. Duchene and Barrie playing so well is great but I expected it.
Edit: Oh right, Bordy was a very positive surprise for me.
Other possibilities - appropriate staff changes, Seth Jones
__________________ “It’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed to be here right now. It’s not even funny. And it’s just embarrassing, the way we, you know, the energy we have in the room and the way we approach practices and the way we approach this game. It’s not how you’re going to win any games in this league." - Jean-Sebastien Giguere, April 8 2013
Other then the obvious ones(Duchene, PAP, Elliott, Barrie) Ill throw another one out there that IMO is a huge positive.
Joey Hishon returning from a concussion after 2 years. Although he was concussed again in the final couple of weeks, it wasn't nearly as severe and if Im not mistaken he may already be recovered from that one.
If Hishon can get a full offseason to train at a maximum level, and come back in game shape next year, we should see big things from him. We know how good he was before the concussion.
And another one. Vincour has been fantastic for us since the trade. Looks like another potential gem in the rough found by our terrible GM and his scouting staff.
Barrie. We need a player like that and him forcing us to adjust expectations is awesome.
While the draft pick is obviously going to be valuable, the cost of it is a lost year. They've wasted a contract year for a lot of our better players. The team has struggled with confidence and haven't learned to win. Jones/MacKinnon/Drouin/Barkov doesn't come for free. Avs paid in full.
Preatty much what you've said, but I'd like to add Stef Elliott because of the way he seems to be progressing, Cody McLeod who's a great guy and he gives his best every shift and Bordy, he's much like McLeod only meaner and tougher.
+1000, especially Bordeleau, I'm becoming a huge fan of his slowly. Would like to see him signed a couple years.
Draft Pick (dependent on being a top 3)
Matt Duchene
PAP
Tyson Barrie
Pretty much what Bon Iver said , when you're having a really bad season you're looking forward to a good draft pick .That's the reward for all bad games you had and a step in the right direction for your franchise.
Other than that , i think we were all impressed by Duchene and his on ice performance. He had an injury plague season, last year, and no one were able to predict this kind of success .
Pap , with the kind of production he had , he's a bargain at 4mill . I think he's the best deal of this UFA market Points vs Dollars. It's clear that the guy was a late bloomer in the NHL AND that he didnt need JT to succeed
Barrie ( and Elliott ) They should be part of our Dcore next season from day one of the 2014 season and they will be with us for years to come .
I would have said Pap but I'm anticipating some sort of freak medical issue to befall him sometime in the off season. So my pick is Matt duchene. Can't remember how many people wanted him gone last yr it was unreal.
I would have said Pap but I'm anticipating some sort of freak medical issue to befall him sometime in the off season. So my pick is Matt duchene. Can't remember how many people wanted him gone last yr it was unreal.
It felt weird being in the minority for sure about keeping Matt Duchene. So glad he's bounced back. For me my positives go in this order:
1. Duchene
2. Parenteau
3. Barrie
4. Bordeleau
Prospect Positives:
1. Sgarbossa
2. Aittokallio/Pickard
3. Smith
I don't really follow our prospects that closely, however those are the ones that just stood out for me.
Are people that surprised with Duchene and Parenteau? It was realistic to expect around 60 points from them, so they have scored a bit more than expected but not that much more.
Are people that surprised with Duchene and Parenteau? It was realistic to expect around 60 points from them, so they have scored a bit more than expected but not that much more.
They are closer to being P/G than expected, prolly would be if our team was any good. I think 80 points is their benchmark next year.
Would like to give props to our 4 prospect netminders. Each turned pro this season and either had a solid season all around or showed flashes of brilliance in AHL/ECHL. At least one area we don't have to pay attention to draftwise for a while.
I think Duchene alone is was the biggest positive. Just being able to prove all of his doubters wrong he had last season who wanted to trade him and how vastly underrated he was because of his injury riddled season
Are people that surprised with Duchene and Parenteau? It was realistic to expect around 60 points from them, so they have scored a bit more than expected but not that much more.
Personally not as much surprised by the points with Duchene, but more his arrival as a player who can dominate shifts when he sets his mind to it. Been waiting since he was derafted for him to be more of a game changer on a consistent basis. Now if he can just hit the net more often.
__________________
"The remedy, right now, is two scotches and an aspirin, I think."- Harry Sinden
It's Duchene for me proving that he really can be a go-to guy. Barrie showing he can be a top 4 dman was nice. Having a top three pick should be an embarassment not a bright spot, we aren't Edmonton fans.
