PerreaultForever

@lLGR4GM lol, this thread and then another one for "time to trade Risto", man, you really really hate Risto. Pretty much agree with this though.

Yes, and faceoffs don't matter. (They especially didn't matter when there was one second on a penalty 5 on 3 in our own zone) Yes indeed, hits don't matter. Let's make this team even softer. Let's skate and concentrate on our edges. maybe we need to draft guys who can do triple salcows only? It's been time to trade Risto for years and I'm not against it (especially if it's before the expansion draft and we can protect Borgen) but I am very against taking any toughness or push back from this soft team. We need to add to it, not take it away. If I were management I'd offer him a contract extension that pays him to be a second pairing D man and if he doesn't want it, ya, trade him, cause he will walk in a year anyway.

If they want to keep Borgen badly enough they can toss the Kraken a bucket of squid to take Bjork and they will. If not traded (my preferred option) Risto should be protected and then likely traded before the deadline. As mentioned, for all his flaws he has value.

I'm not. It's simply impossible to project trades when you don't even know which teams might be seriously interested. The old offer sheet signing penalty was 4 first round picks. That's the trade but I'd be taking top notch already drafted prospects and not waiting for 4 years. The details depend on which team. I do not believe we will get a better deal for Eichel after this off season. This is the moment. Now or never or worse with him in control and a NMC and a Taylor Hall return. I simply do not believe we can build a winner following this superstar focused model we've been following so far. Insanity is doing the same thing and hoping for a different result. I think it's time to do something different.

Yes, but I guess I meant they have a solid foundation to build off of and there is an expectation here (among some) that now that we have Kreuger gone all we need is a goalie and a healthy Jack and we will be fine. That's the point of disagreement. I still believe we've been trying to build this team the wrong way since Pegula bought it and I'm not sure that idea has changed.

Careful or I will have to stuff you in a locker.

If you can't get Byfield and Turcotte for Eichel, then Eichel isn't that good and it doesn't matter.

churlish slander. lol. give me a f'n break.

I don't think I was, but it's about all the players not just the centers. I'm just fed up with this dumbass hockey team and I am 90% sure they think they are on to something and it's an illusion and unless they tear it down we're going to be stuck with this crap for next year and after.

You ask this knowing it's impossible. There will never be full agreement for a variety of reasons. Too many age differences, hockey knowledge differences, ideological views, fan loyalty blindness, hero worshippers, etc etc you can go on and on. And that doesn't even include having to argue with analytics above all else people! I'm trading Eichel for Byfield Turcotte and whatever draft picks you need to balance it and make it happen and then I'm using his money to sign some FAs and I'm going to have the start of a better team. I'm also trading Reinhart and Risto. and if he won't leave, I'm having Skinner clean toilets and carry equipment bags instead of playing cause I'm sick of this bs hockey team and their slacker loser ways. Happy?

Exactly. Because they tore it all down and got rid of all the slackers and prima donnas. Started a rebuild with attitude and effort as the core principle. We should follow that path. and you can't do it building around the old core.

I'm actually not talking about the defensemen, but rather team defense. I think Girardi has done a much better job with the young D than Smith ever did. If we brought in new coaches I'd actually consider retaining him. I'm looking at the horrendous defensive job our forwards do as something that's not really improving. Zone entry for the Bruins was so incredibly easy. Our forwards coming back often do nothing, except sometimes coast back to the bench (which even that they do poorly). We will never be any good without improving team D. I have to think that was Kreuger's thought/plan, he just couldn't implement it properly and then the offense struggled as a result etc vicious circle. I suppose the question is can these players be taught proper team D ? Because sometimes I think most of them can't seem to do both, play offense AND defense. This is why I like the idea of Gallant. He had both his teams playing great D when they had limited offense at their disposal.

I'm simply suggesting that our goalies are over worked and thus subject to additional physical strains and, as it has happened, more injuries. Go ahead and believe it's just bad luck if you want to.

The team defense is not progressing under Granato. Gallant would be a better coach imo and I think Boudreau's comment is correct. The foundation Ottawa is building on is far more durable. They are going to be a tough team to play against next season and as the skill gets added to that, they will be better than us.

There are numerous articles on the subject. Performance is down in back to backs and tired players (especially goalies) are more likely to get injured. Here's one I found quickly on the performance angle. https://www.nhl.com/news/super-16-analytics-say-rest-goalies-on-back-to-backs/c-734778 Now as for the injuries, it's pretty simple logic really. For one, our goalies face a lot of shots and a lot of traffic. They have to work harder than goalies on a good team that can play D. So, logically, more tired than average. Second, when you're tired your reactions are slower. As a goalie if you're a slight step behind in any movements or reactions maybe you have to reach or extend further on a play than you would have normally, moving quicker, boom, pulled groin, wrenched knee, whatever. It's pretty obvious imo. Or do you just think it's "bad luck"?

It's not bad luck, it's ridiculous management. It's hard in this league to have any goalie start night after night and this season is especially exhausting. I am sure overplaying these guys is leading to the problems. UPL should not have started this game.

It's more complicated than just that. But in the simplest short terms (it will be discussed again post season I am sure) I simply do not think psychologically or in terms of team building and team chemistry it is a good idea at this point to go back to making this team all about Eichel. Is Jack happy? Does Jack want to be here? What's wrong with Jack? etc etc etc ad infinitum. I do not think it would be good for truly trying to turn this thing around. Not trading Eichel only works if, and it's a huge if, there is instant success next year, and I'd suggest that is very very unlikely.

I said if they couldn't sign him before the deadline they should trade him then and I don't think I was alone. It was the dumbest contract in the league and being stuck with it handicaps this team for the long haul. Since Granato has taken over there's a fair bit of youthful exuberance, but they're not learning anything. This team cannot defend. Bruins zone entries were so incredibly easy, Easy easy game for them. Say what you want about Hall, but he's opened up the ice for Krejci and their second line is now so much better than it was when they had DeBrusk in there. This synergy is exactly what we were supposed to see with him and Eichel but it wasn't there at all. Eichel injured from game 1? maybe. Not engaged? maybe. The actual answer to this question (why does Krejci-Hall work but Eichel-Hall didn't?) is probably important. Lastly, this team is totally dumbass. When I saw UPL was starting again, I thought that's a dumb mistake and poor goalie management and now he's injured. Not saying that's the cause, but it might be a contributing factor, How does this team not realize you simply cannot play goalies night after night, especially with so many shots and so much traffic in their zone. This franchise is the dumbest team in hockey. Oh ya, almost forgot. I wish the refs had let Marchand and Dahlin go. I really wanted to see what kind of fight he had in him. Missed opportunity.

I don't think the Defensive Depth is "very good" just that it's gotten back to normal or average and that seems 'very good" because it was a disaster when JBot arrived. So he gets some credit for that. Lots of young players so plenty of potential upside. It COULD mean in a year or two (maybe three) our D is very good but a lot of things still have to go right. If I was in charge I would still keep adding to the pipeline every draft.

This is unknown. He may simply be doing what he is told. Adams etc. may have said play the kids so we can see what we got. We know what Irwin and Eakin are etc.

Quite the opposite imo.

no words.

This is silly. Marchand is an incredibly talented player. One of the best in the game. If he was a Sabre you'd absolutely love him and his jersey would be a best seller. So ya, you hate him cause he's one of them, but he doesn't fit in that list at all.

Good game until the last few minutes. We're definitely a better team than we were earlier in the year. It was nice to hear the Boston announcers say "Buffalo is no longer an easy 2 points" as they were laughing at us earlier in the season. A little push back on the March-antics too. Nice to see. Progress.

Exactly. Which is why he's going to be a steal for whoever gets him. Now sure, maybe he never grows up and never gets it, but with the proper development and coaching I think he will. Today's the NFL draft as I'm sure you know. There are countless examples of players who fell in the ranking for various issues and problems and then went on to great careers. Arguably you take a chance, but you have to remember these guys are young and young does stupid but also grows up. Usually.