Post-Game Talk: The only thing in the mix, are the line combos... Habs lose to Capitals.

[CharleyHorse]

Jackeye is like - WTF did I do?

Well, exactly. The only reason Xhekaj did nothing was because he was watching from the press box, for doing nothing previously. If he can’t tighten up his game at this level, size and toughness won’t be enough. I’ve backed him for being our enforcer, but so far this season, he’s been a liability.

 

[Habs]

Well, exactly. The only reason Xhekaj did nothing was because he was watching from the press box, for doing nothing previously. If he can’t tighten up his game at this level, size and toughness won’t be enough. I’ve backed him for being our enforcer, but so far this season, he’s been a liability.

What about the rest of the gooftroops on the blueline? I think we are one game away from being beaten down so bad mentally and physically, players are going to be a in a personal hell. I would dress Pezz and Arbs the rest of the way

Struble has been awful, Barron still blows, Savard looks done so we are down to Guhle and Hutson at this point.

 

[CharleyHorse]

What about the rest of the gooftroops on the blueline? I think we are one game away from being beaten down so bad mentally and physically, players are going to be a in a personal hell. I would dress Pezz and Arbs the rest of the way

Struble has been awful, Barron still blows, Savard looks done so we are down to Guhle and Hutson at this point.

Oh, shit - 1000%. I was focusing on Xhekaj because that's who you named in your post, but yeah, the whole blueline (as are many of the forwaards in their defensive responsibilities) is hot garbage. Their reactions to incoming plays have been brutal. It’s like watching them get caught in headlights over and over. The decision-making is rough, game in and game out.

 

[eurodin]

Ironically, I think the team is doing more good this year than last, its just that what they're doing worse is much worse. The special teams is clearly improved and they're getting more chances offensively. But they have been beyond putrid in their own zone, are incredibly sloppy with the puck management and are worse at forechecking.

They were more responsible with the puck last year, which helped their goalies keep them in games, even though they weren't really "in" the games.

What hockey team are you watching? More good than bad? I have never seen a forum/thread so united with same opinion. You are the outlier.

What about the rest of the gooftroops on the blueline? I think we are one game away from being beaten down so bad mentally and physically, players are going to be a in a personal hell. I would dress Pezz and Arbs the rest of the way

Struble has been awful, Barron still blows, Savard looks done so we are down to Guhle and Hutson at this point.

Everyone is done defensively and look lost. Everyone speaks highly of Guhle, I am not even sure he is going to be good. We need 3 solid stay at home Dman with a good outlet pass.

 

[Walrus26]

Late response but I see terrible team play. Multiple times a game I see great individual efforts that end up nowhere because teammates are either mispositioned to receive any possible puck movement, usually in the defensive zone, or are changing in the offensive zone. Leaving the zone to cheat defensively or, most importantly, offensively is also an issue doubly compounded when there is no coherent system in place. Sometime I can't even count, because I run out of fingers and toes, how many times a forward wins a puck puck battle but all four of his teammates are already outside the zone to 'defend'. Still get blasted 8-2 or 6-3 somehow.

So properly onto the three things you mentioned, I see compete from a decent amount of players, almost all young. DVO and a few other vets can be fired from a canon though. (Small note: Caufield barely competes but is turning into our version of Ovi so he makes up for it+ elsewhere. Dach.....) Individual decision-making is sorta addressed as best it can be in the first paragraph without going into each individual. Team cohesion would naturally be a consequence of good individual decision-making if a proper system were in place that the players could reference during their sometimes literal split-second decision making.

TL;DR The coach sucks.

I always appreciate someone taking the time to give a thoughtful response

I'll agree with you on the pockets of individual compete, and I think we broadly agree on the damage being done by the apparent lack of a meaningful - and above all, implementable - framework for the team to use in all 3 zones.

As for your conclusion?

 

[Habssince89]

There's nothing to sell sadly outside of Savard. Don't think anyone will be interested in Dvorak and Armia they'll spend the year here like Pearson last year.

Evans