GDT: Game 10 | Columbus @ New Jersey | 2 PM EST

[Iron Balls McGinty]

I don't care if he is likable. I'm not particularly attached to players for that sort of thing.

The type is that Bjorkstrand is a player that can routinely spend 60%+ of his shifts deep in the offensive zone grinding away. Think about how momentum works in a hockey game. Think about how we haven't had any offensive zone time since Arizona two games ago - do I need to explain it any further than that? We need to have players that aren't one-and-done and can put together long attacking shifts.

That and though I don't think he is as good of a goal scorer as Laine, Bjorkstrand did lead the team in goal scoring for three straight years, so to say he "occasionally scores some goals" is putting it far too lightly. A guy who can create momentum and create something from nothing and snipe goals is worth a lot when we're facing teams that aren't giving us rush chances.

Keeping the puck in the offensive zone was a problem when Bjorkstrand was here. We haven't been able to have consistent offensive zone time in 2-3 years at least. He was a good solid player but he was not a prolific goal scorer. last season Laine only scored 2 goal less than him in 24 less games and we are a team that hasn't had a 30 goal scorer since Cam had 41 in 2018-19.

Bjorkstrand was a really good role player but him being gone is not why this team sucks. We are a rudderless ship and nobody is manning the wheel or even knows how to steer it if they were.

 

[majormajor]

Keeping the puck in the offensive zone was a problem when Bjorkstrand was here.

When he was on the bench, not when he was on the ice.

If a team problem is attributable to every player then get rid of Laine and Werenski while you're at it.

Bjorkstrand was a really good role player but him being gone is not why this team sucks.

Certainly a part of it.

You seem to think playdriving 28 goal scorers are easy to find though, so we shouldn't have any problems.

 

[TaketheCannoli]

Keeping the puck in the offensive zone was a problem when Bjorkstrand was here. We haven't been able to have consistent offensive zone time in 2-3 years at least. He was a good solid player but he was not a prolific goal scorer. last season Laine only scored 2 goal less than him in 24 less games and we are a team that hasn't had a 30 goal scorer since Cam had 41 in 2018-19.

Bjorkstrand was a really good role player but him being gone is not why this team sucks. We are a rudderless ship and nobody is manning the wheel or even knows how to steer it if they were.

Sorry to disagree. Bjorkstrand isn't the messiah that can singlehandedly lift the entire team. What he IS, is a guy who competes almost every shift, has the ability to drive play and help drive puck possession. The Jackets need several guys like Bjorkstrand. Losing him means they have almost no one like him.

We need those "glue guys" Hitchcock advocated for 14 years ago. I suspect when Jarmo decided to "retool" by getting rid of almost every one of these guys, that's when Torts decided he wanted out. Teams can't win without leaders driving the team to compete.

 

[majormajor]

Sorry to disagree. Bjorkstrand isn't the messiah that can singlehandedly lift the entire team. What he IS, is a guy who competes almost every shift, has the ability to drive play and help drive puck possession. The Jackets need several guys like Bjorkstrand. Losing him means they have almost no one like him.

We need those "glue guys" Hitchcock advocated for 14 years ago. I suspect when Jarmo decided to "retool" by getting rid of almost every one of these guys, that's when Torts decided he wanted out. Teams can't win without leaders driving the team to compete.

That and 12 goals in 19 games for us vs the Devils.

If that's the "bare minimum for a decent player", then wow.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Sorry to disagree. Bjorkstrand isn't the messiah that can singlehandedly lift the entire team. What he IS, is a guy who competes almost every shift, has the ability to drive play and help drive puck possession. The Jackets need several guys like Bjorkstrand. Losing him means they have almost no one like him.

We need those "glue guys" Hitchcock advocated for 14 years ago. I suspect when Jarmo decided to "retool" by getting rid of almost every one of these guys, that's when Torts decided he wanted out. Teams can't win without leaders driving the team to compete.

The glue guys got old and ineffective. Time for some other guys to put their big boy pants on.

Boone is supposed to be a glue guy. What is he doing? Even though we acquired "toughness" they just got softer than a supersoft birthday party. It starts with the guys who are the locker room leaders. The leaders of this team need to start leading.

 

[NotCommitted]

Maybe you need to give it more than 40 minutes... Besides: Line Stats - Natural Stat Trick

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

That and 12 goals in 19 games for us vs the Devils.

If that's the "bare minimum for a decent player", then wow.

Who hasn't beaten up on the Devils over the last few years?

 

[thebus88]

A third linemate to do the dirty work along the boards and all the small things for Gaudreau and Laine is probably best. Only way youll get the full value of Laine is if hes with two guys who can have him in positions to shoot

Yeah, then that guy is blamed for holding the 2 superstars back offensively.

 

[NotWendell]

The coaching sucks. The team has quit one month into the season. The GM sucks. The development system sucks. The defense is putrid. The power play is non-existent. And we're here talking about Bjorkstrand?!? We might as well go back to talking about whether face-offs are important or not.

 

[MissADD]

It's entirely possible for both things to be true at the same time

 

[LoneFunyan]

The coaching sucks. The team has quit one month into the season. The GM sucks. The development system sucks. The defense is putrid. The power play is non-existent. And we're here talking about Bjorkstrand?!? We might as well go back to talking about whether face-offs are important or not.

I can handle the team sucking - I fully expected it. But as I said in the prior game day thread: I didn't expect they'd suck *like this*. This feels like "there is no bottom to this hole" kind of sucking, not the "they're a young team that's taking its lumps" kind of sucking.

It feels similar to about 10 years ago, when the entire org was a deep well of incompetence and inability - back when members of this very board were fomenting a fan protest in the shadow of Nationwide.

That's a vastly deeper hole to be staring up from the bottom of. Teams can improve quickly over time but if an entire organization is defective, success will be transitory and temporary, and that's what it feels like right now. The "glory days" (we won a playoff series) seem like the exception and now we've reverted to the norm.

I have no idea what the path forward is. I wouldn't mind seeing a change to the D and/or PP coaching staff. I don't think firing Larson is the answer at this point, but there definitely seems like a coaching problem so changing some of the personnel on the staff could be a reasonable step.

Only three things I know I'd do for certain are 1) keep Jiricek 160 miles from this dumpster fire for the rest of the season and 2) send Sillinger to CLE as well 3) Keep Tarasov in CLE too. I'm half thinking KJ should go as well. This seems like we could be heading for a toxic season and I want as few of our young players infected as possible.

 

[I3LI3]

The coaching sucks. The team has quit one month into the season. The GM sucks. The development system sucks. The defense is putrid. The power play is non-existent. And we're here talking about Bjorkstrand?!? We might as well go back to talking about whether face-offs are important or not.

crazy (sad?) thing is, we’re not even a month into the season. heck, we still have 4 more games until it’s officially been a month since opening night for us. gross

 

[NotCommitted]

Yeah, then that guy is blamed for holding the 2 superstars back offensively.

I dunno about others but personally I think they have been just fine with Jenner from what I've seen, and statwise as well. I agree with you that if Gaudreau and Laine can't carry Jenner offensively together, maybe they're not as good as their paychecks would suggest. It's not like Jenner is some offensive blackhole, and for the whopping 24 minutes of hockey that line has played together, they've been really really good as far as shot metrics go.

I'm not concerned about Laine & Gaudreau at all, they need to start scoring more but once they do, they could really fly. Currently the team has higher shooting percentage without them than with them on ice, I don't think that's sustainable.

 

[majormajor]

I dunno about others but personally I think they have been just fine with Jenner from what I've seen, and statwise as well. I agree with you that if Gaudreau and Laine can't carry Jenner offensively together, maybe they're not as good as their paychecks would suggest. It's not like Jenner is some offensive blackhole, and for the whopping 24 minutes of hockey that line has played together, they've been really really good as far as shot metrics go.

I'm not concerned about Laine & Gaudreau at all, they need to start scoring more but once they do, they could really fly. Currently the team has higher shooting percentage without them than with them on ice, I don't think that's sustainable.

Moneypuck has that trio at a whopping 81% xG% in 21 minutes (looks like it might not include the 3 minutes from today). Maybe that trio just needs some luck to turn.

 

[VT]

Veľa zápasov je žrútom tímu, áno. Aby ste z Laineho vyťažili maximum, musíte do značnej miery vybudovať tím, ktorý ho nepotrebuje. Kde vás môže preniesť od dobrého k skvelému. Dúfajme teda, že v najbližších rokoch sa nám to podarí.

Mám vám pripomenúť, ako Laine hral s Nyquistom a Jennerom minulú sezónu? Alebo len vďaka nim dostal toľko gólov/bodov? Pretože len kvôli tej línii sme mali šancu hrať PO ešte chvíľu.

Alebo boli Gus a Boone tvorcami rozdielov a Patrik hral tak dobre len vďaka nim?

Tiež by som vám mal pripomenúť, ako hrala Bjorkie? Alebo skončíme opäť pri tvojom vyjadrení o tom, ako Bjorkie vybojoval puk na palubovkách? Očividne žiadne body, ale to nie je dôležité, že?

So please, stop with the talk about how Laine needs players around him.

K Jenner. Sometimes it seems to me that he doesn't know what to do. Except I don't expect Lars to try Johnson. Once he's decided he's going to play wing, no one is going to change that.

P.S. The game with Arizona is a "wonderful" example. It was the 3rd game in four days, the team kept losing FO and the defense had a bye.

 

[majormajor]

Mám vám pripomenúť, ako Laine hral s Nyquistom a Jennerom minulú sezónu? Alebo len vďaka nim dostal toľko gólov/bodov? Pretože len kvôli tej línii sme mali šancu hrať PO ešte chvíľu.

Alebo boli Gus a Boone tvorcami rozdielov a Patrik hral tak dobre len vďaka nim?

Tiež by som vám mal pripomenúť, ako hrala Bjorkie? Alebo skončíme opäť pri tvojom vyjadrení o tom, ako Bjorkie vybojoval puk na palubovkách? Očividne žiadne body, ale to nie je dôležité, že?

So please, stop with the talk about how Laine needs players around him.

K Jenner. Sometimes it seems to me that he doesn't know what to do. Except I don't expect Lars to try Johnson. Once he's decided he's going to play wing, no one is going to change that.

P.S. The Arizona example is "wonderful". It was the 3rd game in four days, the team kept losing FO and the defense had a bye.

It's not the players best games that I'm worried about. It is their worst ones.

 

[Halberdier]

Hopefully nobody goes to watch those homegames before there is changes in this organisation. Clean the house

That's dumb.

Whatever they do on ice should be done future in mind and playing #55 and #91 is good for that. Too bad they have now goaltending problem in top of coaching one.

 

[thebus88]

I dunno about others but personally I think they have been just fine with Jenner from what I've seen, and statwise as well. I agree with you that if Gaudreau and Laine can't carry Jenner offensively together, maybe they're not as good as their paychecks would suggest. It's not like Jenner is some offensive blackhole, and for the whopping 24 minutes of hockey that line has played together, they've been really really good as far as shot metrics go.

I'm not concerned about Laine & Gaudreau at all, they need to start scoring more but once they do, they could really fly. Currently the team has higher shooting percentage without them than with them on ice, I don't think that's sustainable.

Moneypuck has that trio at a whopping 81% xG% in 21 minutes (looks like it might not include the 3 minutes from today). Maybe that trio just needs some luck to turn.

Their overall “style” of play they bring just doesn’t seem to work or mesh well for Laine/Gaudreau together 5 on 5, IMO. It was a concern coming into things, that’s where Jenner playing with them came into play. They’re both quite passive on the ice, while still wanting to be the “go to guy”.

What combos will work, IDK, but, other than not really liking what they look like together, I’d prefer to split the 2 guys up just to simply give them their own line and hopefully spread out the scoring.

That said, as is beginning to be touched on, the problem is I’m not sure what other wingers could compliment these guys and/or Jenner to actually make a capable and/or effective “1st” or “top 6” line.

Not to mention the overall center issue. Jenner isn’t an ideal center for almost any combo of wingers we can put together, BUT, he’s also BY FAR our best center. I’d probably play Johnson at center over Roslovic.

Sillinger and Roslovic can play wing, go to the AHL, or be traded, in Roslovic’s case. Hate what Kuraly brings if I’m honest.

I take it I’m stuck with Kuraly around. I think we could be “ok” going with Jenner/Johnson as 1-2Cs, but, we need another “2 way” 3rd line/“middle 6” center to help those 2 guys out with different things at different times and add STABILITY to the position that Roslovic/Sillinger and I argue Kuraly are not doing.

 

[ViD]

The worst part of this is even if they tank for Bedard, he ain’t fixing this defensive mess.

The plan is
1. To suck
2. To get a top 3 pick
3. Thank Larsen for his services and let him go
4. Hire an adequate coaching staff

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

It's entirely possible for both things to be true at the same time

It is but we give up a high percentage of high danger chances every game. It’s enough to make any goalie look bad or at least worse than it really is. One can be a result of the other.

The plan is
1. To suck
2. To get a top 3 pick
3. Thank Larsen for his services and let him go
4. Hire an adequate coaching staff

What part in this plan fixes and replaces the defense?

 

[MoeBartoli]

It worked last year but Boone hasn't really been on that level this season so far. Bad penalties and not really helping offensively. He's not an ideal player for those wingers. But everyone knows we lack true #1 and #2 C.

Last year was a different line with a different identity. Jake and Gaudreau play totally different styles. To use a basketball analogy, last year that line was a half court style line. With Gaudreau, it’s going to be an uptempo style necessitating a different center, more like a KJ. Damn shame Ros isn’t up to the task.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

The glue guys got old and ineffective. Time for some other guys to put their big boy pants on.

This and this.

 

[DarkandStormy]

The plan is
1. To suck
2. To get a top 3 pick
3. Thank Larsen for his services and let him go
4. Hire an adequate coaching staff

3.5 Hire an adequate front office staff.

 

[KJ Dangler]

Sorry to disagree. Bjorkstrand isn't the messiah that can singlehandedly lift the entire team. What he IS, is a guy who competes almost every shift, has the ability to drive play and help drive puck possession. The Jackets need several guys like Bjorkstrand. Losing him means they have almost no one like him.

We need those "glue guys" Hitchcock advocated for 14 years ago. I suspect when Jarmo decided to "retool" by getting rid of almost every one of these guys, that's when Torts decided he wanted out. Teams can't win without leaders driving the team to compete.

Torts moved on because he knew his act had gotten old . I have to disagree with nearly glue guys .. what is Jenner , Robinson, Nyquist , Kuraly , and Oliver supposed to be ?

I certainly think that when Bjork was moved , that Jarmo was banking on these guys , plus Texier . Bjorkstrand is like way , way down the list of problems with this team. From the get go , it was clear that there were major system issues with this team. But the reality remains .. who is the bluejackets #1 , and #2 center ? Team is putrid down the middle . Team is probably youngest in nhl with defensive core ? And now half of them are out .

 

[KJ Dangler]

The plan is
1. To suck
2. To get a top 3 pick
3. Thank Larsen for his services and let him go
4. Hire an adequate coaching staff

I agree and disagree… replace your first sentence with The Reality is..

Jd from the beginning has preached a different message than Jarmo, who insist we weren’t rebuilding , but rather a retool. Jarmo a scout by trade , does, and has brought in a lot of talent . Problem is , it takes time to draft and develop impact players at the nhl level. The team as a whole has no centers that drive play . And the defense is still one of the worst in the league , on top of that you have system issues , you have Boquist, Blankenburg out , and honestly , not one of the veteran guys have stepped up. Not Boone , not Nyquist , not Jake , not Kuraly, not Werenski Our best players have been Chinakov , KJ .