Thorny

If they don't win before then, the game next Tuesday against the Jets, in Winnipeg. I'll be there, and will do what is necessary.

No idea what Asplund was doing on that one

Don't find it that surprising, honestly. Like I mentioned yesterday, the game itself is so fluid, so all of these components have a massive affect on each other in real time. Look at the forward roster: it's not actually good at scoring goals. Or, I should say, it's not good at scoring goals without playing an unsustainable system that leads to league-worst goals against rates. If they actually commit to a sound style, like they did for UPL, that offense is going to dry up, quick. They don't have the raw talent to create and score without heavy manipulation from the coach. It's not just the goalies. It's not just the D. It's not just the forwards. We all saw it coming it - the roster isn't good. Not one area of it is good enough. It's the only way you can lose 15 out of 18 games, finding yourself in 29th place by points % after a 5-1-1 start.

Re-injury? Wouldn't be a good look, considering. Regardless, what a disaster of a season so far for a player we are counting on to establish as a stabilizing component of our C-spine. Obviously not Casey's fault, but doesn't look like we are going to get any kind of confidence he's a long-term staple for us at 2/3C, anytime soon.

Draft Expectations for Dahlin: Too Low?

Ya, take the last full season, ROR had 77 points and was 18th for centres in scoring, combined with his elite two way ability, that's a strong 1C. I think he could get there, or I've mentioned Jeff Carter before, but my initial post was more about what I think is becoming closer to a "certainty", more of a consideration of floor than ceiling. What I'd feel confident betting on. I see strong 2C as likely. I'm looking at teams like Calgary and Carolina with their 1Cs that are point a game or slightly better (Aho, Lindholm)...Carolina with Trochek (43p in 47 games last year) behind him. Calgary has Monahan (Mitts?)..Ideally I'd like to find the Aho/Lindholm type guy (and not saying Cozens can't get there). But even if he doesn't, the depth route is possible and Cozens solidifying right now plays into that for me.

FTFY

Good questions. Generally in my head when I say “1C” I’m not one of those guys who really means “star”, but I also don’t mean a player who meets close to the bare minimum, or even below average, statistical requirement. In my mind I’m trying to build a playoff team (or why bother), and the bottom playoff team is about league average (16/32) with the rest of the teams only going up from there. So the 1C I mean is above-average, out of the top 30 or so league wide. Or, at least, the ability to play at that level. 1C/2C/1LHD/1RHD/G are the positions, when attempting to build a playoff team, I’d be hesitant to be scant/adhering to very literal definitions of, say, “top 32 C”. We could hypothetically get away with an average/below average 1C (what I’d probably call an ideal 2C) if our 2C is above average. But you gotta make it up somewhere. As for comparables, I’ll try and find a few after I’m finished watching wrestling.

What did people do?

The more I delve into Dylan Cozens the more impressed I am. His scoring pace is also nothing to sneeze at this season given the overall team around him and, of course, his age. That he he looks reasonably solid at both ends is the kicker. I’m still not sold on TT or even Mittelstadt as long term fixtures of our C spine, but I’m rapidly approaching that feeling with DC. I’m close to thinking he has 2C locked down in a real way going forward. Which means, after that, I’m much more confident in the chances one of TT or Casey is able to lock down a third scoring line, at C, between the two of them. X Cozens Thompson/Mittelstadt Asplund (?) Dunno if Asplund is fixed at W now but he’s a good player and can hold down a checking line C role I’d imagine, with that role being easiest to fill anyways if he sticks at W. I don’t think it’s projecting as a high-talent spine yet, but it’s picking up steam in the “safe bets” department, I believe. Keep adding good C prospects to Krebs, and if we pick high enough this year, maybe we get our 1C from the group, and if not, maybe we accumulate enough depth that we are good with a 2C-2C-3C-4C format - particularly if our 3C or 4C is above average.

So over 3 quarters of voters have Eichel playing *at least* for the duration of his contract. Not so bad an outlook if we trust the voters.

It IS a super weird year though league wide, no elite teams I don’t think. If the Bills get in, and get some good weather, I could see Josh and them going on a run nonetheless. I think the Bills probably win that game yesterday in conditions that suit what they do best. Maybe going on the road wouldn’t be so bad if Buffalo is going to be the worst of it weather wise

The average paying customer simply looks at the standings and decides if the team is good enough to put in the effort/cash to attend. That’s the majority. Those of us online preaching patience and delving into our 6th best wing prospect for reasons to hope are the minority.

Sabres take this.

If Cooley ends up the Sabres guy, @DarthEbriate will have a field day with his birthday

30 or 40% more appreciated, because the media usually ignores our good players when we actually do, rarely, get them? I believe it.

Covid has destroyed their season

No Getzlaf for Anaheim which should help UPL should he get the nod

He giveth, and he taketh. Right now he's probably a net-taketh. I'd wager he's not a net-taketh relative to the rest of the team, though. And that's the key point. This is why he plays.

You are correct, we can't know if it will cause psychological damage to the younger players. On the same note, we can't know the fans wouldn't be back right now, win-or-lose, just for the record. Because they've never had a chance to witness the "win" you are alluding to. A 5-1-1 start following a 14 losses in 17 stretch is not even CLOSE to the required sample size to know they wouldn't be here if we were winning more sustainably, beyond a mere 7 game stretch to start the season.

So the goaltending is atrocious and the D is merely poor. Thread?

Also @PromoTheRobotis right that it's not just the goalies. The D has been bad. Yes, the goaltending being so bad plays into the overall defensive performance structure of the team, but the team D is also bad because of the system Granato is playing that is benefiting our ability to generate offence. It's a trade off - the offense isn't "fixed", either, if we committed to a better team D, the goals would go down. Everything flows into each other in a fluid game like hockey. What's the net output? That's what we should look at. It's bad. We are a severe net negative in goal differential. The goalies have been bad - has anyone peeked what kind of WAR results goalies generally achieve? It's some of the problem, not all. Team D is bad. That's on the skaters, too, the D and the forwards.

So why did we lambast Botterill for not getting a 2C? Is that any easier than finding a COMPETANT goaltender? The "what could he have even done?!" posts miss the mark by the greatest amount.

Not to the extent we are seeing. Adams tried to sign Ullmark. People keep ignoring this because it's convenient. Adams didn't want the goaltending to be this bad. He didn't want the adversity to be this extreme.

And this. A good point.