*Buzzsaw* Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Last night the Sedins played their hearts out and turned up their intensity. Ice time was WAY up over their year's average at close to 21:00 minutes for both of them. The fact they were able to find that extra gear and turn on the skills is a testament to WD's Ice Time management during the season. At 34, they can't be expected to play that many minutes regularly and Willie is smart enough to recognize that. His whole strategy has been about keeping them fresh and ready for key games and the playoffs, and his ability to recognize when they ready to go and to take them off the leash in key games like last night tells you this guy understands the game and his players. Night and Day compared to Tortorella's approach and the 'old/tired' Sedins of last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 This strategy is not unique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckBoss Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The Sedins looked like vintage Sundins last night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatedkid666 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 WD is a great coach but this is common sense. Torts was just an idiot/ahole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry Goose Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 At 34 years of age they may not be as athletic as they used to be, but they are definitely stronger. LA had a hard time knocking them off the puck last night. They play like power forwards down low Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herberts Vasiljevs Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Depth supplemented by Benning has been a major help in that regard. Imagine trying to balance the lines out the way Willie has with guys like Dalpe, Sestito and Welch only… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Agreed, I just wish Willie D knew how to bench certain players for skill. Eg Baerstchi for Vey, Kennins or Dorsett. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 This strategy is not unique. This thread is not unique. Willie resting the Sedins And of course that was created by the same OP just last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fateless Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Agreed, I just wish Willie D knew how to bench certain players for skill. Eg Baerstchi for Vey, Kennins or Dorsett. Not sure why people want to put in inexperienced players for players that have worked their butt off all season for this team during such a critical time. Why would WD replace Vey, Kenins or Dorsett (all 3 of whom have played great through stretches of this season) for Baerstchi when he has not proven himself yet at the NHL level? I know he has a lot of upside, but is it really the time to test out a new player when the team is fighting for the playoffs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 This thread is not unique. Willie resting the Sedins And of course that was created by the same OP just last week. He's changed his opinion. Ice time strategy and Willie resting the Sedins are two threads along the same line with very different outlooks on similar situations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 He's changed his opinion. Ice time strategy and Willie resting the Sedins are two threads along the same line with very different outlooks on similar situations. He's continuing his opinion, i.e. "thank goodness WD has rested them so far so he can ramp up their play when he needs to." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canacks1970 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Last night the Sedins played their hearts out and turned up their intensity. Ice time was WAY up over their year's average at close to 21:00 minutes for both of them. The fact they were able to find that extra gear and turn on the skills is a testament to WD's Ice Time management during the season. At 34, they can't be expected to play that many minutes regularly and Willie is smart enough to recognize that. His whole strategy has been about keeping them fresh and ready for key games and the playoffs, and his ability to recognize when they ready to go and to take them off the leash in key games like last night tells you this guy understands the game and his players. Night and Day compared to Tortorella's approach and the 'old/tired' Sedins of last season. This was talked about during the off season Buzzsaw. Benning and Linden knew after watching the playoffs that it was important to run four lines. With the age of the Sedins and how Tortorella used them to death that they would need to cut back they're mins to keep them fresh for the long haul. Also have to give credit to Benning and Linden for seeing this last year and getting the right players to fill those needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnews Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Depth supplemented by Benning has been a major help in that regard. Imagine trying to balance the lines out the way Willie has with guys like Dalpe, Sestito and Welch only… That's a convenient excuse for going overboard on the 3 line approach. Show no confidence in your depth players and the result is predictable. Sedin Sedin Burrows HIggins Kesler Santorelli Hansen Richardson Kassian The leaves Booth, Weise, Pelletier, Sestito, Dalpe, Archibald, Welsh, Lain, Zalewski, Ferriero Surely a good coach can get more than 3 or 4 minutes a night out of those guys. Weise wasn't good enough for some fourth line minutes, but has 29 points this year on a President's trophy contender... The problem wasn't the players Torture-fella had to work with, it was that he busted their balls and got the worst out of virtually everyone on the roster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Buzzsaw* Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 He's changed his opinion. Ice time strategy and Willie resting the Sedins are two threads along the same line with very different outlooks on similar situations. Re-Read my posts. I haven't change my opinion of WD's strategy. WD has been resting the Sedins... ALL SEASON... and in particular for the last while... ALL FOR A BIG GAME LIKE THE ONE VERSUS THE KINGS. He has the option now of playing them more when it counts because he can... because they are fresh. I expect him to bring down their ice time again for the game versus the Oilers, and possibly against the Flames too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Re-Read my posts. I haven't change my opinion of WD's strategy. ... It'd be easier to re-read your posts if you kept the ones that are related in the same thread. Why did you create a new thread if they're both about WD's strategy and your opinion hasn't changed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gstank29 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 It'd be easier to re-read your posts if you kept the ones that are related in the same thread. Why did you create a new thread if they're both about WD's strategy and your opinion hasn't changed? Yes Moderator Elvis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 ^^ Do you disagree? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Not sure why people want to put in inexperienced players for players that have worked their butt off all season for this team during such a critical time. Why would WD replace Vey, Kenins or Dorsett (all 3 of whom have played great through stretches of this season) for Baerstchi when he has not proven himself yet at the NHL level? I know he has a lot of upside, but is it really the time to test out a new player when the team is fighting for the playoffs? If that's the case than why don't they just send him back to the farm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_Canuck Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 If that's the case than why don't they just send him back to the farm? Because bringing players up and letting them learn in practice on how to play our system has been a strategy we've used all season long. Baertschi will get sent down again so he can contribute to Utica's playoff run but they want him to get accustomed to our system with NHL competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyking Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 If that's the case than why don't they just send him back to the farm? we need somebody better than mcmillan to be are 13th forward with all these injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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