GDT: Gme #15: Utah HC @ Nashville - 6:00pm MST - Utah16, Arizona61

[cobra427]

Team D is still bad, I think this team was build backwards, wingers first, then C and D. Until BA can either get better D players on D especially, its up to Bear to figure it out. This is partly an BA but also on Bear, he isn't and hasn't been getting the most out of his players. Young talented guys should score, thats a given, the rest of their game requires a strategy and coaching, especially on D, not seeing it or any improvement.

 

[LittlePipes]

I think it's time to adjust expectations. Mine were inflated by the good start, and the occasional good game played by Utah. However, the game against the Sharks revealed much about this team. But all that is my opinion. Go look at where UTAH is in meaningful team stats
Goals Against
Goals For
PK
PP
Goalie Stats
Penalties taken
And there are more.
It's not a pretty picture.
Yes, Durzi and Marino out definitely hurts....but the loss of these two doesnt make a good team a bad team...i.e., we were never good.

So what's going on here? I think there are several talented offensive players on this team. The defensive players as a group are below average. The goal tending has not been good.

Add it all up and I come to two possibilities
1) the defensive play, including goalie, isn't good enough due to a talent defecit
or
2) the coaching sucks..the talent is enough, but the scheme/attack/inspiration, what have you, just isn't cutting it.

Could be both.

Anyway, my new expectation for the team is - if their record is as good as last year, I'm happy.

 

[LittlePipes]

Team D is still bad, I think this team was build backwards, wingers first, then C and D. Until BA can either get better D players on D especially, its up to Bear to figure it out. This is partly an BA but also on Bear, he isn't and hasn't been getting the most out of his players. Young talented guys should score, thats a given, the rest of their game requires a strategy and coaching, especially on D, not seeing it or any improvement.

I think you are spot on here. Well said.

 

[Jakey53]

Team D is still bad, I think this team was build backwards, wingers first, then C and D. Until BA can either get better D players on D especially, its up to Bear to figure it out. This is partly an BA but also on Bear, he isn't and hasn't been getting the most out of his players. Young talented guys should score, thats a given, the rest of their game requires a strategy and coaching, especially on D, not seeing it or any improvement.

Maybe, but I want to wait until the 20 games mark and see where we stand. Utah is still fighting for a wild card, and in all honestly that is all you can ask for this year. The NHL has parity, and there is little difference from winning or losing a game. The next three games are at home against very good teams.

 

[Mangosteen]

We are a great team.add the two missing Dmen and we are on our way! Just stop taking stupid penalties

 

[MIGs Dog]

We are a great team

Has "great" been redefined?

 

[Canis Latrans]

Lamoureux had the exact same giveaway that led to a goal earlier in the game. I'm sure that's not going unnoticed. Kesselring seems to be the only one still putting it on net.

Team D is still bad, I think this team was build backwards, wingers first, then C and D. Until BA can either get better D players on D especially, its up to Bear to figure it out. This is partly an BA but also on Bear, he isn't and hasn't been getting the most out of his players. Young talented guys should score, thats a given, the rest of their game requires a strategy and coaching, especially on D, not seeing it or any improvement.

Forwards develop quicker regardless. There are a few more defensive prospects due to come up soon. You don't need as many to hit either as you can't ice them all.

I don't disagree with building out from the defense, but to draw fans, whether in Arizona or now Utah, it might make sense to favor offense and then try to shore up defense because scoring is more entertaining for the general fan. I would think a casual fan would enjoy a 6-5 loss to a 1-0 loss. Besides, it's not like offensive teams haven't learned to play defense and won before.

 

[MIGs Dog]

Lamoureux had the exact same giveaway that led to a goal earlier in the game. I'm sure that's not going unnoticed. Kesselring seems to be the only one still putting it on net.

Forwards develop quicker regardless. There are a few more defensive prospects due to come up soon. You don't need as many to hit either as you can't ice them all.

I don't disagree with building out from the defense, but to draw fans, whether in Arizona or now Utah, it might make sense to favor offense and then try to shore up defense because scoring is more entertaining for the general fan. I would think a casual fan would enjoy a 6-5 loss to a 1-0 loss. Besides, it's not like offensive teams haven't learned to play defense and won before.

Here's every defenseman BA has drafted. There is only one in the NHL (for us) so far, which tells me that the rebuild is still a work in progress. We are not a playoff-caliber team yet. We need a couple of the Dmen in the pipeline to become legitimate top-four NHLers. Then we'll be a playoff team.

 

[Jakey53]

Here's every defenseman BA has drafted. There is only one in the NHL (for us) so far, which tells me that the rebuild is still a work in progress. We are not a playoff-caliber team yet. We need a couple of the Dmen in the pipeline to become legitimate top-four NHLers. Then we'll be a playoff team.

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Utah still in a wild card position, and if we can be there all year I will be happy. There is so much parity in the NHL and that is why it gets harder and harder as you get closer to being a playoff team. This year will show us what kind of coach AT really is. The easy part is over.

 

[LittlePipes]

Utah still in a wild card position, and if we can be there all year I will be happy. There is so much parity in the NHL and that is why it gets harder and harder as you get closer to being a playoff team. This year will show us what kind of coach AT really is. The easy part is over.

Ha ha. "Cutesy time is over".

 

[Schemp]

Utah still in a wild card position, and if we can be there all year I will be happy. There is so much parity in the NHL and that is why it gets harder and harder as you get closer to being a playoff team. This year will show us what kind of coach AT really is. The easy part is over.

The goal seems to be staying in the wild card position while getting Marino and Durzi back. If we are lucky to get them back before the trade deadline, I would like to trade for another D. Provorov seems like he would be a good fit and give us 4 top 4Ds (5 if you count kesselring) as long as Provorov agrees to an extension.

 

[Canis Latrans]

Here's every defenseman BA has drafted. There is only one in the NHL (for us) so far, which tells me that the rebuild is still a work in progress. We are not a playoff-caliber team yet. We need a couple of the Dmen in the pipeline to become legitimate top-four NHLers. Then we'll be a playoff team.

I expect Lamoureux (at least top 4) and Simashev (hopefully top 2, and picks up some more offensive game) to be NHL regulars.

If you can get Sergachev and Simashev as your stable defensive anchors and pair them with a decent offensive guy, like Durzi and Kesselring, the defense could look good in just another season or so. A few guys need to show consistency over a full season plus, and Simashev is a real wildcard at this point.

Finally factor in the forwards developing a better defensive game to ease things up on the defense.

As you say, work in progress. I think you start to see a turnaround sometime next season.

 

[Schemp]

I expect Lamoureux (at least top 4) and Simashev (hopefully top 2, and picks up some more offensive game) to be NHL regulars.

If you can get Sergachev and Simashev as your stable defensive anchors and pair them with a decent offensive guy, like Durzi and Kesselring, the defense could look good in just another season or so. A few guys need to show consistency over a full season plus, and Simashev is a real wildcard at this point.

Finally factor in the forwards developing a better defensive game to ease things up on the defense.

As you say, work in progress. I think you start to see a turnaround sometime next season.

I think we'll see a turn around sometime this season!

 

[Jakey53]

I think we'll see a turn around sometime this season!

What's your definition of a "turn around?"

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

we played like gods the first 4 games, played like ass the next 6 games and now have played 5 meh games, not too great, not too bad

 

[cobra427]

Maybe, but I want to wait until the 20 games mark and see where we stand. Utah is still fighting for a wild card, and in all honestly that is all you can ask for this year. The NHL has parity, and there is little difference from winning or losing a game. The next three games are at home against very good teams.

30 teams are fighting for a wild card spot 15 games into the season, that doesn't mean much. I don't think the holes on D are going to evaporate because Durzi, an offensive D, comes back either, as you always say, all teams have injuries. Bear has shown very little ability to help players improve on D. Most of our low scoring against games are from fantastic goal tending not great team D.

At this point in the rebuild, if its a talent problem, its on BA, if its an execution problem its on Bear. I think we are seeing some of both. But, like you say its early in the season, plenty of time to improve the D play (Bear) or bring in better players (BA).

 

[Coyotedroppings]

we played like gods the first 4 games, played like ass the next 6 games and now have played 5 meh games, not too great, not too bad

As I'm certain you know, a number of things contribute to what you describe. The one thing I believe is still an unknown, is if we indeed have NHL caliber talent. Talent? Yes, but at this level? I'm not convinced, as of yet.

 

[cobra427]

we played like gods the first 4 games, played like ass the next 6 games and now have played 5 meh games, not too great, not too bad

In the early season D systems are not in place yet so you tend to see more scoring and we have scorers finally. Once you get to about the 20 game mark, you start to see where you are at the next 20 games. It seems like D systems are better in place as the season moves along which is why our scoring has dried up a little, its tougher now. On our side, our D hasn't tightened up as a team yet, thats on Bear if its execution and on BA if its talent related, we shall see, its still early.