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Does this team miss Berglund more than we realize?


matter2003

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3 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Since he has left the team has kind of gone in the crapper tank...

Honest question...if the team didn't go on a 10 game winning streak would they be towards the bottom of the NHL again??

Not sure if his presence warranted the impact you suggest.

And as to your second question, yes, we would be hovering around dead last again.

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I think yes. The absence of Bergland has "promoted" Sobtoka to playing way more than he should. It's scary just how ineffective Sobotka is considering how much ice-time he gets.

Counter-point, if Bergland didn't ghost us then we'd be wringing our hands for the next 3,4 years trying to figure out how to unload his contract. 

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Yes I think this team misses Bergland, for this year and next. Beyond that I think Botts is glad we don't have the contract.  Botts may be able to get an UFA to fill the gap for next year.

It also shows how much an effect Housley has had on the mismanagement of his players.  Bergland should have been slated on second line with Reinhart and Sheary and given a chance for 20+ games.  I'm sure he would not have left the team if he was given a chance.

 

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When he got him I'm sure JBot thought he had his second line guy until Mittlestadt was ready but it is what it is.  The concept made sense. Split ROR's massive ice time between two guys, one for the offensive side, the other for face-offs and defensive work. Both players fresher and able to keep the pace Housley wants in rolling lines. On paper it was a good plan. On paper. 

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9 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

When he got him I'm sure JBot thought he had his second line guy until Mittlestadt was ready but it is what it is.  The concept made sense. Split ROR's massive ice time between two guys, one for the offensive side, the other for face-offs and defensive work. Both players fresher and able to keep the pace Housley wants in rolling lines. On paper it was a good plan. On paper. 

Alas, like all plans they all look good until the first face-off is taken.  I agree on the plan, and although I like Jbot, I feel he didn't react to Berglund's loss quick enough.  That was the moment to step in and support the team and he didn't do it.  People can argue that no replacement was available or that the price was to high, but he needed to do something and didn't.  He just played Elie.

Edited by GASabresIUFAN
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I can't understand why he pushed Mittelstadt into the 2C over Berglund right from the get-go.  It should have been Jack, Berglund, Mitts and Sobs/ERod /Larsson/whoever.  When Mitts was ready he could have moved up.  What was the third line back in the day... Vanek-Roy-Afenigenov?  They tore it up as a third line.  I think Mitts could have done the same with maybe ERod and Tage on his wings, if we had a competent 2nd line.

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Just now, GASabresIUFAN said:

  People can argue that no replacement was available or the price was to high.  I'm sorry but I just don't buy it.

If you're not willing to give up draft picks (which he isn't so far) I'm not sure what you think we'd have to offer? The prices at that time of the year are indeed high and not many teams are looking to make moves.

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2 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

People can argue that no replacement was available or the price was to high.  I'm sorry but I just don't buy it.

If nothing else he could have brought in someone from Rochester for a look. 

If HCPH had played Bergie on the the second line, maybe he doesn't get discouraged..... until next year when Mitts nudges him out.  That would have been perfect.

 

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1 hour ago, Doohickie said:

If nothing else he could have brought in someone from Rochester for a look. 

If HCPH had played Bergie on the the second line, maybe he doesn't get discouraged..... until next year when Mitts nudges him out.  That would have been perfect.

 

The only issue is that maybe Bergie's play and practice was lacking from day 1 and PH and JB didn't think he earned the bigger role.

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1 minute ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

The only issue is that maybe Bergie's play and practice was lacking from day 1 and PH and JB didn't think he earned the bigger role.

Why maybe? Unless given other evidence, shouldn’t that be the default assumption?

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Just now, SDS said:

Why maybe? Unless given other evidence, shouldn’t that be the default assumption?

I agree that is the assumption, but we'll never know exactly how everything went down.  Was Bergie "promised" something by Jbot over the summer and then was never given that opportunity (I think this is unlikely by the way) or was he told that he had an opportunity and failed.

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2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

I can't understand why he pushed Mittelstadt into the 2C over Berglund right from the get-go.  It should have been Jack, Berglund, Mitts and Sobs/ERod /Larsson/whoever.  When Mitts was ready he could have moved up.  What was the third line back in the day... Vanek-Roy-Afenigenov?  They tore it up as a third line.  I think Mitts could have done the same with maybe ERod and Tage on his wings, if we had a competent 2nd line.

Both Berglund & Sobotka were given (brief) stints at 2C.  The coaching staff preferred Mittelstadt there.  Would like to have seen more of Rodrigues in that 2C slot especially when Mitts was struggling.

FWIW, IMHO, the only place Berglund looked good this year was on RW w/ Larsson & Girgensons (& on PK which goes with that).  But, oh how good he looked there.

And, on some level, Housley seemed to know something was up as he didn't keep that line together (though from an outsider's perspective he should have) but still experimented around making sure Sobotka was pretty much never the odd man out.

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7 hours ago, matter2003 said:

Since he has left the team has kind of gone in the crapper tank...

Honest question...if the team didn't go on a 10 game winning streak would they be towards the bottom of the NHL again??

Well, considering he didn't play in games 7-10 of the win streak but did play in games 2-5 of the ensuing losing streak, the Magic 8 Ball says "not likely." ;)

Actually, they do miss his play on that 4th line, but they're better off long term without his salary.  IMHO, I'd say they miss pre-injury Hutton & Eichel far more than Berglund.  The puck luck they were getting during the streak would be nice to have back as well.

 

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I’m not even being sarcastic but what exactly did Berglund do when he was on the ice?

He quit on the team for some reason and I don’t think anyone is sad over it.

Just saying if your absence is not a big deal then neither is your presence. Life lesson. Be remembered for something you did or forgotten for everything you didn’t. ?

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11 hours ago, Doohickie said:

I can't understand why he pushed Mittelstadt into the 2C over Berglund right from the get-go.  It should have been Jack, Berglund, Mitts and Sobs/ERod /Larsson/whoever.  When Mitts was ready he could have moved up.  What was the third line back in the day... Vanek-Roy-Afenigenov?  They tore it up as a third line.  I think Mitts could have done the same with maybe ERod and Tage on his wings, if we had a competent 2nd line.

I think berglund said himself he isn't a center and doesn't like playing there somewhere in late september.   

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11 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I agree that is the assumption, but we'll never know exactly how everything went down.  Was Bergie "promised" something by Jbot over the summer and then was never given that opportunity (I think this is unlikely by the way) or was he told that he had an opportunity and failed.

Also Phil wanted/s a speed game, not exactly Berglund strength.  Wish coaches could work with what they have.... sigh

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14 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I agree that is the assumption, but we'll never know exactly how everything went down.  Was Bergie "promised" something by Jbot over the summer and then was never given that opportunity (I think this is unlikely by the way) or was he told that he had an opportunity and failed.

I dont know...from Berglunds interview it made it seem like he was burnt out and/or facing some metal issues like depression...

 

To walk away from over $12 million I think it would have to be a little more serious than "I was promised playing time"

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7 hours ago, North Buffalo said:

Also Phil wanted/s a speed game, not exactly Berglund strength.  Wish coaches could work with what they have.... sigh

That's what Bylsma did. The philosophy now (right or wrong) is clearly the opposite. Put a system and style in place and draft and bring in players that'll fit that system. It takes time for that complete sort of change over though and we as fans have a different more urgent time line than they do. 

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The way he was playing, No, they don't miss him.

Its really a simple answer to this question.  If a guy is going to be your 2nd or 3rd line center, you needed the Berglund of any year other than this....a guy who will put in 15-25 goals for you over 82 games.   2 goals in 23 games?  Nope, they don't miss that guy.

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On 2/18/2019 at 6:15 PM, PerreaultForever said:

When he got him I'm sure JBot thought he had his second line guy until Mittlestadt was ready but it is what it is.  The concept made sense. Split ROR's massive ice time between two guys, one for the offensive side, the other for face-offs and defensive work. Both players fresher and able to keep the pace Housley wants in rolling lines. On paper it was a good plan. On paper. 

Except he was not a 2nd line guy in St Louis, he was not a consistent player at all.  He frustrated fans with disappearing acts for long stretches.  

When he was playing well he was pretty good, it just was a consistency thing.   We saw that here.  

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