PerreaultForever

imo the problem with Dahlin's development is he hasn't been paired with a solid experienced D man to mentor him every shift. Boston paired McAvoy with Chara for 2 years and he had some struggles but grew and now looks like an allstar. We've been tossing D men around for years now and had no set pairs and Dahlin doesn't get the support he needs. and I seriously question Steve Smith's abilities as a coach.

Oh I see what you're trying to say now. It was the word "needs" that threw me off. You're just saying he needs a good winger not necessary Sam specifically I think. Let me throw a wrench in your argument though. Ovie plays with Wilson, a player with value, but not a league leading scorer. McDavid and Draisaitl often play on different lines. Zach freakin' Kassian has put in a lot of time on McDavid's wing. As have a number of other less than star players, and McDavid still comes through. Why? Cause he's a LOT better than Jack and wants it more. We gave Eichel Hall, and that should be enough to match Draisaitl McDavid shouldn't it? But sure, let's load the top line and then the second line is what exactly besides a big pile of pooh?

I disagree, but if you're right, and Eichel needs Reinhart, we shouldn't be so worried about him wanting out one day and trading him. He's clearly not all that great then.

That is a rubbish coach comment. We had one really good period of possession but very few quality shots and almost no rebounds. It was an easy night for any decent goalie.

Well, in the end the power play let us down, just like so many times last year. Lots of talent on that PP and with all the opportunities they should have buried them but they didn't, again. Reinhart was a lot better tonight. and he is better with Eichel (as is everyone). Maybe I expect too much but to me Eichel looks uninspired. Just not taking command like I thought he might (like say McDavid did in his second game of their set) with the talent he begged for on his wing. I truly hope he's not already dreaming about playing in Boston..........but something's not quite right. maybe he's still feeling his upper body whatever. Skinner played really well offensively, and he even passed the puck which he doesn't like to do, but he has nobody with skill with him and it amounted to one against all every time and thus no result. This has to be fixed. Staal is a piece of crap. idk if he simply doesn't want to be here and is just playing out his contract or if he's totally lost it, but he is total rubbish so far. I do not understand what Kreuger sees in Sheahan. Does this mean ALL of our younger players are write offs? Surely somebody among them is better than this? I really hate the Dahlin-Montour pairing. Two good skaters with an offensive mindset but lacking defensive skills is a bad way to play D. Dahlin needs to be paired with a D first player. Maybe one we don't have. Ullmark was Ullmark. Not great, not horrible, just meh. and that won't be good enough. We will not make the playoffs unless we make some changes quickly (if possible).

I actually like this idea. I'm not sure about Sheahan over Okposo and Thompson was far from our worst player so he should be in there somewhere but I think we have to play Staal with Skinner and sink or swim with it. MAYBE Skinner just practices poorly and has a holier than thou attitude there so Ralph stubbornly feels the need to assert dominance? We are stuck with Skinner so we have to find a role for him. We simply have no choice and Ralph has to realize that. Another out of left field idea: Hall-Eichel-Thompson Olofsson-Reinhart-Cozens (RW and C can switch once Cozens is ready) Skinner-Staal-Sheahan/Okposo Reider-Eakin-Lazar

lol, I do like the effort Lazar brings to games (to make up for his lack of skill) but I doubt even he'd do that. I'm not sure anyone on our team could handle Ovie in a fight let alone a beast like Wilson.

It was. Bruins look beatable. McAvoy looks poised to be a Norris candidate (I see why they were okay to let Chara go now) and Rask is in fine form, but they have no goal scoring without Pasternak. Devils lack talent but Ruff has them playing a little faster than last year. It's definitely going to take them time though. Goalie will have to win them games.

As would I, BUT nobody on this team would take on Wilson. Just like Lucic and Miller, if Wilson ran over one of our guys there might be a little pushy shovey but we do not have the guy to stand up to the big boys.

Just want to say all the progress from last year seems to have slipped away over the last months. Totally undisciplined and running all over constantly. Caught out of position on numerous occasions. Yes, he made SOME good plays, he is a skilled hockey player, but at this stage you simply can't have a wild reckless run around D man unless you have a full team around him with solid disciplined guys to cover for him, and we don't.

I think Hall only came here if he got to play with Eichel right? He'd be miffed if he got moved? Cause following what I think is your logic reuniting Olofsson Eichel Reinhart makes more sense. Then Hall Cozens Thompson followed by Skinner Staal ? maybe Sheahan I guess and the rest. Cozens isn't ready to drive a 2nd line yet and I don't want to ruin him with too much pressure too fast. and no way do I want him learning from an undisciplined uncoachable left winger. He needs a solid veteran with him. I actually liked him with Eakins myself.

I expected Cousins to start the year as a solid 4th line level player and by seasons end be a solid 3rd line level player with maybe some PP duty as well. Seeing him fit in tonight I think he will be 2nd line level by year's end.

I suspect everybody needs to be with Eichel.

I heard on the broadcast that Ralph Kreuger is a great guy to talk to. So Razor said. All in all not much different from last year. Top line decent, bottom a mess, D can't control the front of the net, goaltending dodgy at best. Poor slow effort to start, a little jump later, but dumb mistakes and that's all she wrote. We continue like this we will be fighting NJ for dead last in the division. I hate to say this because he got hit in the head later so not cool to knock a guy when he's literally down, but Staal looked like burnt out trash before that. I am thinking maybe Minnesota knew what they were doing after all. Reinhart without Eichel is trash. Skinner has no place, no role, he's lost and thus also trash. On the small positive, Hall was our best player, by far, and Tage looked decent. Cozens looked like he belonged at this level and already goes to the net better than most of this team. I was hoping for so much more. Tomorrow, I at least want to see more effort. That was lacking tonight. Oilers bounced back against Canucks with McDavid taking it all on his shoulders. Let's hope Jack does the same. If not, it might be a long sad year. again.

I am optimistic that this year we will be able to score goals. Lots of them. Hopefully the top two lines will be impressive and the PP will be solid or even good. I am uncertain on our defense. A lot depends on Dahlin being even better, Jokiharju still improving and pairings jelling . Just not sure. I am also uncertain about our goaltending. If Ullmark doesn't hit his prime and become a true #1 we will have trouble. I am pessimistic about our bottom 6 and our depth. If covid or injuries hit us on the top lines this lot will only carry us through if Cozens and Thompson both leap forward. Because of our division I think we likely miss the playoffs but it might be an irritating miss as we will be better than teams in other divisions that make it.

Looked pretty good. made the Flyers even better. They could win the division. Farabee was impressive. and the Canucks beat them. Those new Oilers jerseys are butt ugly.

I'd pick up Zach Senyshyn from Boston. He's pretty fast and big and still young (and cheap). Disappointing pick for Boston, but they soured on him over his lack of a defensive game and he MIGHT still blossom in a new setting.

is it? Not sure about that.

As I've said I've not seen anything so I will take your word for it. Cozens "struggling" puzzles me as he looked pretty good (not quite ready yet but still pretty good) in camp last year and after a dominant world junior and more muscle put on I'd have thought he'd be ready. Certainly not struggling against AHLers. As for Thompson and Mitts I will believe it when I see it.

lol, I had no idea. I didn't read the quote either. "no neck" got it. Several years ago my kids were still kids and they used to watch Dr. Who. The youngest said (during a Nashville playoff game) their coach looks like a Sontaran, and I went to google images to get 2 pictures and see it's already been done.

1. No. I like Hall Eichel Cozens. Cozens is big and fast and complements better. If he's not ready so be it, but I need to see Thompson. Thompson last year not better than Cozens now. 2. It has to be Skinner Staal Reinhart. If not we're toast. Staal and Reinhart fiot. Both a step slower than some but both smart and deliberate and they can make good plays. Skinner as the shooter. Olofsson might fit but then you discard Skinner. 3. Sheahan shouldn't even be in the line up, Lazar is a checker only. Line is rubbish and I don't want to bury Cozens there. Bottom line for me is if NONE of the younger guys like Asplund or Routsaleinen or even Mitts can crack the lineup we are in deep trouble. At least one or two of those players have to make a step forward. I'm ok with Eakin Okposo, I see them as fitting, and so in my groupings I see Olofsson there. I suppose you could swap Olofsson and Skinner but 4th line is still garbage and Tage has to show me before I give him anything.

perhaps I took the abbreviation incorrectly. Where I live "ftfy" means f this and f you.

very nice. so ditto?

Wasn't planning on debating it, just an opposing view. I do not believe rich athletes who blow it through stupidity deserve sympathy. and definitely not the rapey ones.

Oh ya I can't stand the way he talks with that ultra fake announcer thing. I usually watch with no sound when he does a broadcast. I didn't hate Milbury. Same I don't hate Burke and didn't hate Cherry. I kind of enjoy the old school justifiers for stuff up against the newer guys. It could get funny at times. I forgot though, what did Milbury do, hit someone with a shoe?