Pre-Game Talk: Late Game and Management Still Sucks

[guymez]

We’ve lost games while putting up 4 hits. It’s disgusting that there’s no pushback while losing on the scoreboard. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that before.
I can only hope when Kane and Frederic get in Knob doesn’t somehow neuter them.

Yeah...I dont get this thinking.
Its just not based in reality.

Knob isnt going to coach players to be soft.
Its a myth.
GM's make soft teams and thats what Jackson had put together here. Bowman has taken steps to correct it.

 

[Messrules11]

Yeah...I dont get this thinking.
Its just not based in reality.

Knob isnt going to coach players to be soft.
Its a myth.
GM's make soft teams and thats what Jackson had put together here. Bowman has taken steps to correct it.

Read the previous posts, checking with legs means no hitting, it’s pee wee level shit. When trailing in games it’s the equivalent of roll over and die.

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

There are a lot of factors in play here. If we look at Knoblauchs system last season and in the playoffs there really wasnt anything that hindered offensive output. Quite the contrary...this was a very strong offensive team and the departures in the summer dont account for the drop in offence.
So we need to look elsewhere IMO.
Jeff Skinner is a side bar issue...he isnt really a perennial 30 goal scorer any more.
He is a potential 30 goal scorer...at least he was a few years ago but even in the 6 seasons in Buffalo he exceeded 29 goals in only 3 of those seasons. So he is, at best, hit and miss as a reliable goal scorer.
That said even though I am not really a fan of the player I would like to see him with Draisaitl for a stretch of games.

I think the main reason for the drop in offence is that this is just an off year for a lot of key players on this team.
I think that sheer emotional and physical output of going to the SCF and losing in game 7 takes a toll.
Call it a Stanley Cup failure hangover.
That IMO is a lot of what we are seeing this season especially with McDavid.

I like the additions to the team this week and I do think that they will make a difference. I think that it will provide an injection of new energy into the team until the playoffs.
I see the team playing well over .600 hockey leading up to the playoffs as preparation for the 'real' games.
Once the playoffs get here that is when I think the team will have the level of emotional energy needed to be fully enagaged.

It wasn't Knoblauch's system it was Woodcroft's he talked about not having the time to completely overhaul it so he ran with what Woodcroft was doing and applied some tweaks.

I also feel like our PP is suffering cause of Woodcroft's absence, it was really him and McLellan that gave us our dynamite PP and it doesn't seem like Gully and Knob are able to get as much out of the unit.

 

[guymez]

It wasn't Knoblauch's system it was Woodcroft's he talked about not having the time to completely overhaul it so he ran with what Woodcroft was doing and applied some tweaks.

I also feel like our PP is suffering cause of Woodcroft's absence, it was really him and McLellan that gave us our dynamite PP and it doesn't seem like Gully and Knob are able to get as much out of the unit.

That may be true but it doesnt take away from my point that no coach implements a system that makes the team not hit.
Puck reteivel can happen any number of ways depending on the strengths of the specific player.
The players themselves determine how they accomplish their tasks....the system is just the framework.
If a player isnt capable of a heavy game then thats just the reality of that player.
Thats on the GM.

Regarding the PP...I seem to recall that Glen Guletzen was the achitect of the teams current (and 2023/24)
PP system.

 

[guymez]

Read the previous posts, checking with legs means no hitting, it’s pee wee level shit. When trailing in games it’s the equivalent of roll over and die.

Checking with the legs does not mean no hitting.
That just refers to not stick checking (reaching with the stick) in place of moving your feet.
Telling players to move their feet (check with their legs) is a basic fundemental of playing on the defensive side of the puck.
Bouchard should be listening to subliminal audio in his sleep which repeats that message (check with your legs...check with your legs) over and over again.

 

[sepHF]

An Arvidsson slapper finally worked

Nice to get some offense from the wing for once!

 

[Messrules11]

Checking with the legs does not mean no hitting.
That just refers to not stick checking (reaching with the stick) in place of moving your feet.
Telling players to move their feet (check with their legs) is a basic fundemental of playing on the defensive side of the puck.
Bouchard should be listening to subliminal audio in his sleep which repeats that message (check with your legs...check with your legs) over and over again.

I think we both get it. It just makes for more exciting hockey.

 

[Garbo Man]

Walman is good