PerreaultForever

Boston improved drastically with the same players after firing him so if Montreal does well without him one might want to rethink his stature as a great coach. I'm not sure. Right now he'd be my third choice should we fire Kreuger.

One has to assume that Skinner is not doing what the coach is asking him to do. In any situation like that, regardless of how talented that player might be, if the player wins and gets his way, the coach loses the team. As such, it's one or the other and not both. So imo the solution solves itself. Kreuger has decided and now he has to win games. If the team wins without Skinner Kreuger stays and Skinner, who cares? If the team loses Kreuger gets fired and the next coach tries to build a relationship with Skinner and then you go through it again and it comes down to winning games again. The fact that Skinner makes a boat load of money cannot and should not be a determinant of his ice time.

Funny you should say that, those two used to show up together on TSNs Off The Record some years back to talk hockey. I think they're buddies.

Yup. His head doesn't seem to be in the game. Like he's somewhere else, like he's stoned even. Floats around, waves his stick near people, he's there, but all too often he really doesn't do anything. 5 on 5 he is absolutely horrible this year and if we weren't already sitting Skinner I'd say he needs to sit a game too. The only upside is as a result of Eichel doing less, Reinhart has picked up a little of that slack and carried the puck more and got in tighter more and is actually playing very well. Maybe that's connected, maybe not.

Good team effort. Playing more disciplined overall. People doing their jobs. Be interesting to see if it can work against a better opponent. Bryson made some mistakes but also showed some flashes so maybe, if his development continues, he might become our version of Tory Krug in time. Definite potential there. We're finally seeing some effort from many of these guys. What took so long I have no idea. Reinhart is imo, playing the best hockey of his career. Yes, I said that. 🙂 Eichel, however, is playing like he's stoned. Just floating most of the time. Mitts was better than Skinner (a little) so what now? Do we send Skinner to the Ontario Reign for the next 8 years in Matt Moulson style? Pegula rich enough to buy him out? No idea how to fix that. A little hope emerges here for the team as a whole. The real test will be the back to back with Philly.

The Lake Louise thing fell apart because it's federal jurisdiction, not provincial, and the Canadian government wasn't satisfied with the NHL arrangements and protocols. That's why the bubble was held in Alberta where they got the provincial government onside. Some provinces differ from others with this stuff and federal issues are even more restrictive for things like this. It's also an environmentally sensitive area. Seems to be a Putin fueled thing. Nazarov himself has a long list of shady bad things in his past so he's not much of a reputable source, and he's a Putin supporter.

Unless they fix (or trade) Eichel there's not much point in bringing anybody in.

That's exactly it isn't it. He just goes through the motions, not really giving any extra effort at all.

Pretty decent team effort really. Ultimately I'd say the multiple D injuries cost us this one. Jokiharju has completely lost it, he's running around all over worse than even Montour. If we had any healthy D men I'd bench him fast but sadly, no options. The Staal Hall Cozens line is starting it gel a little. Probably our best line on the night even though they didn't score. Reinhart was pretty good. Eichel.........no comment. With a healthy D I think that effort would have won us that game but not the way it is, so if they are thinking of moving out a big name I'd say nows the time to get on with it.

How did it get here? By choosing Murray over LaFontaine. By not listening to or utilizing alumni properly (and even alienating some of them). By choosing inexperienced people to run the franchise (based on some sort of idea about a new era and new ideas over old) rather than experienced hockey people. By (the owners) thinking they know how to win and succeed in hockey better than hockey people do. By embracing a superstar model for success (top down) rather than a bottom up model that builds on hard work and effort. By not understanding the city and fanbase and their working class views. That's enough. MAYBE, given that the Bills have now had success building on a tough hard work model they will finally get it and go a similar route. One can only hope.

Depleted D and so many games close together meaning Hutton has to start some of them does not bode well.

? How? I'm not seeing that at all. I knew the Skinner deal was a mistake. Most people knew it was too much money. Nobody thought it would be this extreme. Both Okposo and Skinner were given big contracts by desperate GMs who felt they needed a quick add (and success that goes with that usually) to save their jobs. Both failed miserably and in the case of Skinner there is no real solution.

They have lights and apparently will play it at 9pm (midnight Buffalo time). So pretty much a disaster.

Honestly I kind of dislike all of them. Marty is the only one who actually speaks any truth and points out their bad play, the rest are suck up apologists. RJ was a lot of fun in his prime but he makes a ton of mistakes now and it is time for him to retire fully. But overall I don't care who they are I often watch with the sound off anyway.

That's a nice AHL shoot out goal, but in the NHL going that slow in front he'd have been poke checked. But fun to see there.

To be fair, I think Irwin in this game played better than Joker has been playing this year.

Well that was a pleasant surprise to start the weekend. We blocked shots, threw hits, went to the net even. If we'd had this kind of effort every game conversations around here would be very different. Good to see Ralph finally realized it's a good idea to pair your offensive puck moving D men with more physical stay at home guys. I think Borgen is here to stay. Very nice, even with the close finish. First game this year I can say I fully enjoyed.

Wait what? Staal's not retired???

So I was thinking, if RK is saying the problem with the team is mental, isn't that an admission of failure on his part? I mean wasn't that the whole sales pitch on him that he would build them up psychologically and get them believing in themselves yadda yadda...............so I guess he's asking them to fire him.

Yup, VO is a true sniper. A thing we have lacked over the years and with a late round success like that you'd think we'd be better. He's one of the few players on this team actually earning his money. I won't compare him to Reinhart, very different kind of player, but he's definitely better than Slkinner these days.

Yup. Cause really we have not left it. It's been that way for a decade and still is.

mental? Well I suppose if you're afraid to go to the front of the net that could be mental, fear. But really, I'm tired of excuse hockey. Every year it's just excuses and more excuses. Nothing changes.

That's true, because I think Housley had a hand in coaching the D. Now it's just Steve Smith I'd guess and I stick with what I've said before, he is useless and needs to go. Our D never seems to improve as a whole. They don't communicate with their partners well, they don't play disciplined and get caught out of position (especially Montour), the young guys don't correct bad habits, they are poorly developed and poorly coached. The problem with Dahlin imo is they focused too much on utilizing his offensive skills rather than developing his D game first. The exact opposite of how the Bruins (yes, I'm using the Bruins again, I know.......) developed McAvoy who is now their clear D leader and playing like a Norris candidate. Dahlin needs a big step back and rebuild.

Add Quennville in there. Guys like Brind'amour and Cassidy aren't old cranky grumps but they demand hard work and don't take any crap either. You get benched fast if you don't give effort with them.

Not if the Devils play the way they did against the Bruins tonight. As to the question, I see no solution aside from a complete teardown and rebuild with a new blueprint. We've tried too many times already with this so called "core".