Potatoe1 wrote:Zamboni Driver wrote:
Seems to me that we are looking for a 2nd line center. Not a 1st, not a 3rd (AKA Pahlsson)
Given that Kesler is out until Nov or Dec, and will probably not be back in form until a month or two later, we're going to need a solid 2nd line center for most of the season. Having Kesler ease his way back with 3rd line duties and then having 3 bona fide pivots come playoff time would be nice.
I'm not terribly worried about the first few months of the season.
Second line centers are typically quite expensive to trade for or sign so picking one up just to fill in while Kesler gets healthy might not be the best use of assets.
Fair enough - and agreed pot.
But who do you see being our long-term 3C solution? Lapierre? Malhotra?
If need be, I'm actually reasonably ok w Lapierre there, as I think he's earned a look at a longer stretch as the 3rd line pivot. He was pretty damn good during the Cup run.
I'm just not at all convinced that MM can handle more than spot duty. Such a drop-off since the injury.
So: Sedin, Kesler, Lapierre, Malhotra - could work, but could be so much better.
Sedin, Lapierre / Schroeder, Lapierre / Schroeder, Malhotra - for two+ months scares the fuck out of me. Adding Ebbett to that stir fry doesn't spice it up much either.
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What are people's thoughts on Fleischmann? I don't really know anything about the player, except that he had some kind of health problem?...
A friend suggested that we could try and snag him in a Luongo trade w the Cats b/c he can supposedly play both centre and wing. He could help plug the hole in Kes' absence, and then slot over when he returns.
This is why an asshole like Ott would have been so damn handy.