Reviewing Adams' Off-season acquisitions at the half way mark

[mjd1001]

27 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Dylan Cozens: 9g, 12a, 21pts, in 42games with a -13

Ryan McLeod: 7g, 14a, 21pts in 42games with a +5

 

And McLeod is doing that with 2 less minutes of ice time per game, with lesser/less talented linemates for the majority of the season, and with almost 100 minutes less PP ice time this year than Cozens (Cozens has almost 2.5 minutes of PowerPlay time per game, McLeod has 6 seconds per game)

Edited Friday at 03:24 PM by mjd1001

[Pimlach]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

They've had a hard time unlearning Granato hockey and adjusting to a proper system under Ruff. T

The recent signs of life which have included solid team play have me hoping that the losing streak finally got them to wake up, pay attention, and do what the coach asked them to do. 

The Euro trip was a setback for this season since it cut proper training camp and maybe Ruff underestimated how much unlearning and relearning they would have to do so training camp wasn't intense enough. It's likely too late, and obviously not getting help and/or using the cap space has made a climb back next to impossible but you never know. A winning streak now might get them back in it. Maybe. 

This likely would have all come together much quicker if we had had more solid veteran leadership as well.

The bolded has been foretold.  It has proven to be a problem this season, right out of the starting blocks.   Too much on ice thinking and processing, not enough doing.  

Certainly solid Vet leadership is a need, but it is now time for Thompson and Dahlin and Tuch to provide some of that.    They are the "stars" and if they don't hate all the losing by now that its a problem.  Being popular after practice when hanging out has to come to an end.  These 3 have to start calling out people (within the locker room), and themselves if need be.  

I don't think we will get that from Samuelsson and Cozens is still too young to carry that weight.  Neither of these guys should wear an "A", but they both got big contracts.  

[LETSTUCHINGO]

10 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

The bolded has been foretold.  It has proven to be a problem this season, right out of the starting blocks.   Too much on ice thinking and processing, not enough doing.  

Certainly solid Vet leadership is a need, but it is now time for Thompson and Dahlin and Tuch to provide some of that.    They are the "stars" and if they don't hate all the losing by now that its a problem.  Being popular after practice when hanging out has to come to an end.  These 3 have to start calling out people (within the locker room), and themselves if need be.  

I don't think we will get that from Samuelsson and Cozens is still too young to carry that weight.  Neither of these guys should wear an "A", but they both got big contracts.  

I agree with you, but I don't see leadership qualities in Tage. I actual think he is part of the problem. He is the 2nd best player on our team, I'm not arguing that, but he is horribly inconsistent and it appears to me to be effort. He looked God awful last night and to me his game mirrors the team problem, a lack of consistent mental and physical effort. I understand that he is apparently hurt and that is the reason why he is on the wing now, but come on! He is wearing an "A", at the very least his effort shouldn't be questioned!

[LTS]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Dylan Cozens: 9g, 12a, 21pts, in 42games with a -13

Ryan McLeod: 7g, 14a, 21pts in 42games with a +5

 

That's sad.  Dylan Cozens looks broken though. I still believe he's a better player than he's showing but I don't know if he's listening to the rumors of him being traded, if he's just not overcoming his challenges, or what.  Either way it does not change his performance and what's happening.

If he can't shake it he needs to go.  I just hope another team thinks that a change of scenery, etc. will improve things for him.

[PerreaultForever]

8 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Maybe there is something to the Granato thing. I don’t see it though. As I pointed out earlier, in his combined stops in Dallas and NJ and now this year in Buffalo, Ruff’s teams have consistently been among the worst for goals against (averaging something like 5th or 6th from the bottom in GA over those years). There just isn’t a lot of evidence that Ruff coaches anything that resembles the sort of structured defensive system that people think. If he does, then there is certainly no evidence that he gets his teams to play it consistently well.

I’m not carrying water for Granato here. I just think Ruff’s age, experience, and rougher around the edge exterior, give the impression that he is a hard-nosed defensive tactician, when evidence does not support this.

That's an extremist depiction and I don't think anybody's saying that. I'm not. What I see is an attempt at proper structure and positional play. Defensive responsibility and player support. Layers if you like that modern term. It breaks down when our individuals (who are very used to playing like individuals) try to do too much or do it on their own. That leads to lost pucks and turnovers and not much else. 

We still need to be tougher and win more puck battles, especially along the boards and in the corners, and we need to knock the opposition off the puck more than we do, but the positional support looks like it's improving, and that comes from disciplined play. It's just likely too late. 

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, Pimlach said:

The bolded has been foretold.  It has proven to be a problem this season, right out of the starting blocks.   Too much on ice thinking and processing, not enough doing.  

Certainly solid Vet leadership is a need, but it is now time for Thompson and Dahlin and Tuch to provide some of that.    They are the "stars" and if they don't hate all the losing by now that its a problem.  Being popular after practice when hanging out has to come to an end.  These 3 have to start calling out people (within the locker room), and themselves if need be.  

I don't think we will get that from Samuelsson and Cozens is still too young to carry that weight.  Neither of these guys should wear an "A", but they both got big contracts.  

Well yes, that's what we are left with. The Adams plan of growing together and the leadership evolving in the room. Unfortunately most of these guys don't know how to be those veteran leaders and a trial and error methodology just takes too long (if it ever works). It was a flawed plan but we are stuck with it. 

I don't believe these guys learn it in junior as there they are all stars and the elite talents and they are just used to being "good" and it comes easy to them. Pro hockey is much harder and they needed examples to learn from. 

I didn't like hearing Tage talking about all the good things they did after a loss so I'm not sure they get it yet. In any event, the standard has to be higher. Winning really is everything and until that is the mantra and the standard, it won't work well. 

[Pimlach]

5 hours ago, LETSTUCHINGO said:

I agree with you, but I don't see leadership qualities in Tage. I actual think he is part of the problem. He is the 2nd best player on our team, I'm not arguing that, but he is horribly inconsistent and it appears to me to be effort. He looked God awful last night and to me his game mirrors the team problem, a lack of consistent mental and physical effort. I understand that he is apparently hurt and that is the reason why he is on the wing now, but come on! He is wearing an "A", at the very least his effort shouldn't be questioned!

I didn't mean to question his leadership other than he and all of them need to reach higher.   

Tage is playing injured right now so that may a problem.  I was not at all happy with his D zone play against Colorado (see the GDT in the 3rd period) but then they disclosed he is hurt and moved him to wing, he cannot take faceoffs right now.  

I know that Tage works hard in the weight room, and in his own personal training.  If anything that example should be a positive.  Not sure how any of them are in the locker room.  That should be up to Lindy to determine.