Matt Belesky anyone? Rumored to be heading to waivers. Buried in AHL last 2 plus years. Brings jam. Might be decent on 4th line but we do have enough of those guys. He would be tough checker and will drop gloves.
- cdearth23

Lol

Absolutely (frank)ing not, my guy

Yes, these are obviously the 2 players he's referring to who have been in the lineup throughout Hakstol's entire time as head coach.
- jmatchett383

What it obviously points to is that it's just another tired false narrative.

Yeah, I know, and I am sure they work together on it to an extent. It is just a pretty simple change in philosophy that would go a long way. There isn't even an excuse about the young guys not being ready now.
- YuenglingJagr

You want the philosophy to be younger players play no matter what. Regardless of if they're better or not. If they earn the playing time or not or what is best for the younger player.

He's not going to learn anything on the 4th line.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Not the point, Lindblom makes the team better. The goal is to win. (Read it again.) WIN. So what if he just learns to be flexible, in a lesser role. If he competes, he is the best option there. Frankly, the team needs all the help it can get. No need to make the rookie sit when he can still help on the 4th line.

So let me get this straight....

When forwards break structure, don't back check, lose puck battles and cheat for offense that puts more pressure on the D which causes turnovers and being out of position which then puts pressure on the goaltender to make spectacular saves to bail the team out on breakaways, odd man rushes and point blank shots.

CRAZY TALK!

Obviously the answer is a new goaltender, getting a better 6/7 defenseman and swapping D pairs.

Oh, but there is

Remember when I was all up in arms over Vorobyev getting scratched and outside of our favorite board apologist of course I got a chorus of "it's only one game relax" but I was also pissed because I knew full well it wasn't going to be just one game? Yeah. Took an injury for this coach to even think about getting him back in.
- Giroux_Is_God

Yet you've ignored when the best sources around such as Bill Meltzer write why Vorobyev was scratched. After all you're the guy who thinks that Vorobyev is capable of filling in at 2C at the NHL level. What we know from that is that I read the situation correctly and that you did not.

So let me get this straight....

When forwards break structure, don't back check, lose puck battles and cheat for offense that puts more pressure on the D which causes turnovers and being out of position which then puts pressure on the goaltender to make spectacular saves to bail the team out on breakaways, odd man rushes and point blank shots.

CRAZY TALK!

Obviously the answer is a new goaltender, getting a better 6/7 defenseman and swapping D pairs.
- Glak18

Pfffft! Get with it. Obviously the answer is to fire the coach.

Yet you've ignored when the best sources around such as Bill Meltzer write why Vorobyev was scratched. After all you're the guy who thinks that Vorobyev is capable of filling in at 2C at the NHL level. What we know from that is that I read the situation correctly and that you did not.
- MJL

I personally feel Misha could be a capable 2/3 center, but not right now...could you let the kid develop a little bit first. Take a look at Patrick and how long it is taking him to become a #2 center and he is not there yet....but Vorobyev has 6 games under his belt.

I personally feel Misha could be a capable 2/3 center, but not right now...could you let the kid develop a little bit first. Take a look at Patrick and how long it is taking him to become a #2 center and he is not there yet....but Vorobyev has 6 games under his belt.
- Glak18

Exactly. His play dropped off. Most likely that he just isn't ready to be the player that he showed in the pre season. He needs more time but as Bill alluded to, scratching him was not the wrong decision. He also stated, which I agree with, that he shouldn't be kept sitting long. If he is not going to be in the NHL lineup, send him down.

He's not going to learn anything on the 4th line.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Svechnikov is playing on Carolina's 4th line right now
Pretty sure DeBrincat played on the 4th line in Chicago for a pretty good while last year
Jost is on the Avs' 4th line
Milano AND Bjorkstrand are on CBJ's 4th line

That's 4 out of the first like 7 teams alphabetically that I just clicked through on leftwinglock. I'm not clicking through the other 24 cuz I gotta get ready for work. Young guys need to play to learn. Doesn't matter where. Get the (fair) ice time. It's better than rotting as a scratch. Now, if you make room on the 4th line for Misha by promoting BananaFace, then we have a problem. But in a vacuum, I wouldn't be furious with him on the 4th line.

We have Weise and Lehtera on the 4th line.

Yet you've ignored when the best sources around such as Bill Meltzer write why Vorobyev was scratched. After all you're the guy who thinks that Vorobyev is capable of filling in at 2C at the NHL level. What we know from that is that I read the situation correctly and that you did not.
- MJL

I still think he can, and at that time I meant in the interim of Patrick, so like 3 games. I wouldn't have wanted to keep him there. Based on his play away from the puck, I think he could have managed. And playing him with some effective 5v5 talents could have given him the confidence to carry the puck more which I thought was what was lacking most in his game. Like I said before, I think it's a matter of confidence. Every game and every period he showed us a good play- good board work, good defense, good vision.

I'm not going to let Bill sway my opinions. He isn't the end all, be all, with all due respect. No one is.

Except you of course, Daddy

Exactly. His play dropped off. Most likely that he just isn't ready to be the player that he showed in the pre season. He needs more time but as Bill alluded to, scratching him was not the wrong decision. He also stated, which I agree with, that he shouldn't be kept sitting long. If he is not going to be in the NHL lineup, send him down.
- MJL

Agree 100% but sometimes sitting and watching is just as good as learning in game. It is up to a coach to determine what that threshold is. If he wasn't showing good things in practice, he would of been sent down.

JvR-Giroux-Voracek
Lindblom-Patrick-Konecny
Laughton-Couturier-Simmonds
Raffl-Lehtera-Weise

All done by a new Coach

Svechnikov is playing on Carolina's 4th line right now
Pretty sure DeBrincat played on the 4th line in Chicago for a pretty good while last year
Jost is on the Avs' 4th line
Milano AND Bjorkstrand are on CBJ's 4th line

That's 4 out of the first like 7 teams alphabetically that I just clicked through on leftwinglock. I'm not clicking through the other 24 cuz I gotta get ready for work. Young guys need to play to learn. Doesn't matter where. Get the (fair) ice time. It's better than rotting as a scratch.

We have Weise and Lehtera on the 4th line.
- Giroux_Is_God

Joe Thornton and Steven Stamkos played on the 4th line to start their careers, just throwing out a couple #1 overall picks...

Svechnikov is playing on Carolina's 4th line right now
Pretty sure DeBrincat played on the 4th line in Chicago for a pretty good while last year
Jost is on the Avs' 4th line
Milano AND Bjorkstrand are on CBJ's 4th line

That's 4 out of the first like 7 teams alphabetically that I just clicked through on leftwinglock. I'm not clicking through the other 24. Young guys need to play to learn. Doesn't matter where. Get the (fair) ice time. It's better than rotting as a scratch.

We have Weise and Lehtera on the 4th line.
- Giroux_Is_God

1) Not fair examples. Those players have often been higher up in the ineup and have moved down recently

2) Weise and Lehtera have palyed well of late so Im not sure why they are ousted as the problem. The team is not going to magically play better by removing guys that play maybe 10 mins a game. Main purpose of a fourth line is to go out there, not get scored on and let top 3 lines rest. If you look at the 4th line around the league, they arent scoring many goals. I looked at teams like WSH, PIT, WPG and their 4th line has 1 goal a piece.

So let me get this straight....

When forwards break structure, don't back check, lose puck battles and cheat for offense that puts more pressure on the D which causes turnovers and being out of position which then puts pressure on the goaltender to make spectacular saves to bail the team out on breakaways, odd man rushes and point blank shots.

CRAZY TALK!

Obviously the answer is a new goaltender, getting a better 6/7 defenseman and swapping D pairs.
- Glak18

yup

poor team defense exposes weaknesses of dmen which exposes weaknesses of goaltenders

dominoes!!!!!!1

Joe Thornton and Steven Stamkos played on the 4th line to start their careers, just throwing out a couple #1 overall picks...
- Glak18

JvR-Giroux-Voracek
Lindblom-Patrick-Konecny
Laughton-Couturier-Simmonds
Raffl-Lehtera-Weise

All done by a new Coach
- SuperSchennBros

That new coach sucks, fire them.

I still think he can, and at that time I meant in the interim of Patrick, so like 3 games. I wouldn't have wanted to keep him there. Based on his play away from the puck, I think he could have managed. And playing him with some effective 5v5 talents could have given him the confidence to carry the puck more which I thought was what was lacking most in his game. Like I said before, I think it's a matter of confidence. Every game and every period he showed us a good play- good board work, good defense, good vision.

I'm not going to let Bill sway my opinions. He isn't the end all, be all, with all due respect. No one is.

Except you of course, Daddy
- Giroux_Is_God

No one is but he knows the game very well. It's obvious to anyone that Vorobyev was not ready for a 3C role let alone a 2C role. Regardless of the number of games. You simply have it wrong. His level of play tended downwards and you think they should elevate his role.

1) Not fair examples. Those players have often been higher up in the ineup and have moved down recently

2) Weise and Lehtera have palyed well of late so Im not sure why they are ousted as the problem. The team is not going to magically play better by removing guys that play maybe 10 mins a game. Main purpose of a fourth line is to go out there, not get scored on and let top 3 lines rest. If you look at the 4th line around the league, they arent scoring many goals. I looked at teams like WSH, PIT, WPG and their 4th line has 1 goal a piece.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I found Doc Hickstuff

See ya later dude

Agree 100% but sometimes sitting and watching is just as good as learning in game. It is up to a coach to determine what that threshold is. If he wasn't showing good things in practice, he would of been sent down.
- Glak18

I think watching a few games is fine but that only goes so far. He needs to be playing somewhere.

No one is but he knows the game very well. It's obvious to anyone that Vorobyev was not ready for a 3C role let alone a 2C role. Regardless of the number of games. You simply have it wrong. His level of play tended downwards and you think they should elevate his role.
- MJL

It's simple, really. Thanks for setting everything straight. I see the light now.

1) Not fair examples. Those players have often been higher up in the ineup and have moved down recently

2) Weise and Lehtera have palyed well of late so Im not sure why they are ousted as the problem. The team is not going to magically play better by removing guys that play maybe 10 mins a game. Main purpose of a fourth line is to go out there, not get scored on and let top 3 lines rest. If you look at the 4th line around the league, they arent scoring many goals. I looked at teams like WSH, PIT, WPG and their 4th line has 1 goal a piece.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

They were good example as you say Lindblom has played higher in the line up.

I never called out Lehtera or Weise as the problem this season. It is about who is better and has more potential to give that one rare goal. Lindblom over Weise- yes.

JvR-Giroux-Voracek
Lindblom-Patrick-Konecny
Laughton-Couturier-Simmonds
Raffl-Lehtera-Weise

All done by a new Coach
- SuperSchennBros

Um ok, but what exactly does this do for them now with both JVR and Raffl injured?

I think watching a few games is fine but that only goes so far. He needs to be playing somewhere.
- MJL

Agreed again, that onus is 100% on Hak & Hex if he is not playing for too long. You don't know if he can bounce back unless you play him.

Although I do disagree that he has been able to fill the 3C position, does he have things to work on...for sure, but if the rest of the team played better and won more he would still be in the lineup.