Curt

4 on 3 to start OT. Rhymin

This is what hockey in October looks like. Most teams don’t have their defenses fine tuned yet and there are always lots of goals.

Sobotka just made a poor play in the neutral zone that allowed a zone entry, then skated to the other end and had the weakest shot ever after Skinner’s chance.

Most teams’ defense is sloppy the first month or so of the season, let alone teams with new coaches. Hopefully it improves.

True. He can be impressive and infuriating, but rarely meh.

Man! I feel like this team is beginning to amass enough truly dangerous players that they aren’t going to suck anytime soon.

Sooo, Jack Eichel is pretty good. End to end for the goal.

If this team could play, on average, close to 50/50 at ES, along with good special teams, that could be a recipe for some success. Probably the best we can hope for this season.

That was a nice pass by Risto to Armia up for the goal. smh

I don’t think that’s too uncommon. Fan bases often blame their better players for the team’s lack of success.

Yes. Let’s give it a few more games. Are you talking about the top lines drawing penalties or about those players production on the PP? Because when we talk about the play of a certain line, that’s ES. Special teams are a different animal with different player combinations.

In terms of tilting the ice at 5-on-5, he has certainly been among the best, that whole line has. We all know though that over the course of the season, that most likely will not keep up to this extent because Okposo is not in fact the best forward on the team. That’s my point. It’s a small sample size. It’s not very predictive of how the rest of the season will unfold.

In 3 games, the top 6 forwards have 4 ES goals. It’s something, but it’s not a lot. Something to watch going forward.

There are 2 full seasons between now and the Seattle expansion draft. Things are going to change.

For clarity, Sobotka is bad, he isn’t a player you want on the 2nd line. However, that chart does not support that he is a terrible hockey player (poor offensively perhaps), and the chart is almost meaningless because of the small sample size. It also shows that Okposo is far and away the best forward so far this season.

Like Darksabre said, better dull than bad. It’s 3 games anyway. Let’s look again after a few more. Also, for record, Sobotka is bad, just don’t think chart supports that.

That chart actually shows Sobotka as a positive player. Team have more GF than GA when he is on the ice. Sheary and Vesey are worse there.

He is only 19, all season long! Mind blown! EDIT: just saw that you saw it on your own. Good Lord indeed.

And it’s looking like a stop gap veteran 2C may have be added anyway. Johansson has looked like he can probably be the guy who holds down the fort in that role until Mitts/Cozens are ready to take it over, as long as he can stay on the ice.

This is definitely a better roster than Housley had in 18-19. The defensive group is much better and we should be able to agree that Olofsson is a very helpful addition, regardless of him not having an NHL track record. Johansson is a positive addition as well, though Pominville did head out. I don’t get why I keep seeing people say that the roster hasn’t really improved.

I think that time has proven that the answer is definitely no. No, we can not stop trying to trade Ristolainen.

I think ERod is quite a bit better than Sobotka. He is quicker and a better passer than Sobotka. He also is a smart decision maker, defensively responsible, and always gives 100%. Of course he has downsides. His size limits him in puck battles and his shot isn’t very good. I think he is a solid 3rd liner.

I don’t really agree with these assertions. There could be no bigger drop off between players than existed between prime Hasek and whoever is #2. I also don’t think an elite C is more valuable or harder to find than an elite G. Also doubt Gilbert is in top 10 on many all-time C lists. Still, I voted Gil #1 because the poll was for best Sabre, not best player. In that sense, I think being the first draft pick and career Sabre at the franchises start means something.

I actually recall a great d play early in the 1st by Mitts also. Stripped the puck from an opposing forward and skated it out of the d zone.

Probably because they are passing to each other more instead of desperately trying to toss it out of the zone.