Good morning gents. I took a bit of a break from this forum - I think the losing streak really bummed me out a bit - a lot of people here are motivated to post when they aren't good, but that's not me.

Two months into the season I think I got some things right and some things wrong.

Things that I think I got right:

- We needed to let the kids play big minutes on the scoring line instead of going out and signing big-name vets. The Cozens line is ridiculous right now and I don't think that happens if they are playing 3rd line minutes behind guys that won't be here in 4 years. Could not be happier with those guys.
- Adams is the right guy for the job. The last couple of drafts look to be outstanding, and the contracts he has given out are going to be ridiculous bargains.

Things that I think I got wrong:

- Mitts. I still believed in him. His early play on the PK was excellent. He is killing that line.
- 46. He looked good early but then he got hurt and he has been downright awful.
- More defensive help. I'll couch this one a bit as I thought the D was alright when I thought 46 was good. The third forward line and 3rd defensive pair are absolutely killing us right now. Go get Chiquorin.

Things that worry me

- Meatballs. Is he too loyal to some of these guys? I know he is trying to make the team into a family but sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade. Almost every game there is a really questionable lineup decision. I am not a huge fan of Krebs but you can't do what they are doing to him. Mitts is downright bad. You can see Quinn as a future star - why did he sit when his stats were very good?
- Slump Buster

And goaltending, how'd we do there?

in case anyone hates clicking on links...
- jochfr

Do this one too
https://twitter.com/Highp...npAS_FCIEhmfgocG3L8w&s=19

You coach what you are given, Donnie basically has been given 1/2 a team so far.
- Buff36

Yes and no. Some of his lineup decisions are downright terrible. Way too much loyalty to players who aren't good.

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2019/04/04/dylan-cozens-scouting-report/



- sabresfan69

What website is that.... never heard of it

Yes and no. Some of his lineup decisions are downright terrible. Way too much loyalty to players who aren't good.
- Slump Buster

True, but again those are players he has been given. And we don't know what directives on players have been given.

And goaltending, how'd we do there?
- lacaprup

I think the goaltending has generally been good enough. I believe they said on the broadcast last night that we lead the league in odd man rushes against. There are four things killing us right now:

- 3rd line
- 3rd D pair
- PK
- Odd man rushes against

I suspect that getting better players to replace the bad ones listed above would do wonders for us. We're so close, I think.

You are right, one of the top offensive player in the draft = Grinder.
- sabresfan69

16 in 22 and 5th in scoring out of his draft... hows that a grinder.... He's a solid 2-way player.

That line wasn't buried enough in the 3rd.

What was more mystifying was Granato's decision on when to put that line on the ice.
- kingcong39

Getting hard to listen to Donnie. Sounds a lot like Phil. Just doesn't have answers when things get tough.

Learning experience, let up....he's the one who let up by putting them out when they went up 2. He opened the door for what happened last night.

True, but again those are players he has been given. And we don't know what directives on players have been given.
- Buff36

He has to have some leverage in the lineup decisions. Pilut not playing over some of these guys is a travesty, although I wonder if that has something to do with the number of games he can play before he can't go back down. Mitts never sitting is another.

That said, they have to collectively share some of the blame for other decisions.

Getting hard to listen to Donnie. Sounds a lot like Phil. Just doesn't have answers when things get tough.

Learning experience, let up....he's the one who let up by putting them out when they went up 2. He opened the door for what happened last night.
- Lunaion

True, but they have to give 200+ interviews a year. No matter how things are going you're going to hear coach speak.

Everyone here loved Mitts, Asplund, Olofsson many times last year. Myself included. Remember that before you annoint Quinn, Peterka and Cozens. It only hurts worse.
- lacaprup

Are you on the crack?

Short term memory loss?

Are you on the crack?

Short term memory loss?
- DirtyDan

I think he is referring to the one really good stretch at the end of the year. Mitts and Olloffson were fantastic.

He has to have some leverage in the lineup decisions. Pilut not playing over some of these guys is a travesty, although I wonder if that has something to do with the number of games he can play before he can't go back down. Mitts never sitting is another.

That said, they have to collectively share some of the blame for other decisions.
- Slump Buster

Pilut already lost his waiver exemption. He'd have to clear to go down. Playing Fitz over him is a problem. Feels like the honeymoon for Donnie and KA is starting to end.

Pilut already lost his waiver exemption. He'd have to clear to go down. Playing Fitz over him is a problem. Feels like the honeymoon for Donnie and KA is starting to end.
- Lunaion

I think it is harder to judge Adams as we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. Many people here get their panties in a lather every time some scrub is cut from another team. He made a nice pickup in Jost. We need to upgrade the D, but it does take 2 to make a trade. For all we know he is closing in on one. I have loved just about everything else that he has done and I don't think there is a doubt that he is the right man for the job right now.

I think he is referring to the one really good stretch at the end of the year. Mitts and Olloffson were fantastic.
- Slump Buster

That line had a solid month last year. A month. I guess it was all meaningless, pressure free games.

What website is that.... never heard of it

- DirtyDan

honestly not a bad scouting report. I don't even hate the Ryan Kesler comp, skill and all. I wonder if Cozens can get that nasty and aggressive though. But I bet his play style lines up.

I think he is referring to the one really good stretch at the end of the year. Mitts and Olloffson were fantastic.
- Slump Buster

The last 15 games? Yeah those really meant a lot playing back ups and players who didn't care about beating us

The last 15 games? Yeah those really meant a lot playing back ups and players who didn't care about beating us
- DirtyDan

We still play the backups, but it's clear those were pressure free, meaningless games.

Pilut already lost his waiver exemption. He'd have to clear to go down. Playing Fitz over him is a problem. Feels like the honeymoon for Donnie and KA is starting to end.
- Lunaion

Need both Casey's off this team.

Not sure how you play Fitzgerald in the last 5 and OT. He's not NHL quality.

Donnie needs to get slapped with reality. You cant coddle grown men.

We still play the backups, but it's clear those were pressure free, meaningless games.
- lacaprup

When the other team is on a back2back, yes

When the other team is on a back2back, yes
- DirtyDan

Almost every game we play backups. Almost every game

Almost every game we play backups. Almost every game
- lacaprup

Well once we don't have a bunch of backups playing bottom 6, that should change.

We still play the backups, but it's clear those were pressure free, meaningless games.
- lacaprup

Do you really think that players are out there feeling no pressure? That is the one statement that really boggles my mind. By that logic any game outside of a playoff race is pressure-free.

Also, by your logic how many teams do you think feel pressure right now? Maybe 3 or 4, and that's only because the team is way underperforming expectations.

I think it is harder to judge Adams as we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. Many people here get their panties in a lather every time some scrub is cut from another team. He made a nice pickup in Jost. We need to upgrade the D, but it does take 2 to make a trade. For all we know he is closing in on one. I have loved just about everything else that he has done and I don't think there is a doubt that he is the right man for the job right now.
- Slump Buster

That doesn't make sense to me. You're giving him the benefit of the doubt for what might be happening behind the scenes and then saying there's no doubt?

Fixing the bottom of the roster should be easier than fixing the top, but his biggest issues right now are guys who have been here 4+ years and just continue to play instead of making real decisions on. Evaluating guys too long turns into it's own problem.

Almost every game we play backups. Almost every game
- lacaprup

There are probably 5 goalies in the league that are any good. The rest of them you can throw in a hat and pick one. Also, it isn't terribly uncommon for the backups to have better numbers than the starters because they are rested. Look at guys like Comerie and Carter Hutton (when he was with the Blues) - great numbers on smaller minutes.