GDT: 5-1 loss versus new york rangers team

Blueline Bomber

AI Generated Minnesota Wild
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Something I’ve noticed lately, and something I’m going to keep an eye on this game, is the defensive decision-making by our forwards.

We’re obviously not as strong defensively this year as we have been in years past, and it’s easy to chalk that up to the re-haul of our defense this offseason. But what I’ve seen during this stretch of poor games is that it’s often not the defense that’s making the mistake. They’ll occasionally make a bad pass or lose a board battle, but like 75-80% of the time, the Grade A chances that we’re giving up come from the forwards.

They’ll fail to clear the zone, despite having an easy out. They’ll force a pass into a teammate’s skate. Or they completely lose the guy they’re supposed to be covering. And it comes from guys that have been in our system for their career. Aho, Svech, Staal, KK, all of them have taken a big step backwards on the defensive side of the puck.
 

Joe McGrath

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Oct 29, 2009
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Something I’ve noticed lately, and something I’m going to keep an eye on this game, is the defensive decision-making by our forwards.

We’re obviously not as strong defensively this year as we have been in years past, and it’s easy to chalk that up to the re-haul of our defense this offseason. But what I’ve seen during this stretch of poor games is that it’s often not the defense that’s making the mistake. They’ll occasionally make a bad pass or lose a board battle, but like 75-80% of the time, the Grade A chances that we’re giving up come from the forwards.

They’ll fail to clear the zone, despite having an easy out. They’ll force a pass into a teammate’s skate. Or they completely lose the guy they’re supposed to be covering. And it comes from guys that have been in our system for their career. Aho, Svech, Staal, KK, all of them have taken a big step backwards on the defensive side of the puck.
Are they playing worse defensively or is a cascade effect where they always made these mistakes but someone else was there to clean up the mess? Robinson/Roslovic/Blake are significantly worse in the D zone than TT and Guentzel were.

I’ve always thought Aho was overrated on the defensive side of the puck because Turbo did all the heavy lifting.

Also not sure why Staal is included in your list. He’s been on the ice for 15 total goals against all year and only 7 at even strength. That’s the lowest of anyone in the league that’s played as many minutes as him that also kills penalties except for Martinook and Nino (who both have less PK time).
 

Blueline Bomber

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Are they playing worse defensively or is a cascade effect where they always made these mistakes but someone else was there to clean up the mess? Robinson/Roslovic/Blake are significantly worse in the D zone than TT and Guentzel were.

I’ve always thought Aho was overrated on the defensive side of the puck because Turbo did all the heavy lifting.

Also not sure why Staal is included in your list. He’s been on the ice for 15 total goals against all year and only 7 at even strength. That’s the lowest of anyone in the league that’s played as many minutes as him that also kills penalties except for Martinook and Nino (who both have less PK time).

Staal was included because I've been told to keep an eye on defensive zone turnovers over these past few games, and he's been responsible for a few of them. They haven't ended up in the back of the net, but they've certainly created Grade A chances against.

Take the first period against Washington, for example. We're on the penalty kill, Staal has a chance to clear it. Instead, he tries to skate it out of the zone before clearing it (I assume to try and kill more time). He's stripped from behind and Carlson sets up one of the Caps for a cross-crease one-timer that required a great save from Kooch. Later in the period, Staal again gets stripped of the puck and McMichael is able to skate in the high slot and missed just wide past a screened Kooch.
 

Anton Dubinchuk

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Joe McGrath

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Staal was included because I've been told to keep an eye on defensive zone turnovers over these past few games, and he's been responsible for a few of them. They haven't ended up in the back of the net, but they've certainly created Grade A chances against.

Take the first period against Washington, for example. We're on the penalty kill, Staal has a chance to clear it. Instead, he tries to skate it out of the zone before clearing it (I assume to try and kill more time). He's stripped from behind and Carlson sets up one of the Caps for a cross-crease one-timer that required a great save from Kooch. Later in the period, Staal again gets stripped of the puck and McMichael is able to skate in the high slot and missed just wide past a screened Kooch.
That makes sense given that context. In the full seasonal context I would say both statistically and visually the other 3 guys you mention have been caught with their heads up their asses a whole lot defensively where as Staal (coupled with Martinook) have been exactly what they’ve always been.
 

Blueline Bomber

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That makes sense given that context. In the full seasonal context I would say both statistically and visually the other 3 guys you mention have been caught with their heads up their asses a whole lot defensively where as Staal (coupled with Martinook) have been exactly what they’ve always been.

Oh, there's no doubt that Staal is better defensively than the others I've listed. Which is why it's worrisome that he's been just as guilty as the others for those defensive mistakes. I don't know what changed this year, as it seems like the same system that we've been playing for years now, but, this year, the forwards are acting like this is all brand new to them.
 
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Anton Dubinchuk

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That tracks with my eye test. I was going to comment halfway through the Caps game that they were “out-Canesing” us with their o-zone keeps and pressure. But it became clear halfway through that we were just being super sloppy exiting the zone. I concur with the comment on Staal as well, it doesn’t surprise me you’ve found multiple uncharacteristic failed zone clears from him.
 

AhosDatsyukian

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Is there a way to stream NHL Network? I have it on my cable package but am traveling and can only stream my cable when I’m on my home WiFi.
 

AhosDatsyukian

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I honestly wish he wasn’t. He is a significant liability when he is on the ice, imo, and isn’t actually scaring NHL players. The only concern is him injuring someone with a dirty hit.
That’s enough of a concern to not want to play against him. 10 minutes of playing against a liability isn’t worth potential significant injury
 
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