PerreaultForever

I do too, but there's a problem at this stage. It's an offensive system based on attack and possession in the opponent's zone. Your best D in that game is a good O. In it, you will give up odd man rushes and some goals against. It's part of how that works. You don't win 1-0, you win 6-5. If you're going to play that sort of game, you have to score more simple as that. Higher shot totals are useless. So the system might work, but not until there is more talent up front. Given JBot's background, I think he will wait for that and not make a move back towards a more defensive game with a veteran coach or old school philosophy.

Just a comment from the bleachers. I grew up loving football before hockey. I played high school football and was pretty good but too slow for a higher level. It was always my first sport. In recent years I have reluctantly slowly drifted away and lost interest, mostly because of the cheaters and the way, while it's not exactly fixed, certain outcomes are, shall we say clearly favored. New Orleans was the best team in football this year, they were royally screwed. New England? Far from the best team in football, I didn't watch the game cause it's almost always the same bull. Watching a highlight replay of the roughing the passer call on Brady had me literally fall off the couch laughing. They aren't even trying to disguise it any more. I am SO over football.

Big body in front of the net. Reinhart moves around the right areas but doesn't get the dirty job done. More of those Jack and Dahlin shots need to be better screened. Aside from that, more motion and movement. What we do is kind of predictable. A better face off man wouldn't hurt either. When O'Reilly was on our PP we won a lot of attack zone draws and that sets you up right away.

for me and my friends. like you say tom-eh-toe I say tom-ah-toe but for those arguments/discussions when you feel it's the same in different words but if you go on about it you'll end up arguing for weeks over nothing. if that makes sense. and if it doesn't, well never mind :)

which is kind of a pipe dream condition. They're already stuck with Lucic and cap issues. Okposo's not going anywhere.

potato tomato, he's still our best D right now and he irritates opponents. we need that. He will be a fine #2 D man along with Dahlin as the future #1. You simply don't trade your best young players if you want to build a champion and overrated or not, he is still one of our best players.

Yup, that's what I'm seeing too. The D is also being asked to attack and drive the rush all the time because the forwards suck and outside of the Eichel line generate zero offense on their own. Vast majority of our goals are the result of D driven plays. So with that in mind they are asking the D to do everything and all too often the forwards are not back checking well. Add to that both goalies need work on their rebound control. All too often pucks put right back out in front. I'm fine with the improvements in the D and where it's going. The problem for me is still a pile of crap wingers.

Trading Risto now would be insane. He's a stud this year.

I want him signed, but I have to wonder why Carolina moved him for what they did. Makes me think they knew he wouldn't sign there and with the season he's had, the price must be even higher now. So I don't think there's any dilemna for JBot. You make him your BEST offer before the deadline and if he doesn't take it you have to move him for a solid return. I dunno but I hope he isn't pulling a Tavares type move and secretly wants to play for his hometown or some team he loved growing up with what he sees as a cup future. https://www.sportsnet.ca/hometown-hockey/dr-oetker-giuseppe-pizzeria-hometown-jeff-skinner/

Aside from out big shot firsts, I think it's kind of obvious Boston has drafted better. Carlo alone in that list wins the argument. Philly will learn soon enough that the big fast body doesn't use it. Maybe they have him penciled in for Simmonds spot at the deadline hoping nobody will notice.

There are moments when he just amazes me. he is going to be something really really special (and soon). Some of his passes tonight were so quick and crisp and he moved the puck up so well. Never forget he is just a kid. Be excited. Pilut on the other hand was absolute rubbish tonight and basically cost us the game. Really liked the Larsson, Girgensens, Okposo combination. L & G have worked hard all year and that is pretty much our #2 line, not our #4. Good effort and a game we win if Pilut is just average and maybe Ullmark plays a little better. We get a lot of shots now but too many of them are easy cherry picking ones. We still need more traffic in front and more finish. Maybe we don't make the playoffs. probably not, but it's still way more fun than last year and prior to the win streak did anyone actually think it was a one year fix? JUST SIGN SKINNER and all is well. Guy had a little Marchand in him tonight. Dirty but sneakier. I liked it.

A lot of games we have lost this year have still been fun to watch. This was not one of them. The idea that we are somehow not better than last year is ridiculous though.

Is that JBot's fault or the fact that Reinhart and Girgensens (both drafted as future centres) can't play centre well? His first draft he surprised us with a potential future centre (albeit struggling a bit now but I have hope) and he fixed the weakest part of the team (D). Could anyone predict Berglund doing what he did? I think not. Have faith, I am sure after signing Skinner, adding or drafting a centre will be top of his to do list.

the game changed and left him behind.

will it leave you with a feeling of satisfaction or emptiness? that is the question.

Sorry but Hutton in net is not a strange or bad move unless Ullmark does not play against Calgary, the tougher team. If we want to even hope for the playoffs we need to come out of this western trip with a winning record. Will be interesting to see if we can handle these teams with big bodies. I'm not sure we can.

The Coutourier deal is a joke (price would be way higher and I doubt they move him at all) but the Ferland idea is a good one.

lol. I'll try to do better.

Agree totally. A big body in front of the net might help as well, but if our identity is supposed to be speed and such we should bring that to the Pp as well.

2-3 years. Eichel will not be too old. Entertaining game. They simply have more talent and scored big goals when they needed them. If we had a good PP we could have gone ahead and maybe won this game. Sign Skinner. Sign 1-2 forwards in free agency. Develop our own and use our draft picks wisely, and we will be a real cup contender in that time. Given where we were, that is not unreasonable.

Since it's January, isn't this thread over?

Is it a false impression I have or does Hutton seem to have poor peripheral vision? Seems solid and focused when the play is coming towards him but when it's behind the net or off the boards he seems to have no idea where the puck is. is that valid? Not sure. Tonight's game was a classic case of the superstar is back so everyone forgets they also have to play. Seen it many times before. Last game when Eichel; was out they played a team game and everyone gave effort. Tonight there were too many floaters and spectators early on. Simply didn't work hard enough. Upside was they didn't quit, but as the season goes on the lack of depth is what's killing us. Cant' roll lines when half the team is marginal nhl at best. give it time. We are still much better than last year.

Personally I think we should cut bait and trade him to someone who thinks he has upside. I know they are not the same person, but the so called "good Nylander" has been atrocious for Toronto since landing the big contract and I question the character of both siblings. Hoping he sinks Toronto's cap but can the lesser brother be relied on for what we want in the future? I say no.

and most of the talking heads around the league questioned or even scoffed at the Eichel deal but so far JBot seems to be right. The past does not dictate the future, and none of those terrible deals are on current management.

If JBot signs him to a reasonable contract for a long term I will consider this season for him a total success regardless of whatever else happens or if he doesn't do another thing until the draft.