Richards to NYR

[MSP4LYFE]

agreed. I think Connolly can work well with Kessel. You think Kadri makes it to that line by mid season? I think a Kadri-Connolly-Kessel line would be pretty dangerous.

I think it would be dynamic too, but ultimately too soft now that I think about it. It's probably more likely that Kadri takes over for Mac as the playmaker on the second line with Grabovski and Kulemin.

[Shep]

Another soft guy on our top line...

[Nick]

Like Richards isn't soft? He's a Superior offensive player, faster and more dynamic, but not going to bring any physical presence to the team.

Honesty our grit is on D, and it's as tough as you'll find anywhere.


I'm really impressed with Burke this off-season.

[Shep]

Like Richards isn't soft? He's a Superior offensive player, faster and more dynamic, but not going to bring any physical presence to the team.

Honesty our grit is on D, and it's as tough as you'll find anywhere.


I'm really impressed with Burke this off-season.

Yeah but he's 5 times the player Connolly is. And I'm a big Connolly fan.

[anton]

I think it would be dynamic too, but ultimately too soft now that I think about it. It's probably more likely that Kadri takes over for Mac as the playmaker on the second line with Grabovski and Kulemin.

our whole top 6 is soft so let's just get over that point. with the crop we have now there is no way for our top 6 not to be soft. so we might as well just throw as much skill and creativity on one line as possible.

[Lee]

Mikhail Grabovski is the grit in our top 6.

Let that sink in.

[Scott]

Mikhail Grabovski is the grit in our top 6.

Let that sink in.

Kulemin and Lupul say hi

[Lee]

Lupul hasn't been able to open a bag of chips with out injuring himself since 2008

[MSP4LYFE]

our whole top 6 is soft so let's just get over that point. with the crop we have now there is no way for our top 6 not to be soft. so we might as well just throw as much skill and creativity on one line as possible.

You misunderstand me, when I say soft (in this case) I am referring specifically to a players ability to retrieve pucks in the corner, and work along the boards. Kessel cannot play that style, and Kadri is still growing, and learning an NHL game. Each line needs at least one player who can fulfill that role, those two players are Kulemin and Lupul.

[MSP4LYFE]

I'd say Connolly is in the 2nd tier of amazing, fancy-handed mofo's.

Dats, Sid, Jagr, maybe kovalchuk and JT

Then the 2nd group, led by Vinny,kovalev and ribby IMO. Oddly enough I'd say rnh will be in this group, Connolly is here with a bunch of guys with filthy mits, giroux, gagner, skinner... Etc. No doubt they are amazing though

JT is in the third tier of stickhandlers, if Giroux, Ribeiro and Kovalev are in the second tier. (IMO)

And FTR, I wouldn't put Crosby in the top tier of stick handlers either.

For me personally...

1st Tier:

Pavel Datsyuk
Tim Conolly
Jaromir Jagr
Alexei Kovalev
Alexander Semin

2nd Tier:

Mike Ribeiro
Patrick Kane
David Perron
Tyler Ennis
Sidney Crosby
Evegni Malkin

3rd Tier:

Claude Giroux
John Tavares
Vincent Lecavalier
Jason Spezza
Jeff Skinner
Nicklas Backstrom
Alexander Ovechkin