GDT: ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH, DEAR FRIENDS, ONCE MORE

[Identity404]

Because a process-oriented assessment is probably a better indicator of future performance than a results-oriented assessment where we say “Pacioretty got hurt and therefore it wasn’t a smart move and the Borg doesn’t know how to make smart moves.”

I'm not saying that it was a bad move, it was a freak injury, but who knows if it would have also ended up looking like a smart move as well? He didn't play, for all we know he could have had a very disappointing season, like Turbo.

I'll give them kudos for having the cap flexibility to be able to take on a players with the potential of being 30-40 goal scorers, which they have again this year, but outside of that, I don't think the Borg has had any special sauce.

 

[Lek]

That was a heck of a series. Even though we were swept, we lost by the slimmest of margins while missing two top line forwards. We had virtually no puck luck. How many posts did we hit? I'm not taking anything away from the Panthers. Having beaten Boston they had far less pressure on them and peaked at the right time.

As one with no horse in this race, was looking for a solid 6-7 game series...and kinda sorta got it just in four great games to watch (as opposed to a western final that is ... well, which finds me snoozing off a bit).

I have to agree that the bolded, is truly the reason Canes lost. I have seen you all seemingly too many times having the edge here. You all had, as stated, virtually none. Too important in a series this close.

Always sucks when your team loses....but they put on one hell of a show for the rest of us.

 

[zman77]

Big Bob is on a whole new level.
Saying that, Jesper's late 3rd period goal was excellent!!

 

[letsgrowcactus]

Great series that could have easily gone the other way. Without the injuries you guys had, this could have been a completely different result. Good luck next year and beyond.

 

[Bub]

no chance ill be rooting for the Panthers. not after that display by TNT and the refs.

the PP created a lot of chances tonight. we just need our finishers to not be hurt. Also finding someone with a great one timer would be great. Although those dont come around alot.

Then I hope you missed the NHL Network's post-game. Guys congratulating a weepy Bill Lindsay for all his work putting together that FLA team.

 

[Chrispy]

Sure postseason depresses scoring, but not to the tune of 50%.

We have one more year of Necas on a bargain contract. Next summer he’s going to get paid like a 25 year old 28-goal scorer gets paid. We need to be pretty damn careful with that situation, considering he’s one of the only pure-offense players on the team and he doesn’t produce offense in a physical environment.

If we are going to ding Necas for half ppg as a 50% drop off, shouldn’t Necas have hit ppg in the regular season first?

I agree he needs to learn to play in a more physical series.

 

[zman77]

 

[zman77]

 

[zman77]

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

My bad, I forgot about the COVID cup.

Even if we don't label him as injury prone (Vegas still chose him as their cap dump, so I assume they must have had some concerns). I still don't see why we should give credit to the Borg for a paper win during the off-season. It had the potential for being a good move, and didn't pan out. It's a wash.

Maybe we aren't seeing the forrest though the trees because of the sting of the loss? On the flip side, we probably should give the "Borg" credit in the off-season for putting together a team that accomplished:

1) 5 straight playoff appearances
2) 2nd best record in the entire NHL
3) Longest winning streak in team history.
4) Winning two rounds of the playoffs convincingly.
5) Making it to the final 4 and without two top 6 forwards they planned on having as well as losing TT for much of it.
6) Losing 4 "toss-up" games by 1 goal each to the eventual ECF champs (and a team that had the best record in the NHL last year).

All in all, the Borg should get credit for putting together a team that was capable of winning it all and came up short due, partially, to some bad injury luck. It sucks to come this close and not make it all the way, but only 1 team does.

 

[zman77]

Without Bob this series is still happening.
He's an amazing athlete with flexibility, speed and mental toughness.

 

[The Faulker 27]

Well I can get back to getting more sleep, and drinking less. So there's that.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Well I can get back to getting more sleep, and drinking less. So there's that.

Yeah I'm tired as hell. Lol.

 

[Drivebytrucker]

I don't post here much anymore, but this team got as far as they could with the line up they had.

That would have been the worst forward group to win a stanley cup in a long time. There wasn't enough skill in the top 6 at the end of the day to compete with Florida's big boys.


RBA is a great coach and the boys worked their ass off. Not a lot of puck luck, but some of those chances were just flat out misses (Jarvis crossbar in Game 1 OT).

Would Svech and Patches helped? Of course because we don't have a lot of pure shooters

Anyways, Great Run.... Proud of the boys. On to next year

Some things have to change unfortunately but I think Necas should be dealt. Looks Scared and doesn't really up his intensity or physical play in the playoffs. He's the one player who looks like he doesn't want to do what it takes to win the Cup and you can't have guys like that on your roster.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Glad I didn't watch and instead just read through on occasion, I probably would have thrown something at my TV or thrown it through the window. Sounds like the officiating alone was f***ing bullshit enough, then getting a questionable GWG with 4.9s left, and having that finish our 3rd straight ECF sweep...yea, I didn't need all that. I read along from time to time and it's a bit easier to digest, though being swept again (even though we made it farther than I originally expected) leaves quite the bitter taste. Even with FLA in a ridiculous playoff mode, it seemed like our easiest path to actually get into the SCF again. As much as I would probably prefer Dallas win over Vegas, I'm pulling for them to get swept tonight bc at least our sweep would all be tight, one goal games...theirs could be blowouts and take some of the focus from our 0-12 ECF record. This just reinforces that if we want to actually compete for a Cup, we're going to have to make adjustments and re-examine a lot of things about our current roster construction and play style (like, maybe modify it just a little bit to better suit the personnel you have vs the ones you want Rod...we're not built for dump & chase grinding)

 

[PredsV82]

I want to thank you folks for letting me ride the bandwagon. Was a fun run and I look forward to next season. Southern Hockey baybeeeee

 

[tarheelhockey]

If we are going to ding Necas for half ppg as a 50% drop off, shouldn’t Necas have hit ppg in the regular season first?

If we’re going to be that pedantic about it, then I’ll clarify: he’s less than half a PPG in the playoffs. 38 point pace this year, down from 71. 36 point pace in his career, down from 67.

Those are horrible numbers and not explainable by postseason defensive tightness. He legitimately disappears in the spring and it’s a pronounced pattern.

 

[Chrispy]

If we’re going to be that pedantic about it, then I’ll clarify: he’s less than half a PPG in the playoffs. 38 point pace this year, down from 71. 36 point pace in his career, down from 67.

Those are horrible numbers and not explainable by postseason defensive tightness. He legitimately disappears in the spring and it’s a pronounced pattern.

I agree those numbers need to get better, although I'm more concerned with Teravainen's performance than Necas. I question how much better Necas's numbers will get without putting Necas with the best offensive weapons on the team.

He matches very well with Svechnikov, who can play physical to create space and also set up for Necas's passing. Necas with Jordan Staal is not a good fit, especially because Staal is expected to be a defensive matchup.

Do you fix that by forcing Necas onto the top line to work on chemistry with Aho? Or do you fix that by getting more size than Svechnikov to give Necas space to play his game away from Svech? Or do you cut bait and bring in someone who can play more in line with Rod's style?

I think the answer is #2. Trying to force Necas into a round hole isn't working, so find some players who compliment him in the off-season. I think that matches some of the general team need anyway.

 

[Svechhammer]

If we are going to put Necas on a top line with Aho then we need to pick up a heavy hitting power forward in free agency that will take a lot of physical heat away from them. Someone like a Tom Wilson

 

[Chrispy]

If we are going to put Necas on a top line with Aho then we need to pick up a heavy hitting power forward in free agency that will take a lot of physical heat away from them. Someone like a Tom Wilson

I think they need this off-season regardless of what line Necas plays on. Can't expect Svechnikov to be the primary scorer and heavy hitter while he recovers from a torn ACL.

If you load up with Svech-Aho-Necas, you need scoring and hitting on that second line.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

I wish we could trade you guys Konecny, but I don't think we are a very good fit as trade partners (even though we are best friends). We really need draft capital more than anything, and even if we traded for one of your young forwards it seems like that would kind of defeat the purpose for you (and wouldn't necessarily suit our timeline).

That series was a total douche. I've been through it a bunch of times, and I know how you're all feeling. For what it's worth, there's nothing whatsoever that I wouldn't give for my team to have the exact same process that your team does. I know I am not privy to all the particulars the way you are, but you are right there in the thick of things, and this one could have easily gone the other way, and could next year, and for years to come. You are really in good shape.

Despite the disappointment, your team is an actual joy to watch. Our entire PR strategy involves sending a crack-addicted muppet around the arena to act the fool, and that's without going into the crack-headed decisions that actually effect hockey.

 

[Svechhammer]

And as much as I absolutely love Jordo, I don't think we can continue to dedicate one of our highest usage lines to one that is centered by a defensive specialist that contributes little to nothing offensively. I'd love him to retire here, but I really don't know if leaning on him like we do is the best idea going forward.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Also, as much as I would have liked us to win a game, I'm kind of glad we didn't go to 5, because you know Slavin would have played in it, and after that hit + result, I don't want him to risk anything.

 

[Svechhammer]

Also, as much as I would have liked us to win a game, I'm kind of glad we didn't go to 5, because you know Slavin would have played in it, and after that hit + result, I don't want him to risk anything.

I genuinely don't think he would have been cleared. Just because he was walking around after the game doesn't mean he's ok. Concussion symptoms usually hit harder the days after the hit, and he very clearly was concussed last night, and the team immediately ruled him out.

Regardless of how last night went, I don't think he was going to play the rest of the series, even if it went 7.

 

[Lempo]

10M?

I was on the roll and didn't feel like checking up the figures.

$7M AAV.