I’m not sure we actually agree here. The reason I want Heinola, Samberg, and hopefully Niku to get full time jobs in the top 6 next season is because our biggest weakness as a team is offence from the back end.
We have no transition game whatsoever, and it’s costing our top players. We are literally desperate for offensive D.

As for Forbort, he’s a solid 5/6 defenceman. Strong defence, 0 offence.
- Rexypoo

I disagree with this, the Jets system sacrifices offense for defense, it's less about the transition game or lack of offensive dmen and more so forwards entering the zone with no puck support cause their linemate(s) are hanging back to support the dmen who while not great were holding their own, that lack of puck support leads to turnovers/lost puck possession and needless dump ins.

Some more offensive dmen would help a bit but this team desperately needs more productive and effective 3rd and 4th lines more then anything else.

There won't be much offense coming from Samberg, he's a defensive minded, stay at home big body defender, simply put he's a
younger Derek Forbort.

Speaking of Perfetti, what do you make of Team Canada putting him on the wing?

Somewhere Paul Maurice is loving that decision!
- TheUltimateJet

There are returning players already at center that he was not going to beat out at center ( Dach, although not technically a returning player cause he was in the NHL last year is at center) then there’s Byfield and Cozens as well. There will probably be at least 4 centers playing the wing on that team

Speaking of Perfetti, what do you make of Team Canada putting him on the wing?

Somewhere Paul Maurice is loving that decision!
- TheUltimateJet

It means that he is not in the top 2 or 3 centers in camp, which is not a big deal considering he is a year younger than many.

It means that he is not in the top 2 or 3 centers in camp, which is not a big deal considering he is a year younger than many.
- bennythehat

I will be happy if he just makes the team and gets the experience.

You are changing your words again. My point was when you said categorely bad defence. Now you are saying below average. Very different.
- Ross77

Below average is categorically bad

I disagree with this, the Jets system sacrifices offense for defense, it's less about the transition game or lack of offensive dmen and more so forwards entering the zone with no puck support cause their linemate(s) are hanging back to support the dmen who while not great were holding their own, that lack of puck support leads to turnovers/lost puck possession and needless dump ins.

Some more offensive dmen would help a bit but this team desperately needs more productive and effective 3rd and 4th lines more then anything else.

There won't be much offense coming from Samberg, he's a defensive minded, stay at home big body defender, simply put he's a
younger Derek Forbort.
- JetFuel

The 3rd and 4th lines would be better if we had a transition game. So would the 1st and 2nd.
There’s a reason Scheifele and Wheeler dropped in performance, while Connor was suddenly underwater the moment we lost Buff, Trouba, Enstrom, and Myers. They could move the puck.

The way we’re built now, we’re sacrificing offence for nothing. We are a horrendous defensive team, and we let the opposition fire at Hellebuyck from point blank range

The 3rd and 4th lines would be better if we had a transition game. So would the 1st and 2nd.
There’s a reason Scheifele and Wheeler dropped in performance, while Connor was suddenly underwater the moment we lost Buff, Trouba, Enstrom, and Myers. They could move the puck.

The way we’re built now, we’re sacrificing offence for nothing. We are a horrendous defensive team, and we let the opposition fire at Hellebuyck from point blank range
- Rexypoo

The 3rd and 4th lines would be better if Maurice could configure a line to get the most out of them OR they were just better players!!!

I doubt Scheifele checking out has anything to do with the loss of those dmen, Wheeler is older and was playing center, a decline should of been expected and Connor's a goal scorer who's defense isn't great just like so many goal scoring wingers, that trio has been overrated for awhile in my opinion, didn't think they were all that great when they had all those dmen.

They sacrifice offense by design.

The 3rd and 4th lines would be better if Maurice could configure a line to get the most out of them OR they were just better players!!!

I doubt Scheifele checking out has anything to do with the loss of those dmen, Wheeler is older and was playing center, a decline should of been expected and Connor's a goal scorer who's defense isn't great just like so many goal scoring wingers, that trio has been overrated for awhile in my opinion, didn't think they were all that great when they had all those dmen.

They sacrifice offense by design.
- JetFuel

Scheifele hasn’t checked out. He’s been exposed. Same for Wheeler, and likely Stastny very soon. There’s nobody to get the puck out of our zone anymore, so the forwards get hemmed in. If that’s by design, you clear out the entire coaching staff immediately. We’re playing against our strengths to try and cover weaknesses, thus creating even further weaknesses without actually fixing any.

The bottom 6 fares better because they’re mostly comprised mostly of defensive players. They can tread water because of this.
The top 6 does not, because only Ehlers can keep rolling through it. Laine should not be leading rushes and back-checks multiple times in the same shift. Scheifele and Wheeler shouldn’t be stuck getting cycled in our end because there’s no breakout pass coming from anyone but the two of them.

There. Is. No. Transition.
Best defence is a good offence. We have neither.
We will not fix this without an overhaul of that blueline. We need to replace at least 3 members. 2 on the left side, one on the right. We have all 3 players here now in Heinola, Samberg, and Niku.
Morrissey, DeMelo, and Pionk can stay.

I’m not sure we actually agree here. The reason I want Heinola, Samberg, and hopefully Niku to get full time jobs in the top 6 next season is because our biggest weakness as a team is offence from the back end.
We have no transition game whatsoever, and it’s costing our top players. We are literally desperate for offensive D.

As for Forbort, he’s a solid 5/6 defenceman. Strong defence, 0 offence.
- Rexypoo

Guess I'll Re-cork that champ.... Throw me a friggen bone here rex! Haha. But I do see promise in those three D to make a difference going forward. Every winning team has a stud on the back-end, whether its Keith/Letang/Doughty/Carlson/Hedman. Jet's do not have that at the moment, but hopefully one of Sanderson/Heinola/Niku can step up and fill some voids.

Guess I'll Re-cork that champ.... Throw me a friggen bone here rex! Haha. But I do see promise in those three D to make a difference going forward. Every winning team has a stud on the back-end, whether its Keith/Letang/Doughty/Carlson/Hedman. Jet's do not have that at the moment, but hopefully one of Sanderson/Heinola/Niku can step up and fill some voids.
- bikeguy99

Erik Karlsson dragged a team half as talented as ours 75% of the way to a Stanley Cup. I know he’s likely the best player at his position in this century, but if Heinola and Samberg can both be even 60% of the player EK was at his peak, were just fine.

Erik Karlsson dragged a team half as talented as ours 75% of the way to a Stanley Cup. I know he’s likely the best player at his position in this century, but if Heinola and Samberg can both be even 60% of the player EK was at his peak, were just fine.
- Rexypoo

I guess if EK was more of a team
Player he would’ve got them all the way there. San Jose got worse when he arrived, bet the Anylitics didn’t predict that.

I guess if EK was more of a team
Player he would’ve got them all the way there. San Jose got worse when he arrived, bet the Anylitics didn’t predict that.
- Ross77[/quot

Erik Karlsson is only a shadow of himself now. Injuries have taken their toll.

But that's the Sharks problem now. Thank goodness!

I guess if EK was more of a team
Player he would’ve got them all the way there. San Jose got worse when he arrived, bet the Anylitics didn’t predict that.
- Ross77

In my opinion, the main reason the Sharks went down was due to goaltending. We should know that, especially with how Hellebyuck took a below average defensive core and covered up the majority of their deficiencies by playing out of his mind.

Guess I'll Re-cork that champ.... Throw me a friggen bone here rex! Haha. But I do see promise in those three D to make a difference going forward. Every winning team has a stud on the back-end, whether its Keith/Letang/Doughty/Carlson/Hedman. Jet's do not have that at the moment, but hopefully one of Sanderson/Heinola/Niku can step up and fill some voids.
- bikeguy99

Letang did not play during the Pens second cup run. He was injured.

There are returning players already at center that he was not going to beat out at center ( Dach, although not technically a returning player cause he was in the NHL last year is at center) then there’s Byfield and Cozens as well. There will probably be at least 4 centers playing the wing on that team
- Ross77

Time will dictate where Maurice plays him. Maurice's History though says that Perfetti will most likely spend the first 3 years at least on the wing.

Guess I'll Re-cork that champ.... Throw me a friggen bone here rex! Haha. But I do see promise in those three D to make a difference going forward. Every winning team has a stud on the back-end, whether its Keith/Letang/Doughty/Carlson/Hedman. Jet's do not have that at the moment, but hopefully one of Sanderson/Heinola/Niku can step up and fill some voids.
- bikeguy99

We got Sanderson ?
Samberg

I guess if EK was more of a team
Player he would’ve got them all the way there. San Jose got worse when he arrived, bet the Anylitics didn’t predict that.
- Ross77

San Jose only fell because of goaltending. Now they’ll likely recover, only to fall off again due to the core aging out.

Karlsson is still a very high end #1 defenceman, he’s just not a destroyer of worlds anymore

[quote=Ross77]I guess if EK was more of a team
Player he would’ve got them all the way there. San Jose got worse when he arrived, bet the Anylitics didn’t predict that.
- grahamzky[/quot

Erik Karlsson is only a shadow of himself now. Injuries have taken their toll.

But that's the Sharks problem now. Thank goodness!

This just isn’t true, and this narrative somehow still existing is weird.

Karlsson is still a top 20 defenceman, with room and potential to bounce back to the top 3.

This just isn’t true, and this narrative somehow still existing is weird.

Karlsson is still a top 20 defenceman, with room and potential to bounce back to the top 3.
- Rexypoo

Once he was elite. Then a dirty check took a lot of skill away. He gallantly came back, probably to soon, but has never been the same. Sad to see.

He is now not much more than basically a run-if-the-mill d-man - making $11.5 mill a season. Wow! What was GM Doug Wilson seeing or smoking?

If the Sharks good dump Karlsson's contract, they would do so tomorrow! But then again you believe that Pionk is bertter than Seth Jones, don't you? Enough said!

San Jose only fell because of goaltending. Now they’ll likely recover, only to fall off again due to the core aging out.

Karlsson is still a very high end #1 defenceman, he’s just not a destroyer of worlds anymore
- Rexypoo

Never fails, when anylitics don’t produce the results they were supposed to its always pick A,B, or C
A-coaches/systems fault
B-goaltending
C-luck

I guess from now on, when anyone says Connor sucks at D i’ll just use A, B or C and go with that. Has to work both ways.

Once he was elite. Then a dirty check took a lot of skill away. He gallantly came back, probably to soon, but has never been the same. Sad to see.

He is now not much more than basically a run-if-the-mill d-man - making $11.5 mill a season. Wow! What was GM Doug Wilson seeing or smoking?

If the Sharks good dump Karlsson's contract, they would do so tomorrow! But then again you believe that Pionk is bertter than Seth Jones, don't you? Enough said!
- grahamzky

There was a huge run of horrible contracts. I don’t like Wheelers deal at all, but I’ll throw out one that’s worse....Taveras!!! God awful deal!!!!!

Once he was elite. Then a dirty check took a lot of skill away. He gallantly came back, probably to soon, but has never been the same. Sad to see.

He is now not much more than basically a run-if-the-mill d-man - making $11.5 mill a season. Wow! What was GM Doug Wilson seeing or smoking?

If the Sharks good dump Karlsson's contract, they would do so tomorrow! But then again you believe that Pionk is bertter than Seth Jones, don't you? Enough said!
- grahamzky

Prior to his ankle injury I would have said that Karlsson was the best player in the league. Though he's been injured, I still think he's a top 20 defense man in the league.

I have referenced before that Selanne was essentially done in 2004. The 2004-05 lockout allowed him to properly rehab his knee. I am curious to see how Karlsson performs after the shutdown. The guy has never had this much time to recover. I actually see him coming back quite strongly.

Once he was elite. Then a dirty check took a lot of skill away. He gallantly came back, probably to soon, but has never been the same. Sad to see.

He is now not much more than basically a run-if-the-mill d-man - making $11.5 mill a season. Wow! What was GM Doug Wilson seeing or smoking?

If the Sharks good dump Karlsson's contract, they would do so tomorrow! But then again you believe that Pionk is bertter than Seth Jones, don't you? Enough said!
- grahamzky

That’s only partially true.
He’s not the same, his speed is still there, but the mobility isn’t what it once was. He has trouble pivoting.
But Erik Karlsson is still very much an elite player

Never fails, when anylitics don’t produce the results they were supposed to its always pick A,B, or C
A-coaches/systems fault
B-goaltending
C-luck

I guess from now on, when anyone says Connor sucks at D i’ll just use A, B or C and go with that. Has to work both ways.
- Ross77

Having the two worst goaltenders in the NHL is probably reason enough for a strong team to have a bad year.

Unfortunately for both San Jose and Erik Karlsson, management really looked their one big problem hard in the face, and then made it worse. Dubnyk is likely the 3rd worst goalie in the NHL last year.

There was a huge run of horrible contracts. I don’t like Wheelers deal at all, but I’ll throw out one that’s worse....Taveras!!! God awful deal!!!!!
- Ross77

Tavares is still elite. By the time he’s making more than he’s worth, Toronto’s window will be closed. The question is whether or not they win before that happens. Who knows.