Pokey Jones

It's a sad reality, and I too was hoping a system change and a few new guys on D would be a big improvement but from what they have shown, showing some of them the door is looking like the only real solution. Any kind of tinkering and hoping will simply prolong the agony.

Eichel yes, O'Reilly no, Reinhart no, Risto maybe, Kane unlikely, Mittlestadt who knows, Nylander probably not.

I think they would move a lot of guys quickly BUT the problem will be the big contracts. Not a lot of teams are going to want to shell out for ROR or Okposo or Bogo (and definitely not Moulson). Kane can be moved later if they want and Reinhart can be since he is younger/cheaper at the moment but Murray thought this was all going to fall into place last year and so they are saddled with a situation that will take time to let some of these contracts run at least some of their course.

But the whole roster hasn't been turned over. The top names are the same top names. You think the guy making 1 million is going to keep busting his butt when the guys making 6, 8, 9 million aren't breaking a sweat? Your leaders have to lead and lead by example. Why do you think there is no captain named? It's all kind of obvious.

But they are lazy. Housley said as much in his comments (using more diplomatic words). Good effort against the Ducks followed by a complete lack of effort for 3/4 of the next game. This is not a new pattern. This team rarely comes out firing on all cylinders. Vegas isn't a better team, but they work harder with what they have. leafs 4 - Detroit 1 right now. Just go watch 5 minutes of this and realize just how lazy our team is.

JBot's plan is going to become weeding out the problems and getting rid of them. Dismantling is in our future unless there is a really quick change.

Cause Marner won't back check and they are good enough to be able to do this. Much harder to send a lesson demoting players when half your team or more is playing crap.

Yup, I've said it from the beginning, the entire culture has to change. There are problems in that locker room, there are people who need to be weeded out. Who it is we can only speculate on but there are big internal issues and have been for a while. The entire culture has to be changed.

So to go back to the original question, how about a one word answer: lazy.

This isn't Sophie's Choice, it's more like which is worse the flu or diarrhea? So like, none of the above.

The question is, why did it take around 45 minutes before they started skating and using their speed? If we had skated like we did in the last 10 from the beginning we would have won that game. Too many old habits, too much laziness, too much casualness, too much solo play. It's going to be a long season.....................................................

Can't be this. He knew he'd be second fiddle to McDavid or Eichel when we tanked. I think it's simple. He doesn't fit the system and maybe being a stubborn veteran he doesn't learn a new system as easily. Old dog habits. He might not respect Housley's ideas fully. Might not respect Housley.

I've never denied Reinhart is a smart player with hockey sense and skill. The issue is when he is hurried and/or played physical. If an opponent gives him time and open ice he will put up points, but for me, that is not the kind of guy you build a winning team on. I want guys who dictate the tempo, not ones that try to keep up with it and/or disappear when it gets tough. Vegas isn't that fast, he might look decent tonight. maybe.

I meant more in the way he can control/dominate a hockey game, not exactly skating/playing style.

I'm sure it is temporary.

playoffs are always the stated goal, that's just a line like "on the same page" etc. Like it or not, it's a new 5 year plan for the GM who saves his own butt by firing the coach in year 3 IF things are failing. In the meantime, he gets rid of the previous guys and brings in his own guys/picks. "Re-learning how to play hockey" - I like the way that was put and couldn't agree more.

You watched a different 2 games to me I guess. I still saw all the same weaknesses.

Oh and Subban is weak up high. Shoot for the top corners. (or at least he was last year)

Funny how before preseason when I said trade Reinhart I got scorn and ridicule and now................not such a far fetched concept is it? Gonna warn you all now though, we aren't going to get as much as you think for him. That might actually be the only reason they don't trade him. The best trade would be a fast winger and a team might make that deal IF they want to unload salary, but for that to be a possibility we'd first have to jettison some salary of our own. So if they can unload one or more of Kane, ROR, Okposo (or Moulson but that's a pipe dream) then I say he is definitely traded at the deadline latest. of course if we are actually a playoff team with some miracle that changes everything but it seems unlikely.

Probably. You'd want to protect him a little, but this guy will dominate. Think Karlsson in Ottawa as the closest comparison.

Es gribu būt Jack 2.0

I kind of prefer the "realist" label eman gave me - thanks man! That's the way I see myself. I am a fan. I WANT this team to win big time, but I try to be objective and unemotional in analysis of players strengths etc. No fan bias in that. I am excited by the new philosophy this management group has, but I also see it has a long way to go. Murray was a really really really bad GM. It's going to take time to change the style, attitude and the player chemistry (which is seriously lacking) on this team.

I think Housley is safe this year regardless. The Murray players take the fall for any disaster that this team might become. Next year a serious playoff push saves him and I am sure they expect to make the playoffs year 3.

You're right! Six games and 1 point with a minus 8, I wonder what number he will wear in the allstar game?

I have seen parts of 2 games they won. They play a close checking style and really try to clog up the passing lanes. Frustrating to play against and they counter fairly well. I think we can beat them with speed, but if the D coughs it up too much we too will lose to them. I would be surprised if Subban is any good. He was #4 on the Bruins depth chart, and hence waived. Best way to beat them would be via the power play, because if we play with speed they will take obstruction type penalties.