Leafsfan74
Registered User
- Jul 2, 2018
- 5,872
- 6,443
I'm not going to blame the new guys, they basically landed and played hockey with a new team and system, in elevated territory at that. Avs aren't as impressive on the road, in far worse, they feast on their home ice advantage.
As it were, the driftwood are Domi and Holmberg in particular. If I am Domi I just say "Im going to get physically involved every game". He needs to play with an edge and to obtain that edge he needs to have some animosity. We don't need a reincarnation of his dad, but if he can't figure it out, their positions have to be replaced in the offseason its that simple. He has his contract and he's a good enough guy to fit in somewhere else if he can't figure it out.
Once Tanev returns we will see what we have with Reilly, Carlo is as reliable a mate as he will get and the coach needs to find the Reilly we once all saw. I thought this guy was headed for #1 D Man, perennial all star early in his career. He needs to find a way. If its his weight, do some healthy intermittent fasting on off days. Get lighter but maintain strength with a high protein diet. He needs to be confident and trust in his body. He often seems uncomfortable retrieving pucks.
I have to think that Tanev/McCabe, Reilly/Carlo, Benoit/OEL should be one of the strongest backends in the league. So what's the problem? Wingers too soft on pucks? Stars floating and looking to get the game into a track meet and they keep losing (a repeated bad habit with some of these guys...).
Their identity should be to get a lead, tighten the game down and capitalize on opponents mistakes. They need to win the 50/50 puck battles and support each other in their end. Make the goalies life easy and he will make it easier for the team.
Matthews to me remains the guy you build around and I've felt this since about his third or fourth year in the league where he was becoming a stellar defensive player.. Knies and McMann are keepers in this effort and when Nylander cares to play, he is a crucial player too. Everyone else up front would have to earn their place on my team every season.
As it were, the driftwood are Domi and Holmberg in particular. If I am Domi I just say "Im going to get physically involved every game". He needs to play with an edge and to obtain that edge he needs to have some animosity. We don't need a reincarnation of his dad, but if he can't figure it out, their positions have to be replaced in the offseason its that simple. He has his contract and he's a good enough guy to fit in somewhere else if he can't figure it out.
Once Tanev returns we will see what we have with Reilly, Carlo is as reliable a mate as he will get and the coach needs to find the Reilly we once all saw. I thought this guy was headed for #1 D Man, perennial all star early in his career. He needs to find a way. If its his weight, do some healthy intermittent fasting on off days. Get lighter but maintain strength with a high protein diet. He needs to be confident and trust in his body. He often seems uncomfortable retrieving pucks.
I have to think that Tanev/McCabe, Reilly/Carlo, Benoit/OEL should be one of the strongest backends in the league. So what's the problem? Wingers too soft on pucks? Stars floating and looking to get the game into a track meet and they keep losing (a repeated bad habit with some of these guys...).
Their identity should be to get a lead, tighten the game down and capitalize on opponents mistakes. They need to win the 50/50 puck battles and support each other in their end. Make the goalies life easy and he will make it easier for the team.
Matthews to me remains the guy you build around and I've felt this since about his third or fourth year in the league where he was becoming a stellar defensive player.. Knies and McMann are keepers in this effort and when Nylander cares to play, he is a crucial player too. Everyone else up front would have to earn their place on my team every season.
