French Collection

Pass on KO’s message to Kulich and Rosen, don’t worry about errors, attack!

Those kind of numbers are as advanced analytics as I can muster.

Unfortunately the Amerks only have 4 games in the next 18 days.

So he’s not generational?

Good for Kulich. As I said in the Rosen thread, my expectations are low and any good play is a bonus. A spark on the PP would be awesome. Good luck kid!

Vezina winner Ullmark has let in 5 goals in two periods vs the Rangers. If the score holds this will be 3 loses in their last 5 games. Good team but it looks like they are coming back to earth.

I hope their youth serves them well for this back to back game. Everyone on D other than Dahlin should be able to go harder. Rosen played last night but the adrenaline should be flowing. Cozens will be incrementally better and Krebs’ hustle will translate to a point. I still don’t like VO but if he can produce while others aren’t, he can stay, for a bit longer. I definitely don’t see a path for him to get an extension so we’ll see where things stand at the deadline. Let’s go Buffalo! Happy Birthday! Enjoy.

I hope so, they could use another forward after only having 10 for two periods last night. He probably needs to hold his own for ice time but I doubt he gets the Savoie 3:55 treatment.

Clifton would be the only guy I can see doing it since they have extra D. Definite no for Cozens and Tuch.

Raanta with a .429 SV%!

May take awhile but Levi + Kulich may be better than Reinhart, by quite a bit if they hit their ceilings. Reinhart is a UFA who leaves for nothing after this year.

There are times, whether periods, fractions of periods or entire games when they need 95-100%. They need to realize when and how to do that. The Rangers blocking all of those shots vs the Sabres in game #1 was a situation like that.

Good post. Last night’s third period was similar to last season’s attacking mentality. They need to take that attitude and blend it with their improved defensive conscience. I am not happy with their start, the expectations were higher. They are hanging in there despite regression from many players and a few key injuries. I like knowing that there is way more upside to a large chunk of the roster. Those guys need to improve their play and it will make a difference. Power, Samuelsson, Krebs and Levi can have an impact on games by elevating their play. Cozens has way more to give. If they can stay near the playoff teams, when TNT & Quinn return, that will be a huge injection of talent for the 2nd half. Kane could help here too, but I’m not confident of that. KA should support them at the deadline to fill in a gap or two.

At least Krebs would have someone to work with.

It’s about time, he was pretty much invisible for the other 19 games this season. Invisible might be the wrong term, ineffective would be better. I was meh about his return because of his declining skills. I know he is well respected and is a great person but I was hoping for a change in leadership. I see him as a quality person, showing these guys how to be pros and great people. What I don’t see is a guy that has tons of playoff experience, won a lot and can contribute enough to lead by example. EJ brings this element so that has helped. It sounds like I want KO gone but I just wish he was load managed to maximize his performance. Maybe last night helps him stay at that level for a bit. His slow legs may show up vs NJD on a back to back.

That’s a decent comparable. If he could win draws like Perreault, his value would be elevated.

Good for him, he is an overlooked first rounder. He is having a good season so far. My expectations are low because this is a big jump but he could provide a spark. Time to cash in on the Risto trade.

Kyle Okposo has 9:31 of PP TOI this year. He has 0 PP pts. The bad PP numbers are not his fault, especially since it is PP2, but he has not helped at all. He does not help zone entries and his mobility and creativity limit him to a shooting option. He is not a sniper so his effectiveness is minimal. I am not on the bring Kulich up train, he may not be ready 5v5, but I think he deserves a look for a PP spark.

Revenge game, not.

I wanted this kid to become a bit more like Pronger due to his size. It is not in his DNA to play that way. However, some push back will get him some room, respect and confidence. Dahlin doesn’t drop the mitts but he engages in scrums, hits hard and will retaliate if someone wrongs him or a teammate. Power needs to ramp this up.

I know. Plus Bryson wants to be in Buffalo. At some point KA should be doing his job and putting the best players he can find on the roster. This will improve the talent and send a message to the rest of them that this is a business and winning is better for business.

St Louis vs Arizona Binnington gives up 5 goals on 8 shots and gets pulled while Vejmelka gives up 4 on 7 shots and also gets pulled.

This Sportsnet article from 2021 has some salary cap era stats that say 77% of teams in the playoffs at US Thanksgiving make it. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/why-nhl-standings-at-u-s-thanksgiving-have-huge-playoff-implications/

I thought it was .75% of teams in the playoffs at US Thanksgiving made the playoffs at year end.

This is what I said throwing the remote down.