GDT: Pens vs Avs | 7pm MT | Come Win in Denver, Sid

[expatriatedtexan]

Drury took that role instead. I think if we didnt get drury as well, parisnip would have been given a fair shot.

Seems like half the board keeps pining for an upgrade on Drury and want him to be 4C. We need a 2C, not a 3C. Baring getting a 2C, I'd prefer more of a scoring winger to another 3C. Especially since I'm not sold on Landy being back in the playoffs.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Seems like half the board keeps pining for an upgrade on Drury and want him to be 4C. We need a 2C, not a 3C. Baring getting a 2C, I'd prefer more of a scoring winger to another 3C. Especially since I'm not sold on Landy being back in the playoffs.

Yeah I have confidence in Drury's intelligence and play making ability. If you give him another good winger consistently I think you see more production.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Yeah I have confidence in Drury's intelligence and play making ability. If you give him another good winger consistently I think you see more production.

Mikko Rantanen with Carolina Hurricanes: 12 games played, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points (duh), and a -2 (which means nothing)
Jack Drury with the Colorado Avalanche: 13 games played, 4 goals, 0 assists, 4 points (duh), and a -2 (which again means nothing)
However, small sample sizes mean absolutely nothing! Just thought it was worth noting that Drury isn't actually sucking right now with his personal offensive output. Would be nice to see him getting some assists as well, but that appears to be just due to the quality of linemates. As you said... give him one decent offensive winger to player... Could you imagine if we had Bura in his '22 prime playing third line with Jack?

I was surprised (pleasantly so, even) to see that Mikko is rocking a 59.58 xGF% with the Canes since the trade. That's up from the 51.86 he had with us prior to it. This tells me he's probably actually playing better (more engaged in three zones) even though the offense isn't there yet (or maybe ever) with the Canes.

I'm trying to wrap my head around that. Kinda of wished I had watched more than just his first two games, but those east coast games are damn near over by the time I get home from work.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Time for me to bitch about the breakout again...

Here's Bednar, Lindgren, and others for their post-game media availability.

At the 2:00 mark, Bednar is asked about the difficulties getting the puck out. He says how the Pens have been one of the best forechecking teams in the league(what?) and that our D missed some open guys for passes. He said sometimes you just have to go up and out with it, meaning the stupid flip play.

Two points here:

1. Jared doesn't recognize the Pens were intentionally keeping their second forechecker at our blueline just picking off the long passes that the D are forced to make with his stupid breakout.

2. Jared doesn't understand the adjustment wasn't to go "up and out with it" but rather to drop one damn forward low to give that 5-15 foot passing option for the D under pressure.

Next...

At the 6:20 mark, Lindgren is asked how his first game went. He mentions trying to adapt to a new system and specifically mentions the breakout and "where guys are at."

Imagine being a D not known as a strong passer, you move to a new team, and the breakout is to have all 3 forwards at center ice or deeper forcing you to make picture perfect 50-60 foot passes under forechecking pressure. Not easy at all.

I've said it before, but I absolutely hate our breakout strategy. Good teams come playoff time will eat us alive with this stupid shit.

This is why its so easy for Pete Deboer to outcoach Bednar.

 

[Foppa2118]

Mitts putting together a nice 1 game goal streak.

He's lucky he's been getting these empty net goals lately, because he's still playing terrible.

I counted 7 turnovers from him this game and it felt like about the same amount he’s had every game lately. Including 3 on one shift, that ended in this really bad one below.

He’s got plenty of time and space, and all he has to do is make the simple play behind the net, off the boards if need be, to Girard for the easy clear, but he once again refuses, and tries to make the fancy play again, somehow forgets where Malkin was after he just passed him, and hands the puck right to him for a great scoring chance.

I just saw them make that exact same simple chip play behind the net the other game. I think it was Colton to Girard iirc. They likely practice it. These turnovers are what's killing his game and hurting the team. He's made them all year and he refuses to simplify his game to avoid them.

 

[dahrougem2]

He's lucky he's been getting these empty net goals lately, because he's still playing terrible.

I counted 7 turnovers from him this game and it felt like about the same amount he’s had every game lately. Including 3 on one shift, that ended in this really bad one below.

He’s got plenty of time and space, and all he has to do is make the simple play behind the net, off the boards if need be, to Girard for the easy clear, but he once again refuses, and tries to make the fancy play again, somehow forgets where Malkin was after he just passed him, and hands the puck right to him for a great scoring chance.

I just saw them make that exact same simple chip play behind the net the other game. I think it was Colton to Girard iirc. They likely practice it. These turnovers are what's killing his game and hurting the team. He's made them all year and he refuses to simplify his game to avoid them.

I was losing my mind. I wanted Bednar to sit him the rest of the game after this turnover.

Guy tried to dangle and outmuscle MALKIN of all players lmao

 

[Foppa2118]

I was losing my mind. I wanted Bednar to sit him the rest of the game after this turnover.

Guy tried to dangle and outmuscle MALKIN of all players lmao

Yeah and if it's not just a straight turnover, it's a turnover from a lost physical battle that he never should have attempted, because he's not strong enough to play that game.

I was surprised he didn't bench him too. Three turnovers on one shift with a great scoring chance against, after multiple turnovers before? Can't say Bedsy hasn't given him enough rope.

The thing that bothers me is it feels like he thinks he's better than he is. Even after struggling most of the year, he said recently he thinks he can turn it around, and that he has a lot of belief in himself.

Maybe the problem is he has too much belief in himself. At a certain point, someone like Toews needs to just rip into him, and tell him he's not Peter Forsberg, and to just make the simple play more often. He needs to get the message somehow. He should have gotten it already, but he hasn't.

I get legit Matt Duchene vibes from him trying to make the fancy play all the time and show off, even though it rarely results in goals. Both players had too much belief in their talent, and both players were prone to prolonged slumps during seasons, because of it. Duchene was more talented and athletic than Mitts and his approach still didn't work for this team.

 

[missionAvs]

He's lucky he's been getting these empty net goals lately, because he's still playing terrible.

I counted 7 turnovers from him this game and it felt like about the same amount he’s had every game lately. Including 3 on one shift, that ended in this really bad one below.

He’s got plenty of time and space, and all he has to do is make the simple play behind the net, off the boards if need be, to Girard for the easy clear, but he once again refuses, and tries to make the fancy play again, somehow forgets where Malkin was after he just passed him, and hands the puck right to him for a great scoring chance.

I just saw them make that exact same simple chip play behind the net the other game. I think it was Colton to Girard iirc. They likely practice it. These turnovers are what's killing his game and hurting the team. He's made them all year and he refuses to simplify his game to avoid them.

Shiiiit. I literally woke my wife up when this turnover happened. Such a dumbass play. I agree with your post. Mitts seems to overcomplicate every single situation by trying to either outmuscle or out dangle a guy he has no business engaging with.

 

[Foppa2118]

Go Avs. f*** the refs. Also only 4 penalties on Malkin for the Drury goal.

Refs were so obviously not giving the Avs calls because Nate embarrassed that dipshit McIsaac last game. Who deserved it after not only missing calls but talking shit to Nate while he’s not even looking at him lining up for a face-off.

That play where Cale was chasing down the loose puck and got knocked completely to the ice at full speed right in front of the ref. Cale taking a wicked slash on the hands with the puck after entering the zone right in front of the ref. Malkin with 4 legit rodeo hooks on Drury trying to score on the EN right in front of the ref who never raised his arm for a penalty.

You could almost see them disappointed they had to call that blatant trip five feet in front of them.

These assholes act like prison guards or something. You f*** with them, they’ll make your life hell. The NHL has empowered them to abuse their power every game now. Unprofessional is an understatement.

Even that judge that got attacked by a defendant earlier in the year just went back to her job and without emotion, calmly ruled on the next steps of his case, and spoke to the guy respectfully. If she can do that why can't these idiots just call the game without bias?

 

[dahrougem2]

Yeah and if it's not just a straight turnover, it's a turnover from a lost physical battle that he never should have attempted, because he's not strong enough to play that game.

I was surprised he didn't bench him too. Three turnovers on one shift with a great scoring chance against, after multiple turnovers before? Can't say Bedsy hasn't given him enough rope.

The thing that bothers me is it feels like he thinks he's better than he is. Even after struggling most of the year, he said recently he thinks he can turn it around, and that he has a lot of belief in himself.

Maybe the problem is he has too much belief in himself. At a certain point, someone like Toews needs to just rip into him, and tell him he's not Peter Forsberg, and to just make the simple play more often. He needs to get the message somehow. He should have gotten it already, but he hasn't.

I get legit Matt Duchene vibes from him trying to make the fancy play all the time and show off, even though it rarely results in goals. Both players had too much belief in their talent, and both players were prone to prolonged slumps during seasons, because of it. Duchene was more talented and athletic than Mitts and his approach still didn't work for this team.

Nah, Toews doesn't have to do anything. All that needs to happen is CMac needs to punt this loser to whoever is willing to take him.

 

[Foppa2118]

Nah, Toews doesn't have to do anything. All that needs to happen is CMac needs to punt this loser to whoever is willing to take him.

Depending on the trade options, they may need to gamble on him playing better. Or supplement him with another middle six C/W.

I didn't like the trade, and I always thought people here got talked into overrating Mitts, but I also always thought they could win with him if he played as his 60 point self, and other things went well. The problem is he's playing far below that level.

If he can just remove the turnovers from his game, produce a little more offense, and other supporting guys like Val, Lehky, and Drouin stay relatively healthy and contribute offensively, they can still win.

I'd really like to see them add another top 4 RD though. That would make winning with Mitts not playing to his potential much more possible. They need to get better defensively to win.

 

[dahrougem2]

Depending on the trade options, they may need to gamble on him playing better. Or supplement him with another middle six C/W.

I didn't like the trade, and I always thought people here got talked into overrating Mitts, but I also always thought they could win with him if he played as his 60 point self, and other things went well. The problem is he's playing far below that level.

If he can just remove the turnovers from his game, produce a little more offense, and other supporting guys like Val, Lehky, and Drouin stay relatively healthy and contribute offensively, they can still win.

I'd really like to see them add another top 4 RD though. That would make winning with Mitts not playing to his potential much more possible. They need to get better defensively to win.

I just don't see it. I was one of those people who got duped by Mitts, but I have come to realize his last two seasons were outliers. This is a 30-35 point, bad defensively third line center through and through. If there is some team out there that desires him, he should be shipped out yesterday

 

[NOTENOUGHRYANTHINGS]

Depending on the trade options, they may need to gamble on him playing better. Or supplement him with another middle six C/W.

I didn't like the trade, and I always thought people here got talked into overrating Mitts, but I also always thought they could win with him if he played as his 60 point self, and other things went well. The problem is he's playing far below that level.

If he can just remove the turnovers from his game, produce a little more offense, and other supporting guys like Val, Lehky, and Drouin stay relatively healthy and contribute offensively, they can still win.

I'd really like to see them add another top 4 RD though. That would make winning with Mitts not playing to his potential much more possible. They need to get better defensively to win.

I love this because it's like saying if Mitts can stop being bad he'll be less bad.

 

[Foppa2118]

I love this because it's like saying if Mitts can stop being bad he'll be less bad.

Haha true, but more that they can win if he's less bad, and other things go well.