Sorry guys! I tried to make it a 3 game win streak
We really can't afford to have legwand out for any real amount of time. That would be devastating to this team. We may revert back to the early season preds
We need to recall someone from Milwaukee to get Laakso out of the lineup. I don't care who. Is Brad Bombardir available?
That Hillen\Laakso pairing is the most horrendous thing I've ever seen. Hillen plays fine with another partner, but it's a turnover machine every time they're on the ice together.
It's an interesting dilemma. We have tons of defensive talent in many young players, but most aren't ready for the big time yet. We need some vet D help/depth.
It's an interesting dilemma. We have tons of defensive talent in many young players, but most aren't ready for the big time yet. We need some vet D help/depth.
Zanon
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Revenge is sweet... Revenge is a dish best served cold... Revenge is ice cream!
Hard to win playing two men down. Sure glad Poile decided to pick up McCrappan since he's "...gotten to the next level of his career..."
OK this is two threads you've called out poile about forward depth
but lets be a little more accurate, ok?
we are DEEP at forward. When everyone is healthy we dont have a spot in our top 6 for all our scoring forwards, with either Smith, SK, Wilson or Hornqvist having to move down
as it is, we can plug our injury holes with legit NHL players, not AHL guys who we hope wont be completely lost (Geoffrion, Spaling, Bergfors,plus Mueller in Milwaukee)
McGrattan still fulfills his purpose when we need a big guy in the lineup(like tonight) and is only truly pressed into service in inappropriate situations when we have multiple injuries and dont have time for a call up
i'd be okay with that if he wasn't used as extensively as he was when he was here last...ie...third pairing and PK specialist. BUT...Minnesota is having some sort of season, so I"m not sure how available he is, in spite of fan speculation that he might be.
OK this is two threads you've called out poile about forward depthbut lets be a little more accurate, ok?
we are DEEP at forward. When everyone is healthy we dont have a spot in our top 6 for all our scoring forwards, with either Smith, SK, Wilson or Hornqvist having to move down
as it is, we can plug our injury holes with legit NHL players, not AHL guys who we hope wont be completely lost (Geoffrion, Spaling, Bergfors,plus Mueller in Milwaukee)
McGrattan still fulfills his purpose when we need a big guy in the lineup(like tonight) and is only truly pressed into service in inappropriate situations when we have multiple injuries and dont have time for a call up
To be accurate, it's probably more like 53 threads since the off-season began.
The problem with the Preds carrying an enforcer is precisely like the situation they're in right now. With them carrying an enforcer who really should only be getting spot starts at best, the Preds often find themselves in the position of having only that enforcer to fill in when needed. For whatever reason the Preds take there fair share of injuries at top six positions more so than 3/4th liners, so not only are they playing down the man lost to injury but have an enforcer who can't fill any other role. Regardless of what Trotz says about him "...getting to the next level", obviously he's not capable of giving them much more than a breather for the other guys. You can see that the Preds can play it close even with injuries, but how much closer could they be with a guy that can contribute important shifts? Too much TOI for key guys who can't keep up the pace for the 60 minutes and the game slips just past their reach.
He's on pace for 55+ games right now. Think about that for a minute. Do you think the Preds are better served by filling that roster spot with a contributing player or an enforcer? No team will ever be "healthy" and rather than planning for that eventuality, the Preds have decided to utilize a roster spot for an enforcer.
To be accurate, it's probably more like 53 threads since the off-season began.
The problem with the Preds carrying an enforcer is precisely like the situation they're in right now. With them carrying an enforcer who really should only be getting spot starts at best, the Preds often find themselves in the position of having only that enforcer to fill in when needed. For whatever reason the Preds take there fair share of injuries at top six positions more so than 3/4th liners, so not only are they playing down the man lost to injury but have an enforcer who can't fill any other role. Regardless of what Trotz says about him "...getting to the next level", obviously he's not capable of giving them much more than a breather for the other guys. You can see that the Preds can play it close even with injuries, but how much closer could they be with a guy that can contribute important shifts? Too much TOI for key guys who can't keep up the pace for the 60 minutes and the game slips just past their reach.
He's on pace for 55+ games right now. Think about that for a minute. Do you think the Preds are better served by filling that roster spot with a contributing player or an enforcer? No team will ever be "healthy" and rather than planning for that eventuality, the Preds have decided to utilize a roster spot for an enforcer.
Why don't you call out Bergfors for turning the puck over at the offensive blueline after an icing when LA had their top line out against him? Lead to a 3 on 2 against that they scored the third goal against off of. Bergfors is a skill depth player you are talking about here...he's not getting the job done.
Additionally, after seeing the Letestu trade yesterday, I'd say we got good value for O'Reilly as well.
Recorded the game and watched the whole thing after work from 2-4 am, tired and a bit bummed now. Am I the only one who thinks Bergfors is just terrible? Not Laakso / Hillen "Im going to pass the puck right onto the tape of Gagne / Kopitar in the slot" terrible, but just pretty poor. Seems like some people here are fans, just not seeing it.
Ducks are going to be fierce as usual and hungry after a lengthy W drought. Hopefully Pekka has been practicing his headstands.
Recorded the game and watched the whole thing after work from 2-4 am, tired and a bit bummed now. Am I the only one who thinks Bergfors is just terrible? Not Laakso / Hillen "Im going to pass the puck right onto the tape of Gagne / Kopitar in the slot" terrible, but just pretty poor. Seems like some people here are fans, just not seeing it.
Ducks are going to be fierce as usual and hungry after a lengthy W drought. Hopefully Pekka has been practicing his headstands.
Hillen did put the puck on Gagne's stick, but he was trying to make an outlet pass to an open team mate. He doesn't have many Giveaways in general. It happens. As a poster above said, Hillen plays well when paired with other D-partners, namely Blum and Bouillon. And his statistics prove out he is playing well with anyone. He has 3 assists even though he gets no PP time and very little TOI (around 12 mins) per game, and is out there with our 3rd and 4th liners. He is +3, while Blum and Klein are both -7, and Bouillon is -3. Yes, Hillen doesn't see the opponents top lines, but it is hard to argue he isn't a very good 3rd pairing defenseman and is very good at that role.
I think the bigger issue is what to do with Laakso. He had 4 Give-aways last night and really struggled all over the ice. You can see the organization is committed to him and don't want to have a repeat of the 2009-10 season, where he saw 7 games, was sent down, and didn't see another NHL game for 2 years. I am sure that killed his confidence and that is what is he struggling with now.
I've read a lot of comments about how this team just isn't the same when it takes a couple of injuries to its top six, but how many teams are? When you take injuries to your top guys your team is going to suffer. There are maybe a handful of teams, if that, who can plug in their bottom six/bottom pairing players into top roles and still continue to play close to the same level, and even then they will not be the same team.
On the bright side, this team has scored three or more goals in its past six games, and 8 of its 14 total. On the down side, it has let in three or more goals in 9 of 14. PP is still in at just over 17%. The PK killed off six of seven against one of the best power plays in the league. All three goals for the Preds came after Legwand went down with an injury. Hornqvist is still finding twine. Craig Smith hasn't cooled off yet.
The bottom line is last night this team took too many dumb penalties (and got called for one because apparently Hornqvist being punched and then mobbed = Hornqvist roughing someone else), is playing with a banged up top six and down a top 4 defenseman, and played its very young, inexperienced back up who should have had a couple of those goals. Bad games happen. Sometimes the team can play poorly and still win because the other team plays worse (or the goalie bails them out). Last night the Kings were just better.
Shake it off, get Rinne in net, and do it again tonight.
I wouldnt be surprised if that was the injury. Leggy is a tough mofo, I was at the game when he broke his collarbone years ago. He kept playing and didnt find out til after the game
Why don't you call out Bergfors for turning the puck over at the offensive blueline after an icing when LA had their top line out against him? Lead to a 3 on 2 against that they scored the third goal against off of. Bergfors is a skill depth player you are talking about here...he's not getting the job done.
Additionally, after seeing the Letestu trade yesterday, I'd say we got good value for O'Reilly as well.
No doubt. Both Bergfors and Laasko have underperformed, and everybody on here knows it. Trotz obviously wants to minimize their time and I'm guessing that if Poile could replace two individuals on this roster it would be those two if the opportunity and timing presents itself.
But back to my point, do most people realize that McCrappan is on pace to play 50-60 games this year? That's 2 to 3 times as many games as anybody would reasonably expect, agree? Are the Preds best served by relying on McCrappan on a nightly basis or finding someone who can contribute meaningful minutes through offense and/or defense? Isn't there anybody in MIL or in another organization that can better meet the needs of this team? That's why I harp on this issue and point out the error of McCrappan's roster spot.
I wouldnt be surprised if that was the injury. Leggy is a tough mofo, I was at the game when he broke his collarbone years ago. He kept playing and didnt find out til after the game
Ironically wasn't it Steve Sullivan that broke Legwand's collar bone?
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