Watching on PVR (though I had the score spoiled for me).
Boeser is invisible, but he's come back quickly from a hand injury so that's not a terminal thing, but it's not helping.
Tucker Poolman: Maybe he's never been healthy enough to find his rhythm, and I'm glad he's healthy as a person, but I don't see it in him at all. I don't think it's a coincidence that the worst Hughes has looked has been with Hamonic (who was good in his prime, but sucks now) and Poolman. Both are basically stupid players. Hughes played with with Tanev, of course, and Schenn who has big warts (foot speed) but has really strong hockey sense and is smart, if not flashy, with the puck.
Poolman thinks he's a puck carrier, he make stupid mistakes/reads and then gets lost in coverage. So Hughes has no outs to evade forecheckers and tries to do too much.
Horvat has been really hit or miss this season. Not good enough for the captain of a team in our position, but he's far from the biggest problem (but it IS a problem).
Hughes has been paired with Poolman too much, but I also suspect he may be playing with an injury. He just looks like he's second guessing himself and making bad decisions. He was really good last year, and people including Elliotte Friedman commented a bunch during the lead up to the season that he looked like a man on a mission and would have a banger year. He may still, but he's struggling thus far.
Schenn looks like he's lost half a step and he can't afford that, but at least he always plays like he cares.
Myers looked pretty decent (though I'm still 15 mins left in the 3rd so perhaps he does something stupid), especially for a first game rushing back from injury.
First goal was largely on Kuzmenko losing his point man, but that's going to happen. He's adjusting from different systems and larger rinks, these mistakes will happen but his playmaking and poise are worth the growing pains.
Garland: I don't mind sitting Garland. I saw people on reddit saying they should have benched Joshua. Benching Joshua sends no message at all. I don't know specifically why it was Garland but I will give Bruce the benefit of the doubt that he didn't like something Garland was doing. Maybe he made a selfish rush or two instead of dumping it, or was playing outside the system. Either way, get him back next game and hopefully he plays like he was shot out of a cannon.
OEL looks worse than last year. I have always really liked him as a player from his early Phoenix days until now, but if he is actually taking a step back, his contract becomes a millstone. I give him the benefit of the doubt in saying he has been saddled with Poolman (when he isn't dragging down Hughes) and trying to play against top lines, but some trepidation here.
Speaking of trepidation. I defended the Miller signing as being better than getting nothing or a terrible haul, and worse than getting a good trade return, but didn't mind the numbers considering the body of work.
I am officially concerned. He looks like 2021 Miller. His pilot light isn't reliable.
I can't figure out if he's hurt or just out of shape but he reminds me so much of when a fat ex junior player plays beer league and tries flashy ill-advised moves that don't work, and then makes some splashy but ineffective attempt to get the puck back (like diving to block the pass on the Laughton breakaway last game). Those flashy retrieval attempts are lazy and selfish, they aren't the same as hustling and being relentless. They are lazy attempts to appear like you give a shit.
Today he was outmanned on the puck by Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger at different times which is humiliating.
If he isn't hurt, showing up out of shape is unforgivable. I remember in training camp all of the columnists saying things like, "Sleep walking out there, but presumably knows how to turn it on when he needs it". How about no. If he's just being petulant, then I am done with him, except wait no I'm not. 8 more years. Miller needs to wake the f*** up.
On the bright side, Petey and Podkolzin are forwards you can build around on both sides of the puck.
This team is poorly constructed currently. Too many guys who want to do the flashy thing, not enough guys who want to retrieve the puck. Not enough snarl. Team is scared to scratch Joshua, who has been entirely ineffective, because he's basically the only player other than Schenn who might actually stand up to bullying by the other team.
Next ten games tells a serious story about this team.
Boudreau is on thin ice, I guarantee you that. And re-signing Horvat is far from a sure thing. Especially if his representation thinks his comparable is Sean Couturier (and it does).
Really frustrating start to this season.
