Mike Yeo's Blues and Ken Hitchcock's Stars

[mw2noobbuster]

Flyers fans were extremely hard on Schenn. I am a little surprised that he hasn't been carried by Schwartz and Tarasenko judging by this thread.

Then again he's show to be dominant with good wingers in the WJC days but that was 7 years ago

Yes. Schenn had 4 assists this game. He's driving that line, going to the net, and making good passes to his wingers. I don't know why the Flyers were flaming this guy, probably salty they had to take Lehtera LOL.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

i really like the way the Blues play the game
I know it's easier said than done but I'd love to see them make a trade for Duchene or Tavares. They have some fantastic players but I think they need a center to put them over the top

 

[Ainec]

Yes. Schenn had 4 assists this game. He's driving that line, going to the net, and making good passes to his wingers. I don't know why the Flyers were flaming this guy, probably salty they had to take Lehtera LOL.

They flamed him and wanted him gone before that terrible trade

Exact same treatment as Lehtera had with you guys, but none of the acknowledgement that maybe he doesn't belong in the league

 

[Ainec]

i really like the way the Blues play the game
I know it's easier said than done but I'd love to see them make a trade for Duchene or Tavares. They have some fantastic players but I think they need a center to put them over the top

Duchene would be a perfect player. He works hard. And Blues have a stud in Vince Dunn that Colorado should covet (Pie and Parayko are untradeable). Too bad both teams are in the Central

a lot of people think JT91 is going to STL or SJS if he's not resigning but that's another year in the playoffs without an elite 1c

 

[mw2noobbuster]

They flamed him and wanted him gone before that terrible trade

Exact same treatment as Lehtera had with you guys, but none of the acknowledgement that maybe he doesn't belong in the league

The difference is I'm so glad Lehtera is gone even after the trade is made.

 

[mw2noobbuster]

i really like the way the Blues play the game
I know it's easier said than done but I'd love to see them make a trade for Duchene or Tavares. They have some fantastic players but I think they need a center to put them over the top

Blues just don't have the assets, Tavares is a pipe dream and the Avs have asked for more than what the Blues can offer. Turris is a reasonable ask in my opinion.

 

[Captain Creampuff]

Nothing against Schenn, but he is obviously not among leagues top 1Cs which are said to be cruical for a contender.

He's played like it so far on both ends of the ice. He doesn't need to do much with having Schwartz and Tarasenko as his wingers. As long as Schenn can keep up in skating and continue to make tape to tape passes, nothing flashy just smart, he will succeed.

Our defense has been something else this year. Our worst D so far is probably a tie between Parayko and Gunnar. It's not that either have been bad, it's just that they've looked a little sloppy at times compared to the rest of our D. Joel Edmundson has taken his game to another level. He's leading the league in blocked shots and has stepped up his offensive game. We also finally have an offensive minded LHD in Vince Dunn who has also been superb on his own end as well, watch out for this kid. Smooth skater with good offensive instincts.He has a good stick and isn't afraid to throw the body either when defending.

I'm pretty excited about this year. I got tired of hearing year in and out by Hitch how "This team is a different team" yet seeing the same stuff every year. Now this finally feels like a new Blues team compared to the Backes Blues days even though he wasn't around for last year. Only thing I'm still not completely sold on is Jake Allen. He's either on or off, and when he's off he's REALLY OFF.

 

[carter333167]

1. Tank/Schenn/Schwartz are one of the best lines in the league.
2. All of our D are playing well and are playing aggressively...no real weak links in the 6 d-Men and Edmundson and Dunn are playing very well.
3. Yeo's system is starting to take hold...preaching aggressive 5 man attacking units. New additions to coaching staff are gelling and getting the message to the players.
4. Solid tending from Jake.

 

[Falco Lombardi]

I was very critical of the hire of Mike Yeo based on what I saw in Minnesota but I don’t see that here. Honestly if I didn’t know better, I’d have said he came from Nashville because that’s the way it looks. The defense has so much more freedom than they did under Hitch.

Alex Pietrangelo has always been a great player but he’s playing like a legit Norris contender right now.

I can’t comment on Hitch in Dallas as I’ve only seen the one Stars game this year when they played the Blues. I would guess there will be growing pains with the defense core they have there.

 

[Dbrownss]

Yes. Schenn had 4 assists this game. He's driving that line, going to the net, and making good passes to his wingers. I don't know why the Flyers were flaming this guy, probably salty they had to take Lehtera LOL.

Why would they be salty? Everyone knew he was a cap dump and the Blues had to pay extra to do so.

Schenn was flammed because as a flyer he couldnt play center. Listening to him, you can tell that he knew he had a short leash there. They also flammed him for his perceived PP specialist only tag. They just keep forgetting their whole team was a PP specialist. It was a systematic/personal issue, not Schenns ability.

As of now, he is a top 6 center. He plays the way a center has to play. He's no elite center, but unless one falls in the Blues lap, they wont have one.

 

[mw2noobbuster]

Why would they be salty? Everyone knew he was a cap dump and the Blues had to pay extra to do so.

Schenn was flammed because as a flyer he couldnt play center. Listening to him, you can tell that he knew he had a short leash there. They also flammed him for his perceived PP specialist only tag. They just keep forgetting their whole team was a PP specialist. It was a systematic/personal issue, not Schenns ability.

As of now, he is a top 6 center. He plays the way a center has to play. He's no elite center, but unless one falls in the Blues lap, they wont have one.

More salty at the fact that the trade turned out this way, I've looked at the Flyers board and they're mostly upset at the trade in hindsight; when they were happy with it when it happened. Agreed with the rest, their whole team was unproductive 5on5.

 

[BleedBlue14]

Blues just don't have the assets, Tavares is a pipe dream and the Avs have asked for more than what the Blues can offer. Turris is a reasonable ask in my opinion.

But we do have the assets. The problem is are we willing to part with the assets? In my opinion right now our biggest hole is scoring on the third line. Although if we go after a top line C and rework the lines to be something around:
XXXX - Turris/Duchene/JT - Tarasenko
Schwartz - Schenn - XXX
Sobotka - Stas - Steen

I think that with the way our defense has been jumping up this creates a massive matchup issue for other teams as they can't just run their shutdown against one line.

 

[mw2noobbuster]

But we do have the assets. The problem is are we willing to part with the assets? In my opinion right now our biggest hole is scoring on the third line. Although if we go after a top line C and rework the lines to be something around:
XXXX - Turris/Duchene/JT - Tarasenko
Schwartz - Schenn - XXX
Sobotka - Stas - Steen

I think that with the way our defense has been jumping up this creates a massive matchup issue for other teams as they can't just run their shutdown against one line.

Agreed. Basically, not having the assets to give up for those players. Turris/Stastny/Schenn down the middle is downright scary.

 

[Dbrownss]

More salty at the fact that the trade turned out this way, I've looked at the Flyers board and they're mostly upset at the trade in hindsight; when they were happy with it when it happened. Agreed with the rest, their whole team was unproductive 5on5.

I havn't looked at their board. Even with how productive he is now...i still see him as a 60pt guy. 2 1sts is still a great haul. Even if he becomes more productive with the Blues, its irrelevant. They traded away what he was to them, which was a sub 60pt player.

 

[tony d]

Yeo is getting the Blues to play some awesome hockey this year. They look like 1 of the top clubs in the league thus far.

 

[Spotty 2 Hotty]

The Stars are in limbo because of Hitch. I think a more creative coach could make them a much better team.

I disagree about the Stars being in limbo because of Hitchcock. The Stars are inconsistent because they spent the last few years playing a defense be damned style and now have a semblance of structure. Barnes has been great on fixing our special teams. They're the #1 Powerplay and the #3 Penalty Kill so far, which is a complete 180 from last season.

The biggest issues that have been prevalent thus far have been the lack of secondary scoring and the defense shuffling. The fact that there was a bit of roster turnover from last year in some key spots and Spezza's continuing decline have definitely affected the former, with the latter being a result of trying to fit the 7 or 8 defensemen on NHL contracts in until the right combination and chemistry can be developed.

Radulov has been phenomenal. Bishop has been great. Methot has been a perfect addition. Pitlick has fit well in the bottom 6. Unfortunately injuries have already started to hit, so Hanzal hasn't been much of a factor and it looks like we'll be without Pitlick and Faksa (two very effective PKers and forecheckers) for some time now.

Would I love to have kept playing a more creative style with free-flowing offense like Ruff had, but the same defensive responsibility that Hitch demands? Of course. I think that's what everyone wants for their team, but that's not really an option.

 

[TrillMike]

This Dallas fan has loved having Hitch back. It's been awesome seeing a defensive and edgy team. While Ruff implemented one of the most entertaining offensive strategies, the amount of odd man rushes and short handed chances against got really frustrating.

Bishop and Radulov have been fantastic additions. When healthy, I love the center depth with Seguin, Spezza, Hanzal, Faksa and Shore.

I love what Hitch has gotten out of Klingberg. It seems that he has taken another step in the defensive side of the game.

The lack of secondary scoring has been a problem, but I personally blame that on bad puck luck and not Hitch.

So far, I'm pleased.

 

[mw2noobbuster]

This Dallas fan has loved having Hitch back. It's been awesome seeing a defensive and edgy team. While Ruff implemented one of the most entertaining offensive strategies, the amount of odd man rushes and short handed chances against got really frustrating.

Bishop and Radulov have been fantastic additions. When healthy, I love the center depth with Seguin, Spezza, Hanzal, Faksa and Shore.

I love what Hitch has gotten out of Klingberg. It seems that he has taken another step in the defensive side of the game.

The lack of secondary scoring has been a problem, but I personally blame that on bad puck luck and not Hitch.

So far, I'm pleased.

That center depth is certainly pleasuring to look at as a Blues fan . Who's been moved to wing out of that bunch?

 

[TrillMike]

That center depth is certainly pleasuring to look at as a Blues fan . Who's been moved to wing out of that bunch?

Hanzal has been out the past couple games. Faksa was playing wing (he got hurt last night vs Buffalo). Spezza has also seen some time on the wing.

With the new faceoff rules and refs eagerly kicking guys out of the draw, it's been nice having multiple guys on each line who can win a faceoff. I think Jamie Benn is 60% (did not check, please don't burn me if it's not the case).

 

[Ryan Michaels]

I was absolutely baffled by the Schenn trade, looks much worse now. Not that the Flyers got poor value but after winning the lottery it was logical that it was time to contend, especially with their young players, Schenn under-performed there for sure but he was still a top 6 player(or at least could get back to that level). I would have liked to have seen what he could have done there in a post-Hakstol world(whenever that day comes).