GDT: #38 ⋅ ANA @ EDM ⋅ 6:00 PM PST

[Ducks DVM]

I think we’re seeing the potential downside to rotating young players in and out of the lineup. It seems Minty and Zellweger are playing not to make a mistake rather than aggressive and assertive. Zellweger especially seems to be second guessing himself. It’s a rather stark contrast to the beginning of the year.

He was playing poorly before he was scratched. So was Mintyukov. I’m joking about Zellweger being the issue, but the young defensemen are playing like…young defensemen. Sophomore slumps exists as a term for good reason.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I'm not sure about having a youth 3rd pairing b/c it feels their development has taken a back seat with Dumo-Trouba playing the 2nd pair. Sure, the 3rd pairing is sheltered, but they're also paired with fellow youths/rookie (Helly). Here are the past three charts that shows the 3rd pairing youths are struggling. The youths are struggling.

Dec 31st, 3rd pair = Minty-Helly

Jan 2nd, 3rd pair = Minty-Helly

Jan 3rd, 3rd pairing = Zell-Helly

 

[Leonardo87]

Doesn’t really meet the eye test for Leo, who looked awful tonight I thought not only offensively but defensively too. I guess some of it’s coming from that secondary assist on the Lacombe goal. If I’m being completely honest, I thought he looked perhaps the worst he has all year. I agree his conditioning is off but I think there’s some mental stuff going on too.

Glad you posted this , thought Leo had another solid game outside of that one bad pass. It’s a learning experience. He also was their best FO guy as well, at 50%, against Edmonton that is huge! Who are Top 3 in the league. Seems to be more aggressive on the FO dot. Need more of that.

When Zegras gets back can hopefully get more offense going for that line.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I'm not sure about having a youth 3rd pairing b/c it feels their development has taken a back seat with Dumo-Trouba playing the 2nd pair. Sure, the 3rd pairing is sheltered, but they're also paired with fellow youths/rookie (Helly). Here are the past three charts that shows the 3rd pairing youths are struggling. The youths are struggling.

Dec 31st, 3rd pair = Minty-Helly
View attachment 955894

Jan 2nd, 3rd pair = Minty-Helly
View attachment 955895

Jan 3rd, 3rd pairing = Zell-Helly
View attachment 955896

Seems more like a coaching for his job rather than coaching to develop.

I think if we have 3 vets, we should be putting 1 with each of the young guys…. Something like

lacombe + gudas
Minty/zell + trouba
Dumo + helleson


Also not the biggest fan of rotating zell/minty in and out of the line up, not only is hard for them to stay consistent, but I think it makes chemistry an issue also.

 

[Deuce22]

I think we’re seeing the potential downside to rotating young players in and out of the lineup. It seems Minty and Zellweger are playing not to make a mistake rather than aggressive and assertive. Zellweger especially seems to be second guessing himself. It’s a rather stark contrast to the beginning of the year.

What we're seeing from these two is the opposite of what we're seeing from LaCombe.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

What we're seeing from these two is the opposite of what we're seeing from LaCombe.

Keep in.mind Lacombe is 3 years older

 

[Ducks DVM]

I wonder if Gauthier is either sore or has a mild concussion from that slide into the boards Thursday and the coaching staff finally figured it out? I was at work for most of the game and wasn’t paying great attention, but he didn’t seem to do anything bench-worthy to me. Did anyone see any good reason to sit him in a tight game?

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Keep in.mind Lacombe is 3 years older

Ya 4 years at a top notch hockey college is a pretty good development path. In comparison to juniors/our ahl development.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

I wonder if Gauthier is either sore or has a mild concussion from that slide into the boards Thursday and the coaching staff finally figured it out? I was at work for most of the game and wasn’t paying great attention, but he didn’t seem to do anything bench-worthy to me. Did anyone see any good reason to sit him in a tight game?

He was coasting a lot and not making body contact.. signs of timid play. Plus you gotta understand. He is still a rookie. It was a back to back. Coaching staff didn't want to over work him

 

[ScarTroy]

He was coasting a lot and not making body contact.. signs of timid play. Plus you gotta understand. He is still a rookie. It was a back to back. Coaching staff didn't want to over work him

Weren’t you all up in arms over it post game?

 

[LuGBuG]

Weren’t you all up in arms over it post game?

Yes. Ripped Cronin for it lol.

 

[Ducks DVM]

He was coasting a lot and not making body contact.. signs of timid play. Plus you gotta understand. He is still a rookie. It was a back to back. Coaching staff didn't want to over work him

Which is why I’m wondering about a health issue. He was between stunned and/or hurt after that boards incident.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Which is why I’m wondering about a health issue. He was between stunned and/or hurt after that boards incident.

Maybe delayed concussion symptoms once the adrenaline wore off in the second game of the back-to-back situation? I don't know if the NHL has the same concussion protocol and medical staff like the NFL. I thought Cutter's head banging onto the ice and being stunned afterwards was a sign of possible concussion. I was surprised he was back onto the ice later in the game.

I remember one shift in the game when Mac was battling along the OZ side boards, won the puck battle, and purposely dumped the puck into the corner, but no Duck forward chased after it. A few seconds later in the same shift, LaCombe corralled the puck along the board, near the blueline, tried walking it in, but was stopped and he dumped it into the same area Mac did. No Duck forward showed up.

It looked like both dumps were designed that way and a forward was supposed to be there. Maybe that was Cutter who was supposed to go into that dirty area and didn't.

Whatever Cutter has, I hope our medical staff is able to identify it ASAP and get him the necessary treatment.

 

[Daz28]

When the puck switched sides after the scrum along the boards, Leason followed the puck instead of looking around him to find the open guy or collapse back toward the middle of the ice. Oiler #27 peeled back into the neutral zone.


View attachment 955847

---

Leason overcommitted instead of collapse towards the middle of the ice. LaCombe saw this and left Draisaitl in order to prevent Hyman from getting a great scoring chance in the middle of the ice. LaCombe's defending did prevent Hyman from attempting a HD scoring chance, but it caused the puck to ricochet by him and onto Draisaitl's body. Draisaitl settled it down to score the goal. Mac was still late coming down from the scrum, but it was Leason who overcommitted and caused the chaos.

I think Mac took a second to figure out where he was at after that scrum along the board b/c he didn't immediately dart down.

View attachment 955843

Thats EXACTLY how I saw it, too. That was on Leason. Great job illustrating.

 

[Daz28]

I wonder if Gauthier is either sore or has a mild concussion from that slide into the boards Thursday and the coaching staff finally figured it out? I was at work for most of the game and wasn’t paying great attention, but he didn’t seem to do anything bench-worthy to me. Did anyone see any good reason to sit him in a tight game?

I didn't but he and Cro did have a somewhat lengthy discussion about something on the bench.