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Post by digitalman on Aug 17, 2007 19:12:22 GMT -4
I was certainly surprised when I read that Hodge had Brenton as a lock. But I'll give Brenton credit, he played great in the 5 o'clock scrimmage today. He was one of the better forwards and he didn't have great linemates. He seemed to be everywhere on the ice and had two breakaways on the same shift. His progression might just take time cause he's a small guy kinda like Girard who only broke out as a 20 yr old. Although seeing as Brenton was a regular as a 17 yr old, he could probably break out a lot faster than Girard. The only concern with him is that he just can't seem to put the puck in the net. I've rarely seen a player who could create so many chances without finishing. If there weren't so many forwards, he'd be an easy lock but with the surplus, I'd say it depends on a few things like if Marquardt goes pro or not and if they only keep two or three 20 yr old forwards.
I tried to make some forward lines but I don't even know where to start, I definitely don't envy Flynn's job right now. Theres like 8 or 9 guys that could be on the top two lines : Marquardt, Eagles, Bezak, Labelle, Cameron, Lincourt, Mangan, Brannon, Lessard, maybe even Watson. Although, Marquardt, Mangan and Lincourt won't all be there cause Morehouse is basically a lock. I'd keep Lincourt over Mangan cause he's having a way better camp. Brannon can probably play on the third line as more of a grinder with Sill and maybe Morehouse. But that likely leaves Lessard on the fourth line and he's been having a great camp and really developed his shot. Eagles and Marquardt have been showing some great chemistry in the scrimmages and I think they're two obvious first-liners so I don't see Eagles getting traded just to make space for lesser players. And we don't quite know where Bezak will fit in until he plays a few exhibition games so he could be anywhere from a guaranteed first-liner to a healthy scratch (please not again this year!). This is seriously worse than a rubik's cube. Here's my attempt :
Marquardt - Eagles - Lincourt
Cameron - Labelle - Bezak
Lessard - Sill - Brannon
McAusland - Brown - Morehouse
I can't find room for MaClellan,Brenton and Watson and I doubt they'd all be healthy scratches. No matter what happens, there's gonna be some wastage up front and we're gonna have to get rid of players that could come back and haunt us with another team.
If Morehouse is captain, it would be tough to put him on the fourth line but then again Ryan Seymour was on the fourth line with the Titan. It could be good to put Brown and McAusland with Morehouse because he works his butt off every shift and could be a good example to lead (other than the yapping , diving, and attacking defenseless europeans part)
I'm scared they'll trade Lincourt because it's an easy out but he's been real imposing at camp and I think he could be a force in the leage.
Another problem is that Eagles hasn't really played center in a while and isn't great with face-offs so is he first line center material? He's definitely first-line winger material though.
Bezak could play in the world juniors and McAusland and Brown will play for team atlantic at the U-17s, plus there'll be injuries but you're getting pretty desperate if you rely on those things to find ice time for everybody.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Aug 17, 2007 23:20:30 GMT -4
If Lincourt is indeed serious about having a big year, it might be worth moving Marquardt or Mangan as they probably have much more trade value at this point. It seems they want Morehouse to be captain and his trade value is not great, the other 3 have proven they can be PPGM players.
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Post by overtime on Aug 18, 2007 7:44:55 GMT -4
Mangan maybe looking like the odd man out if Marquardt dosn't sign with AHL.Time will tell.
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Post by overtime on Aug 18, 2007 7:45:34 GMT -4
Mangan maybe looking like the odd man out if Marquardt dosn't sign with AHL.Time will tell.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Aug 18, 2007 8:02:52 GMT -4
Is there an echo in here?
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Post by overtime on Aug 18, 2007 8:33:13 GMT -4
New lineup as of now imo
lincourt - cameron -marquardt/or mangan if marquardt goes pro
brannon -sill - eagles
maclellan -brenton - lessard
macausland/brown- morehouse- lemoureux
labelle,lapage,smith having a good camp and watson
on d
barberio-baca
pianosi-dimitruk
tolles-boyle
gomes/furlotte
herr/ little/goyens are not showing up the younger players with alot more upside
its a great time of year!
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Post by Optimus Reim on Aug 18, 2007 8:44:59 GMT -4
I have said all along to trade Mangan now as he has the most value between him and Lincourt. Let Lincourt "hopefully" light it up at the start and let his stock rise then maybe recoup some of what we gave up. Plus Mangan is a PPG center who is decent on draws he should fetch a decent return.
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Post by digitalman on Aug 18, 2007 8:46:17 GMT -4
New lineup as of now imo lincourt - cameron -marquardt/or mangan if marquardt goes pro brannon -sill - eagles maclellan -brenton - lessard macausland/brown- morehouse- lemoureux labelle,lapage,smith having a good camp and watson on d barberio-baca pianosi-dimitruk tolles-boyle gomes/furlotte herr/ little/goyens are not showing up the younger players with alot more upside its a great time of year! You forgot Bezak, there's no way Smith makes the team and Sill won't be the second line center. |
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Post by digitalman on Aug 18, 2007 8:59:20 GMT -4
I have said all along to trade Mangan now as he has the most value between him and Lincourt. Let Lincourt "hopefully" light it up at the start and let his stock rise then maybe recoup some of what we gave up. Plus Mangan is a PPG center who is decent on draws he should fetch a decent return. It's hard to tell if Mangan has trade value. I think he needs the team to show great confidence in him and give him top two line minutes at the start of the season so he can prove himself to other teams like Girard did. But directly from training camp, I don't think he'll get much more than a mid to late pick, which I have no problem with. He's a smart player and he knows how to use his linemates if he has good ones. He hasn't been doing much in training camp because of a lack of good linemates, but can we give him top two line minutes? I'm sure the answer is no unless maybe both Lincourt and Marquardt stay pro. And even if just Marquardt stays pro, I'd still get rid of Mangan and acquire a 20yr old D man. Mangan was useful on a team that had heavy scoring problems like the wildcats last year but with our added depth this season, I just can't see him on the roster this year. |
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Post by Captain Obvious on Aug 18, 2007 9:04:52 GMT -4
I have said all along to trade Mangan now as he has the most value between him and Lincourt. Let Lincourt "hopefully" light it up at the start and let his stock rise then maybe recoup some of what we gave up. Plus Mangan is a PPG center who is decent on draws he should fetch a decent return. It's hard to tell if Mangan has trade value. I think he needs the team to show great confidence in him and give him top two line minutes at the start of the season so he can prove himself to other teams like Girard did. But directly from training camp, I don't think he'll get much more than a mid to late pick, which I have no problem with. He's a smart player and he knows how to use his linemates if he has good ones. He hasn't been doing much in training camp because of a lack of good linemates, but can we give him top two line minutes? I'm sure the answer is no unless maybe both Lincourt and Marquardt stay pro. And even if just Marquardt stays pro, I'd still get rid of Mangan and acquire a 20yr old D man. Mangan was useful on a team that had heavy scoring problems like the wildcats last year but with our added depth this season, I just can't see him on the roster this year. He put up over 1 PPGM last year plying 1st line, wouldn't you say that makes him proven? He won't get you a King's ransom but you could get a solid 20 year old d-man or a 3rd rounder, maybe 2nd. |
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Post by Optimus Reim on Aug 18, 2007 10:27:12 GMT -4
Not to mention he did it on a not really offensively gifted team.
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mav
Blue-Chip Prospect
Take a shoot; Make a score!!!
Posts: 324
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Post by mav on Aug 18, 2007 10:41:44 GMT -4
Guys , we've always had a shortage of playmakers...Getting rid of Mangan would be a mistake in my opinion...we have lots of talent but name guys who made others look good....S. Bernier would have been a 120 pt guy if we had anyone to give him the puck(except Zakarov)
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Post by digitalman on Aug 18, 2007 11:07:26 GMT -4
Guys , we've always had a shortage of playmakers...Getting rid of Mangan would be a mistake in my opinion...we have lots of talent but name guys who made others look good....S. Bernier would have been a 120 pt guy if we had anyone to give him the puck(except Zakarov) It is true that we're very short on playmakers and centers in general. Labelle would probably be the best playmaker if Mangan goes which doesn't leave us with much experience. I don't see Eagles as a playmaker even if he plays center and I think Cameron is more comfortable at the wing. So to be honest, I can't really answer all the questions. Does the need for a good playmaker justify letting Lincourt go? Lincourt has been having a way better camp than Mangan but we still have to put things in context. We have more players that are goal scorers like Lincourt than playmakers like Mangan so maybe he is worth a good look. He'll have plenty of opportunities in the exhibition games cause Marquardt and Lincourt are going to rookie camps and that leaves us with just 3 twenty yr olds of which one or possibly two are injured. Personnaly, I would take my chances and start the season with Labelle as my #1 playmaker. If one of Marquardt or Lincourt stay pro, then maybe I'd consider keeping Mangan instead of trading for a 20 yr old D like I said before. But who knows, maybe Flynn already has Mangan penciled in as the first line center to start the season? P.S. Zakharov was the last guy on the team to be a playmaker, he was a puck-hog and a natural goal-scorer. Gagné was Bernier's playmaker that year and actually had more points than Bernier. If Bernier had played as a 20yr old and played with Dupuis, that would have been something. |
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Post by catnut on Aug 18, 2007 12:38:12 GMT -4
If Bernier had played as a 20yr old and played with Dupuis, that would have been something. and with Yandle. (wiping the drool from that thought). |
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Post by jimmy on Aug 18, 2007 12:48:06 GMT -4
I am not going to get too excited over Lincourt having a good start to camp ... this is right down his alley - sloppy hockey, with inferior players mixed in, allowing him to shine based on his physical skills (size, speed, shot). His major weakness last season, IMO, was a glaring lack of hockey sense, and I doubt he all of a sudden became a smart player while hanging out in the weight room this summer ... his positional play at both ends of the rink and his seeming lack of ability to ever find chemistry with any linemates hold him back. IMO, your 20 year olds should be solid players, but, more importantly, guys whom your younger guys can learne from ... not sure Lincourt has much to teach anyone ...
I am starting to think it might be worth starting the year with Morehouse, Mangan, and Sniderman as overagers; if and when Marquardt returns from Columbus/Syracuse, make a decision between Mangan and Sniderman based on whether we need the help more on offense or in goal - so far I am not convinced we have a Q calibre goalie in camp beyond Riopel and Sniderman. And as Flynn mentioned in the paper this week, we are going to be in a tough division this year with no easy games ... we can't afford to throw away a game in four by startinga junior A calibre goalie who won't keep us in it.
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