The Ubiquitous Top 6 Search

asq2 wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:This is what I'd like to see us run with and take the growing pains with it.

Alfie - Spezza - Heatley

Foligno - Fisher - Shannon

Ruutu - Winchester - Kelly

Z. Smith - Bass - Donovan

Kuba - E. Karlsson

Phillips - Volchie

Picard - Campoli

Bell

That means no more Neil, Schubert, Comrie

Bell as your 7th D, J. Smith hopefully traded, retired or LTIR

Lee sent to Bingo for callups

I agree with most of the roster, except I'm a little confused over one thing.

You have Erik Karlsson, a 19 year old weighing 170lbs, who has played only minimally in North America, and has not played NHL-length seasons, who will be experiencing both the culture shock of switching continents and will be adjusting to the highest level of hockey in the world, and who is still working on many aspects of his game, playing on your top pairing.

But Peter Regin, the 23 year old who will be upwards of 190 lbs, who has played a season of AHL hockey, already played and scored in the NHL, received adulation at the World Hockey Championships and whose polish in all aspects of the game is almost reminiscient of Alfredsson, is not on the roster.

What gives?

Sheesh. Can't please everyone I guess. OK take out Z. Smith and insert Peter Regin.

As for E. Karlsson we grow with him and I'm thinking he's paired with Kuba when he's out there kind of like what they did when they paired Lee with Phillips. It was more of a Phillips with Lee sometimes and also Phillips with Volchie. You know what I mean?

Well, can't do anything about that. We just lack right handed defencemen.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Sheesh. Can't please everyone I guess. OK take out Z. Smith and insert Peter Regin.

As for E. Karlsson we grow with him and I'm thinking he's paired with Kuba when he's out there kind of like what they did when they paired Lee with Phillips. It was more of a Phillips with Lee sometimes and also Phillips with Volchie. You know what I mean?

:^^^^: Hey, I said I agreed with most of the roster.

Substituting Regin for Smith is a bit difficult because Regin's not really a winger. Also, to put him on the fourth line would be a waste, and beneficial to neither party.

In regards to Karlsson, I don't think it's the same as Lee. Lee was two years older than Karlsson when he was first given a full-time spot, was bigger to start with, had already played extensively in North America, and had endured the rigours of an NHL-length season in Binghamton.

Karlsson has had none of those. I think when you look at the fact that he's undersized, that he's still got some pretty important things to work on, and is almost completely unaccustomed to NA, you'll agree that starting him out on the top pairing of a club is putting way, way too much pressure on him. Heck, when Erik Johnson, a first over-all pick, entered the NHL (at 6-4 and about 200lbs) at 19, they made a conscious effort to shelter him.

I don't see how Brian Lee isn't a better option at this point. I think it's in the best interest for both parties that Karlsson plays in Sweden or Binghamton.

ASQ, did you hear the rumour that Murray wants to bring Sandin to Bingo? I thought that was quite exciting. :##:

I have a problem with everyone Wing Dang Doodle about Fisher not playing the wing, or Fisher not being a 2nd line centre.

Please someone, enlighten me, name the player we have or have had that is a better fit in that position.

Until we have a better option for 2nd line centre, Fisher won't be moved to the wing.

Pretty much man... Fisher is a solid player, missed all of camp last year and still played fairly well the last 1/2 of the season on a line that produced as much as out first line.

Fisher is hard to play against, will get you 40-50 points, and is a somewhat big game player. He might be a marginal 2nd line center, but he is def this teams best option right now and give him a full camp, he will be where he was in 2006, 2007.

RobbyJ wrote:I have a problem with everyone Wing Dang Doodle about Fisher not playing the wing, or Fisher not being a 2nd line centre.

Please someone, enlighten me, name the player we have or have had that is a better fit in that position.

Until we have a better option for 2nd line centre, Fisher won't be moved to the wing.

Well...yeah, that's the thing. We don't really have a better option, but last year, anything would have been better. Foligno's a natural center, Shannon's a center. Luckily for us, the three of them formed a formidable line.

Worst case scenario I guess is that we have one crazy expensive checker. But...the dude plays his size and more. That's what we need more of. I won't knock him for that.

As long as Spezza and Heatley are making what they are, there shouldnt be a soul who complains about Fisher's contract.

I don't understand the criticism of his contract in the first place. He's a damn valuable cog and he's paid like it.

Yup... gives everything for the team, fans, and city. On top of that he is productive.

Neely4Life wrote:Yup... gives everything for the team, fans, and city. On top of that he is productive.

I dunno about that last one.

Not only is his production pretty low, but it's incredibly inconsistent. Frustratingly so, even.

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Yup... gives everything for the team, fans, and city. On top of that he is productive.

I dunno about that last one.

Not only is his production pretty low, but it's incredibly inconsistent. Frustratingly so, even.

Last year it was, but when healthy he scores big goals at big times. He is good for 40-50 points a year, and for what he brings outside of that, he is worth every last cent IMO.

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Yup... gives everything for the team, fans, and city. On top of that he is productive.

I dunno about that last one.

Not only is his production pretty low, but it's incredibly inconsistent. Frustratingly so, even.

Last year it was, but when healthy he scores big goals at big times. He is good for 40-50 points a year, and for what he brings outside of that, he is worth every last cent IMO.

I dunno. He doesn't seem to score very often in the playoffs (and only one game-winner since the lock-out), and it's not like he leads the team in game-winning goals.

Look, I appreciate Fish, but let's not exaggerate his contribution and make it seem like he's an at all reliable top-4 player offensively, which is what, under our current structure, he's paid to be. He can go on incredible cold stretches.

For $4.2 million, we shouldn't have to give him Alfredsson to try to get him going. Granted, Spezza and Heatley shouldn't need that either, which makes their situations worse for us.

But Fish is a border-line top-6 player.

Borderline indeed.

See, for me personally, this is where the Wing Dang Doodle and moaning comes from with his contract. He could be the next Brendan Morrow - a guy that sets up shop in front of the net or a guy who plows through nerds in the corner to retrieve pucks, but he cannot seem to achieve that as a center. Move to wing, let Spezza make the nice passes, simplify the game.

Then maybe we'll have a more productive Fish. :ll:

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Yup... gives everything for the team, fans, and city. On top of that he is productive.

I dunno about that last one.

Not only is his production pretty low, but it's incredibly inconsistent. Frustratingly so, even.

Last year it was, but when healthy he scores big goals at big times. He is good for 40-50 points a year, and for what he brings outside of that, he is worth every last cent IMO.

I dunno. He doesn't seem to score very often in the playoffs (and only one game-winner since the lock-out), and it's not like he leads the team in game-winning goals.

Look, I appreciate Fish, but let's not exaggerate his contribution and make it seem like he's an at all reliable top-4 player offensively, which is what, under our current structure, he's paid to be. He can go on incredible cold stretches.

For $4.2 million, we shouldn't have to give him Alfredsson to try to get him going. Granted, Spezza and Heatley shouldn't need that either, which makes their situations worse for us.

But Fish is a border-line top-6 player.

I think he is top 6 personally, but he is paid a lot for those intangibles he brings.

I dont disagree with you, but he does produce at a consistant rate for the most part IMO. (aside from last year)

Bottom line is that until we have a REAL option for a 2nd line centre Fisher won't play the wing. Bring in a 2nd line centre and then I think you'll see how good Fish is on the wing, but without a guy that likes to hold on to the puck it is a waste to move him over.

I believe Regin is that guy.

asq2 wrote:I believe Regin is that guy.

I think Regin will be that guy. Not right now though, at least not going into the season.