GDT: Game 2 - 1-CAR vs 4-NAS

[Canes]

Pretty crazy game. Canes weren’t able to get in any rhythm 5 on 5. Felt like we were on the PK half the game. Aho was absolutely flying. Probably could have had 4 or 5 goals. Skjei was outstanding in place of Slavin. And what else can you say about Ned. Coaching staff looking like geniuses going with him.

Also Matt Benning is a puke. Punching Martinook while he was pinned on the ice was just disgusting.

All in all fun game to attend for my first playoff game since 2009.

 

[hblueridgegal]

I'm guilty of this. I'm going to set the expansion talk aside and enjoy the games moving forward.

Not trying to gatekeep..I am a just enjoy the moment kind of person

 

[The Jerk Store]

I saw this on your guys' stream, would any of you know what team's jersey this is?

The Huge Dekes

 

[Joe McGrath]

The Huge Dekes

i was gonna say this looks like a beer league jersey.

 

[Tryamw]

thanks @Blueline Bomber You know what you did!.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

The Huge Dekes

Thanks

 

[Chrispy]

post yfw someone says we should have gotten a real goalie like cam talbot

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

REMEMBER SKJEI’S GROWING PAINS?

NOW LOOK AT OUR BOY.

 

[The Faulker 27]

That's to be expected.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

knew it was coming...

the utter savagery.

 

[VibesAlive]

What a strange game, but...

Another Great Carolina Hurricanes Victory,

Skjei and Pesce really stepped up.

And still proud of my man Ned.

 

[Roboturner913]

Punching Martinook while he was pinned on the ice was just disgusting.

This should not be overlooked. One of the trashiest things I've ever seen in a hockey game. Normally I'd say DOPS would get him but we all know that won't happen so why even bother getting upset over it.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I know that the analytics community scratched their heads about the Brady Skjei trade when it happened, especially because it was made by a team that had (and still has) the 2nd largest analytics department in the NHL outside of Toronto. I was a skeptic myself: he did not look good at the end of his Rangers tenure. Constant turnovers and bad decision-making when in his own end, and the metrics confirmed this to be the case. To understand how bad it got with the Rangers, he was on many lists for worst defensive contracts in the league, which is why many folks were shell-shocked that Carolina, of all teams, willingly swallowed the entire contract and valued him at a late 1st. He's considerably changed his game since he came here, however, and I wonder if playing behind Slavin and working with Pesce influenced his defense. The defensive group that the Rangers had to work with after McDonagh was dealt to Tampa was, to put it mildly, a dumpster fire, and even the Trouba and Fox additions haven't entirely solved this issue.

 

[Lempo]

That square reminds me of Huey Lewis and the News song.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

thanks @Blueline Bomber You know what you did!.

I do?

 

[tarheelhockey]

I know that the analytics community scratched their heads about the Brady Skjei trade when it happened, especially because it was made by a team that had (and still has) the 2nd largest analytics department in the NHL outside of Toronto. I was a skeptic myself: he did not look good at the end of his Rangers tenure. Constant turnovers and bad decision-making when in his own end, and the metrics confirmed this to be the case. To understand how bad it got with the Rangers, he was on many lists for worst defensive contracts in the league, which is why many folks were shell-shocked that Carolina, of all teams, valued him at a late 1st. He's considerably changed his game since he came here, however, and I wonder if playing behind Slavin and working with Pesce influenced his defense. The defensive group that the Rangers had to work with after McDonagh was dealt to Tampa was, to put it mildly, a dumpster fire, and even the Trouba and Fox additions haven't entirely solved this issue.

One thing Skjei has going for him is that he’s a phenomenal skater. We saw that on a couple of occasions tonight... he has the skating ability to be a little off his mark and then just smoothly recover back into position.

From what I’ve seen of him, whether he makes that recovery or not comes down to where his head is at. Is he focused on the right gamble? The Canes’ system may have simplified things for him a bit, focusing him on taking what’s available and removing some of the pressure to truly create offensively.

 

[DaveG]

Pretty crazy game. Canes weren’t able to get in any rhythm 5 on 5. Felt like we were on the PK half the game. Aho was absolutely flying. Probably could have had 4 or 5 goals. Skjei was outstanding in place of Slavin. And what else can you say about Ned. Coaching staff looking like geniuses going with him.

Also Matt Benning is a puke. Punching Martinook while he was pinned on the ice was just disgusting.

All in all fun game to attend for my first playoff game since 2009.

Yep, quite a bit from this game that needs to be reviewed by the league from an officiating standpoint, but that not resulting in an extra 2 for Benning was even more egregious than dives by Louganis Haula even

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

One thing Skjei has going for him is that he’s a phenomenal skater. We saw that on a couple of occasions tonight... he has the skating ability to be a little off his mark and then just smoothly recover back into position.

From what I’ve seen of him, whether he makes that recovery or not comes down to where his head is at. Is he focused on the right gamble? The Canes’ system may have simplified things for him a bit, focusing him on taking what’s available and removing some of the pressure to truly create offensively.

Also, Skjei was, despite all of his warts, the Rangers' most talented young LHD for a while. He therefore had to juggle around a ton of responsibilities, even though he wasn't a true top-pairing guy. In contrast, everyone had a full understanding that the Canes' hierarchy at the top was Slavin/Hamilton/Pesce, and that Skjei was acquired to round out the top-4, not be the man at the top. I also don't think that Skjei killed nearly as many penalties as a Ranger as he has as a Cane, though I could be wrong on that. I really do think, though, that a lot of Rangers fans are at least second-guessing about whether misguided usage played a larger role in his ineffectiveness than his ability alone.

 

[Rempe73]

NED WITH THE PLAYOFF SHUTOUT! Damn this guy’s good

OF COURSE SKJEI STARTS PLAYING WELL WHEN HE’S NOT ON THE RANGERS ANYMORE BUT THANK GOD IT’S WITH MY 2ND TEAM. At least there’s that. And I’ll take it.

THIS TEAM HAS SO MANY CONTRACT STEALS LIKE THE (WINK WINK) LIGHTNING

And nice to see AHO lighting up the lamp of course.

 

[Roboturner913]

I think Skjei not having pressure on him to be "the man" or thinking he had to go out and score a bunch of points has allowed him to focus his game. I thought that was a terrible trade when we made it, but he's starting to feel like a player we need to keep around for the long term.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I think Skjei not having pressure on him to be "the man" or thinking he had to go out and score a bunch of points has allowed him to focus his game. I thought that was a terrible trade when we made it, but he's starting to feel like a player we need to keep around for the long term.

As I said before, I still lean towards Bean as the guy that I would protect in expansion. If Seattle, however, is willing to take a small pick (3rd or below) to pick Gardiner over Skjei, I wouldn't be against it. The Canes (IMO) can afford Skjei and Dougie if a Gardiner deal is reached. If the ask from Seattle is a 2nd+ to take Gardiner, however, I would say no, let them take Skjei outright, and let the depth cushion the blow. Going expensive on defense in the medium-term is the proper counterbalance to having your top-5 farm system being so forward-dominant, at least as far as the near-NHL-ready guys are concerned.

 

[Rempe73]

I also don't think that Skjei killed nearly as many penalties as a Ranger as he has as a Cane, though I could be wrong on that.

I believe you are correct. If I remember correctly, he was always the 2nd LD PK option behind Staal. Not sure how much PK time he gets in Carolina though.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I believe you are correct. If I remember correctly, he was always the 2nd LD PK option behind Staal. Not sure how much PK time he gets in Carolina though.

The PK hierarchy goes Slavin, Pesce, Skjei, and Hakanpaa. Skjei actually got the 3rd star tonight because he played 9:37 (!) on the kill and helped the Canes kill all 7 (!!) Nashville power plays.

Speaking of questionable usage, why Skjei would be below Marc Staal (with the bad eye and all) in the PK hierarchy is beyond me.

 

[Rempe73]

I think Skjei not having pressure on him to be "the man" or thinking he had to go out and score a bunch of points has allowed him to focus his game. I thought that was a terrible trade when we made it, but he's starting to feel like a player we need to keep around for the long term.

This is the problem. After his unexpected great rookie season, Skjei thought he was an offensive defenseman and literally said in interviews, “I have to do more out there,” while his coaches actually said they wanted him to do less aka focus on defense. I still thought that he could be a consistent 35-50 points guy, even after his production dropped in his sophomore season. However, when he started to play even worse in his 3rd season, I realized two things:

1. Yea maybe his production in his rookie season won’t ever replicate because of the crazy amount of secondary assists, which generally means that a defenseman is getting lucky.

2. That being said, I thought that he was still a good defenseman, but that he needed to simplify his game and focus on defense first. He shouldn’t keep taking offensive risks because he just isn’t skilled enough offensively to make things happen. True offensive defensemen can take risks because at least their risks usually result in good offense. Skjei unfortunately isn’t a true offensive defenseman and never was.

So yea anyways, Skjei really just needs to focus on defense, and the offense will come because he’s not offensively inept either. And it appears he’s doing that.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

This is the problem. After his unexpected great rookie season, Skjei thought he was an offensive defenseman and literally said in interviews, “I have to do more out there,” while his coaches actually said they wanted him to do less aka focus on defense. I still thought that he could be a consistent 35-50 points guy, even after his production dropped in his sophomore season. However, when he started to play even worse in his 3rd season, I realized two things:

1. Yea maybe his production in his rookie season won’t ever replicate because of the crazy amount of secondary assists, which generally means that a defenseman is getting lucky.

2. That being said, I thought that he was still a good defenseman, but that he needed to simplify his game and focus on defense first. He shouldn’t keep taking offensive risks because he just isn’t skilled enough offensively to make things happen. True offensive defensemen can take risks because at least their risks usually result in good offense. Skjei unfortunately isn’t a true offensive defenseman and never was.

So yea anyways, Skjei really just needs to focus on defense, and the offense will come because he’s not offensively inept either. And it appears he’s doing that.

TBF to Skjei, though, the Rangers didn't really have many offensive options at the time on the blueline. In hindsight, Pionk should've been their offensive centerpiece or at least one of them, but no one knew that he had that type of consistent point production in him until he was dealt to Winnipeg. Adam Fox did fall out of the sky into your laps after he refused to sign in Carolina, however, so that helps considerably. I bet that Fox would've won the Norris this year if he chose to play for us. A D-corps of Slavin/Hamilton/Pesce/Fox would've been the most hilarious defensive group ever assembled in the cap era, and he would've had the cup contender factor on his side, too. You know how every shift that Toews and Makar are on looks like the ice is ramped in favor of the Avs? You would've seen two full pairings of this phenomenon on one team if the Canes had signed Fox.