Post-Game Talk: Post game Leaf/Jets

[Buffdog]

I've been promoting this for some time. The Jets don't seem likely to be real contenders this season and they have to bring in another few young players (Samberg, Heinola, Vesalainen) to take prominent roles next season. They won't develop without playing.

With this strange season/schedule, i wouldn't be upset if management looked at it as a development year and committed to getting our young D into games to season them enough to be ready to roll next year. Maybe even perfetti, if he shows enough chops to be able to keep up (but AHL would be a better option).

I doubt that there will be any playoff games at BMTSP even if we manage to claw our way into the top 4 in the division - so TNSE won't have playoff gate revenue as a carrot dangling out in front of them

 

[Channelcat]

honestly I really don’t think Morrissey is ever going to be the player to carry a #6 Poolman or a #9 Niku as his partner on the top pair match ups. Josh is a complimentary top pairing player so he needs to be with a guy like DeMelo at a minimum to try to take on top pairing minutes.

Maurice needs to get this part of his job figured out fast. Hopefully when DeMelo gets back he joins Josh on the top pair and we can roll at least two second pairings which might not be terrible. You put a Josh with Sami and they are closer to a 3rd pair than a 1st pair.

Agreed. Josh is never going to be a star defenseman. He's a good second pairing dman, and unfortunately he's probably our second best D behind Pionk. I actually thought he was good last night. It's not like he's going to carry this team.

 

[Channelcat]

Where is DeMelo again for the first 7 or 8% of the season?

Oh yeah, Paternity leave.

Hmm. That strikes me as weird given we are talking about pro sports.

Never mind, just old fashioned me I guess.

What? I was assuming he was also on covid protocol......JFC...... paternity leave?

 

[DRW204]

Where is DeMelo again for the first 7 or 8% of the season?

Oh yeah, Paternity leave.

Hmm. That strikes me as weird given we are talking about pro sports.

Never mind, just old fashioned me I guess.

think if covid wasn't a thing he'd be in

 

[JetsWillFly4Ever]

His wife had a kid like 4 days ago Jesus Christ give him a break.

 

[ps241]

I think Morrissey needs to play with a strong defensive partner who can think and adapt quickly, and stop possessions. He was really good with DeMelo, and maybe that's the right pair. Otherwise, I'd like to see Samberg on RD with Morrissey. If he can adapt to playing RD, he has exactly the type of profile to complement Morrissey.

The Forbort-Pionk pairing looks quite solid already.

Yea we need for Paul to not get too cute with Josh’s partner once DeMelo is back. Josh is very capable with the right partner but it’s asking way too much for him to carry non NHL talent on a top pair.

 

[Roughneck1]

What game did you watch?
Stanley was one of our better D, so NO he should play again.

Well his first period was a little rough. Seemed nervous or something. Made a few bad decisions. But i liked his second and third period. Definitely one of our better d. Pionk and Forbort were better.

edit. Also thought Morrissey played ok. His partner was a tire fire in the drone.

 

[buggs]

Perreault looks pretty much finished to me. I can't see much of a downside to replacing him with a young winger at this point...

It's seeming almost like a cheap Winnipegger meme at this point: "I'm paying that man $4.x million dollars a year and I'm gonna get my damn value outta him come hell or high water".

I'm with you and others, take the hit, put the obsolete item in the rafters in the garage (press box) and put it in a garage sale come spring or give it away (don't re-sign). Just accept it isn't what it once was and move on. It might have held value at one point, it doesn't any longer.

 

[slurpee addict]

This is a huge problem and it's game 2.
Scheif looks like he's not trying at times cuz he's getting overplayed once again.

I actually think it is a case of not getting off the ice. He stays out way too long. This is selfish, and is also on the coaching. Wheeler has the same problem. Wheeler came on with 2:45 left in the third last night, and was completely gassed at the 1:30 mark, and yet stayed on the ice until there was about 40 seconds left. This isn't an aberration. They both do this a lot. I can't help but wonder what the other players make of this behaviour.

 

[Howard Chuck]

Can't understate how big Buffs impact was. Night and day watching Jets play without him. Buff always got worked up by something and team followed suit. Hockey is mental game, you need guys that give a f***.

Totally agree with this. I was saying that in the GDT, there were loading hockey but with no passion. They needed a big hit and a scrum to get their adrenaline going.

I think missing Laine also removes some of that from the team. Not like buff but at least he inserts some passion and aggressiveness.

This team has always played better when fired up. I don’t know why they can’t come out of the gate fired up.

 

[surixon]

Totally agree with this. I was saying that in the GDT, there were loading hockey but with no passion. They needed a big hit and a scrum to get their adrenaline going.

I think missing Laine also removes some of that from the team. Not like buff but at least he inserts some passion and aggressiveness.

This team has always played better when fired up. I don’t know why they can’t come out of the gate fired up.

Wheeler also used to do that but he just can't play that way at his age any longer.

I've said it for a while now but things are stale with this coaching staff and leadership core. I think something needs to change to really shake the team up. Bringing in a new voice is the easiest solution and it also may help change Laine's mind on staying/going.

 

[Gil Fisher]

His wife had a kid like 4 days ago Jesus Christ give him a break.

He's let us down more than Buff.

(is there a sarcasm font?)

 

[Joe Hallenback]

I thought Ehlers looked lost all game. Couldn't seem to handle the puck and was reluctant to skate with it. Schief had his moments but Wheeler struggled and was a step behind the play quite a bit. If they are going to be cycling and playing down low they really need a net presence on that line

 

[Gil Fisher]

I love how Copp and Harkins have their engines going non-stop when they are on the ice. If our "Leaders" moved their feet and played with the intensity of Copp and Harkins, we'd be sitting pretty with this team.

I'd put a C on Copp and A's on Harkins and Morrissey if this was my team. Let the players watch how those two (with only second round talent) approach their shifts.

I think this is why Montreal is doing so well. They have equal or less talent than a lot of teams but dominate games shift by shift. I pick them year after year to miss the playoffs, but they overachieve their talent level.

 

[10Ducky10]

using "but they get paid ____" is as gross as demeaning someone for getting paid minimum wage.

people can decide how seriously they want to take a pandemic. if Demelo's parents or in-laws were in Winnipeg, should they be coming over and spending time with his wife, who was just released from a hospital? is that responsible? is it allowed? should he be hiring a nanny (aka a stranger) to spend time caring for his wife and his child?

the answer is no to all of that.

I'm not disagreeing with his time off but he knew he was having a kid so a nanny that had quarantined and could come and live there for a month or so wouldn't be out of order would it?
It's not like he can't afford it.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

@nobody imp0rtant get on that!

Hey, it's an honour for a team just to be on the same ice as the Leafs. We'll see what they do tonight. Lose to the Sens? We're rollin'...

 

[Joe Hallenback]

I have no problem with what Demelo has chose to do and the team agrees with it so just leave it that. This is about trying to show players that this organization cares about you and your family because some orgs wouldn't they wouldn't be happy that you chose your family over the team

 

[Adam da bomb]

I love how Copp and Harkins have there engines going non-stop when they are on the ice. If our "Leaders" moved their feet and played with the intensity of Copp and Harkins, we'd be sitting pretty with this team.

I'd put a C on Copp and A's on Harkins and Morrissey if this was my team. Let the players watch how those two (with only second round talent) approach their shifts.

I think this is why Montreal is doing so well. They have equal or less talent than a lot of teams but dominate games shift by shift. I pick them year after year to miss the playoffs, but they overachieve their talent level.

Harkins looked far more dangerous with the puck on his stick.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

I'm not disagreeing with his time off but he knew he was having a kid so a nanny that had quarantined and could come and live there for a month or so wouldn't be out of order would it?
It's not like he can't afford it.

Rumour has it, he tried to get Masha Diduk but there were boarder issues.

 

[10Ducky10]

Rumour has it, he tried to get Masha Diduk but there were boarder issues.

Had to Google who she was.......still don't know!

 

[Jet]

The stage is set for the rookies. Short season, no fans, all this time off. This season is going to be as unpredictable as possible. Wheeler looks tired, Laine injured, the defense is a shambles already. I just can't help but wonder if 1,2 or 3 out of Samberg, Vesalainen, Heinola could grab at the opportunity and 5urn things around for us.

The defense is a shambles?

Elaborate, please.

 

[Gil Fisher]

Harkins looked far more dangerous with the puck on his stick.

than Copp? yeah, seems to have more offensive upside

 

[slurpee addict]

It might be time for Chevy to pull a Billy Beane strategy.

If PoMo continues to play Wheeler the way he is; allow Wheeler and Scheif to play too much and take ridiculously long shifts; continues to rely on Perreault, Beaulieu; Poolman, and any number of crap 'vets' (Sbisa, Bitteto, etc. etc. etc. and now Lewis, Thompson) ahead of any younger skilled player, then Chevy should get rid of all of those guys so he is forced to play Heinola, Vesalainen, Samberg, Harkins, Appleton, Stanley and Niku.

Maurice is coaching to stay as coach. I actually wonder if winning is a goal or just a happy potential by-product of a line-up and deployment of players that keeps the heat off him as the coach. You'd think after all these years, he'd have some courage of conviction - unless that conviction is a vet heavy line-up and strategy that avoids any serious criticism of his methods.

Finally, I'm starting to think that Niku may have seen his best before date, cause he hasn't started well, but I'd give him a solid 10 more games and then decide. I don't see a lot of risk in that, because to be honest, this team is still trending in the wrong direction. And without some drastic changes, we are just acting out the definition of insanity.

 

[Jet]

Couldnt watch the game, how did Frenchy look with Stastny and Connor? Lines stay the same throughout the game?

Dragged the line pretty badly - to the point he was put back on the 4th line I believe.

 

[Gil Fisher]

The defense is a shambles?

Elaborate, please.