The blue line is full of pups. No team has ever looked good by playing 4 d-men day in and day out with less experience than what Mtl has done over the course of the last 2 seasons.
Savard has finally hit the proverbial wall and Matheson is just trying to do too much with what he sees right now. Who’s left?!? You got 4 pups! Mailloux needs to go back, Lane is not 100% ready, Barron? We saw tonight. Struble is a 3rd pairing guy with less than a season of play in the pros. I mean, come on, mates.
For now, if I’m HuGo, I’m looking at my pro scouts’ reports and calling my fellow GMs for 3rd pairing help, experienced help.
Guhle is a remarkable defenceman (his absence is as felt tonight, imagine that, still so young). But he can’t do it alone.
BTW, if you think this beating wasn’t directed at Gorton, then I don’t know what to say. The Rags mauled the kiddos to let the big boss upstairs know that his kiddos are not ready yet.
Gorton’s ego took a beating tonight. Il a mal à son orgeuil.