Ongoing NHL thread - Part deux

[Puck082]

Man that's gotta be worth at least a fine??? That's not just a glove to the face or a face palm. That's a stick to the nose.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

There are a few people already jumping on Bob, and I hate to see that. Yes, he's playing with some nerves - he's said as much - but the D is not helping him.

And I've said before, Richards is a good coach. But I just don't have confidence in him being able to turn around the doldrums. I question some of his decisions also - Saad on the point on the PP, two man forecheck where both wind up below the goal line, etc. Not sure what he's telling his defense, but it doesn't work. Like you said, their coverage is, at times, horrific.

I don't understand how the exact same blueline rolled off 14 wins in the last 16 games last season. The only change is adding one defender who can actually carry the puck. In theory, that should help. Two guys got contracts, so I guess that has something to do with it.

I think that run saved Richards' job. And I don't know how much he had to do with it. Johansen, Hartnell, Foligno and Dubinsky closed the locker room door and the team decided to go into motion. Had they finished the season like they played the middle of it, Richards would have been gone and the coaching carousel last year would have included one more horsie.

And losing to the Rangers and Sens is not in itself embarrassing - they are really good teams. And Buffalo is playing with nothing to lose. It's just the way the Jackets are losing that is a concern. They give up.

Bourque needs to sit. Boll needs to be shot, Johnson needs no more than 16 minutes a night. I would call up Rychel, put in Clarkson and slot Goloubef in (Maybe call in that Russian Giant). And then tell everyone in that room "If one of these guys takes your job, you go to Cleveland and you aren't coming back.

What do you think, Todd?
View attachment 40493

Defensive flaws fall far harder on the coach. I know SSS but in 3 games Phaneuf has already looked better in each one than he did at any point under Carlyle, Gardiner has been the team's best defenceman, and the team is actually spending more time in the other end of the ice than they are in their own. It's a complete 180.

If defence has been the issue, I'm sure Richards will be gone soon. Maybe even as soon as Saturday if the Leafs get past them on Friday.

 

[forty_three]

Defensive flaws fall far harder on the coach. I know SSS but in 3 games Phaneuf has already looked better in each one than he did at any point under Carlyle, Gardiner has been the team's best defenceman, and the team is actually spending more time in the other end of the ice than they are in their own. It's a complete 180.

If defence has been the issue, I'm sure Richards will be gone soon. Maybe even as soon as Saturday if the Leafs get past them on Friday.

Not sure it will be that fast because they did just give him an extension over the summer. But if they don't at least play with fire against the Leafs, I expect Jarmo and JD to be all up in Richards' shit. Even moreso than now.

And the big issue is the slow start(s) under Richards, nuts and bolts are contributing but not the whole story. Maybe he only knows how to manage hair-on-fire panic and will come alive later on. Jackets management can't let it get there.

They have too much talent sitting in the minors that can't crack the lineup because of mid-level guys on fat contracts. Rychel is already frustrated. If he was there and not Bourque, I think he'd make a difference.

 

[BGDave]

Wow. PIT, CBJ, NJD and CAR are a combined 0-13 to start the season.

Whodathunkit?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Wow. PIT, CBJ, NJD and CAR are a combined 0-13 to start the season.

Whodathunkit?

Only two of those are surprising, and not even all that surprising.

Pittsburgh had better get their shit right quick.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Flyers fans chant 'she said no' at Patrick Kane

 

[Puck082]

Flyers fans chant 'she said no' at Patrick Kane

Well done.

 

[dash]

The Pens and Oil are both looking for their first win of the season tonight - Pittsburgh takes on the Sens while it's the Oilers home opener against the Bluez.

 

[dare2be]

Sens got a good timing on their schedule facing the BJs and Pens consecutively.

 

[elocomotive]

Wow. PIT, CBJ, NJD and CAR are a combined 0-13 to start the season.

Whodathunkit?

I thought Columbus would be better.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Sens got a good timing on their schedule facing the BJs and Pens consecutively.

Not the way I see it. Two desperate (C-Bus looked desperate for a period anyway) teams looking for a win in back-to-backs? No thanks.

 

[dare2be]

Hey, let me wallow in my disappointment, will ya?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Sens got a good timing on their schedule facing the BJs and Pens consecutively.

Sens might get choked out after this second game of the back to back


/sorry

 

[forty_three]

I thought Columbus would be better.

Everyone did.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Sens got a good timing on their schedule facing the BJs and Pens consecutively.

Sens might get choked out after this second game of the back to back


/sorry

no?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Worth mentioning regarding Columbus that their defence was questionable to begin with. Every preview I read had concerns about their D.

Might I suggest a Boll + Bourque + one more non-Clarkson plug and a lottery-protected first round pick for Dion Phaneuf minus $1 million/yr?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Mark Stone is pretty good.

 

[forty_three]

Worth mentioning regarding Columbus that their defence was questionable to begin with. Every preview I read had concerns about their D.

Might I suggest a Boll + Bourque + one more non-Clarkson plug and a lottery-protected first round pick for Dion Phaneuf minus $1 million/yr?

No. We need *better* defensemen.

I would send that package to NJ for Severson or Merril,or even Edmonton for Nurse. I would even keep whatever salary I would be legally allowed to keep.



I had a hard time believing that the D was going to be as bad as the pundits thought. They played well second half and got back a guy who can carry the puck and direct traffic. They should have gotten better. They seem to have gotten infinitely worse.

Mark Stone is pretty good.

View attachment 40555

Did someone put Nikita Nikitin in a Kevin Connauton jersey?

That was a crazy good pass.

 

[dash]

No hands of stone on that setup, Kenny.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

No. We need *better* defensemen.

I would send that package to NJ for Severson or Merril,or even Edmonton for Nurse. I would even keep whatever salary I would be legally allowed to keep.



I had a hard time believing that the D was going to be as bad as the pundits thought. They played well second half and got back a guy who can carry the puck and direct traffic. They should have gotten better. They seem to have gotten infinitely worse.



Did someone put Nikita Nikitin in a Kevin Connauton jersey?

That was a crazy good pass.

No pressure on CBJ in the second half. This year is different.

Also, Dion looks different under Babcock. If he keeps it up, I'm betting he gets moved somewhere before next season.