Post-Game Talk: Game #III Pens vs Flames Win: 2-0 when BlindWillyMcHurt is left outside

[Darren McCord]

It’s basically Eller on an island every night. Kinda think they should move Acciari up there on the wing.

I wish they’d demote a dmen and bring up another forward. They need to start rotating some guys around to find something that works.

Harkins shouldn’t be gifted his spot with the way he looks

 

[Rave7215]

Smith was such a big upgrade over Zucker. Two way player with a better wrister, and Geno is just so good at putting guys in a position to shoot. I don't love Rakell with Geno over Sid, but the way things stand those two wingers are going to provide solid two way play and can both rip it from the slot. Finally a couple of wingers that allow Geno to play to his strengths.

i would absolutely love Zucker on the third line though with Eller and DOC. I wish we could have kept him for cheap

 

[Empoleon8771]

I wish they’d demote a dmen and bring up another forward. They need to start rotating some guys around to find something that works.

Harkins shouldn’t be gifted his spot with the way he looks

I mean, why should Harkins be the one taken out of the lineup and not O'Connor? I'd argue O'Connor is doing even less than Harkins is.

Harkins is having issues getting into positions to actually use his shot, but he's clearly playing with energy and having an impact on the ice. O'Connor has been invisible.

 

[chethejet]

Dubas will play with a forward up and down as he needs to see who can do what here. I would like to see therecent LD pickup play a game to see if he is simply a more physical LD than POJ.

 

[Darren McCord]

I mean, why should Harkins be the one taken out of the lineup and not O'Connor? I'd argue O'Connor is doing even less than Harkins is.

Harkins is having issues getting into positions to actually use his shot, but he's clearly playing with energy and having an impact on the ice. O'Connor has been invisible.

They both should be. I would rotate all the guys. They both have spurts. I think Harkins needs more time to adjust so I would swap him first then swap out doc.

Put zorhona as 4th line center

Doc - eller - accari
Harkins - eller -accari

 

[ColePens]

Just my take of the season so far...

Hockey is meant to be enjoyable. The last few years, it was not enjoyable at all. Not because of losses. Not because of wins. It was just really lackluster effort/hockey. It wasn't worth the hours and hours of investment when life is so short.

This year - this team is enjoyable even with the flaws they have. I love the EK/Pets pairing. I love the Letang/Graves pairing. It actually makes a shit load of sense. EK65 is really so enjoyable to watch. He sees plays that 99% of defenders do not. It is amazing.

And to see G/Sid playing at the level they are... THIS is enjoyable. Too many people watch sports w/t his anxiety, stress or even anger. It's so unusual. Life is so difficult. Let entertainment be entertainment or stop watching. f*** allllllllll of stress/anxiety from watching sports.

But this season so far... it is enjoyable. Very enjoyable.

 

[Josey Wales]

Just my take of the season so far...

Hockey is meant to be enjoyable. The last few years, it was not enjoyable at all. Not because of losses. Not because of wins. It was just really lackluster effort/hockey. It wasn't worth the hours and hours of investment when life is so short.

This year - this team is enjoyable even with the flaws they have. I love the EK/Pets pairing. I love the Letang/Graves pairing. It actually makes a shit load of sense. EK65 is really so enjoyable to watch. He sees plays that 99% of defenders do not. It is amazing.

And to see G/Sid playing at the level they are... THIS is enjoyable. Too many people watch sports w/t his anxiety, stress or even anger. It's so unusual. Life is so difficult. Let entertainment be entertainment or stop watching. f*** allllllllll of stress/anxiety from watching sports.

But this season so far... it is enjoyable. Very enjoyable.

AMEN!!

 

[Pancakes]

Just my take of the season so far...

Hockey is meant to be enjoyable. The last few years, it was not enjoyable at all. Not because of losses. Not because of wins. It was just really lackluster effort/hockey. It wasn't worth the hours and hours of investment when life is so short.

This year - this team is enjoyable even with the flaws they have. I love the EK/Pets pairing. I love the Letang/Graves pairing. It actually makes a shit load of sense. EK65 is really so enjoyable to watch. He sees plays that 99% of defenders do not. It is amazing.

And to see G/Sid playing at the level they are... THIS is enjoyable. Too many people watch sports w/t his anxiety, stress or even anger. It's so unusual. Life is so difficult. Let entertainment be entertainment or stop watching. f*** allllllllll of stress/anxiety from watching sports.

But this season so far... it is enjoyable. Very enjoyable.

Yeah the team at least has a good vibe this season. And EK is a lot of fun.

You could tell that the core was miserable last season. They tried to make the playoffs anyways, but too many nights last year I watched this team and they looked like they didn't believe they could win. I think of the game against the Devils late in the season as an example of that. They came out and within five minutes you could see the team had quit and knew they had no chance to beat the Devils. And the Devils took it to them all game.

This at least feels like a team that has some belief in itself. We'll see how long that lasts. But encouraging.

 

[mpp9]

Smith was such a big upgrade over Zucker. Two way player with a better wrister, and Geno is just so good at putting guys in a position to shoot. I don't love Rakell with Geno over Sid, but the way things stand those two wingers are going to provide solid two way play and can both rip it from the slot. Finally a couple of wingers that allow Geno to play to his strengths.

Yep. I think Zucker could have found a role here if Jake didn’t exist. But Smith is just a better complementary fit for 71.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Smith was such a big upgrade over Zucker. Two way player with a better wrister, and Geno is just so good at putting guys in a position to shoot. I don't love Rakell with Geno over Sid, but the way things stand those two wingers are going to provide solid two way play and can both rip it from the slot. Finally a couple of wingers that allow Geno to play to his strengths.

Dubas bringing in Karlsson and Smith look really good so far. The type of impact moves that can really move the needle.

Now Dubas just needs to do something about that bottom six ...

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Dubas bringing in Karlsson and Smith look really good so far. The type of impact moves that can really move the needle.

Now Dubas just needs to do something about that bottom six ...

I thing the best thing Dubas can do for the bottom-6 is land a winger for the top-6--to push down someone like Rakell, Rust, or Smith (assuming his absurd start doesn't continue) and force a nobody like Carter, Harkins, Nieto or DOC out of the lineup.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I thing the best thing Dubas can do for the bottom-6 is land a winger for the top-6--to push down someone like Rakell, Rust, or Smith (assuming his absurd start doesn't continue) and force a nobody like Carter, Harkins, Nieto or DOC out of the lineup.

It's cheaper to just bring in a legitimate third liner. Right now we have too many 4th liners/13th forward types. Guys like Harkins, Nieto, DOC, Carter, etc. are all suited to be 12th/13th forwards. The only two that are decent (but not great) options for the third line are Eller and Acciari.

I know it's unreasonable, but a Cooke/Staal/Kennedy 3rd line would be a godsend for this team. Then you could have Eller/Acciari/whoever as the 4th line and the rest of those fringe guys as 13th forward/AHL.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

It's cheaper to just bring in a legitimate third liner. Right now we have too many 4th liners/13th forward types. Guys like Harkins, Nieto, DOC, Carter, etc. are all suited to be 12th/13th forwards. The only two that are decent (but not great) options for the third line are Eller and Acciari.

I know it's unreasonable, but a Cooke/Staal/Kennedy 3rd line would be a godsend for this team. Then you could have Eller/Acciari/whoever as the 4th line and the rest of those fringe guys as 13th forward/AHL.

Yeah, but I think it's worth spending more to get a guy to provide an offensive bit of insurance if/when Sid or Geno have an off night, and Smith inevitably settles down. Definitely easier and cheaper to find a solid 3rd liner though.

 

[Ugene Magic]

nger

he was very good last night in Edmonton, won them the game

Lafferty won them the game. The Oilers goaltending is so bad with 4 goals allowed on 16 freaking shots. 16.... DeSmith did well considering. 37 of 40 shots against the two league dynamos. He certainly had a huge part in winning them the game.

Vancouver could be a sleeper this year.

 

[Ugene Magic]

They both should be. I would rotate all the guys. They both have spurts. I think Harkins needs more time to adjust so I would swap him first then swap out doc.

Put zorhona as 4th line center

Doc - eller - accari
Harkins - eller -accari

The problem is you have to waive someone to change things up. I personally don't care. Out of the 4th line I notice Neito the most and Acciari hasn't really done anything to warrant moving to the 3rd.

Then you have Eller as the noticeable one on the 3rd.

As far as Carter goes, he's still playing with plugs which neuters all offense entirely. There's really no point in dressing him in a complete defensive role.

Their identity is complete neutralization of offense in the bottom six.

If they can go 25-12-4 in the first half I'd consider that a win with current status quo. But I feel that might be a reach if they are riding the top six that hard for the age it is. It could just as easily go 20-17-4.

So waive who you need to, but give the bottom six some life that they can play their 3rd line wings more than 10:22/27 and actually create some kind of spark. That's 4th line fodder minutes wise. The top six is gonna get run into the ground.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I think Eller and Acciari would do well together. They both seem to be doing fine individually on their respective lines but can't make much happen with their linemates. I also think they would compliment each other well. Eller has been in the middle of some decent opportunities but can't quite finish or get enough help from his linemates and Accairi historically has been a pretty good goal scorer (at least for his role) and plays with a little edge. Send DOC packing and give White the call for L4 center. Decide between Harkins and Nieto for L3 LW.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Are you able to name a single goal against so far that was his fault? 66:30 TOI so far with top PK mins.

Not sure why you are quoting me. My statement is pretty true if Graves. I've watched him more than just his 3 games here when he played in Jerseys. Don't feel like he's and ideal partner for Letang and they will have their issues. We are definitely asking a lot of him but he will need to work.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Graves looks like Orr mashed up with Lindstrom compared to Dumoulin, at least.

 

[Gurglesons]

Graves was directly at fault for the go ahead goal in CHI.

He’s been fine. He adds some offense we needed with Matheson’s departure and size. His cap hit is relatively small as the cap goes up. Not a huge fan, but hard to hate him. Basically Ceci 2.0 IMO.

 

[Andy99]

Graves looks like Orr mashed up with Lindstrom compared to Dumoulin, at least.

Hey Dumo is only a -1 for Seattle, and that’s the best on their defense so he’s doing great….

Graves was directly at fault for the go ahead goal in CHI.

He’s been fine. He adds some offense we needed with Matheson’s departure and size. His cap hit is relatively small as the cap goes up. Not a huge fan, but hard to hate him. Basically Ceci 2.0 IMO.

ive definitely positively noticed his transition and offensive skills more than his defense..if they wanted a good defensive partner for Letang, this guy doesn’t look to be it unless there’s something else there we haven’t seen so far…

 

[Gurglesons]

Hey Dumo is only a -1 for Seattle, and that’s the best on their defense so he’s doing great….



ive definitely positively noticed his transition and offensive skills more than his defense..if they wanted a good defensive partner for Letang, this guy doesn’t look to be it unless there’s something else there we haven’t seen so far…

I dunno. I like the idea of making Letang force to be the defensive lynchpin of this group. He’s done that in his career before and he’s a competitive player.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I kinda feel like the days of "all defense" defensemen are largely over anyway so I'm fine with Graves being more of a hybrid guy. I dunno... he's made some mistakes but he's been fine. I think he and Letang will settle in to being a good pairing. Letang still has wheels for days, a great stick and helps a ton in transition. Graves has outstanding range and reach and can play a little offense, too. He's not really a physical guy but if he can use his size to help cancel guys out a little more (think kind of how good Dumo used to play) then all the better.

 

[Pancakes]

Graves was directly at fault for the go ahead goal in CHI.

He’s been fine. He adds some offense we needed with Matheson’s departure and size. His cap hit is relatively small as the cap goes up. Not a huge fan, but hard to hate him. Basically Ceci 2.0 IMO.

He's better than Dumo for sure and yeah the cap hit seems fine.

I think Graves will improve as he gets more comfortable here.

I kinda feel like the days of "all defense" defensemen are largely over anyway so I'm fine with Graves being more of a hybrid guy. I dunno... he's made some mistakes but he's been fine. I think he and Letang will settle in to being a good pairing. Letang still has wheels for days, a great stick and helps a ton in transition. Graves has outstanding range and reach and can play a little offense, too. He's not really a physical guy but if he can use his size to help cancel guys out a little more (think kind of how good Dumo used to play) then all the better.

The play that Graves made last night on the Smith goal to step up and make the turnover was a play that I don't think last season's Brian Dumoulin makes. Dumo woulda been sitting so far back out of fear of the transition game. But Graves is mobile enough to step up like that.

That goal doesn't happen without Graves' aggressive play there.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Graves is what he is. Dumo was approaching Scuderi-levels of awful. Graves isn't gonna be a defensive stud, he's a two-way guy who has a good shot from the point.

I agree with pixies; I think Letang needs to shift to be a more defensively oriented guy at this stage.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Graves is what he is. Dumo was approaching Scuderi-levels of awful. Graves isn't gonna be a defensive stud, he's a two-way guy who has a good shot from the point.

I agree with pixies; I think Letang needs to shift to be a more defensively oriented guy at this stage.

Yeah agreed. People might scoff because "lol Letang bad at defenz" but he's really not. He has lapses but is tenacious and strong along the boards and has always had a knack for knocking pucks loose in board battles and moving it up ice quickly. His skating has barely taken a ding over the years either and he can still be all over the ice and recover quickly.