JoeSchmoe

Back on topic (sort of) how much training can the team do? Risto and Hall excepted, can the players still skate at all? If Jack's poor play is more being out of shape than a bum shoulder, this could set the team back even worse, instead of helping as some had hoped.

In that 4-6 timeframe, there were a lot more Hutton starts we'd normally see. Where are we if Ullmark hadn't left for a family emergency?

I apologize if this has already been asked and answered, but does anyone know why Hall and Risto were singled out? I did find this online. I see Hall having the potential to maybe have met up with some old teammates and been penalized under clause (3). I'm not sure about Risto though. Hopefully both will be fine. -------------------------- Such “COVID Protocol Related Absences” can be the result of a number of factors including, among others: (1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Yeah, I was just messing with you since you laid it out so strongly. 😀

I agree Eichel looks checked out. At this point I'm hoping it's a case of him playing himself into shape... But he has this I'm too cool care Aura about him. I recall seeing his Twitter posts where he looked somewhat large, though it was arguable that it was just the camera angle. Playing himself into shape is not an ideal thing to wish for, but at this point... I'd take it.

I know things didn't look great the last few games. But... We're #4 in the division in goal differential, with a bunch of Hutton starts thrown in there. With Linus breaking away as the number 1, and Hall, Eichel, and Skinner sure to up their output I really think we can get at least to number 4 in the standings. We'll need to do something about the Slo-poso problem though.

I'm beginning to think you don't like Matt Irwin.

I said it before in another post about McDavid, but Crosby is probably even a better comparison. Guaranteed prime Crosby would skate double the miles in a game compared to what Eichel does. Also, the time spent skating at greater than 80% effort would be at LEAST 5:1, and that is likely an understatement. Unfortunately, Eichel does not seem to care. He doesn't even look all that excited when he scores.

Do you think Eichel even cares?!?!?! What the **** is he doing this year?!?!?!

I hope he gets a decent look. Some of our vets just aren't good enough to put us over the top. Mitts might not be good enough either, but at least there could be some upside.

I didn't get a chance to watch. How did Mittelstadt look? With consistent ice, does he have any potential as an upgrade over any of our mediocre journeymen vets with long histories of low production (i.e. Reider, Sheahan, Lazar)?

The problem is Jack Eichel. He floats all game long... like he's too cool to try. He sets the tone for the rest of the team. The sad part is, when he actually tries I have him as a top 5 maybe top 3 player in the league. I guarantee you that if you could track a player's mileage per game, McDavid would cover twice the ice as Eichel. Its so frustrating to watch.

They were like this before Krueger.

Is it just me, or does it seem like the culture on this team is that it's not cool to look like you're trying?

I don't understand the pessimism, especially on the bottom 6?!?!?! This is far and away the best 3rd and 4th lines we've had in a long time!!! How could you not be positive with Skinner, Cozens, and Eaken? They are so much better than the scrubs we've rolled out since the tank (and long before that). And what's with the ridiculous Larsson love? Him and Girgs were stalwarts on the league's worst PK. We are better there almost by default. As well, this is the deepest we've been with F's in the system for a long time (Ruots, Peterka, Mitts, Quinn, etc). All this is without mentioning we have 2 of the most dangerous top 2 lines in the league. When was the last time we could say that? On D, Dahlin is just coming into his prime and BOGO is finally gone. We are stronger there than last year. The only question mark is in G. Ullmark will hopefully show a marginal improvement. I'm not optimistic about Hutton... Eye surgery or not. The so-called top teams in the division all got worse, either by age, or by roster. I had this same optimism going into 2005, when the Sabres were unknowns, but I could see the roster was deep and skilled. People laughed at me, but I was right. Other than 2006, I haven't been this optimistic since. We are making the playoffs and are a top 10 team in the entire league. If goaltending gets improved- top 5.

Haha! My take is that people like hot pockets, but won't publically admit it (kind of like PHam 🙂 ).

Who remembers the helicopter he hired to watch the Jays? https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/evander-kane-toronto-blue-jays-game-helicopter-buffalo-sabres-kansas-city-royals-carlo-colaiacovo-jamie-mcginn/

I like Paul Hamilton too. I think in some circles it's just that the cool kids don't like him so everyone follows that lead.

NHL Live is $159 in Canada vs $99 in the US. Crazy.

People like to look at the World Juniors because of the giant spotlight, but it's such a small sample size. Look at what Cozens and Mitts did in their D+1 seasons. Mittelstadt had a very pedestrian 30pts in 34 games in the NCAA. The NHLe calculator I used translates this to 24pts in the NHL which is pretty much replacement level for a forward. Cozens dominated the WHL with 85 points in 51 games in his D+1 year. The NHLe shows this to be 41pts which is without question a contributing F. NHLe isn't perfect, but Mitts did not play well enough at Minnesota to justify moving on. The team was just gun shy leaving him simmer in the NCAA and risk losing as they did with Cal Petersen (and Jimmy Vesey).