I think we underrate the Jackets defense. It's certainly a bottom 10 group in the NHL but it's not the AHL-level disaster that some of you are painting it out to be.
I'm as critical of Klesla as anyone here but I can't deny that he has done a great job of playing to his strengths and seems to be making better decisions with the puck. He's slow but he's playing smart enough that it isn't an issue. Tyutin is prone to a bad turnover every couple of games but does a great job clearing the rebounds and limiting 2nd chances. We've said enough about Methot's season and Hejda has come back much stronger then I thought he would.
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Truth should never get in the way of a good persecution complex.
Hejda has been shooting the puck - and even scored once because of it. He's looked good moving the puck around in the offensive zone so far. Maybe you should look again!
Im starting to wonder why we havent given him a chance, i mean how worse can it get, not far from 0 when your already at 10%. And his numbers really arent that bad, in 277 career nhl games he has 57 points and 8 goals, compare that to someone like, lets just pick a random blue jacket defensemen that is on the power play now, how about Russell who only has 54 points and 11 goals in 213 career games, who is to say Hejda couldnt be doing a better job on the power play.
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Remember - when you're a hockey fan, it's not "reckless driving", it's "good forechecking".
"Viqsi, you are our sweet humanist..." --mt-svk on the CBJ boards
Thanks, Howson, for cleaning up MacLean's toxic waste. Welcome, Kekalainen; let's get good things built!
I've said it many times, but I want to see Russell paired with a shooter. Unfortunately, the one shooter we have (Stralman) is struggling. No matter the reason, Russell hasn't produced good numbers on the PP yet in his NHL career, and I certainly want that to change--if it can.
Russell has been paired with Stralman this year....it has been a disaster each time. Neither one of them play inspired defense, and neither one can win board battles. So then you have to suck down your center or a winger to help win those board battles.
how about Russell who only has 54 points and 11 goals in 213 career games, who is to say Hejda couldnt be doing a better job on the power play.
