Post-Game Talk: Young Ducks beat Jets 4-1

[FonRiesen]

This is just it. I love Wheeler and truly don't feel like harping on the guy. He's great. Maurice is really putting him in the line of fire and it's not fair to anybody.

I agree. Cappy has an important place on the team and it hurts his image and the team to misuse him like Mau did last year and so far this year. Is he still injured?

 

[Whileee]

I'll grant you that.

Some people here think we just got goalied. If they are correct in that, then the statement that playing like that will win 9 times out of ten is no worse than a little hyperbole. That was one of the weakest teams in the league, so maybe 5 or 6 in ten would be more like it.

I don't think that we were goalied. I think we made Gibson look good with perimeter shots. I think both our D and our goalie were weak. If we play like that, we are going to give up a lot of goals. I don't expect that combination to be the norm. But if it is, we need to score a lot of goals to win. We won't score a lot of goals from the poor scoring chances we generated last night. Therefore, I don't think playing that way wins any games. Except, I guess if we play another weak team like Anaheim and that weak team has an off night like the one we had last night.

Some people are responding to me like I said we should expect that kind of crap every game. I didn't say that. I'm commenting on that game. It was a stinker. I don't see any need to try and sugar coat it.

I expect much better next time.

...

 

[Jack7222]

If we absolutely have to have Wheels in the top line, I'd like to see something like:

Ehlers - Schief - Wheeler
Connor - Dubois - Perfetti
Copp - Lowry - Vesa
Harkins - Stastny - Svech or Stastny - Nash - Svech


To my eye Perfetti is ready to contribute with skilled linemates. He's been trying some things with Lowry that Lowry is just not really on the same page for...

 

[DRW204]

so anaheim basically produced the same amount of xGF on nearly half the shot-attempts

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[King Woodballs]

One game and this thread is all ready to fall off the cliff

 

[DRW204]

well, who is the one that keeps putting him there? who is the coach?

Then he is part of the problem and should be stripped of his C and I'm not joking.

A coach needs to utilize players to their strengths no matter what their status is on the team. Wheeler has no shot any longer and was an incredibly poor choice for that spot and if he's there because of pride the he can give the C to someone who is willing to step aside for the betterment of the team.

 

[Jimmyjets]

I just look at it like we had more than enough chances to score enough goals to win that game. both of Anaheim's first 2 goals I think Helle would want back. The 2 deflections on the powerplay are what they are. That's a good play and one we don't employ enough but if you can get those touches good things will happen for you.

I wish we would have won that one but at least there will be some serious heat for the Home Opener now. You always just hope to go 50% on the road so if they win the next 2 games with Scheif back in the fold it will have been a successful road trip.

 

[surixon]

well, who is the one that keeps putting him there? who is the coach?

Well Maurice needs recognize that his captain isn't close to the player he once was as well and modify his role accordingly.

Can Moe do that, I have me doubts based on what we've seen.

 

[Cypruss]

Wheeler's one-timer attempts were embarrassing. Wasn't just one muffed shot, either...

I thought our PP had some good movement and possession, but it helps nothing if we don't get quality shots on goal or deflections/screens.

Not the muffed shot, more the muffin of a shot that was the problem......

 

[Whileee]

Well Maurice needs recognize that his captain isn't close to the player he once was as well and modify his role accordingly.

Maurice had reduced Wheeler's role in the past few seasons, with his ice-time reducing from 20:43 per game in 2018/19 to 18:20 last season (his lowest with the Jets).

 

[surixon]

Maurice had reduced Wheeler's role in the past few seasons, with his ice-time reducing from 20:43 per game in 2018/19 to 18:20 last season (his lowest with the Jets).

I was talking about his spot on the pp last night and the plays they were looking to run.

Needs to stay in that 17-18 minute range but should also play against softer competition. He can't hard match any longer.

 

[ps241]

So I only watched the 1st period due to sleep requirements but there was lots to like from what I saw.

Never like losing but even the lotto teams (notwithstanding the Wings) tend to get 62 to 68 points in an 82 game season.

 

[B33R LEAGUE]

Wheeler's slow starts are like clock work.

If history has shown us anything, it's that his game gets exponentially better as the season goes on. This is the case with most players, but especially Wheels.

I would like to see him pick up where he left off during his time on the PP last Season.

Last year, he was an absolute killer down low along the boards and behind the net on the PP as he dished passes in front of the net to Scheifele and Connor.

I could be wrong, but it seems as though the PP has strayed away from the down-low cycle play and adopted a new strategy.

I noticed there was lots of cross ice passes looking for one timers around the middle/top of the circle.

I would like to see Wheeler use his size a little more down low in hopes of generating opportunity in the slot.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Weezeric]

If the first game is any indication, this place is going to be a gong show this year…

 

[Huffer]

so anaheim basically produced the same amount of xGF on nearly half the shot-attempts

That's my main issue with the game as well. I know it's only game 1, but we're a better team than Anaheim on paper. But it's the same story year after year. We bleed High Danger chances against, and neither Huddy, or Maurice have done anything to address it. We've just had Hellebucyk play at an elite level with his expected saves above average being insane, otherwise this team would be at the bottom of the league. And on the flip side, we generated lot's of "shots" but we're not getting into the high danger areas on offense.

 

[Finnflash]

Next game is make or break. Really the season is coming down to it.

 

[surixon]

That's my main issue with the game as well. I know it's only game 1, but we're a better team than Anaheim on paper. But it's the same story year after year. We bleed High Danger chances against, and neither Huddy, or Maurice have done anything to address it. We've just had Hellebucyk play at an elite level with his expected saves above average being insane, otherwise this team would be at the bottom of the league. And on the flip side, we generated lot's of "shots" but we're not getting into the high danger areas on offense.

I'm willing to give it 10 games before I start to panic about it. New scheme that still needs some refinement.

Having said that I have always had questions as to whether Maurice has the hockey acume to coach a new aged offensive game plan. It's how this team has been constructed by Chevy and his moves this year and recent draft picks further double down on that concept.

He wants a fast team that retrieves and moves the puck out of its end quickly. He wants a skilled team that attacks through the nz quickly. His forwards are mostly skilled guys that need a scheme to open up slot chances to take advantage of our shooting talent. It's the last point I have not really ever seen anything from Maurice where I think he's capable of driving such a scheme. His default cycle game is far too conventional.

 

[Howard Chuck]

wheeler is not forgoing that spot to a rookie, lets be real

Which is no way to be a winning team. I don’t care who has more seniority, everyone needs to earn their spot.

 

[DRW204]

The Anaheim c depth was old man Getzlaf and 3 rookies. They were 0.5 years off the youngest team in the nhl (average age). The Jets are a vet laden team with high talent and experience all around.

That's a game we should be dominating, especially down the middle. I didn't see any of that. Yes we didn't have scheifele, but PLD with all his experience and pedigree should dominate C depth of Getzlaf/zegras/lundestrom/groulx? Ditto for Lowry or Stastny. Seriously even without scheifele we should have dominated this team but I found it far to much easy saves for Gibson.

Our fwds had 20 shots.... Ehlers had 8 of them. But all I hear is ehlers just dipsy doodles enters the zone doesn't do shit. Should play less etc.

Before ppl jump on me
Yes yes game 1. Nothing has changed as far my full year projections (top 2-3 in the central), but am just commenting on the game.

That's my main issue with the game as well. I know it's only game 1, but we're a better team than Anaheim on paper. But it's the same story year after year. We bleed High Danger chances against, and neither Huddy, or Maurice have done anything to address it. We've just had Hellebucyk play at an elite level with his expected saves above average being insane, otherwise this team would be at the bottom of the league. And on the flip side, we generated lot's of "shots" but we're not getting into the high danger areas on offense.

 

[DRW204]

Which is no way to be a winning team. I don’t care who has more seniority, everyone needs to earn their spot.

I mean wheeler is one of the top play makers in the nhl. He has earned it he's still one of the two best options on rw on the team.

But a rookie usurpsing just won't happen. Laine for example had a 36 goal/74 gp rookie year as a 18 YO. followed it up 44g in 16.5mins/gp (only player to ever do that), and that didn't usurp wheeler. It might take a 50-60 goal 2rw to usurp wheeler

Thats why I kinda lol at some lines with svech or ves or Harkins in the top 6.... Wheeler isn't getting bounced for ehlers, you think far inferior players will play ahead of him? No chance.

 

[Imcanadianeh]

That's my main issue with the game as well. I know it's only game 1, but we're a better team than Anaheim on paper. But it's the same story year after year. We bleed High Danger chances against, and neither Huddy, or Maurice have done anything to address it. We've just had Hellebucyk play at an elite level with his expected saves above average being insane, otherwise this team would be at the bottom of the league. And on the flip side, we generated lot's of "shots" but we're not getting into the high danger areas on offense.

I’ve said it before, Hellebuyck doesn’t have good rebound control and is one of the reasons the Jets have so many high danger shots against all the time, I don’t know what his chest protector is made of but it certainly doesn’t like absorbing shots and he’s not very good at kicking/redirecting pucks off his pads anywhere other than the slot.

 

[Adam da bomb]

I mean wheeler is one of the top play makers in the nhl. He has earned it he's still one of the two best options on rw on the team.

But a rookie usurpsing just won't happen. Laine for example had a 36 goal/74 gp rookie year as a 18 YO. followed it up 44g in 16.5mins/gp (only player to ever do that), and that didn't usurp wheeler. It might take a 50-60 goal 2rw to usurp wheeler

Thats why I kinda lol at some lines with svech or ves or Harkins in the top 6.... Wheeler isn't getting bounced for ehlers, you think far inferior players will play ahead of him? No chance.

You make lots of great points. My counter would be yes Wheeler wasn’t replaced before because he was too good, but, as players age they take steps back so why should the fact that laine couldn’t replace wheeler then have to with wheeler now? If laine came a few years later with wheeler where he is now, would Laine have had a stronger case?

 

[LowLefty]

Another coaching thread I see -
Same complaints - same tired arguments
And we're one game into the season

Hopefully we win the next one so that the discussions can shift back to how great our players are

 

[Adam da bomb]

Ehlers took a lot of shots. Is it on the other guys to make sure they are in front of the net or is it on Ehlers to wait till the other guys are in front? As I think it’s on both and you will rarely score if the goalie can see it the whole way so it’s probably a waste of a shot.

 

[Romang67]

Ehlers took a lot of shots. Is it on the other guys to make sure they are in front of the net or is it on Ehlers to wait till the other guys are in front? As I think it’s on both and you will rarely score if the goalie can see it the whole way so it’s probably a waste of a shot.

PLD or Copp need to crash the net every time Ehlers has a chance to get a shot off, IMO. They aren't players who will pull off amazing feats of skill, but they are big and will score and/or cause goals to happen if they get to the net when Ehlers shoots.

Wellwood worked with Kane for that reason, even though he didn't really have the size to cause turmoil in front of the net. He knew Kane would shoot, so he went there.