MtlPenFan
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- Apr 14, 2010
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I prefer Archibald over at least two guys on this roster right now.
While Archibald was nothing spectacular, he did add a little bit of energy that seems to be missing.I prefer Archibald over at least two guys on this roster right now.
While Archibald was nothing spectacular, he did add a little bit of energy that seems to be missing.
I am in the minority of fans that actually liked Reaves on the team. Kuhn dressing over Archibald though just flustered me. The lineup now makes me wish Archibald was still here for sure.He was fast and disruptive and played a tenacious game. He was a useful player that was lost for nothing because Ryan Reaves had to be a thing.
I don’t care if Sully puts Rowney instead of Malkin on the power play, I’m still saving my criticism until he loses a single damn playoff series.
I wouldn't really call Sheary's first season "high level production." He was outscored by none other than... You guessed it... Tom Kuhnhackl.OK real talk time.
Sheary, over the past two seasons, has produced at a high level. He isn't doing that now, but if there's any way to kickstart him before the playoffs, Sully should be doing it. Guentzel was down for a long time too, which lead to him spending time on the 3rd and 4th lines until he figured his game out. No issues with what Sully is doing there, as long as he cuts bait when the POs come if Sheary still sucks.
Rowney is playing because he's a RHS C who PKs. There are no other RHS faceoff guys on the squad, and Brassard hasn't PKed much in his career. We are likely stuck with him until Brass shows he can PK well and/or Jooris replaces him.
Kuhnhackl is not one of Sully's favorites. The amount of time he has spent benched the last two seasons is proof of that.
Hunwick, that's a problem. Again, it's in the teams best interest to get Hunwick going, and I'm willing to give him a little longer to do that. If not we bring Ruh back online, but have 0 confidence in any of our bench D.
Simon is up, and that's a start. After that we are getting low on callups already so a call will have to be made on whether to bring up a D like Pedan to help the D or a F like Sprong to help the Fs. Tough call there.
In any case, Sully took this team to the top of the mountain twice. He's a top 5 coach in the league. We aren't firing him.
Seemed like whoever we inserted in the lineup the last few years did well in the playoffs. Archie added a spark with his speed..even some grit. Won the cup last year with scott wilson on the 2nd line. Kuhn and Rowney even played well. Seemed like everyone upped their game when it mattered. So its tough to judge these guys in the regular season. Even guys like bonino and hagelin werent regular season performers.
Interested to see if Simon can follow suit and be a difference maker come playoff time. ZAR as well depending on the injury.
When so many guys step in and do as well as they did it shows its the system. No idea why anyone would want sullivan fired after what hes done the last two years in the playoffs. While winning the division and getting home ice is important i still think our staff uses the regular season to figure out what will work best come playoff time. Theres a reason we look like a completely diff team when the playoffs start. Seems like we get the most out of every player in the lineup.
With that said, even tho its important for the depth guys to play well...its still going to come down to our best players. They have to continue to be the best players on the ice in every series. And at this deadline we added another great talent in Brassard to go with Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Guentzel, Hornqvist, Rust, and Hagelin. Thats 8 players who have proven to be great playoff performers ( Rust had 6 and 7 goals the last two years if you dont think he should be included, Hagelin was great two years ago and was hurt last year..with the way hes playing now it looks like he will repeat his 2016 performance). So for those who are hoping our first pick is lottery protected after these last 3 losses...be patient and wait to see what this team looks like once the playoffs start.
After those 8 we have Sheahan, Sheary, Simon, Kuhn, Rowney, ZAR, Jooris , and maybe Sprong. Thats a pretty good list to have as your "bottom 4 "group of players to fill in the rest of the lineup. With Sheary already having two years of experience. Didnt include him with the 8 because we dont know which Sheary we will get. As for Sheahan, i have high hopes for him in the playoffs. Hes recently shown glimpses of talent..nice shot/hands. And expect him to up his intensity when it matters most.
Simon has more upside than wilson and Archie imo. Hopefully hes ready to contribute and be one of the x factors in the playoffs. Also need ZAR to come back asap because i think he would do well and adds a different element than most of our other players.
We lost 3 in a row, but when you take a look at the lineup and what they did the last two years in the playoffs and who we added(Brassard, Sheahan, Simon, ZAR, and maybe Sprong) theres no reason people should be counting this team out.
Murray wont be letting in 4 goals in 2 minutes each game , throwing the team off from "getting to their game".
Sit back and enjoy.
OK real talk time.
Sheary, over the past two seasons, has produced at a high level. He isn't doing that now, but if there's any way to kickstart him before the playoffs, Sully should be doing it. Guentzel was down for a long time too, which lead to him spending time on the 3rd and 4th lines until he figured his game out. No issues with what Sully is doing there, as long as he cuts bait when the POs come if Sheary still sucks.
That's a lot about forwards, which I don't worry about at all.
It's all moot with Hunwick in. Oleksiak and Ruhwedel are OK 5/6ish guys but not good enough to overcome for how bad Hunwick is, and how bad Letang sometimes is. Buckle up, baby. That GAA is going North. The best you can do is replace Hunwick with Ruhwedel but is Oleksiak/Ruhwedel a pair you'd put money on? And if someone gets hurt, you have Hunwick, Ruhwedel, and Oleksiak making up 50% of your D. That's a preseason lineup.
He was fast and disruptive and played a tenacious game. He was a useful player that was lost for nothing because Ryan Reaves had to be a thing.
Me too. I think Sully has a good grasp on and plays the long game. When it comes to the playoffs, he's not nearly as stubborn. He'll scratch guys, demote guys, etc. So as painful as it can be to watch guys like Rowney, Hunwick, etc., I'm not going to worry too much until they are in danger of missing the playoffs or losing a playoff series and he's not making any changes.I don’t care if Sully puts Rowney instead of Malkin on the power play, I’m still saving my criticism until he loses a single damn playoff series.
I wouldn't really call Sheary's first season "high level production." He was outscored by none other than... You guessed it... Tom Kuhnhackl.
I'm sure Sullivan plans to do something about this.
So I agree about Rowney, but the idea that they call less total powerplays in the playoffs just isn't really accurate. Over the last two seasons we averaged 3.17 powerplays per game in the regular season and 3.16 powerplays per game in the playoffs. Refs do let more go, but players cheat more to compensate. So the number of powerplays stays pretty much flat.Carter Rowney is a terrible NHL player. For as tight as they call games in the playoffs with each team maybe getting 2-3 PPs at most is it really that ****ing important to play this turd?
So I agree about Rowney, but the idea that they call less total powerplays in the playoffs just isn't really accurate. Over the last two seasons we averaged 3.17 powerplays per game in the regular season and 3.16 powerplays per game in the playoffs. Refs do let more go, but players cheat more to compensate. So the number of powerplays stays pretty much flat.
But I do agree that I'd sit Rowney regardless of his PK role.
I'm sure Sullivan plans to do something about this.
I'm sure Sullivan plans to do something about this.