Stafford is trying his best to heal faster as we speak.

I like the way Mancari played last night, but let him put together a few more games before we annoint him our top line RW. Im not sold on Stafford, and I doubt many of you are either… so he has that going for him. If he plays well down the stretch then this is another “good problem” to have going into the playoffs.

As much as I want to love Stafford I just can’t quite get there. I see flashes of incredible play (remember that behind the back between the legs deke that he scored on from last year?) mixed with flashes of “oh, Staffords on the ice? where?”…. I just don’t think he’s a Power Foward, more like a big skill player.

Stafford owns a great package of size and talent but hasn’t truly grabbed his potential by the throat.

while i’m not the best judge of hockey players (although I’m about 1 inch from buying a Kaleta jersey) I would rather take a guy that works hard than a guy with talent that doesn’t either a) put in the effort or b) just doesn’t get the team strategy

I agree. I think that they both should stay, but give Mancari some time and make sure that he is for real.

Mancari can’t skate at this level and plays like he’s 5’8" 160 lbs

and Stafford is the tin man – no heart

And I love a good question. My answer is….neither? Here’s a few of my comments on your guys comments.

They’re both the same age but Mancari is slightly bigger.

That was from Raf. Don’t know why, but I thought Mancari was older than he is; he’s a few months older than Stafford. Like OL in football, I think power forwards in hockey need time to get the game. I keep forgetting how young these guys are.

but let him put together a few more games before we annoint him our top line RW. Im not sold on Stafford, and I doubt many of you are either…

From bflo. Totally agree with you here. But then I flip flop back to thinking how young they are.

I hope that the allure of a permanent stay in the big leagues will keep him working hard

Agreed there tpsabres. How can it not? The difference in paychecks has to be so obvious, that when Lindy says “jump,” he should respond “how high?” But some guys just don’t get that, and sometimes you can spot that right away. Sometimes you can’t.

I just don’t think he’s a Power Foward, more like a big skill player.

From JSCoope – best simple description of Stafford I’ve ever read. No offense, but I will be ripping that off in email exchanges with some of my pals, and will probably take credit for the phrase. I’d offer you in exchange some of my “good words,” but I don’t think any of them are really “copy and paste” worthy. Sorry, and thank you.

We will have to wait and see if Mancari is for real.

Yes Geolover, that’s correct, at least in my book. Did I see this right though – you posted something without actually killing the team? Are you turning the corner on this team a little bit? Just a little, little, little bit maybe?

Personally, I haven’t been a fan of Mancari. But again, I forget how young he is. Maybe the light finally turns on. This goes for Stafford as well. We’re not asking for much. Just play hard every shift, hit some people, and score a few ugly goals. Backcheck too. That’s it; not too much in our opinion. There are certainly worse ways to make a living.

And if they really want to win a crowd over, drop the gloves every so often. It’s not that bad. In my book, there are three ways to get a whole crowd of 18,000 standing on their feet crazily cheering for you. One, score the game changing goal. Two, make a flurry of incredible saves. And three, throw some haymakers at your opponents face.