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vladdy16

Post Epic Meltdown - er, Post Game Discussion

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Not a big fan of the playoff format. Looks like there will be a bunch of rematches from the first round of last year's playoffs.

Agree, I never had a problem with the 6 divisions. I still don't understand the change to 4 divisions.

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I think with better personnel decisions and proper usage, the Wings can can win this series against the Lightning. If Blashill coaches like he did down the stretch, they are going to lose. I know he probably felt pressure to preserve the streak and all, but the over-reliance on declining veterans at the end of a six-month regular season was not the answer. I would have preferred the Wings use most of this year to transition younger players into larger roles, but the playoffs provide a new stage to give them an opportunity.

Z - Pav - Larkin

Nyquist - Sheahan - Mantha

Tatar - AA - Richards

Helm - Glendening - Abby

DeKeyser - Smith

Kronwall - Green

Quincey - Marchenko

None of this will ever happen, but I am going to believe at some point the real Jeff Blashill appears and not the Mike Babcock clone we have seen emerge lately. Maybe Blash's hands are tied by Holland. I just know the Wings are missing the boat entirely in player development and maximizing their ability to win games right now.

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Real rivalries aren't created, that's the problem. Playing the same teams all the time just gets old if there's no bad blood. I wish they didn't bother with divisions at all but that would be too revolutionary for corporate sports.

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I think with better personnel decisions and proper usage, the Wings can can win this series against the Lightning. If Blashill coaches like he did down the stretch, they are going to lose. I know he probably felt pressure to preserve the streak and all, but the over-reliance on declining veterans at the end of a six-month regular season was not the answer. I would have preferred the Wings use most of this year to transition younger players into larger roles, but the playoffs provide a new stage to give them an opportunity.

Z - Pav - Larkin

Nyquist - Sheahan - Mantha

Tatar - AA - Richards

Helm - Glendening - Abby

DeKeyser - Smith

Kronwall - Green

Quincey - Marchenko

None of this will ever happen, but I am going to believe at some point the real Jeff Blashill appears and not the Mike Babcock clone we have seen emerge lately. Maybe Blash's hands are tied by Holland. I just know the Wings are missing the boat entirely in player development and maximizing their ability to win games right now.

3rd line looks weak defensively but I agree these are close to the best possible lines. I doubt we even see Mantha though unless it's 6 min on the 4th line. Today in the 3rd period the grinding trio of Helm - Glen - Abby looked really good. Larkin - D - Z also looked potent with a couple close misses on scoring chances. I've also felt that Richards and AA have had a quiet chemisty throughout the season whenever they're on the ice together. Richards has some crafty passes that can help AA break out through the neutral zone. If I see the classic Abby - Z - Larkin, Helm - D - Richards, etc I'm gonna lose my mind. There's a reason the first period sucks every game and it's because of those horrible combinations that haven't worked all season long.

Just don't let me wakeup into a nightmare world where Blash's reasoning being these are the lines that got us to the playoffs. Better not try anything drastic after limping into the playoffs failing to control your own destiny. :bye:

Edited by Number19

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My lines AND the best lines are:

Helm - DATS - Mantha

Larkin - Sheahan - Abs

AA - Henrik - Gus/Tats

Tats/Gus - Luke - Richards

Sheahan has been well on fire recently and I say why not swap him with zdawg and I liked the look of Mantha and Pavs together and helms been hot recently so that works. AA might help zdawg find his legs and that 4th line could do some damage but I would serouisly bench either tats or gus for jurco if they continue to be this ineffective especially the last few post seasons. How many chances do you get...BTW we won't go anywhere with Jimmy in net. I really do love the guy he has heart, and I know how petr has played lately, but he can flat out steal us games we have no reason being in, Howie can't.

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My lines AND the best lines are:

Helm - DATS - Mantha

Larkin - Sheahan - Abs

AA - Henrik - Gus/Tats

Tats/Gus - Luke - Richards

Sheahan has been well on fire recently and I say why not swap him with zdawg and I liked the look of Mantha and Pavs together and helms been hot recently so that works. AA might help zdawg find his legs and that 4th line could do some damage but I would serouisly bench either tats or gus for jurco if they continue to be this ineffective especially the last few post seasons. How many chances do you get...BTW we won't go anywhere with Jimmy in net. I really do love the guy he has heart, and I know how petr has played lately, but he can flat out steal us games we have no reason being in, Howie can't.

Mrazek certainly can steal games and/or the series, but not right now. He's gotta be hurt still. I think Jimmy is the better option at this point -- might not be spectacular, but since February he has been way steadier than Mrazek,

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THere is absolutely no way AA and Mantha will play in the same game in the playoffs unless we are seriously desperate. Neither of them are even close to where they need to be defensively and when line matching gets really greasy in the playoffs they will get exposed.

Z - D - Abs

Larkin - Sheahan - Gus

Helm - Glen - Tats

Andy - Richards - Mantha/AA

Sheahan and Glendening have been very good lately. The only way to get Z going is to play him with Pavel. The other winger on that line could be anyone but Abby has been there and knows his role. I just think there is no way AA and Mantha are in the lineup at the same time.

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THere is absolutely no way AA and Mantha will play in the same game in the playoffs unless we are seriously desperate. Neither of them are even close to where they need to be defensively and when line matching gets really greasy in the playoffs they will get exposed.

Z - D - Abs

Larkin - Sheahan - Gus

Helm - Glen - Tats

Andy - Richards - Mantha/AA

Sheahan and Glendening have been very good lately. The only way to get Z going is to play him with Pavel. The other winger on that line could be anyone but Abby has been there and knows his role. I just think there is no way AA and Mantha are in the lineup at the same time.

Ya and that's the problem with the way our coach thinks, honestly I don't think AA is bad at all defensively

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Ya and that's the problem with the way our coach thinks, honestly I don't think AA is bad at all defensively

Well the fact that he doesn't touch the ice in close games would pretty much answer your question. It's the same reason Gus doesn't touch the ice in close games. Too much stickhandling and being on the wrong side of the puck too much of the time. AA has a bright future but if he is in the lineup he will be used very sparingly.

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Ya and that's the problem with the way our coach thinks, honestly I don't think AA is bad at all defensively

Well the fact that he doesn't touch the ice in close games would pretty much answer your question. It's the same reason Gus doesn't touch the ice in close games. Too much stickhandling and being on the wrong side of the puck too much of the time. AA has a bright future but if he is in the lineup he will be used very sparingly.

I definitely agree that AA is a defensive liability, but I'm not sure I think Andersson or Jurco is any better.

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I definitely agree that AA is a defensive liability, but I'm not sure I think Andersson or Jurco is any better.

I guess IMO I never see AA make plays where I think he's bad defensively, he's good on the backcheck as well. I guess I just don't agree that he's bad defensively, that's through the eye test however

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I definitely agree that AA is a defensive liability, but I'm not sure I think Andersson or Jurco is any better.

The thing you get with Andersson is that he is good defensively and he can fill in killing penalties. The margin for error narrows this time of year and I think he definitely narrows the gap over anyone else that may play in his place. If Jurco, AA , Mantha are our healthy scratches it gives us some piss and vinegar coming off the bench if needed.

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The defensive argument goes out the window when you can't score. Mantha and AA score. So what if they're on the ice for a goal against if they score one or two? For right now, with the assets we have, that's okay. There's only like six defensively talented guys on the whole squad anyway.

Not everyone on a team can be a defensive stalwart. You do have to score, and when things tighten up in the playoffs watch our offense evaporate completely.

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The thing that I look at is were not seen or looked at as a contender so that means we have nothing to lose, so why play it safe and try to as we say "lean on the vets" there are a lot of exciting kids Larkin, AA, Mantha, at times even tats and goose so why not embrace them there fast, hungry, and skilled why not? What is there to lose? I'm not saying sit pav and Z if anything I say we put them together with a guy like Larkin and let them dominate. Ya it may leave the rest of the group as considered to be inexperienced but those inexperienced guys also have talent, speed, and are hungry. Turn these guys loose play fast and let the kids play, I think we'd be a lot better

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Well the fact that he doesn't touch the ice in close games would pretty much answer your question. It's the same reason Gus doesn't touch the ice in close games. Too much stickhandling and being on the wrong side of the puck too much of the time. AA has a bright future but if he is in the lineup he will be used very sparingly.

Tatar is just as bad, I'd say worse this season. If Tatar isn't shooting he's either overstickhandling, offsides, or falling on his ass in the neutral zone. If you don't play AA or Mantha them they'll never learn. We have nothing to lose, you think this roster is a cup contender as is? The only way we're going deep is if two or three of our young guys have a breakout postseason. Either way they get crucial experience.

Edited by Number19

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The defensive argument goes out the window when you can't score. Mantha and AA score. So what if they're on the ice for a goal against if they score one or two? For right now, with the assets we have, that's okay. There's only like six defensively talented guys on the whole squad anyway.

Not everyone on a team can be a defensive stalwart. You do have to score, and when things tighten up in the playoffs watch our offense evaporate completely.

We crawled on all four limbs while bleeding into the playoffs. I'm with you, I don't want to rely on our vets and to grind out some gut check victories. We just lost two of those games in a row, it doesn't work. The only reason we're here is because Boston sucked harder and two young guys carried us through 65 percent of the season before their tanks dried up (Larkin, Mrazek). The vets with their 23rd ranked offense didn't get us here.

Edited by Number19

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THere is absolutely no way AA and Mantha will play in the same game in the playoffs unless we are seriously desperate. Neither of them are even close to where they need to be defensively and when line matching gets really greasy in the playoffs they will get exposed.

Z - D - Abs

Larkin - Sheahan - Gus

Helm - Glen - Tats

Andy - Richards - Mantha/AA

Sheahan and Glendening have been very good lately. The only way to get Z going is to play him with Pavel. The other winger on that line could be anyone but Abby has been there and knows his role. I just think there is no way AA and Mantha are in the lineup at the same time.

Put Mantha with Dats and Richards, AA with Glenny and Helm. 2 vets on each line to cover mistakes.

In the end, Mantha gets called up, our pp scores 8 straight games. He gets benched and the pp died off once again.

I also don't get why AA isn't trusted defensively. The guy has killed penalties for crying out loud. Not to mention his speed can help offset being out of position.

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:lol: I love this whole "so and so can't play defense, so I'm gonna scratch them" Tatar and Nyquist can't win battles to save their lives. We have a coach that doesn't prioritize goal scoring. That's a problem, guess what? Goals win games. For me, I want guys that can score goals. Patrick Kane can't spell "backcheck" and he's a 3 time Stanley Cup champion. Enough of this garbage from management and coaching, play to win the ******* game.

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:lol: I love this whole "so and so can't play defense, so I'm gonna scratch them" Tatar and Nyquist can't win battles to save their lives. We have a coach that doesn't prioritize goal scoring. That's a problem, guess what? Goals win games. For me, I want guys that can score goals. Patrick Kane can't spell "backcheck" and he's a 3 time Stanley Cup champion. Enough of this garbage from management and coaching, play to win thef****** game.

Exactly. No team has a complete roster of guys who play a 200 foot game. Pure offensive guys are needed as well.

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