I think Lil is great, but if we're saying he's better than Holl as a no.6, we're venturing into overrated territory. He will be better than Holl eventually, but that day isn't this season.
Holl as permanent no.6 and we get a no.4 is an amazing D corps. That's my wish. Holl would be one of the best no.6 in the entire league. I wouldn't trade him. Worth his cap hit.
If it's Holl no.4 and Lil no.6, Muzzin needs to wake up asap or we are in deep trouble. I'm actually terrified about our second pairing right now.
When I say no.6 I'm numbering it as they dress 1=LHD1/2=RHD1 etc.
They are going to trust Muzzin to get out of his funk. I think the group you see now if the group we are going with, and you have to keep in mind that even with Muzzin making some questionable IQ decisions, we are still an excellent defensive team and he is actually still doing quite well defensively on the whole, especially since that Covid stoppage. His offensive game is much worse unfortunately.
I think Tavares and Nylander will get out of their funks too. Before that Covid stoppage, they were excellent. After, they are still generating chances fairly well, but they are not going in as much. Ironically, the opposite of Muzzin, who has played significantly better (at both ends) since getting some rest. I guess that should not come as a major surprise, but it does cause some concern if he can't handle the playoff workload.
Our #1 concern is easily goaltending right now though. Our defense has mostly top 5 metrics in 2022, and had top 10 metrics for most of the 2021 part of the season too. Our goaltending has been bottom 5 in 2022, it is the same thing that has killed us over and over again in years past. HDSV% is 31st and only slightly better than Philly, who is last. It is at 71.93% vs. 71.65%. 30th is 75.23%. You want things to look better, that has to be better. SV% overall is 5th worst. We can't win with sub .890 goaltending at ES when all of our competition is getting .915's or better. Florida has a .928. Tampa has a .914. We have an .890. With Muzzin or Liljegren on the ice, we are getting under .850. Some of that may be on them, but Campbell especially needs to be a lot better. Mrazek hasn't been stellar himself, especially with high danger stuff, but at least he has a .915 save percentage at ES. He saves most of the stuff he needs to save, and really, that is really all we need to win right now. Our team is that good.
