Pokey Jones

Let's not ignore the fact that Khubodan was a sieve tonight. Come out flying against Detroit and run up a score on them and then maybe you can start gassing the bandwagon up.

bit of an extreme bandwagon jump - don't hurt yourself when you jump off :) Bailey has been much better than pre-season, agree on that. I like him on Jack's wing. He still needs to be more physical and use his size, if he does that, he can be a bit like Maroon is for McDavid, open a lot of room and get some garbage rebounds in front. McCabe had a good game and Scandella his best so far. Pouliot? I gotta see a lot more from him before I'll join that praise. ROR is more like last year's version, but Reinhart is still sucking :) You didn't mention Antipin. He looked truly promising and the D was a lot better without Beaulieu in there.

I agree about Bailey. I think he should stay on Jack's wing for now, even if Pommer might score more goals, I think just by being there and creating a disturbance now and again the rest of that line will be better. In general, this team doesn't get down and dirty enough in front of the net. Too many long shot one shot chances and not enough rebounds and hacked in goals. We get in front more (and not like Reinhart just standing there letting someone else do the work) and then the rest of the ice opens up more for Jack to work magic.

Wow, doesn't take much to get this bandwagon going..............just don't forget to check the tire pressure before driving too far :)

Effort and emotion. If they'd come out with the emotion and effort they showed in the second half of the Bruins game they'd have now won 2 in a row.

I said enjoy.

Move the legs and give effort on every shift. That's what they need, that's what we don't get for 60 minutes every night.

"Sam at top form" - what is that? Where is that? Is that anything? I'm tired of Sam and Jack being mentioned together as if they were pillars to build off of. It's more than obvious that those two are light years apart.

See, if they just give effort they can play better - now we just need to figure out how to get them to give effort every night and for 60 minutes. I liked the decision to play Bailey with Eichel. Smart move by Phil to not have a Pomminstein/Marchand match up. A big body who can skate is a good idea for the Eichel line. Scandella's best game so far. Beaulieu out, let's keep it that way. BUT, don't get giddy, if it's Rask playing average Rask or if Lehner doesn't stop Marchand, then we lose this game. Khubodin fought the puck all night and was just awful at times. Reinhart still rubbish. Good thing Moulson was in the press box..........oh wait.......he was on the ice doing something or other not sure what. The scrubs are still scrubs. But for the moment enjoy. Signs of life. let's see what the effort level is for the next one.........

As I've said before, fans are too accepting of this sort of attitude as normal, and so the players are too. Losing would be acceptable. Unfortunate and sad but acceptable - IF they actually gave it real effort every night. Just give me a team that cares and tries to win not this.........whatever this is.

Truth. Edmonton did a really bad job for years and wasted picks but then they lucked into winning that lottery. They still have issues though. Their D isn't all that good and their goaltending is spotty this year and they will have big cap problems really soon. That Lucic contract will kill them (among others). Toronto has a small window before the cap gets them too but they have simply drafted better in the last few years. Matthews took them over the top rather than being the guy they all relied on (Eichel). Eichel isn't Matthews, he isn't McDavid, he isn't Crosby, but he is a really good hockey player. He's just not a guy who can do it alone. Murray wasted picks and drafted poorly. The cupboard is bare. You can see guys like Bailey looked like they'd be great picks - big guy but fast, has all the tools etc. but he just isn't quite there. (as an example). maybe on a good team he could be coached into being a good role player but if he is the best we have to come we are in trouble. I think you guys put way too much on a coach - Babcock. Coaches are like goalies, Easy to blame and easy to credit when the team plays well. They can make improvements, but the players still have to be there and they still have to play. Housley is in a bad situation. Babcock has enough talent he can move Marner to the 4th line if he doesn't listen or play hard. What's Housley gonna do? Who can he sit or demote and who can take the place, the roster is too thin as is. I don't know enough about Jack, but what are his work habits? His desire? I know they make a thing about Matthews learning, studying, trying to be the best and improve like he has a chip on his shoulder. That sort of attitude filters down. Does Jack do that? Or is he a talented kid who relies on his talent and thinks he is already good enough? I don't know the answer to that, but if its the latter, there's your biggest problem. They all seem just a little too content with losing.

I think this team is uncoachable. Eichel is the only guy doing anything and he'd be able to do even more if his linemates (more often) played to complement him and didn't just wait for him to do something or pass them the puck.

Not sure you can say It'd be a "snap decision" any more.

Go ahead, take it out on me for being right. It'll make you feel better. God knows the team can't do that for you.

zero emotion, zero effort.

All you have to do is look at the bench and see that row of blank empty unemotional stares. Moulson looks like he's had electroshock therapy. They simply don't seem to care.

What was that Housley said when he was signed, I think it was "it will be fast"....................so I'm still waiting for that................ I think this team is uncoachable.

For his sake, I hope JBot's plan was to rent not buy his home, cause I don't think anybody can fix this mess.

Ok anyone still think I'm wrong that this team needs to be blown up completely?

It's tough being the only one who is right :P The question with Kane is simple. You have decide between 1) he has matured and is now a hard working goal scorer and will give you that every year OR 2) he is the same old Kane as always, super talented but inconsistent and lazy as f### just putting in the effort for a new big contract. So is it worth the risk? I don't think so.

Watched the Canucks play the Bruins tonight and the good news is the Canucks look awful. The bad news is we've not done well so far with teams looking for a bounce back game. But seriously, their D looked worse than ours.

Ummm no, this team quit a lot last year too. They do not have a clear cut leader but they need one. A Drury type.

Oh come on, ain't nobody going to trade for Moulson. Only possible way you could unload him is to give a team a prospect or pick they want for next to nothing if they also take Moulson and his salary against their cap and that could only happen with some rebuild team that has already dumped salary of their own.

We're not fully disagreeing. The change probably does "come through Rochester" but the problem is Rochester isn't loaded with budding superstars right now. Some unloading might be for draft picks and prospects, and yes, that means a long time line.

This game will tell us a lot. Vancouver will be playing the second of two in a row on a road trip and we are back so by all rights we should come out flying, keep the temp o up and have them look tired by the middle of the game and fold the tent. If we come out flat for this or play some sort of slow patient thing like last year hoping for a break, well then the season is over. If there is any character or hope for this roster, this game should show it.