Does anyone else find it troubling that we have to move out MacDonald because he can't handle some of the bigger teams?
- J35Bacher

The Caps are big, but they also have some speed and skill. MacDonald-Schenn have given up half as many goals per minute as the MDZ-Schenn combo (who have been cruelly exposed even by limited teams like the Devils).

How many odd man rushes will there be tonight because they got too far apart in their coverages? I'm not bashing MDZ and Luke because I think they can be quite effective with the right partner. I just think that partner is not each other.

No, because MacDonald is what he is. He's nothing special, yet another depth defenseman, who slots between 4-7 on a good team.

I don't feel he's played particularly well over the past month or so, despite having a good game vs Ottawa. But I don't see a huge drop off in swapping Schenn in for him.

In fact, Berube seems to now be doing what I've wanted him to do for the last year or so, and more equally distribute the scratchings. There's not one guy on this roster that has played well enough, IMO, to be immune from an occasional night off.

I just don't want to see guys benched for 9 or 10 games in a row, either.
- Jsaquella

I keep thinking that too but some people on here just keep telling me that he is? I feel like I have never watched a game.

- eichiefs9

The Caps are big, but they also have some speed and skill. MacDonald-Schenn have given up half as many goals per minute as the MDZ-Schenn combo (who have been cruelly exposed even by limited teams like the Devils).

How many odd man rushes will there be tonight because they got too far apart in their coverages? I'm not bashing MDZ and Luke because I think they can be quite effective with the right partner. I just think that partner is not each other.
- Feanor

You say that and then I think about how many times MacDonald gets out muscled down low and push around in front of the net.

Washington is a good team. I think Trotz has been good for them. Gonna be tough for the Flyers to hang with them. I can already see Backstrom passing through the Flyers PK "box" to Ovechkin.

Kessel? Are you serious?

No, because MacDonald is what he is. He's nothing special, yet another depth defenseman, who slots between 4-7 on a good team.

I don't feel he's played particularly well over the past month or so, despite having a good game vs Ottawa. But I don't see a huge drop off in swapping Schenn in for him.

- Jsaquella

I was at the Ottawa game and AMac was the worst of the bunch by a wide margin. Just my opinion, though.

No, because MacDonald is what he is. He's nothing special, yet another depth defenseman, who slots between 4-7 on a good team.

I don't feel he's played particularly well over the past month or so, despite having a good game vs Ottawa. But I don't see a huge drop off in swapping Schenn in for him.

In fact, Berube seems to now be doing what I've wanted him to do for the last year or so, and more equally distribute the scratchings. There's not one guy on this roster that has played well enough, IMO, to be immune from an occasional night off.

I just don't want to see guys benched for 9 or 10 games in a row, either.
- Jsaquella

Who hasn't been a healthy scratch yet? Coburn, Grossmann and Streit?

I keep thinking that too but some people on here just keep telling me that he is? I feel like I have never watched a game.
- J35Bacher

He's had some good games, but overall I think he's been pretty mediocre. That goes for pretty all the defensemen. I don't think there's one guy who you can point at and say, yeah, he's been good or even exception

another guy to female dog and moan about his effort. yeah no
- nastyflyergirl

Let's see....American kid, winger, streaky scorer....

We had one of those once and we complained about how inconsistent he was. And he was actually a pretty conscientious player by all accounts (you can just guess who I'm talking about).

So now.....let's bring a guy with many of those same qualities, but also comes with a reputation of being fat and out of shape as well as uncooperative with coaches.

I don't see how that can possibly go wrong.

I keep thinking that too but some people on here just keep telling me that he is? I feel like I have never watched a game.
- J35Bacher

"Despite what some fans believe, a lot of Hockey coaches scratch legit top-4 puck moving defensemen. It doesn't seem like an unreasonable strategy."

Who hasn't been a healthy scratch yet? Coburn, Grossmann and Streit?
- NickTheKid87

Yes, they have dressed every game they have been healthy, MacDonald has been a scratch once wen healthy and Schenn, MDZ & Colaiacovo have all spent numerous game stretches in the Cote Suite

Not really. MDZ is "weaker" if that's what you mean. He did not play well against Ottawa. He deserves to sit a few games.

Did anyone else hate Coliacavo when he played? I didn't. I thought he played ok for stepping right onto a team with no NHL training camp this September. I'd like to see him get some more games in. He's been practicing with the team enough now that he should be a bit better acclimated with some of the guys and the system as a whole.
- mochoson

I thought he played really well for us lol I had no problem with him at all. I think no d man on this team should be immune from being benched. We have at this moment, an excess of average at best d men, so why not use them? Every game, rotate who is sitting.

And on another note about the defense, I think grossman has been pretty good this season. I feel like he's really tried to step up his game. He even looks a little more comfortable in the offensive zone. see: 2 of his 3 goals this year. The one against Detroit was just flat out smart. VdV had possession in the corners, there was a GAPING gap in front of the net, he pinched, easy goal for him. One against new York, loose puck, another huge gap, and he put home a beautiful shot. Really liking what I've seen from him. If we completely reconstructed this d, I would keep him until morin is ready. Anyone else feel the same in general about him?

I was at the Ottawa game and AMac was the worst of the bunch by a wide margin. Just my opinion, though.
- mochoson

I thought he made some solid plays, wasn't great overall, but decent.

Let's see....American kid, winger, streaky scorer....

We had one of those once and we complained about how inconsistent he was. And he was actually a pretty conscientious player by all accounts (you can just guess who I'm talking about).

So now.....let's bring a guy with many of those same qualities, but also comes with a reputation of being fat and out of shape as well as uncooperative with coaches.

I don't see how that can possibly go wrong.
- johndewar

HB would certainly be entertaining

So, our 6 year, 30 million dman is once again a healthy scratch


Yup he's an outstanding player, great pick up Homer.

- Tomahawk

Yes, they have dressed every game they have been healthy, MacDonald has been a scratch once wen healthy and Schenn, MDZ & Colaiacovo have all spent numerous game stretches in the Cote Suite
- Jsaquella

Colaiacovo never really got a shot but he was brought in because of injuries. I'm not surprised Grossmann or Streit have sat. The latter because he's a PP asset and the former because Berube has fallen madly in love with the big swede. Coburn might end up in the Cote Suite before too long.

- Tomahawk

Correct answer.

Colaiacovo never really got a shot but he was brought in because of injuries. I'm not surprised Grossmann or Streit have sat. The latter because he's a PP asset and the former because Berube has fallen madly in love with the big swede. Coburn might end up in the Cote Suite before too long.
- NickTheKid87

My point is, regardless of why a guy was added, if he's as good or better than the guys who are playing, why the Hell not play him?

I'm not surprised that he hasn't sat any of the 3 mentioned, because he's been steadfast with them for the last year and a half

So, our 6 year, 30 million dman is once again a healthy scratch


Yup he's an outstanding player, great pick up Homer.

- BiggE

They aren't even going with the pretense of dressing 7 defensemen and just handing out minutes based on situation.

AMac has to be the most highly paid member of the Cote Suite ever, no?

They aren't even going with the pretense of dressing 7 defensemen and just handing out minutes based on situation.

AMac has to be the most highly paid member of the Cote Suite ever, no?
- johndewar

Can't recall another healthy scratch making more, except Vinny, who is making more in salary, but not cap hit.

They aren't even going with the pretense of dressing 7 defensemen and just handing out minutes based on situation.

AMac has to be the most highly paid member of the Cote Suite ever, no?
- johndewar

Yup

what a (frank)ing mess our team has become. Draft day can't come soon enough. At least with Vinny and Umberger, I can see them getting out from under those deals in a couple years. But AMac, for (frank)s sake, he is being thoroughly outplayed by a reclamation project signed to be our #7 dman.

Kessel on the thought of playing with G.

Yup

what a (frank)ing mess our team has become. Draft day can't come soon enough. At least with Vinny and Umberger, I can see them getting out from under those deals in a couple years. But AMac, for (frank)s sake, he is being thoroughly outplayed by a reclamation project signed to be our #7 dman.


- BiggE

He's being scratched in favor of TWO reclamation projects right now.

MDZ and Schultz.