Listen all, shitty way to end a great season… I get it everyone is mad. I am too.
Fact of the matter is this is overall a young squad who should be good for a while with cheap reinforcements of the exact type of players we need coming up the pipe.
Besides Trochek and solid play from Goodrow, it’s was our Vets that really let us don’t and didn’t carry the water. You need to lean on your vets for primary chances. We didn’t get that this series
From our 30 years old and older crowd..
Kreider, was meh and Panarin and Zibby were down right non-existent.
The meter also came due on or TDL additions. Not enough firepower and guts added, and it showed against a heavy vet battle tested squad like the panthers.
There is no easy solution for hard work and compete level… it sucks, it hurts, and no one likes to do it. But it’s like taking strong shitty tasting medicine to make you feel better.
The more you do it, the more it becomes natural.
Trouba and Panarin are on borrowed time here. 2 years or sooner will go by quick.
Zibby is a problem for another day.
As good as Lavi was all year, he made some bad non-adjustments throughout this series and it cost us.
The main culprit being the PP. as soon as it was evident they were rushing Fox and leaving behind their net open, Panarin should have set up shop behind there being arguably our most gifted passer next to Fox.
Using the net as a barrier, it would have at least gave him an extra second to feed the puck from there, much like Gretzky used to do as he went up in age.
Not getting laf on a dwindling PP when he’s your hottest offensive weapon is also puzzling. The PP isn’t some sacred Cow, he switched up line combos enough, I think if he could do it over, he would.
We all know a 1 legged Fox isn’t the real Fox either. I’m sure others are also playing injured/hurt as well. It’s that time of the year.
If I’m Drury, I start the changing of the guard in regards to team leadership as fast as this offseason.
I’m ok with Goodie/Trochek taking larger roles in that dept.
Adding Edstrom/Jones/Berard as full timers should up the talent level and make us harder to play against.
Miller and Schneider need to take another step next year as well.
Fox should no longer being killing penalties on this team unless it’s an emergency.
I could go on, but there are def moves to be made….
This place might be insufferable in the offseason, so I prob won’t post as much til season gets rolling next year….
Take a deep breath, it’s only the beginning.
I hope you all have a happy, healthy, and prosperous year.
-jay