Justin Braun sent down to Worcester; Niittymaki likely to practice tomorrow

I think the little girl plot was just all bad writing. I’m guessing they didn’t think they could stall the group’s momentum long enough before or after the gunshot to be realistic, so they invented a secondary plotline, possibly without any real resolution in sight. Then when it came time to pay off they said “Oh, well, we need to be rid of the kid so we don’t see her age. Here’s our chance.” It was a decently powerful scene, but the lead up was lackluster in my opinion.

And I think Daryl is a great added character, too, since he wasn’t in the comic. It’s more (trying to say this without spoilers) that there’s this iconic scene with him that has already been delayed, which really sets a lot in motion and changes all the other characters deeply. Shane’s characterization on the show is pretty incredible, but I’m not sure it’s worth losing one of the defining moments of the comics.

Though I should also say, I’ve been a fan of most ofl the changes so far.

Someone make use of that six degrees of separation thing.

Fixed? ;-)

Forward is our biggest need

Both Ottawa goalies suck, both Columbus goalies suck, the Islanders don’t want to have to play Nilsson again, Emery sucks, and Neuvirth sucks.

I think the build up that they have achieved with Shane makes the comic book event we’re talking about much more gripping. I just feel like they have spent too much time making him the antithesis of Rick that I’m afraid they back down because he definitely helped drive the show through the Sofia lag.

I disagree with most about the lag with Sofia, though. I actually didn’t mind it, and I enjoyed watching the budding romance between Glenn and Maggie, the crazy of Shane, and the new awesome of Darryl. Herschel has pissed me off though, and Dale is so whiny.

They’re really primed for some big stuff in the second half of the season, and I hope that what we’ve talked about with Shane actually happens.

I’d be asking about Greiss, not Niittymaki.

The Sharks would probably get a bit more in a trade for Greiss (especiall if he was part of a package) but there are teams that would be interested in Niitty.

A couple I can think of off the top of my head – Chicago, Montreal, Dallas, Toronto…if (big, fat huge if) Vancouver decides to move Schneider, they could be interested as well.

I haven’t looked at the contracts of any of the back up goalies for those teams, but Niitty is a better goalie (if healthy) than what those teams have. Problem is, I wouldn’t want to help Chicago or Vancouver out unless it was a pretty big overpayment.

Columbus could be interested as well depending on the health of their guys…however, I see a team that’s likely to make the playoffs making a move for him.

As much as it pained me to see Ferriero go back, I know it was better for him to get that trimwork in the AHL. I admit, I’m concerned that he may well have little room to grow down there, but he does have room to hone play.

Probably the same thing goes for Braun.

But I still think Ratto was way off hanging so much of the loss on the kid.

Demers put in a lot of off-season work and Couture is a special player.

Then there were the nights that the Woo kids got 3 minutes.

McLellan is a good coach, but I wouldn’t peg him as the difference in any of the kids games.

“McLellan hasn’t had the benefit of getting alot of NHL ready prospects to deal with”

Also a solid point.

Yeah that’s really the question, and would it be worth losing the extra cap space and negatively affecting the players that you bench for them? I don’t think so.

I don’t buy that Braun and Demers cannot play together. Braun’s defensive game is sorely underrated.

I’d also give Boyle a day off here and there.