PerreaultForever

Ya, I'm watching this one. Not sure how long the injured Bruins will be out for but with this D line up and goaltending they have right now we could beat them.

Hope you're right. All I know is I will be cheering for whoever they play against.

"Truculence" lol Bummed about the Leafs getting Foligno. They are legit contenders now and I hate them.

Merzlikins yes, Riitich no.

Well that was fun. Nice to be able to watch hockey again. The more of the old we get rid of the better we get..........................

Demko 5 years 5 mil per. I think that's the comparable. Personally I think Demko is a little better but we need him so over paying to the same level would be okay and would give UPL proper development time. That's what I would offer and if he takes it great, if not trade him and tell his agent we can talk again in free agency. Don't do what JBot did with Skinner.

That's definitely true. The expansion rules were very different and they certainly got nothing but scraps. Nothing like the Vegas situation. Still, nobody forced California to trade those picks and they did it numerous times. There's a lot less stability these days and expectation for quick results so you don't see many teams commit to long term vision. You do that and I think you could still have a lot of success. You get a GM worried about his job now he just might give you first rounders from 2, 3 or 4 years from now for that immediate help and you can win big down the line, but you need a patience and a long term plan that few teams if any would do these days. This all comes from us giving up a 1st for Montour. It drifted into a discussion of the folly of trading away 1st round picks.

Well it was easier for sure, but the philosophy still holds. maybe the modern genius is Sakic. That Ottawa Nashville trade was genius. among others.

I think this idea is jumping the gun a little. The season was already over and with Kreuger's firing a cloud and weight were lifted so Granato played the kids and opened it up so it looks better. It's faster, more entertaining, more goals, but there's still tons of mistakes. These guys are playing loose, but that's not a winning formula really. Maybe wait until we see how they handle the Bruins who will need their wins against us to hold onto the playoffs. Also remember it's the return f Ullmark as much as anything that has kept some of this closer or led to a win. If he'd been here all season it wouldn't have put us in the playoffs, but it might have won us a few. The Dahlin thing will be interesting to see. He came in too fast with a desperate team and didn't learn his defensive fundamentals early with a slow easing in as it should have been and then he struggled as they tried to make him more defensively responsible and now he's let loose and on the surface it seems better but the question will be if any of that defensive teaching stuck or can be built on. If not, he's going to end up like Gardiner was in Toronto. Big points producer but a total liability come playoff time. I'd rather not follow that path.

Definitely seems to be the case. Creative, but a little sketchy and it it sets a precedent the league might change the rules in the future. maybe. Tampa definitely a contender again if they weren't already. Columbus looks like they are going to go rebuild so Torts might be available season end after all.

Oh I know all too well. I wasn't happy when we did it. Between JBot and Murray we squandered so many picks it's ridiculous. Hence where we are. I subscribe to that old Sam Pollock philosophy of acquiring as many firsts as you can always thinking forward and never trading firsts away. The way he built a dynasty pillaging those California Golden Seals was legend.

Never liked his game, glad he's gone but a 3rd isn't much. Oh well, better than nothing.

lol, ain't that the truth. My kids were born in the '90s. I've heard of him but he doesn't mean anything to me. Just one of many.

Not horrible. That wasn't Washington's A game though. They were coasting a little after their Boston game I think. Tokarski showed us why he's spent most of his career outside the NHL. Still, it's more fun to watch now then it was earlier in the year.

Expiring contract so this is much ado about nothing. Just a body to fill a hole. probably means a likely trade is for pick(s) and not players.

Ya, I'd be fine with that too, but we're not getting that much and the longer we wait the less we will get.

He is an elite player. But he's also a lazy player. When he wants to he can be really good. He just doesn't seem to care all too often.

I actually think that was a pretty equal game by two teams that are both far from being good. We beat them now they beat us. This stuff is more fun to watch than earlier but we still have most of the same problems and make the same mistakes. One thing to think about though regarding Ralph and his system. Everybody's noticing how Dahlin looks better now but are they also noticing how Risto is back to being awful?

idk, Rolston was pretty bad. I blame Steve Smith for the D problems. I suppose ultimately the head coach takes the blame but weren't we all praising him last year for fixing Risto? I think it likely Kreuger was a fraud. Like a motivational speaker a talker but not a doer. He convinced everyone with his words but really didn't have the coaching skills to deal with the players he had. Ultimately he was a bad fit for these players and they didn't or couldn't adapt to his style. If you don't change them you have to change him simple as that. I'm not convinced yet it's all fixed. the O numbers are up for guys like Dahlin but the D side is still in question. We still need to see how this plays out against the good teams. and Skinner still needs to start scoring. What's his excuse?

Bad yes, in many ways, but some promising signs and trends. It doesn't matter what we think though it's the perception up top. If TP thinks it's improved we will be staying the course.

This is true, but it was also a different era. I thought Palmeri would go to the Bruins. Guess not.

One thing I was thinking though is assuming there is a good deal on the table, we might be better off to make it. If he doesn't play this year (or doesn't play much) and the team is improved as we see signs of and they go with Granato as coach and this is the course, the expectation is add Eichel back in and we will be so much better than this even. And if it is, fine, but if it's not. If the wheels start to fall off again we're right back where we were and we will get less for him as he demands out. Results will have to be immediate. On the other hand if we trade him and build on what's on the ice now plus the new assets you might retain a greater sense of building hope. idk. Depends on the offer imo.

He is a clone of his dad though isn't he? Same rat bastard get you from behind or when you're down kind of guy. I guess if he'd stayed a Sabre I'd be okay with him as you do when you're a fan but as a player on another team I can't stand the guy.

I would suspect our best deal would be a conditional one. You know, like we get a second and some prospect but it ups to a first if they go several rounds in the playoffs or he gets X number of points or some such thing. With his play this year I'm not sure anybody's going to gamble on him for a first. and we have to retain salary of course.

Kind of hoping the recent goals have upped Montour's value and we will move him as well.