Ozzy

It was in practice yesterday, and Quinn seemed to indicate those will be the lines for Thursday

I can see we're all going to be second guessing this for the better part of the year. Fact is, these are basically kids...and Kakko is a teenager!! :rofl: They're going to basically grow into these spots eventually and I have to realize that it's not going to be over night.

I keep saying this to myself, but when I see them play, and I watch what's going on, I keep forgetting this!!

Patience, Ozzy....Patience!!! ;)

I dont see Quinn putting that line together. Wouldnt mind seeing what they could do.

The teams in a bad spot with the majority of their talent on 2 lines... but one of those lines is in Hartford. This team has a lot of complementary players - like Kreider. Love the guy, but he needs linehelp to be productive and successful. He's not getting that with Strome, or Howden.. and Kakko's still finding his NHL legs. They have the top line stacked, and its creating 1 first line, 1 third line and 2 fourth lines. We've seen little chemistry among any of the other lines, either. I'd still like to spread out the talent and remove the deadweight from the top 9.

We still have some work to do in unloading a couple of players to free up spots. It's still early, but I think Lias has fared pretty decently through camp and earned at least a chance to play with Kakko on that second line. Howden I think will be a solid NHL'er, but he's looking like a 3rd or 4th line center....I see him as a poor man's Sergei Nemchinov eventually, but we'll see.

I'd really like to see Lemeiux up top a little more; the guy's got some fire in him, and he's pretty strong in the corners for a smaller player. I figured they'll try it eventually, but we'll see....

I heard the season resumes after December right?? :rofl:

practice lines today

Panarin - Zibanejad - Buchnevich

Kreider - Howden - Kakko

Smith - Strome - Fast

Haley/Lemieux - Andersson - McKegg

Hey Josh, what do you think about Lemieux-Andersson-Kakko on the second line? Two fiesty players with Kakko, and I think that would be give us a better look to see what Lias can do with a soon-to-be world class player in Kakko. Lemieux may just be what the doctor ordered to stir shit up and be a digger in the corners to get the puck to Kakko.

I can't look at Kreider anymore....he just makes me wanna run into traffic on the Long Island Expressway.

Skjei - Trouba in practice today

I like that pairing the best going forward. Skjei needs to play with some balls too!! ...instead of hitting opposition wingers with his purse.

DeAngelo, and I know he missed a lot of training camp, is a defensive liability right now. I'm curious to see if and how he progresses over the season.

by november 1st this week off is going to feel like a lifetime ago..

This week off feels like a lifetime already, Slobby!!

It's like giving me a quick blast of Hockey heroin and then saying, "NOPE! now you can't have anymore until next Saturday!" :rofl:

"Wow, it's a nice letter."

Isn't it a "K" in Finland, anyway?? :rofl:

CC, Trouba's a good choice..I'd dig that!

To be fair, I don't think they're up to anything.

 

I just think the timing is stupid lol

It is a little silly if they have nothing brewing. I'm not sure I buy that from Gorton though, Future. I think Gorton has something cooking...a salary dump? Now? ...Why? We're under the cap, and we're only a couple games into the season. Selling Namestnikov now is like selling a stock at a low.

Something's gotta be brewing...maybe for something not-so-imminent, but coming soon. I think Josh is on to something with his ideas...

Give it to Aaron Judge! Oh wait...wrong forum! :rofl:

Nah really, I'm starting to think it's not going to be too important right now with this team. I think eventually it belongs to Kakko when his time comes....and IT WILL!

I'm rolling with Future and Josh on this one. Something's definitely up....

They could've waited until the deadline for this one, and even coupled him with Kreider or a prospect for a higher pick.

There's smoke here.....Gorton's up to something! I trust him though. He and JD are doing this very tactfully, and I believe in what they're doing so far. I'm curious to see what's up for down the pike a little bit.

I don't think this is for anything other than cap space. They've been looking to trade him for almost 2 years. Now they can shuffle players around all season without any issues. It needed to happen. Can't have 2 guys making a combined 8 million on the 4th line.

 

Hopefully this is a lesson in "sometimes it's okay to let a player leave for 'nothing.'"

You guys are spending too much time reading between the lines on this one. It's a salary dump for a player with almost no positive trade value. They've been trying to move him basically since they signed him and no one wanted to bite despite the Rangers' ask not being exhorbitant. I was told, for example, that Colorado showed some interest but simply never felt compelled to make a trade. That should tell you all you need to know about the player and his actual market value relative to his play.

 

He's an average middle-to-bottom-six hockey player who is paid probably twice what he ought to be. Rangers freed up a F spot (where they currently have two extras sitting), opened up a little cap room, and got a little someting (the fourth-rounder) for a player who was basically going to run out the clock otherwise.

 

This actually works out in Vlad's favor, too. He was demoted to the Rangers' fourth line. In Ottawa, he'll play in all situations and will probably boost his UFA value in a way he wasn't likely to the longer he stayed in New York.

They need a center and he's in the minors. He'll come up when he's ready.

I read in Newsday that the Rangers retained like $750K of his salary. I dont mind this move, he was a bust here anyway and at least they were able to move him for something.

I'm going with the above...the guy had little use here and now in a better place for both himself and the Rangers, in my opinion.

Namestnikov is an interesting name in this conversation because he's the same age as Strome and is in roughly the same position relative to free agency. He also shares a number of similar in-game characteristics like playing multiple forward positions and putting up middle-to-bottom-six numbers for most of his career.

 

If Vlad put up a 50-point season, would you want him at say 5x4 or 5x5? I wouldn't.

I think with the direction we seem to be going, Phil...it might be best to unload a guy like that. I'm not feeling anything special about Namestnikov, and I think there may be players we're going to need to lock up 3 years down the road when their ELC's expire. That cap relief from him is going to help out big. If we could deal him at the deadline, for anything more than a stick bag, I think we'd be fine.

EDIT:

OK this is why I should read the forums from top to bottom!!! :rofl:

I just saw he was dealt!

Is Pete banned? Whats happened here lol

Looks like he got a Game Misconduct for 3rd man in! :rofl:

To be honest I don't really understand why Howden is the 3c and Lias the 4c right now. I like Howden, but I don't see much in terms of offensive ability.

 

I get that they're trying to develop both as centers, but putting one on the wing and letting them play on a grinding line together - maybe with Lemieux - makes a lot of sense to me. The three, together, should be strong on the cycle and forecheck.

I think the key phrase is "right now", Future. I think either one of them can flip flop at any time. Lias has some fire to his game, and looked pretty decent so far. Howden has used his size to score a nice goal, and shows some sense of toughness in front.

Who goes where and why? I dunno man, but I do like Lias and Lemieux together! ...I'm guessing that we're going to have a better sense of it as we move along though.

One thing for sure, is that I think they're both on the right track of being solid NHL'ers in my estimation. It's just a matter of who grows into that position first.

love the start but need to pump the brakes here. this remains a build, for maybe 2-3 more years. centers developing and defense on the way.

It's hard not to be somewhat excited, Slobby...but I hear ya man! ;)

That tic tac toe play on Saturday night made me drop my drink!!! Georgie looked really good too!! There's a ton of room for improvement, but they are showing progress. They did a lot more good things in the game against Ottawa. They closed gaps a bit more and their support on the puck, and breakouts were much better....not tremendous, but better.

That Power play is absolutely lethal with Panarin though, and with Truoba having that offensive player mentality on the PP??? Wow! That guy can fuckin' hammer it from the point!!

It's all about patience from here though Slobby, you're right. This season is going to have it's ups and downs, so I'm ready....excited about watching these guys grow, but I know there's going to be some valleys between the peaks! :rofl:

Strome is a good guy to pair with Kreider at the deadline to bring home a high pick for next year's draft I think. Howden looks like he's going to be a decent #3 center. He has the size and the talent, I think he just needs to grow into it, which is going to take a couple of seasons, but I think he's going to be a good #3.

Lias is getting better, and has shown a lot more promise so far, than he did last season. I don't think a #4 C spot is what we drafted him for, but he can play the PK and also isn't bad on faceoffs. He also has a mean streak which I like to see. His compete level is what I like most though.

That Howden go-ahead goal was vintage Drury. You love to see it.

I wanna see them try Howden with Kakko.

Yeah they looked nervous out there, but the game was probably more exciting than any one they played last year! That first line is a MUST SEE for sure!!

These seemed like the "one-goal games" we lost last season.

The Staal goal seriously made me spill my drink!!! No shit....

But I like this team! Trouba looks pretty focused! ...and I can't help but love Kakko to death, the guy has the poise of a veteran!

Lol, if only i had predicted who would lift the cup first. :)

Dude, I almost pissed myself last night when he wrapped that one in!!

First off....what is Staal doing in the offensive zone???????

...behind the net, no less????

...with the puck????

...and...SCORING????

On a wrap around???

Did I miss Haley's comet or something??? :rofl:

Repped big!

So glad to see a GDT again. :clap: LGR!!

 

@Ozzy -- about the "blood flowing again" :eek: #chubmuch

 

:rofl:

Hey big guy!!! it says here on this Viagra label: "If you have a chubber that lasts more than 4 hours, to call a doctor"

I dunno about that.... but I'm about to go through my entire contact list on my iPhone!!! :rofl:

Seriously man, I simply cannot wait!!!

Holy shit...I have blood flow!!!!!!!

Let's do this, kids!!!!! :thumbs:

I'm just saying a prediction of 108 points is a lot, lol.

Oh hell yeah, 3-1!! It's a ton...but they wanted "BALLSY" ;)

Very ballsy considering he scored 38 points last year in a not-very-good league lol. Hope you're right.

Ballsy though, right? :rofl: