Elliotte Friedman: Chychrun May Be Available
- Thread starter HeadInjury
- Start date
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jt
Lurker
Yeah but that's not really what I'm getting at. The real question is "Can Lizotte be a 4C on a playoff team?" IMO, the fact that Sundqvist and Beagle can be 4Cs, I think Lizotte can be. Ideal? Perfect? No. But compared to 4Cs on lots of other Cup contenders? Yup. For god's sake, Howden (or sometimes Amadio) is VGK's 4C.
Not to go too far off on a tangent, but if you look at the 4C on other "serious Cup contenders" are they really significantly better than Lizotte?
santiclaws
I was in the pool!!
Why, did someone report that Crouse is available? Because I hear Evander Kane may be...
Helvetica
Top Forward
i had read a few days back that Crouse miiiight be available. Forgot about it. Then saw something today about an eastern conference exec saying something to the effect of, "i expect Crouse to go to TB". He'd be an ideal player for us. Size and some skill in a 200ft package.
DryKing
Power Forward
I think he is good enough, but the question is come playoff time will his presence add enough to the team, over other centers in our system, to warrant the roster spot. To me, the answer is no as a center but he could as a winger.
He'd be a great pickup if available. Considering the news outlets like to report Toronto, Tampa, etc will get all available players I guess the eastern conference exec just likes to follow suit. TB also does not have the cap space without sending back and active roster player and don't have too many upcoming FAs to fit the bill so it would be interesting to see what they would offer for Crouse.
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jt
Lurker
Yeah, but IMO until someone EARNS the 4C spot, it's his. Don't gift it to a kid. It looks like Turcotte has already jumped him, but that's because he's earned it with his play in Ontario (and maybe show him off to trade partners).
I think he's good enough to be 4C this year for sure. They might be able to make moves to compete for the Cup, but until then get the kids experience and (hopefully) in the playoffs so they can learn.
Is he good enough when they're trying to be a Cup favorite? I dunno, was Fraser?
DryKing
Power Forward
Teams have definitely won the Cup with worse and it's hard to think that Lizotte would be in the NHL, given his size, unless he was above average. I'd just really like to see him convert to wing so that he can hopefully stay around long term.
On a side note, Turcotte really seems like a player who makes everyone on his line better. Looking forward to seeing him continue to grow with the Kings.
The thing about Lizotte is that he's a good face off man and a good pk guy. So in that frame yes he can be the 4c on a playoff team. The nut is that Todd is playing him 12-15 a night which isn't a recipe for success in the playoffs. They get him to 6 mins of 5-5 with 2-3 mins of pk time and sure I'm on board.
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jt
Lurker
I've ragged on Turcotte for being a failed pick at #5. But I want to say that he looks like a legit NHLer. It will be fascinating to watch him develop, whether it's with the Kings or not.
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Dirtweazle
Lurker
Im thinking Lizzy is just a place holder for JAD to get his **** together at that 4th (3rd) line spot. Right now Lizzy is making it harder by every game. Nice skate to stick goal there bud.
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Illegal_Stick
Lurker
100% he can. Start of the year I was arguing with someone because he wasn't looking great and they felt he should be scratched, waived etc. At the time I said, look this is not a guy you're going to have on a cup team, but right now until someone can out WORK him, he should stay right where he is. He kept working his butt off and now he's getting results, he's a perfect 4th line C for a cup team as long as you keep some size/toughness with him imo.
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hokiecat
Lurker
IMO, the Kings have a championship 4th line. We don't have champion 1-3 lines but #4 is great. Kaliyev is an offensive threat every time he touches the puck. Pepe is an antagonist. And Lizotte is constantly in motion and making things happen at both ends of the ice. Lizotte reminds me a bit of Quick right now. Remember how Quick was the placeholder until Bernier came in and we had a goaltender with pedigree to lead us? Lizotte is the 4C placeholder but I don't see how you get him out of the lineup right now. I'm not long on Lizotte but I cannot see sitting him while the 4th line is playing so well.
I'm looking for people to sit when QB is ready to play and I think Kupari is the logical candidate. Moore would have been but he's been excellent on the 2nd line. So I would not sit him even though I don't think he is a long-term fit in the top 6.
I'm looking for people to sit when QB is ready to play and I think Kupari is the logical candidate. Moore would have been but he's been excellent on the 2nd line. So I would not sit him even though I don't think he is a long-term fit in the top 6.
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VCRW
Lurker
The forward contributing the least is Dustin Brown, by a wide margin. Let's see if TM has the balls to healthy scratch him.
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jt
Lurker
That's really interesting analysis and it's hard to disagree.
The way this team is playing RIGHT NOW, they can make a long run in the playoffs. But they've had so many ups and downs this season I'd expect the guys who are carrying the team right now to go cold again and then they need Kopi to be one their best players, which he isn't now. Can he? Definitely. But will he? I dunno. He's playing fine but they need more out of him to make a long playoff run.
I think if we consider Moore/Danault/Arvidsson the 2nd line and Lemieux/Lizotte/Kaliyev the 4th line, they're perfectly fine. But they need more out of Kopi as a 1C and if that's the 4th line, the 3rd line of Turcotte/Kupari/Brown is a problem. If Lemieux/Lizotte/Kaliyev is considered the 3rd line then all of the 1st, 3rd and 4th lines could pose problems in the playoffs.
DryKing
Power Forward
With all due respect, that is not even close to being true and I would not break up PP2 at the moment. Instead I would move PP2 to PP1 where it belongs.
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jt
Lurker
I think as a 4th liner, Brown is ok because his leadership and intangibles (like teaching the youngsters how to play "the right way") make up for his lower level of play. But we'll have to wait and see how he responds to being a 4th liner longer-term and as soon as that leadership and intangibles become less important, being a healthy scratch, which I be TM will do when the time is right.
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VCRW
Lurker
I forgot it wasn’t a poster in this thread asking who would be the subject of the next bitch thread. It was in yesterday’s GDT. Kurisu asked question and emsomaso provided the most likely answer as DB. I was just following the herd!
But seriously, I am having trouble thinking of Brown playing productively with anyone on this roster at this stage of his career - except Kopitar. I mean, I really liked Turcotte and Kupari together last night but DB doesn’t play at that pace.
I get it about the PP though.
DryKing
Power Forward
Yeah I can understand that. The team has gotten a lot faster which makes it tough for Brown, and even Kopitar, to keep up. Also interesting is it appears Vilardi is ready, or nearly ready, to make his return to NHL level. Based on skating, though, I wonder where he fits in or will he shoot straight to Kopi's line.
Kupari paired with Turcotte made for the best I have seen Kupari play - hope they stay together for awhile.
B
Bill Hicks
Lurker
That will be one very uncomfortable conversation when it happens.
B
Bill Hicks
Lurker
That's the beauty of things, right? I thought the same thing but man is Trevor excelling and maybe this is the real him.
