James Tanner: Coyotes Switch Up D Pairings and Look for 1st Win

They actually made this change for the Thursday night game. Defense looked way better, so I am glad they are sticking to it.

They actually made this change for the Thursday night game. Defense looked way better, so I am glad they are sticking to it.
- Dahlmanyotes

I didn't notice on Thursday, I taped the game and fell asleep during the first period.

Think tonight will be a high scoring affair to say the least https://youtu.be/tsBvc3za0PA

Hammer has played the right side for years in Chicago (sometimes not very well) but he's stated he's preferred the right vs. left.

Hope he works out for ARI on whatever side he plays... guy is a warrior.

Rieder isn’t very good?

I sorta thought he was an ideal 3rd liner. Fast, solid defensively, can chip in with a little offence, play the pk.
Good quality Nhl’er. And not just in the hard working plug way

Ud know more about him than me, but from the bit I’ve seen I’ve akways liked him

Rieder isn’t very good?

I sorta thought he was an ideal 3rd liner. Fast, solid defensively, can chip in with a little offence, play the pk.
Good quality Nhl’er. And not just in the hard working plug way

Ud know more about him than me, but from the bit I’ve seen I’ve akways liked him
- HB77

It's possible that I'm a bit too hard on him, but he's generally getting out chanced and out shot, doesn't have much offense and I don't think he scores enough to be a third liner in a league where the best teams have second lines for third lines.

It could have something to do with his 75% D-zone starts and only 25% O-zone starts. But then you will just tell me zone starts don't matter, And I will tell you in this extreme of an example they do! And you will Blah,blah,blah.

How many more losses until the Coyotes are out of the playoffs?

It could have something to do with his 75% D-zone starts and only 25% O-zone starts. But then you will just tell me zone starts don't matter, And I will tell you in this extreme of an example they do! And you will Blah,blah,blah.
- camfor

No, that is an extreme example. However, I've been watching him for three or four years and its not like he always gets that.

Dissapointing to see Hjalmarsson struggling. Hopefully it's just an acclimation period. One of my favourite players in recent years

No, that is an extreme example. However, I've been watching him for three or four years and its not like he always gets that.
- James_Tanner

2016/17 he was 39.2 O-zone 60.8 D-zone and his cf was 45.5
2014/15 and 2015/16 his zone starts were close to 50/50 and his cf was 49.6 and 50.1 (pretty good for those teams)
I can accept that he doesn't score enough, But he has been buried last year(and starting this year) with his zone starts.

JC is really gonna set a line in the sand with his moves. is smarty pants stats the way to go or does something else... say... intangibles add something. lots of bloggers have something riding on this team...

2016/17 he was 39.2 O-zone 60.8 D-zone and his cf was 45.5
2014/15 and 2015/16 his zone starts were close to 50/50 and his cf was 49.6 and 50.1 (pretty good for those teams)
I can accept that he doesn't score enough, But he has been buried last year(and starting this year) with his zone starts.
- camfor

Yeah but James Tanner's personal eye test means a lot more than your facts. And by eye test I'm referring to when he checks his twitter to see the consensus of all of his woke bros.

When hammer is on his comfortable side and has a solid defense partner, he shined in Chicago. He has been weak, for example, on his off side when he uses the backhand to move the puck across or ring round boards. But as we all need to remind ourselves, the forwards need to be in the right position to help out. Any star player at any position cannot do it all on his own each shift throuhout a game. Young forward prospects have to make the defensive comittment.

You know that hockey is a game of turnovers, of puck control and execution. So your team has a decided advantage when they are quickest, better skater and are willing to battle for the puck along the boards.

I do not believe Tocchet is the sort of coach whom would not tolerate poor effort from the third and fourth lines. Eventually he will find enough players who will sacrifice to check and play each game with assorted bumps and bruises.

Where you get the players for your bottom lines can vary widely.

The places they hail from could be mean high draft choices or career AHL, a non drafted European, a low draft pick, a collegiate kid three years ago removed from high school age drafted - whatever - within this year or early next season Tochett should be able to field the type of lineup which is harder to play against.

That is the model Chicago is trying to implement this season.

But unlike Chicago your Coyotes on paper have the defensemen to make it work. Unfortunately the mish mash Tippet tinkered with the past few season too often included the following: A poor culture from losing, not enough prospects a royal flush, a fading veteran (Doan) as well as other veterans whom just were not very good.

Now comes Tocchet, two veterans whom should be able to help turn the tide (hammer and Stepan), and one prospect is emerging as a top young gun (Keller).

Your team needs more young high draft choices to emerge. Certainly Chkyrun will. Perlini, Domi, Dvorak are hopeful rising to become among the wave of new good young players.

Raanta probably could be descent yet I expect eventually someone will supplant him and Dominque.

Your team is trending upward. It takes time.

JC is really gonna set a line in the sand with his moves. is smarty pants stats the way to go or does something else... say... intangibles add something. lots of bloggers have something riding on this team...
- ChrisMS

This just ins't true. Hockey stats have taken over player evaluations in the NHL, and as time goes on , more and more dinosaurs will be excised from the game. One single team is not a litmus test, as much as it fits the easy answer narrative people want.