FrolikFan67
Registered User
- Apr 29, 2012
- 7,375
- 4,149
as this happens every season, friendly reminder that the regular season is long. Let the chips fall where they may. The regular season is not the playoff and they can turn it on. They started off fantastic. They have the talent and they know how to play, they’ll be fine, but I am eager for this rut to end.
Having said that, my main concerns a quarter into the season:
The losses of montour and OEL, and our 4th line being kinda useless. I’m not worried about Forsling, Ekblad, Mikkola, and kuli, but we need to find a replacement for montour. I think we were hoping Adam would take reigns and be a decent replacement and that hasn’t happened. Both Schmidt and balinskis are fine on the bottom pairing, even if they’re not OELs level I think they’re both very solid with one being on that bottom pairing (most likely Schmidt) and the other as the #7. But we need to find an offensive D for the 2nd line and they’re not easy to come by.
Nosek really doesn’t do anything for me aside from maybe being decent at face offs and that’s about it. I like Jesper but more in a top9 role as he gets bullied too easily along the boards, and Greer and gadjo don’t provide a whole ton other than being a big body. Lombo brought the physicality but also that unrelenting pressure and speed, he was like Taz. And Stenlund was one of the best 4th liners we’ve ever had.
Priority is to find a top4 offensive D. Improving everything else is secondary. I’d love chychrun but with how Washington is playing this season it’s unlikely right now that he’s traded at the deadline and who knows if he hits the open market. Fowler could be a possibility, however I prefer a right to play with mikkola if possible. I wonder if skeji in Nashville could be available and while we’ve always shown interest in Karlsson it’s almost impossible to make that salary work even with retention unless bob or knight are involved in some way
Having said that, my main concerns a quarter into the season:
The losses of montour and OEL, and our 4th line being kinda useless. I’m not worried about Forsling, Ekblad, Mikkola, and kuli, but we need to find a replacement for montour. I think we were hoping Adam would take reigns and be a decent replacement and that hasn’t happened. Both Schmidt and balinskis are fine on the bottom pairing, even if they’re not OELs level I think they’re both very solid with one being on that bottom pairing (most likely Schmidt) and the other as the #7. But we need to find an offensive D for the 2nd line and they’re not easy to come by.
Nosek really doesn’t do anything for me aside from maybe being decent at face offs and that’s about it. I like Jesper but more in a top9 role as he gets bullied too easily along the boards, and Greer and gadjo don’t provide a whole ton other than being a big body. Lombo brought the physicality but also that unrelenting pressure and speed, he was like Taz. And Stenlund was one of the best 4th liners we’ve ever had.
Priority is to find a top4 offensive D. Improving everything else is secondary. I’d love chychrun but with how Washington is playing this season it’s unlikely right now that he’s traded at the deadline and who knows if he hits the open market. Fowler could be a possibility, however I prefer a right to play with mikkola if possible. I wonder if skeji in Nashville could be available and while we’ve always shown interest in Karlsson it’s almost impossible to make that salary work even with retention unless bob or knight are involved in some way
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