GDT: Oilers @ Avs | 7:30 MT | Your Favorite Mod is Back Home

[The Abusement Park]

I mean you have to give to get. In my view our lack of scoring depth is a bigger issue than the defense. I'm not saying I'm advocating for that trade necessarily, but if by the trade deadline Mittelstadt hasn't sorted himself out, I would consider trading Sammy G for an offensively gifted center. What other trade chips do we have that would get back a meaningful asset?

So we're cool with our defense being:

Toews-Makar
CDH-Manson
Ludvig-Middleton/Malinski

Because that's horrific.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Mittelstadt was fine last game TBH. He made some nice passed and had some chances. Feels like everyone will hate on him unless he’s getting 2 points a game.

Girard-Manson got caved in last night

I don't think 2 points per game is too much to expect from a guy we traded Bowen f***ing Byram for ya know.

 

[Pokecheque]

Mittelstadt was fine last game TBH. He made some nice passed and had some chances. Feels like everyone will hate on him unless he’s getting 2 points a game.

Girard-Manson got caved in last night

I wouldn't go so far as to say he was "fine", he was much better, but remember for a good portion of the game he was also getting super-sheltered 4th line minutes.

More alarming to me is that the Avs don't currently *have* a third line. Kelly and Kivi got waaaaaaaay exposed last night, O'Connor was the only guy on that line doing anything of note, the other two got absolutely walked. Two 4th lines aren't going to do well against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, especially on a night when the other two lines are getting gobsmacked in the defensive zone as well.

 

[Metallo]

Pretty weak effort after a game where the coach showed the team he was pissed. Avs are really complacent.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Pretty weak effort after a game where the coach showed the team he was pissed. Avs are really complacent.

I was pissed at Jared. Did he do anything diffrerent?

Not sure why he would expect the team to do anything different either.

It's a chicken/egg situation here. The coach is saying the players need to be better. The players are showing every damn night they aren't capable of it. So what do you do? Find a new coach or a find a new roster? It's a hell of a lot easier to see if a new voice and system can get better results from a cap-strapped team than it is to try and make a major player move while being hard against the cap.

 

[S E P H]

Girard-Manson caved in unlike ever seen before.

The whole chart had to be shifted to account for how bad they were.

View attachment 962548

I would blame this more on Manson who has looked horrible for about a month compared to Girard.

 

[S E P H]

Why is he so calm here? That was a pathetic display of work rate. I would have punched every player in the face besides MacKinnon and Blackwood if I were the HC.

 

[The Kingslayer]

heh. Game went exactly as predicted. The moment they scored that late goal in the first I knew the Oilers were winning the game. My only hope was getting to OT. Couldnt even do that. Disgraceful effort again. Im sorry but I cant handle much more of Mittelstadt. Im not sure what the hell is wrong with him but its time he sits and watches. Another thing. f*** off with Middleton already. The guy is a trainwreck. He can fill in for a few games in a pinch when guys are hurt but a regular shift? you f***in kidding?

Jared called these guys out the game before and they responded with an even worse showing. Call Joel.

 

[Bender]

Will the real Mittelstadt please stand up. How does someone just forget how to play hockey?

Go to NHL.com and check out some highlights from any of the first 15 games this season and focus on Mitts and his skating.

Compare that to the way he's skating right now and it's not even close.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Go to NHL.com and check out some highlights from any of the first 15 games this season and focus on Mitts and his skating.

Compare that to the way he's skating right now and it's not even close.

What do you believe is going on here?

Are you under the belief that he's masking an injury? Do you believe he just dumped a whole life's worth of memories and experience to become a bad player? What do you think he needs to do to get back on track, or do you believe he's a lost cause?

Until recently, I've believed it was just the massive void between his ears that was causing this disruption in his play, but for the life of me I can't figure out why he is continuing to struggle now that he has better line mates, other than the fact that the lines seem to be extremely fluid at times. I'm not willing to give Casey a pass though and say that he simply needs structure and consistency. He needs to put his shot on f***ing net and his passes on to the sticks of his team-mates. Those are not galaxy brain endevours, it's as basic as stuff gets at the NHL level.

 

[Foppa2118]

Avs got beat down in this one. That looked like exactly what it was. One of the best NHL teams against half an AHL team.

This team desperately needs some physicality in their game. They let the Oilers skate around them all night and do what they want. Even Bedsy said in the 1st they need to get more physical, but nobody except Manson and Drouin would hit anyone.

Avs also looked like the more tired team, even though they had last night off, and the Oilers played. Wonder if that’s a result of all the minutes the top guys have played? Cale looks like he’s missing that top gear the last couple games.

Manson had a crazy night. Falling down, caught reaching, missing his assignments. Played like he does when he plays hurt. I hope that’s not the case.

Mitts not much again. Even after he spent half the game back on the second line. I don't see any difference in his skating from how he's always skated. If he skate better early on, it wasn't sustainable anyway.

Didn’t really like Mikko’s game either. Better than last game, but these trade rumors are in his head. Looked like Bednar had Mikko centering the 3rd line a fair amount too which is interesting.

Power play is killing this team right now. That was embarrassing. Get it together guys. It’s not the coaches fault, it’s the players. Figure it out. This team won’t win the Cup with a bad power play. They rely on it too much.

Nate might have murdered that post and crossbar after the game. How many did he hit? Three? Three good ones too. Especially that last one off the inside of the elbow. No puck luck on top of everything else.

Not the bounce back game I was asking for them after the Rags. The players have to figure it out. It's on them.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Avs werent really on the drivers seat at any point of the game. Even leading 3-0 the shots were like 5 to 12.

We finally got scoring, but Oilers just outskated the Avs at our end.

The lineup stuff definately doesnt make the thing easier. Especially when coming up against good teams.

Avs are still like what 7-3-0 the last 10. In order to beat the best you need to have full lineup and help at defence.

Im amazed how they are even at this place with all the injuries and players being out of touch long times.

Another January game. Upwards and onwards...

Also fire Bennet...

Speaking of Ray Bennett.... what does he actually do on the bench during games? Other than serve as Bednar's yes man?

I never see him taking any action on anything. He stands there and serves as Jared's listening post nodding his head in ascent.

For those who go to Avs practices, does Ray skate out there? Run drills? work the dry erase drill board?

Can Ray even skate? LoL