I mean to a lot of people Emberson was just a throw in, but if Emberson can come in and put up close to Ceci's impact he had on the team then it's a massive steal and a big question mark to why SJ would've did this trade.Emberson has a lot of the raw talent and instincts that you really like to see in a dman. Hopefully he’s got the work ethic to go along with it because if he’s willing to put in the work with Coffey I feel like he could be a steal.
As Stanley cup contenders, yes I’m gonna go out of limb and say that we do need a legit top 4 dmanLooking at projections on yahoo for this season, Emberson can lead the league Dmen in hits this season with 250+
A little unexpected
That's fine, we have Stecher and Brown for 3rd pairing already and need someone to gel with Nurse. Doesn't have to be a legit top 4 Dman..
Not sure why waiver material Podz is considered expected starter and guys like Hoffman that can actually score are not. My lord I despise split squad NHL preseason. Theres no point to it beyond selling tickets. Sure dismal watching it.Listening to Knoblach yesterday, it sounds like all the NHLers should be playing 4 games and so far the only expected "NHLers" that have played 2 games are J Brown, Ryan, Podkholzin and Emberson.
Over 4 games that's 48 foward games available and 24 defense games available.
With 12 forwards essentially locked up and Ryan and Podkhozin already having 2 games, That means at least 34 of the forward games are already claimed with 14 games to be divied up between the long shots.
With the 7 dmen expected and Emberson and Brown already having 2 games, that means that likely 19 games are claimed (or at least 16 if Nurse can't go). This leaves 5-8 games available for long shots (or to give Brown/Emberson/Stetcher a 5th look).
So that's how I'm forseeing the splits from here on out. I suspect we'll be seeing 5 or 6 of the likely 7 dmen in each of the games and 9 or 10 of the likely forwards in each game, with a slight chance that the game in Seattle next week potentially featuring a little less of each ( ie. 4-5 dmen and 7-9 forwards).
Personally I'm hoping they go with at least 2 of the 3 expected top 3 lines playing in every game fully in tact and all 3 of the top 3 lines dressing in the final pre-season game building chemistry towards Game 1.
I would be surprised if he was able to do as well as Ceci, why would San Jose give up a player like that at his age?I mean to a lot of people Emberson was just a throw in, but if Emberson can come in and put up close to Ceci's impact he had on the team then it's a massive steal and a big question mark to why SJ would've did this trade.
The real problem is fans and critics have him pencilled in as the number 2 RD because there seems to be no other option and that might be unfair.
I do wonder if Kulak is a better fit on the right side than Emberson. Be very interesting to see if it gets any looks as truthfully he might be the best option. Just don't know if Kulak on right side can work
I haven’t fully wrapped my head around whether Grier is good or bad so there is that lolI would be surprised if he was able to do as well as Ceci, why would San Jose give up a player like that at his age?
Hoffman can shoot but that’s it. The guy is brutal in every other aspect of the game. If we wanted a shot I’d rather keep Lavoie up who has some size and is 10 years younger.Not sure why waiver material Podz is considered expected starter and guys like Hoffman that can actually score are not. My lord I despise split squad NHL preseason. Theres no point to it beyond selling tickets. Sure dismal watching it.
Here is to hoping they are just mismanaged, you never know I guess.I haven’t fully wrapped my head around whether Grier is good or bad so there is that lol
Anytime I've seen Podz he's pretty awful. Just wondering why he's a shoe in. He was a complete bust in Vancouver.Hoffman can shoot but that’s it. The guy is brutal in every other aspect of the game. If we wanted a shot I’d rather keep Lavoie up who has some size and is 10 years younger.
Not sure why waiver material Podz is considered expected starter and guys like Hoffman that can actually score are not. My lord I despise split squad NHL preseason. Theres no point to it beyond selling tickets. Sure dismal watching it.
Just going by the verbal nothing more. I don't think Podz should be automatic, but I'm also not convinced Hoffman is. So then change my numbers by a bit if you want, but I also think it's not going to change the number of games available to others as they are very likely to give Podz at least 2 more regardless.Anytime I've seen Podz he's pretty awful. Just wondering why he's a shoe in. He was a complete bust in Vancouver.
Lavoie hasn't had any luck around net and I like him, but he needs to finish something and stay healthy. Something off with him.
One player is a PTO, the other cost the team a 4th round pick to acquire. I doubt the Oilers traded a pick for Podkolzin if they weren’t going to at least give him some regular season games before making a final decision on him.Anytime I've seen Podz he's pretty awful. Just wondering why he's a shoe in. He was a complete bust in Vancouver.
Doesn't need to happen til trade deadline. We should test drive Stecher, Emberson and Brown now that we have signed them.As Stanley cup contenders, yes I’m gonna go out of limb and say that we do need a legit top 4 dman
We might not get the luxury of waiting until the trade deadline. I can see a scenario at the start of the year where our defence is a massive problem.Doesn't need to happen til trade deadline. We should test drive Stecher, Emberson and Brown now that we have signed them.
Also we went to SC finals with Bouchard, Ceci ,Desharnais as our right side.
One is an established goal scorer, consistent goal scorer at highest level of hockey. The other hasn't established or excelled at any level of hockey. Podz wasn't even doing much in the AHL. Vancouver got something for Podz because he was waiver material anyway.One player is a PTO, the other cost the team a 4th round pick to acquire. I doubt the Oilers traded a pick for Podkolzin if they weren’t going to at least give him some regular season games before making a final decision on him.
I wasn't refuting your post, just whether Podz is a shoe in. Hope the team isn't giving him an automatic spot.Just going by the verbal nothing more. I don't think Podz should be automatic, but I'm also not convinced Hoffman is. So then change my numbers by a bit if you want, but I also think it's not going to change the number of games available to others as they are very likely to give Podz at least 2 more regardless.
One is an established goal scorer, consistent goal scorer at highest level of hockey. The other hasn't established or excelled at any level of hockey. Podz wasn't even doing much in the AHL. Vancouver got something for Podz because he was waiver material anyway.
Again just wondering why a guy who couldn't even make the Nucks lineup is considered a shoe in on a much better club. Podz hasn't demonstrated he's a role player either. He hasn't had any niche in NHL.
But one guy plays a game that is well suited to the 4th line or bottom 6 role in general and the other pretty much needs a top six complementary scoring role and pp time to have any positive impact. Even in his good days the knock on Hoffman was that other then shooting the puck he was going to be a liability on the ice. He does not pass the puck well and is generally poor defensively.One is an established goal scorer, consistent goal scorer at highest level of hockey. The other hasn't established or excelled at any level of hockey. Podz wasn't even doing much in the AHL. Vancouver got something for Podz because he was waiver material anyway.
Again just wondering why a guy who couldn't even make the Nucks lineup is considered a shoe in on a much better club. Podz hasn't demonstrated he's a role player either. He hasn't had any niche in NHL.
Yeah. The trouble is those are facets that are not hard to actually roll out for a player that has those assets. But Podz not scoring and not producing seems to have set him in a perennial funk where it erases any game he might have. Its odd because even a Puljujarvi would consistently hit and play the boards when not scoring. Its not impossible to do those things. Its really the first thing you should do when the scoring runs dry. Its my take with Podz career that when his scoring runs dry (always) his whole game does.He hasn't demonstrated it yet, but he has the package to become that player. He's quick, a bit ratty, works hard on the boards, can win races on the forecheck, and has enough skill to score a bit here and there.
It's all there, but I think it might be a case of having to flip his mindset away from being a scoring, top 10 pick player to embrace making an impact as a role player. Remains to be seen whether that will happen or not, but he has the package to do it IMO.
Podz hasn't demonstrated he can play bottomsix. Not at this level or he'd be there and for sure a coach like Tochet would have him there if he could. Theres not even been a demonstration of willngness from Podz to do that.But one guy plays a game that is well suited to the 4th line or bottom 6 role in general and the other pretty much needs a top six complementary scoring role and pp time to have any positive impact. Even in his good days the knock on Hoffman was that other then shooting the puck he was going to be a liability on the ice. He does not pass the puck well and is generally poor defensively.
Podz hasn't demonstrated he can play bottomsix. Not at this level or he'd be there and for sure a coach like Tochet would have him there if he could.
Yeah I get that the only thing Hoffman does is score. But its not like that is an insignificant part of hockey. I'd rather keep a guy like Hoffman around if we need somebody to jump into topsix or 2nd PP unit. Disagree that Hoffman can't pass a puck. he's quite adept at cycle.
Hoffman has made atleast 2 very sneaky passes off the wall directly to an open teammate on the powerplay in this pre-season, I dont know if I would call him a poor passer.But one guy plays a game that is well suited to the 4th line or bottom 6 role in general and the other pretty much needs a top six complementary scoring role and pp time to have any positive impact. Even in his good days the knock on Hoffman was that other then shooting the puck he was going to be a liability on the ice. He does not pass the puck well and is generally poor defensively.
I've watched Hoffman a lot over the years both in Ottawa and in Montreal. He tends to simply hold onto the puck until he shoots once he gets it if he can get the shot off right away. It's always been the knock on the player. When he is not scoring he has been a liability on the ice.Hoffman has made atleast 2 very sneaky passes off the wall directly to an open teammate on the powerplay in this pre-season, I dont know if I would call him a poor passer.
One is an established goal scorer, consistent goal scorer at highest level of hockey. The other hasn't established or excelled at any level of hockey. Podz wasn't even doing much in the AHL. Vancouver got something for Podz because he was waiver material anyway.
Again just wondering why a guy who couldn't even make the Nucks lineup is considered a shoe in on a much better club. Podz hasn't demonstrated he's a role player either. He hasn't had any niche in NHL.
btw with how the Oilers draft a 4th round pick is nothing. May as well be 7th round or crumbs.