not to change the subject, but what are your thoughts on waiving benning and sending him down?
He seems god awful and not an nhler. I wonder if Thompson would be better? And when mukh is healthy, he might be too?
Yeah, I think Ekblad is a pretty unrealistic target anyway, Florida can't afford to lost him after losing Montour and OEL last summerIf Ekblad is willing to sign here you give him whatever contract he wants. Can't see Florida letting him go while they're trying to win another Cup.
Agreed on walman and Ceci. Agreed in walman particularly too….I doubt Benning gets waived? It’ll likely be Thrun/Benning being cycled in.
Walman and Ceci have looked good, Walman particularly, having Muhk in the top 4 would be hugely helpful.
Benning has been god-awful for his entire Sharks tenure and has no future. I would be happy to see the back of him.not to change the subject, but what are your thoughts on waiving benning and sending him down?
He seems god awful and not an nhler. I wonder if Thompson would be better? And when mukh is healthy, he might be too?
Yeah, I think he’ll be tough to pry. Grier might need to trade for a number one like DW did with Boyle, burns, and karlsson.Yeah, I think Ekblad is a pretty unrealistic target anyway, Florida can't afford to lost him after losing Montour and OEL last summer
They're going to give him a big contract but it will be less than everybody thinks so he can stay with the team that picked him #1, that he won a cup with and where he pays no state income tax, it'll be ugly in the back half but that's tomorrow's problem
Not sure if they fit him in after giving out necessary big extensions to Verhaeghe, Lundell, Furlong, and Reinhart (in addition to Barkov and Tkachuk already signed). I guess Bobrovsky's huge cap hit will be off the books soon though.If Ekblad is willing to sign here you give him whatever contract he wants. Can't see Florida letting him go while they're trying to win another Cup.
Thompson can be afforded the opportunity to prove that he's better without putting Benning on waivers. The same goes for Mukhamadullin. If the team thinks Muk is healthy, they ought to reassign Thrun to activate him.not to change the subject, but what are your thoughts on waiving benning and sending him down?
He seems god awful and not an nhler. I wonder if Thompson would be better? And when mukh is healthy, he might be too?
Ultimately, I think they'll have to choose between Bennett and Ekblad. Really will be a fascinating decision.Not sure if they fit him in after giving out necessary big extensions to Verhaeghe, Lundell, Furlong, and Reinhart (in addition to Barkov and Tkachuk already signed). I guess Bobrovsky's huge cap hit will be off the books soon though.
I'd pick Ekblad if I was Florida...Lundell can step into the 2C role and they already invested a lot of money into 5 forwards whereas the defense behind Furlong is pretty bad. If Ekblad has a bad year whereas Bennett has a good one, maybe that calculus changes though.Ultimately, I think they'll have to choose between Bennett and Ekblad. Really will be a fascinating decision.
Personally, I think Bennett is the right play. Ekblad seems like he's held together with duct tape at this point.I'd pick Ekblad if I was Florida...Lundell can step into the 2C role and they already invested a lot of money into 5 forwards whereas the defense behind Furlong is pretty bad. If Ekblad has a bad year whereas Bennett has a good one, maybe that calculus changes though.
My goodness that 2nd unit is bad.
I don't honestly understand why they just wouldn't put Will on that first PP. Right now he's expected to be the focal point on PP2 where as on the first unit he could slowly adapt to understanding the system without being the main piece.My goodness that 2nd unit is bad.
Completely agree. As has been stated several times, this is a development year, the players all on PP1 are all better players than Smith at the moment but again isn't the main goal here to help develop Smith? Smith's creativity and playmaking can be best displayed on the power play with more space and time. It is also a great opportunity to boost his confidence making plays on the PP and earning points there. The second unit that Smith is playing with is abysmal, basically a checking line, I expect all of their zone entries would be rims around the board or dump and chases. It sucks but I would replace Zetterlund on PP1 for Smith, less points on the season for Zetterlund = cheaper next contract and keep Granlund on PP1 to raise his trade deadline value and Smith+Eklund get to develop and improve with PP1 time.I don't honestly understand why they just wouldn't put Will on that first PP. Right now he's expected to be the focal point on PP2 where as on the first unit he could slowly adapt to understanding the system without being the main piece.
Safe to say Gushchin isn't coming back in tomorrow night.My goodness that 2nd unit is bad.
Sure seems like they're not setting up Smith for success
Who are you taking off that top unit for Smith? It's funny when people act like Gushchin's AHL stats entitle him to a job in the top six (he did everything they asked of him!!) but Zetterlund scoring 24 goals in the NHL doesn't entitle him to a spot on the top PP unit.Sure seems like they're not setting up Smith for success
Seems like a coaching mistake
I would personally spread the talent out on the 2 powerplays.Who are you taking off that top unit for Smith? It's funny when people act like Gushchin's AHL stats entitle him to a job in the top six (he did everything they asked of him!!) but Zetterlund scoring 24 goals in the NHL doesn't entitle him to a spot on the top PP unit.
There's not enough talent to spread out over 1 power play unit let alone 2. With Macklin out we have maybe 4 guys who belong on a NHL power play.I would personally spread the talent out on the 2 powerplays.
I'd swap Smith in for Granlund. I know Granlund is the better player right now, but I want to see what Smith can do, and that gives him Zetterlund and Toffoli as snipers.Who are you taking off that top unit for Smith? It's funny when people act like Gushchin's AHL stats entitle him to a job in the top six (he did everything they asked of him!!) but Zetterlund scoring 24 goals in the NHL doesn't entitle him to a spot on the top PP unit.
Granlund will not be on the next good Sharks team - odds are he will be out of the league. With Celebrini out, moving Smith to PP1 for development purposes is a no-brainer.I'd swap Smith in for Granlund. I know Granlund is the better player right now, but I want to see what Smith can do, and that gives him Zetterlund and Toffoli as snipers.
Thrun, grandlund, toffoli, Zetterlund, wennbergThere's not enough talent to spread out over 1 power play unit let alone 2. With Macklin out we have maybe 4 guys who belong on a NHL power play.
Granlund is far and away our best PP player. I feel like this would just neuter both units.I'd swap Smith in for Granlund. I know Granlund is the better player right now, but I want to see what Smith can do, and that gives him Zetterlund and Toffoli as snipers.
This is a ridiculous way to run a NHL bench. You don't just bump your best offensive forward off PP1 "for development purposes." Maybe in March after you've sold at the trade deadline but not in Game #3.Granlund will not be on the next good Sharks team - odds are he will be out of the league. With Celebrini out, moving Smith to PP1 for development purposes is a no-brainer.