Last Cup winner without a top three pick on the roster

[Alchemy]

Backstrom had 7 points in the series, so no, there was no cancelling out.

Just an excuse for why he didn't show up. Giroux can get it done but he didn't this year along with Simmonds and Voracek.

 

[Laveuglette]

So I guess we should trade back for Vinny

 

[Ghosts Beer]

Many people want to act like Giroux is the same player he was three seasons ago.

He's not. His increasingly declining even-strength scoring since then should tell you something. And you can see with your own eyes that he's lost a step off of his skating.

Giroux is still a very good player, but certainly not the type who can carry a team. Hopefully, Konecny can come in and provide some much-needed help.

 

[Laveuglette]

Many people want to act like Giroux is the same player he was three seasons ago.

He's not. His increasingly declining even-strength scoring since then should tell you something. And you can see with your own eyes that he's lost a step off of his skating.

Giroux is still a very good player, but certainly not the type who can carry a team. Hopefully, Konecny can come in and provide some much-needed help.

Don't be silly... Giroux has had some bad stretchs, but when he's on his game, he's as good as ever. He has more defensive responsabilities than 3 years ago, too. Add a competent defense to this team and Giroux will score a lot more, as will everybody. Offense mostly comes from defense. If you can't play the transition game, offense will suck.

 

[Rebels57]

Backstrom had 7 points in the series, so no, there was no cancelling out.

How many of those points came at even strength?

How did Kuznetsov look (who Giroux also played a lot against)?

 

[Alchemy]

How many of those points came at even strength?

How did Kuznetsov look (who Giroux also played a lot against)?

That's the point. Even if Backstrom didn't score much at ES he made his impact on special teams. Giroux and the crew didn't. Doesn't mean they suck. They just didn't get it done. Have to come back stronger next year.

 

[hatcher]

How many of those points came at even strength?

How did Kuznetsov look (who Giroux also played a lot against)?

Backstrom to be fair though should have had 30pts in this series but the goalies robbed him and his linemates. There was no checking from anyone really in the dzone.

 

[Rebels57]

That's the point. Even if Backstrom didn't score much at ES he made his impact on special teams. Giroux and the crew didn't. Doesn't mean they suck. They just didn't get it done. Have to come back stronger next year.

Totally agree.

But I was responding to the notion that Giroux and Backstrom cancelled each other out when going head to head at ES in the series. Backstrom happened to be part of a functioning powerplay going about against a dreadful PK. He got it done. Giroux was part of a disfunctional PP going against one of the best PK's in the league. He didn't get it done.

 

[JXC]

Totally agree.

But I was responding to the notion that Giroux and Backstrom cancelled each other out when going head to head at ES in the series. Backstrom happened to be part of a functioning powerplay going about against a dreadful PK. He got it done. Giroux was part of a disfunctional PP going against one of the best PK's in the league. He didn't get it done.

Do you leave any room for the possibility that the Caps PP was functioning well due in part to the play of Backstrom, and the Flyers was dysfunctional due in part to Giroux?

I guess it doesn't matter that much, the Flyers were outclassed across the roster, not just at the top.

 

[JXC]

Hit Send too soon.

So in a way the player v player matchups aren't really meaningful.

 

[Rebels57]

Do you leave any room for the possibility that the Caps PP was functioning well due in part to the play of Backstrom, and the Flyers was dysfunctional due in part to Giroux?

I guess it doesn't matter that much, the Flyers were outclassed across the roster, not just at the top.

Certainly a possibility, but the coaches needed to fix the powerplay set-up first so that the players were put in the best position to execute. Teams figured out how to shut it down and the coaches didnt adjust. The players are coached to execute a system.