I'm trying to get better.
I fell asleep on the coach after 1-1, but it was a nice wake up at 4-1.
I dare say that is the most satisfying 3 game stretch of the season after the two losses and the bad form both directions for a while, and because of the teams we beat too.
The Wild?!!! Avenge a little run of theirs in the last 6-7 meetings. Stop the fucking Jets sweep. And stuff a crowbar in the mouth of the oiler brigade. Feels good!!
Our division was getting a bit uppitty with the Wild sweep last year, the Blues knocking us, and the Jets sweep about to happen. Things feel better now, and with the emergence of Smatlz/Hartman and return of Desjardins/Kruger this roster no longer feels thin in piecing together.
I did predict we win 6 of 8 in this stretch... what I'm feeling best about is having a bye week coming so soon after the all-star rest. Plus the 3-4 games in hand we have had on everybody!!!
This really sets up for the home stretch in terms of a veteran team getting the most rest possible, then shutting some guys down early due to the standings and lack of possible movement.
The only real issue I see is not being able to trade easily because everyone wants Forsling before they will talk and we hang up making negotiations more difficult. Colorado particularly wants a starting defenseman in return for Duchene, and the cost is so high in addition that most teams aren't in it.
I wonder if we are in the running just because we could throw like a Kempny/Pokka/ couple swedes, picks and Debricat at them. I don't think that package would hurt us particularly going forward (other than Kempny cost control)....
but they aren't going to find a defensive D man like Pokka, a ready now like Kempny or TVR, and an 80-100 point OHL player from anyone else. Maybe we have a shot. Maybe its Sharpie and Hossa manning the third. Or maybe we can find that 3C instead. I know we have the ammo and I don't believe Bowman will sit with 5,000,000 in cap and a
2/7/4/19/88/72/15/16/81 plus Crow opportunity. Its always win now here.
Its entirely possible Bowman entered that draft without a first and picked the player he viewed as most likely to retain second round trade value or greater. Debricat can't play down his value scoring 100 a season unless he gets hurt, he is worth something and a chip Bowman can hold for a few years.