Not really a surprise, the center line was already lacking playmaking when Geoffrion was healthy and now you take him and Bournival out and it's just a collection of grinders down the middle, combine that with mostly shooters down the wing, a green defence, whatever the ''system'' is and a collection of veterans (aside from FSD and Desjardins) who look to be going through the motions constantly and you get this mess.
It doesn't help that one of the few guys with half a bit of skill in Nattinen is forced to play with goons, and Avtsin, who is probably a lost cause but also one of the teams few playmakers, will probably never play again.
Dogs getting completely dominated...again. The amount of 1 to 5 shot periods this team has is beyond ridiculous. That's on the coaching.
The dinosaur Lefebvre deserves every bit of this with his ridiculous policies and his stubbornness with refusing to break up a winning lineup and such. Playing 2 goons almost every game with the murderous and difficult schedule this team has is just ridiculous. You are essentially telling the opposition that they only have to be concerned about 3 lines.
But seriously, let me rant about the schedule. I'd love to see the strength of schedule stats for the AHL because the Dogs schedule has to be the hardest. Every game they face a good team, or a real good team. Rochester is like the weakest team they've faced this year based on the current standings (and they were doing well early when Hodgson was healthy). Syracuse isn't even in their conference yet this is the 3rd meeting?!?
Yeah, it seems like the Bulldogs have an insane schedule. They face the Marlies often as division rivals. They seem to have faced the Abbotsford Heat and Syracuse Crunch a disproportionate amount of times. And, of course, the Rochester Americans. No wonder they often look outmatched.
Not really a surprise, the center line was already lacking playmaking when Geoffrion was healthy and now you take him and Bournival out and it's just a collection of grinders down the middle, combine that with mostly shooters down the wing, a green defence, whatever the ''system'' is and a collection of veterans (aside from FSD and Desjardins) who look to be going through the motions constantly and you get this mess.
That makes a lot fo sense. I haven't been watching the bulldogs much this season, but I don't like what I'm seeing from the coaching staff, neither with the philosophy of having a bunch of rookies with no real solid veterans on the ice.
Not really a surprise, the center line was already lacking playmaking when Geoffrion was healthy and now you take him and Bournival out and it's just a collection of grinders down the middle, combine that with mostly shooters down the wing, a green defence, whatever the ''system'' is and a collection of veterans (aside from FSD and Desjardins) who look to be going through the motions constantly and you get this mess.
Yeah, and the one guy that probably could really help that (Leblanc) is being kept on RW probably due to instructions from on high. So we've also got the best 3 offensive talents (Leblanc, Gallagher, Palushaj) all on different lines.
That first unit PP is a nightmare also. No idea why they can't see that the second one is the only unit generating chances.
Every GM makes mistakes. Maybe Bergevin erred in hiring Lefebvre and maybe he also erred by failing to sign two or three veteran mentors for the young Bulldogs. We will have to wait and see before we can make a judgment on the Therrien hiring. Overall, though, I think Bergevin has done a good job. At least he has tried to make improvements in the organization.
I believe Bergevin thought Blunden, Leblanc, Geoffrion, St-Denis, Desjardins, Palushaj, Boyce and the recently signed Commodore would help enough in the leadership department. Even though they suck, we also have Hagel and Stortini. Furthermore, Nash, Nattinen, and Dumont have experience.
So, that's 13 of the players who some experience to a lot of experience. All more veterans do is boot the younger players you want playing in Hamilton to the ECHL, Europe, or to be traded. Would have liked better veterans than Boyce, and Stortini, but oh well.
It's a learning curve for the team, Lefebvre and Bergevin.
I turned the game off again, dogs are a painful team to watch many nights. The effort is often there but they sorely lack firepower as they struggled to get more then 1 shot on net in the 1st night and the PP often looks useless. I also don't understand the line matchups many nights either.
At least Gallagher is among the top goal scorers while the rest of the rookies especially on defense are getting great experience playing against the top teams in the AHL. If somehow the lockout where to end soon, it would be interesting to see the impact it would have on the AHL since Hamilton shouldn't be too effected. If not then i'm guessing it's going to be a long, long season.
This team lacks global talent. Leblanc looked good with the habs and yet he's invisible with the dogs. Why? Absolutely no puck possession game. They spend the whole games chasing the puck. When they have it, it's not for much more than 10 seconds at best. Not a single player is able to do a successful zone entry. Either they get cut off at the blue line or they dump and chase with a strong lack of speed and size to chase. Look at how the Crunch had an easy time getting the zone. There's so much lack of talent that nobody can exploit their strength. How is Gallagher supposed to drive the net when no centers give him the puck on the fly? How is Leblanc supposed to do some finesse in the O-zone when he plays with defensive players? How is Holland supposed to carry the puck when only Beaulieu doesn't rim it on the boards when breaking out? How is Beaulieu supposed to score when we spend a whole 3 minutes in the other team's end per game?
Dogs chose a really really bad year to be a dull team to watch....Again, the management missed the boat by not going with 1 or 2 proven skilled AHL vets that would show the kids the way to go.
At least put Avtsin in. You're getting 5 goals against a game, no matter how bad his defensively game is, it won't alter the outcome and he might actually GENERATE offence.
I'd rather have an extended look at him before he's in the KHL for the rest of his life.
Dogs chose a really really bad year to be a dull team to watch....Again, the management missed the boat by not going with 1 or 2 proven skilled AHL vets that would show the kids the way to go.
So, what's the situation if the NHL season is canceled? Can the dogs
sign a marginal NHL vet or two ? They certainly don't have too many
forwards, and they could get rid of someone like Boyce, who I think was
signed for only 25 games.
The list of recruits for Hamilton looks good for next season,with Kristo,MacMillan,Walsh and Cichy available at forward from college ranks.Archambault whose game is improving and defensive help from Thrower & Deitz from the junior ranks.Mac Bennett is another if he forgoes his Senior year,but highly unlikely.The suffering this season will end when the NHL & NHLPA realize the futility in butting heads like Big Horned Sheep.Go Dogs Go!The Washington Capitals really loaded up with veterans on their farm team so look for some heavy hitting in this affair tonight.
The Washington Capitals really loaded up with veterans on their farm team so look for some heavy hitting in this affair tonight.
