Considering that the play of Nash the past few years has been only slightly better then that of Jeff Carter and that the Jackets were able to land a solid starting lineup worthy hitter and blueline scorer in Johnson, what else in your opinion is missing from the Defense.
Clearly a natural playmaker would be nice but with not 1 BUT 2 power forwards that entered the NHL as Centermen in R.Johansen and R.J.Umberger both as 1st round draft selections, now the question turns to who is going to be the Defender that the Jackets target as "NASH worthy"?
Really shocked that none of Nashville, San Jose, Toronto or NY were offering a package that was "good enough" to land Rick especially considering that all 4 teams were serious trade deadline players w/ multiple offers....However, now the question becomes do the JAckets pull a Lou Lamoriello and get lucky 3 times in 1 season by getting a
#1(Larsson at the Draft) a decent #2/3 Zidlicky pre deadline, and a middle of the pack #3/4(Foster mid season) this coming year.
With time the duo of Wisniewski and Johnson should be solid enough to carry a top PP.
Also having the likes of Moore, Savard, Nikitin and Tyutin should be enough to fill the PK and at least 1 spot on the 2nd PP....
Our real needs are offense, with Nash going to be moved, and a goalie. If Nash goes to Van, I want Schneider plus a solid young forward. They kind of traded that away with what I had in mind in Hodgson. Howson is going to want another very good forward to build around either way. Go after Harding via FA.
At least one, and preferably two top shut-down defenders. That opens up trade possibilities for guys like Methot, and Tyutin, and allows us to take more time to properly develop our own D prospects.
That would also allow us to get rid of AJ, and Lebda, which should be a priority for this team.
I have said for a while now that much of our late game collapses has been wholly due to a lack of true shut-down guys who are capable of holding leads.
As you probably have surmised, I don't believe that any of our current D-men are adequate shut-down players.
At least one, and preferably two top shut-down defenders. That opens up trade possibilities for guys like Methot, and Tyutin, and allows us to take more time to properly develop our own D prospects.
....
Times two. Not comfortable at all relying on what we currently have being used as shutdown defensemen.
I think it'll only help Johnson in his time as a Jacket, too. In the absence of such defensemen, people start to have unrealistic expectations from offensive defensemen.
Times two. Not comfortable at all relying on what we currently have being used as shutdown defensemen.
I think it'll only help Johnson in his time as a Jacket, too. In the absence of such defensemen, people start to have unrealistic expectations from offensive defensemen.
...and then the natural effect is that, having failed to meet unrealistic expectations, people begin to project those faults onto an overall image of what a player can't do, rather than what he can do.
Ask Reds fans about Adam Dunn. Half regarded him as a great offensive threat who was well worth his ample weight, and the other half regarded him as a bum who wouldn't stop striking out.
Need a shut down defender to put on either the third pairing or the top pairing. Methot isn't good enough, Wiz should be traded if they can in the offseason because he is 100% redundant now. He belongs on the bottom pairing in Columbus now because Tyutin and Nikitin make a great 2nd pairing. Moore should be moved up to play with JJ this season and next season look to bring in a premier shut down guy and put Moore on the bottom pairing or look to pair him with Nikitin and trade Tyutin.
Grit. Plain and simple. The jackets haven't had any since Foote left. And I'm not sure they had too much before but at least Heward and St-Pierre would drop the gloves.When was the last time a Jacket D-man was in a fight?
They also need to add two shutdown D-men who actually understand the role of defense is to stop the other team from scoring. Guys who will clear the crease. Deliver bone crunching hits.
I'd vote to move Methot & Tyutin if possible with those Howson contracts. Split Wis and JJ. Have Moore,Savard & Nikitin be the other three.
I was reading about the draft today on various sites and if we can I'd package the LA pick and one of our seconds to move as high up as possible and draft the best remaining guy of Trouba, Dumba or Ryan Murray. Need to get a great D prospect in the system. Look at all the guys we passed on to take Filly.
Grit. Plain and simple. The jackets haven't had any since Foote left. And I'm not sure they had too much before but at least Heward and St-Pierre would drop the gloves.When was the last time a Jacket D-man was in a fight?
Our real needs are offense, with Nash going to be moved, and a goalie. If Nash goes to Van, I want Schneider plus a solid young forward. They kind of traded that away with what I had in mind in Hodgson. Howson is going to want another very good forward to build around either way. Go after Harding via FA.
While our offense isn't too good, this isn't what is a top priority in my mind. Remember the build from the G out theory. Scoring 6 goals last night would be tough, if not impossible;stopping the last 4 Detroit goals was very doable.
I do agree Harding or some other goalie is needed, but if the D improves, the G somewhat goes for the ride.
To answer the original question? Confidence, really. I don't care whether it comes from within, or Howson snatching it up from the Whos down in Whoville while they're asleep in their beds. That is what this organization needs more than anything. Especially since it's a foregone conclusion they're going to trade the last can of Who-Hash. Or Rick Hash, or whatever his name is, I forget
good enough to compete with Det/Nash/Chi/StL on a consistant basis next year?
In my opinion, not even close. Your second pair is frightening and your third is the same as the first pairing which is being routinely torched this season.
Maybe JJ-Nikitin, then Winiewski-Methot, then Moore or Savard and anybody who can actually play defense (which explicitly does NOT include Tyutin!) I think that's closer, but still only marginal as to contending for the playoffs.
And of course, if there's not a new face in the nets for at least 50 games next year, it's all academic: this team is going nowhere.
Just my opinion. Man, this is a depressing team to try to support.
Pretty much echoing everyone else here, grit and shut down. Methot should be shown the door if possible. But the one thing that needs to stay is the Tyutin-Nikitin pairing.
good enough to compete with Det/Nash/Chi/StL on a consistant basis next year?
Seriously doubt this is the objective next season if this is truly a rebuild.
I suspect we'll see some shifting around and maybe one of those names isn't in the org next year. I think Moore has played his last AHL game unless someone is brought in. Savard will be the bubble guy next season, unless he learns to play like the big man he is.
That said, I don't necessarily think this defense is horrible if they're put in a system to succeed and they continue to develop together, particularly if they have a goalie capable of making more than just the easy saves. Echoing the earlier post, a big part of what they're missing is confidence, in themselves, in net.
Don't get the Methot hating. He's going to be fine, and might even be the shutdown physical guy some of you are looking for as he develops.
I do agree Harding or some other goalie is needed, but if the D improves, the G somewhat goes for the ride.
Not so sure that is always the case, Toronto has a very good defense yet their goaltending is the problem there... It's best to include not exclude goaltending in the defense if you want to win in this league..
Here are your simple answers, folks. Where do I sign?
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