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I've never made GDT before, but here it is gametime and we need one, so ... Something, something, something, dark side, something. something. something, complete! LGW, beat those dirty Habs! Wings line combos: Left Wing Center Right Wing Gustav Nyquist Henrik Zetterberg Anthony Mantha Andreas Athanasiou Frans Nielsen Thomas Vanek Tomas Tatar Riley Sheahan Dylan Larkin Justin Abdelkader Luke Glendening Drew Miller Left Defense Right Defense Starting Goalie Danny DeKeyser Mike Green Jared Coreau Jonathan Ericsson Alexey Marchenko Confirmed Xavier Ouellet Nick Jensen Habs line combos: Left Wing Center Right Wing Max Pacioretty Alex Galchenyuk Alexander Radulov Paul Byron Phillip Danault Andrew Shaw Artturi Lehkonen Tomas Plekanec Sven Andrighetto Jacob De La Rose Torrey Mitchell Brian Flynn Left Defense Right Defense Starting Goalie Alexei Emelin Shea Weber Carey Price Nathan Beaulieu Jeff Petry Confirmed Mark Barberio Zach Redmond

Had off work today, just woke up. Didn't even realize we had an afternoon game Coreau looks to have been stellar so far, eh? Vanek again, and a lead going into the 3rd. Looks like most of LGW missed out on this one considering it's a one page GDT this late in the game, thanks Y19 for posting up the thread!

People are giving Blashill a pass?

Some people will create a narrative based on their personal bias. For example, people who cant stand Blashill will interpret this as "turning him into what he's not," but those same people who likely love Scotty Bowman will say Bowman was instrumental in the evolution of Yzerman's game. My point being that since they love Bowman, everything he did was great. Since they hate Blashill, everything he does is wrong. If Larkin is going to be out 1A centre, teaching him to pla a strong two way game is not a bad idea. I wish his wingers were better, but that's a different story.

Stupid they started this game so early. Not every one has this day off.

Hi, I made it home for some of this game, anyway. But haven't missed much. Start scoring now, Wings... I am here!!

They shouldn't bring him back. They especially shouldn't on a "lucrative" contract. The team will be up against he Cap again next year and have 12 RFA's coming the next 2 years including Mrazek, Mantha, and Larkin. Both Vanek and the Wings accomplished what they wanted with this deal. Vanek has proven he can still play in the league and will earn himself one last good payday somewhere else and the Wings got an asset for virtually nothing that they can flip to help rebuild. Vanek will be old and gray before this team is a contender again. No sense having him hold up a roster spot for a young guy. What Holland needs to do instead of resigning Vanek is to go out and find the Vanek of next years free agents. Someone he can flip at next years deadline for more picks. That would be a better use of cap space.

It's all about having more nuance in judgement than blanket statements like that. Blash hasn't been great, but he's not the cause of all the team's problems and not all his choices have been bad. P.S. When you're trying not to be considered a hater, you probably shouldn't call him Trashill.

I also went to Hockey Town Cafe to catch the shuttle from there to that game. When we were in there waiting, they were announcing peoples' names who are waiting for a table. So they announce table for Crosby (I'm sure it was done on purpose) and there was a loud boo through the whole restaurant. It was epic lol.

Maybe at this point Mantha more developed into his permanent role, but Mantha's had 2+ years in GR while Larkin stepped onto the team when first eligible and was an immediate impact player. I think Larkin's on the lower lines learning his chops as a center. Some seem to say "turning him into what he's not," but he's always been a responsible 2-way player so he's not being forced into that. I think he's been scouted and targeted more than he was as a new player (i noticed in the beginning of the year big hitters seemed magnetically drawn to him). That, lesser linemates, and finding his footing with the larger role of center are responsible for his step back this season compared to last (or at least the first half of last season).

Who does he think he is, Chuck Norris?

So weird to have an afternoon game on a Monday. What is this, baseball? I'm one of the lucky ones who has the day off on MLK day. Wow, AA robbed by Price on the clean breakaway!

Who are you arguing with? Nobody is defending Blashill, I even said it my post that I want a coaching change. You seem intent on creating a debate that nobody is on the other side of. its funny how saying not every move Blashill does is awful, is interpreted by you as giving him a pass. Actually read what I wrote.

So Hagelin's stick actually helped AA to get past Schultz, lucky poke check for us, but still, what a finish. First thing I told him today was "Amazing goal last night, AA"

Blashill took over what was basically the same team Babcock coached. Most of the players regressed and had subpar years. Larkin started hot, then the longer he was coached by Blashill, the worse he got.. Year two, the nearly universal decline has continued. Tatar and Nyquist went from guys who looked like they could score 30 goals to useless players. Larkin has regressed. AA plays well and earns a back handed compliment peppered with criticism about a couple bad shifts. Sheahan continues to get PP time. Ott gets PP time. Glendening is played on a scoring line. The PP is almost historically bad. Howard, Vanek, Mantha, and Nielsen meet or exceed expectations, EVERYONE ELSE is worse. This team was never going to be a contender, but it shouldn't be pushing for the first overall pick either. All of that is on the coach. Holland is to blame for the bad contracts that are going to anchor this team in mediocrity for the next few years and for not wanting to admit that they need to rebuild, at least not publicly. Jeff Blashill is not anywhere close to an NHL caliber head coach. Holland has done a bad job. These are not mutually exclusive, but some people seem intent on giving Blashill a pass. Name one thing he has done to show he should be coaching in the NHL.

Your statement doesn't negate anything I said. I agree Bowman won, and I agree Blashill has struggled. My point is that when someone is losing, EVERYTHING they do tends to be criticized. There are plenty of things that Blashill does wrong, I'm not denying that, I have said that I would like a coaching change. But I am not going to sit here and blindly say that every single move he has ever made is wrong. Of course there is no comparison between the two, but lets be objective and evaluate every decision Blashill makes clearly and not let our personal bias's dictate everything we say. You throw a blanket statement at me, and you say I am calling you "a hater", like PVD said if you dont want that label, you probably shouldn't call him Trashill every single post. The irony is astounding.

Seriously, that flick of a wrist shot was amazing. Interesting though, Datsyuk went end to end but AA actually went from our faceoff dot, caused Malkin and Wilson to hit each other on accident (which was hilarious btw if anyone noticed) and then skated back behind our net and THEN end to end lol. Watch this video from the beginning closely, it's actually hilarious.

Beauty

Now that was a gorgeous goal!

Datsyuk's drive was pure skill but his goal (when it actually went in) was lucky. AA's shot was beautiful and cleanly beat the goalie. Was a goal scorers goal imo, put it exactly where he wanted to. I strongly believe AA's goal will be goal of the year. Wasn't Datsyuk's goal of the year too by TSN that year?

Where is the 3rd option of having my arms and legs amputated?

Great to see Howe still number 1 with adjustment tho.

He isnt elite or close to it, but for a contender that puts him on the 3rd pairing and PP, he could be a big difference maker.

For the most part I think your expectations are a bit unrealistic, though I hope you are right. As far as Nyquist/Tatar, I dont even consider it for a 4th. I would rather use one of them in a package for a d-man.

That's just the start of it. As that Leaf team gets better and wins more, even the slightest achievements will be blown up like mad. Especially if they win a playoff round. It'll be like they just won the Cup. Leaf fans are the worst, and there's TONS around here. A guy I know burned his Leaf jersey when they lost that Game 7 to Boston a few years ago. Now he's probly got himself a brand new Matthews jersey and 5 others. Back on the bandwagon!