sampler
Registered User
- Aug 3, 2018
- 490
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I'd certainty welcome it, he's basically the exact player we need right nowBtw, I’m still holding hope for Tyson Barrie!
Raffi Torres was a point per game player during his last season in the NHL, not all samples are large enough to be meaningful when assessing a player's value as a scorer, let alone when you have to ignore the other obvious warts in their gameFeels like we're just talking in circles here. You say Laine is a bum who hasn't produced at a high level since his first couple of seasons, I provide data to show he's basically a PPG player over the last 3 seasons and now you say there's too many unknowns. Round and round we go. I guess at this point, we'll just have to see how Laine does this year. I think he's going to surprise you (and a lot of others, apparently).
Deangelo has been figured out, not only is he one of the worst defensive players in the league, he doesn't provide high enough caliber offense to offset it and teammates hate him enough that his own backup goalie punched him in the face, absolutely do NOT wantDeangelo is another high risk high reward option out there.
I don't think the Sharks have the right locker room for him either, but calling him a headcase due to mental issues is just beyond f***ed. That headcase is already more successful than you will ever be hodgy.Even if Laine wasn't an enormous defensive liability, why would we bring a confirmed headcase into the locker room while trying to integrate two young franchise cornerstones into professional hockey? And we're supposed to give up assets do this when he makes 9 million a year?
Torres was a hell of a player though anyways. If he didn't essentially get ran out/injured out of the league, he'd have still been effective.I'd certainty welcome it, he's basically the exact player we need right now
Raffi Torres was a point per game player during his last season in the NHL, not all samples are large enough to be meaningful when assessing a player's value as a scorer, let alone when you have to ignore the other obvious warts in their game
For the record, I also don't think the Sharks should give up assets to pay me $9M/yr to play for them.I don't think the Sharks have the right locker room for him either, but calling him a headcase due to mental issues is just beyond f***ed. That headcase is already more successful than you will ever be hodgy.
If he wasn't such a dirty POS he would have been a beloved depth scorer like a Joel Ward was for us, guy had a knack for scoring big goals in big moments, he just also had a brain-seeking missile in his shoulder padTorres was a hell of a player though anyways. If he didn't essentially get ran out/injured out of the league, he'd have still been effective.
eh the Sharks locker room would have a lot of good things to offer for someone like Laine. We don't have any real expectations or spotlight. We don't have a coach that draws attention to themselves or lashes out in a public manner like Torts. We don't seem to have a group of established players that would require him to conform in some manner. He could just be himself and play and see what happens. For someone looking for a fresh start, that's a pretty sweet setup to walk into.I don't think the Sharks have the right locker room for him either, but calling him a headcase due to mental issues is just beyond f***ed. That headcase is already more successful than you will ever be hodgy.
Torres was a hell of a player though anyways. If he didn't essentially get ran out/injured out of the league, he'd have still been effective.
At this point, I'd really just rather see the team give Mukhamadullin a shot this year to see how he can contribute. #1 offensive d-man? I mean, no, not this year--but he's got some talent in that regard and I'd love to see him start to show what he might have to offer in that regard. Certainly more than I'd want to see a 33-year-old Barrie or, god forbid, Tony Deangelo.Sharks need a #1 offensive dman. Their success the last two decades was largely based on having Boyle or burns in the lineup. Yes, they had much more support from ehrhoff to Blake but they had a clear #1. Barrie is obviously not that caliber but he is a 50 pt dman when healthy. Deangelo is another high risk high reward option out there.
What’s the worst that can happen if you give barrie 1 yr 3m? It’s not like he takes a roster spot from a clearly upcoming rookie. Ruuta, pickles, Benning, are all the past. Emberson, mukh and Thrun are the possible future but none are ready to be top guys yet.
Barrie, if healthy, gives the sharks a real pp threat and a vet. Worse case scenario he gets injured (cost 3m but who cares) or he sucks defensively on a clearly weak team, woopdidoo!
Best case, he rocks it and the sharks actually compete or he’s dealt for a solid pick at the deadline.
I see no real downside.
I'm more concerned what the lack of a true puck moving PP1 option dman will do to our young forwards, it's very likely to stifle their production and likely to hinder their confidenceAt this point, I'd really just rather see the team give Mukhamadullin a shot this year to see how he can contribute. #1 offensive d-man? I mean, no, not this year--but he's got some talent in that regard and I'd love to see him start to show what he might have to offer in that regard. Certainly more than I'd want to see a 33-year-old Barrie or, god forbid, Tony Deangelo.
I'm not too concerned about that. Our power play was pretty solid in the second half of last season, and that was without Toffoli (not that he's a puck-moving option, but he should still help) and now you can add Celebrini and Smith to the mix.I'm more concerned what the lack of a true puck moving PP1 option dman will do to our young forwards, it's very likely to stifle their production and likely to hinder their confidence
I've never been a huge fan of Barrie, he's a very limited player, but he has a long history of producing on top power play units with talented forwards, the element he does bring is one of the things we're most in need of at this very moment, I think he'd be an incredible addition
A PP1 of:
Toffoli-Celebrini-Eklund
Smith-Barrie
That has the potential to be legitimately productive while our young guys learn on the fly
I think their top unit going into preseason will probably end up being Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli with Thrun and Smith on the points. And if Thrun doesn't contribute as they want, they'll go with five forwards and have Granlund in his spot.I'm not too concerned about that. Our power play was pretty solid in the second half of last season, and that was without Toffoli (not that he's a puck-moving option, but he should still help) and now you can add Celebrini and Smith to the mix.
There's enough talent available overall there that it shouldn't be some terrible, damaging experience.
I think the top PP will be Celebrini-Toffoli-Eklund-Smith-Granlund.I think their top unit going into preseason will probably end up being Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli with Thrun and Smith on the points. And if Thrun doesn't contribute as they want, they'll go with five forwards and have Granlund in his spot.
I forgot about Walman. Walman will probably be in there over Thrun.I think the top PP will be Celebrini-Toffoli-Eklund-Smith-Granlund.
Maybe Walman will be on the point with his shot. Also I doubt Bords makes the Sharks team but if he does it is probably to play on the PP1 as he was a big factor in that PP ending the season so strong.
It’s amazing how now that we have Celebrini everyone seems to forget how good of a prospect Smith is. Smith has a greater offensive ceiling than Celebrini and is probably right now a better offensive PP playmaker than Celebrini. He should not be an afterthought playing 3rd line with low skill bottom 6 wings and he should be on the 1st PP unit instead of resigned to the wasteland the 2nd unit will be.Yeah, I think it'll be more like
PP1
Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli
Granlund-Walman
PP2
Zetterlund-Smith-XXX (flavor of the week, Bords, Wennberg, Kostin, Dellandrea, Kunin god help us)
Thrun-Benning or Thrun-Emberson
And the wildcard is whether Mukh can make the squad at some point and play LD on PP1 or 2, pushing the F out and balancing the lines a bit better.
Really not great when you look at the depth without Couture (who I still believe won't play 10 games this year). It'll still be a struggle of a year.
Maybe. Prospects don't immediately become PP1 players automatically. Maybe he takes Eklund's place, maybe he's a 5th F, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on PP2 and I will be surprised if he starts on PP1.It’s amazing how now that we have Celebrini everyone seems to forget how good of a prospect Smith is. Smith has a greater offensive ceiling than Celebrini and is probably right now a better offensive PP playmaker than Celebrini. He should not be an afterthought playing 3rd line with low skill bottom 6 wings and he should be on the 1st PP unit instead of resigned to the wasteland the 2nd unit will be.
There’s no disrespect in putting 19 year old Will Smith on PP2.It’s amazing how now that we have Celebrini everyone seems to forget how good of a prospect Smith is. Smith has a greater offensive ceiling than Celebrini and is probably right now a better offensive PP playmaker than Celebrini. He should not be an afterthought playing 3rd line with low skill bottom 6 wings and he should be on the 1st PP unit instead of resigned to the wasteland the 2nd unit will be.
Just the fact that Smith is right handed almost guarantees him pp1 time. Your pp1 with 4 left handed players and Toffoli would be a disaster.Maybe. Prospects don't immediately become PP1 players automatically. Maybe he takes Eklund's place, maybe he's a 5th F, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on PP2 and I will be surprised if he starts on PP1.
We'll see. Glad to see you came out of hiding to share your glorious salt with us all!Just the fact that Smith is right handed almost guarantees him pp1 time. Your pp1 with 4 left handed players and Toffoli would be a disaster.
Just like the Bordeleau (LH), Eklund (LH), Granlund (LH), Thrun (LH), and Zetterlund was a disaster?Just the fact that Smith is right handed almost guarantees him pp1 time. Your pp1 with 4 left handed players and Toffoli would be a disaster.