GDT: Game 19: Sharks @ Penguins 4:00pm NBCSCA

Star Platinum

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May 11, 2024
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What do you know? The kids on PP1 pays off? Who could have guessed it?
everyone-the-professional.gif
 

JoeThorntonsRooster

Don’t say eye test when you mean points
May 14, 2012
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18 games late, but smith on the powerplay works. And people still want to think the coaching staff knows everything here.
Yeah I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that they have not handled Smith super well thus far. But also that it probably won’t matter in the long run.
 

Barrie22

Shark fan in hiding
Aug 11, 2009
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Yeah I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that they have not handled Smith super well thus far. But also that it probably won’t matter in the long run.
Like i get it smith is raw, young and not thinking the game at a top line speed just yet. But that is even more reason to play him on the top powerplay unit with more time and space to think the game. And reason to even play him with top line talent like he is now, so he isn't the only skilled player on the line.
 

Star Platinum

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Yeah I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that they have not handled Smith super well thus far. But also that it probably won’t matter in the long run.
Several things have become clear.

1. Grier didn't work hard enough to get a competent NHL defense on his roster. Note that I don't mean good cause we don't really want a good defense just yet. But you can't develop kids when you can't get the puck out of your own end.
2. Grier acquired too many grinders.
3. Warsofsky is too in love with the grinders on his team at the expense of developing his talented players.

We need two things to round out this roster to develop the kids.

1. Spend a future asset to get a decent skilled winger so you can ice two lines with skill.
2. Trade Rutta and Ferraro for literally anything so Warsofsky can't play them.
 

TheBigDrunkPanda

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Oct 19, 2021
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Nothing about Smith’s pass was lucky.
How he got the puck was it deflected right to him off a pens player

Let's also not pretend that the usual suspects on the top unit would not have been aware enough to pick up that deflected pass and make that quick stick to stick pass like smith did.
Not arguing that point, I said it was a great pass by Smith

That terrible cross ice backhand pass by Mack on that last PP might get him bumped down
 

weastern bias

worst team in the league
Feb 3, 2012
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1. Grier didn't work hard enough to get a competent NHL defense on his roster.
This is not a fair criticism at all, our 3 best D men in a Walman, Liljegren and Ceci were not on this team last year, the transformation he's made to the back end in one offseason is almost miraculous, it's the biggest reason why we've gone from the worst team in a generation to a regular competitor for last place in a single season
 

Star Platinum

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This is not a fair criticism at all, our 3 best D men in a Walman, Liljegren and Ceci were not on this team last year, the transformation he's made to the back end in one offseason is almost miraculous, it's the biggest reason why we've gone from the worst team in a generation to a regular competitor for last place in a single season
He made it better, but he needed to swap out two more guys.
 

Star Platinum

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I mean, I’d argue this defence would be a little bit better if Warsofsky would scratch Ferrari/Rutta/Thrun rather than Thompson.

Warsofsky really likes his deadbeat D and grinders too much. It’s really disappointing.
I can live with Thrun, even though he doesn't really have a part of the game to really lean on as a bottom pairing LD on a team that really doesn't want to win too many games. But Ferraro is just a constant turnover waiting to happen.
 
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