A Pointed Stick
No Idea About The Future
- Dec 23, 2010
- 16,105
- 333
Personally, I'd welcome back Lubo. Love the person, and he still has a little game left in him, but it also wouldn't bother me if he wasn't brought back for whatever reason. This team is going to live and die on their top three (as far as defense anyway).
My guess is that he asked for 3 mil. He knows he'd need to take a pay cut but he doesn't want to come back if it's for league min.
Or he goes on unemployment at the end of next season. I would bring Viz back, just because of his skate around the Coliseum after the Washington win.Snow goes UFA or trade.
I would try to upgrade on Vis via the UFA market. If unsuccessful, I'd try to work something out with Vis. I don't think he's going to be a prime target on 7/1.
He'll get the coveted Martinek courtship, where your phone rings on August 3rd and you're just happy it's ringing at all.
Doesn't look likely that there will be much FA movement on our part per Staple. I can't for the life of me understand why the braintrust has decided the defense is contender-worthy, but they don't give me a vote, so I hope they know something (or many things) I don't.
With JB, NL, TH, CDH, and most likely TH guaranteed spots, and with GR, RP & SM on the farm...why would Garth go out and sign another D?
Because that defense still isn't very good, and defense (and defensive depth) proved to be a glaring weakness as the season wore on.
JB-Leddy - hey, that's pretty good!
CDH-Hamonic - half good
TH-Pulock - ¯\_ツ_/¯
I defer to the guys who pay close attention to prospects re: Pulock, but CDH and Hickey are solid bottom pairing guys (at the moment, anyway), which leaves us without a fourth to round out our top 4. Griff and Mayfield don't look or sound like they're ready to me.
We're one CDH injury away from Strait being an everyday player, and given CDH's fragility, that's not a longshot.
I agree that it still isn't very good, and that's my point...it ain't going to get better until the kids get some ice time...it's time to give someone a chance...
If they are not gonna bring Lubo back around 3M give or take money is clearly still an issue with this club.
I see KO being a great second liner if we ever get the talent to push him off JT's line. If he gets traded, it better be a stud coming back. Bolts lost the Cup because Tyler Johnson was driving the second line until his injury.Don't be surprised if Snow is looking to lose Okposo's salary to bring in a solid defensive defenseman. He's surprised me this past year and I think he sees the teams weakness. It ain't scoring.......
I agree that it still isn't very good, and that's my point...it ain't going to get better until the kids get some ice time...it's time to give someone a chance...
Because that defense still isn't very good, and defense (and defensive depth) proved to be a glaring weakness as the season wore on.
JB-Leddy - hey, that's pretty good!
CDH-Hamonic - half good
TH-Pulock - ¯\_ツ_/¯
I defer to the guys who pay close attention to prospects re: Pulock, but CDH and Hickey are solid bottom pairing guys (at the moment, anyway), which leaves us without a fourth to round out our top 4. Griff and Mayfield don't look or sound like they're ready to me.
We're one CDH injury away from Strait being an everyday player, and given CDH's fragility, that's not a longshot.
Money is an "issue" for every club. You use it wisely. If the team feels that they have a young player in Pulock who is ready to take the next step and be a contributing everyday player, then it makes sense not to spend $3M on a soon-to-be 39 year old #7 defenseman with a serious concussion history.
Of course, you can twist it whichever way you'd like. I have no proof that we no longer have an internal cap. This is simply a case of being logical with spending - not penny pinching.
Compared to most playoff teams our GA is bad. I agree with you when you say that most fans think their teams defense sucks, but considering this teams defensive numbers last season, I think it has some merit.The nature of defense is that it usually "isn't good". Look around the league. Not many teams are able to secure a ton of good defenseman so that it's never a concern. Look how long it took Garth to fill the holes. Do you really think there is enough out there to get even more?!? There just isn't. You can't get blood from a stone. Put our defense up around teams in our conference and it's really not that bad considering.
The nature of defense is that it usually "isn't good". Look around the league. Not many teams are able to secure a ton of good defenseman so that it's never a concern. Look how long it took Garth to fill the holes. Do you really think there is enough out there to get even more?!? There just isn't. You can't get blood from a stone. Put our defense up around teams in our conference and it's really not that bad considering.
Check the numbers. Our D is especially not good for an alleged contender.
Don't be surprised if Snow is looking to lose Okposo's salary to bring in a solid defensive defenseman. He's surprised me this past year and I think he sees the teams weakness. It ain't scoring.......
With JB, NL, TH, CDH, and most likely TH guaranteed spots, and with GR, RP & SM on the farm...why would Garth go out and sign another D?