GDT: Wild at Canes - And now the left skate

[Blueline Bomber]

This is the first time I’ve really honestly felt like we’re better off without him, and maybe the first time I’ve seen what Rod sees. I’m ok with him falling short of expectations and being a Staal-lite generic roster filler type player. But a player like that needs to have an inherent competitive edge that makes him difficult to play against. If he’s a guy who goes soft when things don’t feel good, trade him to your rival for nothing. It’ll pay off in Game 7.

You're going to criticize the guy for not putting forth effort on the forecheck in a 3-0 game with 20 seconds left? Like, come on.

The good news about tonight's game is that they'll be well rested for Pittsburgh tomorrow, because no one showed up tonight

 

[Slapshottothehead]

Team needs to bench some guys. Get some AHL guys with heart up here or scour the waiver wire. This game was beyond pathetic.

 

[tarheelhockey]

You're going to criticize the guy for not putting forth effort on the forecheck in a 3-0 game with 20 seconds left? Like, come on.

When your linemate is openly waving at you to do your job during live play, that’s a really ugly look.

What has Kotkaniemi done to earn the right to work less hard than the guy next to him?

 

[Joe McGrath]

When your linemate is openly waving at you to do your job during live play, that’s a really ugly look.

What has Kotkaniemi done to earn the right to work less hard than the guy next to him?

Well he got punched in the face, sat on, and hit with a slap shot by his own guy to get the GWG scored in the last game.

 

[User13452]

Team needs to bench some guys. Get some AHL guys with heart up here or scour the waiver wire. This game was beyond pathetic.

They gotta make a uncomfortable move trade someone who’s been here for a while shakeup the core it’s been how many years with the same results

 

[Blueline Bomber]

When your linemate is openly waving at you to do your job during live play, that’s a really ugly look.

What has Kotkaniemi done to earn the right to work less hard than the guy next to him?

Please, it's no different than what every player does when the game is nearing its end. They run out the clock and wait for the final horn. Every team does it if there's zero chance of a comeback.

If you want to criticize a lack of effort or physicality, feel free. But in garbage time of a game that's effectively over? You're going to have to call out a LOT of players if that's the hill you want to stand on

 

[MyLuckyPuck]

Team needs to bench some guys. Get some AHL guys with heart up here or scour the waiver wire. This game was beyond pathetic.

I just saw a “good” but flawed team (us), play a surgical machine with good goal tending and a great mix of grit and talent playing with confidence (Wild) Sometimes you just lose to the better team. If this is a preview of what it’s going to look like when you face an elite playoff team, it’s up to management to make the next move. I don’t disagree that some sort of shakeup might be in order. I’m looking at a Zucker, or a Tolvanen. I personally think I have seen enough of the Kochetkov experiment. Needs more simmer time. Unfortunately I think the goalie market is sparse. Thanks

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Well he got punched in the face, sat on, and hit with a slap shot by his own guy to get the GWG scored in the last game.

And had a great FLA game outside of that as well. Physical, blocked some key shots, etc

 

[Joe McGrath]

And had a great FLA game outside of that as well. Physical, blocked some key shots, etc

He’s also the only guy on the team that at least pretends to give a shit when someone gets run.

His effort level is not his problem.

 

[The Jerk Store]

Tonight's GDT should be renamed "...Two Left Skates" to more accurately reflect tonight's clumsy effort. I will never understand this team's reluctance to shoot the puck. Are they playing under duress? Is there an unknown sinister individual in the shadows threatening harm if they shoot the puck? The strategy of passing to nobody in particular needs to be reconsidered. If I brought a cat to the game, would it see the spectre of the mysterious presence that everyone is keen on passing to? 50/50 puck battles should be renamed 30/70 puck battles. And in Burns' case, 25/75.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Please, it's no different than what every player does when the game is nearing its end. They run out the clock and wait for the final horn. Every team does it if there's zero chance of a comeback.

If you want to criticize a lack of effort or physicality, feel free. But in garbage time of a game that's effectively over? You're going to have to call out a LOT of players if that's the hill you want to stand on

It was literally different than the guy standing right next to him.

Yes it’s garbage time, but this ain’t the NBA where you drop the ball and walk away with the clock running down.

Again I’m not saying go take runs at people, I’m not saying shoot high through traffic. Show some common sense for safety. But if there’s enough time left to score a goal, you should still be playing hockey. Straight-up quitting a shift while getting shut out at home is disgraceful. It speaks to a level of “quit” that I can’t imagine Rod being OK with.

Frankly I might even tolerate it from some flaky star like Hamilton or Semin, because they’re guys who can actually win you that game. Granted that same mental softness is going to bring your team down eventually, but at least it’s something. KK, though? Please.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

It was literally different than the guy standing right next to him.

Yes it’s garbage time, but this ain’t the NBA where you drop the ball and walk away with the clock running down.

Again I’m not saying go take runs at people, I’m not saying shoot high through traffic. Show some common sense for safety. But if there’s enough time left to score a goal, you should still be playing hockey. Straight-up quitting a shift while getting shut out at home is disgraceful. It speaks to a level of “quit” that I can’t imagine Rod being OK with.

Frankly I might even tolerate it from some flaky star like Hamilton or Semin, because they’re guys who can actually win you that game. Granted that same mental softness is going to bring your team down eventually, but at least it’s something. KK, though? Please.

Again, there was 20 seconds left. No amount of token forecheck was going to generate a goal in that situation.

And yes, teams "drop the ball and walk away" in hockey all the time. Countless times we've seen games end where the last minute of play is just both sides going through the motions. Dump the puck in, pass back and forth between defensemen, etc. We literally saw it a few games ago against the Devils.

I know you know that too, which is why it's odd you're deciding to call out KK for doing it now, when again, it's common practice for every team in a blowout game.

 

[Joe McGrath]

It was literally different than the guy standing right next to him.

Yes it’s garbage time, but this ain’t the NBA where you drop the ball and walk away with the clock running down.

Again I’m not saying go take runs at people, I’m not saying shoot high through traffic. Show some common sense for safety. But if there’s enough time left to score a goal, you should still be playing hockey. Straight-up quitting a shift while getting shut out at home is disgraceful. It speaks to a level of “quit” that I can’t imagine Rod being OK with.

Frankly I might even tolerate it from some flaky star like Hamilton or Semin, because they’re guys who can actually win you that game. Granted that same mental softness is going to bring your team down eventually, but at least it’s something. KK, though? Please.

I get it, but also, why bother if no one else does? If I’m KK, a guy who isn’t tough at all but for some reason has to fight every battle this team has, why am i going balls out when everyone else has checked out?

They should trade Necas to appease zDevils fans. No more divers!

 

[User13452]

The team played a totally different game vs Florida they were physical right from the start and engaged it’s almost like they had that one circled on the calendar after the last 2 losses against Florida and then this game they forgot Minnesota was actually good cause I didn’t see the same type of physicality and the numbers back it up 34 hits against Florida and 11 tonight

 

[tarheelhockey]

Again, there was 20 seconds left. No amount of token forecheck was going to generate a goal in that situation.

And yes, teams "drop the ball and walk away" in hockey all the time. Countless times we've seen games end where the last minute of play is just both sides going through the motions. Dump the puck in, pass back and forth between defensemen, etc. We literally saw it a few games ago against the Devils.

I know you know that too, which is why it's odd you're deciding to call out KK for doing it now, when again, it's common practice for every team in a blowout game.

Ok, role-playing exercise: your team is getting embarrassed 4-0 at home, and you have the puck all alone in your own zone for the last shift. What do you do?

If your answer is “slowly coast my way up ice while looking up at the scoreboard, then do some S-curves in the neutral zone for no reason, then half-heartedly flip the puck to the back wall, then drift to the net without moving my feet while watching my incredulous teammate pressure the D to come around the net right to the point where I’m supposed to be standing, then just kind of turn around and drift back to the bench like I don’t give a shit”, then you’re not a guy I want in my foxhole.

Sure teams go through the motions late in blowout, but they still exhibit a baseline level of compete. For a player to ever just blatantly switch that off and sulk around the ice is bad, but especially when that’s the same guy we’re relying on to bring a competitive grinding edge for several more years.

It was some late-career Eric Staal bullshit, embarrassing to watch. Losing is bad, failing to compete is worse. And the one coach in the entire NHL who holds that standard more than anyone else, is the same guy who can’t seem to stand this particular player.

 

[DaveG]

Surprisingly, Tito's makes me feel terrible after a few sips. And, it's everywhere.

Somehow have never had Tito's. Most of my vodka days were back in college and I've moved to gin and (quality) tequila since then.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Ok, role-playing exercise: your team is getting embarrassed 4-0 at home, and you have the puck all alone in your own zone for the last shift. What do you do?

If your answer is “slowly coast my way up ice while looking up at the scoreboard, then do some S-curves in the neutral zone for no reason, then half-heartedly flip the puck to the back wall, then drift to the net without moving my feet while watching my incredulous teammate pressure the D to come around the net right to the point where I’m supposed to be standing, then just kind of turn around and drift back to the bench like I don’t give a shit”, then you’re not a guy I want in my foxhole.

Sure teams go through the motions late in blowout, but they still exhibit a baseline level of compete. For a player to ever just blatantly switch that off and sulk around the ice is bad, but especially when that’s the same guy we’re relying on to bring a competitive grinding edge for several more years.

It was some late-career Eric Staal bullshit, embarrassing to watch. Losing is bad, failing to compete is worse. And the one coach in the entire NHL who holds that standard more than anyone else, is the same guy who can’t seem to stand this particular player.

Alright, we’ll agree to disagree here. I think you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. I’d be right there with you if it were a different game situation, but 20 seconds left in a 4-0 loss that showed a complete lack of compete from the entire team? Yeah, I’m not getting too worked up over the lack of a token forecheck.

If anything, showing a compete level from anyone in that situation after that game would feel insulting. It’d be basically saying “Oh, I waited until NOW to actually try in this game”, which WAS late-career Eric Staal bullshit.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Alright, we’ll agree to disagree here.

I’m good with that, especially this part:

If anything, showing a compete level from anyone in that situation after that game would feel insulting.

Which I couldn’t disagree with more. Sign me up for acquiring players that don’t openly quit.

 

[Wolfpuck]

Okay, beat the Pens and we’ll call it even.

 

[BadgerCane58]

Jarvis may never score again

And Svech And Necas….

 

[BadgerCane58]

And Sunday they’ll beat the Penguins and everything will be alright. No it won’t be!
Maybe if they get beat by the Penguins, the FO will actually/finally do something! Damn…..

 

[AD Skinner]

Maybe I’m seeing a pattern that’s not really there but they seem to give a lot less of a shit against western conference teams

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I mean, that one was a great example where the shooter had a book on him and made him look like a fool. Goalies who throw poke checks at every other breakaway can count on skaters shooting as soon as they start the poke check motion.

Nah, that shot hits Kochetkov and the analysis is about how responsible the poke check was because of how he created layers with his body or whatever.

 

[Borsig]

PK is never going to be more than a good backup unless something drastic changes. And I hate to say it.

 

[Stickpucker]

I just saw a “good” but flawed team (us), play a surgical machine with good goal tending and a great mix of grit and talent playing with confidence (Wild) Sometimes you just lose to the better team. If this is a preview of what it’s going to look like when you face an elite playoff team, it’s up to management to make the next move. I don’t disagree that some sort of shakeup might be in order. I’m looking at a Zucker, or a Tolvanen. I personally think I have seen enough of the Kochetkov experiment. Needs more simmer time. Unfortunately I think the goalie market is sparse. Thanks

Didn't we just see a Stanley Cup champion?