Hutchinson on waivers, Heward to the rescue

Defenseman Andrew Hutchinson simply played himself off the team and is on waivers with the intention of either trading him or, more likely, sending him to AHL Norfolk. He could clear at noon today. To replace the lost depth, Tampa Bay brought over veteran Jamie Heward, who, technically, is still on his tryout contract but is expected to sign a regular two-way deal. He has joined the team. It is unclear if he will play Saturday.

"That," hockey ops chief Brian Lawton said, "is up to the coaches."

As for Hutchinson, he is the preseason's biggest disappointment. Signed to a two-year, one-way, $1-million contract that pays the same whether he is in the NHL or the minors, Hutchinson was supposed to provide veteran leadership and play point on the power play. But he has struggled and played especially poorly Tuesday against HC Slovan.

"For whatever reason it's taken him a little bit to get comfortable and he wasn't playing his game," Lawton said." He was the AHL defenseman of the year last year and didn't perform that way."

Heward, who came to preseason on a tryout contract, said he was in Norfolk deciding whether to stay with the team as a player or coach or maybe some combination of both. He was there one day, when he got the call, hopping a flight to Atlanta and then to Prague. He showed up early this morning.

"It was a quick turnaround," he said. "I'm really excited to be here, there's no question about that."

Heward, 37, last played in the NHL in 2006-07, playing 71 games with the Kings and Capitals and getting six goals and 24 points. He played last season in Russia. He had two goals, 17 points in 53 games.

"My goal is to try to stay up here and help in any capacity I can," he said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Comments

[PD]

Well Chic it is sorta like the liars club but one guy has the fish the others dont.

Ajax your entire hockey accumen is what you glean from reading your zillion "blogs".

You bashed Kubina's value at 5 mill. I simply countered that at 5 mill he easily makes a case for himself with comparables and Ill back it up.
Just as I backed up the fact that I could have have built a much better team for the Bolts over the past year with the same budget.

Before I do that, how's about one piece of real fact rather than your anectdotal," zillion blog", evidence.

You won't because you are a faux drive by smear artist.

You also seem to equate fact with negativity if it pops your fantasy baloon.

[léo]

Kubina in Mtl???
What???
Did I miss something?
No, thank you.
We HAVE a 5th defenceman.
What's this, now?
P.

[Hockey Chic]

PD, Leo and of very own Ajax,

Wow you guys need to take chill pill. If I did not know any better I would say that this is like sitting at a liars table at a fishing tournament. Only to argue who caught the biggest fish.

Chic here looking for the silver liining and it is this, we are talking, kibitsing if you will over HOKCEY ain't it great. In addition contrary to some belief, I think it says a lot that leo and pd and others come to our blog to discuss hockey. NO matter how wrong they are they will argue till the cows come home.

Kubina was fun while he was here and he is no longer here nuff said. If he does better in Montreal so be it. I guess I just don't get it and I never will thankfully.

Lets just wish the boys well today and heres to kickin some ranger tail. I on the other hand will be sitting on my couch, cold one in hand (canadian of course) and screaming for my beloved bolts. Go MSL kick some butt....

Go Bolts!!

[léo]

But that's just it, Ajax. You're NOT reporting the news. You're reporting what some GUY says is the news. That AIN'T the news.
The news is YOU comin'up here and KNOWIN' the guys and KNOWIN' what's what from following everything they do, not JUST lookin' at the highlights that night and reading the recap next mornin' wit yer waffles'n'berries! Surely, you agree with this, sir.
That's why We REALLY know why Schneider, Recchi, Malakhov, Samsonov, Ribeiro and Theo left town or got RUN OUT OF IT and you don't, DESPITE what Puck Daddy says, or whatever other yahoo you choose to "report" instead of what the player in question's "aura" TELLS YOU from observing him for so long.
Ex: You wouldn't be worried about the Priceberg handling the pressure either.
If you had done THAT instead of FORWARDING some yahoo's evaluation (which I have no problem with, mind you) and passing it off as GOSPEL, we got a problem.
Cuz you're not saying "Hey, Leo, look at this guy's opinion." ; You're saying "Haha! Leo, look at the truth!"
Guess what? That clown's credentials extend as far as both OUR clown credentials, Ajax.
I just give my opinion. Craftily, arrogantly, jabbingly, heck, even a little crazely, but it remains an opinion, to be taken as such.
Schmoe would never say something like that if he KNEW the characters.
A LOT of pressure? Of course. Kovy to repeat. Koivu to carry the team all the way for REAL. (Does Puck Daddy know why he must do this?)
And believe it or not but MAYBE a kid under just as much pressure as the Priceberg? Guillaume. HE'S under a TON of pressure. Why?
Ask some yahoo who's been the revelation of training camp. Betcha he misses his first guess.
Yet EVERY Mtler knows the answer to EVERY single one of those queries.
Credentials?
We're the ones who give them OUT, Ajax.
P.

[mike p]

oh, and by the way...Bouwmeester, Hannan, Weber, Brewer, Kaberle, Streit, Regehr, Pitkanen, and Wideman, to name a few, are all players who make less than Kubina based on salary cap hit...do you still think he's worth it? It's overpaying that got tampa into the doghouse, so having kept a guy like kubina and overpaying him would have only made matters worse. Now, does that mean I think the new management is doing a good job with not overpaying? NO. A quick example of that is that if Malone does not play up to a 2nd or 1st line standard, 4.5MIL is an awful lot to pay for a 3rd or 4th line guy. But the bottom line is: TBay is better off without kubina!

[mike p]

PD you make me laugh!! Kubina worth every penny? Played outstanding in Toronto last season? I must have missed something for those some odd 70+ leafs games I watched (sad to say I watched so many but I get LeafsTV for free which is good for a couple tampa games)!! Obviously the player with the name Kubina on his back I was watching on my TV must not have been the Kubina you were talking about! Kubina's UFA signing was, dare i say it, maybe worse than Khabibulin's!

[ajax]

Back to insanity land. I am going to go out of character here. It has been building for sometime. I apologize in advance.
PD, Kubina is 5 million. I have finally figured you out. You come from lots of money, right. No one said Richards or Sundin or Kubina can't play but everyone says those guys are overpaid. You constantly argue they are good players but never associated the price tag and salary cap hit to them. You never seem to be able to say 8 million for this guy versus 6 million for that guy. Wow maybe the 8 million dollar guy is paid a little to high and you could get more for that 8 million. You wave this magical wand over the player and say he is better than your forward, never analyzing that for 8 million he better be better than my 2 million dollar guy with the same stats. Ya must be a rich kid.
Leo read Yahoo Hockey. They talk about the success and everything riding on a 21yr old goalie. I don't make the news I just report it. DOn't shoot the messenger. Yahoo Hockey..Puck Daddy or what ever, it is amazing how often PD slams people who write hockey for a living. No one knows what PD knows. I think I will print that on a T-shirt so everyone knows me on opening night. The magical insite of Mr. PD.
And PD, I can bet no one in hockey would rather have Kubina than Mezzy, especially at 5 million. PD you are a Toronto zealot, fess up, they have tried to move Kubina and have no takers.
And Leo what national hockey magazine do you work for other than mirror mirror on the wall who is the greatest Shab of all?? Never over estimate your own self worth youngster. That is not a hockey lesson, that is a life lesson. For you to talk down a senior hockey editor for a nation wide pub is kind of, let's say, from a distance, self promoting. And your credentials are from?????
Leo you are a charming lad, PD you are 110% negative of anything on the blog, but you guys don't even like the Bolts. I don't get it. Do you two really think you need to educate all of us on hockey?? The hockey lessons just never stop coming. It is amaziing how often I read the blogs and walk away saying, Those two are 110% sure that their opinion is fact. A thin line between confidence and arrogance. You might just be teetering on it.
I feel better, although I really feel worse, I took the bait instead of ignoring it. Sorry to all Bolt fans.

[PD]

Steve, (definately not SteveR) and Ajax...the florida hockey experts.
I would be happy to make a case for Pavel Kubina being well worth his 5 million vs comparably priced defencemen.

Proving the bs here is disgustingly easy.

What's is with some of you Florida bloggers , why do you slag guys like Richards, Kubina orHabby when in fact those three were the three most responsible for the Tampa Cup..its almost pathological. Its like they jilted you so you must hate them.

The way you do it is even more bizarre.Reading some blogs and finding one opinion that matches yours and then using it as anecdotal evidence that you are right somehow. Well Yahoo

Which one of the hockey clowns wants to build a case that Kubina isn't delivering value at 5 million vs other similarly priced defencement.

Bs await boys..I await.

[PD]

No Steve he's just better than any D on the Bolts..face the music

[Steve]

PD, Kubina was one of the worst UFA signings in the last several years, keep trying to defend it. What's next, he's a leading candidate for the Norris?

[PD]

Matthhew I missed the right now part and stand corrected.

[PD]

Thats our Yahoo er Puck Daddy.

Heh Ajax. Leafs are in a rebuild with half their guys under 25. Home grown, Tampa doesnt have too many of those and therefore is pooched.

My point on Kubina isnt that he is a stud rather he is better than anyone on the Bolts sad D and you slag him.

Thats funny

[léo]

Oh YAHOO says that?!
OOooooohh! Why didn't you that BEFORE.
Yahoo! Of course!
The hockey temple of knowledge, YAHOO, I kneel to your utter knowledge of everything that is to be known about the truth of hockey knowledge. I KNEEL to Yahoo, oh, yahoo, thy great knower on which we base the TRUTH of hockey. Yes. Yahoo.
Lemme guess: edited by Puck Daddy, right?
Ain't no puck yahoo gonna make my judgements for me.
Never said you couldn't make 17th. Did I, Ajax?
In fact, what DID I say? I just got here. I didn't say nuthin'.
It's ALL riding on the Kid? Really? Nobody else? Just the Kid? We're a one-player team? I didn't know that. I honestly thought we were the fastest, best passing team in the league, but what do I know, right?
Good thing Yahoo is there and knows the straight-dope.
P.

[Steve R]

Ajax, do you have a link to those rankings?

[ajax]

As previous Said, PD, your word is always Gospel. We have opinions, and you know the truth. And they all bowed and said Amen. That said I will report what I believe to be 100% truth. I have read a zillion blogs on the Toronto blog saying to "dump Kubina and his salary". A zillion. If you think Kubina is a good skater you need to sharpen up on your hockey eye. Good skater and Kubina have never ever been used in the same sentence. The guy takes his share of obstruction/holding penalties because lack of foot speed. He was 7th among Dmen in penalties PD. (116 minutes) and had zero fights. That is a ton of minor penalties, a ton. But once again that is my opinion versus your 110% truth. Nothing changes but the date. PS. Captain of the Leafs isn't exactly the honor it use to be, you know with the down swing and all. Kubina played awesome the year we won the cup. Like 19 ther people. Problem was the obstruction rule has killed alot of big strong stay at home Dmen. Cullimore was awesome, Sarich was awesome. It is 4 years later and I think all 3 of them have issues. Cullimore is unsigned. Sarich as previously noted was 6th in minutes at Calgary(do you think they are happy, giving him 3.5 mil and then giving him the fewest minutes?? obvious answer) I think his consecutive games streak ended in Calgary last year with some healthy scratches. Ouch!!
Toronto has all these stud players and yet haven't made the playoffs in three years. I will be scratching my head all night,but I am sure you will explain the truth for me PD. Thanks in advance. How many articles did I read in the last few months of Toronto trying to trade Kubina. Somehow I think that Salary was a bit to much for most teams to bite on. Maybe Vancouver, I hear they are throwing tons of dough at Leaf players?? Anywho back to the rest of us idiots.
Yahoo Hockey power rankings just came out. We were 28th 29th or 30th the whole last two months last year.
We start out the year ranked "17th"
Man, don't those guys confer with Leo and PD??
Toronto is at "27th" Shabs "6th" with sidenote, EVERYTHING rides on 21 yr old shoulders. Talking about nailing it on the head. For me they have some great blue lines and it makes the rest of the teams jobs so much easier (see how our forwards struggle with having to help so much) Also the Shab PPlay was unbelievable last year and darn near was the whole reason for their success. I will be surprized if they duplicate it. At the NHL level, teams will adjust. Without it the Shabs might be struggling a bit. We all know they get an extra PPlay a night just cause of the jersey. The joke since 1970 is when Toronto and Montreal play their are usually about 20 PPlays because the refs are so use to blowing their whistles at the opposing team. Not really a joke, but sad reality.
Brainstorm alert!!!! Maybe Yahoo Sports should fire their Hockey staff and hire PD? Belle!!!!

[matthew]

Oh yes PD read my comments over again I said Carle was #3 and O'brien #4 right now in fact if we had some defense the guy would be #6 in my book but since all we really have is ranger when healthy and Mezaros I really see this team struggling at D. I really want to see what Mihalak do this season he has the potential to be be a good #4 defenseman esspecially with his size kinda like Chara but without the offense!

[Steve]

Kubina worth every penny? Thanks, I needed a good laugh to kick off the day.

[PD]

Ajax you lost me with your undeserved shot at Kubina.
180 to your misinformation, Kubina played outstanding last year in Toronto.
You know, the very big aggressive D man that hits people hard and has a great touch on the power play.The one who can make a great quick pass or lug the puck out himself. The guy that was top two when the Bolts won their only.

He is worth every penny of his 5 compared to say Redden or many others.
They don't talk about making him captain lightly either.

Bone up on your material.

[Boltflasher]

Let me re-word....Yes, we need a stay at home and yes, Sarich and Kubina are now overpaid. I just lament over the zero that came back for their absence on defense and now we need a stay at home for the at least the 3rd line defense, but not at those alarming salaries as Ajax points out. But those are the salaries paid to a top 4 D-man and the Bolts don't have room for that now. However, its still early, no reason for panic yet, and as I have stated a couple of times, lets see where we are about 20 games in and not rush into trading an asset for a Dman right now...also, I agree someone may want Ouellet on the re-entry waiver for 1/2 price

[AJAX]

Things are getting a bit nervous, yes. My thoughts on lots. Kubina and Sarich are not gifted skaters, and are having the same problems in Toronto and Calgary that they would have here. Sarich was 6th in minutes among Calgary D(and first in penalties, not good for a non-fighter), and for 3.6 million, no thanks. Kubina has had his ups and downs playing for a bad team, but he has the same issues, great shot, good hands, no feet, tons of penalties, all of this for 5 million per. I think Kubina paired with a good skater good be a good addition for any team. He is a great penalty killer, strong rough etc..but not for 5 mil. No thanks. I think all of Toronto wished they could dump his 5 mil and probably will come trade time when Toronto will want to dump his salary and a contender picks him up for the run. Both guys have seen their value go down with out the clutch and grab era.
Many of you mention Picard. I never bought into Picard. He sat for Philly, came here, an of course got major minutes over Lundin Smaby and Janik. Read between the lines a bit. Those guys barely crack the NHl as a number 6 for our depleted D. He gets traded to Ottawa who loses both MEzzy and Redden and from what I hear he will be their number 6. Again he will not see any type of minutes, but everyone remembers him as a warrior of 20 minutes for us (Lundin 14, Janik 9 Smaby 12} Come on gang, Picard beat out a bunch of stiffs and now is back to where he belongs, Battling for a spot in the NHL. I read one Ottawa newspaper who stated "limited upside" and "will not be seeing major playing time" Hutchinson? what a major dissappointment for the brass. AHL D player of the year, and obviously played his way out of a job. NHL/AHL miles apart. Like good hockey(USA) and bad Hockey(Canada) Has Lord Stanley been banned from Canada, anyone got some research on this??
Which leads me to reality. Smaby I think can help kill penalties but he is not an NHL player. He is slower than slow. He has had every opportunity to make this club and they go out and grab a retired 37yr old?? If he was a player this wouldn't even be an option for Hollywood. There is no clear cut difference between Heward and Smaby?? If Smaby was a player this wouldn't come close, by a mile to be the answer?? Follow??
Our D woes, I am sure, are alot more of concern to Melrose and Hollywood then they were on paper a month ago. Getting Ranger back will help big time. But when??
I am keeping the faith. Someone will want Ouellet. He has 52 goals in only 187 NHL games. He will be picked up by someone. They will have to bite the bullet and move one of the top 9 guys, I think this is the sad reality.
I will bet the house it ain't Marty. Vrbata and Prospal wouldn't surprize me a bit. Ward, Craig will only bring back Janik. I know nothing about this Hall kid, but AT 600k surely if he can play they will want to keep him. Recchi and Gratton will probably be dangled as well.
Guys we have a surplus at forwards. We had no options last year, this year we do have some guys that teams will want, other than the stars(like last year) It might take longer than we like but, Injuries are a part of the NHL. When forwards go down, we will have the phone ringing. Hopefully sooner than later.
Times are tight, even in the NHL, especially in the NHL. We all begged Hollywood to spend and they did. When the financial dust settles I am 110% confident we will be better than last year. No way will we be the worst team in the league this year, no way. If Halpern comes back, please please, this will give us another proven forward to trade. I don't want anyone to get hurt but a couple ankle tweaks here and there to some forwards around the league would really help in the next two weeks. And they all said, Amen.

[Don in St. Pete]

Flasher, What has gotten into you? You sound like RBC. We have a good team overall, but need a single stay at home defensive type guy. Without this guy we finish 18-30 With him we finish 8-12, plenty of room to make the playoffs whill still fieldin a good squad. Look at what the Kings gave up to get McDonnell?

[Boltflasher]

I agree with an earlier post, everthing can't be fixed immediately, we will have to be patient...and see how it goes over the first 20 games....

[Boltflasher]

sorry about the repeat, I got an error message on the first post...

[Boltflasher]

Again, for the 1000th time, just who is going to trade a top 4 D-man for our excess overpaid forwards?? Ouellet was not even picked up off waivers...The best thing Bolts can do is watch the waiver for someone, probably expensive, being dumped due to salary....and then we had that opportunity with Schneider didn't we? but could not due to our own cap situation..it is not an easy fix gentlemen....

[Boltflasher]

As regards getting a top 4 dman....for the 1000th time, you don't get those for extra forwards on your team that aren't even chosen on waivers...yes, the Bolts need one but unless they trade a top forward they won't get one unless its an expensive one that some team needs to lop off its cap...like Schneider, but the Bolts didn't have the cap room to claim him off waivers...Most good GMs won't let their top Dmen get away for nothing (unlike here when the team got nothing for Kubina or Sarich)...man, wouldn't Cory Sarich been nice to have?

[PD]

Matthew if you really think Ranger
is a #1 and Obrien a #3???
Then I get why you think all is well.

[bingo]

The count of games for losing the Waiver number is 80 games. That is why lundin if sent down must clear waivers. Smaby, Mihalik and Ramo are not at those numbers.

Can't wait for Saturday.

Go BOlts
Bingo

[Steve]

Don't think anyone is saying to give up, just be realistic as to what is going to be available on the trade market and what we'd have to give up. If we are really going to wait for a top 4 defenseman, I don't see that happening until the trade deadline when other teams are out of it and willing to trade a top 4 d. If we get anything now it would be another team's 6th or 7th defenseman, nothing more.

[matthew]

Don is right on with his last comment couldnt put it any better! So why dont we make a move!

[mike p]

Hockey Chic, I'm guessing that there was nobody at the lightning preseason game(s) with the ability to update the official nhl.com scoresheet? I can't understand why else they wouldn't, except for maybe because it wasn't against an NHL team...but that doesn't make sense about the rangers then. Mind you, T wasn't able to see the scoresheet from any rangers, pens, or sens games against nonNHL teams so that might be your answer!

[Don in St. Pete]

I'm not sure you give up the idea of improving your club via trade, not matter what the percieved market. As Leo and PD have mentioned, the Leafs and sHabs have extra defensemen as do the Preds and Panthers. It's no secret that some of those teams are desperate for help on offense. I've hashed this out many times before so I won't do it again, but I guarantee you moves will be made before the games begin stateside. If we stand pat we're risking a couple of teams in our division or conferense getting better, while we do nothing. Not only do we need to rebuild the team but we also need to rebuild the culture of winning.

[Adam]

Yes yes...we must have patience on this new club and coaches. Hopefully, we will be pleasantly surprised in 20 games. I believe this team will be more consistent this year...more depth, less reliant on mvp line, etc etc. I will add this....out of all the guys they released/traded...I think I will miss Picard the most. He was flat out hustle and effort.

[Hockey Chic]

Let the games begin guys and gals. So the question that Max asked is worth exploring I believe.

Is it indeed out of the question to take a strong forward and move him to a D position or is this only done in the little leagues?

Another question why are there no stats on any of the preseason games? Is this something else that is governed by the NHL and as such a no-no until the regular season. If that is the case why are the rangers stats available. Or is it our web page for the Bolts.

I know I am full of questions today enlighten me please....

Go Bolts!!!

[Marosh]

hey boys,

Is there any chance to use a nickname only for one person???

Some stupid man uses mine, it isn´t fair I think.

But I think DON, Mike, McGZ know that wasn´t me.

Thanks

[Steve]

RBC, I agree with you completely. As we have seen there is no market for our spare forwards (Tarnaksy, Ouellett, Konopka...), and we sure as hell aren't going to get a top 4 defenseman unless we are willing to trade one of our top prospects (e.g. Wishart, Smaby...) and/or give up a high draft pick to a team with a surplus of defenseman. If as mentioned elsewhere it's about supply and demand, clearly we have a supply of forwards that there is no demand for. And by the way, there are numerous teams still looking for a defenseman, so the demand there is huge so what does that say about the price?

[matthew]

Hey what did we trade to get sydor back in the day like nothing. We have a lot of picks still have decent scoring depth with Halpren, Oulette, and ward can contribute is some capacity. Its not like we need a #1 guy. Ranger was #2 last year when boyle was injured he was #1 so we dont need a #1 or #2 those roles are filled by Ranger because even though he wont play in Prague he will be ready in Tampa Mezaros is #2 Carle and O'brien #3 and #4 respectively. Niskala #5 and Mihalak #6 all we need is a #3 or #4 defensive defenseman with all the guys I said we can offer Halpren Oulette ward and some draft picks! You guys act like this is a serious situation and its not!

[Casper]

No doubt Norfolk is where Wishart needs to be right now. I hold my breath with teachings from Rumble though...

But somehow Mihalik escaped, for the moment...

I'm going to hate seeing the Stinking Panthers, though it may be interesting when we face up. Our (alleged) high octane offense against their defense (adding Boynton and Ballard to join Bouwmeester, sheesh! I've harped about Killer 'B's HERE for so many years...), schooled by one of my all time favorites, Denis Potvin.

I'll be soaking my 'rosies' in gin that game, for sure!

Every shift. Every game. Win.

Go Bolts!

[Word]

Heward? Scraping bottom now..Hutchinson is nothing more than a AHL lifer...

[coach bill]

Casper- I also like Wishart but he is not going to make it this year. He looked very tentative in camp. He's only 18, and some maturity in Norfolk will be just what he needs. Hopefully our braintrust has some trades in line. Why else did they load up so much with forwards? And then trade off our supposed starters? ( Tarnasky, Oulette?)

[California Kevin]

Heward will serve as a veteran presence and like Luke Richardson when he was with here, will play very few minutes. He is the 7th defenseman and defense development player-coach. It seems that they want Smaby to play 20 minutes a game in the minors instead of riding the bench in Tampa. His style fits well with all the rushing D we have (probably a good fit with Carle)so this is a plan to develop him for next year. If memory serves, over 70 NHL games requires a player to clear waivers before going down to the minors.

[California Kevin]

Heward will serve as a veteran presence and like Luke Richardson when he was with here, will play very few minutes. He is the 7th defenseman and defense development player-coach. It seems that they want Smaby to play 20 minutes a game in the minors instead of riding the bench in Tampa. His style fits well with all the rushing D we have (probably a good fit with Carle)so this is a plan to develop him for next year. If memory serves, over 70 NHL games requires a player to clear waivers before going down to the minors.

[rbc]

Don, I understand what your saying but you got to realize a top 4 d-man don't come cheap and there is a cap. You would have to trade away 3/4 forwards the caliber of which your talking to absorb a top line d-man and most gm's are not gonna do it. It happens then great, but i dont want them to force a trade and get schooled for a less than stellar d-man. I am willing to wait.

[Don in St. Pete]

RBC, I understand your point, but it's really not as difficult as you make it sound. There are other teams out there that are woefully short on the forward lines. It's all about supply and demand. I have to believe they are working to improve our defense as we speak.

[rbc]

Sorry if i offended anybody, but come on, who do you think your gonna get for ward, oullet or anybody thats not named marty or vinny. It's not like there are a plethora of top 2 d men just waiting to be traded for 3rd or 4th line guys. My point is give the team a chance and if defense is a problem address next year when we lose alot of salary off the roster and can maybe land a jbo type player and not these band aids that hurt the team down the road. Be patient lets build a winner.

[mike p]

i agree with don. obviously at this point you are not going to get a top 2 dman, but top 4 on our team is not out of the question. who would they be replacing? O'Brien? not hard to find someone better.

[McGz]

I asked this on another blog but don't think I got an answer: how many games can these rookies ie Smaby and Mihalik play before they have to clear waivers to get sent back down? Maybe they are planning on rotating them back in forth like Lawton suggested so they both get experience. Obviously they feel Mihalik is ahead of Smaby at this point. I havent seen either play so i cant comment on that. I'd like to think Smaby is a better option than Heward though. Also Meszaros excelled when he had Chara play with him so they're trying to replicate that situation it seems.
I agree with tbc though that we will know what we have after 20 games or so and need extra NHL forwards in case of injury. I just hope they don't trade any of our future to win this year. It's gonna be a transition year folks. Have patience.

[Don in St. Pete]

RBC, I have to diagree with you this time around. We have a couple extra forwards on the roster now, plus Ouellet, Konopka and Bochenski at Norfolk. Since we have a wealth of forwards, it only makes sense to try to acquire an NHL defenseman, specifically one who can play in our top for and provide a physical presence.

[the mullet]

Don...very interesting point, yet not surprising. It's a shame if that's the case but cant think why the hell else they wouldnt have Smaby in for Hutchinson. I'll do a little digging. Let me know what you find out.

[léo]

Plus, it'll add "depth", right Bry?
P.

[the mullet]

rbc...anger management...TRY IT OUT. You dont like what we're saying I suggest not reading it. I dont think any of us stupid and ignorant bloggers would mind.