GDT: 1/20/25 - 7:30PM EDT - Tampa Bay @ Toronto

[Stammertime91]

How about the fact that we've lost 11 of our last 16 games against them (including playoffs)

It was 1 out of 17 a couple weeks ago, which you lied about and I pointed out that you did. To be fair, you did recognize you reported false information.

Now it's conveniently 11 out of 16. Which... is an improvement and we are in a playoff spot and it's not good enough.

You joined in 2022... did you watch the 2018-2019 regular season?

 

[Soul Assumption]

It was 1 out of 17 a couple weeks ago, which you lied about and I pointed out that you did. To be fair, you did recognize you reported false information.

I never mentioned our record against Toronto before, I have no idea what you're talking about. Maybe you've got me confused with someone else or it's just voices in your head.

 

[Stammertime91]

I never mentioned our record against Toronto before, I have no idea what you're talking about. Maybe you've got me confused with someone else or it's just voices in your head.

Youre right, i won't bully you anymore.

 

[Soul Assumption]

Youre right, i won't bully you anymore.

But do you agree that the way they play against Toronto every time is really embarrassing? Why does Matthew Knies look like Mcdavid on steroids every time he plays TBL? Maybe Coop needs to take a lesson from Brindamour on how to beat Toronto?

 

[JTBF81]

It's obvious what the team lacks, don't care what my opinion is "worth" but I'd rather see JBB fill obvious holes instead of redundant players who won't get them closer to a cup. Don't take my word for it, you can look at the recent champions including the B2B team.

Adding some average middle sixer with no unique qualities ain't getting you by teams like Toronto and Florida with the cores they have and the way they're built. Team is too small up front and doesn't have enough of the "identity" guys that help you push through a deep playoff run until the bitter end.

Yes, because your solution of Luke Kunin or Mathieu Olivier (who likely isn't even available with the way Columbus is playing) from the other thread are some great above average middle 6 guys with "identity". Kunin is a name I've mentioned, but he plays no bigger or above average than most of the other middle 6 names that have been listed, and he's pricier with no retention available from S.J. (barring Tampa involving a 3rd team). Goodrow wasn't a giant, neither was Gourde, and they made up two thirds of one of the most important lines for those runs. Not going to say Tampa is as physically imposing as they were, but there is more than one way to build a cup winner.

 

[LightningStrikes]

It was a one-goal game if we’re not counting the EN. A pretty damn close game actually but we gave them some gifts. Coop needs to figure out a way to control Knies though. Hell of a game by him.

 

[Stammertime91]

But do you agree that the way they play against Toronto every time is really embarrassing? Why does Matthew Knies look like Mcdavid on steroids every time he plays TBL? Maybe Coop needs to take a lesson from Brindamour on how to beat Toronto?

It's embarassing but if this circles back to Cooper then I don't know what lala land you're living in but there's been several teams over the years across different coaches that just have our numbers. Pittsburgh for one. Do we need Cooper to take lessons from another coach on how to beat Pittsburgh? Your incessant struggle to pinpoint every flaw of this team back on Cooper makes it laughable. You could just say, Toronto has a good team, even better than us, and they have our number?

I don't think Cooper needs to talk to the construction workers who built Xcel Energy Arena to eventually beat Minnesota in their barn. Some things just work out the way they do. Again, if you think winning and beating everybody in the regular season, your join date makes a lot of sense with regards to your fandom.

Aside from that, this team isn't a contender. We certainly get close if we are healthy and add two middle six forwards or one and a RD. Even then, we are what we are and that's more on Brisebois than it is on Cooper unable to beat Toronto on January 20th.

 

[bov]

Yes, because your solution of Luke Kunin or Mathieu Olivier (who likely isn't even available with the way Columbus is playing) from the other thread are some great above average middle 6 guys with "identity". Kunin is a name I've mentioned, but he plays no bigger or above average than most of the other middle 6 names that have been listed, and he's pricier with no retention available from S.J. (barring Tampa involving a 3rd team). Goodrow wasn't a giant, neither was Gourde, and they made up two thirds of one of the most important lines for those runs. Not going to say Tampa is as physically imposing as they were, but there is more than one way to build a cup winner.

I've acknowledged both the unlikelihood of Olivier's availability, and your mention of Kunin in other threads. One of the few things I'll give you credit for . These are different times, and I don't think Yanni Gourde is as essential now as he was during the cup run. The roster has different needs now. And you know what? If we actually re-acquired Yanni I wouldn't sit here and complain, because we've all seen what he can bring. It seems we just disagree on the type of player that will be most impactful.

I think Kunin is vastly more appealing than some of the guys you have brought up such as Donato and Evans, to me it's a no brainer. You can look at the teams that go all the way to determine how to build a cup winner, and most of these guys being mentioned ain't it. I just don't know what else to say, you need some beef and a little bit of mean to get there when you look at the landscape of the league. There are too many powerhouses to get through, with a roster like this. Even Palmieri, Bjorkstrand, Rakell... they're all good players. But it's about the fit, and the likelihood that they win you the cup. Personally I don't think they do much towards that at all.

I'll take a compromise though, if JBB wants to add one of those guys and then another with some more grit I'll take it.