Paul McCann: Three Things

At this rate, Hutton is only going to play in a dozen games. If we went .500 in the remainder of his starts, I would be very pleased. We're just not scoring enough right now to compensate for our minimal margin of error. Pekka is able to mask our scoring woes not Hutton. Plus, I think the guys are more aggressive knowing Peks has their back.

How has James Neal looked so far? Do you like his style of play? Do you miss Hörnqvist or Spaling?

How has James Neal looked so far? Do you like his style of play? Do you miss Hörnqvist or Spaling?
- Barnaby36

Thanks Paul for a nice read. As for Neal I think he adds a real offensive threat but he is streaky and the goals have been few and far apart lately. 15 points is not that many for your sniper on your #1 line. That being said I think Pred nation is okay with him.

How has James Neal looked so far? Do you like his style of play? Do you miss Hörnqvist or Spaling?
- Barnaby36

The only think I really like about Neal is his quick release. Other than that I am not a big fan of this guy and despite my Philly name (unable to change it per HB) I am a big Pred fan owning Ribeiro, Forsberg, Wilson and Josi in my keeper league. Note: keeper league started in 1979 and still going strong. Neal does give 63 and 9 more room to operate because he is dangerous if left alone.

How has James Neal looked so far? Do you like his style of play? Do you miss Hörnqvist or Spaling?
- Barnaby36

I will always miss Hornqvist. He was one of my favorite players before the trade, and it was pretty upsetting to see him go, but you have to give something to get something I'm not sure Forsberg would be having the year he's having without Neal as a linemate.

I've been really happy with Neal. He's creating lots of opportunities for his linemates and it's paying off. I think this trade is working out really well for both teams.

We miss Spaling on the penalty kill, but that's about it. He was a solid player, but he was also a dime a dozen on this team. Trotz had a team of Spalings, at his request, before all was said and done. Lots of grit and sandpaper on this roster.

Btw, I don't see anything to indicate that this power play will get any better. The 1-3-1 is atrocious on this team. I don't know if we just don't have the right personnel or what, but it's not working. Sometimes they move it around and create some looks, but then comes the inevitable pass across the ice that gets intercepted. It's frustrating to watch a power play that produces more chances for the opposition than for us. It's even more frustrating to see that the coaching staff isn't really addressing it. If they are, they're not doing a very good job.

I think our power play is even worse than the 1 out of 44 home opportunities. We gave up a shorty earlier this season. That wipes out the 1 in my mind. We officially have the worst home PP in the league scoring at a 2.3% clip per NHL.com. (The next worst is Buffalo at 5/48 and 10.4%.) It is inconceivable to me that the same team that is one of the best at 5-on-5 becomes inept when they have the 5-on-4 advantage.

This team is fun to watch, EXCEPT when it is on the powerless play.

I think our power play is even worse than the 1 out of 44 home opportunities. We gave up a shorty earlier this season. That wipes out the 1 in my mind. We officially have the worst home PP in the league scoring at a 2.3% clip per NHL.com. (The next worst is Buffalo at 5/48 and 10.4%.) It is inconceivable to me that the same team that is one of the best at 5-on-5 becomes inept when they have the 5-on-4 advantage.

This team is fun to watch, EXCEPT when it is on the powerless play.
- RockiesTop

We're actually not one of the best scoring teams at 5 on 5. We're middle of the pack trending downwards. We're one of the best teams 5 on 5 when you factor our GA/G which I think after tonight is the best. People seem to be focusing on our PP woes, but in reality, we are not a very strong offensive team. We're just getting really good goaltending behind a strong blueline. If you eliminate the 9 pt Toronto game, we would be averaging less than 2.5 goals/g which puts us around 23, right below Colorado. We're still an offensively challenged team.

We're actually not one of the best scoring teams at 5 on 5. We're middle of the pack trending downwards. We're one of the best teams 5 on 5 when you factor our GA/G which I think after tonight is the best. People seem to be focusing on our PP woes, but in reality, we are not a very strong offensive team. We're just getting really good goaltending behind a strong blueline. If you eliminate the 9 pt Toronto game, we would be averaging less than 2.5 goals/g which puts us around 23, right below Colorado. We're still an offensively challenged team.
- Vegas Trotzkies

This is a good point. If the Preds PP was scoring at 20% (a number most of us would accept without complaint), that would only give them 8-9 more goals on the season. That would BARELY put the Preds in the top half of the league in goal scoring. The top line has been pretty good for the Preds so far. And the second line is finally producing a little bit the past several games. But this team is no offensive juggernaut. Poile needs to find one more sniper/scorer to add to either the second or 3rd line - or else this year's team could end up wasting one of the best Defense/Goalie lineups I've seen in the past 20 years watching the NHL.