MileHighWingsGuy 178 Report post Posted August 9, 2016 AA and Larkin were the only two guys worth watching last year. How AA ends up in GR at any point this year is again a tribute to Hollands inability to make a trade worth a damn and acquiring subpar talent that doesn't beong on the roster. It also gives me zero faith in anything Blashill does going forward. It's fairly sad when a casual fan can see things that the GM and coach can't. I wanted to punch somebody last year when they debated whether Larkin should be on the opening day roster..good Lord!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wingnut1989 165 Report post Posted August 10, 2016 Zetterberg should be playing a lesser role, 3rd line possibly. With PP time 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krsmith17 7,191 Report post Posted August 10, 2016 Zetterberg does need his minutes reduced, but I think it's naive to think he will be demoted to the 3rd line. I'm okay with him playing in the top 6, I still think he's a top 6 player, I just don't want to see him at center. Whether he's on Larkin's wing or Nielsen's wing, doesn't really matter to me, I just don't want to see the team rely on him near as much as they have in the past. It's time for other players to step up in a big way, with Datsyuk gone and Zetterberg play diminishing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacksoni 418 Report post Posted August 16, 2016 Agreed. It's time to see what the kids can do with more ice time. Massive power-play ice time and centering the third line would be ideal for Zetterberg in my opinion. He can still contribute, just not the hard minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kipwinger 8,520 Report post Posted August 16, 2016 I agree with you sentiment, but I don't want Zetterberg at center. The work load down the middle is too much for his old legs. Let him play on the wing, with a lessened defensive load, and he'll contribute plenty of offense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krsmith17 7,191 Report post Posted August 16, 2016 I'd say the chance of Zetterberg's minutes being significantly reduced, is just as likely as Glendening's minutes being reduced, or Mantha making the team out of camp, which is to say... slim to none... 1 skerrydude reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kickazz 5,459 Report post Posted August 16, 2016 I'd say the chance of Zetterberg's minutes being significantly reduced, is just as likely as Glendening's minutes being reduced, or Mantha making the team out of camp, which is to say... slim to none... This made me giggle because it may be true. His minutes will reduce if everyone else can elevate their game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krsmith17 7,191 Report post Posted August 16, 2016 My question to that would be, will players be given the opportunity to elevate their game?... Or will we rely on the vets and "defensive specialists" again?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DickieDunn 2,571 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 My question to that would be, will players be given the opportunity to elevate their game?... Or will we rely on the vets and "defensive specialists" again?...Unless Trashill becomes his own man instead of Babs Jr. The kids have no real shot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NerveDamage 4,176 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) My question to that would be, will players be given the opportunity to elevate their game?... Or will we rely on the vets and "defensive specialists" again?... the thing is that we've been relying on our young guns quite a bit. If it weren't for Nyq and Tats the streak would've ended a few years ago, and this past season without Larkin, AA, Marchenko, Mrazek (for a good chunk of the season) we would've struggle even more to make the playoffs. Not even the whole swedish mafia would've helped in that scenario. ...If you believe that sort of thing. Edited August 17, 2016 by NerveDamage Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krsmith17 7,191 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) Nyquist and Tatar were relied upon a few years ago because of the rash of injuries. Last season they had their minutes inexplicably decreased. Larkin was relied upon, which is great to see, and it looks as if he's going to take on more responsibility next season, centering one of the two top lines. Mrazek was relied upon for stretches as well, but it even took longer than it probably should have for him to get the lion's share of the starts. I wouldn't exactly say Marchenko or Athanasiou were relied upon in any way... And that is who I'm mostly talking about here. I want to see Larkin take on a bigger role, give Athanasiou and Mantha an opportunity, give Jurco another shot in a scoring role, and give Sproul a shot to see what he can bring to the table... Stop relying on Zetterberg, Kronwall, Ericsson, and give the kids a shot... Edited August 17, 2016 by krsmith17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NerveDamage 4,176 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 what I meant is that when push come to shove, they've responded and carried the team for certain stretches. So, we'd all expect to see more of them the following year, and as you mentioned it was quite the opposite. I mentioned Marchenko because he did play 66 games and is one of the few young guys to have secured a spot on the roster. We can't deny that Larkin's rising meant less minutes for Nyq and Tats, when they were our go to guys in past seasons and, hopefully, AA will do the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joesuffP 1,746 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 I think Blashill being in his first year as head coach fell back on Babs philosophies especially when things started to go south for him. Hopefully he finds his own identity that suits the team. I'm expecting him to have a much different approach this year. There's a lot of pressure for a rookie coach to demote long time veterans in his first year especially if they missed the playoffs. He would have taken a lot of heat. Last year was a tough year for the whole team I don't think anybody in the organization was satisfied with their season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kickazz 5,459 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) It's plain and simple. Stop playing Zetterberg 19 minutes a night and give him 14-15 minutes. The fact that he still logs more minutes than any forward not named Pavel Datsyuk shows that he's the primary "go-to" guy over the others. Larkin's 16 minutes per game should turn into Zetterberg's 19 minutes a game and vice versa this upcoming season. At this point in his career I think Larkin = Zetterberg. Zetterberg is the smarter player but Larkin just has the better legs. So if anyone is getting those 19 minutes, it should be Larkin imo. I mean I could be totally wrong and Zetterberg ends up scoring 20 goals and 80 points this upcoming year but based off the last two years it's time to reduce the time. Having said all that, players do need to earn their playing time. On my list I'd say Tatar, Nyquist, AA and Larkin all have earned more play time. I can't say the same for Jurco, Pulkinnen, Sheahan. Edited August 17, 2016 by kickazz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krsmith17 7,191 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 I agree that based on last season all 4 of Nyquist, Tatar, Larkin and Athanasiou should have a secure spot, but I'd like to see everyone have to compete... New season should mean new slate for every single player. I would love to see coaches and management go into training camp with no previous knowledge or bias of any player. Strip every name off their jerseys and let them compete for jobs and positions in the lineup. That means if Mantha out plays Miller, he gets a spot opening night, if Sproul out plays Ericsson, same rule applies. No tie goes to the veteran bulls***. Of course this will never happen, and Zetterberg will lead forwards in ice time, Kronwall will lead defensemen in ice time, Miller will never be scratched, nor will Ericsson... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kickazz 5,459 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) Honestly though Zetterberg can't be put in the same pool as Kronwall, Miller, or Ericsson. Among all 35+ year olds he's still a top dog. I was reading someone that only 3 players scored more points than he did among all the older players in the league. Joe Thornton, Daniel and Henrik Sedin produced more than he did but I believe those 3 also get easier minutes than he does. I think if not for ice-time at the very least they should lessen the load on him. That starts with moving him to Wing (which they are doing so check that off), the second is reduce the 5 on 5 time on first and second period and maybe even increase the PP time and use him to close out leading games or something. He's still a very good PP specialist so use him there more often or something possible double shift the PP. With Datsyuk gone, it will suck not having an elite playmaker on the roster for the entire 2 minutes of the PP. Edited August 17, 2016 by kickazz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krsmith17 7,191 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 I never really put any players in the same pool or made any comparison between them. I've said that I still think Zetterberg is a top 6 talent and shouldn't be dropped to the 3rd line. I've also said being moved to the wing, rather than playing center should keep his legs going longer into the season. 2 PavelValerievichDatsyuk and TheXym reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacksoni 418 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 Alrighty.. This thread is about AA but since we are talking about Zetterberg, I watched him skate yesterday in Stockholm, just for a few minutes. It was at the end of his workout. He looked spry and was going full stride, looking good doing it. I have no info or idea of his back issues but he has clearly been taking care of himself in the off-season. Conditioning is there, no doubt. 1 krsmith17 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 4,951 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 AA should be playing. Period. 3 DickieDunn, NerveDamage and Jacksoni reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kickazz 5,459 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) Alrighty.. This thread is about AA but since we are talking about Zetterberg, I watched him skate yesterday in Stockholm, just for a few minutes. It was at the end of his workout. He looked spry and was going full stride, looking good doing it. I have no info or idea of his back issues but he has clearly been taking care of himself in the off-season. Conditioning is there, no doubt. He was fine last year in the beginning too, he hit a wall around January though. It's about that longevity. The less he plays the longer he will last with those legs you saw yesterday. Edited August 17, 2016 by kickazz 2 chaps80 and krsmith17 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacksoni 418 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 He was fine last year in the beginning too, he hit a wall around January though. It's about that longevity. The less he plays the longer he will last with those legs you saw yesterday. Couldn't agree more. Talent and old timer wisdom is there. Fingers crossed he holds up. 1 kickazz reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DickieDunn 2,571 Report post Posted August 17, 2016 AA should be playing. Period.Plus 10000000000000 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joshy207 156 Report post Posted August 20, 2016 He was fine last year in the beginning too, he hit a wall around January though. It's about that longevity. The less he plays the longer he will last with those legs you saw yesterday. Add in the World Cup this year, if Blashill doesn't ration his minutes, he'll be burned out by Christmas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
