Player Discussion: The Elvis Thread

[majormajor]

Not on their PK. They've been atrocious for most of the playoffs. Kulak and Nurse have been gawd awful on simple clearing attempts.

Hmmm…..Kulak is scary in his own zone and Klingberg, once a decent offensive player but not now, was scratched. Bouchard can move the puck and Ekholm is a quite competent DMan with above average puck skills though not great. Aside from past game Nurse is a guy who I see as a generally inconsequential high paid player prone to some good play but gaffes as well. It’s not a group beyond the top pair that does much for me (though Walman has flashed some).

After the elite top pair I like Walman - Nurse - Kulak as a 3-4-5. That's really good. They do look on the rough side right now, that's the Florida forecheck effect where the normal pass options are all getting taken away. But relatively to how most D do in that situation, I like that group. They often beat the forecheck. They were excellent through the first three rounds too.

On the PK, yes they've been brutal, but that's more to do with the gaps under the high forward. The group has lost its form. This same group was excellent on the PK a year ago, they didn't yield Florida any PP goals, if I remember correctly. That's how fickle PP's are.

What does this have to do with Calvin Pickard's numbers? Not much in my opinion. He's long established as a replacement level goalie.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

An organization that is serious about winning will not have Elvis on their roster. 52/54 in save % (.890) of goalies who have played more than 75 games in the last 3 seasons and his 51/54 gaa (3.50) would be automatic disqualiers for him to be kept on the roster of any NHL team who wants to win.

There isn't a worthy metric that exists that makes any case for keeping him around. The arguments against buyout are lame.

Once the CBJ move on from him, he'll not even play 50 more games in the NHL. He'll be back in Europe within 2 years.

I predict that Elvis will not be a member of the CBJ past June 30th since I believe the CBJ are committed to winning. That is when the buyout window closes.

Is Edmonton not serious about winning because the ran with Pickard and Skinner this season?

How many times have they been in the playoffs (7 times) and even made the finals (2 times) in the last 10 years with a cast of rotating short term hacks in goal?

I get being impatient and wanting to be in "win now" mode but there are different levels of winning. This team CAN make the playoffs with an Elvis and Jet tandem if they make appropriate improvements elsewhere. They can also miss the playoffs without Elvis on the team. I believe GMDW is focused on improving in other places first.

The next step is improving to get into the playoffs and be consistently competitive in the regular season. Months like March after the outdoor game cannot happen. Then we worry about going deep. Edmonton shows it can be done with below average goaltending. Being a better team to make the playoffs and Elvis being or not being on the team are not mutually exclusive.

I believe they are committed to winning but Elvis still being on this team after June 30 doesn't change that belief.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

After the elite top pair I like Walman - Nurse - Kulak as a 3-4-5. That's really good. They do look on the rough side right now, that's the Florida forecheck effect where the normal pass options are all getting taken away. But relatively to how most D do in that situation, I like that group. They often beat the forecheck. They were excellent through the first three rounds too.

On the PK, yes they've been brutal, but that's more to do with the gaps under the high forward. The group has lost its form. This same group was excellent on the PK a year ago, they didn't yield Florida any PP goals, if I remember correctly. That's how fickle PP's are.

What does this have to do with Calvin Pickard's numbers? Not much in my opinion. He's long established as a replacement level goalie.

I used Pickard as a throwaway example. Somehow or another you seem to think that I'm suggesting a Pickard acquisition. I haven't. But for the record I'd take him over Elvis any day of the week.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

I used Pickard as a throwaway example. Somehow or another you seem to think that I'm suggesting a Pickard acquisition. I haven't. But for the record I'd take him over Elvis any day of the week.

I think that was my point. You seem willing to throw Elvis out for just another warm body regardless if it is an actual improvement or not.

I want to see actual improvements if we are going to make replacements happen.