RealGM

I know we have talent, but we're obviously not on the same level we were when we won the Cup. I've heard plenty of different opinions from posters here and elsewhere, so I thought we should have a thread to discuss/debate what exactly it is that we need to get back to the elite level, talk about trade ideas and potential free-agent signings.

I look forward to seeing what you guys come up with and how closely that translates to what the team actually does.

They need defense. If that means trading Hjalmarsson to get some, by all means.

I've always rated Hjalmarsson as a pretty solid defenseman. I take it there's something about him that you don't like?

TNBT wrote:I've always rated Hjalmarsson as a pretty solid defenseman. I take it there's something about him that you don't like?

His overall lack of defense

Fair enough. I've always thought he's been pretty solid, but I have no doubt that you probably see more games than I do, so I'll take your opinion on board. Who would you like us to go after (who we actually have a chance of getting) to replace Hjalmarsson?

I think a guy like Tim Gleason would be good here. Carolina is awful and they've already traded Kaberle. Unrestricted free agent at season's end and a big guy who defends pretty well.

I'm pretty sure that Gleason was mentioned on the BleacherReport website as being one of the defensemen that the 'Hawks can/should/are looking at, so maybe you could be onto something there.

Take a look at last night, on the Sharks' first goal. McGinn is just standing to the left of Emery jamming at the puck, and Hjalmarsson is standing behind him watching. He blocks a lot of shots, but down low, when they need him to be aggressive, he's not.

I'll have to check out the highlights from that game closer in a minute. Maybe I've been putting too much emphasis on how many shots he blocks and ignoring the rest of his defensive duties. As someone who no doubt watches most games, how has he been over a longer stretch? Does he usually play better? Or has he always been a disappearing act down low?

It's hard to notice when he's on the ice during long stretches, he just sort of blends in. You notice him when he blocks a shot, but when the puck is in the crease or low slot, he just vanishes. He doesn't have the strength to body someone off the puck, and doesn't have the stick handling to pick someone. He just becomes another body down low.