Given that Kahun looks pretty un-good, I’m pretty in favor of giving Ho-Sang a look. I doubt he’d pan out here given the direction Sullivan has decided on, but oh well. Pretty low risk.

We could trade Riikola for a conditional 7th and I wouldn’t care. He’s 25 and wasn’t able to crack a pretty poopty lineup. If he were 20, it’d be one thing, but there is no potential there anymore.
- Victoro311

Let’s be fair, personal feelings aside on Riikola, the only reason he’s not cracking the lineup is because of bad coaching decisions.

Let’s be fair, personal feelings aside on Riikola, the only reason he’s not cracking the lineup is because of bad coaching decisions.
- Rinosaur

I am not-so-secretly hoping that they are "Show Casing" JJ, to help facilitate a trade...

But mostly I agree with you.

Maybe Winnipeg will take him home with them?

Let’s be fair, personal feelings aside on Riikola, the only reason he’s not cracking the lineup is because of bad coaching decisions.
- Rinosaur

By the metrics he’s pretty interchangeable with Johnson. The perpetually underrated guy who keeps seeing the press box because the organization views him as expendable is Chad Ruhwedel. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a #6 guy at best, but he’s probably the 5th best rostered D man right now, which says a lot about this “depth” Rutherford keeps talking about.

7D tonight. Marino makes his debut

By the metrics he’s pretty interchangeable with Johnson. The perpetually underrated guy who keeps seeing the press box because the organization views him as expendable is Chad Ruhwedel. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a #6 guy at best, but he’s probably the 5th best rostered D man right now, which says a lot about this “depth” Rutherford keeps talking about.
- Victoro311

I posted some interesting stats not too long ago that really broke down every little aspect of the transition game, and Riikola was at the worst marginally better and sometimes significantly better than JJ in every category.

That being said I agree with your general statement, but I still view it as a bad coaching decision to not dress the better player, even if marginally better.

I posted some interesting stats not too long again that really broke down every little aspect of transition game and Riikola was at the worst marginally better and sometimes significantly better than JJ in every category.

That being said I agree with your general statement, but still view at a bad coaching decision to not dress the better player, even if marginally better.
- Rinosaur

Riikola is hard to judge. He spent most of last season (his first NHL season) playing out of position. Or...He was wasting away in the press box.

To Vic's point.... Sullivan watched JJ and Riiki struggle massively at RD last year when a better option (Ruhwedel) went months without a jersey. Honestly, my opinion of Sullivan dropped significantly because of it.

I've said it a few times, but possession stats are one area that many players improve from year one to year two. Only one way to find out if that's the case for Riikola.

For instance Simon was good, but not nearly the Corsi god in year one he was in his second year.

7D tonight. Marino makes his debut
- Rinosaur

I don't understand what Marino is doing up here in the first place and I don't really get the decision to use 7D tonight.

I don't understand what Marino is doing up here in the first place and I don't really get the decision to use 7D tonight.
- madmike71

Yea what are the lines gonna be?

I don't understand what Marino is doing up here in the first place and I don't really get the decision to use 7D tonight.
- madmike71

Maybe the only right one and playing JJ as forward.

I read this blog and actually didn’t hate it. I played hockey year round but that was by choice. I played my reg high school and travel schedule and played 3-3 in the summers along with stick time we would all pitch in to rent. I never have had another inkling of interest in another “sport” except skateboarding. I’d skate year round too, the Mars rink used to have a badass park above it and my high school coach caught me skating before a game once and dragged me downstairs. That was embarrassing.

I don't understand what Marino is doing up here in the first place and I don't really get the decision to use 7D tonight.
- madmike71

Im starting to notice a pattern where every preseason Rutherford gets overly enamored with a particular guy that the coaching staff has no intention of using regularly and keeps him with the big club and throws off the development. Sprong, Riikola, now Marino. It’s happened 3 out of 5 years he’s been here.

Maybe the only right one and playing JJ as forward.
- VeryModernMan

It would be humerous if JJ did play forward and did well and became a solid bottom 6 winger.

This will sure be an interesting game. Probably gonna miss part of the first.

Maybe the only right one and playing JJ as forward.
- VeryModernMan

JJ is an excellent skater. If he didn’t have to worry about defense and just played the role of a grinder he’d probably be more effective.

Im starting to notice a pattern where every preseason Rutherford gets overly enamored with a particular guy that the coaching staff has no intention of using regularly and keeps him with the big club and throws off the development. Sprong, Riikola, now Marino. It’s happened 3 out of 5 years he’s been here.
- Victoro311

It's confounding. Continues the narrative that the GM and his coach aren't on the same page.

I'll be curious to see if Marino gets time on the left. Hard to get minutes on the right with Letang and Schultz.

I don’t know if anyone pointed it out yet?? Tanevs first game against the Jets as a 🖊

I'll be curious to see if Marino gets time on the left. Hard to get minutes on the right with Letang and Schultz.
- Tojo.

First shift on the left with Gudbranson

Guddy just got worked by Schiefele lol

Hornqvist.. where you goin bro! That’s your guy, buddy! Ffs

Guddy just got worked by Schiefele lol
- j.boyd919

He did for sure but he wasn’t the one who left the point wide open

He did for sure but he wasn’t the one who left the point wide open
- WSCTeton17

Oh yeah that was Horny. He came down low. Dunno why.

(frank)in A ZAR what an awful turnover.

I do not hate ZAR but that turnover was really really bad

Oh yeah that was Horny. He came down low. Dunno why.

(frank)in A ZAR what an awful turnover.
- j.boyd919

Just awful. I wonder if he recognizes he effed up lol some guys just don’t even recognize it, it’s shocking