For those who didn’t see it, Dean Lombardi was a guest yesterday on the NHL Network’s “On The Fly” program. Here’s the video of his appearance…
For those who didn’t see it, Dean Lombardi was a guest yesterday on the NHL Network’s “On The Fly” program. Here’s the video of his appearance…
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love this guy.
[Reply]
I still think the kings could use one more top 6 scorer, not sure who is really available that is worth making a run at.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:15 am
@kingfletch,
Wonder why it was so quite when Verteeg was on the market
[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:00 am
@USHA#17, For a 1st and a 3rd…. no thanks. I would take a harder look at McArthur out of TO
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:25 am
@VanKingsFan, I like Macarthur too, but I would be surprised if Toronto traded him.
Hat trick Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:36 am
@kingfletch, with the western conf so tight i seriously doubt any team in contention will even think about letting a top 6 go unless they desperately need something we have. i think the only possible players would be from teams that are out of contention and from that pool is there really anyone worth acquiring and for whom?
Is Richardson being considered for trade?
[Reply]
kingfletch Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:41 am
i wouldnt give a first round pick and 3rd round for Versteeg or Macarthur. If thats the asking price for players of that calibur i wouldnt bother trading.
[Reply]
Maybe he should stop doing interviews and start working the phones to get a deal done for a LW. If the Team does not make the Playoffs it will not be on the Players or the Coaching Management will have failed this Team. We have a good Team but we do not have all the tools that are necessary and that will be on the GM. I keeping hearing people say how hard it is to acquire a top six forward but Doug Wilson got Danny Heatley Lou got Kovalchuk all on trades so if they can do it our GM shoud be able to do it. I am tired of hearing the right puzzle piece or fitting in to our budget or the upcoming CBA. If he does not acquire the piece we need he has failed he knew we needed it this summer and failed and now he is failing to do it before the trade deadline. I remember him saying if the players make the playoffs last year he would get the Scorer they need and the players and the coaching staff upheld there end but Lombardi has Failed them.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:20 am
@DlParker,
While I share your enthusiasm we also have to remember that the league is in a structural transition. We can aquire a Heatly or Kovi but it then becomes a one shot deal, like Chicago or San Jose…both of whom need I remind you, are behind us in the standings. Is that what your looking for?
Or would you reather have a team with a stream of new talent flowing into a very competitive core that will have second round caliber play and real shots at the finals each year?
I know how frustrating it feels but look at it this way, would a farmer plow under his crop because he has to watch it grow?
[Reply]
tantrum4 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:30 am
@USHA#17,
San Jose is ahead of us
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:34 am
@tantrum4, Go to sleep early and things happen!
Dave's a Killer Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 11:02 am
@tantrum4, Not by percentage San Jose .579, LA Kings .580
bob Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:21 am
@DlParker,
Although I agree with you in that it’s time to make the move…I’m not necessarily convince DL has failed if he doesn’t. Look at this line-up, look at some of the players that have come up within the organization:
Kopitar
Brown
Quick
Bernier
Doughty
Simmonds
Loktionov
Martinez
Clifford
When was the last time you’ve seen this KINGS team filled with so much homegrown talent? Umm, never? DL has done a good job building this team with a little help from DT…and I think his only fear is screwing that up! I don’t see many players that are known to be available to risk losing one or two of those players above….maybe PENNER.
You aren’t going to get a quality player like a Heatley or Kovalchuk without giving up young, skilled roster players. SO, who do you give up?
[Reply]
rick Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 11:14 am
@bob, You give up Simmonds, Bernier and/or Clifford depending on what you get in return. All can be replaced.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
@bob, I think the move that would most help the Kings is a risk. Brad Richards is the gamble I would take, but its 3 fold first Dallas must play itself out of contention or close to it, second being able to make the trade and third hoping he is fully back from injury in time to help. We have good relations with Dallas Management, they are dropping like a rock, and his injury timetable has him returning in the last week of Feb. I think he is one of the couple guys out there that could make a sizable difference for us
[Reply]
Howe 9 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:30 am
@DlParker,
Yes, he did say if we made the playoffs he would try to get us the scorer we need. And Arte Moreno said he would spend anything to get the Angels the big hitter they need. Sometimes the player is just not there. Can’t sign a player just because. So much goes into it that we really have no idea what’s going on. I believe Lombardi & Moreno both tried – but they also have to be reasonable.
[Reply]
granados Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:34 am
@Howe 9,
[Reply]
gene Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:40 am
@DlParker, Agree 100%. TM for some reason never wants to help our team at the end of the trading season. You notice all the other GM’s are starting to get better but here we sit like the past.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:48 am
@gene,
So he “never wants to help our team at the end of the trading season”? I suppose you have a source to back up your accusation???
Anyway, you could not be more wrong. He “helped” the team by unloading POS near the end of “trading season”. He, at least, tried by picking up Modin and Halpern last season. Look at what he has done over the past four years at the deadline. He sold when the Kings were sellers, and he bought last year.
[Reply]
jet Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:09 am
@DlParker, “Doug Wilson got Danny Heatley Lou got Kovalchuk” and those two teams combine for a .500 record.
Are you really DL’s agent making the case for an extension?
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:31 am
@jet, Nice blat dude ! I am proud of you !
[Reply]
Dave's a Killer Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 11:28 am
@DlParker, I guess you are assuming that DL is just sitting in his office waiting for someone to call him. My guess is that he is very active. behind the scenes, and, as mentioned a thousand times on this blog, the first word he hears is Schenn. Who is available that you would trade Schenn for? Nobody
[Reply]
DlParker Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
@DlParker, I am not suggesting that I wanted either one of those players but I was pointing out that other GM can get a deal done for a impact player. As far as DL job I think he has done a very good job with our Farm however our Farm system is full and we have Juniors ready to come up to the AHL team and we have an over abundance of Centers and Defenseman it is time we send some prospects out to get our impact player. Kopi deserves some other talent to play along side of him he has proven himself and management needs to deliver. I think if we look at someone along the lines of Booth,Milhalek, Glencross that might suit or needs.
[Reply]
jet Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
@DlParker, but that is my point. the other GMs got your impact player and look where those teams are now. Are Booth,Milhalek, Glencross impact players or marginal footnotes in a long season.
[Reply]
Jamesonafterawin Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
@DlParker, From the tone of the interview he already has, Sturm.
[Reply]
Seems A Good Fellow Reply:
February 16th, 2011 at 12:30 am
@DlParker, Sure, a top six forward would be nice. What do we give up? Draft picks? Picks/Prospects…Schenn?? I look around at the teams who are 100% sellers as of today, and all I see are a bunch of inconsistent top 6 types. Hemsky has 10 goals this year. He is definitely capable of scoring 25-30 but do we give up a 1st rounder and some prospects? Hell no! Penner? Same thing…he hasn’t shown any consistency throughout his career. S. Weiss from Florida? Eh??? Bottom line is we are scoring enough right now to win games and our best players are in goal scoring slumps. We have allowed the fewest goals in the league at 132 and defense is what will win us a playoff series or four! There is no need to trade picks or prospects or roster players and jeopardize the very bright future this team has.
[Reply]
Seems to me like he’s not gonna make a move. Maybe he feels if we can keep up the defensive play and sneak back into the top 8 we can take our chances with scoring, looking towards a healthy Parse, Sturm, etc.
[Reply]
DlParker Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:17 am
@Jason4Kings, No he is setting up for Failure everyone he has tried to acquire he has lost out on because he is cheap and cherishes his draft picks. He selling is same old line young team they need to learn to win and we are ahead of schedule on our plan and I won’t jeopardize that.
When in fact Fisher went for 2 draft picks and Versteeg went for 2 draft picks.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:24 am
@DlParker,
Perhaps you could head to the lab and clone the player(s) we need because they certainly are not (currently known to be) out there on the mark
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:32 am
@DlParker
Not to jump on you, I see things that I would like changed, too. But we now have a promising future, something I have not seen since the Deadmarsh/Allison days crashed.
DlParker Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
@USHA#17, Players are always available who ever thought Joe Thornton would be available or Wayne Gretzky was availabke
Quisp Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:28 am
@DlParker,
And neither of those players fit the need. Let’s hear who you have in mind. Who should he target and what should he give up in trade?
[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
@Quisp,
My choice – David Booth out of Florida for a #1 and either Hickey or Teubert. He’s has a 31 goal season on a bad team. I think he’d improve with Kopi. He’s locked in at (I think) 4.1 mil for the next 2 years? We could lock up a potential 40 goal scorer for that kind of money for at least a year? I believe you do that IMO.
Scott Parse would be left in the lurch here unless Sturm or Poni gets dumped or benched, although it doesn’t matter after Feb 28th.
P.W. Herman Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:28 am
@DlParker,
fisher and versteeg are worthless in a LA Kings uniform. the Kings have players more than competent than those two. the Kings need a SNIPER, a quality goal scorer, someone Kopi can pass to all game long and put the puck in the net.
[Reply]
Quisp Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:29 am
@DlParker,
Re “cheap and cherishes his draft picks.”
I’m sure Toronto doesn’t miss theirs.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:56 am
@Quisp,
“I’m sure Toronto doesn’t miss theirs.” HA!
nykingfan Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:40 am
@DlParker,
which one of those guys is a LW?
So you just want him to make a trade for trades sake?
If they want Simmer/schenn/Lokti included in a deal for a top 6 foward, you’re ok with that too?
Kovi didn’t do much to help NJ. they didn’t get far last year in the playoffs and they’re not going to see the playoffs at all this year with Kovi.
as far as his cheapness or his cherished draft picks…you mean guys like Simmonds, Lokti, Doughty, JJ (trade),schenn, etc I can go on and on..but which of those cherished draft picks would you have dumped for a top 6 forward?
[Reply]
ih8theducks Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:53 am
@nykingfan, exactly, I can’ seem to figure out where some of these people are coming from.
Michael J. Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:54 am
@DlParker,
One thing that some of us do not consider is that Philly’s #1 is probably going to be somewhere between pick #25 and #30. The Kings #1 will probably fall between pick #15 and #20. Sometimes a first round draft pick does not equal a first round draft pick. It is more likely than not that the price Philly is paying will turn out to be much less than what the Kings would have paid – for a player who plays a position the Kings are deep at.
Not the same deal, for a player the Kings do not need.
[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:54 am
AAnthony? is that you?
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:36 am
@fsd1, Outstanding ! I miss that guy ! @cliffordfan too !
number 6 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:27 am
@DlParker,
…. what all the guys said makes perfect sense. Why just get someone to get someone. On top of which, we already have an issue with too many players on the roster so I don’t see the point in getting Another guy unless he is A) a major upgrade over what we have and/or B) a left winger.
[Reply]
Why would Versteeg help us? We have enough right wingers that are comparable or better. Even Holmgren compared Versteeg to Justin Williams.
[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:46 am
@Purple Ghost,
because he’s on another team.
It doesn’t matter who it is…some people will take any player just as long as it’s a trade!
Why would people consider the fact that he has 1 more pt than Stoll and is a -13?
Who cares that he plays right wing? don’t you realize that in fantasy hockey you can take a RW and move him to the LW without a hiccup?
(100% sarcasm!)
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:51 am
@nykingfan, Yep. Even If it was a defenseman that some other team aquired, “it’s a move the Kings should’a made”, because that has everything to do with our need for a top left winger.
[Reply]
leo of pico Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:14 am
@Purple Ghost, he would have looked good with Lokt and Brown on the 3rd line but not for that price
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:39 am
@leo of pico, Agree with that assessment. However, I will say this…I bet Chicago misses him and Big Buff a ton !
[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 11:37 am
@puck73,
I agree..they miss both of them a lot, but that’s the price you pay when you start signing the big names to F/A contracts. The heart and soul guys are the ones that have to be moved…guys like Simmonds on the Kings. Even if he’s not used in a trade, you can’t afford to keep your studs (doughty,kopi,JJ), big name F/A’s, and heart and soul guys while working with a cap. Something has to give…it’s always the guys who are incredibly instrumental in winning, but lack the 50 goal resume.
that’s why I lvoe the fact that DL keeps his eye on the big picture. He knows what it will take to keep all the necesary guys in the fold and what he can afford on the outside. It’s not an open checkbook like some would want.
Kenny 44 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
@puck73, Well, it’s hard to ridicule the price Philly paid for Versteeg, a 24-year old vet/champion with skill, grit, an Alpha attitude, and a couple years left on his contract. He’s a heart and soul guy who can play. OTOH, last year DL sent Purcell and a 3rd round pick to TB to rent Jeff Halpern for a month.
Alternate Governor? When did DL add that to his title? I find that quite interesting…..
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 11:05 am
@Cynic, Dean is climbing up the company ladder..lol
[Reply]
rick Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 11:18 am
@Cynic, Means nothing. I am the Alternate King of England.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
@rick, That should be your new blogging name. Rick aka “The Alternate King of England” That would be an awesome screen name. LOL
[Reply]
Scoring 5 on 5 is still my biggest issue too DL. That and the power play, but that’s more Kompon and TM, but if you reduce it down to its lowest common denominator, that’s still your fault. Love the build and the make up of the team, but there’s 1 hole thats been apperent for a couple of seasons now. So go out there and fill it, so everyone can stop focusing on that 1 line up flaw.
[Reply]
tantrum4 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:35 am
@Dominick,
I’m curious as to why people think it’s so easy to just go out and trade for a top 6 winger? Do you honestly think other GM’s are just sitting there waiting to trade away their best players? I don’t get it.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:44 am
@tantrum4, I’m not claiming it’s easy. I’m just pointing out the same weakness that everybody else has been pointing to for years, and is still there. Nothing wrong with calling for an end to it, is there?
[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:56 am
@Dominick, and you dont think Sturm was a try to fix the LW problem?
USHA#17 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:56 am
@Dominick,
Nothing at all. The good news is that this is just the opening act. Get Doughty to sign on the line, adjust the wings and next year should be even better
tantrum4 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:02 am
@Dominick,
No there’s not but saying it’s DL’s “fault” because he hasn’t traded for a LW is silly IMO. He’s tried to land the big fish over and over but it’s not his fault they decide to sign elsewhere for ridiculous money.
Michael J. Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:02 am
@Dominick,
C’mon Dom! If you were a GM would you give Dean exactly what he needs? At a fair price?
My guess is that Dean will not fill in one box by emptying another. Successful business pracitce do not solve one prolem by causing another.
Dominick Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:11 am
@Micheal J, obviously you’ve never read anything I’ve ever posted because I’d never ask for an overpayment, and would defend DL if he chose not to overpay. C’mon guys, your making it seem like calling for an end to it means I want him to sell the future or something.
I see they are raising the season ticket prices for next year. At least they are up in the die hard section. The seats only went up a buck though.
[Reply]
Perhaps the most telling interview spot was Lombardi’s (seeming) admission that he had little or no interest in Kovalchuk (in the context of money and future).
This alone should have bloggers looking at ownership handcuffing management last summer as a proximal reason for the current scoring gap.
[Reply]
Howe 9 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:55 am
@USHA#17,
Yeah, the money & years we offered were peanuts.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:10 am
@Howe 9,
Thinking (if) ownership directed Lombardi to remain in the bidding circus by the time it ended the FA market have been picked clean. The smart move was to stand pat in the circumstance. A good (non)move in my view.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:48 am
@Howe 9, Exactly. The Kings offerd him and Grossman 80 million dollars. I am not upset that he chose New Jersey, what upsets me is that New Jersey gave this guy 22 million more then we offered him ! Talk about stupidity and overpaying ! I am guessing that Parise and his agent must be thinking…if Kovi is worth 102, how much should we be getting ?
[Reply]
Kenny 44 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
@USHA#17, Yes, that was a very telling admission (he said it twice very clearly). So, is he lying now or was he lying at the start of training camp when people questioned why we were relatively inactive in the FA market after a breakthrough season? Remember that DL said he spent so much time chasing Kovi, that he lost opportunities to go after other players that were off the board by the time Kovi signed with NJ. At the time it seemed like we ended up with Mitchell and Poni basically by default. Mitchell has been a good sign. Poni has not fit in, for the reasons of injury, his own effort, and TM jerking him around (probably in equal parts).
DL has a mixed record. He’s been principled at building from within, but not hugely successful at it after 5 years. The Smyth trade was the right deal at the right time. His other trades, signings, and draft picks have been hit and miss. He’s been politicking all year. I hope he stows that and gets down to business soon.
[Reply]
I love Dean Lombardi and I love his interviews. He is straightforward and honest and lays his cards on the table for everyone to see. And he is absolutely right about this team and youth and growing pains.
I do tire of the constant criticism of him…patience can be a virtue people when it is combined with thoughtful planning. If many of the critics of DL here had their way this team would already be dismantled and filled with overpriced, overrated has-beens like Jeremy Roenick playing as if this were their retirement.
[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 9:56 am
@rontheking, agree 110%!
[Reply]
tantrum4 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:03 am
@fsd1,
Agree
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:50 am
@rontheking, Agree. A lot of people are in love with “Name” players. If thats what you are all about as a fan, then go root for the Rangers…they love pissing away draft picks, and paying guys more then they are worth.
[Reply]
i have always said that Dustin Brown was a 3rd line player and that little guy Brad Richardson is in the right place now somebody has smelled the coffee the LA Kings are doing it right and with Sturm if he is healthy he will help in the playoffs this year they just need a small adjustment a character guy who can put the puck on net for the 4th line just sombody solid not no big name guy i like this team if Simmonds just can keep going even though the 2 assist he got in the Washington game was very lucky and also they still have another little guy in the minors named Oscar waiting for his chance
[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:07 am
@leo of pico, I must take issue with your “his 2 assists were lucky” statement.
Those two assists were two of the nicest assists anyone on the team has gotten all year! Got the puck in a good area and drove HARD to the net immediately. With skill on the puck and strength he powered it into the crease and caused chaos with defenders and goaltender alike. One of his team mates pounced on the opportunities that Wayne presented and BAM! 2 excellent, skilled assists.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:24 am
@leo of pico,
Brown did not belong on the first line and being there hurt his confidence. He is in a much better space now and playing better for it…
Simmonds assists were well earned points. If not then every goal scored off a rebound is luck, not to mention that Simmonds carried those pucks to the net.
I can not see Sturm being more then a distraction. He does not have the playing time in. Remember Williams last year? And Handzus the year before?
Also one of Sturm’s goals was a Kopitar shot off his back.
H
[Reply]
something is amiss….an interview with deano that was only 4 mins long? or maybe they just didn’t have enough airtime to let him say what he really feels.
[Reply]
With all the trade talk, the one thing I don’t want to have happen is a forced trade for the sake of making a trade. I trust Dean, he knows what we need. Don’t forget that most teams want our young kids or a current player. Who would you really want to give up
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:57 am
@spidey35, Agreed, I trust DL as well. Also, I think a lot of fans of other teams are starting to realize that Lombardi is smarter then they thought and extremely patient as well.
[Reply]
What I don’t understand is if you are going to go young, bring up the youth. Instead we hardly use our prospects and trade them away or they leave when their contract is up and we never used them. Look at Moulson, Boyle and Purcell. Hardly played here, but making an impact on their respective teams. Look for Moller, Vey, Voynov, Shenn to be lighting the lamp for another team before they suit up for the Kings.(I realize Moller has played some) And we will get nothing for them. A waste of a draft pick. Right now most of our prospects will never see the NHL with the Kings, so lets get something for them and/or trade our future picks. We need a top scorer. We already have a core of young players locked up long term.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 11:39 am
@iekingfan71, Not a bad call on getting a top LW while these young guys still have value. As far as the other guys you mentioned going elsewhere and having success…welcome to the wonderful world of having depth, this is what happens when you stockpile…you cant keep them all, and you are going to miss on some of them as well…nature of the business.
[Reply]
spidey35 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 11:43 am
@iekingfan71,
I agree on the former players. I get frustrated when I see how well they are doing with other teams and wonder why they don’t do well with the Kings. I don’t know if its the system, location, weather or whatever…….I guess you just have to move on. I do think of all the current players named in your list, schenn will be the one to stay on the team.
[Reply]
kingfletch Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@spidey35, Vey and Moller are the only ones from your list i would consider moving. I still have a small bit of hope for Moller, but he is running out of chances.
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I have a lot of faith in DL. I think he is outstanding. When I read those that put him down it virtually always from those which appear to have the least amount of knowledge and/or patience. What DL is doing is setting up to be competitive for a long long time much the same way Detroit has built their system. Much rather see this than a one or two year shot. Yeah, it paid off for Chicago for one year, but how many years did we see it fail in cities like New York and how long now will Chicago have to wait to be one of the top teams.
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Goring 19 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
@KC23, well said my man! A perfect assessment of what continually goes on this blog day in and day out.
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very much appreciated rich thank you!
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Just a thought. Untill the NHL outlaws fighting (which they will never do period) most teams will carry players that can stick up for the high priced forwards and D Men who dont fight. I.E. look at what Toronto did yesterday. Brain Burke is one of the best GM’s the NHL has (look at his record ) and he traded for another heavey weight. I hope we never get rid of Westy or if we do we get another heavey weight because that type of player is still needed.
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rick Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
@gene, The Red Wings seem to be doing pretty good without a heavyweight.
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jet Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
@rick, but since playoff hockey started they are 7-6-1, not so good for a playoff team.
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gene Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
@rick, Detroit is the one exception you have. Look at the Eastern teams and tell me one that doesnt have some heavey weights.
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With so many teams in playoff contention tempers are running high all over the league maybe having your enforcer suited up isn’t such a bad idea.
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