Predators Hockey Discussion 22-23

[101st_fan]

We are 7-1-1 last 9

9-3-1 last 13

Currently WC1 and only 6 points out of 1st in the Central. (with a game in hand)

Almost hard to believe- certainly doesn’t feel that way with the way we have played- at least to me

Losing 9 of the first 12 back in North America set a tone here ... and these boards historically focus on the negative. The fact that the PP% is up to 17.9 after starting the season 1 for 26 is an impressive turnaround. The fact the team is winning games while Duchene has just one 5on5 goal for the season, Forsberg hasn't scored an ES goal since Nov 17 and he just snapped a four game goalless streak, Jeannot without a goal in 15 games, Nino with a five game goal drought ... getting the ugly wins with what should be secondary scoring is a positive, especially if our top goal scorers can get going.

 

[101st_fan]

I swear we've had 3-4 stretches of five day stretches without a game already, and that was before the pipe burst. This year's schedule sucks.

March and April are brutal. March ends with 13 games in 22 days, 3 back to backs, no more than one day off between games .... starting March 9 its a game every Thurs, Sat, Sun, Tues for the rest of the month. April now with 8 games in 14 days and 2 back to backs.

 

[BigFatCat999]

And yet we don't play again til Thursday of this week. Whoever makes schedules adds in some very strange gaps.

Preds played two games in Europe. That causes gaps

 

[Predation]

Josi and McD are a very good pairing. This pairing leads the NHL with 104 minutes without a goal allowed right now.

 

[Predation]

…all while Josi is racking up points too.

 

[101st_fan]

…all while Josi is racking up points too.

Josi gets to play rover on his natural forward side while McDonagh plays defender on his natural side.

 

[Olderfan]

Hey guys , does anyone have any idea why Forsberg has played less than 14 min in the last 2 games for the preds? Maybe he's nursing an injury? Doesn't seem very normal to play a star so few min. I've looked to see if any one else has mentioned this and I can't find any info.

Fil has always been erratic. He thinks he can stick handle around 2 or 3 guys. He can’t. He’s a shooter. One of the best but needs help. Hasn’t been getting as much lately. He’ll get his goals; a lot on the PP. But 5 on 5 Preds seem to be rolling 4 lines more while searching for line mates. It’ll settle down and his time will go up eventually.

 

[BigFatCat999]

Dear fellow Preds fans,

Milwaukee is REALLY good. Like REALLY good.

Signed,

BFC999

 

[Adz]

Preds played two games in Europe. That causes gaps

I suppose. But they're winning now, don't want them to forget what to do.

 

[adsfan]

I suppose. But they're winning now, don't want them to forget what to do.

Weren't you (and your sister) at those two games in Europe?

I seem to remember a group picture.

 

[ShagDaddy]

Dear fellow Preds fans,

Milwaukee is REALLY good. Like REALLY good.

Signed,

BFC999

Karl and the boys getting it done.

Honestly, I don’t think he’s part of this organization much longer. Some team is going to give him his shot behind the bench of an NHL team.

 

[GeauxPreds1]

Losing 9 of the first 12 back in North America set a tone here ... and these boards historically focus on the negative. The fact that the PP% is up to 17.9 after starting the season 1 for 26 is an impressive turnaround. The fact the team is winning games while Duchene has just one 5on5 goal for the season, Forsberg hasn't scored an ES goal since Nov 17 and he just snapped a four game goalless streak, Jeannot without a goal in 15 games, Nino with a five game goal drought ... getting the ugly wins with what should be secondary scoring is a positive, especially if our top goal scorers can get going.

Aren’t any goals good? Does it matter that they are even strength, on the power play, or empty netters? My opinions on a empty net goal is when we get one it pretty much guarantees that we get the win which makes it a pretty nice goal. I’ve seen you call out Duchene a lot on these boards. Matter of fact I’ve seen you call a lot of our big time players out when they are all close to be a point per game players. But you seem to defend our grinders on the regular. Now I don’t have anything against smith and think he has earn his right on this team but I would like to see more call ups from our young guys. Not
necessarily tomasino but Novak Evangelista or some other young prospect. I was excited to see us continue our youth movement. I wanted to see a youth line with glass tolvanen and tomasino but for whatever reason we haven’t got to see that.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Josi and McD are a very good pairing. This pairing leads the NHL with 104 minutes without a goal allowed right now.

It’s kind of weird because when McDonagh was first acquired wasn’t that everybody’s default plan? Except maybe with the sides switched since we had heard that McD could play RD ?

And then instead of doing either that OR last season’s “ain’t broke” option leaving Fabbro there, it took 20 games to get to what even the peanut gallery thought was the obvious first try?

 

[Predation]

It’s kind of weird because when McDonagh was first acquired wasn’t that everybody’s default plan? Except maybe with the sides switched since we had heard that McD could play RD ?

And then instead of doing either that OR last season’s “ain’t broke” option leaving Fabbro there, it took 20 games to get to what even the peanut gallery thought was the obvious first try?

Yes, it’s what everyone assumed would happen when he was first acquired. They even tried McD with Louzan before pairing him with Josi.

 

[101st_fan]

Aren’t any goals good? Does it matter that they are even strength, on the power play, or empty netters? My opinions on a empty net goal is when we get one it pretty much guarantees that we get the win which makes it a pretty nice goal. I’ve seen you call out Duchene a lot on these boards. Matter of fact I’ve seen you call a lot of our big time players out when they are all close to be a point per game players. But you seem to defend our grinders on the regular. Now I don’t have anything against smith and think he has earn his right on this team but I would like to see more call ups from our young guys. Not
necessarily tomasino but Novak Evangelista or some other young prospect. I was excited to see us continue our youth movement. I wanted to see a youth line with glass tolvanen and tomasino but for whatever reason we haven’t got to see that.

Empty net goals don't create or diminish a lead. They extend an already existing lead against a team in such a desperate situation that they've pulled their goalie. Duchene put up 21 goals 5on5 last sesaon ... one so far this. Considering that the majority of the game is played 5on5, how scoring goes in that scenario is meaningful. PP is overall secondary scoring for a team ... no team has reached 75 PP goals for a season going back to 2014-15. They are meaningful but its a situation where a team might get a fraction of a goal per game across a season versus multiple goals per game.

If you pay attention, I defend Smith in a role where he's fit so far. McCarron as a 4th line center worked last season as well. Neither is ready for 18+ ES minutes per game. It's the crucial difference in saying a player should play, period and that player X fits a role, player Y fits a different role and that developing for a certain role takes working in specified situations. Evangalista, Tomasino are working to be top 6 forwards, not grinders. Develop them for that role then when a spot opens, put them in it. Glass for all of his draft pedigree is working himself into a bottom six winger with his FO ineptitude and general unwillingness to cycle down and in ... his default is to look to the boards and point ... diametrically opposed to Parssinen who started the season as an AHL top 6, then stepped into that role for the Preds.

 

[Armourboy]

It's one of the reasons I'm not thrilled with Hynes. When we can call it out before the season starts and he won't even try it for 20 games someone needs to step back so they can see the forest for the trees.

 

[Predation]

It's one of the reasons I'm not thrilled with Hynes. When we can call it out before the season starts and he won't even try it for 20 games someone needs to step back so they can see the forest for the trees.

Yeah, the coaching staff was so married to idea of spreading the best guys throughout the defense pairs, that they overlooked the obvious pairing. At least they finally figured it out. Barring any injuries, I don’t expect any shuffling in the the top four for the rest of the season.

 

[Predsanddead24]

It's interesting that McDonagh has been seemingly much better defensively when paired with Josi versus Ekholm. Some of that may be finally settling in with a new team, but I wonder if him knowing that he is the guy to shut things down in the defensive zone versus trying to balance working with another defensive D.

 

[Armourboy]

It's interesting that McDonagh has been seemingly much better defensively when paired with Josi versus Ekholm. Some of that may be finally settling in with a new team, but I wonder if him knowing that he is the guy to shut things down in the defensive zone versus trying to balance working with another defensive D.

Some guys just work well together for some reason, even if it doesn't make a ton of sense. My guess is playing with Josi lets him simplify his own game. He doesn't need to really worry about moving the puck or anything like that with Josi on the ice.

 

[Predation]

If I’m not mistaken, that’s what McD did in Tampa. More of a defensive minded d man. Does anybody know who he was paired with mostly in Tampa?

 

[Scoresberg]

If I’m not mistaken, that’s what McD did in Tampa. More of a defensive minded d man. Does anybody know who he was paired with mostly in Tampa?

I think Cernak?

Think it was something like

Hedman - Rutta
McD - Cernak
Sergachev - Bogosian/Foote

 

[Predation]

I think Cernak?

Think it was something like

Hedman - Rutta
McD - Cernak
Sergachev - Bogosian/Foote

That was my first thought too, I couldn’t remember. Wow that’s a super solid defense though. Even David Ritich would be a Vezina candidate with a defense like that in front of him.

 

[Predsanddead24]

Well that sucks.

 

[Predation]

Well that sucks.

Shit

 

[Armourboy]

Figures just about the time the D group starts looking somewhat decent another one gets hurt. Now lets hope Hynes is smart enough just to move Fabbro up with Josi.