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The Sedins are only the face of the problem, not the problem.


burrows#1

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Over the course of the last two seasons our playoff 'lameness' has been for the most part been held over the heads of the twins and the goaltenders. While they have given us reasons to doubt this teams future, to me it is more or less the play of our other three forward lines that has been the biggest reason for our early departures.

The Sedins are tremendous players, that much is undeniable. It is just as undeniable that their play is not perfectly suited for post season play and that their ability to consistently show up at an all-star level has suffered because of that.

However, even the likes of Crosby-Malkin, Datsyuk-Zetterberg, Thronton-Marleau, and/or Toews-Kane aren't counted on night in and night out to pot a goal each and dominate every shift. At least not without some momentum and energy provided by the rest of their forward-playing colleagues.

IMO, the only time in the last two seasons that I have seen anyone in our bottom six (or nine for that matter) play with any heart or blood-seeking determination in the post season was when AV threw them on a line with the Sedins.

Don't get me wrong, the Sedins deserve to hold some of the blame they get thrown, and as the face of a Canadian hockey franchise you have to own that. But as any player of any sports team at any level knows, laying everything on the line in a game and fighting till you literally can't play anymore is increasingly more difficult with no supporting cast. I say increasingly more difficult because as Higgins, Raymond, Hansen, Lappy, Kes, Kassian, etc begin to fade after their first couple shifts of the period the grind only gets harder and harder for the 32 year old Sedins - Who basically have had nothing to work with for the last two years in the playoffs - Hanke not having Danne last year, and them having no bottom nine this year.

As a GM, if you can surround players like the Sedins with a bunch of players willing to die for them - you will win. The Sedins are great players but they cannot be counted on to win us or get us on the board in every playoff game we play, that is outrageously ignorant considering their playing style and what history has taught us. It is the mindset and the lack of balls of their supporting cast that needs serious work.

(FOR THOSE WHO DIDN"T WANT TO READ ALL OF THAT...)

In conclusion, It is hard for me as a hockey fan to say that players like the Sedins are ever the problem. In this conference, we need to have three lines that we can role besides out first line that can generate O, play responsible D, and gain momentum for our team - players that want to win and play like it.

As I have said, the Sedins are tremendous players for this team and do deserve some of the blame for our lack of playoff success. But it takes a team to win, especially in the post season, and over the last two seasons the Sedins have not had a team behind them in the playoffs.

... Hence, they are the face of the problem, not the problem itself.

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The real problem is with the GM for not building a better team.

The Sedins should share part of the blame, since they didn't get things going, but as you said, they should not be getting the full blame.

Biggest concern for them would be the PP. That really needs to be fixed.

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i agree with all you've said.....the pp is none existent......gillis either has to find the right mix to play with kesler or trade kesler.....it is hard for the sedins to rule the day when teams only have to key on them and they've won the game..

everyone has their opinions as how to fix this team but they have no track record of fixing teams....gillis knows what this team needs and the players he needs to give AV so that he can do a credible job....

those who hate the job AV has been doing, believe another coach would be able to lead us to the stanley cup...that's a nice thought but holds no proof of substance....

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I didn't notice the Sedins taking much of the blame last year. what I noticed is the Sedins, since we lost to Boston in the finals have gotten a buy, as well as the defense, at Lu's expense. Until now. Teams have had time to adapt to the boarding rules and now they can defend against the cycle. Time to split them up and use them as playmakers. one on the 1st line....one on the 2nd, and play them together on the PP only, where the cycle......can be effective.

I'm kinda hoping new management solves the goalie issue by bringing Lu back into the fold. Seems allot easier than trading him.

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Good post. Lines 2-4 definitely need a lot more depth and players who will actually crash and bang to score some goals. There's just not enough skill in this line-up right now for post season success.

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I didn't notice the Sedins taking much of the blame last year. what I noticed is the Sedins, since we lost to Boston in the finals have gotten a buy, as well as the defense, at Lu's expense. Until now. Teams have had time to adapt to the boarding rules and now they can defend against the cycle. Time to split them up and use them as playmakers. one on the 1st line....one on the 2nd, and play them together on the PP only, where the cycle......can be effective.

I'm kinda hoping new management solves the goalie issue by bringing Lu back into the fold. Seems allot easier than trading him.

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i agree with all you've said.....the pp is none existent......gillis either has to find the right mix to play with kesler or trade kesler.....it is hard for the sedins to rule the day when teams only have to key on them and they've won the game..

everyone has their opinions as how to fix this team but they have no track record of fixing teams....gillis knows what this team needs and the players he needs to give AV so that he can do a credible job....

those who hate the job AV has been doing, believe another coach would be able to lead us to the stanley cup...that's a nice thought but holds no proof of substance....

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Bieksa needs to play with Hamhuis. PERIOD. Was pretty solid in Game 4, who was his partner? Hamhuis. Enough of this Edler - Bieksa bullcrap, even a 4th grader can tell you that is a disaster pairing.

Edler is not a legitimate offensive defenseman. Garrison is not either. Nobody on this team can carry the puck smoothly like a Doughty/Lidstrom/Shattenkirk/Keith/Campbell/Boyle.. (you could argue that Bieksa can, but no he can't on a consistent basis). If we don't find a legit puck carrying defenseman, don't see our offense going anywhere again.

3rd line SUCKS. Hansen should never be a top 6 forward. When he's on your top line, then you know something is wrong. I'm not saying he's a bad player by any means, but he's not a top 6 forward. He's one of the best 3rd line forwards in the NHL, why would you put him in a top 6 position when you have Burrows/Kassian? 3rd line stinks without Hansen and Higgins.

Newell Brown needs to be fired along with Rick Bowness. I mean, Bowness is in charge of the defense right? Not sure who's in charge of the pairings but whoever thought Edler - Bieksa was a good idea should probably be fired...

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