GDT: 10/20/2016 - Leafs @ Wild - 7 PM CT / 3 AM Suomi - FS-N

[TaLoN]

Dumba out there to close the game. Defensive issues are overblown.

Most agree with you, a few here don't. I think those who make issue with his defense are in a very small minority.

Hate to be "this guy" but how long will we be able to win games getting outshot?
I'll enjoy the wins though

Meh... we did it for years with Lemaire. Always won when outshot, always lost when outshooting.

Folin's going to be Boudreau's favorite, isn't he...

Better than who was Yeo's favorite... *cough*Prosser*cough*

 

[AKL]

Apart from the three penalties, Folin didn't play especially bad. Just gotta cut those down. Reilly on the other hand...

 

[57special]

The big thing with Dumba is that he shows the ability to improve, especially his judgement and positioning defensively. I've also noticed his skating transitions have gotten better.

If his D gets to be reliable, we have a bigger, stronger Spurgeon on our hands.

 

[57special]

Apart from the three penalties, Folin didn't play especially bad. Just gotta cut those down. Reilly on the other hand...

kind of a big thing, those three penalties, though. Don't know what Reilly was doing this summer...being mentored by Prosser? Even his skating looks off.

 

[AKL]

kind of a big thing, those three penalties, though.

Yeah, like I said, just gotta cut down and those and he'll be a solid 6th D.

 

[TaLoN]

Yeah, like I said, just gotta cut down and those and he'll be a solid 6th D.

How many times have all of us gotten upset at Prosser over dumb penalties? A LOT!

Folin is already a solid 6th D looking at our D options.

 

[TaLoN]

Potential injuries?

Big surprise... Zucker in ANOTHER coach's doghouse.

Yeo, Torch, Boudreau... Zucker brings the same problems for each and gets benched/demoted by them all.

 

[57special]

Big surprise... Zucker in ANOTHER coach's doghouse.

Yeo, Torch, Boudreau... Zucker brings the same problems for each and gets benched/demoted by them all.

Yeah...kind of a big year for him. Thought he'd be a 20 goal scorer in the leagues for years. Noticed he wasn't playing strong around our blue line, which can be a killer.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

We're benching guys for pucks hopping over sticks now? Surprised we were able to ice a team at the end there.

 

[TaLoN]

We're benching guys for pucks hopping over sticks now? Surprised we were able to ice a team at the end there.

I doubt it was JUST that... BB's been asking for more from Zucker since camp started... even getting skated extra at times from the sounds of it.

Jets game, he had 3 breakaways, yet all we heard from BB was how poor Zucker was in his own zone.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Odd that he'd go from being promoted to the Haula line to benched that quickly.

 

[Al Lagoon]

I just don't get the Zucker thing - the guy was captain of our WJC team, and if you look back at the scouting reports from the 2010 draft, he was a defensive specialist with some offense. Thrived in college. Wonder where the disconnect lies... :shrug.

 

[TaLoN]

I just don't get the Zucker thing - the guy was captain of our WJC team, and if you look back at the scouting reports from the 2010 draft, he was a defensive specialist with some offense. Thrived in college. Wonder where the disconnect lies... :shrug.

I think the worst thing that happened to him was when he became a top scorer on his college team. I think that might of gotten it into his head that he was more than he really was and let slip what he was really good at.

He's been going for the homerun all the time ever since.

Not every pitch is a homerun pitch and thus if you try for it you may end up striking out instead.

Sorry... for the baseball analogy.

 

[57special]

Well, we'd all be loving him if he scored on even half of his breakaways this year. You can get away with quite a lot if you are a goal scorer, not so much if you are a goal scorer who doesn't score goals.

 

[TaLoN]

Well, we'd all be loving him if he scored on even half of his breakaways this year. You can get away with quite a lot if you are a goal scorer, not so much if you are a goal scorer who doesn't score goals.

That's the thing... he SOOOOO wants to be a goal scorer, but he doesn't have the finishing touch to be that in the NHL.

He's got a good shot... but it's so wild of a shot that he doesn't really have much accuracy to it.

It's why you see him shooting 4 feet wide or high from 3 feet away at times. He's trying to pick a corner that he just can't pick so well.

 

[BusQuets]

You only see small part of the player's action on TV. Maybe there's some issues with Zucker's positioning on the ice.

 

[Wild11MN]

Well... not pretty. But I don't care at this point. I'll take the win.

 

[TaLoN]

You only see small part of the player's action on TV. Maybe there's some issues with Zucker's positioning on the ice.

I was at the Kings game... I don't think it's just positioning, I think it's awareness as well.

He releases too easily at times, breaking for the neutral zone hoping to be hit with a pass, letting his man go early and that man then being instrumental on maintaining the offensive zone pressure.

You can play great defensively and still be able to release at times for breakaways... we've seen Granlund with a few breakaway chances of his own, yet he's been playing great in his own zone.

 

[57special]

I was at the Kings game... I don't think it's just positioning, I think it's awareness as well.

He releases too easily at times, breaking for the neutral zone hoping to be hit with a pass, letting his man go early and that man then being instrumental on maintaining the offensive zone pressure.

You can play great defensively and still be able to release at times for breakaways... we've seen Granlund with a few breakaway chances of his own, yet he's been playing great in his own zone.

Haula is a better example. Similar offensive skillset, but much better defensively.

I do like Zucker's grit, and want to. Doesn't always seem to have the highest IQ out there.

 

[TaLoN]

Haula is a better example. Similar offensive skillset, but much better defensively.

I do like Zucker's grit, and want to. Doesn't always seem to have the highest IQ out there.

I used Granlund because he is playing wing like Zucker, and thus their responsibilities in their own zone is exactly the same... yet Granlund is actually following through on that responsibility, and with less speed is also getting breakaway chances without having to cheat on that responsibility.

 

[Wabit]

I missed the game (have it DVRed). Know the score, so is it worth watching, or will the highlights suffice? Glad to see them win again after giving up the first goal (sucks giving up the first goal).

 

[Handlanger]

You only see small part of the player's action on TV. Maybe there's some issues with Zucker's positioning on the ice.

Well, it seems tha Nino is in the doghouse too.

 

[DANOZ28]

well im frustrated 4 games in a row we've looked like the slower team. we should have crushed the leafs and if it wasnt for matthews missing a golden chance to tie we probably lose in OT. i know its a new system , i know its early in the season but this is what you get when you act like pre season is nothing.

 

[Wabit]

well im frustrated 4 games in a row we've looked like the slower team. we should have crushed the leafs and if it wasnt for matthews missing a golden chance to tie we probably lose in OT. i know its a new system , i know its early in the season but this is what you get when you act like pre season is nothing.

I don't mind them playing mostly AHL lineups for of the preseason games. It saves a little wear and tear and reduces some of the chances for injuries. The WCH needs to go away (again), I think that hurt more than the vets not playing in preseason games.

Looking slow vs Tor is going to happen to a lot of teams, those kids they have are fast.

The deciding not to play the first period of games is what's troubling me. They have a weak schedule to open the season so this needs to be figured out. The Playoff quality teams will jump all over them and it'll be over after the 1st.

 

[57special]

well im frustrated 4 games in a row we've looked like the slower team. we should have crushed the leafs and if it wasnt for matthews missing a golden chance to tie we probably lose in OT. i know its a new system , i know its early in the season but this is what you get when you act like pre season is nothing.

Well, if Coyle's shot hadn't hit iron in the first period we would have had an early lead( and I would have had a triple whammy, but who's counting?).

I do agree that we don't look dominating, though we did look decent in spurts. Missing Scandella, then Spurgeon for half of the third, hurt us. Would like to see some more dominant forward play. Coyle seems the closest to that at the moment.