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Post by jimmy on Jun 4, 2007 9:30:25 GMT -5
Kind of a weird weekend in the Q ... very few trades and no big names got moved, not even many solid overagers.
The Cats really left me scratching my head ... still have too many overagers, way too many forwards (especially if Brown, MacAusland, and Samuels-Thomas all report), no depth in goal, and a sketchy looking blueline.
I think Nick Emmanuele's chances of sticking just went up ... all we have on defense is Pianosi and Barberio, who are clearly locks, an uninspiring trio of 19 year olds in Goyens, Ouskun, and Tolles, who look likely to stick due to a lack of other options, and the possibility of rookies Dimitruk and Firlotte. Best case would be that we add two euro d-men and Tommy Cross to this group ... but I am not going to hold my breath.
Up front, I count as many as 16 forwards who are either returning vets and/or locks to make it if they show (Brown, MacAusland, Samuels-Thomas) ... it seems doubtful they would carry three OA forwards just as a numbers game up front ... perhaps they are seriously continuing going with Sniderman and Riopel again this year?
I know I dismissed the idea of a euro goalie earlier ... but as I think of it, assuming we could get a NHL drafted euro goalie - we could bring him in to split time with Riopel in the first half - and then deal him to a goalie starved contender at Xmas time ...
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Post by MacKevin on Jun 4, 2007 9:43:50 GMT -5
Kind of a weird weekend in the Q ... very few trades and no big names got moved, not even many solid overagers. The Cats really left me scratching my head ... still have too many overagers, way too many forwards (especially if Brown, MacAusland, and Samuels-Thomas all report), no depth in goal, and a sketchy looking blueline. I think Nick Emmanuele's chances of sticking just went up ... all we have on defense is Pianosi and Barberio, who are clearly locks, an uninspiring trio of 19 year olds in Goyens, Ouskun, and Tolles, who look likely to stick due to a lack of other options, and the possibility of rookies Dimitruk and Firlotte. Best case would be that we add two euro d-men and Tommy Cross to this group ... but I am not going to hold my breath. Up front, I count as many as 16 forwards who are either returning vets and/or locks to make it if they show (Brown, MacAusland, Samuels-Thomas) ... it seems doubtful they would carry three OA forwards just as a numbers game up front ... perhaps they are seriously continuing going with Sniderman and Riopel again this year? I know I dismissed the idea of a euro goalie earlier ... but as I think of it, assuming we could get a NHL drafted euro goalie - we could bring him in to split time with Riopel in the first half - and then deal him to a goalie starved contender at Xmas time ... What about Boyle and Whalen from last year. They could enter into the defensive role here.
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Post by jimmy on Jun 4, 2007 9:55:21 GMT -5
Kind of a weird weekend in the Q ... very few trades and no big names got moved, not even many solid overagers. The Cats really left me scratching my head ... still have too many overagers, way too many forwards (especially if Brown, MacAusland, and Samuels-Thomas all report), no depth in goal, and a sketchy looking blueline. I think Nick Emmanuele's chances of sticking just went up ... all we have on defense is Pianosi and Barberio, who are clearly locks, an uninspiring trio of 19 year olds in Goyens, Ouskun, and Tolles, who look likely to stick due to a lack of other options, and the possibility of rookies Dimitruk and Firlotte. Best case would be that we add two euro d-men and Tommy Cross to this group ... but I am not going to hold my breath. Up front, I count as many as 16 forwards who are either returning vets and/or locks to make it if they show (Brown, MacAusland, Samuels-Thomas) ... it seems doubtful they would carry three OA forwards just as a numbers game up front ... perhaps they are seriously continuing going with Sniderman and Riopel again this year? I know I dismissed the idea of a euro goalie earlier ... but as I think of it, assuming we could get a NHL drafted euro goalie - we could bring him in to split time with Riopel in the first half - and then deal him to a goalie starved contender at Xmas time ... What about Boyle and Whalen from last year. They could enter into the defensive role here. Yes, I suppose they are part of the mix as well ... not the most exciting options, but I think they will have a shot in camp, and if they play well, could conceivably bump guys likes Tolles, Goyens, or Firlotte out of jobs... FAs will no doubt also be in the mix.
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Post by MacKevin on Jun 4, 2007 10:13:54 GMT -5
What about Boyle and Whalen from last year. They could enter into the defensive role here. Yes, I suppose they are part of the mix as well ... not the most exciting options, but I think they will have a shot in camp, and if they play well, could conceivably bump guys likes Tolles, Goyens, or Firlotte out of jobs... FAs will no doubt also be in the mix. Goyens cost us a 4th and a 6th in 2008. He has size and likes to pinch which I like. I admit he's out there on occasion but I think Flynn could really do something with him. Whelan cost us a 5th this year. He's suppose to be a big kid. Maybe? Lastly Boyle looked like he made it last year before he was injurred. If we only get 1 of these three who can get the job done then we will be alright. If we can get two then we will be more then alright and we probably have options and depth.
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Post by gongshow on Jun 4, 2007 11:21:56 GMT -5
I would look at bringing back Herr instead of keeping Goyens.
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Post by jimmy on Jun 4, 2007 11:31:07 GMT -5
If we only get 1 of these three who can get the job done then we will be alright. If we can get two then we will be more then alright and we probably have options and depth. I disagree - I think we are really thin on the blueline ... Excluding Emmanuele, we have: Barberio Pianosi Locks to be on the team for sure, but I think it is expecting a lot to plan on them being our top 2 d-men this season ... plus, they are almost certainly going to develop more slowly if not properly supported with one or two quality vets, which it appears they are not going to be. Ouskun Goyens Tolles Right now, the jobs are theirs to lose ... best case for these guys IMO is second pair defensemen, worst case would see them land on waivers. Boyle Whelan Firlotte Guys who could win a job with a strong camp ... I don't foresee any of them playing a role much beyond 3rd pair or 7/8 d-man in this coming season. Then we have the wildcards ... Tommy Cross, Simon Danis-Pepin, Demitruk, and the euros. IMO, to have a respectable blueline, we need at least one, if not two, top pair calibre d-men. Demitruk, as a 17 year old rookie, probably would not be ready for that role this season even if he does report. Danis-Pepin makes little sense to report, based on the key role that he is expected to have this year at Maine ... but for some reason, both Hodge and Paquette repeatedly mention him as a possibility, more often than the American guys - so perhaps there is a sliver of hope. Tommy Cross would be the guy to add - I can see him being a poor man's Keith Yandle for us next season. He will be a high NHL pick, whose alternative will be prep or USHL since he is not yet eligible for NCAA. Hopefully we can land an impact euro d-man ... Odds are any FAs will be depth guys moreso than high end guys.
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Post by MacKevin on Jun 4, 2007 11:46:47 GMT -5
You know I think the difference between what each of us are saying is that I don't expect the defense to be at a level other than a rebuilding/developing year. Barberio will be drafted and Pianosi reminds me of Welton. If we had two more than we would have the Presidents Cup level defense. Considering we've had no drafts for years, we've done suprisingly well. So I would like to get a Euro Defenseman or Two and let the others rise to the occasion. I still think the Goyen has it within him to play a only little smarter and be twice the defenseman he is now. Flynn could do that with him.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on Jun 4, 2007 11:52:56 GMT -5
I would look at bringing back Herr instead of keeping Goyens. Herr can't play defense in the Q, he's a one dimensional player and not that great at that dimension.
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Post by SteveUL on Jun 4, 2007 12:09:19 GMT -5
I would look at bringing back Herr instead of keeping Goyens. Herr can't play defense in the Q, he's a one dimensional player and not that great at that dimension. I think Goyens can be just as tough as Herr ... he has shown a willingness to mix it up ... and he is easily a better Dman. Herr would fight anybody ... but didn't beat many ... lucky punched Manson ... split two fights with Garland ... got KO'd by Saulnier ... and a couple of beatings at the hands of Cormier ... wasn't all that impressive as a fighter ... but his willingness and courage was appreciated.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on Jun 4, 2007 12:15:53 GMT -5
Herr can't play defense in the Q, he's a one dimensional player and not that great at that dimension. I think Goyens can be just as tough as Herr ... he has shown a willingness to mix it up ... and he is easily a better Dman. Herr would fight anybody ... but didn't beat many ... lucky punched Manson ... split two fights with Garland ... got KO'd by Saulnier ... and a couple of beatings at the hands of Cormier ... wasn't all that impressive as a fighter ... but his willingness and courage was appreciated. The "enforcement" should be handled by Lamoureux this year. He's bigger than Herr, has more skill and is 18.
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Post by SteveUL on Jun 4, 2007 12:22:36 GMT -5
I think Goyens can be just as tough as Herr ... he has shown a willingness to mix it up ... and he is easily a better Dman. Herr would fight anybody ... but didn't beat many ... lucky punched Manson ... split two fights with Garland ... got KO'd by Saulnier ... and a couple of beatings at the hands of Cormier ... wasn't all that impressive as a fighter ... but his willingness and courage was appreciated. The "enforcement" should be handled by Lamoureux this year. He's bigger than Herr, has more skill and is 18. Somehow I'm not that excited having a rookie handle our enforcement. I remember Luke Pelham who came in with a tag of being tough ... it took him 3 yrs to figure out how to stand up for more than 2 secs in a fight. Most tough guys have to spend a year taking their lumps and learning the role before they can be considered as a bonafide enforcer. Pelham went to Jr A to figure it out.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on Jun 4, 2007 12:27:59 GMT -5
The "enforcement" should be handled by Lamoureux this year. He's bigger than Herr, has more skill and is 18. Somehow I'm not that excited having a rookie handle our enforcement. I remember Luke Pelham who came in with a tag of being tough ... it took him 3 yrs to figure out how to stand up for more than 2 secs in a fight. Most tough guys have to spend a year taking their lumps and learning the role before they can be considered as a bonafide enforcer. Pelham went to Jr A to figure it out. Pelham was also 185lbs...Lamoureux is 215-220lbs. There are also Whelan and Little in camp that played Jr.A at 17.
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Post by SteveUL on Jun 4, 2007 13:32:27 GMT -5
Somehow I'm not that excited having a rookie handle our enforcement. I remember Luke Pelham who came in with a tag of being tough ... it took him 3 yrs to figure out how to stand up for more than 2 secs in a fight. Most tough guys have to spend a year taking their lumps and learning the role before they can be considered as a bonafide enforcer. Pelham went to Jr A to figure it out. Pelham was also 185lbs...Lamoureux is 215-220lbs. There are also Whelan and Little in camp that played Jr.A at 17. If Lamoureaux is 220 he'll need to lose some weight.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on Jun 4, 2007 13:37:13 GMT -5
Pelham was also 185lbs...Lamoureux is 215-220lbs. There are also Whelan and Little in camp that played Jr.A at 17. If Lamoureaux is 220 he'll need to lose some weight. Why is that?
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Post by jimmy on Jun 4, 2007 13:47:11 GMT -5
I would think with the number of forwards in camp, Lamoureux is going to be in tough to make the team - he will have to quickly establish himself in pre-season games as a tough guy capable of putting a pounding on guys ... otherwise, I would think the edge would go to a guy like Whelan who plays defense, where we have much less depth.
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