Posted by mudbone1969 on 9/4/2011 6:01:00 PM (view original):

Posted by moy23 on 9/3/2011 3:33:00 PM (view original):

Posted by mudbone1969 on 9/3/2011 10:28:00 AM (view original):
Kane has low character?  LOL!!

He's nothing but a hard-worker and an achiever.  He steps his game up in the playoffs and is nothing but a performer. 

And a guy who beat up and robbed a cab driver at 5am in the morning.

He was never convicted, or even brought up on charges of any of that.  If OJ is innocent, then so is Kaner!!

He plead guilty to the lesser charges. Must be nice to have money. I guarantee Buff gets off his charge too.

moy, if you're comparing Buff to Hartnell, and you also say that you would love to see Hartnell's 4.2 mil. off the books in spite of how important you claim he is because he is inconsistent and penalty prone, than surely you can understand where Hawks fans are coming from. Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp cost less than BOTH Hartnell and Buff (until Sharpie's new deal kicks in), and are more consistent players in their roles.

Size doesn't matter as much as everyone claims it does. I agree you need some, but heart and desire are equally as important. Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh are two prime examples of fairly recent Cup winners who won with skill, determination and doing all the little things right. Buff has the first of those three attributes, but falls way short on the other two.

But you're right about one thing: he is only 25 and does have a shot at turning it around, but until he shows me that he wants to play more than 40 games per season, all he'll ever be is another good player with all the tools who simply doesn't have the will to be great (see Alex Kovalev for example). On a team whose best player and captain is also their hardest worker, Dustin Byfuglien simply doesn't fit in long term at 4 million+ in a salary cap league.

I suppose we'll get our answer soon enough, although I will NOT be picking Buff in any pools this year, thats for sure.

I'll clarify.... as much as I love to see hartnells $4.2 million off the books I realize he has the ability more than anyone on last years flyers to open up the lanes for more scoring. That's invaluable.... as it adds another dimension to the teams offensive attack. I'm saying he is worth the $4.2 despite his inconsistencies.

Also- Buff made $3 mil last season which was less than what Sharp and Bolland made.   Not sure I'd call Bolland consistent...  unless you are referring to injuries ;)

I think the hawks felt the loss of buff last season... especially in the playoffs. That's why they went out and dug up some big bodies..... unfortunately the guys they got are older, can't score 53 points, can't play defensemen AND forward as needed, and are not great skaters. You are right .... we shall see. I've been right about everything else about the hawks over the last year, I'm due to be wrong ;)

and... I'm so ready for the season to begin!!

 Buff is the perfect missing piece to the Canucks ,we get Buff and the cup will be here Guaranteed, Gillis needs to address the one pressing Elephant in the room need the Canucks desperately need ..Thugs that can contribute..Buff would be perfect and maybe like a McIntyre type from Edmonton who would make guys like Eager Sh!t himself the next time he runs a Sedin..Canucks address the thug factor and they wont be stopped ..no more Marchant face washing one of the sisters

Posted by randle44 on 9/5/2011 8:28:00 PM (view original):
 Buff is the perfect missing piece to the Canucks ,we get Buff and the cup will be here Guaranteed, Gillis needs to address the one pressing Elephant in the room need the Canucks desperately need ..Thugs that can contribute..Buff would be perfect and maybe like a McIntyre type from Edmonton who would make guys like Eager Sh!t himself the next time he runs a Sedin..Canucks address the thug factor and they wont be stopped ..no more Marchant face washing one of the sisters

Or perhaps the Sedins could try not buckling under the pressure every year. That would help as well. I can't really understand why though. They are fantastically talented, and Daniel has shown a bit of a mean streak in the past, and yet it seems that when they are physically challenged, they simply vanish, much like Patrick Kane in games 1-4 last season.

As for Buff, he's big. He's mean. But a GREAT skater? I'd say he is a good skater for his size. I wouldn't call him great. a GREAT skater who is a big man is a guy like Rick Nash.

Here's my scouting report of Dustin Byfuglien:

Strengths: Is versatile enough to play defense or the wing; moves pretty well for someone his size; has a booming point shot; can throw thunderous hits along the boards; is very tough to move from in front of the net as a forward; above-average hands within 3 feet of the net.

Weaknesses: Is highly inconsistent; is prone to taking dumb penalties; can be overly aggressive at the point and gets caught in the offensive zone; is slightly below-average defensively; often too aggressive in going for the open ice hit resulting in a miss and in avoidable penalties; conditioning is below NHL standards; can get beat by speedier forwards while playing defense.

Ideal position: "Flex" player who is an injury fill-in on defense or a 14-16 minute per game power-forward, and either the point or in front of the net on the powerplay.

If you ask me, that's not worth 5.2 million...To compare across the league in the upcoming season, I'd rather have any one of Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton, Johan Franzen, Ryan Malone or David Backes play the power-forward role for less money. That being said, the league has a history of over-paying for size. The strange thing is that doesn't necessarily guarantee playoff success.

If all of us are completely honest about it, we would agree that the most important element that goes into winning a Stanley Cup are injuries. It's usually the healthiest team that wins it.

Speaking of health, if you're a Canucks fan, are you at all concerned that Ryan Kesler has had to play hurt each of the last 3 playoffs? It has limited his effectiveness each time and that's a HUGE difference maker for the Canucks.

Posted by randle44 on 9/5/2011 8:28:00 PM (view original):
 Buff is the perfect missing piece to the Canucks ,we get Buff and the cup will be here Guaranteed, Gillis needs to address the one pressing Elephant in the room need the Canucks desperately need ..Thugs that can contribute..Buff would be perfect and maybe like a McIntyre type from Edmonton who would make guys like Eager Sh!t himself the next time he runs a Sedin..Canucks address the thug factor and they wont be stopped ..no more Marchant face washing one of the sisters

The biggest thing keeping the Canucks from winning is not the need for "thugs that can contribute" but rather their goalie's head.  Despite the Sedin's inablility to play against a top, physical D pairing, they were 1 game from winning it all.  All they needed was for their goalie to give them 1 good game.  But when the chips are down and the pressure is on, Luongo folds like a cheap suit.  If he can ever play 1 game under pressure, they have the team to win it all.

Posted by moy23 on 9/4/2011 11:34:00 PM (view original):

Posted by mudbone1969 on 9/4/2011 6:01:00 PM (view original):

Posted by moy23 on 9/3/2011 3:33:00 PM (view original):

Posted by mudbone1969 on 9/3/2011 10:28:00 AM (view original):
Kane has low character?  LOL!!

He's nothing but a hard-worker and an achiever.  He steps his game up in the playoffs and is nothing but a performer. 

And a guy who beat up and robbed a cab driver at 5am in the morning.

He was never convicted, or even brought up on charges of any of that.  If OJ is innocent, then so is Kaner!!

He plead guilty to the lesser charges. Must be nice to have money. I guarantee Buff gets off his charge too.

I agree Buff will get off.

Posted by bb_icetime on 9/6/2011 12:17:00 PM (view original):

Posted by randle44 on 9/5/2011 8:28:00 PM (view original):
 Buff is the perfect missing piece to the Canucks ,we get Buff and the cup will be here Guaranteed, Gillis needs to address the one pressing Elephant in the room need the Canucks desperately need ..Thugs that can contribute..Buff would be perfect and maybe like a McIntyre type from Edmonton who would make guys like Eager Sh!t himself the next time he runs a Sedin..Canucks address the thug factor and they wont be stopped ..no more Marchant face washing one of the sisters

The biggest thing keeping the Canucks from winning is not the need for "thugs that can contribute" but rather their goalie's head.  Despite the Sedin's inablility to play against a top, physical D pairing, they were 1 game from winning it all.  All they needed was for their goalie to give them 1 good game.  But when the chips are down and the pressure is on, Luongo folds like a cheap suit.  If he can ever play 1 game under pressure, they have the team to win it all.

Yea that is stating the obvious .Luongo is the bigest joke since Jay Cutler being a starting NFL quarterback..i was stating the next bigest reason..lack of toughness..Gillis must be a pacificist..

Hawks acquire David Toews. I doubt I have to tell you guys who he is ;)

Hawks acquire David Toews. I doubt I have to tell you guys who he is ;)

Posted by moy23 on 9/9/2011 12:40:00 PM (view original):
Hawks acquire David Toews. I doubt I have to tell you guys who he is ;)

Indeed..I wonder if they will go after Keith Seabrook next! lol

David Toews will be an elite player someday.

By your standards he already is!!!! ;)

Book it.