Paul - I like you're takes on the CBJ. However, I disagree with your statement inferring the Jackets can address their shortcomings at the deadline. They can START to address them by acquiring draft picks, but it's going to take major moves this summer.
The secondary scoring has evaporated like a teardrop in Death Valley.
You can only ride Panarin so long. I hope they sign him this summer. Maybe a 5 yr @ $7.5 - 8 per year. He'd be 33 at contract's end. He plays a 200 ft game.
You're also right on rolling 4 lines. That's when the Jackets play their best. Last night Torts basically played 3 lines, look at the TOI for Sedlak, Dalpe & Gerbe. Gerbe was high man at 7:18. I'd say Torts doesn't trust that line at all.
They've gone 180 degrees from the 50-shot games. Now they're waiting for the perfect shot.
I'd love to see them claw their way out of this, but the outlook is grim. When you struggle to score more than 2 goals per game for almost 2 months, you can't expect positive results. Something needs to change.
A few days ago Jarmo said that if the players who are "down" this year would just play to their career average, the scoring would return. I'm not getting a "warm fuzzy" thinking the room will magically cure itself !!
As bad as we're playing, we're still in the hunt. So there is hope . . . right ???
- birdie03
In the hunt but soon they might not be in control of their own destiny , I doubt one deadline acquisition makes the entire team score all of a sudden. Not sure if it's Torts system , but on paper they have the elements to compete, I find it hard to believe Atkinson , Bjork heck even Andy all went dry.
