Once Casey is back. I’m thinking Wahlstrom will get his shot on Barzal line.
He will have Casey and Nelly’s line solid then and he can give the rookie a shot on the first line.
- nyisles7

One monkey wrench: Ladd has the non-contact jersey off at practice.

I get so annoyed at whoever does the NHL scheduling every year. Isles don't play till Thursday.. then play 3 games in 4 nights with an Away game in the middle. Then don't play again for 4 nights. Beyond absurd... you have some teams who have played 10 games already.. and other only 6.

Why is everyone nagging on dorkhammer ? What's he done wrong ? Barzal is on fire, 4 wins a row. He's playing well, and that's the end of it. Can there be un upgrade, yup lol, but there isn't yet.
- cdn_Isles_fan

what

No BS or sarcasm, I get it Cpt. Just a discussion and some opinions.
Just a gut feeling. He will have 2 of his better d responsible lines together Leo will be off the 4th and maybe make the 3rd better and can let the rookie play up with Barzal and Lee. Basically will have 3 of his regular 4 lines together and can give the rookie a shot. Again a gut feeling. It’s what I would do which means absolutely nothing
- nyisles7

This is where you went right off the rails😂
I get the whole depth thing on the 3rd and 4th lines my question to you was I didn’t see how that had any effect on the 1st or 2nd lines. Cizikas being back to me shouldn’t have any impact on whether Kuhnackl should be on the first line or not due to none of the players on the third or fourth line having any impact(thankfully) on the first or second line. It has no effect on their depth kuhnackl is a plug who is not even a regular in the line up to begin with.

Wahlstrom will be on the top line soon enough!

I don’t know man for a first line winger these are some sexy stats right here;

2019-2020 Regular Season

GP G A P +/-
5 0 0 0 -1

What’s even more funny about those numbers or lack there of is Barzal has been pretty much single handily winning us games lately in an offense sense. You would figure he would have had an assist by accident by now😂
- Cptmjl

Apart from the unassisted goal he had last game, I'm pretty sure all of Barzal's other goals happened when he wasn't with his line. He had the late game-tying goal against St. Louis when there was a mishmash of players out there, and his two goals against Winnipeg came on the power play and then between line changes off a turnover.

The line itself hadn't done much of anything in the offensive zone until the last game, where I thought they were finally able to get a couple of forechecks going. And the lines as a whole haven't been kept together in any of the games...usually Barzal's been double shifted with other lines, and players that screwed up in a given game have had their minutes slashed. If you look at the ice time since Eberle and Cizikas went down, it's not the typical "roll four lines" minutes they usually go with.

Apart from the unassisted goal he had last game, I'm pretty sure all of Barzal's other goals happened when he wasn't with his line. He had the late game-tying goal against St. Louis when there was a mishmash of players out there, and his two goals against Winnipeg came on the power play and then between line changes off a turnover.

The line itself hadn't done much of anything in the offensive zone until the last game, where I thought they were finally able to get a couple of forechecks going. And the lines as a whole haven't been kept together in any of the games...usually Barzal's been double shifted with other lines, and players that screwed up in a given game have had their minutes slashed. If you look at the ice time since Eberle and Cizikas went down, it's not the typical "roll four lines" minutes they usually go with.
- UIF

yeah kind of my point on my previous posts😂

- eichiefs9

I don’t really understand the point. If we’re going to go with the whole accountability mantra this waste of money shouldn’t see too many games even if he’s healthy.

Wahlstrom will be on the top line soon enough!
- HolyDiver83

Wahlstrom in a short time, has shown he has some offensive skills and a shoot first mentality. Things this team is sorely lacking in. I can see him becoming a quality player for this team, in time.

I don’t really understand the point. If we’re going to go with the whole accountability mantra this waste of money shouldn’t see too many games even if he’s healthy.
- Cptmjl

I hope the contact he was cleared for was of the Nancy Kerrigan variety.

But I think we should all know by now that Trotz and Lamoriello favor the veterans. Unless he starts lighting up the scoresheet then I'd be willing to bet that Wahlstrom will be heading right back to Bridgeport when Ladd is ready. Dal Colle would probably be next on the chopping block.

I hope the contact he was cleared for was of the Nancy Kerrigan variety.

But I think we should all know by now that Trotz and Lamoriello favor the veterans. Unless he starts lighting up the scoresheet then I'd be willing to bet that Wahlstrom will be heading right back to Bridgeport when Ladd is ready. Dal Colle would probably be next on the chopping block.
- eichiefs9

Yes, but only up to the point where they start losing due to said veteran's poor play. I think Ladd will get ice time, but if he plays like crap and the team starts losing, I have confidence that Trotz will bench him.

Wahlstrom will be on the top line soon enough!
- HolyDiver83

What team?

I hope the contact he was cleared for was of the Nancy Kerrigan variety.

But I think we should all know by now that Trotz and Lamoriello favor the veterans. Unless he starts lighting up the scoresheet then I'd be willing to bet that Wahlstrom will be heading right back to Bridgeport when Ladd is ready. Dal Colle would probably be next on the chopping block.
- eichiefs9

100%

https://puckbase.com/stats/faceoff-percentage Scary that Brassard is the only current guy we have that is winning 50% of his Face offs. This needs to be a priority. We absolutely suk at F.O.

Wahlstrom's looked great in the offensive zone...frankly I can't believe he hasn't put up a goal yet...that rocket off the post or crossbar last game beat Korpisalo clean, and that probably wasn't even his best chance over the last three games.

But...he's been pretty shaky trying to exit his own zone. He's fumbled some passes, made some risky passes of his own through the middle, and just hasn't looked anywhere near as confident defensively as he does offensively. I think he should stay up since the team's in desperate need of offensive weapons. If he does go back down, though, it'll probably be because he hasn't earned the trust on the defensive side, and I'd understand that. I also think that, if he does stay, he shouldn't be with Barzal yet until he can be at least on the level of someone like Eberle defensively (which isn't really the highest bar to clear).

This is where you went right off the rails😂
I get the whole depth thing on the 3rd and 4th lines my question to you was I didn’t see how that had any effect on the 1st or 2nd lines. Cizikas being back to me shouldn’t have any impact on whether Kuhnackl should be on the first line or not due to none of the players on the third or fourth line having any impact(thankfully) on the first or second line. It has no effect on their depth kuhnackl is a plug who is not even a regular in the line up to begin with.
- Cptmjl

Well time will tell.

https://puckbase.com/stats/faceoff-percentage Scary that Brassard is the only current guy we have that is winning 50% of his Face offs. This needs to be a priority. We absolutely suk at F.O.
- niteislander

FO mean absolutely nothing. Right up there with +/-

Wahlstrom's looked great in the offensive zone...frankly I can't believe he hasn't put up a goal yet...that rocket off the post or crossbar last game beat Korpisalo clean, and that probably wasn't even his best chance over the last three games.

But...he's been pretty shaky trying to exit his own zone. He's fumbled some passes, made some risky passes of his own through the middle, and just hasn't looked anywhere near as confident defensively as he does offensively. I think he should stay up since the team's in desperate need of offensive weapons. If he does go back down, though, it'll probably be because he hasn't earned the trust on the defensive side, and I'd understand that. I also think that, if he does stay, he shouldn't be with Barzal yet until he can be at least on the level of someone like Eberle defensively (which isn't really the highest bar to clear).
- UIF

He's quite obviously going to be the first guy that goes back to BPT, unless he really ratchets it up soon and Dal Colle flat-lines. I'd really like to see him win that 2RW job from MDC and stick around when Eberle is healthy.

The defensive side of the game is the hardest thing to learn and that'll come in time. He seems to be a hard enough worker that, in time, he'll improve in that aspect.

Right now I'd like to see him just worry about not being a liability in his own end and focus on putting up some points. They need a scorer and if he can bring some offensive firepower than he'll fill a major organizational hole. The points haven't come yet but I've never been more confident in a player eventually putting it all together. He's been a bull in the offensive zone and had a number of really great scoring chances so far.

Yes, but only up to the point where they start losing due to said veteran's poor play. I think Ladd will get ice time, but if he plays like crap and the team starts losing, I have confidence that Trotz will bench him.
- JohnScammo

You think? The guy doesn’t even know how to put together an NHL lineup

Why isn’t JHS up here playing instead of Moose knuckle? He has amazing skill

https://puckbase.com/stats/faceoff-percentage Scary that Brassard is the only current guy we have that is winning 50% of his Face offs. This needs to be a priority. We absolutely suk at F.O.
- niteislander

Barzal is the 2nd worst in the NHL.

You think? The guy doesn’t even know how to put together an NHL lineup

Why isn’t JHS up here playing instead of Moose knuckle? He has amazing skill
- nyisles7

He won't be called up until Christmas season, when Trotz will make the mistake of saying, "Ho Ho Ho!" and he will suddenly appear.

Sean Shapiro @seanshapiro
now
Ben Bishop is not at morning skate. His property sustained damage in tornado. His family is safe. He will be at game tonight

He's quite obviously going to be the first guy that goes back to BPT, unless he really ratchets it up soon and Dal Colle flat-lines. I'd really like to see him win that 2RW job from MDC and stick around when Eberle is healthy.

The defensive side of the game is the hardest thing to learn and that'll come in time. He seems to be a hard enough worker that, in time, he'll improve in that aspect.

Right now I'd like to see him just worry about not being a liability in his own end and focus on putting up some points. They need a scorer and if he can bring some offensive firepower than he'll fill a major organizational hole. The points haven't come yet but I've never been more confident in a player eventually putting it all together. He's been a bull in the offensive zone and had a number of really great scoring chances so far.
- eichiefs9

If there's no trade coming in the near future, that's where I think Wahlstrom should be unless he really starts struggling. I think Dal Colle's been OK. If the Isles were hurting for bottom-six depth, he'd be a good fit, but obviously the bigger need is for scoring. And in the short time he's been here, Wahlstrom has brought that big-body, drive-to-the-net kind of game we thought we'd eventually get from Dal Colle when he was drafted. Solving the team's scoring issues is probably a lot to ask from Wahlstrom right now, but at this point, if he's the best potential answer the Isles have, then they might as well keep him in there.

If there's no trade coming in the near future, that's where I think Wahlstrom should be unless he really starts struggling. I think Dal Colle's been OK. If the Isles were hurting for bottom-six depth, he'd be a good fit, but obviously the bigger need is for scoring. And in the short time he's been here, Wahlstrom has brought that big-body, drive-to-the-net kind of game we thought we'd eventually get from Dal Colle when he was drafted. Solving the team's scoring issues is probably a lot to ask from Wahlstrom right now, but at this point, if he's the best potential answer the Isles have, then they might as well keep him in there.
- UIF

I don't expect him to "solve" their offensive issues, at least not right now, but adding a guy with a lethal shot is a much-needed role that he is slowly starting to fill. He got off that laser of a shot, that beat Korpisalo, so quickly. Nobody else on this team has a release like that and it's going to help the offense a lot. If nothing else, teams will have to respect his shot and that may open up things here or there for other guys.

Dal Colle is fine in a bottom-six role but I don't see a reason that they shouldn't let Wahlstrom get a shot at his spot. Unfortunately, for both of them (and us), when Ladd is back my guess is that Bailey will move back over to the right side to make room for Ladd on the left.