GDT: Game 34: Coyotes @ Maple Leafs | 12-19-13 | 5:00 p.m. MST | FSAZ

[Jakey53]

I agree. Kennedy has such awesome effort. He's just ineffective. So easily removed from the play. He's not a full time NHL player on a decent nhl team. He'd be fine on a bottom feeder. On this club, he's got no place.

Moss is also a great hustle player and a fantastic PKer. He has no business anywhere above the 4th line. He should make 900kay/yr. the fact that he's Mike Ribeiro's linemates is pretty much humiliating.

We are under paying Ribs in his prime but will VERY VERY soon be paying him as an over the hill player. Seems pretty god damned silly to be shackling him to Klinkhammer and Moss now, in what should be his most effective year of his contract. Want bang for the buck? Make a ****ing move. To buy a goal scorer. I've got a Rundblad and Schlemko for sale. Take a first round pick, too.

Ok, sounds good. Have you forgotten about our budget? Who is out there? You don't think DM has not been trying for that top six?

 

[Jakey53]

Can we contact the Glendale Police Department and get them to put out an APB for Radim Vrbata?We might be using the word "mentor" differently, but I couldn't disagree more.

Ribeiro's got an other-worldly skill set, but he's far from the role model I want our 19-year-olds emulating. Put Domi's locker between Doan and Klinkhammer next year, and don't let him watch Ribeiro's lazy-looking stride and habit of standing and rolling his eyes after missed scoring chances. Domi doesn't get to do that until after he wins the Calder ...

What is it with Ribeiro? I have noticed that also. He takes himself right out of the play. Vrbata has gone ice cold, very few chances, not skating well. Could he be injured?

 

[Jakey53]

I've seem him. He's hanging out with Wojtek Wolski.

In other new, we can't score. Big surprise. Some of us foresaw this, of course, myself included.

We need a spark. We have a lot of floaters with bricks for hands right now.



Yes, and Peter Mueller will make a good head coach one day.



I have awesome effort too. But as you point out, just plain ineffective and quite frankly, stifling our 1st line at the moment. As someone pointed out, break the Czechs up already. We haven't been able to score for 3 games. Or give them a line mate that is an NHL hockey player.

Or have Vrbata take his head out of his ---. He is supposed to be the leader on that line, but Kennedy has outplayed him the last several games. I can't believe I just said that, but it is true. Don't blame Kennedy for that lines performance.

 

[KG]

Vrbata is streaky. We all know this.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Kennedy has 1 goal in 19 games. He's full of energy, great!!! But he's not a scorer, never will be.

He's a nice hustle player that should be playing on the 4th line. Marty and Vrby need another top 6 player to play with, not an energy player.

Again, we only had 4 or 5 true top 6 players, so when 1 of them goes down, we're going to be starving for offense...that is just the way it goes until Donny can pull the trigger on a deal.

I really like this team when healthy except that we're missing that one piece, a top 6 player, which enables us to move energy or less skilled players to a more natural position on the 3rd and 4th lines.

Smith is starting to play better, our blue line is starting to play better. We need to get healthy and start racking up the wins.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Players I can do without.

Schlemko
Halpern

I think that Kennedy/Brule are better options than Chips

Things we need:
1 top 6 player
1 PK juggernaut

Halpern is just terrible, don't care if he wins face-offs

 

[Jakey53]

Vrbata is streaky. We all know this.

I know, but he isn't even getting chances.

 

[Jakey53]

Kennedy has 1 goal in 19 games. He's full of energy, great!!! But he's not a scorer, never will be.

He's a nice hustle player that should be playing on the 4th line. Marty and Vrby need another top 6 player to play with, not an energy player.

Again, we only had 4 or 5 true top 6 players, so when 1 of them goes down, we're going to be starving for offense...that is just the way it goes until Donny can pull the trigger on a deal.

I really like this team when healthy except that we're missing that one piece, a top 6 player, which enables us to move energy or less skilled players to a more natural position on the 3rd and 4th lines.

Smith is starting to play better, our blue line is starting to play better. We need to get healthy and start racking up the wins.

I couldn't agree with you more. Many posters where saying that it doesn't matter who playes on that line that they will produce. But to blame Kennedy for that lines poor performance is wrong.

 

[Jakey53]

Players I can do without.

Schlemko
Halpern

I think that Kennedy/Brule are better options than Chips

Things we need:
1 top 6 player
1 PK juggernaut

Halpern is just terrible, don't care if he wins face-offs

When Korpi gets back he should help our PK. I do not like Halpern either, but we can never have to many D.

 

[rt]

Players I can do without.

Schlemko
Halpern

I think that Kennedy/Brule are better options than Chips

Things we need:
1 top 6 player
1 PK juggernaut

Halpern is just terrible, don't care if he wins face-offs

Halpern is also a good PKer and good defensive forward. I like him.

As far as PK specialists go, we've got Korpikoski coming off the shelf soon. He typically leads all Phoenix wingers in PK mins/game.

Doan is a top six player. I really wish we had a time frame for his return.

 

[rt]

Now that Morris is healthy and Murphy is playing so well and Klesla is back up, I think our D will stabilize quite a bit. Hopefully Z isn't out long.

Given our current team needs, I'd say Murphy has passed Stone on the depth chart, in my opinion. If Z game back next game, it's Stone I'd sit.

OEL-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Klesla-Murphy
Stone

Trade Rundblad. Waive Schlemko.

If we ever freaking get Doan back (and Korpikoski)...

Doan-Ribeiro-Moss
Klinkhammer-Hanzal-Vrbata
Korpikoski-Vermette-Boedker
Chipchura-Halpern-Szwarz

 

[Jakey53]

Halpern is also a good PKer and good defensive forward. I like him.

As far as PK specialists go, we've got Korpikoski coming off the shelf soon. He typically leads all Phoenix wingers in PK mins/game.

Doan is a top six player. I really wish we had a time frame for his return.

We really miss Doan, especially since Vrbata and Hanzal being ice cold. Nice to see Yandle take the leadership role in Doan's absence.

 

[Jakey53]

Now that Morris is healthy and Murphy is playing so well and Klesla is back up, I think our D will stabilize quite a bit. Hopefully Z isn't out long.

Given our current team needs, I'd say Murphy has passed Stone on the depth chart, in my opinion. If Z game back next game, it's Stone I'd sit.

OEL-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Klesla-Murphy
Stone

Trade Rundblad. Waive Schlemko.

While Murphy has played great, don't forget his injury history. Once other teams get a book on Murphy, his play may be not as effective. The problem I have waiving any D, except Summers is the health of Z and Klesla. We may lose two veteran D at the end of this year.

 

[PhoPhan]

There are 30 teams in the NHL, and so there are 180 "top six" forwards in the league. In the last full season, Michael Grabner was 180th in scoring among forwards, with 32 points. As of today, Damien Brunner is 180th in scoring, with 13 points in 31 games, on pace for about 33 points if he doesn't miss another game.

The Coyotes have nine players who have scored 33 points or more in their career, a list that doesn't include Mikkel Boedker, who should get there this year. As of today, they have seven players on pace to score more than 33 points.

The issue is far more complicated than "they need another top six forward."

 

[kihekah19*]

I know, but he isn't even getting chances.

Incorrect, he's not finishing chances.

 

[kihekah19*]

What is it with Ribeiro? I have noticed that also. He takes himself right out of the play. Vrbata has gone ice cold, very few chances, not skating well. Could he be injured?

I'm all for setting up a play and Ribeiro is overall an incredible assett, but it's like he's terrified to shoot the puck.

EVERYONE can improve SOMETHING.

 

[kihekah19*]

There are 30 teams in the NHL, and so there are 180 "top six" forwards in the league. In the last full season, Michael Grabner was 180th in scoring among forwards, with 32 points. As of today, Damien Brunner is 180th in scoring, with 13 points in 31 games, on pace for about 33 points if he doesn't miss another game.

The Coyotes have nine players who have scored 33 points or more in their career, a list that doesn't include Mikkel Boedker, who should get there this year. As of today, they have seven players on pace to score more than 33 points.

The issue is far more complicated than "they need another top six forward."

Simple game and basically a simple issue as well. The boys are collectivley in a scoring slump, it (as all things) shall pass. What we need is more consistency. Don't we all? The odds of becoming more consistent increase with a more skilled (preferably more consitent) top six forward.

 

[kihekah19*]

A different perspective?

Seems to be a little negativity here on the ol' board and many suggestions for change, some big, some small.

How's about another perspective?

The boys are playing better defensively than they were earlier in the season when they were winning on a consitent basis. No, the points aren't coming, but this team has been able to rise to the occasion in the past and produce the needed point totals for wins, while still addressing their defensive game.

We're currently witnessing that same fine line that we've witnessed in the past with Tippett teams...... Strong offense to start, followed by a lull where defense improves and subsequent balance in which the defense is playoff ready (as an optimistic term) and the offense is effective.

It's hard to balance on that fine line, harder yet to do it consistently and finally an even greater challenge with injuries. This is exactly what makes this game great.

While there is no denying this team could benefit and needs another top six forward, perhaps we can all just look forward to how the boys will respond to the challenges of this greatest game on earth

 

[rt]

Tippett really summed everything up quite perfectly in his post game QA (as usual). It's on the Yotes site.

 

[Summer Rose]

Seems to be a little negativity here on the ol' board and many suggestions for change, some big, some small.

How's about another perspective?

The boys are playing better defensively than they were earlier in the season when they were winning on a consitent basis. No, the points aren't coming, but this team has been able to rise to the occasion in the past and produce the needed point totals for wins, while still addressing their defensive game.

We're currently witnessing that same fine line that we've witnessed in the past with Tippett teams...... Strong offense to start, followed by a lull where defense improves and subsequent balance in which the defense is playoff ready (as an optimistic term) and the offense is effective.

It's hard to balance on that fine line, harder yet to do it consistently and finally an even greater challenge with injuries. This is exactly what makes this game great.

While there is no denying this team could benefit and needs another top six forward, perhaps we can all just look forward to how the boys will respond to the challenges of this greatest game on earth

Good way of putting it. I'm not one to think the sky is falling after a stretch of a few bad games.

 

[kihekah19*]

Tippett really summed everything up quite perfectly in his post game QA (as usual). It's on the Yotes site.

Dave Tippett: "too simple"

THAT is the "fine line" I'm talking about.


Also, had to laugh at his praise of Yandle.... Shhh - don't tell fallenone or any of the Yandle haters that coach thinks he's dynamic... it's more fun to read their frustrations.

 

[cobra427]

I am glad we held them to a goal versus a 4-3 loss. Does anyone else think the goal we gave up was soft, I do. I know Smitty had some good saves but we can't have soft goals...

 

[kihekah19*]

I am glad we held them to a goal versus a 4-3 loss. Does anyone else think the goal we gave up was soft, I do. I know Smitty had some good saves but we can't have soft goals...

Let's face it, a lot of bounces didn't go our way, that was one of them. On one hand, yes it was soft, on the other, he did well to make the initial save (that's why the rebound) from there his body wasn't where he wanted/needed it to be and his structure was off as a result.

 

[kihekah19*]

Good way of putting it. I'm not one to think the sky is falling after a stretch of a few bad games.

Thanks. I'm CERTAIN we all hate to lose and often emotions get the better of us, but if we look at it rationally, we're not in all that bad a place.

 

[PhoPhan]

I am glad we held them to a goal versus a 4-3 loss. Does anyone else think the goal we gave up was soft, I do. I know Smitty had some good saves but we can't have soft goals...

He's not going to have a shutout every night. Letting in a single goal, no matter how soft, is permissible.