is anyone happy right now?

[rick zombo 3,739]

Babcock is handcuffing this team. Having a terrible special teams year in and year out, with all the talent on this team, falls on coaching. Being unprepared against a Pheonix team after playing a disgusting game of hockey with 4 days off is a coaching issue. These lines are ridiculous players are being to asked to fill a role that they just can't and no adjustments get made. We were being outplayed from the start of the game to the end and no adjustments were made to lines that were consistently getting scored on and creating no offence. I blame Babcock just as much as Holland for these ridiculous signings because you know he has a major influence.

Cleary, Bertuzzi and Saumelsson are brutal signings that have destroyed the growth of this team. What's worse is that Babcock chooses to play these guys every night. Ridiculous

The problem is, I think Babcock has to give the vets a chance. He can't start the year by sitting Sammy (3M), Bert (2M), and a freshly signed Cleary (1.7M or whatever). That's almost 7M of pizza money in the press box. That does not make Holland look good at all. Bad signings. Falls on Holland.

Also, Babcock can't play Nyquist because Holland sent him to GRs because of self-induced roster jam and cap crunch. Again, Holland's bad. Come playoffs, when there's no roster or cap restrictions, I guarantee that Nyquist will be playing and Tatar should be playing. If they're not, then you can blame Babcock.

Everything you said about adjustments and special teams is spot on, by the way.

Edited October 11, 2013 by rick zombo

[joesuffP 1,746]

Nyquist and Tatar should be playing but I'm not going to pretend that having those two in the lineup is going to make us infinitely better. Our defense is still an issue. If Jimmy or any of our top 3 D-men get injured for any significant time than were screwed. Special teams aren't just off to a slow start they have been terrible for 3 years.

How are we planning on dealing any of these useless geezers off this team anyways? Just hope Helm stays on IR and keep Nyquist in the minors until the playoffs start? Ridiculous, what a mess.

Cleary has a place on this team but Bert and Sammy do not. No way a team wants these garbage players unless we got hosed and lose something valuable

If we can make some moves and have enough depth where Abdelkader-Helm-Cleary is our fourth line than I'll be happy with the forward situation. Defense on the other hand....

Edited October 11, 2013 by joesuffP

[Sabaton617 28]

So since we are up against it salary cap wise, is Nyquist stuck in the minors until playoffs start?

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

On a positive note, we've had a much better start than the Rangers and Sabres.

[Dabura 12,232]

So since we are up against it salary cap wise, is Nyquist stuck in the minors until playoffs start?

We kicked the tires, but ultimately we felt the price wasn't right. It takes two to dance. We like our team. Getting Nyquist back will basically be a big deadline acquisition.

You've got to draft well and build and promote from within.

Our power play is our enforcer.

[Fonzarelli 73]

Babcock is handcuffing this team. Having a terrible special teams year in and year out, with all the talent on this team, falls on coaching. Being unprepared against a Pheonix team after playing a disgusting game of hockey with 4 days off is a coaching issue. These lines are ridiculous players are being to asked to fill a role that they just can't and no adjustments get made. We were being outplayed from the start of the game to the end and no adjustments were made to lines that were consistently getting scored on and creating no offence. I blame Babcock just as much as Holland for these ridiculous signings because you know he has a major influence.

Cleary, Bertuzzi and Saumelsson are brutal signings that have destroyed the growth of this team. What's worse is that Babcock chooses to play these guys every night. Ridiculous

Babcock has always had a difficult time putting lines together that can gel. Everything looks wonderful on paper, but in reality, it doesn't't work. I agree that Nyquist and Tatar should be full time but I think the cap space is killing the move. What frustrates me the most are the special teams. They can't kill a penalty and they can't score on the power play. This is completely on the coaching staff. It is evident how confused they are. The players are clueless and cannot perform.

[Dabura 12,232]

What frustrates me the most are the special teams. They can't kill a penalty and they can't score on the power play. This is completely on the coaching staff. It is evident how confused they are. The players are clueless and cannot perform.

Wasn't Tom Renney brought in primarily for the sake of the power play? Ugh.

[Ally 448]

When Tatar and Nyquist ARE on the roster and getting a good amount of ice time they better be the second and third coming of Datsyuk because these boards are touting them as though their absence is the only thing standing between us and an undefeated season.

I trust our coach and that's the last I have to say about it right now.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

The problem is, I think Babcock has to give the vets a chance. He can't start the year by sitting Sammy (3M), Bert (2M), and a freshly signed Cleary (1.7M or whatever). That's almost 7M of pizza money in the press box. That does not make Holland look good at all. Bad signings. Falls on Holland.

Also, Babcock can't play Nyquist because Holland sent him to GRs because of self-induced roster jam and cap crunch. Again, Holland's bad. Come playoffs, when there's no roster or cap restrictions, I guarantee that Nyquist will be playing and Tatar should be playing. If they're not, then you can blame Babcock.

Everything you said about adjustments and special teams is spot on, by the way.

Well if that's the case that would be just stupid, think about Nonis and Carlyle from the first day they've said "the best players are playing, regardless of standing/&salary" after that they've put two guys in the miniors (around 8 million) and called up the young and hungry guys. Why can't the DetroitRedWings do the same? Sent the over the hill players down ? Also why should Babcock care how Kenny feels? Kenny is building the team with all the pros and cons and Babcock has to ice the best possible roster, it's as simple as that.

If the some signings are falling back on Holland well maybe...they are...*think*...just BAD?

There is a whole line of hungry, young and willing youngsters waiting for their chance and I am not talking about one game, for at least a bigger stretch. I really believe the so called best coach worldwide should be able to figure this out, do I expect him to ice four great lines? No, because this roster isn't capable of doing so but having a more balanced offense is something I expect him to figure out and like I said I don't care how Kenny is feeling about it, he has to life with his signings and there is no way Babcock should be overruled when it comes down to who is playing and who is not.

[Dabura 12,232]

When Tatar and Nyquist ARE on the roster and getting a good amount of ice time they better be the second and third coming of Datsyuk because these boards are touting them as though their absence is the only thing standing between us and an undefeated season.

Thing is, we need these two guys to be the next Euro Twins. Or, not necessarily be them, but at least sort of start to learn from them and eventually maybe kinda slightly take over for them, at least until we have lots of Euro Twin Replacement options (i.e. until the true "Next Generation" - e.g. Pulkkinen, Jarnkrok, Frk - graduates to the big league) and the depth of our prospect pool really shines through, pays off.

I get the sense that that's not really going to start until next season, which puts things several seasons behind schedule, which sucks. And for what? For whom? I fear the answer is "A bunch of fourth-line plugs. (Because Holland can't control himself.)" And I guess that's my problem with all of this. That it's not really about over-ripening or strategic development or icing the best team possible - it's about the fact that you can't sit a guy who's making three million dollars.

I will say this, though: I like our depth. I like that it's not "Oh s***, if Nyquist or Tatar get hurt...what do we do?" I just wish our "depth guys" were, well, better. I think if we had, like, an actual bottom six, people would generally be more ok with Nyquist and Tatar getting the shaft. Maybe.

mehhh

P.S. One reason Nyquist and Tatar aren't going to be the next Euro Twins (at least not right away): Babs won't use them the way they really ought to be used, i.e. as scorers, not checkers or energy guys or two-way PK specialists. I'm hoping that won't be the case when the "depth guys" are gone and/or if our "luck" with injuries becomes an issue once again.