Is Murray done improving this team?

Captain Hyperbole!

So the success of our forthcoming season rests on two factors:

1) Health. Last year was freakish with the injuries. Our only legit concerns this year are Spezza and Michalek. We don't need these two healthy all year to make the playoffs, but any serious run will centre around them getting pucks in the net.

2) Kids stepping up. Specifically, if Turris and Z-Bad can take another step forward, we'll be in good shape. Pageau and Conacher, to a lesser extent, also will impact our fortunes.

tim1_2 wrote:So the success of our forthcoming season rests on two factors:

1) Health.  Last year was freakish with the injuries.  Our only legit concerns this year are Spezza and Michalek.  We don't need these two healthy all year to make the playoffs, but any serious run will centre around them getting pucks in the net.

2) Kids stepping up.  Specifically, if Turris and Z-Bad can take another step forward, we'll be in good shape.  Pageau and Conacher, to a lesser extent, also will impact our fortunes.

Don't have the injuries all happen at the same time. Let some other team deal with that... and see how they like it or have the depth to overcome it...

Yeah, I want to see the Red Wings or someone deal with what we dealt with, then we'll see who the real contender is. Awwww yeah!

If we have another season filled with injuries then we need to start worrying about it becoming a disturbing pattern. Didn't some heads roll over that happening in LA a few years back?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:If we have another season filled with injuries then we need to start worrying about it becoming a disturbing pattern.  Didn't some heads roll over that happening in LA a few years back?

The pattern would just be karma for the budget

Ev wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:If we have another season filled with injuries then we need to start worrying about it becoming a disturbing pattern.  Didn't some heads roll over that happening in LA a few years back?

The pattern would just be karma for the budget

You sound like SSF

SpezDispenser wrote:Yeah, I want to see the Red Wings or someone deal with what we dealt with, then we'll see who the real contender is.  Awwww yeah!

Face it, as much as we loved Alfie, the chances of injuries affecting our team are lower now; and higher for Detroit.

Alfie was the least of our injury concerns. In the past two seasons, he missed 8 games combined.

tim1_2 wrote:Alfie was the least of our injury concerns.  In the past two seasons, he missed 8 games combined.  

Precisely.

tim1_2 wrote:Alfie was the least of our injury concerns.  In the past two seasons, he missed 8 games combined.  

He may as well have missed half of the previous season as he was ineffective until he had that surgery. He's received a couple concussions, he was slowing down and becoming more susceptible of getting caught more. The guy's turning 41 and his body has taken a lot of abuse over the years. He's not quite as gentlemanly as Teemu Selanne.

tim1_2 wrote:Alfie was the least of our injury concerns.  In the past two seasons, he missed 8 games combined.  

We'll see...he's old as the hills now, will be hyped up as all get out to start and we'll see where his is come January. I didn't really even mean him to be honest, I was thinking of the more impact players like we lost. IE Kronwall, Howard, Zetterberg/Datsyuk and Franzen - that's probably the same or close as Karlsson, Spezza, Cowen, Michalek and Anderson (wow, how did we survive?!!)

wprager wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Alfie was the least of our injury concerns.  In the past two seasons, he missed 8 games combined.  

He may as well have missed half of the previous season as he was ineffective until he had that surgery. He's received a couple concussions, he was slowing down and becoming more susceptible of getting caught more. The guy's turning 41 and his body has taken a lot of abuse over the years. He's not quite as gentlemanly as Teemu Selanne.

Fact: That old geezer Alfie lead us in playoff scoring this past year...10 pts in 10 games.

tim1_2 wrote:

Fact: That old geezer Alfie lead us in playoff scoring this past year...10 pts in 10 games.

In a lockout shortened season. I wonder how we'll hold up over 82 games.

tim1_2 wrote:

wprager wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Alfie was the least of our injury concerns.  In the past two seasons, he missed 8 games combined.  

He may as well have missed half of the previous season as he was ineffective until he had that surgery.  He's received a couple concussions, he was slowing down and becoming more susceptible of getting caught more.  The guy's turning 41 and his body has taken a lot of abuse over the years.  He's not quite as gentlemanly as Teemu Selanne.

Fact: That old geezer Alfie lead us in playoff scoring this past year...10 pts in 10 games.

Precisely.

tim1_2 wrote:

wprager wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Alfie was the least of our injury concerns.  In the past two seasons, he missed 8 games combined.  

He may as well have missed half of the previous season as he was ineffective until he had that surgery.  He's received a couple concussions, he was slowing down and becoming more susceptible of getting caught more.  The guy's turning 41 and his body has taken a lot of abuse over the years.  He's not quite as gentlemanly as Teemu Selanne.

Fact: That old geezer Alfie lead us in playoff scoring this past year...10 pts in 10 games.

He's getting older and geezier, and after 82 games instead of 48, how do you think his older, geezier body will do?

Hoags wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:

Fact: That old geezer Alfie lead us in playoff scoring this past year...10 pts in 10 games.

In a lockout shortened season. I wonder how we'll hold up over 82 games.

You're right. This past season looked like a walk in the park with games every second night and all.

wprager wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:

wprager wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Alfie was the least of our injury concerns.  In the past two seasons, he missed 8 games combined.  

He may as well have missed half of the previous season as he was ineffective until he had that surgery.  He's received a couple concussions, he was slowing down and becoming more susceptible of getting caught more.  The guy's turning 41 and his body has taken a lot of abuse over the years.  He's not quite as gentlemanly as Teemu Selanne.

Fact: That old geezer Alfie lead us in playoff scoring this past year...10 pts in 10 games.

He's getting older and geezier, and after 82 games instead of 48, how do you think his older, geezier body will do?

I'm sure if he played for Ottawa we'd say "he keeps himself in great shape" and he "might have 2 seasons left in him."