TropicalFruitGirl26

@yave1964 , you got it on the first sentence of your 2nd paragraph: It starts with Sergei Bobrovsky. Plain n simple.

Even last year, if you look at the overall Blue Jackets team, Bobrovsky was the single biggest reason this team made the turnaround to almost make the playoffs.

The Jackets have been looking for consistent scoring for quite some time now....even last season when they finished hot.

Fact of the matter is, the team just doesn't score many goals, that has carried over into this season, difference being...you guessed it...Bob isn't stealing games for the Jackets like he was last season.

I looked at some numbers and stats, and for this season so far, if the Jackets keep opponents to 2 goals or under (with the exception of one game), they win the game.

I.E., if the defense, or more specifically, Bob, is limiting opponents scoring chances, pucks are being kept out, and thus, even with the anemic scoring Columbus has, they win the game.

Over 2 goals? Yep. They lose.  I generally don't put a ton of stock in GAA ( I prefer save %) as a measure of a goalie's value in stopping pucks, but in this particular case, Bob's 2.88 rings true....it is close enough to 3 per game, and it sure does indicate why the Jackets have lost alot more than they have won.

To be honest, 2.88 isn't horrendous (not great, mind you), but again, when your team doesn't score alot, AND you have a very young and/or mediocre defense, then you rely on your goalie to win games for you (like Bob did last year), and so a 2.88 looks like a balloon the size of a dirigible!

And on Marion Gaborik, like his style of play or not, he is a dynamic scorer, with speed to spare and defenses HAVE to account for him.

Yes, he plays a rather 'soft' brand of hockey, is injury prone, and doesn't play much in the way of defense, but when GM's get this guy on their roster, they understand this, and just hope that he stays healthy long enough to help bolster an offense. 

Granted, it doesn't seem to happen for an entire season, but a healthy Gaborik is a dangerous Gaborik, and without him, the Jackets offense looks even more dismal.

Letestu, Dubinsky, Anisimov..guys like that, are better suited to 2nd or 3rd line duties at best probably. At least, they most likely WOULD be on a more complete team.

Lots of people made a big deal of Letestu, but I just don't see why. He put up GREAT numbers during his junior and AHL games, but at the NHL level, at age 28 now, has proven to be just a grinder who can get a goal in here and there.

Dubinsky, is a classic energy player/grinder who can be expected to get you 15-20 goals a year on his best years....not bad (and I do like Duby), but HARDLY the type of player you build an offense around.

Other guys like Anisimov and Foligno may be more the sniper/scoring types, but have yet to establish themselves in the NHL as legit threats on a regular basis.

Thus we are back to Bob.

I think the idea the Jackets FO had was that Bob can continue to play like he had last season, while the defense matures and the FO can find some legit scorers to replace some of their grinders or at the very least, be able to move said grinders back to lines where they SHOULD be playing.

Obviously, nothing has gone to plan this season thus far, and hence we have the Jackets with the 'sterling' record they currently sport.

One last thing to consider: last season's shortened schedule.

Very difficult to gauge where a team is based on 48 games where you only face half the league.

We've all seen teams struggle for stretches, only to get things together over the course of 82 games and make the playoffs....and on the flip side, teams dominate for stretches, look like real deals for 40, 50 games, then fizzle, show lack of depth, and miss the playoffs 30 games later.

I don't see why that couldn't be done.

They already have goal cams from directly behind the goaltender, so post cams wouldn't be that much of a stretch.

The NHL, however, better be prepared to constantly replace those cams with as many pucks that hit the posts!  

Some people may be concerned that having extra cameras, and thus, extra stoppages for reviews may slow games down, but honestly, that shouldn't be a consistent problem either...really, how many times in a game does a puck that did or did not cross the line have to be looked at closely?  Not a ton. Not enough for people to worry about the game being 'slowed up'.

To me, it would be more important to get a call right.

I'd be in favor of it.

Congrats to MSL...1000 games...a true testament to the man's durability, conditioning, will to win, and overall skills.

The man nobody wanted oh so many years ago...he found a home on a joke of a team known as the Tampa Bay Lightning...saw lots of adversity, persevered, helped bring a Cup to Hockey Bay, USA, and has consistently been one of the reasons the Bolts have gotten out of the 'doormat' and 'vacation spot for aging and subpar players' category in the NHL, to be a pretty good organization, though obviously, not always the best team on the ice.

Still going strong, Marty is...for how much longer? Who knows...but for the here n now, THIS Bolts fan is sure happy to still have him.

He is the last remaining member of the 2004 Stanley Cup winning team....and here is hoping he can hang on long enough to see the team win one more with him onboard!

As for the HOF? Sure, why not...I think his stats speak for themselves....throw in his intangibles and the fact that EVERY successful small player in the NHL seems to be compared to him, and I think you have a sure fire HOF'er.

First ballad? I don't know...the writers can be pretty strange about that..but whether first ballad or not, I expect to see his name in the Hall shortly after he calls it a career.

Tropical Fruit Girl, I like your take on things.  You are very honest and  have no axe to grind like these Flyers fans here.   But your own team was miserable last year and turned things around in one year.  Why cant Buffalo do the same?  They can if they play their cards right.  Miller could stay.  Its very possible.  Of course they will entertain offers.  But if they are not huge returns, the answer will be a resounding NO.    Keeping Miller makes more sense.  Enroth is not capable of running the ship.  Hackett?   Know little about him.  I guess I should tune into an Americans game soon.  See how things go with them now being restocked.  Until I read it in print, MILLER STAYS.  And the Sabres are already playing better with Rolston and his no personality attitude gone.  Nolan has lit a fire.  

Well, yes, the Bolts did turn things around...at least to this point.

And it very well could be possible Buffalo does the same.  But a price has to be paid somewhere.

It cost the Lightning Vincent Lecavalier in order to really push the change the team so desperately needed. I was not happy about it, still am not. But I understand WHY Vinnie had to be bought out. He had done so much in terms of on ice performance in the past and community involvement as well, but he did become a bit complacent with the Bolts and his salary was a blockage to being able to pay some of the young guns the Lightning are looking to keep down the road.....including the attempt to lock up Stamkos when his contract expires at only age 27.

That is why I was thinking Buffalo would need to move Miller and get the max for him. Some price needs to be paid in order to move onward and upward.

Enroth may not be what Miller is now, but he has shown so much potential with some of his performances. If only the Sabres can get a good forechecking group, or a very solid defensive corps...it would make his transition SO much easier, and in turn, grow his confidence....dealing out Miller may help those areas of forward and defense.

The changing of coaches IS bright spot...again, to use the Lightning parallel, the same way removing Guy Boucher and replacing him with Jon Cooper has worked so far for the Bolts.

With the change of the coaches, comes a change of culture and attitude...fresh ideas, new blood, and a cleasning of people and things that had anything to do with what didn't work in the past.

Tampa did it, Buffalo did it by bringing in Nolan...now your team needs the actual players to execute for Nolan.  And if dealing Miller for a goalie to push Enroth (or even Hackett...I forgot Minny traded him there...more on him in a sec), AND getting some forwards or D-men in the process helps things along, then I can see why it would be a good thing to trade him.

Who knows...maybe Buffalo does a wonderful PR spin and Miller buys into that the Sabres will compete next year and convince him to re-sign. Nothing is impossible. But that scenario still seems not likely.

As for Matt Hackett, he was looked upon for quite a while by the Wild organization as a guy who could be a replacement for Niklas Backstrom.

To be honest, I am not entirely sure why Minnesota gave up on him. Not sure if it was an attitude thing, or a sense that the Wild needed to win sooner rather than later, and preferred to stay with vets (Backstrom/Harding) at goal while bringing in someone like your former Sabre Jason Pomminville.

I've seen Hackett play at the NHL level, and frankly, he has looked pretty good. Keep in mind the guy is only 23 and he may not show what he is fully capable of for another 3 or 4 years yet.

He has not been particularly impressive in his AHL games, but hard to read too much into that, as I've seen goalies dominate in the AHL only to fizzle in the NHL, and guys who seem mediocre in the American League REALLY mature and step their game up once given a real chance at success (and a good defense in front of him doesn't hurt either) at the NHL level.

I liked the Wild getting Pominville, but must admit to being surprised they gave up Hackett to get him, as I knew Backstrom (injury prone) is nearing the end of his days as a full time starter, and Josh Harding has the MS issues, though he is proving damned good facing adversity these days for Minnesota.

I thought Hackett would be given the reigns at some point, especially since the Minnesota defense had always been pretty good and getting better.

But back to your original point, yes, these days in the NHL, with the cap and the flood of great talent available from many sources (college, minors, Europe) it is quite possible for teams to make drastic turn arounds.

But you have to ask yourself:  Do the Sabres, as constructed, have the founding personnel and skill where keeping a veteran goalie makes sense? And if the answer is "no", then we are back to Miller being dealt in order to GET that foundation of players.

Lightning basically had that foundation already with their collection of up n coming players....just needed the goaltending, the maturing of the defense, and the removal of certain contracts and/or mindsets in order to move forward.

Buffalo has started that process, but still think they need a bit more.....and dealing Miller could very well advance them by leaps n bounds in that regard.

On another thread I threw out that Miller could end up on either the Islanders or the Flyers....I will stick to that.

No media based reasons for it...just two teams that I think could really use his help and may have players the Sabres would be interested in....especially the Flyers who may want to create some cap room by unloading some contracts, while improving their 'Tending situation.

Another team that no one has mentioned (and may not happen actually) could be Toronto.

Yes, the Leafs.

Everyone thought Jonathan Bernier would be the clear cut number one over there. That has not been the case. James Reimer has made that VERY cloudy with his good play when called upon.

Crazy as it sounds, Toronto may want an established winner like Ryan and would be willing to trade one of Reimer or Bernier to the Sabres (either, I am thinking would fit the Sabres' needs very well in terms of age, ability and finances), and whichever remains would back up Miller (or push Miller for the starter's job...whichever the case may be).

The Leafs would get a 'win now' goaltender....and still have either Reimer or Bernier should Miller decide to leave at season's end, and the Sabres would get a good young goalie in either Reimer or Bernier.

Again, this isn't anything that I've overheard, or saying is GOING to happen, but just one of the 'out of nowhere' deals that COULD happen.

As for @Hockey Junkie , hey, I know the terrible feeling of knowing that a key or favorite player may be shown the door on your team. I've gone through that with my Tampa Bay Lightning most recently with Vinnie Lecavalier, to a lesser extent with Steve Downie, and before that, Brad Richards, Dan Boyle, and even going further back to my preteen/teen days, Chris Gratton, Enrico Ciccone, and Roman Hamrlik in the late 90's.

But thing is, Buffalo is pretty much in rebuild mode, Miller is a high priced veteran who wants to win NOW, and whose contract expires at the end of the year...the Sabres FO would be EXTREMELY irresponsible if they didn't explore getting the maximum return they could for him...especially when they have a capable Jonas Enroth to hold the fort, either while a number one is brought in, or he becomes the undisputed number one himself.

I would be very happy for you if Buffalo decided to keep Miller and do a quick turnaround personnel-wise in order to compete next season...or even attempt a comeback playoff push THIS year...but honestly, I just don't see that happening.

Just too many holes right now on the Sabres, plus, I suspect there is the matter of 'team culture'....one that has gone from tough, gritty, skilled players who expect to win every night, to players who seem to be waiting for the worst to happen, HOPING to win, with lots of frustration permeating the team...at least, IMO.

Oh, and Miller to Nashville sounds reasonable as well.

From NHL.com

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=22882&navid=nhl:topheads

After missing a slew of games due to concussion, the man who everyone is looking to help get the Rangers out mediocrity is back in the lineup....and well, since it will be against the hard hitting Bruins, you can bet his ability to stay on the ice will be tested.

Home game for the Rangers and Nash has yet another chance to show exactly why the Rangers gave up a boatload of players to get him.

Will it be too much pressure? Will he rise to the occasion? That is what the hockey world will be looking at.....and the fact that this game is a nationally televised game just adds to the pressure.

Personally, I like Rick Nash as a player...the guy has everything you want from a power forward, but to say that thus far in his overall Rangers career he has been somewhat disappointing, is an understatement.

Sure, he has had good moments wearing Ranger blue, but IMO, not NEARLY enough of them to justify all the players and overall team dynamics that changed when he arrived in Manhattan.

And now, with his team floating along at .500 (though to be fair, the team HAS played better as of late), he is being looked upon as that ingredient that will finally get the Rangers to rise to the top of the division.

So far, Nash is saying all the right things, but we will have to wait n see whether he can hold up under the intense conditions the Bruins are sure to provide.

John Tortorella (man, has THIS guy has a treasure trove of quotables...  ), towards Ken Hitchcock during the 2004 playoffs...Torts Lightning coach, Hitchcock Flyers coach.

Hitchcock apparently had some words for some Tampa players during the game...and Torts came out with some of these during the press conference afterwards...

"......Park your ego, shove it in your pocket...its about the two teams..."

and

"...I'm not in the battle, he's not in the battle...SHUT YER YAP!"

Ooooooooo, MORE goons for the Leafs.....

Seriously though, if Blacker turns into that decent defenseman, then Anaheim wins this deal easy.

I suppose Holland COULD still finally turn into the kind of goal scorer in the NHL as he has generally been in the AHL (just under a point per game, on average), and if that happens, then I'd say the trade was a bit more even...Holland is only 22 after all.

Still though, I think the chances that Blacker turns into an ok shut down type D-man before Holland turns into a legitimate, consistant NHL goal scorer are greater...especially if he will be playing on Norfolk and Anaheim teams that already have good players at his position that will allow him to mature at his own pace.

Brad Staubitz in the deal is just an unload and a non-factor.

Nothing personally against Brad as a person (I watched him for a few seasons in Minnesota), but as an enforcer, he is just ok...as a hockey player, much to be desired.

About the best thing I could say about him is that he generally doesn't play a 'dirty' game...at least, not that I've seen while he was wearing a Wild jersey and a Canadiens' jersey after that.

But he really doesn't make the Leafs "better".

I too got to watch some AHL (and even some college games while the NHL was playing twiddle dinks) during the lockout.

I honestly think the overall team speeds are much better in the NHL.

The AHL may have some guys that can really skate and push pucks up ice (and those guys are usually NHL bound), but overall, as teams, I find the pace of moving the pucks up ice to be a bit slower in the American League.

To be expected IMO, because lets not forget, the AHL has more guys that won't ever see the light of day in the NHL AND have guys past their primes just trying to play pro hockey, and thus probably are not as fast as they used to be.

The goon factor is a bit more prevalent in the AHL.

Again, no surprise there as it seems there are guys who are just good enough to make an AHL team with their marginal skills and fisticuffs, whereas those same guys would be 4-5 ATOI guys on an NHL team (if even qualified to sit on an NHL bench, that is).

You also have more guys with less body control, thus more out-of-control checking, all-or-nothing moves towards a puck carrier, or just plain bad hits to the guy with the puck.

To be honest, I couldn't make a clear distinction between career AHL goalies and NHL goalies, other than the obvious fact that NHL goalies will make some spectacular saves on some of the best players in the entire world.

I suppose you could say the same about AHL goalies...but then again, most of the shooters they face are of the young n green, past their prime, or journeyman calibur...though of course, they DO see future NHL stars whilst those young players make their way up to the NHL ranks.

Maybe I just don't know what to look for (some of what @yave1964 described seem pretty interesting....I will be sure to keep an eye out for those, now that I have been made aware), as I have seen even NHL goalies go down to the AHL for stints and look pretty average, yet look amazing once back on an NHL team.

Finally, defenses.

Personally, I see  BIG difference in AHL defenses as opposed to NHL defenses.

NHL defenses, on the whole, are not only quick to close lanes and/or get to the puck carrier, but they seem like they are MUCH more efficient making plays to exit their zones or forcing opposing teams to certain areas of the ice.

In the AHL, it seems the offense has a bit of an advantage as many AHL defensemen can be seen looking like pylons as skaters get around them, or don't look as organized when faced with a rush.

I think the biggest tell on that is when you see a young AHL D-man do ok (or even great when facing AHL rushes) but look absolutely mediocre or downright deer-in-headlights-like when brought up for a stint with his NHL parent club and facing the same situations.

Its the reason why it truly is something special when a young guy like Minnesota's Jonas Brodin can make the transition to playing in the minors so seamlessly to the NHL...and look like he's been playing NHL defense for years.

It's something that you simply do not see on a regular basis.

Thread **BUMP** !!

I say root for whomever you want. 

There may be lots of reasons for supporting a certain team, switching allegiances, etc...

I WILL agree that front runners are annoying as all get out...and you can usually tell those over time, or even withing the course of a season as team's fortunes ebb and flow...the true fans may be disappointed, yet passionate, the front runners simply lose interest..until the team starts winning again.

Heck, most front runners can be outed simply by the way they talk sports...most aren't the most knowledgeable people you're gonna find on any given topic...particularly related to the team in question.

As for me personally, I was born n raised in the Tampa Bay area in Florida, and I grew up basically cheering teams from the area. I fully support the Lightning, through the good n bad, same with the Rays, and to a lesser extent, the Buccaneers. Why the Bucs to lesser extent? Well, I simply am not as big of an NFL fan as I am an NHL and MLB fan.

I have married, then moved to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. 

Since marrying a Minnesotan, and one who is passionate about sports himself and his hometown teams (Vikings, Twins, Wolves, and Wild), it was only logical and natural that I follow and support some of those teams myself....particularly when teams like the Twins and Wild aren NOT Tampa Bay rivals in their respective sports.

I don't care for the Timberwolves, and I DO follow the Vikings a bit, but again, I am more a casual fan of the NFL as opposed to passionate about it.

Now, what happens when say the Wild play the Lightning? Or the Twins play the Rays? 

In my case, I root for the TB team. 

But you know, there is no 'etched in stone' rule set for how one should root.

I simply have had more time invested as a fan of the Lightning and Rays than I have as a fan of the Wild and Twins.

Some ppl may say, "Well you SHOULD root for the TB teams because you are from there".

Well, ok, that's usually how it is, but if I were born n raised in TB, but didn't follow sports particularly closely...THEN moved to Minnesota, started following a given sport much more closely, and living with a person who is a rabid MN sports fan, I could very well have become MORE of a Minny fan than a TB fan, simply because of the conditions. The fact that I was born n raised in the TB area would have no bearing in that particular instance.

In the NHL, I also happen to be a fan of certain players, and yes, I DO become a pseudo-fan of a given team for a bit, if certain players, or in the case of the Rangers the last two seasons, when SEVERAL players I like played for the team (and coach..I LOVE John Tortorella).

Once those players move on, or that particular coach has moved on, I may follow that team less n less, or lose interest altogether.

I LOVE Brad Richards. Broke my heart when he was traded to Dallas, but I followed the Stars a bit when he was there...then followed him (and still do) as a Ranger, when he joined up with John Tortorella, Ruslan Fedotenko, Marion Gaborik, and for a short while, Derek Boogaard (RIP)...all players and coaches I like.

These days, I follow the Blue Jackets a little bit for Marion Gaborik, and I took a liking to Brandon Dubinsky and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Follow the Rangers just a bit because Brad Richards is still there, heck, even the hated Flyers (to a Bolts fan like me anyways), because they have my Vinnie Lecavalier and more recently Steve Downie, who I thought turned into a pretty good player since his move from Philly-to-Tampa-then-to-Colorado, and now back to Philly.

Vancouver Canucks? Couldn't stand them for years. Still can't. But Coach Tortorella is there now, and I find myself interested in what the Nucks are doing these days more then I ever have before.

Does this mean I proclaim myself a fan of any of those teams? Not really. Do I follow them a bit and the players? Absolutely.

And make no mistake...I support my Lightning through the good and bad (and BOY have that team seen lots of bad over the years!), and I support my Wild since 2005 and will root for those teams over any of the others I mentioned.

Now should someone find that I seem to follow certain teams only when they are playing well or proclaim myself a fan of them simply because they have won a championship, then I fully expect people to be thoroughly annoyed with me and want to throw fruit at ME, as the OP originally said    .

But bottom line: Root for who you want. Everyone is different. Some annoyingly so, but that is their prerogative.

I know how I root...and no one can tell me that I am doing it wrong...unless I become that dreaded "front runner"..then I'd have to agree with them that I am quite annoying...  

Not sure how many games Kadri should get...I really don't know his history in regards to cheap play, however, he definitely deserves some games taken away...particularly when he had two major infractions in the same game.

As for Mike Milbury, I generally DO NOT agree with that blowhard, but he was right about one thing: Minnesota needed to take some matters into their own hands.

Not saying the Wild should have turned the game into something like a Pittsburgh-Philadelphia penalty fiasco from the playoffs a couple seasons ago, but they definitely should have answered immediately after the Backstrom hit.

Maybe if they do, the Granlund hit doesn't happen.

As for Minnesota's toughness, they are plenty tough. Just because they don't go around trying to play the 'goon game' like Toronto and some other teams try to play, does NOT mean they aren't tough.

There is different kinds of toughness...from dropping the gloves (the most obvious), to good tight checking (maybe putting a little "extra" on body checks in corners or in front of nets), to simple facewashes and behind-the-ref crosschecks and head slapping (yes, illegal and cheap, but it happens more often than people think).

For sure, Minnesota's main focus should have been on winning the game, but as was mentioned, you CAN'T let teams go around hitting your goalie like Kadri did, nor can you let them run around beating on your young stars like Granlund.

Clayton Stoner did some particularly hard checking on players and Kyle Brodziak did as well...particularly after the Granlund hit.

Mikko Koivu did some pushing, shoving and snarling as well...he even went after Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf at one point.

Kudos to those guys.

As for Yeo's commentary, I know he probably was trying to say the right things, but I have to wonder if in the back of their minds, his players were wondering who exactly he was trying to convince that the team isn't 'as tough as Toronto'.

Yeo's name came up several times as the blame for much of Minnesota's lackadaisical play the past couple seasons, so he best be careful he doesn't try to be so PC with the media that he loses his own players' respect!

A team like Toronto with guys like Kadri, Phaneuf, Orr, Fraser, and Franson, just to name a few, ARE indeed  tough team...but Minnesota does have players that can match them...and do it within the confines of the game..and even go a little outside the lines if need be: Konopka, Prosser, Scandella, Niederreiter, along with the aforementioned Stoner, Brodziak, and Koivu.

Some of those guys may not be 'classic' goons, but plenty tough they are. Frankly, I'd be a little offended by Coach Yeo's comments if I were a player in the Minnesota locker room.

Sorry, got off thread topic a bit.

Kadri, I am thinking, should get at least 5 games minimum. 

Again, two major infractions in the same game, one of which took the goalie Backstrom right out of the game.

If the NHL wants to be taken seriously as a league in regards to its player safety and intolerance for caveman play, then they will do something about this, pronto.

I wonder if a team like the Flyers or Islanders would have enough to put a package together to get Miller.

I know Philly has zero cap room, so they most likely would have to shed some salaries in order to fit, then try to re-sign Miller (perhaps include some high contracts under team control in any trade for him?).

Islanders, meanwhile seem to be slowly but surely moving in the right direction skater-wise, but how much longer can they continue to rely on Nabokov?

Plus the Isles have more room under the cap to fit Miller...will have even more after this season.

Just throwing that out there.

Hoping for a speedy recovery.

He has youth and conditioning on his side, so if he somehow made it back in time to help the Lightning seal away a playoff spot, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

In the meantime, it is time for the vets on the team to really step up their game, and some of the younger guys to grow up just a bit quicker.

Jon Cooper said it best and I agree: this is a team game and there is much talent here!

Also, it was mentioned, while Stamkos is a HUGE reason this team goes, he is NOT the whole team, and there are many other reasons in the forms of other players as to why this team has turned things around thus far.

Hey, if Crosby can be injured, then come back and help bolster his team late in the season, so can Stamkos.

Get well, Stammer!

Not so sure where Buffalo goes from here or how long it will take this franchise to get back to a respectable compete level, but SOMETHING had to be done with not only the previous management group, but the attitude overall on the team.

Ted Nolan IS known as a players' coach, a guy not afraid to tell it like it is, and a guy who won't settle for anything less than 100 % effort and caring on the part of his players.

Couple Nolan's gritty, workmanlike mindset with LaFontaine's more finesse and eye for a talent based franchise, and the Sabres may have the makings of something good going here.

Make no mistake, this franchise WILL lose a whole lot more before all is said and done...these coach and GM firings are just the tip of the iceberg most likely.

There probably needs to be a cleansing of the clubhouse in terms of not only salary, but more importantly, 'dead weight' in the attitude department if this team is to move forward once again.

Stamkos had successful surgery today and though his status is being listed as 'out indefinitely', there seems to be hope that he may heal faster than normal, due to his age and fantastic physical condition.

Lightning fans can only hope!

well, if Downie is his usual self, he could be the spark the Flyers need to finally get that offense going the way they are supposed to.

Also, you KNOW the Sens will try to bait Downie at every opportunity, so he needs to keep his wits about him and realize when a guy like, say, Chris Neil, is trying to take him off the ice.

Lecavalier and Downie, former teammates on the Lightning, should enjoy some familiarity and that should help on the ice.

Craig Anderson? He is the wild card here...when Craig is at his best, he is a brick wall and a show stealer...very underrated goaltender.

But will he be? 

I agree with @brelic , if you are the Flyers, test him early and often.

Jackets move to the East will most definitely help them stay fresher as the season wears on, however, the bottom line is, the team STILL has to play with intensity, play above and beyond their opponents, and continue to develop top talent and make smart decisions at the FO level, if they want to be consistent contenders year in, year out.

The Metro Division SHOULD be an overall tough one (though right now, it isn't looking that way), with teams such as the Pens, Flyers, Rangers, Devils and Capitals in there.

Those are teams that one wouldn't expect to struggle for very long, and in some cases, DO have the financial resources to get the help they need from elsewhere to bolster their lineups.

Columbus being 'small market' for hockey, just has to be smarter with their player development, make smart investments long term for certain players, and just match other teams' will to win.

If they do that, I see no reason why this club can't compete regularly and make the post season....especially this year, when the Metro is looking a bit down, with the possible exception of the Pens.

Good teams start with their goaltender and the Jackets are well covered there with Bob..even though he currently may not be matching his outstanding season from last year.

Columbus needs to carve out their identity, create and stick with a gameplan every time out, and they should be fine.....less travel or not.

With the nice collection of decent players on the team (and the youth), the advantage of less travel may very well work in their favor as the season comes to a close, but they just need to bring it every night for it to matter at that point.

@TropicalFruitGirl26

 

Welcome!

 

Nice post.  Granlund and Pomminville have found some  good chemistry together.  Having second line scoring with regularity is key.for the Wild's success this season.

Thanks for the welcome, @hf101 (surprised there isn't an "introduction thread" here...unless I missed it..    ).

For sure, secondary scoring will be key for Minnesota, though to be honest, goalie health (both Harding and Backstrom have been known to need stretches of time off) and smart defense will play  just as big a role in any success the Wild may have this season and beyond.

I look for Granlund to eventually become that number one center Minnesota has been lacking forever it seems like.

And I say "lacking a number one" because, while I do like Mikko Koivu, and believe he brings A LOT to this team, I never have, and just never will, consider him a true number one center.

And I have caught all kinds of heat from rabid Wild fans over that last statement, but I've watched the guy since he came up to the league and he is, on his best day, better suited to either a regular second line center, or even a scoring/crashing/grinding third line, provided one can find two big wingers who are capable of about 15-20 goals apiece.

And that is where Granlund comes in.

No, he doesn't have to be the number one guy now, but I am thinking that is where Minnesota should be directing his development for beyond this season.

I think the guy could have very easily gotten discouraged after a less-than-impressive debut...but he didn't. He just went to work, did what he needed to do, made the adjustments he needed to and now the rest will come with experience, IMO.

Jason Zucker seems to be in the position now that Granlund was in last season.....whether he makes the same necessary adjustments as Granlund will remain to be seen, but for the here and now, Mikael can just continue to work steadily to being "The Guy" on the team down the road.

And once again, this is NOT to discount Mikko Koivu as top center on the team (Mikko has even been seen on the bench seemingly mentoring young Mr. Granlund), its just that I believe on any other Stanley Cup-caliber team, Mikko would be a very good number two, or an elite number three.

Well, we will see now what this Lightning team is REALLY made of now.

Sure, losing a player the calibur of Stamkos is a huge blow no matter how you slice it....but if the team is to be a true contender, then Stamkos cannot be the be-all, end-all on this hockey team.

TB has lots of other players who have all made huge strides over the past couple seasons and continue to do so, and while no current single player is Stamkos-calibur at the moment, as a group, there is much talent, ability, and determination here to still make this a successful season.

The Bolts were pretty bad last season and it was because of poor defense, poor goaltending, and a 'soft' style of play...that has all seemed to change this season, and while they will be losing a lot of offense with no Steven Stamkos, there are still guys on the team who can score goals, while defense, goaltending and tenacity can carry you quite a ways as well.

Let's not forget that the Bolts also had Keith Aulie and Sami Salo not return during that game as well.

Aulie is a developing shut down defenseman, while Salo of course, brings much experience and a great d-man to have on the PP....hopefully, those two won't be out for too long.

But just like the Stamkos loss, if those two are out for any length, guys just have to step up....no feeling sorry for anyone, just guys that will get opportunities, more ice time, a callup or three...whatever the case.

Seems Stevie Y is constructing this team with depth in mind...well, that will be put to the test in the coming weeks.

Get well Stamkos...you will be missed....and hurry back Aulie and Salo....but this team should have guys that can step in and hold the fort, if not replace, those lost to injury.

Whether that is Drouin coming up, Barberio getting more ice time, Johnson, Labrie, Killorn, Panik all getting more responsibility, or a callup like a Mike Angelidis, JP Cote, or a Dana Tyrell....guys are simply going to have to grow up a bit faster and continue to work towards the playoffs.

Shame for this guy DiPietro.

He really is a talented goalie that just simply couldn't stay healthy enough to help his former Islanders team...nor live up to the mega contract he was signed to.

In fact, I seem to recall, when DiPietro came on the scene, many comparisons between he and Marty Brodeur were made:

Both could be counted on to carry a team, both were good sized, mobile goalies, both could read opposing rushes and get set accordingly, and both handled the puck in such a way that they were almost like having a third D-man on the ice.

Obviously, the difference in their careers, other than the Devils having deeper defensive teams in front of Brodeur as opposed to the Isles defensively-challenged squads, has been health.

Brodeur had been able to stay on the ice and play, DiPietro has not.

I am hoping DiPietro can stay  healthy enough to get a legitimate shot at an NHL comeback.

Even if it means he spends the rest of the season in the AHL getting his legs back under him, his conditioning, and his gameday reactions back.

If he can manage to stay healthy making a run with the Checkers, chances are his talent could carry him to have either the Canes or some other team calling for his services come 2014-15...really, the guy is only 32, not like he is aged out of the goalie market.

That all said, since his health has been his biggest nemesis, one shouldn't hold their collective breaths that THAT will change anytime soon.

Uphill battle for DiPietro for sure.

Gotta go with Alex Burrows as well...good combination of ability and agitation.

Marchand is a good pick as well.

Had he stayed in the NHL, I think a VERY underrated super pest was Leo Komarov who was on the Leafs last season.

The guy always seemed to be able to draw a penalty without taking too many bad ones himself...mainly because he annoyed the holy crap out of the opposition all game long.

Oh, and the guy was VERY good in the face off circle as well.

As for future elite super pests, I don't know if I would go with Zac Rinaldo. Honestly, the guy IS a pest, but in watching him, I don't get the feeling he is a particularly bright one. The guy is more impulsive than calculating, and in the long run, he will be more of a liability to his team than an actual valuable agitator/fighter.

Now if he can tame his stupidity a bit (sorta like Steve Downie had) then perhaps.

Some other budding elite super pests: PK Subban (he may be there already!), and I'd even dare say the Lightning's Richard Panik...not many know about Panik, but the guy can play, he can be physical...AND he can be seen taking that extra shot or two at the opposing players...then acting surprised when someone facewashes him or takes a shot back at him.

An under-the-radar pest like Panik is slowly proving to be, can be quite valuable to a team loaded with offensive talent like the Lightning.

Mikael Granlund has grown by leaps n bounds since his debut last season.

It also helps that other Wild players on the forward lines have stepped up their games and/or have been consistent, allowing the young forward to adjust without the added pressure of "score now, play well NOW...or else".

That all said, he is learning to use his speed very well, is learning to trust his teammates, and even use his body (though not very large) as a missile when need be!

Also of note:

Last season, whenever Granlund was roughed up by the opposition, there would be very little in the way of retaliation from the team in support of him...that, thankfully has changed.

I am betting Granlund plays with a LOT more confidence knowing that if teams try to get in his face and off his game, his teammates will be there to support him in that manner.

Solid career for Granlund when all is said and done? Very possible...maybe even a bit more than just "solid".   ^_^

Great start by the Bolts, but still a long season ahead.

The team is showing many signs that Steve Yzerman does indeed know what he is doing (many were calling for his head during last season's shortened schedule...which is ridiculous), and he has gone about quietly building a big, mobile defense, while at the same time addressing the goaltending issues the team so desperately needed to have fixed.

I can see the youth on the team make some big time mistakes when playing seasoned teams the likes of the Pens and Bruins for instance, but really, if the team stays the course, it's nothing that can't be remedied.

Jon Cooper and his systems has been great for the team so far and having the team play with a bit more of an edge (and removing anyone who can't or won't play that way) has gone a long way to ensure other teams aren't pushing the Lightning around game in, game out.

I still am not happy that Vinnie Lecavalier isn't part of the seemingly resurgent Bolts, but then again, this was Stevie Y thinking ahead and knowing full well he has a compliment of young players he will need to pay to keep down the road and Vinnie's salary was simply a roadblock to that.

And for all intents and purpose, Valtteri Filppula has taken Vinnie's roster spot, and he has been excellent for the team.

No, Filppula won't be as physical as Lecavalier can be, but I've seen him playmake like nobody's business, and have also seen him stick handle in close quarters in ways that I don't believe Lecavalier could have.

Looking forward to seeing what else this team can do against more of the "big boys" in the Eastern Conference in the weeks and months to come.

Bolts beating the Blackhawks twice, the Blues, and the Wild was pretty impressive, however, the bottom line is, they need to be able to handle the elite EC teams....beating Detroit IN Detroit was a good start for that, but I wanna see this team really take it to the likes of Toronto, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa (yes, Ottawa IS better than their record currently indicates..mark that!).

Keep it going Tampa Bay!