I'm not really positive about much right now save the emergence of Dubnyk/ Shultz early on but to my mind, Nuge and Ebs defensive awareness will continue to get better.
Nuge for Selke in 4/5 years.
- Salvo

4-5 years that's the key. The odds of these kids all hit their make and dominating as a team anytime soon just isn't there. Not unless they do something drastic.

It's not hard to play against our top 6, if the player is smart defensively you hit the guy, if the player is physical you out smart fake him out and go around. Then add the whole not knowing what the (frank) to do in your own end that we see night in and night out and you have a mess that isn't going away soon.

4-5 years that's the key. The odds of these kids all hit their make and dominating as a team anytime soon just isn't there. Not unless they do something drastic.

It's not hard to play against our top 6, if the player is smart defensively you hit the guy, if the player is physical you out smart fake him out and go around. Then add the whole not knowing what the (frank) to do in your own end that we see night in and night out and you have a mess that isn't going away soon.
- Lahey

The thing is, guys like Hall, Pajaarvi and Yakupov are fast enough to win a race in a simple dump-and-chase scenario, but they don't know exactly what to do when they get there. Gagner seems to know what to do but doesn't have the physical tools or wily tricks to do it (yet???).

The big problem is that supporting players rarely crash the net. So many pucks careen across the crease with no one there even battling to get a stick on it.

EDIT: I realize you were talking about us in our own zone. There's a boatload of problems there too, and backchecking is certainly one of them.

The thing is, guys like Hall, Pajaarvi and Yakupov are fast enough to win a race in a simple dump-and-chase scenario, but they don't know exactly what to do when they get there. Gagner seems to know what to do but doesn't have the physical tools or wily tricks to do it (yet???).

The big problem is that supporting players rarely crash the net. So many pucks careen across the crease with no one there even battling to get a stick on it.

EDIT: I realize you were talking about us in our own zone. There's a boatload of problems there too, and backchecking is certainly one of them.
- Morris

When it comes down to it I'm looking at the guys that play the most. Outside of Smyth who hurts us as a 4th liner it isn't the 4th lines fault that we are getting outshot by 26 shots.

When it comes down to it I'm looking at the guys that play the most. Outside of Smyth who hurts us as a 4th liner it isn't the 4th lines fault that we are getting outshot by 26 shots.
- Lahey

Yeah, this ought to be the year that the 'kids' should stop being considered as infallible. 1st overall picks should be well-rounded players. Maybe that's too high a consideration for Yaks this year, but Hall can step up and round-out and Nuge, especially while he's not putting the puck in the net, can work on rounding out his game.

I'll praise Hall for picking off that pass on the first goal, and I'd like to see more of that.

4-5 years that's the key. The odds of these kids all hit their make and dominating as a team anytime soon just isn't there. Not unless they do something drastic.

It's not hard to play against our top 6, if the player is smart defensively you hit the guy, if the player is physical you out smart fake him out and go around. Then add the whole not knowing what the (frank) to do in your own end that we see night in and night out and you have a mess that isn't going away soon.
- Lahey

Sigh yes. And I really don't know the best course of action here - do they truly wait and continue to let it develop or not...

When it comes down to it I'm looking at the guys that play the most. Outside of Smyth who hurts us as a 4th liner it isn't the 4th lines fault that we are getting outshot by 26 shots.
- Lahey

Hell ya, as much as we talk about this lack of bottom six the super kids are going to have to be accountable soon - and certainly by next year.

GM-ing is going to be very important soon - if not now.

Sigh yes. And I really don't know the best course of action here - do they truly wait and continue to let it develop or not...
- Salvo

What else can they really do? I mean you can't blow it up now. I think you have to at least get to the point where you realize the team isn't good enough and then tinker. We just have to wait for now.

The biggest problem from my standpoint is the guys I want just aren't available everyday. Heck maybe we get lucky and a Getzlaf or Perry sign here in the off season, but outside of that when you ever going to get some toughness up front? Eventually we will need to deal key pieces to round this team. Isn't just up front either, still think we are lacking a physical guy that can play in all 3 zones on the defense.

I also wouldn't underestimate the impact of building our defense a little more. Having a couple two-way 35 point guys and limiting the opposing team to 23 shots a night takes the sting out of having a smurfish top 6.

I also wouldn't underestimate the impact of building our defense a little more. Having a couple two-way 35 point guys and limiting the opposing team to 23 shots a night takes the sting out of having a smurfish top 6.
- Morris

What do you really do though? Whitney is really the only guy that can be moved.

Although I've said for awhile having another top 4 on this team couldn't hurt.

What else can they really do? I mean you can't blow it up now. I think you have to at least get to the point where you realize the team isn't good enough and then tinker. We just have to wait for now.

The biggest problem from my standpoint is the guys I want just aren't available everyday. Heck maybe we get lucky and a Getzlaf or Perry sign here in the off season, but outside of that when you ever going to get some toughness up front? Eventually we will need to deal key pieces to round this team. Isn't just up front either, still think we are lacking a physical guy that can play in all 3 zones on the defense.
- Lahey

Well, I'm wondering how patient they will be with the development or if they look at the of trading key pieces in the short term to round out this team.

Fukk sakes, not that Philly has won $hit but man, there is a team willing to do whatever to stay relevant. They'll make any deal - even if they $hit the bed they have the organizational will and confidence to bounce back immediately.

Look at New Jersey - it's crazy.

I'm not sure those are fair comparisons but that type of organization seems miles away...I wouldn't hate the risk taking of trading a key piece to round out the team better - though NOW still seems quite early to talk about a fab five player being moved. I'm okay with that.

If you look at the Chicago model - it took them 8 years after they drafted Keith/ Seabrook.

Shultz sucks defensively
- AdamFrench

what? no way

I have to admit that I was one pumping Whitney. I cant beleive how badly his play has falle off. He was an all star the year he went down. They were even talking about giving him the C back then. I was confident he would bounce back once healthy. He has sucked balls this year.

So The Oil are still 2 good D men and 3 forwards short. Hope we can shore up some of these spots soon. If I'm Tambi I do not trade away our first this year, but any other combo or prospects, picks, "tradeable" roster guys, for some improvement. But dont over pay either. At least some things have become clear. Where the holes are.
- Iggysbff

You're not alone, I had very high hopes for WHitney and I am sure I used the old "just wait until he is healthy" type of comments. SOmething is very wrong with him, whether it's hearing footsteps because of the injury, personal issues, who knows, but something is wrong between the ears with him. Sucks to watch it fall apart.

Well, I'm wondering how patient they will be with the development or if they look at the of trading key pieces in the short term to round out this team.

Fukk sakes, not that Philly has won $hit but man, there is a team willing to do whatever to stay relevant. They'll make any deal - even if they $hit the bed they have the organizational will and confidence to bounce back immediately.

Look at New Jersey - it's crazy.

I'm not sure those are fair comparisons but that type of organization seems miles away...I wouldn't hate the risk taking of trading a key piece to round out the team better - though NOW still seems quite early to talk about a fab five player being moved. I'm okay with that.

If you look at the Chicago model - it took them 8 years after they drafted Keith/ Seabrook.
- Salvo

I think part of the problem is right now it's tough to make trades to help this team. I'm sure they could find a way to upgrade Petrell or Whitney, but what does that really do?

But how do you upgrade the Gagners or Hemskys or Petrys. Those are quite big trades and not easy to pull off at this time of year.