Randall Flagg

I definitely have doubt. Our 25 minute munching top defender is substantially worse than either third pairing D that played for SJ tonight, and his partner was worse than THAT. Donskoi was a better and more assertive forward than anybody not named Jack for us in this game. We have probably 5 forwards out there that shouldn't be getting NHL ice time. Still Talent remains the biggest need for this team to be a consistent winner. I hope it's the primary focus in the offseason this time.

Both of these were physically impossible. Gallant coached the entire season for Vegas. And DDB wasn't coming back after finishing the last quarter of the season at a 30 point pace, and having his entire team shove Jack upstairs to the GMs room to ask him to fire the coach.

I would urge people to rewatch this game, focusing only on the Sharks' 3D Justin Braun. Watch carefully, and ask yourself if Ristolainen is anywhere close to his level as a hockey player, and consider this going forward in our roster evaluations.

As thrilled as I am having this discussion again, why on earth is it one or another? They needed a change after finishing the last quarter of 16-17 on a 30 point full season pace, and might need one now, and probably should stop hiring trash coaches

Truly working his magic for the 0-7 Red Wings

Pointed out on hfboards, apologies for small sample size, but it's directly in line with what I'm seeing out there: Sobotka has the 4th most ES ice time of any forward in the games he's played and has a 25% Corsi. "Corsi blah blah" for sure, but name a single legitimate offensive play he's been a part of. Sobotka was predetermined to be Phil's ROR, because Phil needs a ROR. The phrase "working with the talent you have" gets used a lot and may be applicable here.

I was waiting for something super egregious to really get on Phil, but tonight on several levels was this. It was his worst showing as a coach, which must be something for a coach of the last place team last year.

There are too many legitimately bad players entrenched in too-important roles as a carryover from doing so for a last place team. You can win with some bad players, but you can't play them like they're all stars.

I think this is a topic that's thread-worthy. "We're fine, we fixed our depth, the locker room" gets said basically every offseason, and yet other teams that we sneer at condescendingly are stunningly better at offense than us. Year after year after year. We need to start reevaluating the things that we look at and think are fine, especially in those sunny offseason days where everything is hunky dory. Risto at 25 minutes per night, for a novel example. Jack and Reino together. Anything, really.

Risto, Scandy, and Elie really got this banger of a period starting off right getting stuck in their own zone and giving up five scoring chances, followed by no change to our PP unit that's 1/20 or punishing Okie who single-handedly lost his team the game with dumb penalties. Phil, this game is actually on you.

These guys really know how to ruin a solid showing. This is pathetic.

I don't think I'm going to be able to get over him throwing that same power play unit out there, all things considered.

Phil, with these PP woes and Okie's game, you're killing your credibility here leaving him out there.

Just wow on those guys.

Can we stop leaning on those two as some stalwart D pairing

God f*cking dammit

Why are we starting a period with Elie and Thompson? Risto-Scandella is our worst transition defensive pairing.

If Jack can flip the switch to shooting, we will win this game. Rookie moment from Dahlin towards the end there too!

This ref is a bit ridiculous with the faceoff tossing tonight.

Sobotka has to not flub that pass. He might be our worst defenseman so far this year (besides Nelson). No, I don't think that would hold if we put, say, Beaulieu in his spot, but it's also a good thing since he's probably going to get better fairly soon

Ugh so close

The ice is extra slippery for Sheary tonight

Sexy Erik. Skinner needs to get off the ice sooner. Phil, play this goddamn line more than you're doing it . They haven't spent a second in the defensive zone.

Dahlin with the bad pass to set that up, but he just does things easily that aren't easy for any other Sabre McCabe, give that sucker to Rasmus dammit