We cant blame this on Bäcks.. He has been wearing his superman costume for about 10 games.. He cant handle the league all by himself.. They better start playing some upp-tempo soon
The Wild aren't playing any different now than when Backs was playing better, he just isn't saving them now.
The entire season I have felt Theo was playing better despite having worse stats, he moves around faster and seems to track the puck better though crowds.
yes, they are. our defensemen are back to charging directly into whatever they're doing instead of playing it cautiously. They've been scoring more so it's working on one end but getting aggressive on a younger, faster team in the defensive zone just lets them go around you to get shots and passes off and means bodies are flying around more than usual in front of the net.
once again, our offense has proven we can't play this way as the ratio of pts by defensemen vs points by forwards is skewed more than it should be in favor of the defensemen. That wouldn't be a problem but we've been giving up a lot of goals lately and were back to ZOMG Zidlicky is awesome and important best defensemen evar! and he'll end up with 10 goals, 40 assists, and still a -24. there's a reason that **** happens: they aren't playing defense.
So maybe this is a bit unfair because its so early but is Koivu not impressing anybody else? I feel like his start to the year has not been great. He is second on the team in points, but thats not saying a lot. He is still a + player which is impressive and i know the guy is great defensively and on faceoffs but i guess this year im just left wanting more. I don't think his offensive game is nearly where it was to start last year. And frankly im getting really tired of this crap that he can only play with Brunette and Miettnen because they have so much chemistry together. That was fine last year when they were scoring, but it isn't there this year. And if it weren't for his stubbornness he could be playing with Havlat who has really turned it on. Maybe it was the big contract he got and he is trying to do too much i dont know but i think he really needs to step it up otherwise why are paying the guy well over 5 million a season to put up 60 points and refuse to play with our talented players we are trying to put around him?
Real life beckons, although thanks everyone for not flipping out on one another.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigT2002
Someone with some hockey sense needs to analyze why we suck so terribly in the 2nd period and give them the assessment so they can fix this crap. Holy hannah this is terrible
Two factors I've noticed are really bad line changes with the long change and just not being able to break out passes. There's always a ten minute stretch where that's the case, but it happens a lot in the second.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigT2002
"Santa's got a brand new ride....and its nice, so nice"
Oh local car ads with poor production.
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Blog: First Round Bust: A Cast of Thousands celebrating a rather dodgy track record of Minnesota Wild Drafting.
"Will beats skill when skill doesn't have enough will."
-Doug Woog
Koivu's looked like crap. A complete non-factor. Here's a guy who never took a shift off before this year who is barely even noticeably for 90% of his shifts. Don't know why people still refer to his line as the top line, when it's a lazy/injured Koivu with an ancient Bruno and a revolving door of 3rd liners on the RW.
Two factors I've noticed are really bad line changes with the long change and just not being able to break out passes. There's always a ten minute stretch where that's the case, but it happens a lot in the second.
Its been 25+ games now, how is this not fixed?
Quote:
Originally Posted by GopherState
Oh local car ads with poor production.
I hate that ad with a freakin passion. All the luther ones too
Koivu's looked like crap. A complete non-factor. Here's a guy who never took a shift off before this year who is barely even noticeably for 90% of his shifts. Don't know why people still refer to his line as the top line, when it's a lazy/injured Koivu with an ancient Bruno and a revolving door of 3rd liners on the RW.
When your team only has one gifted player who is consistent, its easy to just put your top 2-way forward on him. Watch when we play Detroit again, it'll either be Zets or Dats on him the entire game. And when one isn't defending him, the other will be probably be on Havlat at this point. Lidstrom will always be out there when Burns is out there. THe issue with this team is that teams know how to beat us.
Two factors I've noticed are really bad line changes with the long change and just not being able to break out passes. There's always a ten minute stretch where that's the case, but it happens a lot in the second.
Another factor i have noticed especially on the PP is entering the offensive zone with possession. Look at the good teams in the league. They have guys with enough skill to carry the puck in the offensive zone and they create great chances. Watch Havlat the next game and watch how many good shots/chances we get purely because he retains possession entering the zone instead of dumping and chasing. He creates so much doing that. Once in a while Koivu will do it too, and now with O'Sullivan he does it as well. It's really simple but its very effective. I know our checking and fourth line aren't going to do this because they dont have the skill and they are looking to create chances by hitting and putting pressure on the D but our top 2 lines should not be dumping and chasing every time.
When your team only has one gifted player who is consistent, its easy to just put your top 2-way forward on him. Watch when we play Detroit again, it'll either be Zets or Dats on him the entire game. And when one isn't defending him, the other will be probably be on Havlat at this point. Lidstrom will always be out there when Burns is out there. THe issue with this team is that teams know how to beat us.
That's why we need to put talent and speed on his wings. Given Bruno's speed and mitt's skillset, our first line is essentially a one player line until they have control down low in the O zone. Koivu needs players that also have to be respected so he can have a little more room. Hopefully O Sullivan can command that respect a little bit.
He also needs to figure out a way to create a little space for himself. He does look slower or less motivated this year.
That's why we need to put talent and speed on his wings. Given Bruno's speed and mitt's skillset, our first line is essentially a one player line until they have control down low in the O zone. Koivu needs players that also have to be respected so he can have a little more room. Hopefully O Sullivan can command that respect a little bit.
He also needs to figure out a way to create a little space for himself. He does look slower or less motivated this year.
Well you can only do so much by yourself on a line and considering how much he's playing on the PK opposed to the PP, its no doubt he's probably just fatigued at this point already. I at least wouldn't doubt it, nor fault him if that were the true reason. I really wish they would put a line of Wellman-Koivu-O'Sullivan just to see what it could do.
All i want right now is for Bruno to be removed from that top line just to see what happens. Its not like Koivu hasn't been getting points at all. If he could just get a little more help that might be all it takes.
If he is playing too much pk time, cut it down a little bit. We have players that can play defensively on the pk. If this team is going to ultimately succeed, we need koivu producing offensively (whether or not he is considered a two way forward).
Keeps the two wings together to see if they can mesh up, cut their minutes down to keep their legs fresh, and they play with a forward who can still pass it while giving Koivu two wingers who can actually skate quick enough to get into the zone and also forecheck, can shoot and everything else. Still retain shooting gallery with the 2nd line. why not try it?
something like that. We do need to try and let Wellman remain in houston for a month or two.
Clutter-Koivu-Havlat
Bruno-Cullen-O sullivan
That should give havlat plenty of room. Honestly if he keeps driving to the net like he has been, he should Koivu a lot of room. Clutter just hits and tries to get open in the slot.
