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Posted

If you look at Fowler's advanced stats, I'm not sure he is an improvement in our top 4 other then he is a PP QB.  McCabe from Mar 1 on last year was skating about 21 minutes a night. including over 2 min per game in PK time.  We acquired Kulikov to be in our top 4 and we already have Risto and Bogo on the right side.  I just don't see how Fowler, after we acquired Kulikov, is an improvement in our top 4.  I was thrilled about getting Fowler before the Kulikov deal. However. in comparing McCabe vs Fowler in our top 4, I think McCabe can deliver as much as Fowler for significantly less.  Also Bogo, Risto and Kulikov are not exactly the greatest in zone D.  Adding Fowler to that mix wouldn't help.  McCabe is the superior in zone defender to Fowler and the 3 incumbents.  We need someone in the top 4 who can actually play in his own zone.  Save the money and assets for later in the season when injuries and holes develop.

That's a fair argument.

Like i said, if you think McCabe can be a legit top-four this year, you don't make the deal.

Posted

Is anyone else hoping we can move a forward (ie Girgensons type player) for a RHD rather than a LHD?  Now that Kulikov is in the fold, I'm actually ok with our left side. Cody Franson is a pylon and he's slated as a probable starter on the right.  Throw in Bogo missing 20 games which will most likely happen and all of a sudden we look pretty weak on the Right side IMO. 

Posted

Is anyone else hoping we can move a forward (ie Girgensons type player) for a RHD rather than a LHD?  Now that Kulikov is in the fold, I'm actually ok with our left side. Cody Franson is a pylon and he's slated as a probable starter on the right.  Throw in Bogo missing 20 games which will most likely happen and all of a sudden we look pretty weak on the Right side IMO. 

Is Franson still concussed? 

 

Also I think Casey Nelson's progression will decide if we need someone for that right side.

Posted

Is Franson still concussed? 

 

Also I think Casey Nelson's progression will decide if we need someone for that right side.

Ya I like Nelson but would prefer he spend a year in the AHL playing bigger minutes then a potential 7th D.  Not sure Franson's status TBO.  That's even more frightening.  I know Fowler is available but I would rather add an equivalent RHD at this point in time.

Posted (edited)

I'm looking forward to a Kulikov/Risto combo.

I think Kulikov has Gorges grit and most of his smarts and is much better with the puck on his stick. He can also skate with first-line attackers, which Gorges couldn't do.

I think Risto will be better on his own and Kulikov can accelerate that.

 

I also think Bogo can be better with Gorges. He's a gambler and a risk-taker and performs best when his coaches let him embrace that. Having a dependable stay-at-home partner should be a better match than McCabe, who is too similar to Bogo.

Gorges will be better in a reduced role against lesser players.

 

A lot of the same things can be said about putting McCabe with Franson. For all his skating horribleness, Franson is pretty sound positionally and makes a good first pass. They will be exposed when McCabes risk-taking and Cody's speed collide in hand-grenade like fashion, but they are more skilled than a lot of third pairs.

 

Overall, there is a lot of sandpaper in that mix and a decent amount of offence.

You've gotta worry about the hockey sense and the dependability, and they aren't mobile enough, but I think we are seeing a Tim Murray defence taking shape.

Edited by dudacek
Posted

I'm looking forward to a Kulikov/Risto combo.

I think Kulikov has Gorges grit and most of his smarts and is much better with the puck on his stick. He can also skate with first-line attackers, which Gorges couldn't do.

I think Risto will be better on his own and Kulikov can accelerate that.

 

I also think Bogo can be better with Gorges. He's a gambler and a risk-taker and performs best when his coaches let him embrace that. Having a dependable stay-at-home partner should be a better match than McCabe, who is too similar to Bogo.

Gorges will be better in a reduced role against lesser players.

 

A lot of the same things can be said about putting McCabe with Franson. For all his skating horribleness, Franson is pretty sound positionally and makes a good first pass. They will be exposed when McCabes risk-taking and Cody's speed collide in hand-grenade like fashion, but they are more skilled than a lot of third pairs.

 

Overall, there is a lot of sandpaper in that mix and a decent amount of offence.

You've gotta worry about the hockey sense and the dependability, and they aren't mobile enough, but I think we are seeing a Tim Murray defence taking shape.

 

If they can get their hands on Barrie as the last RHD I think we've got ourselves a  legit D. Toss him with McCabe and lets roll.

Posted

I'm looking forward to a Kulikov/Risto combo.

I think Kulikov has Gorges grit and most of his smarts and is much better with the puck on his stick. He can also skate with first-line attackers, which Gorges couldn't do.

I think Risto will be better on his own and Kulikov can accelerate that.

 

I also think Bogo can be better with Gorges. He's a gambler and a risk-taker and performs best when his coaches let him embrace that. Having a dependable stay-at-home partner should be a better match than McCabe, who is too similar to Bogo.

Gorges will be better in a reduced role against lesser players.

 

A lot of the same things can be said about putting McCabe with Franson. For all his skating horribleness, Franson is pretty sound positionally and makes a good first pass. They will be exposed when McCabes risk-taking and Cody's speed collide in hand-grenade like fashion, but they are more skilled than a lot of third pairs.

 

Overall, there is a lot of sandpaper in that mix and a decent amount of offence.

You've gotta worry about the hockey sense and the dependability, and they aren't mobile enough, but I think we are seeing a Tim Murray defence taking shape.

Very nice assessment of the overall picture back there. Now, the critical question: do you actually think those are the defense pairs Bylsma rolls with?

Posted

I'm looking forward to a Kulikov/Risto combo.

I think Kulikov has Gorges grit and most of his smarts and is much better with the puck on his stick. He can also skate with first-line attackers, which Gorges couldn't do.

I think Risto will be better on his own and Kulikov can accelerate that.

 

I also think Bogo can be better with Gorges. He's a gambler and a risk-taker and performs best when his coaches let him embrace that. Having a dependable stay-at-home partner should be a better match than McCabe, who is too similar to Bogo.

Gorges will be better in a reduced role against lesser players.

 

A lot of the same things can be said about putting McCabe with Franson. For all his skating horribleness, Franson is pretty sound positionally and makes a good first pass. They will be exposed when McCabes risk-taking and Cody's speed collide in hand-grenade like fashion, but they are more skilled than a lot of third pairs.

 

Overall, there is a lot of sandpaper in that mix and a decent amount of offence.

You've gotta worry about the hockey sense and the dependability, and they aren't mobile enough, but I think we are seeing a Tim Murray defence taking shape.

Good post. Our bottom four is tough, like you I enjoy the idea of Gorges playing with Bogosian, but I'm pretty sketched out with McCabe playing on a pair with Franson defensively. I also want to avoid Bogo-McCabe, which would put Josh with Franson, which is not enough speed.

 

What I really want is for Nelson to take a step, and then either pair Gorges with him so he has someone to back him up when he takes offensive risks, or McCabe with him (hoping for both to have improved defensively) to get that 4-47 pairing.

 

Tough to really depend on Nelson for anything at this point, obviously, we'll see how he looks in September.

Posted

I'm looking forward to a Kulikov/Risto combo.

I think Kulikov has Gorges grit and most of his smarts and is much better with the puck on his stick. He can also skate with first-line attackers, which Gorges couldn't do.

I think Risto will be better on his own and Kulikov can accelerate that.

 

I also think Bogo can be better with Gorges. He's a gambler and a risk-taker and performs best when his coaches let him embrace that. Having a dependable stay-at-home partner should be a better match than McCabe, who is too similar to Bogo.

Gorges will be better in a reduced role against lesser players.

 

A lot of the same things can be said about putting McCabe with Franson. For all his skating horribleness, Franson is pretty sound positionally and makes a good first pass. They will be exposed when McCabes risk-taking and Cody's speed collide in hand-grenade like fashion, but they are more skilled than a lot of third pairs.

 

Overall, there is a lot of sandpaper in that mix and a decent amount of offence.

You've gotta worry about the hockey sense and the dependability, and they aren't mobile enough, but I think we are seeing a Tim Murray defence taking shape.

 

Great breakdown, sir.

 

Very nice assessment of the overall picture back there. Now, the critical question: do you actually think those are the defense pairs Bylsma rolls with?

 

I do, although I can see Nelson supplanting Franson (but probably not as of opening night).

Posted

Is anyone else hoping we can move a forward (ie Girgensons type player) for a RHD rather than a LHD?  Now that Kulikov is in the fold, I'm actually ok with our left side. Cody Franson is a pylon and he's slated as a probable starter on the right.  Throw in Bogo missing 20 games which will most likely happen and all of a sudden we look pretty weak on the Right side IMO. 

 

I want desperately to upgrade Franson.  The guy has O skills, but is to slow for today's NHL.  Nelson might be that guy, but he'll have to have a huge training camp to prove it.  I like his puck moving skills and speed.  I also think he can be the 2nd line PP QB GMTM was originally looking for with Fowler.  

 

I thought Justin Schultz could be that guy who could be brought in to challenge both Franson and Nelson, Pitt just re-upped him for 1.4 for one year.  I don't see anyone else in the UFA market that makes sense.  That leaves a trade.  Depending on Vesey and camp performances by guys like Bailey and Nylander we could easily see someone moved off the NHL roster.  I was thinking about starting a thread about the huge number of good forwards we have in the system.  Certainly, if Nelson doesn't unseat Franson, then a forward could easily be traded to get a upgrade on Franson.

Posted

Again, isn't Franson injured?

He looks good on the golf course in Kelowna last week, and I'm pretty sure I heard Bylsma talking about him in a context that made it seem he was ready to go.

  • 2 months later...
Posted

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Pierre Mcguire tells us the Ducks are in trade talks with an Eastern Conference team to unload a significant contract, and get room for RFAs

 

You jerk. :censored:  We had let this thread die in July and now here you are getting our hopes up again. There's like a 2% chance that tweet is even about Fowler at all.

 

That being said if it is, oh baby let's home we're that team. Our defense is still very shaky.

This topic is OLD. A NEW topic should be started unless there is a VERY SPECIFIC REASON to revive this one.

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