Shady Machine
Registered User
- Aug 6, 2010
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Not that I want Oleksiak in the side but to be fair Riikola is on the ice for a majority of those goals through this streak.
So was Maatta?
Not that I want Oleksiak in the side but to be fair Riikola is on the ice for a majority of those goals through this streak.
So was Maatta?
Why can't we keep nice things?
Best hope is Big Rig sits when Schultz come back and Maatta-Schultz sticks.
Pretty obvious they are playing who they think are the best 6 dmen, fit be damned.
I actually like Big Rig, but the combo of him and Maatta is puke worthy.
Welcome back, Oleksiak ...
8 game winning streak on the line, and we aren't giving up a lot of goals. Lets **** with the defense and put together a pairing that sucked ass and was a main factor in us losing so many games this season. Brilliant.
So was Maatta?
True, but even leaving aside the fact that we know its not fully meritocratic, Maatta logged the most PK time in that period and that's a pretty decent edge when not being the member of an under performing unit to leave the line up.
Riikola taken out of the lineup after he had a bad game defensively and was on the ice for 2 goals against? I'm shocked. That is half sarcastic and half serious, it's totally expected that they'd scratch him but I'm a little surprised they'd make changes to a winning team.
Riikola has been giving up a ton of goals over those 8 games, though.
Maatta also isn't a rookie and is relied on to play much tougher minutes.
Maatta also isn't a rookie and is relied on to play much tougher minutes.
No doubt. Not arguing that Maatta should sit over Riikola. That's not realistic and probably not the best idea, but I don't get why you make a change when the D arguably looks the best it has all season and the team is rolling.
I get the sentiment and agree. But Oleksiak has shown to be just as bad of a liability and arguably worse.
Something he's generally done better with Cough Drop as opposed to Oleksiak here.
I mean, there's a lot of logic to what they've done until I consider what its likely to look like on the ice and all the logic drains away.
I don't think either Riikola or Oleksiak have shown to be liabilities here
Both are bottom pair guys who skate well and are questionable defensively, with offering 1 unique trait (toughness with Oleksiak, puck moving with Riikola). I think Riikola is more needed in general, but at the same point, I get why Oleksiak is getting in against Winnipeg. Riikola hasn't been good enough and Oleksiak hasn't been bad enough for me to really care that much about which one gets in.
I think the biggest problem with Maatta-Oleksiak is that you shouldn't use them as a heavy defensive pairing, but if you don't use them like that, you don't have a pair to get those difficult minutes. If you're giving them 60%+ DZone starts, I expect them to do poorly. I just don't know who else you can give those difficult minutes to, because I don't think Pettersson-Johnson can handle them.
I would not describe Big Rig as a defender that skates well relative to Riikola. He skates well for a big dude, but Riikola is a smooth skater than can evade defenders with his skating. Big Rig just doesn't lumber around quite as much as you'd expect for his size.
As for which one is in, it has less to do with the individual players and more about fit and need on the whole blueline. We are a worse defense with Big Rig-Maatta than Maatta-Riikola.
So in conclusion, you agree it's a bad idea?
Nah, I'd legitimately call Oleksiak a good skater. He's not just good for his size, he's a legitimately strong skater. Oleksiak's biggest problems are that he doesn't use his size well and his puck moving is mediocre.
I think people overstate how much worse it is than Maatta-Riikola. Riikola is the better fit next to Maatta, but Oleksiak is also the better player, I think people ignore the 2nd and focus too much on the 1st.
No doubt. Not arguing that Maatta should sit over Riikola. That's not realistic and probably not the best idea, but I don't get why you make a change when the D arguably looks the best it has all season and the team is rolling.
Maybe it's just part of the development for Riikola. Have him sit a game and show him what they think he needs to work on through video, practice and watching a game in the stands.
I'm all for optimism but if you think that's the most likely explanation, I have a bridge to sell you
Its just so dumb. Instead of letting a young guy play through his ****, you just scratch him the first opportunity you get.
I dint think this decision has anything to do with Rikola and everything to do with Winnipeg. Theyre a big phyiscal bunch and our games with them tend to get chippy...hence Oleksiak. Not saying its right or wrong but there is at least a thread of why its happening.
I dint think this decision has anything to do with Rikola and everything to do with Winnipeg. Theyre a big phyiscal bunch and our games with them tend to get chippy...hence Oleksiak. Not saying its right or wrong but there is at least a thread of why its happening.
I dint think this decision has anything to do with Rikola and everything to do with Winnipeg. Theyre a big phyiscal bunch and our games with them tend to get chippy...hence Oleksiak. Not saying its right or wrong but there is at least a thread of why its happening.
Its possible, but IMO it has to do with Riko's pair being scored on twice last game and you know Maatta isnt sitting so..