Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
I do apologize if you think I'm being negative, but I'm not. I'm having fun this season, even if I don't think the team's a cup contender.
You need a good team around good players. Absolutely.
If Vegas didn't think you need a Jack Eichel, why did they acquire a Jack Eichel...?
I don't think Monahan's been bad, though. I just think the chances aren't there, because he's playing with guys like Lucic and Lewis instead of Gaudreau setting him up for near-tap-ins. And since he's not a playmaker, their level of play is probably repeatable. If you want my opinion, we should be trying Matthew Phillips or Dmitry Zavgorodniy in that 4RW spot to see if they can jumpstart Monahan, because I don't think that line is working, and it's not really a matter of time, it's a matter of process.
We had the Norris winner just three years ago, and lost in the first round.
I am Kylington's biggest fan on CP, probably.
He's not a centre, though.
I really like Dube, and what he brings to the team as a middle six centre. I just don't see him ever being in that Barzal / Point / Aho tier. If that comes across as pessimistic, sorry, but I think his ceiling is a bit lower than that.
Eatbread is awesome. But like Gaudreau, and Tkachuk... he's a winger. Same issue when you run into those elite playoff teams firing on all cylinders.
I think if Monahan isn't finishing feeds from a playmaking linemate, his value is not there. If we can get a guy like Phillips and have that guy have success, then suddenly Monahan has feeds to be finishing.
If we stick with Lucic-Monahan-Lewis, we don't have the kind of championship 4th line that you allude to. Most of their shifts involve dumping the puck in and going for a line change, and that's after an offensive zone draw.
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Now I agree with the Monahan isn’t going to get much done with Lewis. Sean struggles to generate without a winger feeding him but his shot is what separates him and goal scoring is a hard thing to find in the NHL. I’m hoping they pair Duehr with him and that speed gives the line a different look.
Now your point on Oliver is backing my point though. We don’t know what we have because most of our young guys are under 25. I say Dube has a chance at solid top six rather than middle and if that’s the case with Sean on the third and Backs on the fourth you just need one more winger and you have four scoring lines.
Not elite but ugly to play against in a 7 game. In my mind that is the depth that made Vegas so nasty first year they essentially had three second lines backed with great goaltending. That is how I see the flames except we’re not burning our futures like Vegas is and it will be far more sustainable.
Yes we have three guys that need signing exactly why I said Tkachuk was the odd man out at trade deadline this year. I just don’t see not signing Johnny.