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Full credit to Ersson playing well. Whew that was such a soft call on Couts late in the third. Felt the HaWks would punch thru to tie the game, but the defense held. That #9 on the blueline keeps playing well. Really, really solid in all areas of the ice.
Does the team go full Torts mode tonight in the defensive zone with Ersson in net? Ersson has played in a 123 games in his career, he is what he is at least for this organization. I do believe a change of scenery will be best for his career. I wonder how much longer the leash will be for Ersson to try and improve. I would assume latest Olympic break, if he is still below .890 save %, they will have to give Kolosov some games to lessen the burden on Vladar.
Blue line competence and goaltending can take a team pretty far. The Drysdale/Andrae pair has been a revelation. They were supposed to get caved in because of size, but that has not happened. I hope Tocchet has learned if he wants to roll 4 lines, he is going to have to put some talent on the 4th line as opposed to “culture guys”.
Probable playoff contender is an improvement. However, to avoid purgatory Briere will have to trade assets to improve the roster. Prospects in the pipeline will not be enough to push the team to a true Cup contender. I do believe the Hughes trade was an insight into the future when the few times an elite talent becomes available. With all teams having cap space now with the cap rapidly rising, it will be a highly leveraged seller’s market. Now, there will be more Zegras type trades out there in the future also. He has to be involved in those and hit big like Zegras.
On a side note, that TOR 1st just keeps elevating in value. Grebenkin has more points then Laughton so far this season (granted Grebenkin has played 7 more games).
I believe it is safe to assume Ersson is a below average backup goaltender playing in the NHL. The third goal at the end of the second period was a shot that needs to be stopped. Ersson is now sitting at a .869 save %, there is no way a team can make the playoffs playing a goal 30 or more games with such poor results. Even if he can get back to his career .886 save % will not be good enough, especially considering this HC is certainly more concerned about defensive responsibility over offensive attack.
The 4th line can easily be reshuffled with players already on the roster and the HC just will not do it. He only allows the team to go to attack mode right after a PK. For Briere to be shopping for a 4th line center when that position can be easily filled internally is foolish. Of course, I expect that path to be chosen.
Nd- Abols – GH is not a an nhl viable 4th line.
IMO they need to replace all 3. after all these years they still can’t even produce a solid 4th line internally. I do not think they have anyone on the phantoms to fill the 4th line role the coach envisions. he seems to have a 1 track mind of the role of a 4th line.
refuses to have grebenkin play every game in that role. Said a while back can’t wait to see who they acquire to be the next Grant/Thompson.
Sam has never been that good no matter where he has played professionally. If they re-sign him with a raise that will be very funny.
For me, the center depth chart should be fairly simple this season-
Zegras-Dvorak-Cates-Couts
I have no illusions this is a Cup contending team making these changes. However, I do not understand the willingness to use assets to upgrade 4C outside the organization considering the team is not a true contender. Couts on the 4th line will still allow him to get over 12 minutes. He will still play PK and PP. In theory, maximizing the offensive attack for the team will allow more opportunities for the team to be protecting a lead in the 3rd period. Couts would be taking defensive draws outside of his line rotating with the other lines. The HC likes to rotate 4 lines. Well, in my hypothetical I would form Grebenkin-Couts-Grundstrom even with Foerster out.
All that being written, the chances of these changes happening is slim to none. Just waiting for Teddy Blueger to come off IR and Briere to trade a draft pick for him.
I believe it is safe to assume Ersson is a below average backup goaltender playing in the NHL. The third goal at the end of the second period was a shot that needs to be stopped. Ersson is now sitting at a .869 save %, there is no way a team can make the playoffs playing a goal 30 or more games with such poor results. Even if he can get back to his career .886 save % will not be good enough, especially considering this HC is certainly more concerned about defensive responsibility over offensive attack.
The 4th line can easily be reshuffled with players already on the roster and the HC just will not do it. He only allows the team to go to attack mode right after a PK. For Briere to be shopping for a 4th line center when that position can be easily filled internally is foolish. Of course, I expect that path to be chosen.
With Risto back, I do wonder if Tocchet will split up Drysdale and Andrae. The time on ice was much more evenly spread out among the 6 Dmen then previously when Risto and York were on the shelf. This team really relies a lot on the Dmen generating offense, so I anticipate splitting up 2 puck moving Dmen eventually.
As far as Hathaway, I just do not understand the thought process at this point. Back in the day, Kent Manderville could at least take faceoffs while giving no offense.
Ideally I would still like to see the center depth sometime this season as follows- Zegras, Dvorak, Cates, and Couts. Couts as a 4th liner would still get more minutes then Abols right now with trying to protect a lead in the 3rd period. Moving Zegras to center hopefully allows the team to get more then a one goal lead heading into the third period more frequently. I’m not hopeful it will ever happen.
Above average goaltending just makes such a huge difference for a team. Vladar has been terrific. The blueline now with Risto back is probably safely top 3 in the division. I do not think that is controversial. Drysdale has really improved in the defensive zone. Andrae is not quite there yet in the defensive zone, but there is no reason not to leave him in the lineup. Really it is just time to move Zamula. Not doing him any favors, just sitting in the pressbox as the #8 Dman.
Would have been nice to see Tippett-Zegras-Michkov play more then 1 shift together. I guess baby steps for the HC who values defensive responsibility as priority for all 4 lines put on the ice. Team is now 9th from the bottom in goals scored. Might want to think about trying for a little more offense then trying to keep trying to squeak out 2-1 wins.
Zegras gonna get paid, he is saving the regime.
There is an abundance of forwards currently on the roster who would be ideally slotted on a third line if they were a cup contender. Here’s my list- Cates, Dvorak, Couts, Brink, Grebenkin, and Tippett. Would not even mind players like Couts and Grebenkin sliding down to 4th line and really be able to roll 4 good lines. I would assume if this season is about “being in the mix for playoffs”, next season should be in the playoffs, no excuses. Seems logical.
The issue with a big package going the other way in a trade is I disagree about any great abundance for the Flyers anywhere, at least at the moment, and certainly at center and D. I think the roster looks pretty good and the Flyers, to me, look like a solid level just below elite team . . . when they’re healthy. That’s a pretty dodgy proposition. Having said all that, I think the Flyers will hold on and make the playoffs this year, just that they’re a year or two away from being able to put together an offer some team that needs to deal an elite center or Dman can’t refuse.
Fair assessment especially if the team finally continues to get average to above average goaltending. For me, ideally I would create a third line with Couts and Cates playing together. Of course, the current situation at center does not allow that to happen considering Tocchet’s reluctance to make Zegras a full time center. I would like to see some time in the future Zegras centering and having Foerster as one of his wings. The team gets the dynamic play making ability of Zegras at center with the two way play of Foerster. I just do not believe this current HC has an appetite for playing an offensive minded center. Hard to argue Zegras cannot play center because of faceoffs when Cates is around 43%. Cates plays center because of his defensive awareness at center. Sure seems Tocchet values defensive awareness as a top priority to playing center. I am just not sure a team can truly be elite when a team’s top 3 centers has such a large gap between defensive responsibility to offensive skill. Dvorak has pretty much been stapled next to Zegras the entire season. I find it hard to believe Dvorak would be able to maintain his current offensive production if away from Zegras. Basically, I do not believe a team can be a true contender without at least 1 center being a minimum 60 point player. The current 4 centers do not have that ability even with potentially elite wingers. I am not going to write Luchanko cannot be that player, but it is very much an unknown.
This year appears to win as many games as possible with the current roster, which is fine to a point. I was hoping for more experimentation with the roster to fit players into different roles, which if successful gets them that much closer to being a true contender. Already mentioned Zegras at center. When healthy, moving Foerster up the lineup away from Cates. Move Michkov back to RW and let him work thru his slump on the side he feels more comfortable on. On the good note, allowing Andrae to stay in the top 4. Hopefully, that continues when Risto returns. Riding Vladar more who has been a career backup.
I am certainly not against trading for high ceiling low floor players. That strategy helped to build the FLA dynasty. Whatever name that can be floated will come with some skepticism whether that player will pan out. Of course, that is the reason they are available and for significantly less compensation for a player of Quinn Hughes skill level.
