Around the league part 2

[YP44]

Kyle Clifford and Kurtis MacDermid both scoring beauties this pre-season while our 4th line has yet to be seen.

Do you think Clifford makes it?

 

[kingsholygrail]

Do you think Clifford makes it?

All the way to his next concussion.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Do you think Clifford makes it?

People on the Toronto board are starting to say Clifford>Reaves especially considering he's half the price.

Reaves was the big fancy name on the market that's an elite fighter and yaps a lot. Not a good hockey player.

 

[King'sPawn]

Imagine your first and second overall picks looking this mediocre 3 and 4 years after the draft with as much pro-experience they've had.

If there's a team worse than LA at developing forwards, it's the Rangers.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Lucky ass Chicago

 

[bmr]

Did you guys see that Vilardi pass to set up the Connor goal? Dude is still gonna be a stud this year. Dubois definitely doesn't have those hands and hockey IQ.

 

[ZJames]

Did you guys see that Vilardi pass to set up the Connor goal? Dude is still gonna be a stud this year. Dubois definitely doesn't have those hands and hockey IQ.

I had finally figured out how to cope and come to terms with the fact that our best young forward got traded away, and you go and re-open the wound.

 

[bland]

Imagine your first and second overall picks looking this mediocre 3 and 4 years after the draft with as much pro-experience they've had.

If there's a team worse than LA at developing forwards, it's the Rangers.

When you try to do two opposing things at once you are neglecting aspects of both.

Developing top picks while trying to contend immediately with the very roster that earned those top picks plus a couple of flashy free agents isn't going to work. You are dulling both sides of the blade.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Don’t half ass two things. Whole ass one thing.

 

[Fishhead]

Did you guys see that Vilardi pass to set up the Connor goal? Dude is still gonna be a stud this year. Dubois definitely doesn't have those hands and hockey IQ.

All that based on one pass in a pre-season game? Righto.

Look, me and RJ have been pretty much the leaders of the Vilardi fan club/hype train for years, but Gabe will never have PL's shot, release, and hands. His vision and passing can be ridiculous at times.

Watch this, it will make you feel better:



Then, realize he was even better last year. It's going to take him a bit to settle in, but he's a pretty damn great player.

 

[Telos]

Did you guys see that Vilardi pass to set up the Connor goal? Dude is still gonna be a stud this year. Dubois definitely doesn't have those hands and hockey IQ.

I would say it is one of the riskiest dice rolls Blake has made and will take time to cope with and, of course, see how it plays out. Vilardi is a fan favorite with the way he fought back and earned his way onto the roster and became a top 6 player, but his injury history and fragility still scares me. I have a feeling if Turcotte did the same thing somehow, Blake would make the same move over again if he can.

Also, we haven't seen enough of PLD yet. We don't know how well he will mesh in LA, but his numbers speak for themselves honestly. PLD has a little bit of what Frolov used to have in that he isn't flashy or very fast and is pretty simple and straightforward which gives kind of a lazy appearance to him, but he does a lot of things right. He is a huge guy, creates space, gets the shot and the pass off, and wills offensive zone time. I think the trade will work out honestly, but the jury is still out if he can maintain his 60-70+ point production in LA...

 

[AbsentMojo]

All that based on one pass in a pre-season game? Righto.

Look, me and RJ have been pretty much the leaders of the Vilardi fan club/hype train for years, but Gabe will never have PL's shot, release, and hands. His vision and passing can be ridiculous at times.

Watch this, it will make you feel better:



Then, realize he was even better last year. It's going to take him a bit to settle in, but he's a pretty damn great player.

Im sure PLD will be fine.. still there will be withdrawal symptoms from losing a team drafted player that rose from the ashes last year to show his tremendous ability... another symptom of the divided approach from the org.

 

[Fishhead]

Im sure PLD will be fine.. still there will be withdrawal symptoms from losing a team drafted player that rose from the ashes last year to show his tremendous ability... another symptom of the divided approach from the org.

Losing Vilardi is brutal, he was turning into a cult hero. But if I trade him, a guy like PLD is who I'm gonna want in return. There is no doubt that PLD is a better player, I actually think he's Vilardi's upside.

I wouldn't have made the trade, I like Vilardi too much. But we did get the best player in the deal. For me it was more about what Gabe brings for his dollar value (which is great) vs. his health risks (which aren't great).

 

[bland]

Losing Vilardi is brutal, he was turning into a cult hero. But if I trade him, a guy like PLD is who I'm gonna want in return. There is no doubt that PLD is a better player, I actually think he's Vilardi's upside.

I wouldn't have made the trade, I like Vilardi too much. But we did get the best player in the deal. For me it was more about what Gabe brings for his dollar value (which is great) vs. his health risks (which aren't great).

Trading a homegrown, cost-controlled player who projects to have similar production at half the price is just bad business. When you have to include your most toolsy winger and a recent top pick as well, you are a mark for that player.

Dubois is a 60-70 point range offensive player in a league where top players are now expected to be near the century mark. Now if he and Fiala gel I could easily see both in the 80s, but that is still top dollar for B+ production at ridiculous costs.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Losing Vilardi is brutal, he was turning into a cult hero. But if I trade him, a guy like PLD is who I'm gonna want in return. There is no doubt that PLD is a better player, I actually think he's Vilardi's upside.

I wouldn't have made the trade, I like Vilardi too much. But we did get the best player in the deal. For me it was more about what Gabe brings for his dollar value (which is great) vs. his health risks (which aren't great).

Yes but for probably twice the AAV this made it impossible to plug the goalie disaster he created... dont want to reopen the debate really.. but this trade is going to sting for awhile.

 

[Brodeur]

First wave of waiver wire fodder went through. Columbus claimed goalie Spencer Martin which made some sense as they only had three goalies under contract. But I'm not sure if they're intending to keep him as a backup or they think they can sneak Daniil Tarasov (1.05 mil cap hit) through waivers.

Mildly surprised that former 2018 1st rounder Ty Smith cleared. He has defensive warts but thought a rebuilding club like Arizona, Anaheim, or Chicago could have him as roster filler while other prospects played in the AHL. But I suppose he's an undersized dman who isn't necessarily a PP1 upside guy either.

 

[King'sPawn]

Yikes. Not NHL, but still. Making him captain after he was kicked off another team for racially bullying a teammate?

 

[YP44]

Yikes. Not NHL, but still. Making him captain after he was kicked off another team for racially bullying a teammate?

I am born in Red Deer, have lived there a few times, and like going back. Wish the best for the city but there is defiantly a shit load of racisim there. Been told there is an active KKK club in Penhold which is just south of Red Deer.
Point is this will not bother most in Red Deer. Likely, most citizen and rebel fans will say, "he is young and deserves a second change". Not to be captain IMO. How is that captain material .

 

[ru4reals]

Lucky ass Chicago

F*** that franchise for all they did and still got Bedard after 16 years of Patrick Kane and 3 cups. And this kid looks like he's going to be better than Kane. Absolute horsesh*t. Okay got that out of my system but yeah eff the Hawks.

 

[bland]

I am born in Red Deer, have lived there a few times, and like going back. Wish the best for the city but there is defiantly a shit load of racisim there. Been told there is an active KKK club in Penhold which is just south of Red Deer.
Point is this will not bother most in Red Deer. Likely, most citizen and rebel fans will say, "he is young and deserves a second change". Not to be captain IMO. How is that captain material .

Degens from up country?

 

[Steve Zissou]

F*** that franchise for all they did and still got Bedard after 16 years of Patrick Kane and 3 cups. And this kid looks like he's going to be better than Kane. Absolute horsesh*t. Okay got that out of my system but yeah eff the Hawks.

I'm just glad I won't be seeing highlights from Bedard in a Ducks jersey every f***ing week for the next 2 decades.

 

[ru4reals]

I'm just glad I won't be seeing highlights from Bedard in a Ducks jersey every f***ing week for the next 2 decades.

True that!!!

 

[Herby]

Imagine your first and second overall picks looking this mediocre 3 and 4 years after the draft with as much pro-experience they've had.

If there's a team worse than LA at developing forwards, it's the Rangers.

Laf was older for his draft too. That makes it look even worse.

Sadly, just as with Byfield and Turcotte, if you are a top 5 pick and you aren’t an impact player by now, the odds of you ever becoming one are very small. There are a few outliers (you don’t have to PM me, Axl), but for the most part, that’s just a fact.

Drafting isn’t an exact science, but you just can’t get so little when you are picking 2 & 1 in back to back drafts.

I'm just glad I won't be seeing highlights from Bedard in a Ducks jersey every f***ing week for the next 2 decades.

The Ducks picked 2 for both Crosby and Bedard, we definitely dodged some bullets. I am still shocked they passed on Fantilli, I can’t really comment on Carlsson, but Fantilli was probably the best freshman player I’ve ever seen, that includes draft eligible and D+1 freshman.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Poor Jonathan Quick is getting lit up yet again, giving up 3 goals in the 1st period.

 

[Trash Panda]

Poor Jonathan Quick is getting lit up yet again, giving up 3 goals in the 1st period.

Love the fire to compete, but his body just cannot support that playing style any longer.