Morning boys...

I keep telling you, but you won't listen, it's not how many you score, it's how few you let in! Good defensive teams make the playoffs.

Last year only two teams out of the 14 that made the playoffs had a negative goal differential (Detroit -13 & Philly -4).
- LeftCoaster

Our D is better this year.

Yakipov said " This is the first time I will play for a really really good team. I didn't know what winning was "

BAMMMM

We had the worst GF to GA ratio.

Morning.
- thundachunk

We also had the worse man games lost to injury especially to our defense which lead to our worst GF to GA ratio.

We had the worst GF to GA ratio.

Morning.
- thundachunk

Yup....if Desjardins doesn't become a better coach defensively, they're screwed from the get-go.

Having possession of the puck more often and a healthy Sutter will help, but it's so important to defend better. Our goaltending was good and we still let in 241 goals.

Our D is better this year.

Yakipov said " This is the first time I will play for a really really good team. I didn't know what winning was "

BAMMMM
- VANTEL

man Lowe and his muppets (frank)ed that team hard....

Having Gudbranson with Hutton should make Hutton better defensively, he wasn't very good last year. It was his first year though. Plus they, along with a better third pairing, should take some minutes away from Edler and Tanev. Who looked exhausted out there from playing 25 mins a night the first 2/3rds of the year.

Morning boys...

I keep telling you, but you won't listen, it's not how many you score, it's how few you let in! Good defensive teams make the playoffs.

Last year only two teams out of the 14 that made the playoffs had a negative goal differential (Detroit -13 & Philly -4).
- LeftCoaster

EDM improved their D this off season, we did as well. That said I think it's possible they win the regular season series between the two teams.

man Lowe and his muppets (frank)ed that team hard....
- LeftCoaster

What a joke losing two first overall picks in one offseason for a bag of pucks.

Not that I necessarily disagree, but comparing Burrows to Virtanen is apples and oranges. Burrows was an undrafted, unheralded player who came up out of the ECHL as a walk on and managed to work his way to the NHL, Virtanen was a 6th overall pick and was highly touted as a highly skilled scorer who happened to be a power forward type.

I think Jake needs time in the AHL just to be "The Guy" and learn to handle being in every situation and be able to produce and be counted on in those situations. With what I anticipate our lineup being right now, I don't see that happening for him in the NHL for at least another year. If the plan is to make him be one of our regular top 6 forwards to replace Eriksson and Hansen as they age/drop production, he needs to have confidence and skills to do so. His game has huge holes at the moment and even if you assume that WD isn't going to last to the end of the season, WD doesn't have confidence in JV. So if he's not going to give JV the ice time he needs in the NHL to develop (ie. 2nd or 3rd line minutes) then he's better off in the AHL getting that ice time until he fixes the holes in his game or WD's fired and he can get called up.
- DariusKnight

I didnt compare burrows to JV.....I stated "not a power forward but in a completely different category"....

I see what youre saying in the coachs confidence too. Very valid

What a joke losing two first overall picks in one offseason for a bag of pucks.
- VANTEL

Ill say this, it's a difficult job/position cleaning up someone else's mess. When you need to change the culture of your team but you don't have any dance partners is a really hard position to be in.

I feel for Chiarelli, he didn't create the mess but he's getting poop in for trying to change the team. Bottom line is they never should've picked Yak 1st overall. Chiarelli didn't pick him, Lowe did!

EDM improved their D this off season, we did as well. That said I think it's possible they win the regular season series between the two teams.
- VanHockeyGuy

They're definitely deeper/better in their top nine forwards IMO. If their goaltending and defense improve even slightly you'll see them climb out of the bottom.

He is a players coach. They last longer than other coaches.
- thundachunk

yes. You dont see many feuds going on with him.

I think we'll make playoffs if you look at it from a changes to team perspective and talent level. WDs get longer leash unless its crash and burn unfortunately. Hopefully management just sees that changes need to be made behind the bench however.

Ill say this, it's a difficult job/position cleaning up someone else's mess. When you need to change the culture of your team but you don't have any dance partners is a really hard position to be in.

I feel for Chiarelli, he didn't create the mess but he's getting poop in for trying to change the team. Bottom line is they never should've picked Yak 1st overall. Chiarelli didn't pick him, Lowe did!
- LeftCoaster

Indeed a tough job to clean up someone else's mess. And so far he is doing a terrible job also.

Morning boys...

I keep telling you, but you won't listen, it's not how many you score, it's how few you let in! Good defensive teams make the playoffs.

Last year only two teams out of the 14 that made the playoffs had a negative goal differential (Detroit -13 & Philly -4).
- LeftCoaster

absolutely...and we saw the same in WCOH as well. Europe made it by stingy defensive play. Team canada could barely get scoring chances in the final game due to europes defense.
the best 2 defensive teams made it to the final.

and thats why NA got beat too, they didnt have good D plan

They're definitely deeper/better in their top nine forwards IMO. If their goaltending and defense improve even slightly you'll see them climb out of the bottom.
- LeftCoaster

I don't know how they improved? Hall is better than Lucic. Yak is better than a third rounder.

Caguilla and Jesse look very decent but need to see them preform first .

yes. You dont see many feuds going on with him.

I think we'll make playoffs if you look at it from a changes to team perspective and talent level. WDs get longer leash unless its crash and burn unfortunately. Hopefully management just sees that changes need to be made behind the bench however.
- SMBDragon

I am not a WD guy. I hope he can adjust but I doubt it.

Indeed a tough job to clean up someone else's mess. And so far he is doing a terrible job also.
- VANTEL

Possible.
- thundachunk

But not probable

Yup....if Desjardins doesn't become a better coach defensively, they're screwed from the get-go.

Having possession of the puck more often and a healthy Sutter will help, but it's so important to defend better. Our goaltending was good and we still let in 241 goals.
- LeftCoaster

Its lidsters job to run the D. He sucks, really really bad. You replace him alone our team improves. But willie makes crappy decisions too, we know what they are. Can both of em.
Here's an alternative proposition, give Jarvis the D job and he has a ton of experience doing that in Boston then give Lidster a shot at running special teams. Never know he could end up a wizard at it

I don't know how they improved? Hall is better than Lucic. Yak is better than a third rounder.

Caguilla and Jesse look very decent but need to see them preform first .
- VANTEL

Adam Larssen, Kris Russell is an improvement from last season.

Having Gudbranson with Hutton should make Hutton better defensively, he wasn't very good last year. It was his first year though. Plus they, along with a better third pairing, should take some minutes away from Edler and Tanev. Who looked exhausted out there from playing 25 mins a night the first 2/3rds of the year.
- LeftCoaster

another bad decision by coaching staff, exhaust your top pairing in the regular season

I am not a WD guy. I hope he can adjust but I doubt it.
- thundachunk

I'm not either. Granted he was dealing with injuries and youth last year, but he seems get out coached.

https://twitter.com/googl...status/784772628670283776

With Humans it is the opposite . The female will rip it off and you never get anything back

I don't know how they improved? Hall is better than Lucic. Yak is better than a third rounder.

Caguilla and Jesse look very decent but need to see them preform first .
- VANTEL

That's because you're not very good at this

Adam Larssen, Kris Russell is an improvement from last season.
- VanHockeyGuy

If Russell is that good how come no one too him sooner.

Tanev > Larsen

man Lowe and his muppets (frank)ed that team hard....
- LeftCoaster

Did they ever.