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No matter what, this is going to be an entirely different team taking the ice this year. Considering the outcome of the last few, that can't be a bad thing.
I'm also looking forward to seeing what this group can put together. Oh, and Williams needs to be the captain, already.
Jordan Staal is a good guy and steady.
Rod and JW are compatible, but Coach needs to handle that change in captaincy well.
Eh....
After my first outburst, I'm working my way through it.
Skinner is a scorer.
Is Skinner a winner? When?
I know that +/- is a tired metric, but -27?
I am having flashbacks of Jeff hanging out on the wrong end of the neutral zone, waiting to cherry pick while the other guys are playing 4 on 5.
And, of the excitement of him skating into a 1 on 3 time and again.
And, turning it over.
But, dang... Who projected having more fun playing hockey?
If he only would allow a trade to 4 teams, and wasn't inclined to re-sign, and the four teams weren't offering anything equivalent, and the team needed to (hate to say it) "Drain the Swamp," it was guaranteed to be painful right up front.
Ward, Skinner, Lindholm, Hanifin, Ryan, Stempniak, Nordstrom? Francis and Peters. Burning the ships to put the burden on the guys who come in to take their places.
I like the Verland and Hamilton acquisition. Martinook will go to the net. We got tougher, methinks.
I like that Darling is making an effort to show up in condition.
Svechnikov? Lots of pressure, but he has an NHL brother who will help him handle it.
Looking at the roster, it would seem that a culture change is greatly completed. Massive changes.
Skinner had a No Movement Clause in his contract, there wasn't much Waddell could do here (reportedly Skinner turned down an offer to play with the LA Kings about 2 months ago). He had an awful season, was and has always been a black hole defensively, and lets not forget that he's a UFA at seasons end, you cannot lose him for nothing. I don't know if he signs with Buffalo for the long-term or not but I get what he is doing, playing alongside a guy like Jack Eichel will certainly raise your value for your next contract especially if you have a good year. Having Derek Ryan and Victor Rask as your line mates doesn't do that.
I'm underwhelmed by the return, but this was a no-win situation anyway since Skinner basically dictates where he wants to go. Perhaps if this was last summer we could've gotten more for him, but that was a different regime. It sucks to lose him because he was one of the few selling points for marketing this team since the Cup win, it also sucks that he was terrible in the defensive zone and had an NMC which drove his value down.
Some highlights of the prospect we picked up. This guy is on an upward trajectory, recorded 85 points in the OHL in 16/17 and 84 last year in which he was traded from the London Knights to Kingston. I believe he is now eligible for the AHL so my guess is he spends most of the year in Charlotte, which in the long run is probably not a bad idea.
Skinner had a No Movement Clause in his contract, there wasn't much Waddell could do here (reportedly Skinner turned down an offer to play with the LA Kings about 2 months ago). He had an awful season, was and has always been a black hole defensively, and lets not forget that he's a UFA at seasons end, you cannot lose him for nothing. I don't know if he signs with Buffalo for the long-term or not but I get what he is doing, playing alongside a guy like Jack Eichel will certainly raise your value for your next contract especially if you have a good year. Having Derek Ryan and Victor Rask as your line mates doesn't do that.
I'm underwhelmed by the return, but this was a no-win situation anyway since Skinner basically dictates where he wants to go. Perhaps if this was last summer we could've gotten more for him, but that was a different regime. It sucks to lose him because he was one of the few selling points for marketing this team since the Cup win, it also sucks that he was terrible in the defensive zone and had an NMC which drove his value down.
Some highlights of the prospect we picked up. This guy is on an upward trajectory, recorded 85 points in the OHL in 16/17 and 84 last year in which he was traded from the London Knights to Kingston. I believe he is now eligible for the AHL so my guess is he spends most of the year in Charlotte, which in the long run is probably not a bad idea.
Change sometimes hurts, but we have been overdue for a shakeup, and now I am really looking forward to October to see what we have assembled.
I'm not the hockey guy many of your are (or gal), but ...
Skinner was certainly soft, and I'd say his -27 was a pretty accurate portrayal.
And to think wistfully of guys like him during whose tenure we missed the playoffs totally for how many years? It's not like we're breaking up a dynasty
I picked the Muse song, but Mr. Rabbitsong liked your pick. I cracked up when I saw Brass Bonanza as a choice. I have a good friend in Hartford who will post that on my FB page at least once per season!
I picked the Muse song, but Mr. Rabbitsong liked your pick. I cracked up when I saw Brass Bonanza as a choice. I have a good friend in Hartford who will post that on my FB page at least once per season!
Please note that it's not the "traditional" Brass Bonanza but a "Techno Remix."
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