PerreaultForever

Do they? I'm not convinced either knows all that much any more.

Because he's:

"Obviously" it depends on how the coach treats it and who dresses for the games. "Obviously" the Boston game was a junk roster from them and not full from us and so it tells you very little. You can see a few people's individual skills but you learn nothing about how the team will play. A dress rehearsal like the Pens game tells you more. If your team doesn't give you a full effort in a game like that before their own fans it raises questions. "Obviously" they can be better in a real game, but what has anyone seen to make them think that'll be the case? (and "obviously" I'm in a foul mood learning we kept Bryson)

is this why it was instituted?

Seattle waived Dreidger. Remember when he was a popular choice for goalie around here? Maybe he's the guy Tampa takes as fill in.

So let me get this straight, they're keeping all 3 goalies and Bryson? wtf??? This franchise remains a joke.

What system? Seriously, I'm asking. Not being sarcastic or facetious, really asking cause I do not see a defensive system at all. The forwards seem to have little or no defensive responsibility at all. It's just rely on the D to move the puck or provide a quick outlet pass. We lose the board battles, we don't box out, we don't cover our opposing player, we don't take away the passing lanes. We don't play defense at all. I said in the summer (as some others did) that this year we had to see a defensive system in place and it's just not there. The party line was always offensive is harder to teach and Granato did that first and now it was going to be the (allegedly) easy part of adding D. Interestingly to me (as I've said this all along) I was listening to a presser with Tortorella today and he was saying words to the effect of last year we put the system in place and they learned what was expected of them defensively and how to play it. Now we have to keep that and I have to change a little and give them more freedom to create offensively but keeping that in place, playing the right way and hard every night. It is the EXACT OPPOSITE. Now, I am in no way suggesting Philly will be any good but it was interesting to see a rebuild plan that is opposite to ours. Torts also acknowledged that they are a team without star players and high end talent so until they have that added they will have to work hard every single night. So, is defense the easy part? Does Torts have it backwards or does Granato? I guess we will see in time, but right now it does not look like our team finds playing defense to be easy, or maybe they just won't do it. Scoring goals is more fun, but losing isn't.

So when? I mean preseason is the time to learn and work the system, get the kinks out, shore up your lines and D pairings. You want to compete for the playoffs it all has to be ready to go for opening night. This looks like a team of individuals and not a team at all. It's the same damn thing every year.

Well, "obviously" that was disappointing. Announcers in mid season form with the list of excuses though. Already sick of hearing about "the good things they did" already and the season hasn't even started. Complete garbage hockey. Absolutely no idea how to play defense at all. IF we play like this, we will definitely not make the playoffs. I guess this isn't unexpected. Lots of talent and the ability to score a goal quickly at any time (eg. Mitts goal) but absolutely atrocious D, and by that I don't mean the defensemen, but the team. I watched this carefully and even replayed chunks of it to be sure and I think the thing about Clifton is two fold. First, he's used to playing on a highly structured team where players cover the gaps and rotate into empty positions and not on this hurly burly mess of running around and chasing puck carriers or waving sticks near shooters, but from a distance. You can see he kind of doesn't know where to go as a result. Also, perhaps most importantly, there seems to be zero communication between the D on the team as a whole and it impacts the new guys the most. It's all just a mess of running around and chasing just like every year before. THIS is not on Clifton, or Dahlin, or Power (who also is struggling mightily) it's on the COACHING. Preseason is the time to get this together and it seems we have not. Not in the least. So unless they fix that, Cliffy will become your new whipping boy. On the upside, if you noticed, his outlet passes were crisp and damn near perfect tape to tape. Levi looked like a rookie goalie can look. It wasn't his fault, but he wasn't great either. He will crumble under this kind of assault and lack of D in front of him. Looks like a guy who, as most young goalies do, needs a few years in the AHL first. We are in trouble unless this was an outlier. Benson. Super talented but he really looks like a child. The good is he can score and create chances out of very little and do it often. The bad, as you could see on Carter's goal, he is a child among men and that will show in tough situations as it did there. The risk, is he gets crunched and injured. I would still send him to juniors. As is often the case, I don't get the Skinner love. Cost us the first goal, gave the puck away a lot, refused to play D and just ran around and tried to be annoying until he was shoved and then just looked scared. Whatever. Nothing new there. A couple good things in this sea of disaster, Peterka looks like he has matured fully. Poise and solid play. He's a young man now and no longer just a kid. This is clear. He should have a very good year. Possibly a major break out. Also, Mitts looks like he is capable of being a good 3C. Otherwise, if this is it we will suck - AGAIN.

Conor Clifton really likes the word "obviously"

Net front presence. That's the key for me. Last year we didn't have enough of it. We need to screen and bother the goalies more than we do.

I think it means if he looks like he belongs tonight he gets the 9 game look and then they decide.

Excellent. First preseason game I get to see (on Sportsnet tonight for Canada) so I was hoping they'd go the dress rehearsal route. Can finally get a real look at what we have.

I think Philly is 5-1. If that doesn't scream preseason doesn't matter idk what does.

No, I don't like that idea at all. We need role players on the roster not a platoon of rotating offensive guys. Savoie hasn't played enough to get a good read on him. Benson you can consider for the 9 game window but I still think he's not physically ready and should go back.

You know, as a perfect example of how preseason doesn't matter, Philly has gone 5 and 1 or something and looked dominant against the islanders tonight. I do like their 4th line but I don't think anybody thinks they will actually be any good. Risto didn't play.

Missing the big news. Hagg was waived by the Ducks. You know it's the end of the line when the Ducks waive you.

I'm not going to argue that he has shown more skill and talent than his direct competition, he has. In preseason hockey that is quite loose and full of errors by the opposition defending and pretty light on physical contact. It's true, he's talented. Absolutely no question on that. Now, what happens when we play Boston and Lucic runs him? (and yes, he will have to catch him first I know) It might not happen right away, but when teams come to realize he's dangerous what then? I think it's a big risk playing a small kid against big men. Jack Hughes might be your comparable.

I just don't get why many of you think UPL will be claimed on waivers. He's been absolute trash and there will be better b grade goalies waived than him. Bryson and Clague will also clear. League wants big D men now as everybody looks at Vegas. Bryson will clear. We weren't that good. Our fringe players aren't that good. Relax, if they can't make this roster they're garbage anyway. Why care?

Is he physically ready, I think that's the question. I don't think he should play in the NHL yet despite the skill. I think he should go on a diet and weight program and spend a year adding muscle before coming up.

Well it is just preseason BUT it's the same problem as last year isn't it. We will see if there's a decent defensive system in place come regular season but quite frankly I don't see how that'll just happen. Now is the time they should be working on it and trying to learn it.

Could not see this one but reading through I am intrigued, puzzled and disappointed that Clifton sucked. Will have to wait until I see him to figure it out. Sounds like the team was garbage though despite having several starters on it.

Let me clarify. Spending to the cap on short term deals. Not long term deals. 2-3 year contracts like Clifton got. Then the money is there if the kids have earned it. Otherwise you're right, he's been cheap (presumably as ordered) and if they keep doing that they will never win.

Guess that means Hart isn't being traded after all. Peterson looked really good against Boston the other night but that's a small sample against his last season. His salary is too high so he will clear.

Well I guess you can say guys like Hayden were an attempt too but not really. Lybushkin was tougher than Bryson but KA saw no value in keeping him. Stillman tries, but imo Fitz was about the same and just as willing to play tough and we tossed him away as a depth guy too. We haven't really shown any real interest in this area for the team. Greenway I just don't know. He's big enough, but last year I saw very little physicality from him. Johnson is a question mark to me. He's near career end so does he have anything left? I haven't seen enough yet to know. Cliffy I've always liked. He was the underdog who wouldn't quit in Boston. They like their D bigger (like most teams) so he had to keep proving it, but he did. Can play either side, never quits, hits, fights if needed, blocks shots, always competes. If he brings what I saw in Boston here he will be a good value signing. He was my #1 target for free agency. Levi is a separate animal. He came in a trade remember from a team that had another young goalie as their main concern. I remember seeing Levi before he was drafted in some international thing (can't remember which one) and he came in when the assumed starter sucked in a game and Levi was really good. I thought draft this guy in a later round for sure. He has real potential. He was undervalued because of his size. KA saw we were thin in net. This is a possible answer. I would still have preferred a veteran guy to pair with him but it is what it is and I hope it works. Ultimately I think my issue is unlike most of the competition we are not spending to the cap. Eventually we might, but with money left in the bank I think we could have been even better and if we miss by a little again that might be the difference.