Around the League 36-But Who's Counting...

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I disagree. It takes time to get comfortable playing on a D pair with a new partner for both guys, sorting the communication out, etc. It's been 26 games. I think they'll be much more comfortable playing together come March/April.

That's probably true, but Slavin meshed almost immediately with Hainsey, Pesce, Hamilton, Bear and TDA. Hamilton (hand injury 1st half of the 1st year) and TDA (Bear got the first shot) didn't start right away with him, but they kinda hit the ground running with Slavin when they eventually got with him. Slavin and Faulk never seemed to mesh very well.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Slavin was and is the best defensive D in the league. That's as defensible as saying McDavid is the best scorer in the league. Some Auston Matthews fan might take issue, but that's the only way it's going to get controversial. IMO that's quite different than the stereotypical HF "is Stutzle a generational player?" hyperbole.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

The individual decisions made by Burns also worry me, because a lot of the time, they're mental errors. When you hear that the 37-year-old Burns is questionable defensively, you're like "Alright, he's old, he's slowed down, he's going to get burned occasionally". But the amount of times he's failed to clear the zone or simply flung the puck up the middle of the ice is baffling for someone who has been in the league as long as he has.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Slavin is only within 1 or his +/- number from last year at this time and we scored more at ES last year.

It takes time to mesh. Slavin didn’t take off with really driving scoring difference until February last season.

I think more scrutiny is on Slavin, like everyone else, because we aren’t winning enough and expectations continue to rise.

 

[geehaad]

Slavin has been worse this season, full stop. No need to blame Burns or insinuate that it's just an illusion. The guy has given us god-like play for so many years that we recognize the difference. He's still outstanding and we should appreciate that fact while also hoping he ascends back up to heavenly heights in short order.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Slavin has been worse this season, full stop. No need to blame Burns or insinuate that it's just an illusion. The guy has given us god-like play for so many years that we recognize the difference. He's still outstanding and we should appreciate that fact while also hoping he ascends back up to heavenly heights in short order.

So we need to kill him?

 

[tarheelhockey]

god-like

 

[Canes]

Slavin has been worse this season, full stop. No need to blame Burns or insinuate that it's just an illusion. The guy has given us god-like play for so many years that we recognize the difference. He's still outstanding and we should appreciate that fact while also hoping he ascends back up to heavenly heights in short order.

Yeah he has been pretty soft on the puck and indecisive at times this season (that 2nd goal against being a perfect encapsulation of this), not sure why Burns is taking so much flak in comparison. Both need to be better defensively but Slavin hasn't been the stalwart he was when carrying TDA and Hamilton defensively.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Slavin has been worse this season, full stop. No need to blame Burns or insinuate that it's just an illusion. The guy has given us god-like play for so many years that we recognize the difference. He's still outstanding and we should appreciate that fact while also hoping he ascends back up to heavenly heights in short order.

I sort of wonder if maybe he's dealing with a little impostor's syndrome. Slavin is good, but for the first time in his career he's playing with an actual Norris trophy winner. Is Slavin maybe deferring to Burns when he shouldn't, when in the past with other partners he would just take over the play and do the right thing?

 

[Negan4Coach]

Why does it take so much time to "mesh" with the Connor McDavid of Defensive Defensemen? How long do wingmen of McDavid's take before they get used to his awesomeness?

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Why does it take so much time to "mesh" with the Connor McDavid of Defensive Defensemen? How long do wingmen of McDavid's take before they get used to his awesomeness?

Surely, you can see how it might be different with defenseman.

 

[Canes]

Bedard is going to be a Blue Jacket isn't he?

Also @sabremike's favorite giraffe with 4 goals in the first period in less than 5 minutes of icetime. Wow.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Bedard is going to be a Blue Jacket isn't he?

Also @sabremike's favorite giraffe with 4 goals in the first period in less than 5 minutes of icetime. Wow.

4G + 1 assist...so 5 points in the 1st alone.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Tage Nathaniel Thompson dominating On TNT

 

[Canes]

Tage #5.

 

[HisIceness]

Amazing what can happen with a franchise when you cut the distraction out of the locker room. Sabres still have some holes to fill but they actually play like a team.

I don't know what to say about the Jackets. I forsee a coaching/management haul in their future.

 

[Canes]

Amazing what can happen with a franchise when you cut the distraction out of the locker room. Sabres still have some holes to fill but they actually play like a team.

I don't know what to say about the Jackets. I forsee a coaching/management haul in their future.

Jarmo is a dead man walking.

9-2. lmao

 

[MadeUpName]

This season is wild.

Two players who I see are playing some of the most assertive, dominant hockey in recent years are Tage Thompson and Jack Hughes. I'm not sure you could have two more physically opposite forwards. Yet both are just gliding across the ice like they own it with complete agency.

If Svechnikov can figure shit out like Tage has then he would be Ovechkin+. Incredible confidence in his own skill.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Lol Ovi with 2 ENers. Caps exist just to get him the record these days

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Amazing what can happen with a franchise when you cut the distraction out of the locker room. Sabres still have some holes to fill but they actually play like a team.

I don't know what to say about the Jackets. I forsee a coaching/management haul in their future.

the locker room distraction was primarily a terrible head coach in Krueger.

They also have quite a bit more talent now than they did a couple years ago, particularly with some of the young guys developing (Cozens, Dahlin, Quinn, Peterka, Power etc...). A lot of their top guys are 19-24 years old. Skinner and Okposo are the only skaters 30+ years old.

I agree though, they are playing like a team and having fun.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Jeff Skinner is scoring at a ~98 point pace.

 

[Negan4Coach]

Surely, you can see how it might be different with defenseman.

I do. It's just, you know...as good as Slavin is you'd think people could gel quicker with him. Or at least just be carried by him.

the locker room distraction was primarily a terrible head coach in Krueger.

They also have quite a bit more talent now than they did a couple years ago, particularly with some of the young guys developing (Cozens, Dahlin, Quinn, Peterka, Power etc...). A lot of their top guys are 19-24 years old. Skinner and Okposo are the only skaters 30+ years old.

I agree though, they are playing like a team and having fun.

I really hope the Sabres make the playoffs this year. Skinner doesn't deserve the fate of never getting to be in one.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

I’m loving the unexpected breakouts we’ve seen recently, from Thompson to Robertson to Terry to Necas even. It gives me hope that there’s one more level that Aho or Svech could get to, which would answer a critical question about this group.

 

[Vagrant]

I sort of wonder if maybe he's dealing with a little impostor's syndrome. Slavin is good, but for the first time in his career he's playing with an actual Norris trophy winner. Is Slavin maybe deferring to Burns when he shouldn't, when in the past with other partners he would just take over the play and do the right thing?

I think there's some of this. they bring in a HOF guy to play his twilight years on your pairing and it's a lot of pressure. he has always been fairly deferential, but this year he's flat out not there offensively. they're trying to work them through it because of how strong the brett/brady has been at munching minutes. the concerning thing for me with slavin is that he's just not there. it's in his eyes. he has a quiet intensity usually and he's just sort of vacant this season. I know there was a new addition in the offseason and this might be the first new baby year for him, but he's sleepwalking and he's been so great that he's earned it but it is what it is.

 

[Canes]

Hopefully this Rags vs. Golden Knights game is more competitive