|
Post by jimmy on Apr 24, 2007 9:20:46 GMT -5
Looking at next year's team, we have a logjam building up front, and precious little on the blueline.
Returnees at forward - right now pre-trades, likely three overagers, plus Maclellan, Lepage, and Eagles, Cameron, Labelle, Lessard, and Brenton. That is ten guys right there, add in Watson, and probably Sill. Not to mention a guy like Hayes, who is by no means a sure thing to report. Plus any new picks ...
We have two euros coming in, and history indicates it is easier to find impact forwards than d-men in Europe ... have to figure at least one of our euros will be a forward.
I wonder if we might see a surprise trade where we deal one or more quality 18 or 19 year old forwards for a defenseman of the same age and comparable quality?
|
|
|
Post by Cristobal Huet on Apr 24, 2007 9:27:23 GMT -5
Looking at next year's team, we have a logjam building up front, and precious little on the blueline. Returnees at forward - right now pre-trades, likely three overagers, plus Maclellan, Lepage, and Eagles, Cameron, Labelle, Lessard, and Brenton. That is ten guys right there, add in Watson, and probably Sill. Not to mention a guy like Hayes, who is by no means a sure thing to report. Plus any new picks ... We have two euros coming in, and history indicates it is easier to find impact forwards than d-men in Europe ... have to figure at least one of our euros will be a forward. I wonder if we might see a surprise trade where we deal one or more quality 18 or 19 year old forwards for a defenseman of the same age and comparable quality? I think, if they are smart, they should only keep 2 20 year old forwards and deal for an top 4 20 year old d-man. That would help transition Barberio and Pianosi...also I think you'll see an Euro d-man and/or a d-man with the 1st or 2nd rounder. You forgot Brannon up front also.
|
|
|
Post by jimmy on Apr 24, 2007 9:33:38 GMT -5
Looking at next year's team, we have a logjam building up front, and precious little on the blueline. Returnees at forward - right now pre-trades, likely three overagers, plus Maclellan, Lepage, and Eagles, Cameron, Labelle, Lessard, and Brenton. That is ten guys right there, add in Watson, and probably Sill. Not to mention a guy like Hayes, who is by no means a sure thing to report. Plus any new picks ... We have two euros coming in, and history indicates it is easier to find impact forwards than d-men in Europe ... have to figure at least one of our euros will be a forward. I wonder if we might see a surprise trade where we deal one or more quality 18 or 19 year old forwards for a defenseman of the same age and comparable quality? I think, if they are smart, they should only keep 2 20 year old forwards and deal for an top 4 20 year old d-man. That would help transition Barberio and Pianosi...also I think you'll see an Euro d-man and/or a d-man with the 1st or 2nd rounder. You forgot Brannon up front also. I did forget Brannon. He just adds to the logjam .. if he and Sill are in fact coming, and especially if the team manages to secure a commitment from Jimmy Hayes, I think they should seriously consider dealing one of Cameron, Labelle, Lessard, Eagles for an 18 or 19 year old defenseman. Edit: Don't get me wrong, I like all those players, but you can only have so many forwards ... and unlike some, I realize we are not going to get a quality defenseman by trading off our spare parts - you have to give quality to get quality ...
|
|
|
Post by SteveUL on Apr 24, 2007 9:34:48 GMT -5
That makes more of a case to only keep two 20 yr old forwards ... keep Emanuele ... and grab a high end (NHL drafted) Euro Dman.
A guy like Lepage may find that at 19 he doesn't have a spot ... unless he can bring a lot more than he did at 18. He has great speed that he under-utilizes ... minimal scoring ... he is gritty and seems to enjoy the rough going. But you can probably get all that from a 17 yr old. Brenton and Lepage are very similar although Lepage is grittier ... but Brenton brings better defensive awareness and PK ability ... and a year younger with the same amount of experience. If Morehouse is kept (getting hard to justify) then Lepage will be gone ... as he is redundant with Brenton and Morehouse playing the same game. Lepage's age and skill set work against him.
|
|
|
Post by jimmy on Apr 24, 2007 9:39:40 GMT -5
That makes more of a case to only keep two 20 yr old forwards ... keep Emanuele ... and grab a high end (NHL drafted) Euro Dman. A guy like Lepage may find that at 19 he doesn't have a spot ... unless he can bring a lot more than he did at 18. He has great speed that he under-utilizes ... minimal scoring ... he is gritty and seems to enjoy the rough going. But you can probably get all that from a 17 yr old. Brenton and Lepage are very similar although Lepage is grittier ... but Brenton brings better defensive awareness and PK ability ... and a year younger with the same amount of experience. If Morehouse is kept (getting hard to justify) then Lepage will be gone ... as he is redundant with Brenton and Morehouse playing the same game. Lepage's age and skill set work against him. I hear you - I think Lepage, given the opportunity, could be a 40-50 point guy in the Q next season ... but I don't know that he is going to get that opportunity in Moncton with the other guys we have lined up - he likely won't see much PP time. That being said, his trade value probably isn't sky high - we may get a mid-round pick for him, not much more. We could possibly deal a more highly touted guy and free up room for Lepage to assume his role (maybe Eagles??). Lepage is the kind of guy who is worth more to us than in a trade...
|
|