kipwinger

I'm bummed that when Mike Green and Dekeyser get healthy that you're likely going to see both Hronek and Jensen out of the lineup. I think Nick Jensen has looked really good so far this season. He was asked to play way above his head for about 4 games and did as well as could reasonably be expected.

I like this lineup. I was just talking to my dad a couple of days ago about how I'd like to see some accountability out of Blashill with respect to playing time. Vanek and Mantha on the 4th should send each of them a pretty clear message. Bertuzzi and Helm, sad as it is to say, have been the more deadly offensive players so far this season and deserve the ice time until Mantha and Vanek wake up. Plus, these lines were generally good last game. Also glad to see Hronek back in the lineup. Hicketts does as well as he can given his obvious physical limitations, but it's better for Hronek to get the reps in the long run.

Our ancestors used to hunt cave bears, and cave bears used to run from us. Now you got your goddamn participation trophies and your hitting bans. What have we become?

Am I a snowflake too? Or do I have to threaten to stop watching hockey over some hypothetical "hitting ban" like some histrionic dips*** before I'm one of those?

First they came for our jobs, and I did not speak out— Then they came for our guns, and I did not speak out— . Then they came for our hockey fights, and I did not speak out— Then they came for our hockey hits—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Said this in another thread because I didn't see this one. I'd send Rasmussen back to juniors, and I'd go with Nyquist-Larkin-Mantha Vanek-Neilsen-Abby Frk-AA-Bert Helm-Glendening-Ehn Witko Zadina first call up for scorer (Nyquist, Mantha, Vanek, Frk, AA), Givani Smith first call up for grinder (Abby, Bert, Helm, Glen, Ehn).

I'd send Rasmussen back to Junior, and go with something like this: Nyquist-Larkin-Mantha Vanek-Neilsen-Abby Frk-AA-Bert Helm-Glendening-Ehn

Perhaps clanking one off the post is affecting my memory a bit, but I thought Frk looked decent last night. Seemed to skate fast and finish his checks. Add to that the aforementioned scoring chance and I'd say not a bad night for a 4th liner in a blowout game.

I'll be honest, I think Mantha's been pretty bad so far. I realize it's four games in, but he and Larkin need to be our top players every night and Mantha isn't really holding up his end of the bargain. And it's not like AA where the chances have been there over and over and he's just snake bit. Mantha is pretty invisible most shifts. Just my two cents though. As I said a week or so ago, I'm pretty happy with the kids, the grinders, Bertuzzi, and Larkin. I need to see WAY more out of the veterans. Mantha, Vanek, Nyquist, AA, Neilsen, all need to step it up.

Lose for Hughes? It's like you're not even trying. Ray Ferraro already comparing the Leafs to the Lemieux/Jagr Penguins. Can't wait for them to underachieve so I can watch Leafs nations lose their minds.

Joe Hicketts throws the puck away a lot. Should fit right in with our existing defensemen.

Ugh, I have to listen to Jack Edwards tonight.

I know, we may actually win :-)

Kronwall Cholowski Sulak Hronek Hicketts Chelios

Yup. And again, I'd reiterate we played 5 rookie defensemen. So there were plenty of gaffs to go around. It happens. Not too many rookies are gonna consistently get the best of Patrick Kane regardless of how good they are.

Against a defense that has only one regular in the lineup. I'm not too worried. Add Daley, Dekeyser, Ericsson, and Jensen to Kronwall and Cholowski and I'd say we probably let in a few less goals.

Thomas Vanek is a freak of nature.

Watching on a mobile device?

Anybody willing to share how they're watching the game in my DM?

Given that at least one of the two rookie defensemen will likely be spending a bunch of time in the press box, I would prefer that second spot go to Hicketts. Otherwise I think Cholo and Sulak have looked the best of the defensemen. Offensively I'd probably bring up Ras and go with Frk until such time as he can be traded (if he's playing decently well) or waived (if not). Then bring Svech up. Zadina should spend 2/3 of the season in the AHL learning how to play pro hockey and then come in like a house of fire after Nyquist is traded at the deadline.

A) Who cares about being up against the cap, it's Illitch money not yours, and as you've already acknowledged we're rebuilding and therefore shouldn't be signing FA's anyway so what do we need the cap space for? B) Tired of hearing about people being good? Like who? AA and Dekeyser weren't supposed to be good. They were a 4th round draft pick and undrafted free agent. The fact that they're on the team means they're better than originally anticipated. The guys who were supposed to be good (Larkin, Mantha) are. Several other guys have turned out better than expected as well.

Dude, you're being super negative for no good reason. AA was a 4th round pick, DD was undrafted. Who cares if they aren't top end guys, they're still WAY better than anyone could have reasonably expected them to be. Both of them are 1st or 2nd round talents who didn't require that we expend the picks. Bertuzzi is looking like a really good pick, Hronek too. ALL of this year's picks were ranking (by one organization or another) in the 1st round, and we got all 4 of them with 2 firsts and 2 seconds. There are a few (potentially) legitimate criticisms of our recent drafting, so I don't think Holland is untouchable there. But pointing at AA, Dekeyser, and implying that others are unproven seems pretty flimsy.

He's probably more advanced defensively. Dylan still isn't great in that regard. I'd be thrilled if Veleno turned into a Ryan O'Reilly type guy. 20 goals, 50+ points, stud defense and faceoff wizard.