GDT: G1: NYR @ Wild 7pm CT (BSN)

[Spurgeon]

Steel’s got to play with the talented players so Guerin can say he did something this offseason.

 

[Wabit]

I think he'd absolutely get 50 or 60 points playing with Kaprizov and Zucc. But he'll take bad stick penalties alot like he did last year.

I think Rossi, Steel or even Jost would do similar without the bad penalties Hartman is prone to.

I don't think there is an inhouse solution to the 1C spot. These are all somewhere between bottom-6 and fringe players we're talking about. Kap can probably boost them for points, but it's still just putting lipstick on a pig.

If they want to run the 3 lines then Kap, JEE, and Boldy pretty much all have to be on different lines.

 

[ThatGuy22]

I don't think there is an inhouse solution to the 1C spot. These are all somewhere between bottom-6 and fringe players we're talking about. Kap can probably boost them for points, but it's still just putting lipstick on a pig.

If they want to run the 3 lines then Kap, JEE, and Boldy pretty much all have to be on different lines.

I don't think anyone thinks we have an in house solution for 1C behind a developed Rossi.

But, I think most would agree that Hartman has a tendency for taking bad stick penalties. Which takes our top line off the ice too often.

I'm not opposed to seeing if one of our other high NHL draft picks like Rossi, Steel or Jost can replicate without the dumb penalties.

 

[AKL]

Steel’s got to play with the talented players so Guerin can say he did something this offseason.

It really does kinda feel like it, doesn't it. Especially after watching the Fleury thing last year.

 

[Bazeek]

I don't think anyone thinks we have an in house solution for 1C behind a developed Rossi.

But, I think most would agree that Hartman has a tendency for taking bad stick penalties. Which takes our top line off the ice too often.

I'm not opposed to seeing if one of our other high NHL draft picks like Rossi, Steel or Jost can replicate without the dumb penalties.

The one thing that's stood out to be about Steel in limited viewings is some decent hands in tight and around the front of the net, so he'd probably be my pick if we start experimenting.

Long term I'd hope Rossi takes the spot for himself, but I haven't seen anything from him to put me in a hurry yet.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

The one thing that's stood out to be about Steel in limited viewings is some decent hands in tight and around the front of the net, so he'd probably be my pick if we start experimenting.

Long term I'd hope Rossi takes the spot for himself, but I haven't seen anything from him to put me in a hurry yet.

Not every spot has to be taken. Sometimes spots can be assigned based on other factors.

 

[AKL]

Not every spot has to be taken. Sometimes spots can be assigned based on other factors.

I'm also not sure what Steel has done to "take" the spot he's in, or the spot on Kaprizov's line. That one was actually just assigned based on other factors.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I'm also not sure what Steel has done to "take" the spot he's in, or the spot on Kaprizov's line. That one was actually just assigned based on other factors.

Got cast aside by a powerhouse Ducks team, I guess.

 

[AKL]

Got cast aside by a powerhouse Ducks team, I guess.

Cast aside might be too complimentary a term for what they did with him. They have 14M in cap space, Steel is one year removed from his ELC, and they claimed Brett Leason off waivers to round out their team. It would have been easier to qualify Steel and keep him, but with no pressure of any kind to get rid of him, they simply said they don't want him.

But I'm not here to shit on Steel, just unsure of why he's slotted in on Boldy's line without considering any other options.

 

[TaLoN]

I'm not opposed to seeing if one of our other high NHL draft picks like Rossi, Steel or Jost can replicate without the dumb penalties.

Funny thing, I've been asking for him to get shot there all pre-season, but I was told how that was a insult to Hartman... but ok. Yes, I want that too.

 

[Wabit]

Zero evidence to back this up. His best shift was the one he got with the top guns, and they created like 3 chances.

Honestly I have very little doubt he could duplicate Hartmans number last year but I'd prefer to start with him replacing Steel. Boldy got two goals largely on individual effort. Give him someone he can play with.

Just for reference Rossi's 5v5 ToI
Dewar 4:18
Duhaime 4:16
Zucc 1:49
Boldy 1:40
Kap 1:16
Foligno 0:07
Jost 0:01

His best 5v5 onice xgf with anyone was Kap at 0.07m with 1 total SFC (not even a HDSC).

It really does kinda feel like it, doesn't it. Especially after watching the Fleury thing last year.

I was thinking more of Freddy G last year and MarJo the year before.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Just for reference Rossi's 5v5 ToI
Dewar 4:18
Duhaime 4:16
Zucc 1:49
Boldy 1:40
Kap 1:16
Foligno 0:07
Jost 0:01

His best 5v5 onice xgf with anyone was Kap at 0.07m with 1 total SFC (not even a HDSC).



I was thinking more of Freddy G last year and MarJo the year before.

So, he did play most of his game with Dewar/Duhaime.

 

[Spurgeon]

It really does kinda feel like it, doesn't it. Especially after watching the Fleury thing last year.

Certainly feels like there’s a lot of GM input on personnel decisions. One thing I liked about Fletcher is that there were clear lines between the roles of the GM versus that of the coach. Think when you’ve got a former NHL player running things, you’re battling egos on what the “right” decisions are.

I’ve said my piece on Guerin more than enough, but going into this season with $3.5M in cap space when you’re already $12M in the hole is foolish. Might be more foolish to think Guerin would’ve done anything useful with that cap anyways.

 

[Wabit]

So, he did play most of his game with Dewar/Duhaime.

5v5 the majority of his shifts were with at least one of them. PP it was Freddy G/Hartman. PK it was Boldy. Total ToI he spent more time without them than with them. It all depends on how you want to count it, I guess.

Evason toyed with the lineup more than I'm used to seeing, so almost everyone got some ToI together, for more than the 8 secs of line changes.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

5v5 the majority of his shifts were with at least one of them. PP it was Freddy G/Hartman. PK it was Boldy. Total ToI he spent more time without them than with them. It all depends on how you want to count it, I guess.

Evason toyed with the lineup more than I'm used to seeing, so almost everyone got some ToI together, for more than the 8 secs of line changes.

It’s a wonder he didn’t score more tonight then. All that prime time with prime time players.

 

[Wabit]

Certainly feels like there’s a lot of GM input on personnel decisions. One thing I liked about Fletcher is that there were clear lines between the roles of the GM versus that of the coach. Think when you’ve got a former NHL player running things, you’re battling egos on what the “right” decisions are.

I’ve said my piece on Guerin more than enough, but going into this season with $3.5M in cap space when you’re already $12M in the hole is foolish. Might be more foolish to think Guerin would’ve done anything useful with that cap anyways.

Probably re-signed D-Lo to a higher stupid contract ($1.75m x 4) than he got from Fletcher.

 

[fredrikstad]

2A alarm here in Salzburg!

Bonus points to whoever can manage to cut Mika’s hair ; that greasy rat’s nest drives me crazy

It was 2 here in Oslo as well.
Could not agreed more on Zib's hair. It looked like he had tied it up a bit, during the game? At the very least, Shesterkin has had a hair cut. Unfortunately it didn't seems to affect his goaltending.

 

[fredrikstad]

I’d honestly prefer Rossi with Kap/Zucc in that situation

Yes
And Steel- Jost- Boldy
Hartman- Ek- Foligno
At least try it for one game, and if it works, have it like that until Greenway is ready.

 

[Luceni]

While I've to say this wasn't Ross's best career game, he is not the reason why the Wild got blown out. The major reason to this loss where the weak top line, the overall Defense play and of course, MAF.

That being said, Rossi has to be better, regardless of the line he's playing on. But playing on the 4th line may not be the best spot for his developement, because his linemates play a simple dump & chase grinders game while Rossi is a playmaker who is better with the Puck on his stick. His strength is creating plays through passing. That won't happen on the 4th line imo.

So I'm not sure about the intentions of the coaches regarding Rossi playing on the 4th line. But they will come to the conclusion that Rossi won't develop on the 4th line with 10 min TOI - the sooner the better. So there are 2 options: Give Rossi a top 6 role for the next 10 games and see what happens. Or you can send him down to AHL, eating up top line minutes there.

But 10 minutes per game on a grinders line won't help his developement.

 

[Sota Popinski]

Even if you make that argument, it doesn't really explain or excuse why Guerin went out and got a worse goaltender, who Talbot did subsequently play better than while they were both here.

Talbot has been a better goalie than Fleury for maybe a stretch of 30 games in his whole mediocre career.

 

[Bazeek]

Not every spot has to be taken. Sometimes spots can be assigned based on other factors.

Which other factors are we appealing to here?

And maybe I should clarify: I don't actually have strong opinions about who should center that line beyond it not being Ek, who's already in the right spot. Between Hartman, Rossi, Steel and Jost, Hartman's the safest based on past performance, but the penalty thing has gone on long enough that his leash should be getting shorter.

So if they start experimenting you can spin the wheel of "not yet very effective young centers" for all I care. If people have a strong desire to see Rossi in that spot I don't have any objections, but from what I've seen of him in the NHL I share the concerns about his overall effectiveness right now. Beyond getting better as the year progresses I don't really have any expectations for him.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

The one thing that's stood out to be about Steel in limited viewings is some decent hands in tight and around the front of the net, so he'd probably be my pick if we start experimenting.

Long term I'd hope Rossi takes the spot for himself, but I haven't seen anything from him to put me in a hurry yet.

Outside of the ~PPG AHL play and 8-9 points in 5 preseason games including 2 points/goals playing with Kaprizov.

Let's take all of that and hmmm STEEL! Yes, a guy who has had numerous chances and been wound down to a 4th line/bottom bit player on a bad team.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

It is impressive to start the season off with nearly 4 goals allowed above expected. I don’t know if even Dubnyk rivaled that.

 

[Bazeek]

Outside of the ~PPG AHL play and 8-9 points in 5 preseason games including 2 points/goals playing with Kaprizov.

Let's take all of that and hmmm STEEL! Yes, a guy who has had numerous chances and been wound down to a 4th line/bottom bit player on a bad team.

You know, I blame myself for forgetting that there's no such thing as a lightly held opinion around here.

 

[thestonedkoala]

You know, I blame myself for forgetting that there's no such thing as a lightly held opinion around here.

You should. You've been around us long enough to know we overanalyze everything.

On that note: Fleury sure as hell isn't going to steal any games. This is Backstrom situation all over again. I hope someone has the balls to call out Guerin's obsession over former Pittsburgh players. Maybe Talbot isn't the solution but neither is Fleury.