7+6=13

Are you feeling well tonight?

Risto may be many things but meh is not one of them.

I really wish Sam would have skated towards the net instead of taking that shot.

I"ve been saying for a couple of years - you can win with a player like Risto.

I hate when he's nonchalant like that.

Ridiculous. If you're too tired be captain enough to tell the coach.

C'mon Jack, damn

I'd argue effort was never the biggest issue. We've been a young team or at least our best players are that did not know how to play NHL hockey. Bylsma came from Pittsburgh where they were full of seasoned vet's and Housley wasn't ready to be a head coach and certainly not of a young team. We have a teacher and it appears to be exactly what we needed.

I never saw a whole lot of relevance even though it was a little funny at the time. Hockey players train to develop specific strengths and a pull up doesn't really translate to anything a hockey player would do. My guess is he would truck most of us on the ice.

I can see why you would think that but when he starts talking hockey - it changes for me. I think he really knows what he wants the team to do and that for me is more than we've had in Bylsma and Housley.

Ralph Krueger: "When we moved the blue lines, it changed the game. You need to be much much more aggressive at the blue line than you used to be, so that entries become difficult. It begins all the way up in the offensive zone - where all defense starts. In the defensive zone itself it's about aggressiveness on the puck and the support behind that may be less of a man focus the further away from the initial pressure you are. It's not complicated but it's hard work." When I heard him talking - I knew this man knows how to teach the modern game.

Have to disagree with you there, kind sir. When we won Dahlin - our fortune changed. He is a freak of nature and I believe will soon be among the best in the league.

I have a real good feeling Krueger is the coach we've been hoping for.

Got to it fine in Charlotte NC

He was a featured story on Real Sports on HBO - If I remember right.

I"m perfectly fine with all of this. I think the majority agrees that we've wanted either the perfect partner or Risto off the first line for 2-3 years. We were gifted Dahlin and now we can finally put Risto in a better position. I love the idea of him running the 2nd PP - that's a positive. I respect your knowledge of the numbers/metrics and they've helped me see issues with him that extend beyond my eye test and limited hockey IQ. Let's agree that his physical play doesn't elevate him above a #4 - then lets also agree that it keeps him on the 2nd pair and that it helps the team.

Maybe I can say it a little differently. I'm ok with paying 5.4 mil (40th in the league) to a 24 year old Risto to be the #4 defenseman. I think he brings enough to see if reduced minutes, a better overall defense and hopefully a stronger 2nd and 3rd line offense can help his numbers get better.

I'm a fan of Risto. I think you can win with players like him. Do I think he's the smartest defenseman, no, but he does a lot of good things. I'm more than happy to pay him 5.4 mil for his services. I won't blame him for his +/-. He plays a ton of minutes on historically putrid offensive teams.

Wow, I never heard about this. Bizarre that a rookie would do something like that to a known veteran fighter. Could this possibly speak to the theory of Risto not being all that bright?

Oh my goodness no way. I'm looking forward to McCabe being in another teams sweater. We're getting closer. He's the exact defenseman the NHL is moving away from. The goofy, non athletic, no stick handling, non offense producing defenseman who can forecheck.

We are in desperate need for players that can put up 35 points. This is a good trade.

Just saw the Robert Cray Band - Friday night in Rock Hill, SC. They were excellent as always.

because he's right

Girgs doesn't produce but he plays like a man. The bottom of our lineup can't be all young players. If we can just put together enough skill around him - his line can take advantage of his willingness to work in the corners.

Our #1 center is better than theirs. At least we have that going for us.