GDT: Sharks vs. Red Wings: Robocop Edition, 7:30 PM PST, CSN-CA

[Hatrick Marleau]

I'm not happy with Marleau. We should trade him.

Maybe we should, Jumbo and Patty haven't got us a cup. However, Marleau was up there with Cooch and Nemo for best Shark tonight.

 

[WTFetus]

As for the offense, I actually think it's time to put back the original top 6 and let them ride this out. Clowe may suck right now but he is still our 6th best forward.

Eh, I like the Couture - Thornton - Havlat line. The 2nd line will eventually click once Gomez builds some chemistry and Pavelski actually plays up to expectations.
Gomez isn't a Top-6 caliber player, but two first-line wingers by his side make up for it. It gives that line a lot more speed with Gomez on it too.

 

[Alwalys]

Murray wasn't sitting when Burns was playing. What pattern at this point would indicate otherwise?

At some point Murray will have to be traded or sat. He's getting his time now like Handzus was last year but when push comes to shove he'll have to be out just like last year. And the team will suddenly go on a run, just like last year.

 

[Mafoofoo]

Maybe we should, Jumbo and Patty haven't got us a cup. However, Marleau was up there with Cooch and Nemo for best Shark tonight.

No I say we trade Patty, and keep Thornton. Thornton needs to retire a Shark and have his number raised into the rafters.

 

[Alwalys]

Eh, I like the Couture - Thorton - Havlat line. The 2nd line will eventually click once Gomez builds some chemistry and Pavelski actually plays up to expectations.
Gomez isn't a Top-6 caliber player, but two first-line wingers by his side make up for it. It gives that line a lot more speed with Gomez on it too.

I do too, putting clowe back up doesn't necessarily mean in the same configuration. You might be right about gomez though. but at this point I don't know if it's worth the risk. i'd rather have him centering the 3rd with wingels and sheppard.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Eh, I like the Couture - Thorton - Havlat line. The 2nd line will eventually click once Gomez builds some chemistry and Pavelski actually plays up to expectations.
Gomez isn't a Top-6 caliber player, but two first-line wingers by his side make up for it. It gives that line a lot more speed with Gomez on it too.

Couture-Thornton-Havlat look good but Havlat is out of place on that line. I think Marleau would be better on that line. Couture and Thornton make that line click right now and I wouldn't be opposed to mixing it up but keeping that duo together for now. Maybe throw Sheppard in there and see how it works. Either him or Marleau depending on what you want the other lines to look like.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

I can understand why both Patty and Jumbo slowed up there and are looking for the pass. Their angles as a left hand shot down the side is poor. And as much as they like to say pass the puck off the goalie pads, in that situation with that positioning, that's not a good play either.

If there was another option, especially for Marleau, it would have been to try and toe-drag it to the middle of the ice, build a wall, and try to get the goalie off his angle for a shot but it's still not a high chance of success there. Havlat didn't play the role of receiver very well on either rush.

For all the crap Clowe has taken..Havlat has been just as bad. Clowe just can't buy a ****in goal right now but hes playing much better and keeping his emotions in check(for a the most part). Havlat has been getting worse and worse. Shying away from the tough areas..the loafing on 2 on 1's. Its frustrating.

 

[Hatrick Marleau]

No I say we trade Patty, and keep Thornton. Thornton needs to retire a Shark and have his number raised into the rafters.

You are entitled to your own opinion.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

For all the crap Clowe has taken..Havlat has been just as bad. Clowe just can't buy a ****in goal right now but hes playing much better and keeping his emotions in check(for a the most part). Havlat has been getting worse and worse. Shying away from the tough areas..the loafing on 2 on 1's. Its frustrating.

I really don't blame anyone from shying away from the front of the net right now. Along the boards though, you won't get any sympathy from me. But anyone going to the front of the net is being hung out to dry by the puck-handlers not putting the puck there. Marleau, Couture, and Pavelski have all gone through that and it's only a matter of time before one of them gets hurt with how long they have to stand there before the puck gets there, if it gets there at all.

 

[WTFetus]

Couture-Thornton-Havlat look good but Havlat is out of place on that line. I think Marleau would be better on that line. Couture and Thornton make that line click right now and I wouldn't be opposed to mixing it up but keeping that duo together for now. Maybe throw Sheppard in there and see how it works. Either him or Marleau depending on what you want the other lines to look like.

Not that it'd make a significant difference, but has Marleau or Couture played RW before? I like Marleau or Sheppard with Thornton, but those two are the only reasons the 2nd and 3rd lines look decent right now.

 

[lsx]

you're giving him too little. burns is a part of our core. him being in a bad way with injuries is a major, major loss for us.

Team can't score because of missing defenseman. Ok.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Not that it'd make a significant difference, but has Marleau or Couture played RW before? I like Marleau or Sheppard with Thornton, but those two are the only reasons the 2nd and 3rd lines look decent right now.

Well one of them does on the power play so I'm sure they can make a go of it at even strength. They're all intelligent players that played center extensively. They can figure it out. lol

 

[Gene Parmesan]

I really don't blame anyone from shying away from the front of the net right now. Along the boards though, you won't get any sympathy from me. But anyone going to the front of the net is being hung out to dry by the puck-handlers not putting the puck there. Marleau, Couture, and Pavelski have all gone through that and it's only a matter of time before one of them gets hurt with how long they have to stand there before the puck gets there, if it gets there at all.

I'm talking about Havlat bailing out of the boards and corners and just being soft on the puck. I think the guys you mentioned along with Sheppard, Clowe and Zus have done a good job getting to the net but like you said the puck never gets there or its wide looking for that play off the boards.

 

[Negatively Positive]

Wasn't Havlat supposed to miss this game and he was given a day off from practice. He's probably nursing an injury.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Not that it'd make a significant difference, but has Marleau or Couture played RW before? I like Marleau or Sheppard with Thornton, but those two are the only reasons the 2nd and 3rd lines look decent right now.

Third line i'd roll with is Clowe-Zus-Sheppard/Wingels.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I'm talking about Havlat bailing out of the boards and corners and just being soft on the puck. I think the guys you mentioned along with Sheppard, Clowe and Zus have done a good job getting to the net but like you said the puck never gets there or its wide looking for that play off the boards.

Havlat has always played like that though so that's not surprising to me. Disappointing to some extent sure but not unexpected. lol I can live with that kind of board play if you're doing something with the puck since you're essentially trying to be a puck scavenger all the time letting others do the heavy lifting.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Wasn't Havlat supposed to miss this game and he was given a day off from practice. He's probably nursing an injury.

He needed a "maintenance" day.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Part of the problem is hanging on to the puck too long at the blue line. Near the end of regulation there, I saw Marleau at the very tail end of his shift camping in front of the net and Thornton is just dangling the puck while skating from the half-boards up to the blue line and eventually out when there was a good few moments for him to at least take a shot and he just doesn't. Part of the problem with them not scoring is that hesitation at the blue line. You're not doing your teammates any favors by hanging on to the puck while he's taking punishment in front of the net.

It's the one thing I despise about Boyle. He knows better than to do that but sometimes he hesitates too. It is human nature sometimes. However, that is a major sticking point to them putting goals on the board is that puck play at the blue line.

IMO, part of the reason for this is the lack of trust between teammates. Everyone has messed up their roles so bad, there is no trust in the linemate to do his job.

 

[Alwalys]

Team can't score because of missing defenseman. Ok.

that's a strawman BUT what i did actually say is related. burns is a big differencemaker in our transition game and this team is one that strongly believes in offense coming from defense. the vlasic-stuart pair doesn't move the puck well at all, so we lose a major puckmoving defensive pair.

but the point I am making is, not much we can do with the roster can compare to burns coming back and playing well. trading away big guns is giving up. small moves are small. we don't have the space or assets to do much else. lines have been jumbled enough to know that there's no secret line combo that will explode. sitting murray might be a big benefit, but even then burns in or out is a big difference.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Havlat has always played like that though so that's not surprising to me. Disappointing to some extent sure but not unexpected. lol I can live with that kind of board play if you're doing something with the puck since you're essentially trying to be a puck scavenger all the time letting others do the heavy lifting.

Hes not though. JT and Couture are doing all the work. He just isn't fitting with any line. Its kind of funny..the best game he's had lately has been with Burish and Gali

 

[OrrNumber4]

that's a strawman BUT what i did actually say is related. burns is a big differencemaker in our transition game and this team is one that strongly believes in offense coming from defense.

but the point I am making is, not much we can do with the roster can compare to burns coming back and playing well. trading away big guns is giving up. small moves are small. we don't have the space or assets to do much else. lines have been jumbled enough to know that there's no secret line combo that will explode. sitting murray might be a big benefit, but even then burns in or out is another big difference.

There is only so much one player can do.

 

[SactoShark]

I really don't blame anyone from shying away from the front of the net right now. Along the boards though, you won't get any sympathy from me. But anyone going to the front of the net is being hung out to dry by the puck-handlers not putting the puck there. Marleau, Couture, and Pavelski have all gone through that and it's only a matter of time before one of them gets hurt with how long they have to stand there before the puck gets there, if it gets there at all.

Front of the net is overrated anyway. Half the time you end up another shot blocker.

Win battles on the boards and get the puck to someone moving around in the slot.

 

[WTFetus]

that's a strawman BUT what i did actually say is related. burns is a big differencemaker in our transition game and this team is one that strongly believes in offense coming from defense. the vlasic-stuart pair doesn't move the puck well at all, so we lose a major puckmoving defensive pair.

but the point I am making is, not much we can do with the roster can compare to burns coming back and playing well. trading away big guns is giving up. small moves are small. we don't have the space or assets to do much else. lines have been jumbled enough to know that there's no secret line combo that will explode. sitting murray might be a big benefit, but even then burns in or out is another big difference.

It's not so much Burns, but just scratching Murray and playing Demers. Demers helps a lot on the transition.

Win battles on the boards and get the puck to someone moving around in the slot.

That's practically all the Sedins' do.

 

[Alwalys]

Wasn't Havlat supposed to miss this game and he was given a day off from practice. He's probably nursing an injury.

saw him stretching out his groin area between shifts it looked like.

There is only so much one player can do.

yep. doesn't change the fact that burns is the largest positive change this roster is likely to see.

 

[Mafoofoo]

Hes not though. JT and Couture are doing all the work. He just isn't fitting with any line. Its kind of funny..the best game he's had lately has been with Burish and Gali

Well then switch him and Sheppard. Give Sheppard a shot to roll with the big dogs and put Havlat where he's shown to have had success.