Swashy wrote:My expectations are tempered. Sergachev was a huge... ****ing HUGE acquisition by Yzerman because God knows we have enough forward talent in the prospect pipeline that will eventually replace Jonathan Drouin in the years to come. So you're not gonna hear me bitching about having easily the best defensive prospect we've had since Hedman almost 10 years ago. But more than anything I just want to see Cooper give the young blood a shot. It wasn't until we started dropping dead weight like Filppula that we finally perked up and got some life.
I wish I could be balls to the wall excited but we also lost the most gifted playmaker this team has in a very long time in Drouin. He made the engine go -especially on the power play. I'm less than enthusiastic about returning (essentially) the same lineup that has been lazy, undisciplined and apathetic in the last 2 regular seasons -treating it as if it's this inconvenient formality standing between the Lightning and April. Kunitz should've retired years ago and Girardi is rubber dog **** straight outta Hong Kong. If our power play is anything less than what it was last year then we are in big.... BIG trouble. I know Stamkos staying healthy will help a lot but this team lacks so much consistency and chemistry outside of the TKO line that we couldn't score with a handful of $50's on Nebraska Ave. I'd take the over on 15 times scoring a goal or less this year. I don't ever want to see Palat-Johnson-Kucherov together ever again. Put the big boys in Kucherov and Stamkos together, room them together, tie them to a string and leave it alone.
What I want to see happen
Conacher-Stamkos-Kucherov -> Because Conacher is a bulldog who loves to play fetch and it bodes well so Stamkos and Kucherov can play Globetrotters out there
Palat-Johnson-Callahan -> Because Palat and Callahan are ****ing GLORIOUS together when healthy and will give Johnson a little extra protection out there
Namestnikov-Point-Killorn -> Because if anyone is gonna get offense out our rotten eggs in Killorn and Namestnikov it'll be Point
Erne-Gourde-Brown -> New blood from Syracuse plus a proven penalty killer in Brown
Extras: Kunitz -> I don't like it but he can't be any worse than the scoring depth we already have. Should be good for at least 10 goals God willing
Temporary prospect tryouts: Raddysh and Cirelli -> Because both are champions in the OHL and neither have anything to prove. They are men amongst boys in their development
Hedman-Dotchin -> Dotchin was very effective playing with Hedman. Call it a rookie being carried by the greatness of Hedman but don't fix what isn't broken
Girardi-Coburn -> Because they're the best remaining option to round out the 3 and 4 defense if we want Sergachev playing normally*gulp*
Sergachev-Stralman -> Because we need a difference maker on the back end and I trust Stralman to look after Sergachev during any kind of learning curve.
7th Koekkoek-> Because **** Andrej Sustr that's why. I don't need any other explanation. I'm pretty sure Sergachev is already better than Sustr right now
Unfortunately I think Sergachev gets sent to the OHL and goes back to dominating like he's Victor Hedman in the junior leagues. I wish that were not the case
Vasilevskiy -> Time to see if the heir apparent to Bishop picks up where he left off. He was disastrous after New Years but then caught fire after the trade.
Budaj -> Because Vasilevskiy is our man in net. Plain and simple
Swashy wrote:PS- The Lightning prospect to keep our eye on is Alexei Lipanov of the Barrie Colts in the OHL. By the looks of it coach Dale Hawerchuk is going to have him playing with Andrei Svechnikov. That kid is the TRUTH and I'll be shocked if he isn't taken within the first 2 picks. Not that Lipanov is any slouch but you don't play with a prospect the caliber of Svechnikov and not benefit from it enormously.
Swashy wrote:I hope you're right, Alpha. In particular about Kunitz, Sergachev and Girardi. I don't think Yzerman would just cut Girardi short like that. The depth between Hedman and the rest of the LD is like falling off Mount Everest and rolling your way into the Mariana Trench. Not unless Sergachev proves himself so ready that he slots into the top 4 paired with Coburn and Slater Koekkoek takes the left side on the bottom defensive pair and we have Stralman watch his back. I do hope Coburn gets a chance to play with Sergachev. He's about as boring as watching paint dry but if you give him a partner that can move the puck well and generate offense, Coburn thrives because it allows him to focus on what he has to do. Corbun will never EVER carry a pairing but if you give him someone who knows what he's doing out there (particularly when he was paired with Garrison in 2014-2015 after the trade deadline) you're gonna get the best out of him. The whole defense took a nose dive after Bishop's injury last year so I'm not reading too much into his bad games last year. If I did that then the sky should be falling because Stralman is getting old -lol yeah right.
I'm hoping the 2nd rounder in the Sergachev trade wasn't like a GM calling the other's bluff on the deal. You can always use a 2nd round pick but I'd rather see us invest our time into developing Sergachev. He's not going to learn anything junior that he does not already know. I know we tried the "Well he needs playing time and he'll get it in another league" route with Slater Koekkoek for the last few years but Sergachev is simply too good for it. If you haven't watched his performance in the Memorial Cup then do it. It's hockey Viagra.
As for Kunitz, I try to keep in mind he lived on a line with with Crosby or Malkin seemingly at all times. Again I just hope you're right about him. Kunitz is 38 and it feels like a redux of Brendan Morrow from 2014-2015. As for Conacher I think he just needs a chance. To your point he's never proven himself a 1st line player but there's no way on earth I would ever... EVER play Namestnikov on a top line again no matter how much he and Kucherov beg for it. He makes Teddy Purcell look like Marty St. Louis. It's gotten to the point where I call him "Boo" to Lady Swash because he's like a ghost out there so many nights. Sure he puts up great even strength numbers but the lack of consistency is maddening. And unless Killorn (whose consistency is even more streaky) is riding his month-to-month hot streak I'd keep him on the 3rd line with Point -who seems like he can play with anyone. To Killorn's credit he's played well with Stamkos and Callahan in the past (particularly against the NYR in the ECF a few years back) but that and during our 9 game win streak the next year (2015-2016) was the only time that combination really had any success. It's like saying "Well we've tried it 10 times and it worked twice." At this point I'm willing to gamble on Conacher as if he was the little engine that could. As for the 4th line I left Paquette out on purpose. I love how feisty he is and how he agitates the living **** out of every person he plays against but we need more scoring depth. J.T Brown has proven he'll step to anyone even if he knows he'll get wiped down on the ice.
*sigh* I miss Radko Gudas. That was a mean SOB.
Regardless of how the lineup shapes out via Cooper's decision, the beginning of our year will make or break us. Without looking I think 13 of our first 15 games are against the Eastern Conference. We won't make the playoffs based on those first 15 games but Lord knows we'll wish for every one of them back if we start poorly. We're going to need some good chemistry to start with. I think Kucherov and Stamkos should figure each other out but my only concern is that they both have a tendency to over-think and regardless of if they are playing together or apart, both will try too hard to be the passer instead of the shooter because neither is a selfish player. Kucherov figured out "Whenever I shoot it goes in" last year and I hope he stick with it. Stamkos is gonna put home 40 goals in his sleep but keeping Kucherov that engaged is going to be a challenge. Every time Brian Engblom brings up that anecdote of how conversation with Kucherov about how he needs to shoot more I cringe a little because Kucherov's answer was, "I'm a Russian. If I get the puck I'm going to pass it"
Bucsgirl-DK wrote:The Rays suck and the Bucs just made a lot of fans lose all hope, so of course right now everybody will be looking at the Lightning to be the saviors of the Bay area.
pewterpirates wrote:After the back-to-back runs to the SCF and ECF, if we don't make it back to the top in the next 1-2 years, it will be VERY disappointing. It sucked (obviously) losing vs. Chicago & Pittsburgh, but I felt like we were so young and loaded that we'd have another 3-4 year window of being a top 3 team in the NHL. Last year flat-out sucked.
I want to believe we're going to be a top-3 team in the East, but, like Swashy, I'm so hesitant to have really high expectations.
Also, after those two great runs, everyone loved Coop. Now I feel like there's some question there as to is he still the right man for the job?
Hopefully Yzerman's odd offseason moves pay off, but like ya'll, a couple of them seem very, very questionable.
Swashy wrote:Looks like we're pretty much getting the big club on the ice tonight. I'm praying this roster gets some much needed turnover. I'm about done with the likes of Brown and Paquette. Volkov has been a great surprise and I'm excited to see what kind of impact Conacher and Gourde make. Add a gamer like Kunitz and we've got more depth along 4 lines than we've ever had.
Alpha wrote:Swashy wrote:Looks like we're pretty much getting the big club on the ice tonight. I'm praying this roster gets some much needed turnover. I'm about done with the likes of Brown and Paquette. Volkov has been a great surprise and I'm excited to see what kind of impact Conacher and Gourde make. Add a gamer like Kunitz and we've got more depth along 4 lines than we've ever had.
LOL!
Seriously. What is your hard on over Conacher? He's an AHL guy! Are you related to him somehow?
He only gets a SNIFF of the Bolts, IF we have massive injuries to our offense.
Swashy wrote:Alpha wrote:
LOL!
Seriously. What is your hard on over Conacher? He's an AHL guy! Are you related to him somehow?
He only gets a SNIFF of the Bolts, IF we have massive injuries to our offense.
Because he's still better than guys like Brown and Paquette -who we've had for the last 3 years. How many goals are those guys going to score? Maybe 7 combined and maybe 2 in the 20+ playoff games it's gonna take to win the Cup? Fuuuuccckkkkk that!! Conacher is a fringe NHL'er but he can at least accomplish that on his own if we give him time on the power play. And at least the dude has a shred of offensive IQ. Brown and Paquette literally just know "stand in front of the net" or they can let out those sorry ass noodle shots that manage to skip 3 feet wide every time they let it loose. When **** gets tough in the regular season and the playoffs we're going to need the occasional goal and Lord knows neither of those chumps are gonna do it. Conacher can at least do it by accident whereas we've seen Brown miss open nets. Give me a 4th line of Volkov-Gourde-Conacher. You're right... Conacher's not a very good player but I'd rather take a chance than stick with guys who haven't made much difference at all. Plus Paquette takes the stupidest penalties sometimes
I hate to pick on those guys in particular but the big point is about rolling 4 lines that can chip in offensively like Pittsburgh does.
Point-Stamkos-Kucherov
Palat-Johnson-Killorn (swap with Callahan as needed)
Kunitz-Namestnikov-Callahan (swap with Killorn as needed)
Volkov-Gourde-Conacher
It's not the prettiest thing you're ever going to see but it would work. All we lose is 2 glorified penalty killers that can be replaced by Kunitz and Girardi.
Alpha wrote:Swashy wrote:
Because he's still better than guys like Brown and Paquette -who we've had for the last 3 years. How many goals are those guys going to score? Maybe 7 combined and maybe 2 in the 20+ playoff games it's gonna take to win the Cup? Fuuuuccckkkkk that!! Conacher is a fringe NHL'er but he can at least accomplish that on his own if we give him time on the power play. And at least the dude has a shred of offensive IQ. Brown and Paquette literally just know "stand in front of the net" or they can let out those sorry ass noodle shots that manage to skip 3 feet wide every time they let it loose. When **** gets tough in the regular season and the playoffs we're going to need the occasional goal and Lord knows neither of those chumps are gonna do it. Conacher can at least do it by accident whereas we've seen Brown miss open nets. Give me a 4th line of Volkov-Gourde-Conacher. You're right... Conacher's not a very good player but I'd rather take a chance than stick with guys who haven't made much difference at all. Plus Paquette takes the stupidest penalties sometimes
I hate to pick on those guys in particular but the big point is about rolling 4 lines that can chip in offensively like Pittsburgh does.
Point-Stamkos-Kucherov
Palat-Johnson-Killorn (swap with Callahan as needed)
Kunitz-Namestnikov-Callahan (swap with Killorn as needed)
Volkov-Gourde-Conacher
It's not the prettiest thing you're ever going to see but it would work. All we lose is 2 glorified penalty killers that can be replaced by Kunitz and Girardi.
Ok. Let's make this simple:
Conacher was playing in the SWISS LEAGUE 2 years ago....because NOBODY in the NHL wanted him.
I'm just guessing here...but I'm going to assume that IF Conacher was worth a warm bucket of spit, he would be playing for the Bolts as opposed to Brown or Paquette. He isn't a "fringe" NHL'er. He is a nice AHL piece. That's it. If he were a better player, he WOULD be playing for the Lightning. He isn't. Thus, he isn't.
Swashy wrote:Alpha wrote:
Ok. Let's make this simple:
Conacher was playing in the SWISS LEAGUE 2 years ago....because NOBODY in the NHL wanted him.
I'm just guessing here...but I'm going to assume that IF Conacher was worth a warm bucket of spit, he would be playing for the Bolts as opposed to Brown or Paquette. He isn't a "fringe" NHL'er. He is a nice AHL piece. That's it. If he were a better player, he WOULD be playing for the Lightning. He isn't. Thus, he isn't.
Well the final cuts haven't been made yet and he's still there on last check.
The Bad Guy wrote:That breath of fresh air when you realize it's the start of the season. Sorry boys, you'll have to wait another two days.
Next Thursday sees the Penguins take on your Lightning. Will be a good matchup with both teams healthy for once.
Rocker wrote:Teresenko is fun to watch.
What's more fun to watch is Stammer/Kucherov.
Alpha wrote:Rocker wrote:Teresenko is fun to watch.
What's more fun to watch is Stammer/Kucherov.
Teresenko is fun to watch. He's got a ridiculous wrister.
This Bolts team is reminding me of 2 years ago. Great at home and able to adjust their style of play to the opponent...and beat them at it.
Back to back MON and TUE...against 1st place teams.
Time to see what's, what.
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