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Ottawa’s PK and goaltending have been bad so far. They still have weapons and can still score even with Tkachuk out. Flyers have played well the last two games. Worst scenario: Could be a trap game. Best scenario: Power play continues to get results and pops a couple, Zegras gets Michkov going (although MM has two pts in his last 3 games which isn’t awful), and the D system and Vladar contains Ottawa’s offense.
How does sitting yet another game, or when he does play, playing the 4th line, help Jett Luchanko’s development? Briere’s galaxy brain pick 2 years ago who, for some unexplainable reason, has made the team 2 years in a row and not looked like an NHL player at any point. Yet they resist every effort to let him develop in a lower league. They say he’s too good for OHL, yet he’s never dominated in that league. It’s not his fault they say, trust us. He needed to make the team to develop his offensive skills and yet he has only played, when they can even find room to play him, on the 4th line with a grand total of 1 SOG. How is any of this helping Luchanko develop offensively? It’s much better for him to not play in the NHL, not to be in offensive situations than it is to play 1st line minutes, 1st PP, in the OHL because apparently ice time is overrated. The bench is where you hone your skills.
Maybe the very image conscious DB just didn’t want it to look his signature pick was regressing by not making the team this year even though his play last year in the NHL made you question the coach and the GM’s evaluation.
No matter the reason, refusing to send this kid back and to play him on the 4th line, when he plays, is pride or stupidity. He’s going to get sent back at some point with a stupid platitude about how his time in the NHL helped him and it was the right move. So stupid.
they tried their best. it was a trap game.
The only interesting thing for me is to see how they handle MM going forward. The coach has no answers so far.
as far as the jett not so sure it is even about optics. I genuinely think they believe he is nhl ready and can help the team.
according to boucher, the ass kissing homer, JD is playing great hockey
they tried their best. it was a trap game.
The only interesting thing for me is to see how they handle MM going forward. The coach has no answers so far.
as far as the jett not so sure it is even about optics. I genuinely think they believe he is nhl ready and can help the team.
according to boucher, the ass kissing homer, JD is playing great hockey
I’d like to have some of whatever they are smoking if that’s the case. What about his usage or play indicates that he can help the team or even that he’s taking any steps forward in his offensive game from the press box. They have made excuses and given him glowing reviews ever since he was drafted.
My vote is still optics because I refuse to believe they hired a GM even dumber than Chuck Fletcher. While pride and optics aren’t great being dumb is not fixable.
“We have to take into consideration his age and his development and what’s most important for us,” he said. “In three, five, seven years from now, how can we create the best Luchanko? Those are all things that we’re constantly thinking about and discussing and debating.
“It’s not just the points. Obviously, points are important because they help you win when you score goals and set up plays… but it’s the overall game we’re going to be looking at, just like we did in training camp. [We’re going to] evaluate the full spectrum.”
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“We’re gonna let the kid play and have conversations as we’re playing the games and see where it goes from there.“they tried their best. it was a trap game.
The only interesting thing for me is to see how they handle MM going forward. The coach has no answers so far.
as far as the jett not so sure it is even about optics. I genuinely think they believe he is nhl ready and can help the team.
according to boucher, the ass kissing homer, JD is playing great hockey
I’d like to have some of whatever they are smoking if that’s the case. What about his usage or play indicates that he can help the team or even that he’s taking any steps forward in his offensive game from the press box. They have made excuses and given him glowing reviews ever since he was drafted.
My vote is still optics because I refuse to believe they hired a GM even dumber than Chuck Fletcher. While pride and optics aren’t great being dumb is not fixable.
“We have to take into consideration his age and his development and what’s most important for us,” he said. “In three, five, seven years from now, how can we create the best Luchanko? Those are all things that we’re constantly thinking about and discussing and debating.
“It’s not just the points. Obviously, points are important because they help you win when you score goals and set up plays… but it’s the overall game we’re going to be looking at, just like we did in training camp. [We’re going to] evaluate the full spectrum.”
..
“We’re gonna let the kid play and have conversations as we’re playing the games and see where it goes from there.“now it wouldn’t shock me if optics were a part of it.
keep in mind danny boy interned and learned under chuck fletcher!!!! he is an ext of him
either way he is not ready for the nhl and I do not see anything that suggest he will be a top 6 center in any way. never have.
So is the plan to ramp up Zegras to play more at center as the season progresses, or continue to limit his usage at center and transition him back to wing. I’ll be curious to find out. Would not mind breaking up the Cates line, which I know seems impossible. I think Foerster can play with more skilled guys who might not have the defensive prowess and even be a better goal scorer.
The top 4 and Vladar are getting the job done right now. Full credit to those guys. PP is still killing this team and right now it looks like another coaching staff has no answers.
So is the plan to ramp up Zegras to play more at center as the season progresses, or continue to limit his usage at center and transition him back to wing. I’ll be curious to find out. Would not mind breaking up the Cates line, which I know seems impossible. I think Foerster can play with more skilled guys who might not have the defensive prowess and even be a better goal scorer.
The top 4 and Vladar are getting the job done right now. Full credit to those guys. PP is still killing this team and right now it looks like another coaching staff has no answers.
The center talk with Zegras is nonsense. It’s not rod hockey. Zegras is still too bad at faceoffs to take them regularly. That’s why Dvorak does it. First forward back takes the +1 spot in the box +1. Sometimes it’s Zegras, sometimes it isn’t. Zegras has been fine in his own end. The D has cut almost two goals a game off what they were giving up last year. Seven games in: 31 last year, 18 this year. They’ve still scored 3 more goals this year than last despite the disappointment there. They’re getting shut down too much offensively.
If you have an opinion that Zegras cannot play center then certainly I can understand the lack of debate. I do remember when Cates was transitioned to center it took some time for his faceoff % to improve. The center depth is not great, a lot redundancy. Outside of Couts right now, I do not see a lot of passing creativity from the center position. Considering the organization is loaded with wingers who are more scorers as opposed to playmakers seems like a long-term issue. I do have hope Luchanko can develop into a play making center. Guelph is 1 point from the basement in their division, and the current HC is more concerned about winning every game with a team that is not a serious contender and will rely on vets shorting his bench to accomplish his goals.
The litmus test for me is when the trade deadline rolls around. Do they trade Dvorak or keep him? Pretty obvious Tocchet values his contributions to the team. Interesting fact, only 1 center currently on the roster playing center regularly has scored 40 points or more in a season (Couts). Vladar is playing as a top tier goaltender right now, and the team is at hockey .500. Granted, very early in the season and not an easy schedule so far. 7 games in and only 2 other teams have scored less goals on the season. Again, small sample size, curious to see how it plays out.
how is zegras supposed to improve in faceoffs if not taking them regularly? took what 2 games before the move to wing. again, flyers with a short-term bad approach. dvorak offers very very little offensively.
when will this organization realize that they are not going anywhere this year and let things playout. makes zero long term sense to have zegras, who prefers and said is more comfortable, not play center all year.
they have an abundance of solid wingers as is while lacking at the center spot. makes pefect sense to have egras on the wing. my guess is they had no real intention of trying him at center or giving him a long look.
russian #2 – zegras- MM is a line I would try for an extended period.
If you have an opinion that Zegras cannot play center then certainly I can understand the lack of debate. I do remember when Cates was transitioned to center it took some time for his faceoff % to improve. The center depth is not great, a lot redundancy. Outside of Couts right now, I do not see a lot of passing creativity from the center position. Considering the organization is loaded with wingers who are more scorers as opposed to playmakers seems like a long-term issue. I do have hope Luchanko can develop into a play making center. Guelph is 1 point from the basement in their division, and the current HC is more concerned about winning every game with a team that is not a serious contender and will rely on vets shorting his bench to accomplish his goals.
The litmus test for me is when the trade deadline rolls around. Do they trade Dvorak or keep him? Pretty obvious Tocchet values his contributions to the team. Interesting fact, only 1 center currently on the roster playing center regularly has scored 40 points or more in a season (Couts). Vladar is playing as a top tier goaltender right now, and the team is at hockey .500. Granted, very early in the season and not an easy schedule so far. 7 games in and only 2 other teams have scored less goals on the season. Again, small sample size, curious to see how it plays out.
unless completely out of the “race” I see dvorak being re-signed to a GH special 2 year ext.
GH another guy that should be moved.
If you have an opinion that Zegras cannot play center then certainly I can understand the lack of debate. I do remember when Cates was transitioned to center it took some time for his faceoff % to improve. The center depth is not great, a lot redundancy. Outside of Couts right now, I do not see a lot of passing creativity from the center position. Considering the organization is loaded with wingers who are more scorers as opposed to playmakers seems like a long-term issue. I do have hope Luchanko can develop into a play making center. Guelph is 1 point from the basement in their division, and the current HC is more concerned about winning every game with a team that is not a serious contender and will rely on vets shorting his bench to accomplish his goals.
The litmus test for me is when the trade deadline rolls around. Do they trade Dvorak or keep him? Pretty obvious Tocchet values his contributions to the team. Interesting fact, only 1 center currently on the roster playing center regularly has scored 40 points or more in a season (Couts). Vladar is playing as a top tier goaltender right now, and the team is at hockey .500. Granted, very early in the season and not an easy schedule so far. 7 games in and only 2 other teams have scored less goals on the season. Again, small sample size, curious to see how it plays out.
Zegras can handle any centering duties right now save winning draws, which is a big deal. If he was around 50/50 like Cates, it wouldn’t be a conversation. I would say the center depth is fine when everybody’s healthy. Zegras is a huge upgrade over Frost who he essentially replaced, especially defensively. I think it’s a safe bet he’ll get to his 60+ point level from his first two seasons. Cates will top his .5 PPG season last year and Couturier will have his best year since roughly 2020. If the Flyers are in contention for a playoff spot, I think they’d keep Dvorak. It’s a way off. Same thing with Luchanko except a decision has to be made sooner. He has some strengths to his game, he plays both ways and that speed, but he still has holes, especially not shooting.
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