Michael Stuart: The Roundtable on Early Season Impressions

Michael Stuart: The Roundtable on Early Season Impressions
- Michael_Stuart

We are better as a team then last season. We have a better defensive system and better goaltending. Our forwards are playing in all three zones, including our top guys, which is the way it should be. It is still too early to be crowning us contenders or even competitors for a playoff spot. Lets see what we look like at 20 games.

We are young and inexperienced, but at the same time we have the experience to share to these young unexperienced guys, and give them the light to the right direction , which has been working fantastic. If consistancy stays high, we will be alright...that has been one of our worse characteristics as a team, and now our identity is changing from inconsistant to competing with speed and physicality, as shown in many games this year.

The Bolts had two really good games vs the Bruins in game one (a ew bad penalties and poor PP killed their shots at winning) and vs the Pens a few night back. If Bishop was in nets that night the ones dont score 6 on us.

I think we've shown to be a solid young team with a good potential to make the playoffs.....

The Bolts had two really good games vs the Bruins in game one (a ew bad penalties and poor PP killed their shots at winning) and vs the Pens a few night back. If Bishop was in nets that night the ones dont score 6 on us.

I think we've shown to be a solid young team with a good potential to make the playoffs.....
- Bolts2004

I don't think it would've made a difference who was in net given the circumstances of those shots , if anything lindback may have stopped maybe 1 tip - in just due to his athletic ability and reactions , chances are no but better than bishops chances . Not knocking bishop but it wasn't the goalie

IMO

We are not the same team as the one who played last year simply b/c they are now playing as a team. I have seen very positive signs regarding puck support, especially in the defensive zone, and also the "team defense" that lies at the heart of "Cooper's Law." Take out the bad game against Boston and I still see the no-quit attitude that makes this team very exciting and few if any games out of reach.

As for the youth, Palat continues to exceed his talent, Killorn is killing it, and Sustr has been a very pleasant surprise with his level of play. TJ is exactly what I expected showcasing the world-class speed, laser shot, and faceoff prowess as advertised. Panik's roster spot looks awfully bubblish right now as his skill shows itself on one shift but the next shift he backs it up with a bonehead or lazy play. Gudas is Gudas, as he needs experience and the only way to get him the experience he needs is to suffer through his growing pains, but his presence is felt by all on the ice as he continues to solidify his future role (whether 2nd pairing or 3rd).

For the vets, Malone is Malone but we all wait for the injury we know is coming. I can't wait for the day we don't have to watch the pylon Brewer be a turnstile in a Bolts uni. Salo is the elder statesman of the group but is if nothing else his solid yet unspectacular self. Stammer continues to grow and mature as many opponents continue to find out the hard way when they collide in the corners. Purcell is as always incomplete as the question remains can he consistently put up numbers vs his normal month on and month off pattern. And anyone can fault the Carle signing all they want, he has been solid at worst this year. Fili has shown to be a solid signing so far so no complaints there. Bishop has been solid to at times spectacular, however I worry about his ability to log a true #1 slate of games so my hope is Lindback can pick up his level a bit to ease some of Bishop's burden.

Overall I grade them at a B to B+. They definitely have a shot at the playoffs IMO, just need the kids to continue to grow and develop and Bishop to hold the fort in goal. Regardless of what happens in the standings through the rest of this season, the experience being gained each game is going to be nothing less than invaluable in future years as even more high-end youth graduates to the bigs.

Go Bolts!!!

We are not the same team as the one who played last year simply b/c they are now playing as a team. I have seen very positive signs regarding puck support, especially in the defensive zone, and also the "team defense" that lies at the heart of "Cooper's Law." Take out the bad game against Boston and I still see the no-quit attitude that makes this team very exciting and few if any games out of reach.

As for the youth, Palat continues to exceed his talent, Killorn is killing it, and Sustr has been a very pleasant surprise with his level of play. TJ is exactly what I expected showcasing the world-class speed, laser shot, and faceoff prowess as advertised. Panik's roster spot looks awfully bubblish right now as his skill shows itself on one shift but the next shift he backs it up with a bonehead or lazy play. Gudas is Gudas, as he needs experience and the only way to get him the experience he needs is to suffer through his growing pains, but his presence is felt by all on the ice as he continues to solidify his future role (whether 2nd pairing or 3rd).

For the vets, Malone is Malone but we all wait for the injury we know is coming. I can't wait for the day we don't have to watch the pylon Brewer be a turnstile in a Bolts uni. Salo is the elder statesman of the group but is if nothing else his solid yet unspectacular self. Stammer continues to grow and mature as many opponents continue to find out the hard way when they collide in the corners. Purcell is as always incomplete as the question remains can he consistently put up numbers vs his normal month on and month off pattern. And anyone can fault the Carle signing all they want, he has been solid at worst this year. Fili has shown to be a solid signing so far so no complaints there. Bishop has been solid to at times spectacular, however I worry about his ability to log a true #1 slate of games so my hope is Lindback can pick up his level a bit to ease some of Bishop's burden.

Overall I grade them at a B to B+. They definitely have a shot at the playoffs IMO, just need the kids to continue to grow and develop and Bishop to hold the fort in goal. Regardless of what happens in the standings through the rest of this season, the experience being gained each game is going to be nothing less then invaluable in future years as even more high-end youth graduates to the bigs.

Go Bolts!!!
- uf1910

agree with everything but Brewer. He has been terrific on 3rd pair and is being iced the majority of the time in the defensive zone. his plus 6 shows that he is hardly a pylon.

agree with everything but Brewer. He has been terrific on 3rd pair and is being iced the majority of the time in the defensive zone. his plus 6 shows that he is hardly a pylon.
- Boltdolt84

Brewer with less minutes has been a gem!

strongly agree about brewer, s well as a less minute brewer.

he has been great so far. all our D have been, its wonferul

I don't believe 1 or 2 players can carry a team very far.....

Without getting into too much of a philosophical discussion and to make my post brief I have a semi-philosophical question here. Would you rather have 1)60/60/120 player or 2) 30/30/60 point players?

If it was me I would take the (2) 60 point players which would be equal or less than Stamkos' salary...

Obviously if this is fantasy hockey it's a totally different story (to some extent)...

IMO, I'm sure my ideas won't be very popular but I believe Washington has had the same problem with Ovechkin...

Your 3rd and 4th lines matter and I don't believe a lot of teams with high scoring phenoms place much emphasis on their bottom lines considering they rely on their top 6 and top 4d for most of the game. That's why a lot of these top 10 scorers get so much ice time - because their teams rely on 10 players to win them games.

I don't believe 1 or 2 players can carry a team very far.....

Without getting into too much of a philosophical discussion and to make my post brief I have a semi-philosophical question here. Would you rather have 1)60/60/120 player or 2) 30/30/60 point players?

If it was me I would take the (2) 60 point players which would be equal or less than Stamkos' salary...

Obviously if this is fantasy hockey it's a totally different story (to some extent)...

IMO, I'm sure my ideas won't be very popular but I believe Washington has had the same problem with Ovechkin...

Your 3rd and 4th lines matter and I don't believe a lot of teams with high scoring phenoms place much emphasis on their bottom lines considering they rely on their top 6 and top 4d for most of the game. That's why a lot of these top 10 scorers get so much ice time - because their teams rely on 10 players to win them games.
- Tazer19

Scoring depth really hasn't been a problem. The team is getting solid contributions from the top three lines, and great minutes from the fourth.

not trying to be rude here but if you knew something other than a thing or two (stamkos and marty) about the lightning you wouldn't have just posted that "philosophy"

1st line centre Average time on ice - 20:01...(stamkos..ofc u give him all the minutes)
2nd line centre average time on ice- 19:12..(filppula...wizard with puck..)
3rd line centre average time on ice- 15:32..(Johnson, a rookie....)
4th line centre average time on ice- 11:03..(Thompson, out to punish with a touch of scoring, 100% heart)

similar to the blackhawks centermens ice time, except you play toews more than we play stamkos, and play ur 2nd line center sharp?i think hes ur 2nd center.. just half a minute less than we play filppula

you would also know that our 3rd line has a total of 16 points in just 8 games , which is pretty good scoring depth if u ask me...

I don't believe 1 or 2 players can carry a team very far.....

Without getting into too much of a philosophical discussion and to make my post brief I have a semi-philosophical question here. Would you rather have 1)60/60/120 player or 2) 30/30/60 point players?

If it was me I would take the (2) 60 point players which would be equal or less than Stamkos' salary...

Obviously if this is fantasy hockey it's a totally different story (to some extent)...

IMO, I'm sure my ideas won't be very popular but I believe Washington has had the same problem with Ovechkin...

Your 3rd and 4th lines matter and I don't believe a lot of teams with high scoring phenoms place much emphasis on their bottom lines considering they rely on their top 6 and top 4d for most of the game. That's why a lot of these top 10 scorers get so much ice time - because their teams rely on 10 players to win them games.
- Tazer19

are you seriously suggesting Stamkos is only worth 2 60 point players??

Ufa 3 vs. Mytischi 1
Andrey Vasilevskiy, Ufa, Win, 29/30, 1.00 GAA, .967 sv%

VASI!!!

Ufa 3 vs. Mytischi 1
Andrey Vasilevskiy, Ufa, Win, 29/30, 1.00 GAA, .967 sv%

VASI!!!
- Boltdolt84

YOURE A BLOG TOO LATE MY FRIEND...(frank)

YOURE A BLOG TOO LATE MY FRIEND...(frank)
- RileyB77

its not my wife's period, its hockey. only one of those things can be too late

its not my wife's period, its hockey. only one of those things can be too late
- Boltdolt84

Yikes.

its not my wife's period, its hockey. only one of those things can be too late
- Boltdolt84

Haha holy (frank) that's foul man

Hey Arty...

Your man Nikita Zadorov has scored more goals in the NHL than Jonathan Drouin. We should have drafted him...

we are a improved hockey team no doubt but enough to make the playoffs only time will tell

Hey Arty...

Your man Nikita Zadorov has scored more goals in the NHL than Jonathan Drouin. We should have drafted him...


- Michael_Stuart

the rookie that has impressed me the most so far is Sean Monahan should we have picked him over drouin ?

Haha holy (frank) that's foul man
- RileyB77

giggity, giggity, gig-gi-ty

the rookie that has impressed me the most so far is Sean Monahan should we have picked him over drouin ?
- todd1a

I made that comment sarcastically. It's impossible to judge 18-year-old guys like this. Monahan is being given an opportunity because the Flames don't have anyone better. Drouin likely would have made the Flames, while Monahan probably wouldn't have made the Lightning. It all comes down to circumstance.

We don't even know what we have with Drouin yet. There's zero need to write him off.

I made that comment sarcastically. It's impossible to judge 18-year-old guys like this. Monahan is being given an opportunity because the Flames don't have anyone better. Drouin likely would have made the Flames, while Monahan probably wouldn't have made the Lightning. It all comes down to circumstance.

We don't even know what we have with Drouin yet. There's zero need to write him off.
- Michael_Stuart

drouin and monahan are both going to be good players it will be a few years before we know. but yes drouin would have been on the flames no doubt,