...

I have this in the can... @FireDiscoDan Just in case I finally lose it with this guy.

I like Z, he's a fine fellow. But, what has Z done this season to earn a chance? The cut-throat in me thinks the only rational reason to put Z with Samson and Eichel is to try and increase his trade value by the end of the season. I think someone up above said something to that effect. It's a ridiculous move. You know what's going to happen? The team is going to start from square one next October. Not one line was/is allowed to develop chemistry this season. Z is a place-holder. ROR and Kane will be a brand new experiment with not enough time to produce reliable data, especially if DD keeps rotating the third man. I think a better move would be to establish permanent lines for the rest of the season, and work on refining the entries and possession. Work on the PP and D zone breakouts. Come up with an Alamo Mode that also allows for capitalizing on offensive opportunities. Or, find a way to replace Alamo Mode altogether.

Good point, and I suppose this is where Ennis and an UFA fit in to the puzzle. But I don't agree with it. Why not keep the Eichel line together to see where they take it the rest of the season? There is nothing to lose but more time IMHO. I'm ready to start the Fire Bylsma Twitter account.

Very fair point, all I am trying to argue is that everyone's development is different. I think it's safe to say that Eichel seems a more mature person than Kane...now. To me, that plays a huge factor. Once Kane's decision-making-vector matures, then so does his hockey IQ. You know, we could be discussing any other player, and I wouldn't be so adamant about the point, there's just something about the Kane narrative that makes me believe he can kick it up a notch. Again, I could be wrong, though.

Mmm. Well, I see "hockey sense" as a combination of intellect/wit, coaching/teaching, maturity/wisdom, and innate abilities. I don't disagree that he may be at his natural ability ceiling. I definitely do not think he is at his ceiling with maturity, which feeds into the remaining two factors. Yes, he may make a poor decision off the walls at times...this doesn't happen all of the time. I remember years ago after complaining about Ennis or someone like him (maybe Roy..?) that he seems to always lose the puck, and the response was that he may seem to lose the puck a lot but that's only because he's generating a lot of chances. Okay. Present day Kane could fit that description. But we have seen with out own eyes, recently, yes, that his instincts also swing the opposite way. His instincts helped make that tic-tac-toe-tic play happen. His instincts made that glorious Eichel 1-second-left goal happen. When I see stuff like that, and in Evander's case, being clearly maturity-challenged coming into the organization, but being a smart person who is, in my view, motivated to contribute positively to the team (and, by extension, his career), I see a guy whose "hockey sense" can evolve into something that utilizes his talent better. This isn't a case like Stafford, who seemed not very motivated in general, not quite as smart, and not quite as skilled, where those flashes were obvious anomalies. I believe Kane has more to give, and is willing to try and get there. Eichel makes similar "hockey sense" errors at times, yet it's said he's still "learning the game". I don't understand why Kane can't still be learning the game. Do we need to point out the elite players who make mistakes? I mean, you don't get Kane's production if he's always making "hockey sense" errors, yet, here he is, handicapped because of his hockey IQ. I believe, in the case of someone like Kane, there can be improvements to the mental game. I don't believe this would apply to everyone (like Stafford), but it can be true for some. I guess we'll see! I could be wrong.

I find your perspective perplexing, especially since, I assume, you teach adults. Do all adults stop developing skills at age 25? Also, we're talking about the NHL, where goalies aren't usually allowed on the ice until they're about 24 years old. I'm a better guitar player at 40 than I was at 25. I think I'm looking at accusing you of having an unreasonable bias here (and NO, not a color bias, for all of those knee-jerk dumb- out there). You seem more than ready to write Kane off, ostensibly due to his age, and no other factor(s). Yes/no?

What is it about Kane that makes you believe he can't or won't grow, mature, and/or evolve as a player?

There was another thread. Maybe that thread's OP deleted it?

Come on, we're more clever than this! How the REKing Crew. Or the JERKES.

Absolutely. That makes so much sense it has to be the plan.

The Kane-Jack-Samson line is the line Kane was looking forward to when he came here. It's the lineup I think many fans envisioned over the summer before the season began. It's clear Kane puts in the work, and his type of hockey IQ may be confusing us all since he clearly was out-thinking us by working on that flip all season long. He's earned his top line position at this point and if DD breaks up that line when ROR comes back I'm going to start a "Fire Dan Bylsma" campaign.

Was he charged with antic-ing? I heard he's been guilty of antic-ing in the past.

Serious? Don't you know Trump has all of your data already? Just waiting to exploit it like the fascist he is? I've seen all of the Hitler comparisons already - those people, they're onto something.

Yeah man, I'm with you, between this and plastic bags littering the scenery this country has gone to the dogs.

Point 1: McJesus Point 2: You will become a believer.

I will welcome you into the third line tent.

Does Jack have a slightly lazy eye?

You could hear him yell "ice it!" And then he gets it through the moving 5 hole. Fun!

He made that look easy.

Larrson.

You anti-RJ-cam guys are grumpy. Grrr!

16 OT games for Carolina? Hmm...

Yay OT!

Dang, missed the goal; child with a migraine.

It has to be like candy, now.