GASabresIUFAN

Nice Star Wars reference.

I felt the breeze from that Dahlin whiff in Atlanta.

Average at best.

We need some work on 3 on 2’s

That’s the second play tonight that Skinner broke up at center ice.

Hall has a nose bleed.

From the same pairing

Wow. Look what happens when you get someone in front of the net.

I’ve actually enjoyed the game so far. I got a good nap in.

Thank you for joining the chorus. Wide right. Jim Carrey was actually funny once.

He does seem to be making some changes tonight. Kind of verifies that his original lines were dog doo

So excited if that line actually plays the rest of the night.

That looked like a hook

Why doesn’t the pp look like that?

So good, I fell asleep.

Hey guys, shoot the puck on the net; not by the net and not over the net.

This is where Jbot really failed us. Has he developed Mitts properly we’d probably wouldn’t be worried. This also isn’t KAs fault. Eakin is a viable 3C at his best but isn’t someone you move up in the lineup. The backup plan is Mitts, Cozens or R2 but we aren’t far enough into the season to know if any of the 3 candidates are ready. They also have to actually play somewhere to be useful. Another reason to advocate for a Skinner Mitts Cozens line.

We don't have any offensive minded centers after Staal that RK is willing to play. Honestly, I'm not sure either Mitts or Cozens are ready for that job. I want to see them lower in the lineup to see how things are going before throwing them to the wolves. Lazar would have been my choice over Sheahan, but neither is actually a good choice.

I know it’s game one of season 2. This is not posted as a bash RK thread. I’ve done enough of that with some justification. However @LGR4GM in a response to @steveoath did a nice job of describing part of RK’s system in the GDT last night and I thought it deserves its own thread. LG wrote “Generally it seems he wants players to stay above the puck, aka be between the puck and your own goal. He also appears to want to run the offense from the point down. His d zone is completely unclear to me other than he wants an outlet pass in the center of the ice and along the wall. “ I personally like my teams to utilize a two man forecheck. I also like my wingers to get behind the D men on offense. If you watched Team USA, this is the basic system Nate Leaman used and used in the NCAA. I’ve never been perfectly clear on what RK’s system is. He is supposed to be a defensive guru, and we had improved D results last year at even strength. However I still have no idea what his actual approach is. I also don’t see a firm offensive system. LG mentioned running the O from the point. That can work if they get shots through and our wingers get behind the defense, but I also see to much perimeter play and no one screening the goalie. Ray was screaming about this last night. It was one of his keys to the game and I don’t think I saw a screen all night. So what is his system or team principals?

What you want a coach who thinks offense is important? How dare you. Defense wins championships. I was thinking about posting a USA vs Canada analogy during the first period. Wash looked like the USA and we like Canada during the first period. Maybe Nate Leaman should be our next coach. His whole system was get behind the D and forecheck like crazy.

Cozens was late to camp because of the Wjr. I wonder if some of what we saw was a lack of practice time w his new mates and knowledge of RK’s principals.

No. I was relating the Sabres rationale I heard.

fixed. There are guys in the AHL who are better players then Lazar and Sheahan. R2 is probably one of the those players.

Now you know why I have been so vocal about my dislike for RK. The motivator didn't motivate, his offensive game plan was terrible (why does Rob Ray have to yell at these guys to go to the net) and although he upped Skinner's PT, he didn't play him with competent linemates and didn't get him on the ice well we pulled the goalie to get extra scoring. I know it's one game, but that was a shameful display on opening night. If RK can get them going for a new season, then what is he good for? We should be giving Skinner Cozens now. Who cares when KO returns. Sheahan or Asplund are perfectly capable of playing a checking role. Skinner needs at least one linemate who has an offense skill set. If I were the coach, Mitts and Cozens play with Skinner. Thompson is removed from the PP in favor of Mitts or Cozens. I'd put Montour and Risto on the second PP and use Risto to screen goalies, like Boston used to with Chara. I'd leave Thompson with the 1st line for now. If Staal is seriously hurt, the whole puzzle falls apart. Neither Cozens or Mitts are likely ready for 2nd line center duty. Eakin becomes the 2C and we have to rethink this whole lineup. We might have to try Hall Eichel TT VO Eakin Reinhart (not my favorite) Skinner Mitts Cozens Rieder Lazar Sheahan Also KA deserves some blame. Everyone knew Hutton shouldn't have been back, now we have confirmation that his eyes aren't the problem.

In Hutton's defense, I think they actually played him because they wanted to give Ullmark another day since he was late coming to camp. It could work to Ullmark's benefit, the team can't be worse tomorrow can they?