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theo5789

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Everything posted by theo5789

  1. I think JT did surpass some offensive expectations for me, but I'm not that surprised. Luckily I was one of the few posters that knew most of the attributes we were getting and also one of the few that had him pegged to be with the Petey line when most had Ferland on that line (which may have been okay if he was healthier). This was because we knew that he was decent on faceoffs to support Petey and he was strong defensively to allow the line to have more offensive freedom and could handle himself should things need to be handled physically. So that's why I went with Quinn as my biggest positive surprise. I knew he would become our top offensive dman, but didn't expect it to be this soon. I thought he would need to be sheltered and get PP time, but looks like he's a regular top 4 guy already playing decent minutes and keeping up to boot. I don't he will be that traditional #1 simply because he won't be an all situations type dman, but his ability to move the puck has changed the dynamics of our back end. My biggest disappointment is Ferland. I knew the risks, but thought he could string together more games. I'm not sure if he can play the way he used to and that's what makes him most effective. I think he still holds value because he still has skill and is a big body, but just won't have that same presence as a physical player. I hope he bounces back and can play the game he wants to as that only adds more of a boost to our already decent looking forward group as it is.
  2. I think we are a far ways away from the Green losing the room. Green should be judged every year as a coach for sure and this is the first year where there may be a playoff caliber roster. No one questioned Trotz and allowed him to develop and look at him today. I'm not worried about a huge blow up because the team has preached patience as they understand it's a process and there will be growing pains from the team and the coaching staff. The positive sign is seeing growth from everyone. Naslund was mentored by Messier. Naslund never played like Messier. Sedins built character amongst Bo and the team. Bo is getting the job done his way and it's an effective style. We will see how he turns it up in the playoffs where all teams up the intensity level when he gets that opportunity (I don't expect him to fight, but I think he will step up to the physicality of the playoffs). 1st round exits. We are in a playoff position now with half a season to go. Perhaps we can get there without a veteran coaching presence. Who knows how we would fare with AV. The Flyers are in the same position as we are now. They were a team that was in the top 3 in their division only a couple of seasons ago. They've been re-tooling and not re-building, so they have a different core set up. Bo plays a great two way game. The only thing he doesn't do compared to Kes is the nasty/cheap part of the game. I'm fine with that. The Sedins retired as legends, Kesler will soon be forgotten.
  3. What is Bo lacking from that description? Bo also is utilized offensively as well, so he's much more important for our team on the ice than off it (in a fight or whatever).
  4. Toronto had a young core with a vet in Babcock, look how that turned out.
  5. But we are playing no worse than the Flyers despite not following their model and they were in about the same position as we were last year too. They still have Giroux and Voracek who are still a major part of their core. They were a team for the past decade that should've been better than they were and I would suggest goaltending was their issue, not the coaching. Personally I thought the Flyers would be even better than they are now with AV, but Giroux and Voracek especially have seemed to regressed a bit (perhaps under a new system). Maybe some fans complained, I certainly didn't. Did you not watch last night? Bo was a leader throughout the night and buried the game on a blocked shot and throwing in the final dagger. Bo is doing just fine it seems with the Sedin mentorship.
  6. This is the problem. From a fan's perspective, you really see only a small portion of what's being done as a coach. What kind of energy do you want? Gum throwing and towel waving? There's been a trend where the old school type coaching is a no go anymore. The players seem to love Green and that's all that really matters.
  7. There are other options like maybe Green is a decent coach and now has a better team to work with. Our young guys are talented, but are being developed under Green. The growth of our prospects reflect on Green and JB for surrounding with vet support (even if they were a bit pricey, he got some of the best out there). It's true that Green is "green" at the NHL level, but so is every coach at some point. It took Trotz like 7 years or so to really get in a groove and he had no "veteran" support. He had the same assistants for years too. Sometimes patience is key.
  8. When did the Flyers become the benchmark of success? The Sedins were that mentor for Bo and we have signed veterans to insulate our young players (despite the moaning and groaning about doing so). So we have the player support system. Green refers to Al Arbour a lot, so he's had an impact for him and when Tortorella was here, Green got mentorship from him even after he had left Vancouver. Hiring a vet coach now even as an assistant only adds fuel to the fire to those that want Green fired. No one will believe that it's a move to "mentor" Green to keep his role. It'll create unnecessary controversy for no reason when the team has been growing constantly under Green while Green himself is also learning the ropes.
  9. Breadman will get to enjoy his time here again as he teased us during his UFA time. Hopefully we make it a miserable night for him on the ice.
  10. Perhaps he needs to live somewhere where marijuana isn't so present, can't say I smell it often if ever where I live. Nothing from those questions would indicate that he's done with coming back here. It sounds like he liked his time here, but there was a known issue about his wife and getting comfortable here which is something that can be more prepared for especially if he's making more money here for his family than back in Russia. There's the hockey issue, but we have a new coach that is good with development. I have a good feeling he does return, but for how long, who knows.
  11. Do you have any of those interviews that you could translate for us here? Everything I've heard and read seems to indicate he wants to give the NHL another goal, especially with him keeping tabs on the Canucks (and his buddy Goldy) while keeping his social media of him in a Canuck uniform. His agent seems to indicate it's not going to take long to get him signed here too. We have a better team now that can support him a lot more, so I'd say he would have less pressure this time around and he seems like he's more in shape and likely more mentally prepared to make the jump back over here with his earlier experience.
  12. That's what usually happens when you can get that monkey off your back.
  13. There was something that happened last night that was probably discussed in the GDT, but I think should get more attention. I believe it was right after Petey scored the tying goal (most would be absolutely hyped up), he went right to the bench and sat next to Pearson and asked how he was (after he got hit through the door at the bench). EP seems to genuinely care for the team and his teammates. EP gets all the flashy accolades with his skill in the game, but his off ice character seems incredible as well. Bo is an amazing captain, but we are going to have a very good leadership group amongst this young new core.
  14. I'm not saying they are doing the dump and chase the same. I just think the game plan was always to play with possession (but have the personnel to play the dump and chase game as well), however because of confidence players may have reverted to dump it in rather than risk coughing the puck up at their blueline and have it going back the other way. Dump and chase is simply a safe tactic that all teams do (just like the drop pass that people complain about). We have players that are willing and wanting to play this game (eg Miller) and when things aren't going your way, it's an easy, but hard working type play to grind through when the skill isn't showing through. I don't think it's a strategy "change" in the sense that they decided to play this new system. I think coaching has watched video and discussed with the players on what to do to improve on entries and how players should be positioned to draw defenders and be open for passes. We have seen an evolution on the PP for zone entries and until things work out, the drop pass was the most effective/safest play at that time. Having the dump and chase system and being effective at it also forces the defenders to decide whether to anticipate the dump in or pinch up for the carry in. Having options to pass to also creates more complication for the defense. I think we have made some good tweaks, but execution still comes from confidence.
  15. Perhaps 2nd round might be high, but I feel if we had a late 2nd, then I'd be okay with it. He might be rated more around the 3rd round (quick search has some sites ranking him around 90-100 mark based on October rankings), not sure he makes it to our 4th round pick. Big shot RD that can play physical as well. Skating might be something to work on for sure though, but a lot of positive attributes and skating is probably something that is most easily worked on.
  16. The team was certainly trying to carry it in during the rough stretch. They were bobbling the puck and making poor passes (some games seemed like the couldn't string together 3 consecutive passes). The dump and chase is a strategy deployed by all teams. I don't think the strategy has changed, perhaps tweaked with watching video and adjusting where players should be and such, but confidence plays a big part in execution.
  17. I think people here dump and chase and they just cringe at the sound of it.
  18. I disagree. We were crashing the net hard, playing physical when we needed to and were able to turn the momentum around from being down 4-2 to come back to win. Of course we need to tighten things up defensively, but the team showed character in fighting back and at the end of the day, they got the win (in regulation to boot) no matter how ugly it was.
  19. It's confidence. During the rough stretch, the players did try to maintain possession, but were coughing it up and thus dump and chase is the safe play. They are playing with more swagger now. We have always wanted to play a possession game (why do you think Green throws out Horvat for faceoff duties as often as he can for example?), but dump and chase is a strategy used by all teams. We have players that can get behind the defenders like Miller which is simply another option for us.
  20. Travis Green. Maybe even Newell Brown as well. As for players, most have been said, so I'd like to throw Motte out there as well. Rejuvenated 4th line with his return which gives us a whole line that can eat up minutes and provide support in a shutdown role to ease the minutes from the other lines to maximize their output.
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