How does the D Corps get fixed?

major major

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Feb 18, 2013
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I think Savard's just fine at wristing it through traffic. Best on the team IMO.

Under Torts the D have been solid. But they're not better than average anywhere on the ice. The transition game is the biggest problem.
 

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Johnny Gaudreau
Apr 5, 2013
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I'd argue that scoring more than 1 goal a game would help our D tremendously. I think they are what they are, but they haven't been that bad for a while now.
Getting greater will probably have to come through the system at this point imo.
 

Crede777

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I'd argue that scoring more than 1 goal a game would help our D tremendously. I think they are what they are, but they haven't been that bad for a while now.
Getting greater will probably have to come through the system at this point imo.

I agree, but that offense HAS to come from our defensemen.

We're creating enough odd-man rushes. We are also getting enough offensive zone time and doing a good job at keeping it in during the powerplay. The issue isn't transition or play in our own end (usually), it's an inability to beat goalies. The way we do so is by creating traffic in front and having the shot come from the point. It's how other teams are scoring on us and it's how we're going to score on other teams.

We are decent at wristers (Murray and Savard) and going for deflections, but I'm looking for a hard, accurate slapper from the blueline. Enough of the cycling it back to the point and then hearing it go off the glass or netting because we either missed or it was blocked.

And no, I'm not complaining that Wisniewski is gone. Savard made him obsolete last year. Problem is, Savard isn't scoring like he did last year (0 goals through 26 games). We either need him to figure it out or find someone else. Currently Johnson and Murray are tied for most goals with 2 each.
 

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Johnny Gaudreau
Apr 5, 2013
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I agree, but that offense HAS to come from our defensemen.

We're creating enough odd-man rushes. We are also getting enough offensive zone time and doing a good job at keeping it in during the powerplay. The issue isn't transition or play in our own end (usually), it's an inability to beat goalies. The way we do so is by creating traffic in front and having the shot come from the point. It's how other teams are scoring on us and it's how we're going to score on other teams.

We are decent at wristers (Murray and Savard) and going for deflections, but I'm looking for a hard, accurate slapper from the blueline. Enough of the cycling it back to the point and then hearing it go off the glass or netting because we either missed or it was blocked.

And no, I'm not complaining that Wisniewski is gone. Savard made him obsolete last year. Problem is, Savard isn't scoring like he did last year (0 goals through 26 games). We either need him to figure it out or find someone else. Currently Johnson and Murray are tied for most goals with 2 each.

Agreed, but I have seen so many missed open nets and whiffs on shots and passes that I can't help but feel like if our offense capitalizes on some of these missed opportunities, we'd probably be much happier with our D. I mean JJ can't even hit an open net from the crease, hitting the net from the blueline might be impossible. I would like to see better chances from the blueline.
 

Xoggz22

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I'd actually bet we see one or two of Prout, Bodnarchuck or Falk resigned (2 way likely). That's solely because of needing depth you can call up for injuries and because yeah the UFA list is that bad this year.

Next year we have Tyutin, JJ and Savard signed already. Murray, Connauton, and Prout are RFA. Bodnarchuck and Falk are UFA.

Add in Palliotta and Yevenko are RFAs. Doubt Heatherington is close.

So if we assume we drop Prout, you need both Falk and Bodnarchuck to get 7 D that have played in the NHL.

For reference, there are 80 UFA D next summer (not all of which will make it there).
The highlights are Campbell, Yandle, Buff, and Goligoski. 2-3 of those guys are probably looking for 7M (Campbell is already over 7M but is also 36). Other highlights would include Demers, Russell, Y Weber, Gunnarsson... yeah it's just not good.

Goloubef is also on a one way and you have to believe Werenski signs in the off season. My point was that a top 2 or even top 4 is highly unlikely to come from free agency. Our payroll will prohibit it without moving JJ or Tyutin. Not to mention you overpay for UFA's and we can't afford to do more of that.
 

major major

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Feb 18, 2013
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Savard made him obsolete last year. Problem is, Savard isn't scoring like he did last year (0 goals through 26 games). We either need him to figure it out or find someone else. Currently Johnson and Murray are tied for most goals with 2 each.

I think for D we should count points rather than goals. Every team is blocking nowadays so the mark of a brilliant defenseman is the ability to be creative in getting the puck on net, even if it involves a touch on a teammates stick. I'm thinking of Savard's beautiful bank pass off the boards that Joey/Jenner whacked in two games back.
 

punk_o_holic

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Mar 1, 2002
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Hartnell is still performing but has a contract that could become very ugly any minute with his age/style of play, etc. Are there any defenders like that? If so, do those teams need forwards but can afford to trade the defender? Would you guys make a trade like that? Won't be getting a true number 1 or 2 defensemen but get a player that would currently make the blue line better. But could make the blue line ugly in a year or two.
Example, Hartnell for Girardi or Staal(although they have more years/higher cap hit).
 

WannabeFinn

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Hartnell is still performing but has a contract that could become very ugly any minute with his age/style of play, etc. Are there any defenders like that? If so, do those teams need forwards but can afford to trade the defender? Would you guys make a trade like that? Won't be getting a true number 1 or 2 defensemen but get a player that would currently make the blue line better. But could make the blue line ugly in a year or two.
Example, Hartnell for Girardi or Staal(although they have more years/higher cap hit).
IMO Paul Martin is the Hartnell of defensemen. Up there in age, doing decent now but signed til 2019 with a 4.85m cap hit. I can't imagine San Jose wanting to swap him for Hartnell considering they just signed him this past off season. Francois Beauchemin is another comparable but, like Martin, he was just signed this offseason.

Everyone else that's close in terms of contract and age is either not getting moved or we REALLY don't need them :dunno:
 

EspenK

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Sep 25, 2011
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The D has not been the problem lately. Allowed 7 goals, not counting EN's, in the last 5 games. Unfortunately only scored 7 also.

Prout being pressboxed, hopefully forever, has helped immensely. Bods and Falk have done pretty well imo, save for Falk's assist last night, which really wasn't his fault.

I'm thinking of starting a thread "How does the O Team get fixed?" :cry:
 

punk_o_holic

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IMO Paul Martin is the Hartnell of defensemen. Up there in age, doing decent now but signed til 2019 with a 4.85m cap hit. I can't imagine San Jose wanting to swap him for Hartnell considering they just signed him this past off season. Francois Beauchemin is another comparable but, like Martin, he was just signed this offseason.

Everyone else that's close in terms of contract and age is either not getting moved or we REALLY don't need them :dunno:

Damn, the Martin was a good comparable. Hartnell is 33 while Martin is 34. Both have 3 more years left after this year and Martin slightly has a bigger cap hit(around $150 000 more). But like you said, Sharks just signed him and he's playing well. Not sure why they would trade him all of a sudden. On top of that, Blue Jackets were rumored to be in the running. We all figured Jackets offered less term so why make a trade for him when he got a bigger term from the Sharks?
 

Crede777

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I'm thinking of starting a thread "How does the O Team get fixed?" :cry:

The O will fix itself. They're generating opportunities, just not capitalizing. This is most likely a slump that will revert eventually.

The problem is that the team is always having an issue. First it was goaltending. When that corrected itself, defense became the issue. When that corrected itself, offense became an issue. We've got Torts running around trying to put one fire out when another springs up.
 

major major

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Feb 18, 2013
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Will Werenski help our d problem or is his eta still a few years out

He might be here next year, but he's not going to be good enough to help our D problem for a few years now, if ever. People forget how long it takes for D to develop.
 

EspenK

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Sep 25, 2011
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He might be here next year, but he's not going to be good enough to help our D problem for a few years now, if ever. People forget how long it takes for D to develop.

You could be right but you could also be wrong. Not every young D man takes till 25 to make an impact.

I just hope he signs. Until he does I will worry he may Reilly us.

I know, I know, he is glad he was picked by the Jackets, he would be foolish to pass up millions, etc. etc but words are cheap. Remember all those who were certain the 15-1-1 guaranteed success this year?
 

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