This is why I think a lot of people are either media fed and just develop confirmation bias; how can you look at any player and not expect them to improve on their rookie season? That line of reasoning seems unreasonable.Could be. I kept saying this last year - why do people assume he can't improve? The guy's a rookie playing in a situation where there was a ton of pressure on him. A year under his belt, a bit more confidence etc., too early to say for sure but Hyman just might be "new and improved". And if he is, watch out rest of the league.
Hyman has played terrific and in these last two games and if he keeps it up I think he is the perfect linemate for Matthews, and he played well in the playoffs last year, all good signs. This doesn't invalidate criticism leveled towards him and his puck skills are nowhere near top 6 level but, as I've pointed out before, most all of Hyman's critics acknowledged that having a strong forechecker in his spot was a good thing we just wanted him to handle the puck at an NHL level he's done a really good job for two straight games. If Hyman plays like he has I think he is the ideal player in that spot but I need to see alot more of those, also he still sometimes struggles with really simple plays(fails to dump in the puck) and these are still really frustrating.
Nylander is on another level right now. It's crazy. That line is a thing of beauty.I'll eat crow.
they're the best line in hockey.
He could turn out to be a perfect power forward for today's game. I'm probably more impressed with him than any other player so far this season.
I'll eat crow.
they're the best line in hockey.
Theres always room for a player to scoop up the garbage around the net. If only he could develop a snap/wrister he could easily become a 15-20 goal scorer.
The line works because Mathews and Nylander are elite level talents who have kicked it up another level and would produce with anyone , Hyman's simply a hard working passenger.
Brown has already shown he can do what Hyman does but with a much higher skill level and iq . It's not easy to make the Bozak/JVR combo look somewhat competent defensively but he has , albeit in a small sample size .
You don't think the Bozak line looking better also doesn't have to do with a defensively struggling Marner being removed and the message Babcock sent to them? It's interesting how you say anyone would produce with Matthews/Nylander and Hyman is a passenger, yet Brown is so much better than Marner he has single handedly made Bozak/JVR look somewhat defensively competent. Still no bias I see.
I mean, if the line plays like they did last night then even I'll agree not to split them up. That's pretty much as good as a line can play.
This. Anyone who thinks that the "message" was meant for Marner alone is mistaken.
This. Anyone who thinks that the "message" was meant for Marner alone is mistaken.
I'll eat crow.
they're the best line in hockey.
I think if Marner was playing well and the other two were not...one of them would have been moved. Mitch was not playing well though, has the least experience and also the easiest to still teach and develop the right habits moving forward.considering when the man goes "the tie goes to the vet." it was clearly a shot across the bow to all three of them, IMO and sort of that "protection/safe environment" Babcock wants to cultivate. you can argue why a 2nd year player can be moved (even as talented as Mitch) but it is drah.mah if it had been JVR/Bozak. (even though i am team: who cares and nail their bum to the press box)