GDT: Avalanche vs Senators 1/16/24 @ 5:00PM MNT (Emergency GDT) Let's forget about yesterday!

[BrickNHL]

What do we think of Polin? Any chance he becomes a 13th forward or 4th line regular?

I kind of liked his game since he’s been up but also his competition has been KMac and Caleb as a forward

 

[The Kingslayer]

Missed this one. 4annunen eh. That Sanderson goal was shit. The Avs allowed 40 shots on the kid lol Soogard sucks.

I love me some Sam Malinski. Im sorry but this kid deserves to stay. Hes only had one really bad game against the Habs imo but everyone looked like shit besides Cale that night.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

What do we think of Polin? Any chance he becomes a 13th forward or 4th line regular?

I kind of liked his game since he’s been up but also his competition has been KMac and Caleb as a forward

I like what he has done so far. Bednar seems to trust him pretty good for the amount of time he has been up. He needs better player to play with than Dermy and Jones to really see what he can provide though.

 

[Bonzai12]

I missed it - why did Annunen get the start last night?

 

[GeoRox89]

I missed it - why did Annunen get the start last night?

Over prostate? Probably a bit that he sucks and a bit trying to see if they can get away with not getting a legit backup (that would be a mistake but here we are)

 

[Foppa2118]

From Injury Thread: And I'm not set on trading Bo, but I do agree with PH that Girard has been the better D man this year, and should be the guy listed as the #3.

I really don't want to bash on G, he’s a really great PMD, but I just don't think this is accurate.

I feel compelled to point out that G wasn't playing that great before he left, and he's still making mistakes every game that don't get pointed out, that Bo would be dragged through the mud for.

Just last game for example, G played pretty well overall, helped to create some offense, but he also made some mistakes that almost cost them. As usual, I didn’t see anyone mention them after the game the way they do with Bo.

Misplayed a 2 on 1 and let the pass get by him, and then the return pass a second later as well. Would have been a back door tap in if Drouin hadn't hustled back.

Caught playing too “high risk” trying to join the rush as the only D man back, and gives up a breakaway to the Sens best goal scorer Tkachuk.

The shift right after the Avs battled back to tie it 4-4 in the 3rd, he dumps the puck in, then with three forwards deep in the zone, he gets caught playing too “high risk” again and makes a really bad pinch all the way to the circle. Causing a 2 on 1 that Colton has to rush back to defend, and putting his partner Manson in a tough spot to defend a nice move from Stutzle on his off side, and Annunen to make a nice save to prevent giving up the lead right after they just tied it.

Misreads the shot on the PK, leaving the shooting lane where he could have blocked the shot, and gives up a dangerous chance while the Sens still have plenty of time to come back with 5 minutes left.

 

[dahrougem2]

Polin is as AHL as it gets.

 

[lionsDen]

Insurance is always nice!

Unless you don’t pay for OEM parts on your car and you get a bunch of aftermarket shit that don’t fit… lol

 

[Foppa2118]

I missed it - why did Annunen get the start last night?

Had to give him another shot before the deadline, so they know what they have.

Also Bedsy likes to give Gerogeiv a full night off from thinking about hockey when he rests him. He's mentioned this a few times, including last night.

 

[sethro109]

I really don't want to bash on G, he’s a really great PMD, but I just don't think this is accurate.

I feel compelled to point out that G wasn't playing that great before he left, and he's still making mistakes every game that don't get pointed out, that Bo would be dragged through the mud for.

Just last game for example, G played pretty well overall, helped to create some offense, but he also made some mistakes that almost cost them. As usual, I didn’t see anyone mention them after the game the way they do with Bo.

Misplayed a 2 on 1 and let the pass get by him, and then the return pass a second later as well. Would have been a back door tap in if Drouin hadn't hustled back.

Caught playing too “high risk” trying to join the rush as the only D man back, and gives up a breakaway to the Sens best goal scorer Tkachuk.

The shift right after the Avs battled back to tie it 4-4 in the 3rd, he dumps the puck in, then with three forwards deep in the zone, he gets caught playing too “high risk” again and makes a really bad pinch all the way to the circle. Causing a 2 on 1 that Colton has to rush back to defend, and putting his partner Manson in a tough spot to defend a nice move from Stutzle on his off side, and Annunen to make a nice save to prevent giving up the lead right after they just tied it.

Misreads the shot on the PK, leaving the shooting lane where he could have blocked the shot, and gives up a dangerous chance while the Sens still have plenty of time to come back with 5 minutes left.

Don't act like Bo has been perfect this season. Go back and watch Bo's last few games. You'll find similar mistakes, especially on the PK. Both of them have been making multiple mistakes every game. That's why their middle pairing defensemen. And yes G has been better than Bo this season.

 

[Foppa2118]

Don't act like Bo has been perfect this season. Go back and watch Bo's last few games. You'll find similar mistakes, especially on the PK. Both of them have been making multiple mistakes every game. That's why their middle pairing defensemen. And yes G has been better than Bo this season.

I don't think these kind of responses are fair at all. I've acknowledged all year he's made mistakes. What I haven't been is exaggerating those mistakes, or blaming him for goals that weren't his fault.

When I point out Girard's mistakes, to show that he hasn't been playing the way people claim, the response is always whataboutism about Byram. Just feels very biased.

Both of them have been making mistakes, but only one of them has been heavily criticized this year. This was the case before he left the team as well, not just after. And G has had the same issues before and after he left. He's just playing better with the puck now.

And no, G has NOT been better than Bo this season. There's simply no argument for it. They've both made some mistakes defensively, at very similar rates, and Bo has been better offensively.

Defense is not Girard's strong suit. Even Byram's haters think he should be a defensive guy, and yet Bo still leads the team with six 5v5 goals. Girard has 1 goal total all year. There's no argument for G being better.

 

[AvsMakar08]

Ive liked malinski so far myself.

Malinski is a copy cat. He tries to make the same moves as Makar.

 

[niwotsblessing]

He looks like Makar out there

Malinski does have some traits that are similar to Makar, especially in how he "walks" the blue line with the puck. And his shot is sneaky good.

For me it's his play in the D-zone that I am loving. It seems that he is learning how to better defend against the bigger players in the NHL, but he is tenacious down low, works hard along the boards and often comes away with the puck. He also makes a smart first pass.

Someone above compared him favorably to Byram, and right now I'd say Big Sam is playing a more focused and consistent game with an emphasis on defense first. For the record I see him as a 3rd pairing guy who with the right partner, JMFJ for now, can play an important role on the team. btw- JMFJ is the right kind of partner for Sam as a defense first, bigger-bodied player.

 

[sethro109]

I don't think these kind of responses are fair at all. I've acknowledged all year he's made mistakes. What I haven't been is exaggerating those mistakes, or blaming him for goals that weren't his fault.

When I point out Girard's mistakes, to show that he hasn't been playing the way people claim, the response is always whataboutism about Byram. Just feels very biased.

Both of them have been making mistakes, but only one of them has been heavily criticized this year. This was the case before he left the team as well, not just after. And G has had the same issues before and after he left. He's just playing better with the puck now.

And no, G has NOT been better than Bo this season. There's simply no argument for it. They've both made some mistakes defensively, at very similar rates, and Bo has been better offensively.

Defense is not Girard's strong suit. Even Byram's haters think he should be a defensive guy, and yet Bo still leads the team with six 5v5 goals. Girard has 1 goal total all year. There's no argument for G being better.

I think there's more than enough evidence to make the claim the G has been better this year. Puck retrieval and transition is something that Girard provides in spades and something Bo, Manson, JJ, Jone and Malinski struggle with. Bo has been putting up more points, but in terms of generating offense, Girard has done plenty of tha, but there's no denying that Bo has better finish. I'm also not exactly sure who you're referring to, but it's definitely not me. You won't find many, if any negative posts by me about Bo from me. All I've been saying is that G has been better this year, which he has been.

 

[Snow Arc]

I really don't want to bash on G, he’s a really great PMD, but I just don't think this is accurate.

I feel compelled to point out that G wasn't playing that great before he left, and he's still making mistakes every game that don't get pointed out, that Bo would be dragged through the mud for.

Just last game for example, G played pretty well overall, helped to create some offense, but he also made some mistakes that almost cost them. As usual, I didn’t see anyone mention them after the game the way they do with Bo.

Misplayed a 2 on 1 and let the pass get by him, and then the return pass a second later as well. Would have been a back door tap in if Drouin hadn't hustled back.

Caught playing too “high risk” trying to join the rush as the only D man back, and gives up a breakaway to the Sens best goal scorer Tkachuk.

The shift right after the Avs battled back to tie it 4-4 in the 3rd, he dumps the puck in, then with three forwards deep in the zone, he gets caught playing too “high risk” again and makes a really bad pinch all the way to the circle. Causing a 2 on 1 that Colton has to rush back to defend, and putting his partner Manson in a tough spot to defend a nice move from Stutzle on his off side, and Annunen to make a nice save to prevent giving up the lead right after they just tied it.

Misreads the shot on the PK, leaving the shooting lane where he could have blocked the shot, and gives up a dangerous chance while the Sens still have plenty of time to come back with 5 minutes left.

Trade Girard. What does he even do?



j/k

 

[Foppa2118]

I think there's more than enough evidence to make the claim the G has been better this year. Puck retrieval and transition is something that Girard provides in spades and something Bo, Manson, JJ, Jone and Malinski struggle with. Bo has been putting up more points, but in terms of generating offense, Girard has done plenty of tha, but there's no denying that Bo has better finish. I'm also not exactly sure who you're referring to, but it's definitely not me. You won't find many, if any negative posts by me about Bo from me. All I've been saying is that G has been better this year, which he has been.

I wasn't referring to you with that.

My point is that if both have struggled at times defensively this year, while even his biggest critics value Byram's defensive ability, and want him to focus on that instead of offense, and he provides a fair amount more goals than Girard who nobody thinks should focus on defense, it's hard to make an unbiased case for Girard being better.

G brings plenty to the team with puck retrievals and transition, but if he's not better defensively, or offensively, how is he better overall?

Puck retrievals and transition help the team for sure, and they're great for analytics, but they're not more important than goals, or your ability to prevent goals with pure defensive ability.

It's also why even when Girard came back, Bryam was Bednar's go to option to pair with Manson to protect leads in the final minute, and to pair with Makar to come back in games.

 

[sethro109]

I wasn't referring to you with that.

My point is that if both have struggled at times defensively this year, while even his biggest critics value Byram's defensive ability, and want him to focus on that instead of offense, and he provides a fair amount more goals than Girard who nobody thinks should focus on defense, it's hard to make an unbiased case for Girard being better.

G brings plenty to the team with puck retrievals and transition, but if he's not better defensively, or offensively, how is he better overall?

Puck retrievals and transition help the team for sure, and they're great for analytics, but they're not more important than goals, or your ability to prevent goals with pure defensive ability.

Girard makes plenty of good defensive plays, and is even more physical than Bo. The defensive flaws you pointed out are the same that Bo has been doing all season as well. Which I believe is more of a whole team defensive system problem. So many of our wingers and defensemen just get lost in our own zone. Guys like Nuke, Lehky, Kadri and Bura were very compatible with this system and we're able to hide it's flaws, but it's clear that it's very hard for most.

The only thing I think Bo does better is net front, and goal scoring.

 

[Foppa2118]

Girard makes plenty of good defensive plays, and is even more physical than Bo. The defensive flaws you pointed out are the same that Bo has been doing all season as well. Which I believe is more of a whole team defensive system problem. So many of our wingers and defensemen just get lost in our own zone. Guys like Nuke, Lehky, Kadri and Bura were very compatible with this system and we're able to hide it's flaws, but it's clear that it's very hard for most.

The only thing I think Bo does better is net front, and goal scoring.

I disagree with the subjective comments here, but objectively, Girard is not at all more physical than Bo.

Bo is 2nd on the D core with 41 hits at 5v5. Girard is 6th with 24.

Byram's also still tied for the team lead with 46 blocked shots at 5v5. Girard is 6th with 37.

Offensively, as I mentioned, Byram is still tied for 1st among D men with 6 goals at 5v5. Girard is 8th with 1 at both 5v5 and overall.

Bryam was 1st among D men in 5v5 high danger chances with 8, but was just passed by Toews who has 9 now. G is tied with Malinski for 6th with 3.

Byram is still 4th with 35 scoring chances at 5v5. Girard is 6th with 23.

Byram was 2nd in 5v5 rebounds created with 11, but is now 3rd. Girard is 6th with 7.

 

[sethro109]

I disagree with the subjective comments here, but objectively, Girard is not at all more physical than Bo.

Bo is 2nd on the D core with 41 hits at 5v5. Girard is 6th with 24.

He's also still tied for the team lead with 46 blocked shots at 5v5. Girard is 6th with 37.

Offensively, as I mentioned, Byram is still tied for 1st among D men with 6 goals at 5v5. Girard has 1 at both 5v5 and overall.

Bryam was 1st among D men in 5v5 high danger chances with 8, but was just passed by Toews who has 9 now. G is tied with Malinski for 6th with 3.

Byram is still 4th with 35 scoring chances at 5v5. Girard is 6th with 23.

Byram was 2nd in 5v5 rebounds created with 11, but is now 3rd. Girard is 6th with 7.

You're leaving out the fact that Bo has played 15 more games and Bo only has 1 more point than Girard overall.

 

[Foppa2118]

You're leaving out the fact that Bo has played 15 more games and Bo only has 1 more point than Girard overall.

Does that make up for Girard being 6th-8th in all those other categories while Bo is 1st-2nd?

Also, Bo was forced into being Girard's anchor while G rushed the puck for a good portion of the season. It helped Girard defensively and offensively, but it hurt Bo's offensive game, specifically his assist totals, and put him in tougher spots defensively.

If you pay attention, G doesn't defer too much to his D partner with the puck. Bo would go D to D in both the D zone and O zone to set him up, but G wouldn't do the same. He even looked off Cale in this game to take a low percentage shot himself.

 

[John Mandalorian]

 

[sethro109]

Does that make up for Girard being 6th-8th in all those other categories while Bo is 1st-2nd?

Also, Bo was forced into being Girard's anchor while G rushed the puck for a good portion of the season. It helped Girard defensively, but it hurt Bo's offensive game, specifically his assist totals.

If you pay attention, G doesn't defer too much to his D partner with the puck. Bo would go D to D in both the D zone and O zone to set him up, but G wouldn't do the same. He even looked off Cale in this game to take a low percentage shot himself.

To the bolded, yes. 15 games is a large number of games. And it's even more behind Toews and Makar.

Girard didn't drive down Bo's numbers. If Bo was clearly superior, Bednar wouldn't have forced him to play the right side and would have made G the 3rd pair guy. Bo just didn't play good enough to earn that from Bednar.


Also G not using his D partners is a bunch of crap. Looking off Makar one time doesn't mean shit. It's clear the team wants him driving the net and to be making chances. He's been do exactly that since he's been back.

 

[Foppa2118]

To the bolded, yes. 15 games is a large number of games. And it's even more behind Toews and Makar.

Girard didn't drive down Bo's numbers. If Bo was clearly superior, Bednar wouldn't have forced him to play the right side and would have made G the 3rd pair guy. Bo just didn't play good enough to earn that from Bednar.


Also G not using his D partners is a bunch of crap. Looking off Makar one time doesn't mean shit. It's clear the team wants him driving the net and to be making chances. He's been do exactly that since he's been back.

He moved Byram to his right side, because he trusts him more defensively than Girard. He was also very reluctant to play JJ on his off side, but started doing it more a couple months ago with guess who?

Girard was on the defacto 3rd pairing with JJ after they split up the Byram-Girard pairing because it wasn't working. So how does that square with your comment about not earning Bednar's trust?

Not to mention once again that Byram gets paired with Manson to protect leads in the final minute of periods and games, and had for a month or so. He obviously trusts him fine.

If Girard was superior offensively like you say, he wouldn't pair Byram with Makar halfway through the 2nd period when they need a goal. Even when they don't need one most games. He did this before and after G got back.

He was also asked about splitting up Toews and Makar after the Montreal game, and he said he likes to keep them together if they're playing well, but, "We're running out of some other options here recently becasue of injuries and what not...."

Byram was the only defenseman out, so he's obviously referring to him.

He tried pairing G with Makar in the 2nd period this game, but only for a shift or two before he abandoned it, even when they were still behind and tied.

The last part is not at all crap. You just haven't noticed it, like you hadn't noticed that Byram is way more physical, and that Girard was the 3rd pairing guy.

It's not just one time either. It's not that big a deal, but he's done it his whole career, because rushing the puck is his biggest strength, so he tries to play to it.

 

[sethro109]

He moved Byram to his right side, because he trusts him more defensively than Girard. He was also very reluctant to play JJ on his off side, but started doing it more a couple months ago with guess who?

Girard was on the defacto 3rd pairing with JJ after they split up the Byram-Girard pairing because it wasn't working. So how does that square with your comment about not earning Bednar's trust?

Not to mention once again that Byram gets paired with Manson to protect leads in the final minute of periods and games, and had for a month or so. He obviously trusts him fine.

If Girard was superior offensively like you say, he wouldn't pair Byram with Makar halfway through the 2nd period when they need a goal. Even when they don't need one most games. He did this before and after G got back.

He tried pairing G with Makar in the 2nd period this game, but only for a shift or two before he abandoned it, even when they were still behind and tied.

The last part is not at all crap. You just haven't noticed it, like you hadn't noticed that Byram is way more physical, and that Girard was the 3rd pairing guy.

It's not just one time either. It's not that big a deal, but he's done it his whole career, because rushing the puck is his biggest strength, so he tries to play to it.

Bo isn't more physical. Hits aren't the only thing that means physical. Girard edges and pins guys a lot more than Bo.

It's clear we're never going to see eye to eye with these two. But if Bo was as superior as you make him out to be, Bednar wouldn't have been giving G 20+ minutes a night.

And the ppg pretty clearly speak for themselves. Girard's have been fine and Bo's has taken a drastic nose dive this season. But I'm sure you're just going to blame that on being paired with G too.

 

[Foppa2118]

Bo isn't more physical. Hits aren't the only thing that means physical. Girard edges and pins guys a lot more than Bo.

It's clear we're never going to see eye to eye with these two. But if Bo was as superior as you make him out to be, Bednar wouldn't have been giving G 20+ minutes a night.

And the ppg pretty clearly speak for themselves. Girard's have been fine and Bo's has taken a drastic nose dive this season. But I'm sure you're just going to blame that on being paired with G too.

The first part just isn't true man. Objectively not true, but I'll let it go after this. These things are playing a part in your evaluation of him though.

Byram pins guys to the board almost every shift. It's his go to play. He does it more than anyone on the D core except maybe Manson. Maybe even more though.

He does this so much that he pisses off opponents, because he hangs on them afterwards to interfere with them subtly without drawing a penalty. He's also very good at separating guys from the puck by hitting them in the hands. He's always done both of these things, and done them very well.

Girard probably pins guys to the boards the least. Maybe slightly more than Malinski. He usually shadows his assignment around the ice, and just blocks passing lanes. Though he will make then occasional hit, usually against players his size.

My point hasn't been that I think Byram is vastly superior. I think he's better yes, but my point is to counter this idea that gets spammed here that Girard has clearly been better, because I just think this objectively false, like Girard being more physical than Byram.