travel_dude

Add this to the Wardo comments about shaking up the roster. Not eagerly waiting for this weekend other than the chance to see how bad the Oilers defense really is.

The goal should be to ensure that EDM is not one of the playoff teams. Not that the idea of playing them in the playoffs scares me, just that it would put them in the rightful place. As long as we are 3rd or 4th, we have a good chance of making it to the 2nd round. I don't actually think that is that difficult. I actually like our chances in a 2nd round. We would be facing a team much like our own. 2nd round chokers.

The construction of the taxi squad made sense from an emergency replacement point of view. It's not a viable alternative to what we have every day. In fact, one taxi member is actually playing every game and is just a cap saving measure. I suspect Bennett may be on the way out, which is fine since they won't use him properly and he isn't raising his game to force the issue. We had two players last year that should have played during their call ups. We now have Ruzicka who has looked good in limited viewing. He's also built for the rigors of the NHL. BT needs to step in and re-build the taxi squad. Get the young guys practicing so they can be shown to be ready.

Lots of fake rumours abour being traded for Mete or DeAngelo. Nothing about this. Signing in Sweden would be impossible, no? Under contract to the Flames.

Is he even talking about doing that? Did he say that in his presser? Just curious, because I read it as making changes, not having a dominant top 6. I'm wondering whether Dube has had any success at C in the pros. I ask that becuase I think Bennett is done for here. Could be wrong but I just get that feeling. Almost like they are holding him out while they make the best deal available. If not Dube, then we need to raid the farm. Ruzicka for 3rd line C and Dube on the wing. Leivo for the other wing perhaps. 4th line of Lucic-Ryan (Gawdin). Whatever game you need to play determines the other winger.

Dube hasn't played there and he was one of the few converted LW that has had success on RW. Beyond some positive numbers, I haven't seen a lot form Bennett where he's shown capable of being a top 6 TW. We had a top RW but converted him to C. We never targeted a top 6 RW in trade or signing, though we had little cap space left. I would prefer we focus on Dube or Mangiapane; one of them fits best on the 2nd line. They have looked more dangerous. Find Backlund and Bennett a consistent RW.

Lot of discussion on the Fan (I don't really like a lot of what they say) has been moving Bennett to Monahan's line. For an extended period of time. Some of the points made: Leivo and Simon have not looked good there Mangiapane hasn't really been much better It's not going to hurt that line playing Bennett It either ends the trade discussion or pumps up his value All well and good, but is it just another experiment that will have a negative result to the "top scoring" line? Monahan hasn't been lighting it up, but does Bennett create more or less opportunty for him. Does it take away from Gaudreau's game? Does the things he does well add anything to that line. Interesting problem.

I can imagine there is some resentment by Backlund to his fellow Swede. He went from being the shutdown specialist who was gifted O-zone starts with Tkachuk and Mangiapane to being a 3rd line shutdown only player with anyone from Bennett to Simon to Leivo to Simon to Lucic to Mangiapane. But, I do see Backlund doing what Backlund does most nights. Taking the puck in, getting chances, getting the puck to others. Just little finish with them as a whole. When you see Backlund a -4 and Bennett -5, then something isn't working. I know it's a useless stat, but when Backlund is on for so many PP goals against, plus is negative.... It sounds like I am picking on Bennett. I watched a bunch of shifts with him last night. Bumped into Backlund. Shot attempt, while his stick has a defender's one preventing a shot. Deflect the puck away from the net. Goal mouth pass, it went by him and I still don't know what he was looking at. Not in that order. Just frustrating to watch him struggle out there. He can be so good at shadowing a player, or knocking them off the puck.

They have been good 5v5. I'm not so sure about Nordstrom's PK ability. I don't know what to think of Leivo. He's been able to score ata a decent clip, but that might have been playing with more offensive players. If he could dial in his shot, he would be better. May be a work in progress, since he missed a lot of time. Bennett certainly had a rough game Tuesday. It wouldn't be out of the question to sit him, but that really just leaves us Simon right now. I would be more inclined to give an opportunity to a player like Ruzicka, but that won't happen. Sure, he's a rookie, but I think you may need to give Backlund some more weapons. That line looks frustrated at times. No finish.

Bennett obviously didn't impress Ward, because he got 3 shifts in the 3rd. We have three top 6 C's now, but we've lost a top 6 RW. Dube isn't there yet. I've got no problem letting them develop the chemistry they need, but I will point out that already has that with Tkachuk. It may sound like I am harping, but I like to build on previous success. Mangiapane-Lindholm-Tkachuk Gaudreau-Monahan-Dube Mangiapane bring exactly what he did last yea to Tkachuk's line. Dube builds on good start to the season by being paired with another speedy winger. Maybe it's me, but I could see 2 on 1's and breakaways resulting. Monahan as the trailer to pound in the rebound. I Know, I am projecting... Leave the 3rd and 4th alone. Maybe sub in Simon for Nordstrom.

Lindy is struggling to score at C. I'm not suggesting he need to move to RW, just that something isn't quite right in the lines. Monahan also struggling to score. It's early, but I think the RW's for the top 6 needs to be re-thought. Dube is struggling after coming back. Mangiapane is better at LW. Simon has looked good but is not a finisher. Bennett has not looked good for an entire game in the top 6. 3rd line continues to struggle. Not sure what the answer is, but we are struggling to score >3 in a game. The chances are there but a lot of missed opportunity

It might be an idea to swap Lindholm with Monahan.

What I have liked about Gio is his stepping up to keep the pla alive. He's not quite as good as Ras at holding the line, but he picks his battles well. What I don't like is he doesn't use the forwards effectively at times. Too many stretch passes. Too much dumping in. It's two tools, not the best ones. And I also find him too limited in mobility on the PK. He's smart, so I don't get his choices sometimes.

I would be in favor of splitting up the 1st and 3rd pair. Maybe it's just me but I see too much of the same from Gio and Ras. Not enough skating from the D-zone, too many long passes into traffoc or the boards. Gio-Nesterov Valimaki-Ras I would like to see a balanced attack starting from Ras or Valimaki. Both can skate the puck up. Both can make accurate passes. Not sure how that would impact Gio, but I think they are both hard enough on players to be able to defend as a pair well.

Okay, I'm good with your adjustment.

That pass was sublime. I noticed Ward played Valimaki in OT. If Nesterov was more stabile, I wouldn't mind seeing Valimaki out there more with the Gaudreau line. I may be one of the few that would like to see new pairings on D. I don't know which has more merit, but Hanifin seems to be fine this year. Gio and Ras are struggling the most right now. Valimaki is weighed down a bit by questionable reads by Nesterov. Gio-Tanev Hanifin-Ras Valimaki-Nesterov/Mackey/Kylington You could go in a slightly different direction, balancing the minutes fairly evenly. Hanifin-Ras Valimaki-Tanev Gio-Nesterov You would need to suggest Nesterov or Gio not to wheel unless there was sufficient back coverage by the C. The optics aren't that great, but you apply minutes according to special teams and who is working. Just an opinion; don't know if it's right.

I have listened to a couple of episodes of them. I don;t know which is worse. Some times you can't even listen. Bunch of opinionated idiots.

Ward was bound and determined to us Lindholm at C. Whether that has worked is anyone's guess. Strong performances up to the first Montreal game. But little 5v5 scoring. If Bennett is to stick on the 3rd line at LW, then perhaps they need a different RW (Ryan). Ryan is a beast on faceoffs but could be used for just strong side draws, leaving Backlund to take the rest. Backlund is also getting tossed frequently, so there's that. Simon is listed as a C, could he not take #4C with Lucic and Leivo?

The on ice antics aside, Tkachuk says the right things about the the team's play. You are right, we don't know what happens in the locker room. The only issue I even have with Gio is that it's been his team for years and we still have team issues. Lead by doing is fine if you are doing. We shouldn't hear the same lines after every no-show team game.

I think the problem is you have to play Bennett at C to take advantage of him playing with Tkachuk and Lindholm. Maybe that's a good thing. I don't see Bennett at RW; he's not looked good in that spot before. Bennett on LW and you just have a continuation of him on LW. It's fine and dandy to project lines, but what message does it say to the room that Bennett asks for a trade and gets immediately moved to top 3? 7 games in and he's had maybe one game where he was positive.

The burden of leadership can have an effect on players. There are instances where this has happened. It shouldn't be an issue for players.

I look at performance from one playoff to the next, not just regular season. The coach made the comment about trying to reduce Gio's ice. Less PP time has made a difference. But he's still averaging the most time of any D. We used to chalk up Brodie's performance to Gio, but it may not be that simple. Gio may just need a certain kind of player to be tops. Or he could be sliding. He's 37.

I only ask because I see struggles elsewhere. Would Hanifin-Ras and Gio-Tanev solve some of the issues without negatively affecting the top 4 overall? Hanifin-Ras was good in the playoffs. Maybe it's even more drastic. Hanifin-Ras Valimaki-Tanev Gio-Nesterov The ice time is balanced a bit by special teams. Gio and Tanev more on the PK. Ras and Hanifin more on the PP. I know it sounds wrong, but I think we have one good pairing and are losing out on the other pairs with mismatched players. Valimaki needs a steady partner that doesn't make poor decisions. Ras needs a better skating partner. Gio needs less icetime. I found it funny that Ward has trouble limiting Gio's ice. He always wants to be out there. That's a problem.

The regional restriction on SN and TSN confound me. You can only watch games depending on what the networks decide (have deals on). Being a CGY or EDM fan outside the prairies or North is a struggle. Lucky to see more than a couple games unless national coverage. This year should have revisited that. Every game is a rivalry game.

What is a deal you consider worth it to be able to sign Toffoli? Ryan + 2nd for future considerations like the Staal trade from NY? Maybe Ryan + Dube for a 3rd. What do you do in year two and three of Toffoli's deal with other re-signings needed? In another post I suggested that it came down to Toffoli and one of Markstom or Tanev, not all three.