Confirmed with Link: Devils sign Ryane Clowe (5 Years $4.85M AAV)

[Bleedred]

The league is "faster" now though

Trade Elias straight up for Grabner. GET FASTER

Grabner is overrated because of the speed he possesses. I would rather have the guys we got today. I think some Devils fans have a high opinion of him, because every time we play them he seems to have at least one shorthanded breakaway chance against us.

This team isn't super slow, well we got some slow guys on the back end. Tallinder when he's on, is actually one of the faster guys back there. When you got big guys like Zubrus and Clowe, they aren't gonna be fast anyway. Speed is kind of overrated. I'll take an old slowster like Elias who plays the game the right way over a speedster who has no other assets.

 

[Devils Trap]

Did you see how much trouble their transition game gave Boston? Their back end was extremely quick with Keith, Oduya and Leddy most notably. Then you look at their forwards who were a bunch of thoroughbreds, including the 4th line (Frolik, Kruger) that was lightning fast. Puck pursuit and quick transition is the name of the game today.

You just wont give in. Its just hilarious. Speed is important but its no where near as important as you think. If you can play hockey, you can play. Speed is soo over rated in the NHL its ridiculous

 

[AfroThunder396]

I wonder what Max Afinogenov is up to nowadays? Maybe we could bring back Geoff Sanderson as well, that guy was quick as hell.

 

[Devils Trap]

I wonder what Max Afinogenov is up to nowadays? Maybe we could bring back Geoff Sanderson as well, that guy was quick as hell.

We already have Tedenby in the minors. No need for that. How bout Oduya, wasnt he a fast skater ?? Maybe Nieds will come out of retirement ???

 

[Tundra]

You just wont give in. Its just hilarious. Speed is important but its no where near as important as you think. If you can play hockey, you can play.

I have a simple question for you. Would you choose a team that could play a variety of styles or a one-dimensional type? High quality skaters is a luxury that most GMs crave for that very reason. You're don't want to be boxed in playing dump and chase on the perimeter.

 

[Scott04]

I have a simple question for you. Would you choose a team that could play a variety of styles or a one-dimensional type? High quality skaters is a luxury that most GMs crave.

But not at the expense of skill. Skill guys that are fast are more desirable than skill guys who aren't fast. Skill guys vs. fast guys is a different ball game and you don't seem to grasp that.

 

[Devils Trap]

I have a simple question for you. Would you choose a team that could play a variety of styles or a one-dimensional type? High quality skaters is a luxury that most GMs crave.

Why does the style matter ??? If you are a good hockey player GMs will want you. You make it seem like GMs are all over fast skaters, no they are after players because they get the job done. Look at the top FA this year, is there really anyone who is a speed burner (And dont say Stalberg because he isnt a top player at all.)

 

[VaxjoDevil]

Chicago's speed was definitely decisive in winning the cup. Their speed and precision in their regrouping was just incredible.

 

[Tundra]

Chicago's speed was definitely decisive in winning the cup. Their speed and precision in their regrouping was just incredible.

And it's very much a copycat league.

 

[apice3*]

I don't know why you guys even bother arguing with him.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Boston had trouble with Chicago's transition game because Boston's defense is much worse than most people are willing to admit. They play fantastic team (i.e. "layered") defense, but Krug, McQuaid, Boychuk, and Ference are simply not great at shutting down forwards.

Still blowing my mind that Edmonton signed Ference for so much...

 

[BrodeursCups]

I have a simple question for you. Would you choose a team that could play a variety of styles or a one-dimensional type? High quality skaters is a luxury that most GMs crave.

If I'm a GM I have a vision for how my team is assembled and what identity it's going to possess. It starts with the coach and goes through the dude scrubbing the toilets after a game at the rock. We've seen teams with a wide range of identities lift the cup since the lockout. No exact blueprint for it. You don't need blazing speed all over the lineup and, let's be honest, it's not a huge focal point in Deboer's system. Lou is bringing in players that are going to mesh and thrive in PDs system.

 

[Tundra]

Why does the style matter ??? If you are a good hockey player GMs will want you. You make it seem like GMs are all over fast skaters, no they are after players because they get the job done. Look at the top FA this year, is there really anyone who is a speed burner (And dont say Stalberg because he isnt a top player at all.)

I'm saying there bare prerequisites for footspeed in this league. And the threshold is increasing with every year. Colton Orr's career was almost ended because he couldn't keep up. He trained his ass off and refined his stride.

 

[Devils Trap]

Like seriously. According to your argument some GMs would take Tedenby over Clowe or Grabner over Elias because they are faster

 

[Tundra]

Like seriously. According to your argument some GMs would take Tedenby over Clowe or Grabner over Elias because they are faster

I'm not saying that. There are roles on every team that need to be filled. I wouldn't create a team composed solely of 37 year old playmakers or 25 year old burners. But a roster must be versatile. You can't get away with a team composed of slow, plodding players anymore.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Speed only matters when you're not in position.

Andy Greene can skate like a god damn maniac when he wants too, but he relies on his superior gap control and anticipation skills to be in the correct position to make a play.

This team made it to the Cup Finals with half of it's offense coming from a 36 year old Elias, a lower body-less 34 year old named Petr Sykora, and a 35 year old Lithuanian bulldozer. LA didn't have a coast-to-coast offense either.

 

[Tundra]

Speed only matters when you're not in position.

Andy Greene can skate like a god damn maniac when he wants too, but he relies on his superior gap control and anticipation skills to be in the correct position to make a play.

This team made it to the Cup Finals with half of it's offense coming from a 36 year old Elias, a lower body-less 34 year old named Petr Sykora, and a 35 year old Lithuanian bulldozer. LA didn't have a breakneck offense either.

Speed creates time and space in the offensive zone. And it's vitally important in puck pursuit situations.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Speed creates time and space in the offensive zone. And it's vitally important in puck pursuit situations.

So does hockey sense and playmaking ability. There isn't one way to construct a successful team.

 

[Tundra]

Speed only matters when you're not in position.

Andy Greene can skate like a god damn maniac when he wants too, but he relies on his superior gap control and anticipation skills to be in the correct position to make a play.

This team made it to the Cup Finals with half of it's offense coming from a 36 year old Elias, a lower body-less 34 year old named Petr Sykora, and a 35 year old Lithuanian bulldozer. LA didn't have a coast-to-coast offense either.

Our fastest line, that being the 4th line was arguably our most important during that playoff run.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Speed creates time and space in the offensive zone. And it's vitally important in puck pursuit situations.

So does cycling and forechecking, things our +30 year old dinosaurs and "glorified grinders" excel at.

There's more than one way to build a championship team. Just because Chicago won the Cup while being fast doesn't mean that all other ways are invalid.

 

[apice3*]

Your points are getting more and more ridiculous as you go on. Somehow people keep taking the bait.

 

[VaxjoDevil]

Speed only matters when you're not in position.

Andy Greene can skate like a god damn maniac when he wants too, but he relies on his superior gap control and anticipation skills to be in the correct position to make a play.

This team made it to the Cup Finals with half of it's offense coming from a 36 year old Elias, a lower body-less 34 year old named Petr Sykora, and a 35 year old Lithuanian bulldozer. LA didn't have a coast-to-coast offense either.

Actually the offense came a lot from a fourth line that skated with fresh legs.

 

[AfroThunder396]

CBGB was neither our fastest nor most important line

They were successful because they were relentless on the forecheck, caused turnovers, and were very good at crashing the net.

What they DID do was give us the ability to roll four lines, which let us grind our opponents into submission.

 

[BrodeursCups]

Speed creates time and space in the offensive zone. And it's vitally important in puck pursuit situations.

No. Big bodies like Zubrus and Clowe dominating the cycle in the O zone are what creates time and space.

Crosby isn't circling the perimeter in the O zone and hot dogging, he's always deep and creating space for himself by being absolutely amazing at bouncing off contact...probably the best in the league at it.

 

[VaxjoDevil]

Take away Hagelin's speed and see what's left. The argument that speed is not important, where did that come from? Of course it is. Some players depend on it, some manage without.