Langway
In den Wolken
- Jul 7, 2006
- 32,885
- 9,965
That they've put up such strong defensive performances despite being without their biggest off-season defensive addition speaks volumes as to how hungry this group has started the season. Big picture I remain unsure if the top six has enough punch. But improved play from McMichael, a recovered Wilson and still improving Strome helps. It's still a bit light but the possibility of adding Leonard in the spring also should help and discipline/buy-in goes a long way.
Nice forecheck by Vrana starting the sequence leading up to Chychrun's goal. But Mangiapane deserves better...more ice-time than ~13-14 minutes. The move to make IMO is moving Protas down to the third line, perhaps even at center, and Mangiapane to Ovechkin's line. Protas forechecks well enough and brings reliable two-way play but hasn't exactly cemented that spot. The production upside isn't substantial.
Strength up the middle when going up against the best of the best is the better plan. Again, it's early but given the style they're preaching even with some patience it's hard to fathom the end-game with a player like Lapierre that's just not dogged enough IMO. In time it may happen, perhaps with improved strength, but in the meantime he also looks like a player with suspect confidence. I don't know that I'd have unlimited patience that he possesses the type of skill set they need up the middle. If he at least showed some kind of Perreault-like insta-energy one could grasp the fit. As-is, though...
Nice forecheck by Vrana starting the sequence leading up to Chychrun's goal. But Mangiapane deserves better...more ice-time than ~13-14 minutes. The move to make IMO is moving Protas down to the third line, perhaps even at center, and Mangiapane to Ovechkin's line. Protas forechecks well enough and brings reliable two-way play but hasn't exactly cemented that spot. The production upside isn't substantial.
Strength up the middle when going up against the best of the best is the better plan. Again, it's early but given the style they're preaching even with some patience it's hard to fathom the end-game with a player like Lapierre that's just not dogged enough IMO. In time it may happen, perhaps with improved strength, but in the meantime he also looks like a player with suspect confidence. I don't know that I'd have unlimited patience that he possesses the type of skill set they need up the middle. If he at least showed some kind of Perreault-like insta-energy one could grasp the fit. As-is, though...