mjd1001

Yes they are. Just because it doesn't fit your narrative doesn't make it untrue no matter how much you want it. I don't consider Tuch and Skinner as having that much worse seasons in light of their injuries and games missed. Power? He is having a lot of bad games this year...guess what? He had a lot of bad games last year but for some reason this board gave him more credit than he deserved. I think Jokiharju is having a better year than last year. I think Clifton is having a better season than the group of players that played 3rd pair roles last year. Mitts is statistically slightly better in terms of production than last year, but he is playing better in his own end by quite a bit comapred to last year (eye test AND metrics show that). Okposo is scoring more than last year, AND he is on the ice for less goals against. How is that a worse season? If you want to say 'the eye test' shows he is slowing down, late to get back on some plays...I can agree with that. But if that is true, then HOW is he scoring more and on the ice for less goals against than last year UNLESS it is postive coaching? The ENTIRE forward group has gotten better i their own zone the last 2 months...numbers show that..the eye test shows that...compared to what they did all of last year and the first part of this year. If an entire group playing better in an aspect of the game isn't a result of coaching...I don't know what is. You all can just blame coaching, blame DG and say he is awful if you want to. But if you actually watch this team, if you analyze what is going on, the ONLY thing you can chalk up to being worse last year with regard to 'coaching' is the Power play. I know 'fire the coach' makes all of you feel better, but tell me specifically how the coacing is worse than last year. I see the TEAM being worse than last year for various reasons, but I just don't see how coaching has dropped off considerably. I'm waiting for examples from this board, but I'm getting very few of them, just accusations I am 'cherry picking' things to support my argument, but the ones I am getting on the other side (if I get any) don't even have any depth to them. Pay a good, experienced assistant to fix that. MOST of the fall-off in offense is due to more injuries to key players than last year, and an decrese in shooting percentage from Tage and Cozens (they are getting about the same number of shots from last year....the number of high danger and center of the ice chance by both is about the same, they are IN POSITION like they were last year to score, they are just doing it less, coachign has them in position to take the same shots and get them from the same areas.)

I still have no (well, a LITTLE) problem with Granato. The limit of the issue I have with him is....I THINK the PP needs a new direction/new assistant coach, and he has (or should have) the power/ability to make that change. I see a lot of positives with this team COMPARED to last year. They are better on defense. They are getting better goaltending. Many of the players are playing BETTER than last year (Mitts, Peterka, Greenway). Benson has developed. After a rough start Cliton is playing better, Jokiharju is playing much better after a slow start. Quinn came back and in a short stint looked even better than last year. The players who are playing worse (Tage and Cozens) have had injuries. The players whos production is slightly down (Skinner and Tuch) have also had injuries. The roster is still flawed, but when I look at the coaching job...I see a head coach who isn't perfect, but who wasn't perfect last year, but I still do not see one of the retreads out there that everyone who wants DG fired stepping in and doing a better job. Not at all.

There was, and is a market for that. Some fans are patient. Some fans just want everyone to get along and feel good about everything. Other fans want wins, they want wins now and when the team doesn't do that they want changes. His show catered to the second group.

March 1, my company I work for part time is doing their major 'streamlining'. Most part timers are gone as of next week. Full timers, still all there but all 'peer training' positions, all 'assistant manager' positions, any position where they could make a bit of extra money, are eliminiated and everyone goes back to the 'base' position on their level. I'm temporarily out, but while disappointing, it was just 2 days a week PT, extra 'spending cash' that I can do without. I only worked Monday and Tuesday for a few hours. A lot of "streamlining of operations" going on out there right now.

So who was the last guy they drafted with that intent with a first rounder? Zack Kassian? Even that is going back 15 years. COULD it be Cozens? He didn't do well taking on a heavyweight earlier this year, but isn't he 6'3" put on 10-20 lbs over the next couple years...get someone to teach him to fight? We know he is somewhat willing. I don't know, probably reaching here.

The CLOSEST thing in recent memory would probably be Evander Kane. He would drop the glove, win his share of them when he did (although not an ultra-heavyweight) and put up 25-30 goals for you. Not at the same level as those other guys though. Honestly, the more I think about it...go back 30 years..I can't think of anyone else that was even a 'moderately dangerous'/potential top 2 line player who would drop the gloves even a few times per year.

People are frustrated I get it. I am too, although I don't take the team, or sports, as seriously as I used to. But I wanted to re-read your original post. I'm finding out lately that its not so much being a fan of the team that is frustrating the most lately, it is the art of talking about the team. In most of my posts, I will try to not be emotional....I might disagree with someone and I'll point out where I do (at least in my original post) but I am finding more and more emotional responses, getting attacked when you disagree with someone. Worse yet, I noticed in the gameday threads...it is getting really bad. Yeah, the team is not making the playoffs this year, but since January 1, this team has been playing much better, and even most of the losses are close. Yet, play the best team in the league, lose by one goal, and there is just hatred, venom all over the boards, (I won't even mention twitter). Attacking people you don't agree with. Hatred, resentment, outright hostility in more and more posts. Yeah, this message board is here for people to give their opinion. To vent, I get that, but things are getting over the top (at least to me)

So we have a bunch of people saying that he's too placid and showing no emotion and criticizing him for that. Then you say him showing some emotion and getting a bench minor loses the game. Honestly, the guy probably deserves better than this fan base. The negativity on this board is just too much sometimes.

Please get Dahlin off of the penalty kill I don't know if he's that much better killing penalties, It doesn't take a bunch of skill to slap the puck down the ice...but whenever this penalty is over, I want him more rested for even strength.

Of course not hockey related, but one of the coolest videos I have seen in a while....engineering a drone to follow an F1 car at full speed.

Skinner's value might drop off quickly before his contract is up. I need him as a consistent 30 goal scorer to be of value. BUT, is he a 'floater' coming back to his own zone? Yes. I have seen replays of goals scored against the Sabres where on the way back he LITERALLY stopped at the blue line, doing a semi 'goal hang' instead of playing defense. HOWEVER, what I also don't see from Skinner is when he IS in the defensive zone (and he is sometimes) he doesn't give the puck away, doesn't vacate his wing leaving it wide open for other opportunities, and he actually DOES win some loose puck battles (not because of his size of course, but more because of his hands). OVERALL he is net 'negative' in terms of D-zone play, but at 30 goals per year his offense more than makes up for that. He is one of the few players who will go to the front of the opponents net AND he has the skill/hands to put the puck in the net. As long as he is giving this team 25-30+ goals per season...and as you said, doing some 'agitating', I'm happy with him being here (I'm for sure not shipping him off for a 'bag of pucks' and in no way do I think this team gets better by him simply not being here.)

No, but that is because I do not believe in Firing Granato or blowing things up at this point. I think this team needs surgery with a scalpel, no a sledgehammer. I DO believe in making a big trade in the offseason for a top 25 D-man in the league (multiple prospects if that is needed), having Tage, Quinn, Tuch and Cozens fully healthy starting next year (keep Cozens more at wing and keep Tage off of the PK) and hopefully bringing in a highly paid/highly effective assistant specialist to help out. This group of Defensemen is SO YOUNG that they are going to gradually get better as time (seasons) go on.

Petterson? I'd much, much rather have him that Tkachuk. What would I give up? Quite a bit. I think he is a real top 10 player in the NHL right now and still getting better. I don't think this is happening though. The only thing that gives me pause is the next contract. In the NHL, to win the CUP (not just be playoff-good, but to be truly competitive for the Cup year in and year out) you have to have some bargains on your team. Get enough good to great players like Toronto, you are guaranteed to be good and in the playoffs. But pay them all market value (no bargains) and you are also guaranteed to usually not go far in the playoffs and not even sniff a presidents trophy at all in your entire run. Now, the rumors (and I know we all know what rumors are)....say they offered him 8 years at $95-$100m....and he still hasn't signed it. (just one of many sources: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/canucks-have-already-made-a-massive-offer-to-re-sign-elias-pettersson/ar-BB1iN0FN). If he hasn't signed that...then what is he really looking for? $13m? $14m per year? As good/great as he is, I'm not sure I want to trade Tage/Cozens/Power or a combo of them for a player taking up that much of my cap unless their last name starts with an "M" and ends with atthews, cdavid, or acKinnon.

I'm not sure what it is about Florida...I just feel a lot less confident against them than any other team. Boston? the Rangers? Something gives me the feeling the Sabres would match up against them much better than Florida. A win tonight would go a long way to me thinking this team might be turning a legit corner, not just feeding off of weaker opponents.

I agree with you. If these rumors aren't true at all, none of this matters. Move on. But, if they ARE true, then its that there are issues with him that they aren't all that happy with, so they think a potential return might be better than having them. With that said, it would likely take a lot to get him....but you ARE getting a player back that they certainly dont' think is untouchable, and has enough issues that they would move him AFTER locking him up long term. To me that means the asking/getting price would not be as high as many think.

Wow, so much here. I'd have no idea how to respond to this post...with a like, a dislike, laughing, thanks, Eyeroll....I can 100% get besides some of your post and totally disagree with others. I have to think about this for a while...

I have not liked Krebs since he started playing with this team. Slower than I thought, not able to win puck battles, very little offense. I STILL am not sold on him, but last game he looked like a different player. He controlled the puck? When he had it and even was under a bit of pressure it looked like he had composure and waited and watched the ice before making a play. So, I still am not sure he is a legit top 9 guy in the NHL, but yesterday his play gave me hope in that for the first time in a while. As for the team's overall play, on both ends of the ice but especially the D-zone....well, the more Cozens plays on the wing and the less he is a center, it seems the better things get. Power-ish forward, 2nd line winger, good forechecker, physical, fighting for the puck on the boards...to me he is just so much better suited on the wing.

Very few D-men become great right away, it seems to take longer than forwards. Sure you have guys like Makar, but it seems Power's development is not that fast. I'd say next year he should 'bounce back' and start to play better, but MAYBE he might break that 'top 100 D-men in the league' next year, that is about it. You want a top 50 D-man in the league guy? I'd say 2-3 more years. Of course, I expect he will take gradual steps and going forward, get a little better each year.

What would you need to get this deal done. I don't know, on the radio someone was saying Savoie, Mitts, and next years first. If, IF that is what it would take to get the deal done....rather than just do that I would take that package to the rest of the league and take offers...Adams would basically say...Savoie, Mitts, and next years first...what is the best anyone has to offer?

I think they pedegree and the hype might influence some of our voting. I'm not saying McDavid ISN'T the best player, but sometimes I think he gets the benefit of the doubt over everyone else because we all heard he was generational. McKinnon, while VERY highly respected coming into the draft, I remember was the 'semi-generational guy' while we really wall waited a couple years for McDavid.

I'm part of the way there with you. Some want him gone yesterday. And yes, he is pretty much a no-show in his own end. But you are still able to rely on him for about 30 goal seasons (the 'coaching' change to a more defensive style hasn't seemed to impact him that much), and he is one of the FEW players how is willing to head to the front of the net pretty much all the time. Is he a perfect player? Nope. Is he overpaid...maybe, probably. Is he a cause for this team being bad though....I don't think so.

If he goes to arbitration, I think the might get more than that, and that would only be for 1 year. If his agent is looking for 3 or 4 years at 5 mil per year, do you say no?

So, I know that things can change..but...those people who, just a month ago... wanted to sign him/offer him 2-3 years at close to $2m per year....that might not be possible anymore.

Certainly this was a closer game...more edge-of-your seat....but I still think its hard to be a game where you blow out the Maple Leafs for 'the best of the year. This one was probably the best one in terms of competitiveness though.

Oh for Kotalik right now...