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- Jan 2, 2007
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So Matheson/Pysyk? Uhhh....DeFranks is projecting that Yandle will be with Ekblad and McCoshen is in with Petrovic.
So Matheson/Pysyk? Uhhh....DeFranks is projecting that Yandle will be with Ekblad and McCoshen is in with Petrovic.
I like this, allows Matheson to be creative on the offensive side and Pysyk to focus on shutting down.So Matheson/Pysyk? Uhhh....
Booooo.DeFranks is projecting that Yandle will be with Ekblad and McCoshen is in with Petrovic.
There's our new 3rd pairing.Yandle and Ekblad could be a great combo in the offensive zone and will hopefully get a lot of o-zone starts. The concern defensively is overblown for Ekblad and Yandle, very similar to Campbell and Ekblad.
I don't understand all the complaining about D pairings. We have 3 offensive Dmen but it doesn't make sense to make one in every pair. You'd end up with Ek-Pys, Mat-Pet, Yan-McC. That's not a good idea. I think you want to have one be a shutdown pair, thus Pet-McC. Then you pair Pysyk with the one of the three who needs most help, should he pinch. That's Matheson. So right choice again. Then Ek-Yan, where both should know every aspect of the game and be responsible.
Coach has tried various combos. I think at this point we need to give them the benefit of doubt. Maybe the lines will gel and be greater as a sum than the parts alone...also regarding Brickley and the other new guys, in the early going of a few NHL games, new guys are scoring and contributing. So are some old guys too, but it's open for anyone. Maybe this year will be better than expected?McGinn isn't a 2nd liner but Trocheck is really good. Vrbata is getting up there and was terrible away from Arizona but has generally produced well so not a huge wildcard, I'm not too concerned about the 2nd line. The main issue is obviously that 4/6 of the bottom 6 is bad. Haley, Mack, Brickley, and yes, Bjugstad are all going to be bad.
The Father
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And the Holy Hatter
^Petro and McCoshen will be a solid shutdown pair. I also don't have a problem with Pysyk/Matheson.
I'm not optimistic with Yandle/Ekblad as last year is stamped on my brain. I expect them both to play decent because Boughner can be an intimidating factor and will likely sit Yandle in lieu of Ek if there are problems . I still think Yandle will be traded once he gives the green light on the NMC. Both of them will play conservative tonight unless we get behind by 2 or more and then the wheels could come off. We'll know more 20 games down the road whether these two can work together.
It's not as easy as putting RD/LD on the "wrong" side and seeing how it works out though. There's only a handful of NHL d-men that can play the other side better than their natural side and fewer that can swap sides without missing a beat. Positioning, passing, receiving, etc.My thing with the D pairs is you have to work with what you have....if it means having RD RD and LD and LD, then so be it.