Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Lightning Get Goalied by Blue Jackets

What a race in the division..wow.. love it .. can’t wait for a playoff series between 2 of these 3 ...

Schenn and McElbackup started. I turned off the game the moment I saw that. Guaranteed loss. Glad I didn't waste 3 hours of my life watching it.

Injuries are going to continue to mount across the league with this truncated schedule.

I don't think people should worry too much about the losing streak, the Lightning are still a team to beat and will be fine. What worries me is playing time management and injuries.

These past few games have shown how shallow the D depth really is. Hedman being okay is huge but now McD, Cernak and Rutta are all out. Cooper can't play Hedman and Sergachev 30+ minutes due to the truncated schedule so I think we will continue to see some leaky defense until everyone is back. I still think they have to make a move for another D. Borgman and Schenn are not the answer for 7-8 on the roster.

Injuries are going to continue to mount across the league with this truncated schedule.

I don't think people should worry too much about the losing streak, the Lightning are still a team to beat and will be fine. What worries me is playing time management and injuries.

These past few games have shown how shallow the D depth really is. Hedman being okay is huge but now McD, Cernak and Rutta are all out. Cooper can't play Hedman and Sergachev 30+ minutes due to the truncated schedule so I think we will continue to see some leaky defense until everyone is back. I still think they have to make a move for another D. Borgman and Schenn are not the answer for 7-8 on the roster.
- stammerman

Instead of playing a game with McElBackup and Schenn on the ice, the Bolts should just forfeit the game and get an extra day of rest and/or practice. The results in the standings would be the same (automatic loss), but at least nobody gets hurt.

Agree about Borgman and Schenn. But, with the Bolts cap issues, I don't see how they make a move for somebody who is going to move the needle.

Instead of playing a game with McElBackup and Schenn on the ice, the Bolts should just forfeit the game and get an extra day of rest and/or practice. The results in the standings would be the same (automatic loss), but at least nobody gets hurt.

Agree about Borgman and Schenn. But, with the Bolts cap issues, I don't see how they make a move for somebody who is going to move the needle.
- GalacticStone

The don't need a Dman who has to move the needle forward. They just need a Dman who will prevent the needle from going backward.

I assume they can trade a Schenn or Borgman along with a pick or prospect to get a stable RD who just needs to play D and be responsible on this side and allow Hedman, Sergachev and McDonagh to drive the play. That is what Shattenkirk and Bogosian allowed them to do in the playoffs.

The don't need a Dman who has to move the needle forward. They just need a Dman who will prevent the needle from going backward.

I assume they can trade a Schenn or Borgman along with a pick or prospect to get a stable RD who just needs to play D and be responsible on this side and allow Hedman, Sergachev and McDonagh to drive the play. That is what Shattenkirk and Bogosian allowed them to do in the playoffs.
- stammerman

Nobody realized that Shattenkirk was the true MVP on this roster

Nobody realized that Shattenkirk was the true MVP on this roster

- Michael_Stuart

I had a sneaking hunch he would be hard to replace. Bogosian could be replaced easily and cheaply, but Shattenkirk was a bargain. He quietly provided competent puck moving and better-than-advertised defense. He ate up some quality minutes on the right side and now Cernak is pretty lonely over there.

I had a sneaking hunch he would be hard to replace. Bogosian could be replaced easily and cheaply, but Shattenkirk was a bargain. He quietly provided competent puck moving and better-than-advertised defense. He ate up some quality minutes on the right side and now Cernak is pretty lonely over there.
- GalacticStone

Will Savard help? Maybe Stevie will sell Z's LTIR contract to you so you can acquire a RD?
Help is on the way! But at a cost!

Will Savard help? Maybe Stevie will sell Z's LTIR contract to you so you can acquire a RD?
Help is on the way! But at a cost!

- HenryHockey

Oh, wait, never mind, you have Witkowski to save the day!

Oh, wait, never mind, you have Witkowski to save the day!

- HenryHockey

I am thinking that Witowski is probably a better option than Schenn.

I had a sneaking hunch he would be hard to replace. Bogosian could be replaced easily and cheaply, but Shattenkirk was a bargain. He quietly provided competent puck moving and better-than-advertised defense. He ate up some quality minutes on the right side and now Cernak is pretty lonely over there.
- GalacticStone

Can't complain about Bogo. Exactly what we 've needed on 5-6 pairing. Good, inexpensive, stay at home guy who likes the rough and tumble stuff. Don't need any offence from him at all.

We could use another D piece for the play-offs as well. Dermott probably won't handle the heavy forecheck for an extended period.

Can't complain about Bogo. Exactly what we 've needed on 5-6 pairing. Good, inexpensive, stay at home guy who likes the rough and tumble stuff. Don't need any offence from him at all.

We could use another D piece for the play-offs as well. Dermott probably won't handle the heavy forecheck for an extended period.
- Leafsmart

I wish we could have kept Bogo and let Schenn go. Bogo was another one, like Shattenkirk, that exceeded expectations. Like you said, it's a good add for the Leafs.

I wish we could have kept Bogo and let Schenn go. Bogo was another one, like Shattenkirk, that exceeded expectations. Like you said, it's a good add for the Leafs.
- GalacticStone

They tried to keep Bogo... they actually offered him $100k more then Toronto but I remember he said in an interview he wanted to play in Toronto so he could be by his family and not have to relocate them.