Could do without the wording of the GDT but thats just me.
Ekholm will come in here with immense pressure. He's going from where he's played his entire career to a far off place he has next to no familiarity with. he's going from a team that focuses on D as its DNA since the best coach in hockey instilled that type of play there. Ekholm has NEVER played pro hockey in a place that does not stress D game in and game out.
He's going to a radically different type of team that is scoring and offense rather than D oriented.
I wish him well, he'll need it as the expecations of this board are already in overdrive before a game has even been played. Its also against Toronto who can score goals.
That said a lot of players can play well in a new place for a few games just on adrenaline, being amped, excited. The sag may occur in one to two weeks as the human experience of moving, resettling, relearnng, reacquainting can be all exhausting. For D particularly, and shutdown type D transition can be harder. For offensive D like Barrie the tools and aspects tend to be unpacked easier.
Tough game tonight.
I very much look forward to the overreactions (from both sides) about sEKsy based on a one-game sample size tonight!
Bang. Not even going to be viewing this thread come game time. From comments so far I don't know if we obtained a D or the next Jesus.
