GDT: Game 65: Avs @ Wild | Tuesday, March 1st, 6pm MT |18 and Counting part 2...yes part 2

[tigervixxxen]

Came in expecting this:

Am pleasantly surprised considering how the discourse could have gone after this loss.

I've seen some stuff about how with the moves made the Avs are valuing one playoff appearance vs a deeper system for the future, and that not necessarily a wrong observation, however I think a lot of people are really underestimating just what even a single playoff series means financially for a team that obviously is not one of the biggest money-makers in this league.

I think for them, finding a way to, in there eyes, really give the team a jolt to make that playoff spot without having to give up any of their biggest assets makes sense for them both in the message they want to send to the guys on the team now, but more importantly, makes a lot of financial sense.

If the Avs make the playoffs this season, they probably don't ever think twice about the trades, and not because of the team success, but because of the money they'll rake in from a playoff series. Now if they miss it's a different story, but at least the made trades that if they do miss, don't put the team in a position that they're starting from the bottom again.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not equating the SAME odds of making the playoffs with powerball odds, it's an analogy.

Do you really have a better chance at winning powerball if you buy 10 tickets or 1000? What if you spend an entire paycheck or get a payday loan to buy those 1000 tickets? It MIGHT increase your chances by a small increment but you don't know if you would have won anyway or when you don't win what have you gained. Therefore I don't buy the argument that our chances are tangibly better now. I get the benefits of playoffs, that's not in question. It's more the impatience of not being the team that's ready to take the next step. You can't buy your way into it.

 

[Metallo]

DISCLAIMER: I'm not equating the SAME odds of making the playoffs with powerball odds, it's an analogy.

Do you really have a better chance at winning powerball if you buy 10 tickets or 1000? What if you spend an entire paycheck or get a payday loan to buy those 1000 tickets? It MIGHT increase your chances by a small increment but you don't know if you would have won anyway or when you don't win what have you gained. Therefore I don't buy the argument that our chances are tangibly better now. I get the benefits of playoffs, that's not in question. It's more the impatience of not being the team that's ready to take the next step. You can't buy your way into it.

So having better players does not increase your chances at winning?

 

[InjuredChoker]

One thing to keep in mind, I'm glad we're not Dallas even though they are at the top of the conference right now.

That team loaded up a bunch of good veterans, and has two former starting goaltenders battling for their crease every week. Their defense is also paper thin as well.

Whatever they are doing now is very short term IMO.

What does that team have that we would want besides for Benn & Seguin & Klingberg?

It's not like they are going to back fill those veterans with good young players either if they are at the top of the conference for the next couple of years.

I think we're on the right track, but taking the next step will be the hardest part of the rebuild IMO.

their defense isn't thin. it just lacks very good top pairing guy to pair with klingberg. other than that they have solid depth at NHL level and pretty good depth in their prospect pool.

only veteran that will be hard for them to replace is spezza. other than adding oduya and sharp (and niemi), they didn't add anyone else in the offseason. those two have been good but they aren't the main reason for their jump in the standings

i really don't see how you can think what they are doing is very short term. unless they lose one of seguin/benn to FA. they have elite winger and center and perhaps dman too (future, not yet). they have drafted well (even before nill) and have good depth and talent at F and D. both in NHL and in their prospect pool.

i'd personally want roussel, big val, janmark and/or eakin from their team. and bunch of guys from their prospect pool. that's with being realistic (oduya/demers for 3rd pair etc).

but russell trade was pretty bad imo. really don't understand why they didn't go hard after hamhuis. they better get him to change his game and/or find him a good role and re-sign him at solid price.

 

[Freudian]

It's not that Avs gave up the most valuable assets. They didn't. But everything has an opportunity cost. What they used on rentals now can't be used to make the team better in the long run.

We'll never know what a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and Wood would have gotten us at the draft if they wanted to move those pieces but chances are July 1st all we have to show for it is Gelinas.

 

[CobraAcesS]

their defense isn't thin. it just lacks very good top pairing guy to pair with klingberg. other than that they have solid depth at NHL level and pretty good depth in their prospect pool.

only veteran that will be hard for them to replace is spezza. other than adding oduya and sharp (and niemi), they didn't add anyone else in the offseason. those two have been good but they aren't the main reason for their jump in the standings

i really don't see how you can think what they are doing is very short term. unless they lose one of seguin/benn to FA. they have elite winger and center and perhaps dman too (future, not yet). they have drafted well (even before nill) and have good depth and talent at F and D. both in NHL and in their prospect pool.

i'd personally want roussel, big val, janmark and/or eakin from their team. and bunch of guys from their prospect pool. that's with being realistic (oduya/demers for 3rd pair etc).

but russell trade was pretty bad imo. really don't understand why they didn't go hard after hamhuis. they better get him to change his game and/or find him a good role and re-sign him at solid price.

Spezza and Sharp are a big reason why they are where they are. Their depth veterans, and general depth is a big reason for their scoring prowess as well. They will have to replace some very significant veterans, and figure out their goal-tending very soon.

It's similar to Minnesota, all of their core guys are veterans except for a couple of their defenders. The difference is that Minny does not have Benn and Seguin.

Both of those teams are setup for short term success IMO.

 

[Foppa2118]

DISCLAIMER: I'm not equating the SAME odds of making the playoffs with powerball odds, it's an analogy.

Do you really have a better chance at winning powerball if you buy 10 tickets or 1000? What if you spend an entire paycheck or get a payday loan to buy those 1000 tickets? It MIGHT increase your chances by a small increment but you don't know if you would have won anyway or when you don't win what have you gained. Therefore I don't buy the argument that our chances are tangibly better now. I get the benefits of playoffs, that's not in question. It's more the impatience of not being the team that's ready to take the next step. You can't buy your way into it.

I think there's probably a fair analogy in there somewhere, but I think the impact is way more than 10 versus 1000 powerball tix.

I know you're not equating the same odds but that makes or breaks your analogy. The odds of winning powerball are so much lower than the Avs making the playoffs that of course that makes it look like there's not much tangible increase.

IMO if you use a more comparable number (not sure what that would be), I think it would show a tangible increase in your chances. Especially when the Avs have a pretty good chance at making the playoffs as it is, so they might only need a little push.

 

[ArWKo]

DISCLAIMER: I'm not equating the SAME odds of making the playoffs with powerball odds, it's an analogy.

Do you really have a better chance at winning powerball if you buy 10 tickets or 1000? What if you spend an entire paycheck or get a payday loan to buy those 1000 tickets? It MIGHT increase your chances by a small increment but you don't know if you would have won anyway or when you don't win what have you gained. Therefore I don't buy the argument that our chances are tangibly better now. I get the benefits of playoffs, that's not in question. It's more the impatience of not being the team that's ready to take the next step. You can't buy your way into it.

I get what you're going for with the analogy, but the problem is that it equates making the playoffs with more of a chance game than a skill game. I mean, I could use the same analogy with regards to prospects - I think prospects are more of a powerball ticket than the moves the Avs made, so one could argue losing one or two doesn't tangibly make the team worse. Now that's just a hypothetical, I DON'T necessarily think that's the case here, I just think they did well striking a balance between now and the future.

Personally, I think with the few moves they made, the Avs ARE tangibly a better team than they were before. I think clearly Minnesota was the better team, and they may still be the better team, but the Avs made moves they thought they needed to in order to compete with Minny.

Fundamentally, it sounds like we just disagree as to whether the Avs are a better team (or at least, better enough to make a difference is making or missing the playoffs) and I think the answer is a clear yes, but I don't begrudge anyone from thinking otherwise.

I wasn't as high on Bleackley as some people (although we could have gotten a second out of him as well if it went a certain way), but I did love Wood as a prospect, I just again think in this case they did do a good job of balancing between the now and the future. Obviously, coming back to the analogy, you need as many solid prospects in your system since you never know how they're going to pan out, but so far I don't think Roy and Sakic have shown a propensity to unload player-assets for no reason - if they continue making too many moves like this I will become more concerned at this juncture, I just think this time around the risk-reward balance was pretty even.

 

[InjuredChoker]

Spezza and Sharp are a big reason why they are where they are. Their depth veterans, and general depth is a big reason for their scoring prowess as well. They will have to replace some very significant veterans, and figure out their goal-tending very soon.

It's similar to Minnesota, all of their core guys are veterans except for a couple of their defenders. The difference is that Minny does not have Benn and Seguin.

Both of those teams are setup for short term success IMO.

getting average goaltending isn't that hard. they get now below average goaltending and are at the top of the standings. potential for improvement.

sharp isn't that hard to replace nor is any other veteran guy they have besides spezza. i don't see why nill wouldn't be able to replace those veterans since he acquired almost all of them (everyone outside of goligoski who they'll probably let walk) and for relatively cheap price too. spezza should have 2-3 years of good play in him but that position is the one where they atm imo, don't have anyone who projects to be as good as him.

dallas core is basically seguin, benn, spezza and klingberg. others are not, either by being replaceable or not being there yet (janmark, big val).. maybe never. i'd think honka and couple of other guys they have in their minor league system can replace production from those vets soon.

there is a lot of potential to improve their roster with guys like honka, guryanov, shore, faksa, ritchie, dickinson, lindell, backman, johns etc. coming up.

if they can keep both seguin and benn, they are definitely not set up for short-term success.

their depth guys are either young or they want to improve that position anyway (goligoski, hemsky) and demers and sharp. it's a loss for them if they can't re-sign demers unless they can better player on that second pair RD. of their top 10 players, 7 are under 27 and two have to replaced (of which one has to be upgraded; goligoski) soon.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Kento, I really appreciate you view point on the whole thing. You don't seem like you completely devalue the picks and assets we gave up, but you value helping this team improve without mortgaging major pieces of our future.

I very much value our long term assets and prospects personally, but in this instance what they gave up was worth it for the most part. Gelinas will have to change my mind, but that's the one I didn't like personally. I think we could have improved our defense more by simply changing the pairings around a bit, and maybe bringing up Zadorov.

I just don't understand the people who are so far on the side of not giving up assets that they can't see the value in pushing this team to be competitive. We're not going to take one giant leap into contention IMO. There is not many zealots on the other side, but I wouldn't be in favor of selling off 1st round picks for guys like Ladd either.

There is a damn middle ground, and Roy and Sakic are trying their best to walk that line of taking the next step in trying to compete for the playoffs without sacrificing the future.

I'm with you 100% on this. I have no problem with the Matthias and Boedker trades. A third for Gelinas is not the end of the world but an overpayment nonetheless. A 4th would have been better but we didn't have it anymore. Just like you I think we had other options there especially considering he is not what this team needed but whatever. Hopefully Roy can turn him around. But playoffs experience...damn right it is now important to this team to take a step forward both for confidence and also showing the fans that they want to win.

 

[CobraAcesS]

getting average goaltending isn't that hard. they get now below average goaltending and are at the top of the standings. potential for improvement.

sharp isn't that hard to replace nor is any other veteran guy they have besides spezza. i don't see why nill wouldn't be able to replace those veterans since he acquired almost all of them (everyone outside of goligoski who they'll probably let walk) and for relatively cheap price too. spezza should have 2-3 years of good play in him but that position is the one where they atm imo, don't have anyone who projects to be as good as him.

dallas core is basically seguin, benn, spezza and klingberg. others are not, either by being replaceable or not being there yet (janmark, big val).. maybe never. i'd think honka and couple of other guys they have in their minor league system can replace production from those vets soon.

there is a lot of potential to improve their roster with guys like honka, guryanov, shore, faksa, ritchie, dickinson, lindell, backman, johns etc. coming up.

if they can keep both seguin and benn, they are definitely not set up for short-term success.

We'll see, the margin between us and them was adding Sharp and Oduya. They also were master craftsman when it comes to some of those trades as well. Those deals are not always out there when you need them.

I just think it's a glass house right now when your goaltending is shaky and you have that many veterans in the twilight of their careers playing important roles.

I seen Pittsburgh do the same thing Dallas has done for a few years of being competitive because they have Crosby and Malkin. It's not going to be easy for them to maintain a consistent level of contention with three core pieces. Benn & Seguin & Klingberg is the same philosophy as Crosby & Malkin & Letang. At least Pit has Fleury who was lights out for a couple of years.

 

[S E P H]

Seems like I missed quite the meltdown.

The Avs played crappy the first 20, but fought back and had a chance to win the game in the 3rd. They just didn't. The season isn't over, but the Avs need to wipe this game out of their memory and finish strong.

But isn't that the story with this core, when have they actually played a full 60 minute game this season? They probably have, but I cannot remember one off the top of my head. And this isn't just the last two years issue, this inability to play a full game from start to finish has been a flaw since 2009. This team just doesn't have it.

Yes half of this team is still really young, but Varlamov, Duchene, and EJ are at the stage they are entering their primes. Blackhawks won the Cup when Kane and Toews were 21 to 22 years old. Yeah they had a deep team, but after trading everyone, they won it again in their mid 20's. What has the Avs core done? Lose three separate goal leads in a Game 7. Which made Avs go out and get veteran leadership which one of them was responsible for two goals last night in a very important game.

And I am still leaning towards the ideology that Varlamov just doesn't have the factor to to perform in big games. I don't see any swagger with him like I see with Pickard. We wouldn't be in the position we are in without him so he deserves all the credit imaginable. I just haven't seen anything to make me think we can ever replicate the Los Angeles Kings playoffs route with him, one with all the Game 7s. I would be surprised if any of you guys think he has the potential that Quick or Tim Thomas brought to their respected clubs.

anyone know what's avs record in 1-goal games?

i mean it's kind of amazing that we are contending for playoff spot. special teams are ok (good pp, medicore pk). 5on5 goal differential is -13 (about the same for all situations) or 47.1 goals for % (24th in the league) and even PDO has fallen to 100.3 (when did that happen !!??).

i guess it's a good year for the avs that rest of the west is so medicore as they still have solid chance to make it despite all of this and being on pace for 86 points or something.

one good change is that they no longer start at ridiculous amount on their own zone. off zone faceoff% is the worst in the league but not by fair margin anymore and d-zone FO % isn't even in bottom 5 anymore.

but it might be kind of good thing as if either goalie caughts a hot streak their chance to make it improve immensely. at the moment avs are below avg in 5on5 sv and overall sv%.

The analytic crowd has gone quiet a bit over the last two weeks since Avs are actually playing decent hockey and winning the corsi for majority of the games. But the goaltending has sunk during that time, personally for me, I think I would rather have the, "lose corsi and win the game", than play awesome, but somehow still find a way to lose.

For some reason this team just has the inefficiency to play good at both ends of the ice at the same time. If Avs play good hockey, dumbass mistakes by both goalers and defenseman lose them games. If Avs play complete **** hockey, goaltending is normally insane winning games.

I wonder if Varlamov is that type of goaler who needs to face a lot of shots to get into a game, because his record the last 5 games has been 0-4-1 and all those games, Avs looked good outshooting majority of their opponents.

 

[InjuredChoker]

We'll see, the margin between us and them was adding Sharp and Oduya. They also were master craftsman when it comes to some of those trades as well. Those deals are not always out there when you need them.

I just think it's a glass house right now when your goaltending is shaky and you have that many veterans in the twilight of their careers playing important roles.

it's not like spezza is done yet. he has good years left in him. finding a guy to play shotgun with benn and seguin shouldn't be that hard, considering how many guys on their prospect pool could be that. on defense, they want to upgrade those positions anyway.

adding sharp and oduya isn't/wasn't the margin between us and them. seguin and benn got better, they got big val back, they got janmark who has been pretty good, klingberg and demers got better, their goaltending is now just below average instead of brutal and few other guys on their roster have improved a bit, they got rid of a boat anchor (daley) and ruff has done better job coaching this season.

sharp and oduya helped but it was far from only reason.

ftr, i don't think they are true contender but to maintain about this level what they have now for the rest of the decade is what i'd expect from them. at least. they have to upgrade couple of positions to take the next step imo.

 

[InjuredChoker]

The analytic crowd has gone quiet a bit over the last two weeks since Avs are actually playing decent hockey and winning the corsi for majority of the games. But the goaltending has sunk during that time, personally for me, I think I would rather have the, "lose corsi and win the game", than play awesome, but somehow still find a way to lose.

For some reason this team just has the inefficiency to play good at both ends of the ice at the same time. If Avs play good hockey, dumbass mistakes by both goalers and defenseman lose them games. If Avs play complete **** hockey, goaltending is normally insane winning games.

I wonder if Varlamov is that type of goaler who needs to face a lot of shots to get into a game, because his record the last 5 games has been 0-4-1 and all those games, Avs looked good outshooting majority of their opponents.

this might be true.. i think there are few other goalies who also do better when facing a lot of shots.

but even with that, it shouldn't be that big difference that it has been. he's let some uncharacteristically soft goals, and not just lately. all season long.

I seen Pittsburgh do the same thing Dallas has done for a few years of being competitive because they have Crosby and Malkin. It's not going to be easy for them to maintain a consistent level of contention with three core pieces. Benn & Seguin & Klingberg is the same philosophy as Crosby & Malkin & Letang. At least Pit has Fleury who was lights out for a couple of years.

even with being mismanaged, pens have remained competitive after winning the cup. not as good as 08-09 for variety of reasons. terrible drafting, bad deals and bad F depth which they didn't even seem to try to improve until lately.

but i think the thing were disagree is that you think they can't maintain consistent level of contention whereas i don't think they are really there yet. i think they can easily be very good regular season team with 3 (+ spezza) core pieces. but to take the next step, they need 1 or 2 more. they can do what they have done this season or about the same level for many season but to become a true cup contender, they need upgrade on top pair and likely G.

 

[henchman21]

But isn't that the story with this core, when have they actually played a full 60 minute game this season? They probably have, but I cannot remember one off the top of my head. And this isn't just the last two years issue, this inability to play a full game from start to finish has been a flaw since 2009. This team just doesn't have it.

Yes half of this team is still really young, but Varlamov, Duchene, and EJ are at the stage they are entering their primes. Blackhawks won the Cup when Kane and Toews were 21 to 22 years old. Yeah they had a deep team, but after trading everyone, they won it again in their mid 20's. What has the Avs core done? Lose three separate goal leads in a Game 7. Which made Avs go out and get veteran leadership which one of them was responsible for two goals last night in a very important game.

And I am still leaning towards the ideology that Varlamov just doesn't have the factor to to perform in big games. I don't see any swagger with him like I see with Pickard. We wouldn't be in the position we are in without him so he deserves all the credit imaginable. I just haven't seen anything to make me think we can ever replicate the Los Angeles Kings playoffs route with him, one with all the Game 7s. I would be surprised if any of you guys think he has the potential that Quick or Tim Thomas brought to their respected clubs.

I don't really disagree with you at all. Varly hasn't stepped up the way that people want from him and he has been very inconsistent over the past couple years (really for his whole career sans 1 season). He absolutely can be a great goalie, but he need to consistently be a great goalie. He is being paid like one and it is time for him to step up. If Varly is going to be this up and down, and have the injury questions that surround him... he isn't the long-term answer. I'm not ready to give up on him being able to play at that level, but questions are certainly there.

I still don't know exactly what to think on Pickard, but I will say that Pickard has the swagger to be a successful goalie in the NHL. I just don't know about his ultimate ceiling... is he more of a top 10 sort, average starting goalie, or really good backup? Sadly, I don't think that would be know before a decision would need to get made.

I wonder if Varlamov is that type of goaler who needs to face a lot of shots to get into a game, because his record the last 5 games has been 0-4-1 and all those games, Avs looked good outshooting majority of their opponents.

I think that is absolutely true. He seems to lose focus when not getting peppered early.

 

[shadow1]

Definitely a tough loss.

The first period was exactly why the Avs need to make the playoffs this year. They were sloppy and timid in the biggest game of the year, which had a playoff atmosphere. Three breakaway chances against is inexcusable, especially given how mediocre Minnesota's offense is.

The club settled down and outplayed the Wild the rest of the way, but the damage was already done.

Related - Tyson Barrie really need to stop the bleeding. I know he's on the ice for EN goals, but that doesn't explain being -11 since the start of February.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Barrie was the best defenseman on the team last night, IMO. The Avs are a different team with him out there, in a good way. I really want to see him tried with EJ.

 

[Foppa2118]

Barrie was the best defenseman on the team last night, IMO. The Avs are a different team with him out there, in a good way. I really want to see him tried with EJ.

He shared a big part of the blame on the goal Holden gave up a breakaway on though. He was very late to react on the play as he was thinking offense the whole way not his defensive responsibilities. You should never be giving up an odd man rush like that directly off the faceoff in the offensive zone.

I thought he played ok otherwise, but IMO Bigras actually played better overall. He needs to be getting more minutes. His confidence and play really goes up when he's not sitting on the bench most the night.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

He shared a big part of the blame on the goal Holden gave up a breakaway on though. He was very late to react on the play as he was thinking offense the whole way not his defensive responsibilities. You should never be giving up an odd man rush like that directly off the faceoff in the offensive zone.

I thought he played ok otherwise, but IMO Bigras actually played better overall.

Barrie definitely deserves blame on that goal, but he was dynamic most of the night.

Bigras had a good final half of the game, but he had a lot of turnovers in the first period and started the second with a turnover that led to a 2 on 1. I'd say he was behind Barrie.

 

[InjuredChoker]

barrie is -6 5on5. EJ and beauch are -8.

but barrie is -4 from SH goals, -1 4on4. and -5 when goalie is pulled. he's only +1 when other team's goalie is pulled since he's rarely there and -1 3on3. also +2 while shorthanded... kind of amazing how little he's played there.

 

[Foppa2118]

Barrie definitely deserves blame on that goal, but he was dynamic most of the night.

Bigras had a good final half of the game, but he had a lot of turnovers in the first period and started the second with a turnover that led to a 2 on 1. I'd say he was behind Barrie.

I think there are plays where Bigras almost gets in trouble but then recovers. I really wonder if this has to do with being played so little. When Roy started giving him more ice time he looked noticeably more confident and calm with the puck.

I don't think they'll do it, but I've been saying since EJ came back that I would love to see a top four of Bigras-EJ and Beauch-Barrie.

I think they're worried Bigras can't handle the top matchups, but really if you watch Beauch every night, he isn't perfect every shift either.

 

[CobraAcesS]

it's not like spezza is done yet. he has good years left in him. finding a guy to play shotgun with benn and seguin shouldn't be that hard, considering how many guys on their prospect pool could be that. on defense, they want to upgrade those positions anyway.

adding sharp and oduya isn't/wasn't the margin between us and them. seguin and benn got better, they got big val back, they got janmark who has been pretty good, klingberg and demers got better, their goaltending is now just below average instead of brutal and few other guys on their roster have improved a bit, they got rid of a boat anchor (daley) and ruff has done better job coaching this season.

sharp and oduya helped but it was far from only reason.

ftr, i don't think they are true contender but to maintain about this level what they have now for the rest of the decade is what i'd expect from them. at least. they have to upgrade couple of positions to take the next step imo.

I don't know, how much better would we look with an Oduya playing next to Barrie or Bigras right now? The margins are very small these days.

Pittsburgh was my #2 team for a long time, but I have a hard time even rooting for them now because they kept bringing in veterans at the cost of their younger assets in order to try to maintain contention. (I have a NHL 100 year anniversary Lemieux jersey from the early 90s)

I see the same path for Dallas as Pit took, building the expectations they're doing now with short term moves can have a costly effect long term. Those expectations will compound and they will most likely be forced to sell off unproven young players at points to back fill the NHL roster quickly.

We'll see if they are smart enough to navigate that road better, but not a lot of teams have been able to do it.

Pit has been trying to add all of those easy peripheral pieces for a long time. It's not that easy

I like our future with a larger set of core pieces in important roles who will be around a long time. Personally I think we're setup to compete for a much larger window, even if we're not as good right now. We will have the ability to make some changes for impact players if we want to, because we have guys like Duchene who won't make or break our team if we're trading for a like player in a different position. We will have the ability to make adjustments with more younger players in key positions who are signed long term, or have a lot of time left under team control.

Even Boedker, if we re-sign him fits into our core age fairly well. We went out and got the one guy available who might be worth paying in the off-season to keep around long term. We paid a fairly good price to test drive him as part of the long term future as well. Those are the type of moves I like when trying to take the small steady steps forward to competing long term. Paying assets for guys like Stuart and signing Iginla are moves just like Dallas made, but theirs worked out better. They will however burn out fairly quickly.

 

[Hans Landaskog]

I think when Bigras was paired with Holden he was shifted back to the left side and he was noticeably more comfortable. I think That was why the pairings were switched. Regarding the assessment issues of the team and us going after rentals. We have to consider other ramifications. A team that is showing fight and a desire to compete is more attractive to fee agent players etc. Everything can't just be about the draft and the future. I want them to want to compete. Period.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Barrie, while improved is still pretty bad defensively. He created a lot of magic with the puck last night and I agree with TMV in saying he was our best defenseman. Sure he was bad defensively but that's the norm with him. Ya win some ya lose some. If you're counting on Barrie to have a lights out defensive game you're going to finish a lot of games disappointed. Too bad he cant have a decent partner since we'd be in for a treat every night with a lot less risk attached.

 

[Hans Landaskog]

Barrie, while improved is still pretty bad defensively. He created a lot of magic with the puck last night and I agree with TMV in saying he was our best defenseman. Sure he was bad defensively but that's the norm with him. Ya win some ya lose some. If you're counting on Barrie to have a lights out defensive game you're going to finish a lot of games disappointed. Too bad he cant have a decent partner since we'd be in for a treat every night with a lot less risk attached.

I think Barrie would be a lot better off with Beauchemin, for multiple reasons. I hope that happens next season and Zadorov or Bigras are given a chance next to EJ.

 

[dahrougem2]

Barrie was the best defenseman on the team last night, IMO. The Avs are a different team with him out there, in a good way. I really want to see him tried with EJ.

I didn't think Barrie was moving his feet the way he normally does yesterday, but he was definitely better than EJ/Beauch and the atrociousness we're seeing from Holden.