Confirmed with Link: Bob Boughner has been fired as Head Coach, Paul McFarland as well

[RogerRoger]

Ekblad was good. Issue is everyone here puts players under the microscope and all they look for are flaws. With our goaltending and our less than stellar 5 on 5 offense, it’s amazing that’s his +/-

+/- isn’t the best stat but you can use it as an indication of play. And yes, Pysyk was solid this year and his +/- was well earned. He plays a simple, low risk game. He has zero upside but also very low downside. The complete opposite of Math and Yandle. Never understood why people hate on him so much. we need more low risk D like him.

Hoffman wasn’t that good defensively 5 on 5, plus he got a bunch of - from SHG while being on the PP

Fact is, Ekblad played top minutes against the opponents best and did well. Give him good goaltending and he would have been a +20-25. Hr had a really nice season and took a big step forward. If he ever fixes his skating and this team is a winner he could slip into Norris convos

I agree with you, Ekblad was our best dman this year if we take into consideration the opposition he was facing. He was average defensively and wasn't dragging down other players. He wasn't a liability on the ice which is an improvement from last season. It's also quite impressive considering the risky system that has been played. He looked awful a few times, but you can find some of these clips for any defensemen. I feel like this chart represent his play fairly well (I still would have liked to see Ekblad play with Kis): FLA 1819 Ekblad With-or-Without You

It feels to me like Yandle took a step back compared to last season, but I still felt like he played well enough. I think the biggest problem he faces is that people compare him to Campbell and that's just unfair. He should play full time with Weegar on the second pairing. Imo, Yandle really take over when he's not facing the other team's first line.

Matheson had a rough year and it doesn't work with Pysyk. They have been trying it for two years under Boog and it wasn't working last season and it wasn't working this season either. Matheson and Ekblad worked okay together and Pysyk should take 3rd pairing duty and be a steady partner for a rookie. On the second pairing, Pysyk can't keep up. I'm unsure how you don't see the downside of Pysyk, yes he plays a safe game, but he can't keep up against opponent's second line. He needs easier matchup because even if he's trying to minimize the risks, he's allowing a ton of chances. His mistakes are less stunning than Matheson, but it's attrition and death by a thousand cuts.

My preferred way of improving the defense would be #1LHD to pair with Ekblad and trading Matheson (who would be a #3LHD at that point). I know most people would prefer finding a #1/2RHD to get rid of Pysyk, but I think Yandle-Weegar can handle #2pairing duties quite well and Pysyk is a fine inconsequential third pairing dman.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

My preferred way of improving the defense would be #1LHD to pair with Ekblad and trading Matheson (who would be a #3LHD at that point)

Matheson is pretty much untradeable at this point, very much like Seabrook is. The Cats just have to own their mistake of signing an unproven player to a contract that's handed out to a proven, steady player. The Cats have to dish out like two 1st round picks 'n then some to get that contract off from their hands and that's just too much risk especially if Matheson gets off from the ground.

Pysuck on the other hand should've been already traded. Not a top4 dman and Weegar/Stillman/etc are better options on the bottom pairing.

 

[RainingRats]

I agree with you, Ekblad was our best dman this year if we take into consideration the opposition he was facing. He was average defensively and wasn't dragging down other players. He wasn't a liability on the ice which is an improvement from last season. It's also quite impressive considering the risky system that has been played. He looked awful a few times, but you can find some of these clips for any defensemen. I feel like this chart represent his play fairly well (I still would have liked to see Ekblad play with Kis): FLA 1819 Ekblad With-or-Without You

It feels to me like Yandle took a step back compared to last season, but I still felt like he played well enough. I think the biggest problem he faces is that people compare him to Campbell and that's just unfair. He should play full time with Weegar on the second pairing. Imo, Yandle really take over when he's not facing the other team's first line.

Matheson had a rough year and it doesn't work with Pysyk. They have been trying it for two years under Boog and it wasn't working last season and it wasn't working this season either. Matheson and Ekblad worked okay together and Pysyk should take 3rd pairing duty and be a steady partner for a rookie. On the second pairing, Pysyk can't keep up. I'm unsure how you don't see the downside of Pysyk, yes he plays a safe game, but he can't keep up against opponent's second line. He needs easier matchup because even if he's trying to minimize the risks, he's allowing a ton of chances. His mistakes are less stunning than Matheson, but it's attrition and death by a thousand cuts.

My preferred way of improving the defense would be #1LHD to pair with Ekblad and trading Matheson (who would be a #3LHD at that point). I know most people would prefer finding a #1/2RHD to get rid of Pysyk, but I think Yandle-Weegar can handle #2pairing duties quite well and Pysyk is a fine inconsequential third pairing dman.

I think Yandle gave up. He is all about self preservation. Once we were clearly out of it his defensive game and being responsible (for him) with the puck was terrible. He was casual, trying to stay healthy.

If we could trade Math that would be amazing but I don’t see how anyone takes on that contract

 

[Dr Beinfest]

Nobody is saying this

Except literally I’ve seen Pysyk and Ekblad have had “incredibly fantastic” seasons, as well as a defense of +\- claiming it’s not as worthless as it is.

 

[RainingRats]

Except literally I’ve seen Pysyk and Ekblad have had “incredibly fantastic” seasons, as well as a defense of +\- claiming it’s not as worthless as it is.

Nobody says anything positive about Pysyk. Incredibly fantastic is hyperbole

 

[Dr Beinfest]

Nobody says anything positive about Pysyk. Incredibly fantastic is hyperbole

Perhaps I’m misunderstanding so apologies if I am, but this was a direct quote regarding Ekblad:

But that doesn't mean he wasn't incredibly fantastic this year.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

I think the most positive comment anyone made about Pysyk all season was when I said, pretty early in the year, that Pysyk was playing steady and I'd take it.

About twenty minutes later he went on to shit the bed and hand the opposition two scoring opportunities in a row.

 

[Dr Beinfest]

I think the most positive comment anyone made about Pysyk all season was when I said, pretty early in the year, that Pysyk was playing steady and I'd take it.

About twenty minutes later he went on to **** the bed and hand the opposition two scoring opportunities in a row.

Yes, unless you count comments after the season.

I’m very confused with this thread. It seems like everyone’s not acknowledging things that were absolutely said. Looking back, the Pysyk comment was that he was “solid.”

This brings back to my original point. If Pysyk was solid, and Ekblad was incredibly fantastic, and say whatever you want about Keith Yandle’s defense but he has a role and he played it damn well... well, that leaves Mike Matheson.

If you have three of four top four defenders playing their role to their fullest, the team doesn’t struggle as much as it did. Group effort. Matheson was terrible. Pysyk was mediocre at best. Ekblad was good but can be better. Yandle... hard to criticize. Could be better in his own zone, sure, but when it came to him playing his role, he was spot on.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

I feel like Yandle is fine as long as we acknowledge that he's a power play specialist and probably shouldn't have a lot of minutes against top lines in 5on5.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I'd really like to see Math and Trocheck play under Q before trading these guys off.
And specifically Trocheck, I'm not interested in having only one good center in the whole organization with a trade of Trocheck. Center used to be one of our strengths. It's certainly not any more.

 

[FinlandPanther]

I feel like Yandle is fine as long as we acknowledge that he's a power play specialist and probably shouldn't have a lot of minutes against top lines in 5on5.

Yandle realistically should be on the second pairing to dominate. He can easily play a first pair but second pair would be amazing. We need one really good top 2 D to play with Ek.

 

[Haj]

Josh Brown was bad the past 6 weeks. He has looked slow and was flubbing simple breakout passes.

Surprised that Macdonald, Keeper, and McCoshen didn't get a look.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Josh Brown was bad the past 6 weeks. He has looked slow and was flubbing simple breakout passes.

Surprised that Macdonald, Keeper, and McCoshen didn't get a look.

I’m not sure if we were watching the same Josh Brown Becuase he played very well in my opinion all year. I thought he was a bust but was I wrong.

 

[I am not exposed]

I’m not sure if we were watching the same Josh Brown Becuase he played very well in my opinion all year. I thought he was a bust but was I wrong.

A 6th round pick being a bust? I mean even playing in the NHL is a success. Hell, even playing in the AHL is a success for a 6th rounder.

 

[FinlandPanther]

A 6th round pick being a bust? I mean even playing in the NHL is a success. Hell, even playing in the AHL is a success for a 6th rounder.

I more mean never going to be anything.

 

[Haj]

I’m not sure if we were watching the same Josh Brown Becuase he played very well in my opinion all year. I thought he was a bust but was I wrong.

He played well for the first 3 weeks he was up, then it fell off. Don't know if he was fighting through some type of nagging injury.

 

[Gentle Man]

He played well for the first 3 weeks he was up, then it fell off. Don't know if he was fighting through some type of nagging injury.

Yeah

He had an upper Pysyk Injury.

 

[KW]

Yeah

He had an upper Pysyk Injury.

OMG he had a head injury? That’s serioso.

 

[PSLguy]

Yeah

He had an upper Pysyk Injury.

When someone is driving crazy and causes a crash we say they were DWHUA - driving with head up ***

He was DWHUA - defense with head up ***

 

[vendetta]

Ekblad was good. Issue is everyone here puts players under the microscope and all they look for are flaws. With our goaltending and our less than stellar 5 on 5 offense, it’s amazing that’s his +/-

+/- isn’t the best stat but you can use it as an indication of play. And yes, Pysyk was solid this year and his +/- was well earned. He plays a simple, low risk game. He has zero upside but also very low downside. The complete opposite of Math and Yandle. Never understood why people hate on him so much. we need more low risk D like him.

Hoffman wasn’t that good defensively 5 on 5, plus he got a bunch of - from SHG while being on the PP

Fact is, Ekblad played top minutes against the opponents best and did well. Give him good goaltending and he would have been a +20-25. Hr had a really nice season and took a big step forward. If he ever fixes his skating and this team is a winner he could slip into Norris convos

Cause pysyk doesn’t contribute to winning. If the best you can hope for in a game is not get scored on a couple times that’s not going to cut
It anymore. And if he brought something, anything, to the table like ihysicality, leadership, any intangible whatsoever then fine. But he brings nothing. The only thing he brings is not making drastic errors. Pysyk has to go

 

[vendetta]

Ok, supply some. Dale himself said differently.

Your reliance on Petrovic's brothers twitter, and Trocheck's facebook posts, will be amazing in this scenario...

Expansion draft. He was forced to move salary. Firing gallant, wasn’t his choice. Dismantling the playoff team, and all off ice employees wasn’t his choice. Rowe coaching, not his choice. The list goes on and on.

 

[vendetta]

He played well for the first 3 weeks he was up, then it fell off. Don't know if he was fighting through some type of nagging injury.

That’s normal. Most ahlers can come up and play good for a stretch. Running on adrenaline and what not. Doing it night after night is a different story. Brown fell off quite a bit for what he was. But it’s normal.

 

[RainingRats]

Cause pysyk doesn’t contribute to winning. If the best you can hope for in a game is not get scored on a couple times that’s not going to cut
It anymore. And if he brought something, anything, to the table like ihysicality, leadership, any intangible whatsoever then fine. But he brings nothing. The only thing he brings is not making drastic errors. Pysyk has to go

Wrong. Pysyk is fine. If your D is for the most part responsible defensively, especially when you don’t have a team scoring problem, then that’s a positive. As I keep saying, we need to raise the floor of our D to a level that is going to help win games on a more consistent basis. He’s good on the PK, helped that for sure. He also is, wait for it, doesn’t turn the puck over constantly and lead to goals and high quality scoring chances against. If you’re a liability on D you’re no good unless you’re exceptional offensively.

 

[RainingRats]

I disagree about Matheson being pushed into too big of a role being why he struggled. I do think he was mismanaged and that may sound like contradicting statements but it’s not.

Matheson’s main issues are unforced turnovers when he has plenty of time and basic decision making. The standard for him is not that high at this stage of his career. It’s get the puck out every time when you have no pressure on you. Make the safe and smart play when you do have pressure. But he can’t do that. Coverage wise when he’s defending in his own zone he’s been a disaster too but if he could make better decisions with the puck he’d be a lot less of a negative impact on this team.

I sure hope I’m wrong about Matheson and I’ve been wrong a lot, but I’m not convinced he’s got some coaching or development issue because he’s been slowly developed, college, ahl, before NHL time. The same issues have plagued him. If he didn’t have his skating he’d 100% be in the AHL. If he didn’t have this contract, he might be traded.

 

[RainingRats]

I disagree about Matheson being pushed into too big of a role being why he struggled. I do think he was mismanaged and that may sound like contradicting statements but it’s not.

Matheson’s main issues are unforced turnovers when he has plenty of time and basic decision making. The standard for him is not that high at this stage of his career. It’s get the puck out every time when you have no pressure on you. Make the safe and smart play when you do have pressure. But he can’t do that. Coverage wise when he’s defending in his own zone he’s been a disaster too but if he could make better decisions with the puck he’d be a lot less of a negative impact on this team.

I sure hope I’m wrong about Matheson and I’ve been wrong a lot, but I’m not convinced he’s got some coaching or development issue because he’s been slowly developed, college, ahl, before NHL time. The same issues have plagued him. If he didn’t have his skating he’d 100% be in the AHL. If he didn’t have this contract, he might be traded.