number9

Glad you agree bruh. Smith is nearly the new Lebda.

Ah yes, It must be those dumb coaches Babcock and Blashill that can't figure out how to stop Smith from skating around like a chicken with its head cut off. It's certainly not Smith's fault.

Cup or Matthews. NO MIDDLE GROUND In unrelated news, I might be bi-polar

1. Warranted or not? If its warranted Smith definitely deserves the blame lol and if not he definitely doesn't. Sounds like your giving him a pass, not the other way around. 2. Well we agree that he makes bone headed plays. We disagree that they are becoming fewer and further between. Look at Kindl. Hated garbage player around since seems like forever. Now he's looking much better and getting recognition. Why hasn't Smith got the same recognition? Cause he hasn't done the first part... ya know, looking better.

This is nothing new. He's big and not physical, thus everyone sees him as lacking heart/intensity. He's a good pylon to place in front of the net and clear the crease, but that's about it.

You were around during the Lebda years!?!?!? Oh please enlighten us on D-men old wise one

Bahaha yes I agree Smith is definitely all heart! Mostly out of necessity though seeing as he lacks a brain lol. All of our D have had their moments this season but Smith is easily the worst Dman on the team right now. If we didn't have so many forwards I'd love to convert him. He'd be better in a wing role with less defensive responsibility and where he can use his speed.

No, this is a bold statement

They don't. E is here for his size and reach in front of the net. That's about it.

It's nice having Mrazek here, as a little competition, to push our #1 goalie to be better than he already is.

Kindl has the best Corsi for % of all our D, and is tied for the best +/- on our D squad Meanwhile Ericsson has the worst Corsi For % on our D, and leads the D with 20 giveaways (more than double the next guy) Kronwall also needs to be better

Na that's Kindls spot...

Meh I'm a glutton for pain and lunacy. I missed everybody.

If he really is the coach we hailed him as then he should get better with time. Problem with that is I think I said the same thing about Brendan Smith a few years ago. The only thing we know fersure right now is this team ain't cutting it with him at the reigns so far

No no, I won a free 30 day "vacation"

I see us making a push for McClellan if Blash wasn't around. Although he's not exactly doing well with all the shiny toys over there in "I miss the 80s" land. Point is though, who out there is better than Babs? Q? I don't buy it, but I can see the case for him. Anyone we hired would've been downgrade when compared to Babs.

I mean seriously though. Does anyone want to argue that Babcock is inferior to Blashill? He's not. It's like comparing Dats and Larkin. Sure we hope and expect the future to be bright with Larkin, but Dats is simply the better player. And he should be. He's the vet and Larkin is a rookie. I just find it funny how many people thought this team would be better bc of a "fresh voice". Fresh voice = rookie growing pains. But no I don't think the sky is falling.

The future is always bright in Edmonton, that's what happens when you always suck. No where to go but up. That's not something to be envious of.

None of our NA boys have been fined for diving have they? Just sayin...

And likewise you don't have to read or reply to Rick either! Isn't it great???

Lol I've been busy nursing Johan back to health, my apologies but this team isn't going anywhere without him.

Hopefully this turns out to be a Franzen like deal and we get good production from him for years to come.

Babcock > Blashill It's a rookie versus the highest paid coach in the league. Of course Blashill isn't doing as well as we're used to. I still think Blash can be a good coach for us, but this summer a lot of people around here seriously acted like losing Babs wasn't a big hit to this team and that Blash would do better than he could. I hope it's more obvious that we have a rookie head coach now.

Today I learned LGW knows more about concussions and Franzen's personal health issues than he himself does.