J-P

Maybe they have a plan where they feel he's learning a lot from being with and around the team, but I agree that he needs to play and that it would really make sense for him to go down in a prominent role, maybe to return later during the season.

Chara = generational as in another generation?

Not liking Miller's body language or giveaways. Got the flames back into the game as he caused the equalizer by being too cute with the pass in the d zone. Miller's my main worry going forward, i think most other players will turn it around and even if not they're still young whereas Miller's in his prime and expected to be a leader both with his play and his attitude. As EP is still struggling i think this is even more of an issue. To be fair, some of this was evident with him last season as well but overshadowed by his great play overall.

I get that and I'm not saying the 3rd line needs to produce more with the current roster makeup (although with motte the 4th line is on another level). So guess what I'm saying is i don't get the thinking from the coaches. If the 3rd line is a defensive line, what's Gaudette doing there? Personally I hope we have the players to ice a 3rd line soon that can provide offense, but right now it's obvious both from stats and the eye test that Gaudette should be top six or out of the lineup and that the 3rd line needs either a playmaking winger who can still play defense (unfortunately Hoglander and Baertschi are all we have i suppose) or just a player that won't hurt defense a la MacEwen or Virtanen but without expectations to score. Not saying this is why we're losing, for once +/- makes sense and you only need to look at that + PP percentage to see why, but it still makes me feel uneasy about coaching decisions.

Sutter is fine as 3c/4c although currently overpaid. What i don't understand though is that given sutter's probably the worst playmaker in the league playing 3c - he has other strengths that compensate it - why isn't there a playmaking winger on the third line? I get that the current lineup can't afford Hoglander on the third line - who'd be an ideal fit- but Baertschi or cheaper waiver pick up with playmaking skills along Sutter and Gaudette/MacEwen? Gaudette and Sutter are both shooters offensively and playing them with MacEwen/Bailey/Virtanen is essentially a 4th line with little scoring and shaky defense something like Baertschi/sutter/Virtanen is just so much better for a 3rd line or what am I missing?

No, you're right. I think you only have to protect players with NMC. Anyway I'm certain that Myers can be exposed. It was discussed at length at the time of the signing and was a major part in the negotiated deal, i.e. Myers got term and money in exchange for giving the team flexibility in the ED.

Valid point, Schmidt so far haven't had the impact we hoped for and yes, it's obvious QH misses Tanev. That said, it's also obvious QH:s puck handling and skating is on a lower level compared to last season, regardless of partner.

Despite putting up the points he's been bad as anybody who's watched the games can tell. No need to sugarcoat it. EP's been bad as well, as has Miller. The lotto line with QH has been like -3 on a number of occasions, that's just not good enough. Nothing wrong with the players effort, not sure what's the reason, but EP/QH and a few others just don't play like they're enjoying themselves. Again, I don't claim to know the reason or the solution, maybe this can be turned around in a hurry, but if you watch the game it's clear they haven't played well and that's that. Only positive is that we hold these players to a standard where being average is not accepted. Pretty sure everyone agrees that's something good.

Not saying LE should be in the lineup - that's debatable although it makes sense considering the number of giveaways this season and the fact that's why we are losing - but getting really tired of the narrative that he's a floater etc. He's old and quite slow and he doesn't have the offense anymore (and those are all bads considering the contract and cap hit) but to say he's floating and not giving it his all after watching the playoffs is just ignorant IMO. My best outcome would be that he's in the lineup for a few games, solidifying the defensive effort in the top 6, team wins a few games, LE is scratched again, team continue winning, LE retires after the season and everyone's somewhat happy.

Not saying he should be in the lineup, that's debatable, but you did watch the playoffs when Horvat/Pearson/LE dominated right? And you realized that LE had a big part in that?

You read the quotes and you don't realize they're google translated into somehing else than original content? Ok ;-) LIsten - I'm not defending LE or his contract, just saying 1) If you say that there are 31 teams in the league who has 12 better forwards I'll leave that up to everybody to judge for themselves 2) LE has a kind of hovering presence (like Mats Sunding for instance) but he's always been like that, I'm pretty sure he gives 100% on each shift and as someone said during the playoffs when it matters he plays "big boy hockey"

That's just so lame. Watch the games. Granted, LE has no offense anymore but he sure is a defensively responsible forward who has caused like zero turnovers per game in x number of seasons which is what we need right now. LE is not living up to his contract and he doesn't do anything physically- and yes, this is a problem no denying that - but to say he's a floater when he's always giving his everything when he's on the ice just shows you don't watch/understand the games. Compare him with Virtanen and at this stage of their careers you get Virts with higher offensive upside but LE with the consistent effort. And then consider what brings most upside to the roster over a full season. Again, not defending LE, it would be best for everyone if he just retired, but so say that no NHL coach should play LE is just so dumb.

The thing I will say and that might differ me from many posters on this board is that I'll leave judgement of the lineup til' after the game. LE in for tonight just makes sense, the other scratches are somewhat as confusing as the current defensive scheme, but as mentioned,. I'll watch the game first and pass judgement afterwards.

Thought Jake had a strong game, but then again, he'll probably be invisible tomorrow and/or the game after, and that's the problem...

Just a terrible game overall by the Canucks, but also a game where nothing seemed to go right (EP hitting the post again, missed passes, no bounces going our way etc.) so I'll take that loss as a one time thing. 2 points tomorrow and I'm happy. Pretty much everyone coughed up the puck this game, but I'm still a little concerned about JT and especially QH. Even though they've been piling up points they don't really seem to be on their games and both have been brutal defensively and with giveaways. Not worried long term about either player, but hope they turn it around soon.

As with most coaches it goes both ways. Green definitely lacks creativity at times (Rousell staying to long in the lineup, waiting too long to remove Gaudette from 3C when it wasn't working etc) but on the other hand playing EP at C straight away, giving Hogs the top 6 spot right away, giving Chatfield a long rope (he did make some mistakes early on) are all decisions many coaches wouldn't dare to make and that has changed the team for the better in a hurry.

My takes from last game: - people say Ottawa is underrated, but I don't think so, the stats don't lie when showing us and Ottawa at the bottom of the league, that said they're exactly what we need at this point to turn the season around - been critical of Sutter but that's mostly his playmaking skills which have always been non-existent, not saying we should move Hogs from Bo but imagine when we can have a 3rd line like Hogs - Sutter - Jake/Zack, then we're talking - nice to see OJ getting a goal, being happy and teammates being happy for him, think it means a lot both for him personally and for the team moving forward

Sutter is smart defensively but hard not to question his effort at times and offensively it's depressing to see how often plays die on his stick leaving his linemates frustrated.

Both Myers and Holtby was signed with mutual understanding that they will probably be exposed in ED. Players get money and term, team gets flexibility

Imo Hamonic is replacing Stecher and Schmidt replacing Tanev. Both massive upgrades while the cost is about the same combined.

He's in quarantine for 7 days so won't be able to join until a few days before season starts.

Even if Tanev has a slightly better season - and no guarantee for that - lames are still stuck with his term and cap hit for several years after Hamonic will expire, assuming it's a one year or max two year deal.

He he that's a nice take on it... I guess we'll find out a lot about Zegras/Podz/Costmar the two upcoming games which will be interesting. Points are not really the main issue though, remember Petey being kind of less than elite in his tourney because of linemates or whatever, but still think it will give a clear indication on what level each player is on.

Don't see how you can see this as anything but a steal for the caps. I can somehow see the bruins reasoning, but if they could have signed him one year at 800k to play on the third pairing or above, why didn't they? Seeems a bit strange

Agree totally, surprises me that lots of people suggest Huggy and Schmidt on the same pairing. I think Edler - Schmidt is a dynamite pairing that can do it all, not sure about Huggy - Myers but if that could work it's a top 4 at least as good as any other in the league. Joulevi + FA on pairing 3 with Rafferty and Chatfield as 7-8D getting at least 10-20 games each.