GDT: #1|PITY PARTY OUT OF CONTROL|Champion Capitals vs. Penguins|Oct. 4 |7:00 PM |PPG

[Nadal On Clay]

My two thoughts:

1) Hornqvist is not playing at a level he should be

2) Brassard impressed me. I hope he continues on that trend.... for the whole season

 

[vodeni]

Amen. It needs to be a good hockey trade with a team needing a Dman. Maatta for just a decent equal player maybe LW. Maybe a different dman back.

Maatta for a cap space at this point is pretty good for me

 

[WayneSid9987]

Even a simple Riiks for Rig to start meant you could slot up Riiks in game when stuff like this happens and it happens alot where a middle pairing to top pairing D-Man can't do anything right for this team in a game.

 

[ColePens]

Tuning into this Nash/Rangers game and man.. hockey is becoming so fast/skilled. The game is so beautiful. IF we could clear every f*** face like Wilson out, this game will be the best it's ever been. f*** the 80s.

 

[Fatty McLardy]

Okay why do you think it’s a good idea to trade a top 20 Dman and a top 10 right winger and who can we get for them?

He played more like a bottom 20 dman in the league, last year.

 

[Clare2904]

Olli too.

I think we package Ollie for a new skate sharpener or new coffee pot for Dana

 

[Pancakes]

I'd also humbly submit that Maatta could use a giant kick in the ass based on his standard so far this fall.

Agreed. The leash should be short for any of the non big names because our depth is great. Cullen/Sprong/Sheahan struggling? Put in Grant. Maatta struggling? Put in Riikola.

We have depth. Sully needs to use it and reward good play.

 

[Dinfire]

Pick on Maatta night at HFB I see.

 

[Peat]

G and Phil between them have one shot on goal...that’s ridiculous...the only reason to keep them together is to swamp the other team offensively...if they’re not doing that, I can’t see how Sully’s justifies putting them back out together for the third period...

Because you can't change it without breaking up two lines that are on fire.

 

[Coastal Kev]

L1 looks awesome and he's doing a lot of small things to open space up. I think that line could have 2 more goals. He creates so much space for Jake/Sid.

Yes, I do see that. But are you not concerned with his skating?

 

[USMC607]

I can't help but imagine how much better this team would flow with Riikola in over Maatta.

As much as I agree with moving on from Maatta and giving CoughDrop a shot. I understand why he isnt in tonight.

As good as hes been in the preseason, I'm glad they didnt throw him into the fire tonight to get his feet wet. Let him get a game in with a slightly worse team.

 

[Andy99]

Riikola better be playing Saturday....

 

[Peat]

Pick on Maatta night at HFB I see.

Dude, I love Maatta, I'm a huge fan, but he's been so bad. Four bad turnovers.

 

[PensandCaps]

You sit Oleksiak waaay before Maatta to get Riikola in.

 

[Steph Blurry]

Yeah except even then, he gets turnstiled in his own zone because teams know all one has to do is dump it past him and beat him to the puck, he will NEVER beat you to the puck when you do that.

His foot speed isn’t NHL caliber and it shows. I was hoping he’d work on it and become average enough to be a steady and reliable defenseman but his trajectory is has been pointing straight down. After his abysmal postseason I’ve been looking forward to seeing how he progressed this pre-season/season. I know it’s only been one game but that skating is still Ice Castle Open Skate level. Plenty of season to go and he may surprise me but I’m no longer hopeful.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Dude, I love Maatta, I'm a huge fan, but he's been so bad. Four bad turnovers.

To be fair, this website takes criticism to ridiculous levels. He has been terrible but the reactions here are still unjust.

You sit Oleksiak waaay before Maatta to get Riikola in.

Yeah, Oleksiak has been their worst D so far tonight. He's been caught out of position so many times.

 

[Andy99]

Because you can't change it without breaking up two lines that are on fire.

Sully could give Sprong a chance there or double shift Rust...he was doing that on the fourth line for Sprong for absolutely no reason....

 

[vodeni]

Pick on Maatta night at HFB I see.

its not picking on him, he is so bad tonight just about everytime he had a puck he turned over, or lost his guy or got picked,

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Pick on Maatta night at HFB I see.

What's he gonna do, chase us?

 

[AverageJoeFan]

TBH I think Horny looks a bit out of sorts yet with Jake and Sid. Yes, he does make some space and crowds the net but way behind on any transition.
I am still hoping for a better L4. Just nothing there yet.
The Geno Phil thing looks awful right now.

 

[Fatty McLardy]

Pick on Maatta night at HFB I see.

He deserves it, Caps are treating him like a pylon tonight.

 

[canadianguy77]

Caps have lost their legs and we found ours. I like our chances.

 

[WayneSid9987]

You sit Oleksiak waaay before Maatta to get Riikola in.

Either or really.
Doesn't matter to me cuz as long as Riiks is dressed, you can slot him up in cases like tonight where Olli can't do anything right.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

I think we package Ollie for a new skate sharpener or new coffee pot for Dana

How are your kitties??

 

[PensandCaps]

To be fair, this website takes criticism to ridiculous levels. He has been terrible but the reactions here are still unjust.



Yeah, Oleksiak has been their worst D so far tonight. He's been caught out of position so many times.

Oleksiak has no clue how to position himself. No idea why he is a Dman. Should be a forward.