GDT: 41: Coyotes VS the Flyers 6PM

[Mosby]

The positive news is that, during the game, Fox Sports displayed a graphic showing that this is still the 3rd best start to the first half of the season in franchise history, despite the recent slide. And that mark was only a few points off of the 2009-10 season and I believe 98-99.

 

[GiveAFlyingPuck]

In the 1st 10 minutes of the 3rd, did all of our players look like they wanted someone else to make a play and they would just watch? Or was that just me? Towards the end of the period they played with some urgency but couldn't get on to go. Seems the guys want the wins handed to them on occasion.

 

[letowskie]

Unfortunately, Smith is not the only problem.

Ribeiro.

Vrbata.

Yandle on his team's side of the ice.

Tim Kennedy. Whose ineffectual ghost still haunts me.

Rundblad's ass burning a hole in the press box.

Schlemko.

Vermette's inconsistent play.

The penalty kill.

Lack of a top-6 forward. For ****'s sake, bring in Mike Ryder here and reunite him with Ribeiro. Bring someone in.

We really need stop playing guys like Schlemko and Klesla. Even if these guys play at their capabilities, they are not going to help us get over the hump in a game like this. If OEL is out for any length of time (I think we should sit him for a few games, even if he appears ready to play; you never know about concussions), call up Gormley. We need to sit Stone for a few games to clear his head as well. Maybe playing Gormley and Rundblad will help energize our transition game again. We have to take advantage of our deep defensive development in the organization.

We simply need to find some more scoring somewhere. And puck possession is so important for a team built from the D out like we are; one or two more players that are apt at protecting the puck, good vision down ice, and moving the puck through the neutral zone would help tremendously in that regard.

We are just very thin up front. Blame guys like Vrbata and Rib all we want, but whenever they falter, we just don't have much behind them to pick up the slack. Another top-6 winger is paramount right now, if we want to play most of the game in the opponent's end. It's time to give Miele an audition. And probably send a roster player plus some futures to see if we can get someone semi-competent in that regard.

 

[CC96]

Although I have to admit, seeing the epic meltdown that would happen on the mainboards following such an announcement would almost make it worth it.

I think you might be on to something.

 

[albertabound]

What is hate on Chipchura lately he is not the cause of the problem he is a 4th liner . where are the top line players lately?

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

I'm mentioning Chipchura cuz he's a 4th liner who doesn't really contribute anything and he can't PK.

 

[letowskie]

What is hate on Chipchura lately he is not the cause of the problem he is a 4th liner . where are the top line players lately?

No one is hating him.

Just that there are players like him abound on our team. And none of them are really difference makers, and more or less only occasionally impact a game in some way. We can't afford having half a dozen or more of these types of players, and expect to be a real contender.

We simply need players with real skills that are difference makers on a regular basis; not having to rely on 3-4 forwards and 2 D night after night. Seriously, the only surprise that's stepped up this season so far is Murphy. Rundblad is not given much of a chance. Brown hasn't really impressed anyone, and probably won't the rest of the season. Others like Miele and Lessio are not really given an opportunity to even be on the NHL squad. Sometimes I wish that Tippett could just be a little less conservative and always go the safe route with game day rosters.

 

[Heldig]

Tippett demands a hard, disciplined game. It is not an easy game to play. Others have commented that we aren't playing Coyote hockey. Have too many players started tuning him out?

 

[letowskie]

Tippett demands a hard, disciplined game. It is not an easy game to play. Others have commented that we aren't playing Coyote hockey. Have too many players started tuning him out?

Tippett is a great coach, but even a great coach with a winning system needs to make adaptations once in a while, and be malleable depending on the players in the organization and the skillsets that they bring. Not every player can be coached, motivated, and taught the minutiae of the game through the exact same means.

If he is truly the kind of coach that builds championship teams and success in the long run, he needs to be able to adapt, and fit young players and acquisitions of different talents onto the team and make them contribute in his system. If he is a coach that's worth keeping around decade after decade, then it is his responsibility to see to that, not only to perfect a system and its game day tactics; but also to create an environment to develop skills of young players, and integrate different types of players with different skillsets, and motivate them to buy in.

 

[kihekah19*]

"We continue to throw pucks in the middle of the ice, don't get it in at their blue line, don't get it out at our blue line and don't get saves we need at the right times. That's a recipe for disaster."

The problem is he's 100% accurate haha, he's just the worst person on the team to be saying it. And since we have so little leadership on this team and a bunch of passengers as has been mentioned, there is no one else saying it. Now that Doan is back hopefully we hear someone else's voice other than Smith's, because I literally never hear anyone comment about the play of the team which is extremely concerning in terms of the amount of leaders.

Smith is right in every single one of his comments:

He's absolutely right and it's no one player, it's a collective sporadic lack of attention to detail and I see no reason Smith can't be the one to offer an honest assessment.

 

[KG]

So far in this thread one person has suggested GMDM may be fired for the Smith contract, and one person has suggested that the team has tuned Tippet out. This in a team still in a playoff berth.

Holy overreaction batman.

 

[kihekah19*]

Just got back from the game. I know its cathartic for many of you to express extreme negativity. Its never as bad as you think, and its never as good as you think. This one was hard to swallow though. Even me, usually very positive about the majority of the team, wants to see Greiss on Tuesday. Also, jesus I want OEL back...

Walk it off guys.

Greiss should have started the last game IMO. Go with the hot goalie, until that changes, I don't care if it's the back up and he rolls off 25 games.

Starting him against Columbus would have served as a necessary shake up as well.

 

[kihekah19*]

So far in this thread one person has suggested GMDM may be fired for the Smith contract, and one person has suggested that the team has tuned Tippet out. This in a team still in a playoff berth.

Holy overreaction batman.

While I won't deny there is (always is) plenty of overreaction around here, the losses of late are concerning, particularly as they mount up.

 

[XX]

Maybe because of Smith's blaming the team all the time, they refuse to play well for him and enjoy hanging him out to dry. The guy way too quickly, forgot that he used to barely hold a back up's position. He needs to get over himself and go back to playing an honest game and being a good team mate. Then we might win again.

His money is made. That contract is all guaranteed. I'm starting to suspect that was all he was playing for, and he doesn't see the point in bending over backwards every night to 'live up to it.' Maybe that's not the type of goalie/person he is, but it has happened before. Something is way, way off mentally with him.

So far in this thread one person has suggested GMDM may be fired for the Smith contract, and one person has suggested that the team has tuned Tippet out. This in a team still in a playoff berth.

Holy overreaction batman.

Expand your 'overreaction' to the general lackadaisical play of the team this season, and their alarming lack of attention to detail, and you'll see where the concern is coming from.

 

[CC96]

So far in this thread one person has suggested GMDM may be fired for the Smith contract, and one person has suggested that the team has tuned Tippet out. This in a team still in a playoff berth.

Holy overreaction batman.

This.

 

[KG]

Expand your 'overreaction' to the general lackadaisical play of the team this season, and their alarming lack of attention to detail, and you'll see where the concern is coming from.

Do you honestly think this is a result of GMDM and Dave Tippet?

 

[JTPoni23]

He's absolutely right and it's no one player, it's a collective sporadic lack of attention to detail and I see no reason Smith can't be the one to offer an honest assessment.

I think the point that some have been trying to make was that based on his play he should not be calling out the team. If he plays like he did in that recent stretch where he stood on his head and the team let him down, then yeah he deserves to vent and call out the team. But if he plays like he did tonight...

He is one of the team's leaders. I love when he speaks his mind. I think we'd just like to see those comments more when he stands on his head rather then when he lets the team down.

 

[KG]

BTW, Tippet agrees with all your guys' points in his presser. Take a listen.

 

[letowskie]

So far in this thread one person has suggested GMDM may be fired for the Smith contract, and one person has suggested that the team has tuned Tippet out. This in a team still in a playoff berth.

Holy overreaction batman.

We are pretty much tied for the last place. And our GF/GA has turned negative, not a good sign to head into second half of the season.

I'm not saying that the season is doomed or anything like that. And we've had some headwind and our D-corps and Doan has had some untimely injuries. But if we are a real playoff team, we need to be able to fight through these adversities and malaise, and be resilient enough to hang onto a playoff berth.

 

[kihekah19*]

I think the point that some have been trying to make was that based on his play he should not be calling out the team. If he plays like he did in that recent stretch where he stood on his head and the team let him down, then yeah he deserves to vent and call out the team. But if he plays like he did tonight...

He is one of the team's leaders. I love when he speaks his mind. I think we'd just like to see those comments more when he stands on his head rather then when he lets the team down.

He called himself out as well though - "when we don't get the saves we need at the right times"

Sounds like a team player making an honest comment to me.

 

[CC96]

He called himself out as well though - "when we don't get the saves we need at the right times"

Sounds like a team player making an honest comment to me.

Glad to see he's holding himself accountable as well and not just blaming his teammates.

 

[kihekah19*]

Glad to see he's holding himself accountable as well and not just blaming his teammates.

He doesn't come off as stupid - he knows when he's not playing well.

 

[GiveAFlyingPuck]

I'm not saying that the season is doomed or anything like that. And we've had some headwind and our D-corps and Doan has had some untimely injuries. But if we are a real playoff team, we need to be able to fight through these adversities and malaise, and be resilient enough to hang onto a playoff berth.

I'm not sure where we stand compared to other teams and injuries. We can hope that the worst is behind us and that no longer is an excuse. The Blues have been able withstand the loss of Steen.

Seems like when one of our D-men goes down, he goes down early in the game and the 5 man rotation throws everything off.

 

[JTPoni23]

He called himself out as well though - "when we don't get the saves we need at the right times"

Sounds like a team player making an honest comment to me.

Just for the record I'm pro-Smith I just may come off sounding a bit harsh.

Mostly because he's not the same guy I watched in Dallas and Tampa. The on ice reactions towards teammates were not there. The diving was not there. The compete level however was there. And he made himself accountable and was down to earth and extremely humble.

As long as Mike makes himself accountable I'm fine with whatever he says, just seems at times this year he's forgotten that and comes off as calling out the team too much especially when he himself has a poor performance. Then again, everything he says is usually true haha so hopefully the team is listening.

As I said, I love when Smith shares his thoughts and speaks up because it shows he cares, just maybe there should be a gauge on when he does it.

 

[kihekah19*]

Just for the record I'm pro-Smith I just may come off sounding a bit harsh.

Mostly because he's not the same guy I watched in Dallas and Tampa. The on ice reactions towards teammates were not there. The diving was not there. The compete level however was there. And he made himself accountable and was down to earth and extremely humble.

As long as Mike makes himself accountable I'm fine with whatever he says, just seems at times this year he's forgotten that and comes off as calling out the team too much especially when he himself has a poor performance. Then again, everything he says is usually true haha so hopefully the team is listening.

As I said, I love when Smith shares his thoughts and speaks up because it shows he cares, just maybe there should be a gauge on when he does it.

You didn't come off too harsh, I'm just responding to what you wrote. I am fine with Smith as we'll, despite some of his play this season. HATE the diving though.