Keirik

Really? Wow. Can anyone confirm if this is true? Lol

I do honestly. He was on the taxi squad last year and didn’t say anything. I know this has horrible optics but I think there is a gigantic different between healthy scratch waiting your turn and being sent down after already proving himself both in the second best league in the world and AHL here. This was the worst play, even if it meant the possibility of losing someone on waivers. We can take this as being a big baby but there is also the aspect that he knows he belongs here and has nothing left to prove otherwise. Plus he went down this road before. I’m siding with the player on this one. It’s a raw deal to keep a guy like Gauthier that is now in his 3rd year with us and didn’t have one preseason point. If he went off this preseason you tip your cap but he didn’t. He looked okay. Drove to the net here and there but no results. We have seen that from him for quite a while now. Obviously Kravtsov is hungry to perform here at this level and he has all the makings to do so. What he needs are his coaches to believe that. The second he scored that one time pp goal should have ended any debate on who should make this team. It’s one goal (one goal more than Gaut) compared to the same old drive to the net with no results for Gaut. Give me the result every time. You know what? I want to really see our leaders on this team. I want to hear reports that the leaders all called Vitali and helped sort him out, change his mind, relax him, whatever. Because losing this kid is going to be a bigger deal than we realize right now.

It’s not ideal but we have a full blown banging 4th line. It doesn’t need to be bottom 6 all bangers. Not always. Besides, Gauthier is not physical and more than Howden was and we certainly are not regretting the subtraction of Brett. The only thing Gauthier is going to wear down is the coaching staff eventually. If 4 out of your bottom 6 are grinders to wear down your opponents, 2 being skilled seems about right.

If only they kept that negative rep ?

And that’s all fine and dandy but in the end, Kravtsov isn’t having this happen because he’s not ready or he’s too raw. He’s having it happen because we are being told guys like Gauthier or Hunt give us the best chance to win right now. Or more realistically, we are hoarding grit because if Gauthier gives us the best chance to win, we better actively shop Chytil asap since he 100% does not give us as good of a chance as a high faceoff two way 3c will also. Or dump Strome for a real 3c and elevate Chytil.

Well apparently Drury isn’t aware of what was going on at the NHL level then with Gauthier for the last few years. Or those 2 career goals in the NHL has really shown he’s about to lift off.

Oh yes it does. When has it not ? It’s not that common for a top 10 pick that SHOWS he belongs gets handled the same way a guy You mean like he already did or you mean he has to do it over and over again?

Zac Jones is also a younger 3rd round pick. Kind of a big difference than a top 10 pick that is being blocked by fringe players.

I definitely don’t think they are long term but I’m older, wiser, looking in from the outside so I have that luxury. I didn’t just have my career derailed like Kravtsov did in a much different situation than the last time. Like I said, first time I agree. Stfu kid, you didn’t earn it. This time? I see a young player that earned an NHL roster spot in his last year before RFA being sent down over spare parts that the coach says earned it more. This is a bit similar to the over reaction in the offseason to toughness, size, and grit. We have that in spades. Surely we could have risked losing a little to keep Kravtsov on an NHL roster when he has a chance at being a force for our team. Why even play him that last game against the Islanders then? You just fucked with him. He looks great that game, scores a skilled goal, fits right in there and it means nothing.

I hear what you’re saying but I just don’t see it this time. I’m right there with you when he did this last time. This time however, he already had a roster spot from last year and lost it out by injury despite coming back and showing you exactly where he’s at. I don’t think he benefits one second from Hartford at this point. This was a mistake. I’ll risk losing Dryden Hunt or Gauthier if it means believing in my top 10 pick that’s already proved he belongs.

Yeah. Technically I fit in nicely anywhere in this lineup too. I can even take bonehead penalties and not score at the NHL level. I’m also 6-3 lol

Yeah, be so much as said that word for word in an interview today.

Well if you’re going on that concept, what did Kreider do all preseason to earn time on the 1st line?

U know what then? If that’s the cemented attitude we are at as an organization for this year then it better be cup or bust because the Drury/Gallant era is starting off with demoting a highly skilled player in favor of more sandpaper. If Gauthier can play anywhere it’s only because he’s terrible anywhere.. Kravtsov was a 2018 draft. He’s played the 5th least amount of NHL games of the top 20 picks that year and the least amount of the top 10 picks. I do t care that he pouted two years ago. He’s not even remotely as raw as he was then. He’s NHL ready and a top level talent. You make room for that, not punish it.

I just do t see it that way. The kid pouted before , stuck his tail between his legs and did what they asked of him. I don’t see the need to then do it to him twice when he’s the better player, better talent, better skilled, brighter future. At some point the organization has to believe in him too.

I’m not sure what Gauthier would do, but Kravtsov was down this road before. He was sent down once before, handled in poorly, played in Russia, brought back last year proving he is NHL ready, and even showed us that in the last preseason game what skill level he has. What else does he need to do to crack our roster? If you’re not going to have him make the opening day roster this year, then you’re never going to have him on the roster. I 100% do not agree that Gauthier gives you a better chance to win today.

This was always partly the danger when you do this to a kid. Partly Kravtsovs fault too but what exactly was the point of sending him down this time? He’s clearly a hell of a lot more valuable to us here playing. His cup of coffee last year proved he belongs to me and even though he was injured, sending him down does little. I don’t give a crap if someone claims Gauthier. No one in their right mind thinks Gaut has a brighter future than Kravtsov.

Or he's a young quiet guy that's only in his third year. Ability doesn't always mean C/A ability

Kravtsov for sure. Mid November after Gauthier love wears off

You surprise that wasn’t Mack exhaling?

All about the platinum. Helmets, chicks, beers.

Yeah. I can’t imagine that’s the brightest line of thinking if it’s that. I’m not looking to bury or ruin Kravy because we can’t just realistically say we overvalued Hajek by a LOT.

Lol I have no idea. I only remember Staal was two years ago because I picked him and won

Staal wasn't on the team last year, unless you just wien up from a hibernation lol

Should have made Barron take it since he was always going down lol