Would Paul Gaustad be a fit?

[winos5]

They could make worse additions for a 1 year rental. I'd rather see Smith or Kruger on the roster to be honest. I wouldn't give up any good propsects for him.

 

[PatrickShart]

Everybody works hard in the off-season? I don't buy that for a second. Sure these guys all work out and have regiments but I can bet that many put forth a MUCH greater effort to be better than some, thats one of the things that separates the decent, good, all-stars and greats.



My point was more toward the fact that it seems Smith is a legit good fit. He's from BC who has been great in the last decade and turning out pretty solid NHL players as of late, also he's got a taste of what the playoffs are like, and what its like to be around grown ass men who do this for a living when its at the most serious of stages. After that OT goal and then getting knocked out I'm hoping he might want it a little more. We'll see if he can handle 82 games, but I would sure as hell give him the shot. To me his is the best fit for the roster, but thats just my opinion.

I don't think most put out that MUCH greater of an effort than others. They all work hard and have great compete levels to get where they are. Skill and talent levels separate most players from one another.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I don't think most put out that MUCH greater of an effort than others. They all work hard and have great compete levels to get where they are. Skill and talent levels separate most players from one another.

I have nothing concrete to back this up - but it seems to me that a huge difference between sports today and years ago is the year-round conditioning and training that (most) pro athletes do. Bigger, stronger, faster = bigger collisions = more severe concussions? Cause and effect? I don't know.

 

[Ton]

I'm not sure either, but I would think the difference between players today isn't really talent, it's conditioning. Back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's... maybe even early 90's I would believe it if you said conditioning didn't matter much and the only thing that separated those who made it and those who didn't was just pure talent. But in today's game I have trouble believing that. Anyone, especially prospects, who doesn't take the summer to condition themselves correctly, will probably have trouble making the team just based on that alone. Let's face it, just to get drafted you need to have some talent, but it's where you take it from there. Other than a select few individuals like Toews and Kane, most aren't separated by talent, they are separated by the way they prepare (for the record, I know Toews and Kane prepare themselves as hard as anyone, but even if they didn't they still have the talent to succeed but it is a select handful around the NHL that have that ability and I wouldn't believe for a second if anyone told me none of them cared about working hard to stay at that level)



Seems like most of the guys who don't make it don't have the drive to take their game to that extra level and accelerate themselves above the rest. That's not based on talent, it's based on the way they prepare and how hard they work. Today's game is reliant on conditioning, if someone has poor work ethic, they won't make it. Clearly Smith is above the rest on this. Sure everyone trains, but how hard do they push themselves? To me, that says a lot in terms of if they are going to make it to the next level or not - nothing to do with talent.

 

[EspoForever]

I have nothing concrete to back this up - but it seems to me that a huge difference between sports today and years ago is the year-round conditioning and training that (most) pro athletes do. Bigger, stronger, faster = bigger collisions = more severe concussions? Cause and effect? I don't know.

I think some of the subtle changes leading to more head injuries are:

1. Back when I was a kid elbow and shoulder pads were leather and a little pliable plastic. Now they are as hard as concrete. Helmets have not changed nearly as much.

2. There used to be a limit to stick length-55 inches. It made it tough for super tall players to play and kept the size imbalance closer. I believe they either increased that limit or removed it.

3. Players played with more respect before they could take a run at someone and hide behind the instigator penalty. Only 2 people who know if a hit was "across the line" between "agressive" and "cheap: the hitter and the hit-ee. Now you have the league trying to correct one mistake (instigator penalties) by making another...asking the referee to guess if a hit was too hard or someone was taking a flop. And now it has gotten worse...every time someone gets clocked they have a hearing with lawyers, agents and the ex-Red Wings (Campbell and Shanny) the NHL has hired to decide if the hit was too hard. It did not surprise me a bit that Yzerman's punk chicken-winged Bolland and got nothing for it with that kangaroo court deciding punishment.



I'll take a scrap anyday over a hearing when it comes to cheap shot reduction.