Oshie, Berglund, & Paajarvi = 0 pts
- Thread starter Spektre
- Start date
Multimoodia
Sicker Than Usual
You're really overdue for a new fixation.
Maybe you could talk about how terrible Gunnarsson is going to be?
I think Gunner is going to do good. I'd like to see Gunnarsson and Lindbohm in and Jackman and Leopold out.
Again I am not a fan of Berglund, but not sure how you can go out and say Lehtera is a much better player than Berglund after playing 4 games. Once again I want to add that I want him to succeed, but so far his skating is terrible and he cant keep up with the game. It just seems to be way to fast for him and maybe that is something that will come to him after around 20 games or so. And his contract is not that great if he doesn't work out. 2,750,000 for 2 years for guy that you don't even know if he can play in the NHL is quite bit for a team that is cap strapped like they are. If the guy pans out then I would agree with you that it will be a decent contract.
WalterSobchak
Blues Trololol
there were other pieces to the deal, 3 1st round draft picks that I managed to turn into Ben Bishop just before his big season in TB...so it wasn't all a wash. just mostly a really dumb trade.
Dbrownss
Registered User
- Jan 5, 2014
- 31,359
- 8,734
I don't think the game is too fast for him, He's pretty quick for a big guy. Lehtera is strong on the puck though and has very good vision. I'm sure we could agree to chalk up the Arizona game as he was sick because be didn't seem very engaged.
Vincenzo Arelliti
He Can't Play Center
Exactly. He came from Europe - a much faster game than the NHL, and thrived. How can the game be 'too fast' for him over here? I mean, the guy's got 3 points in 3 games (Arizona doesn't count), and has looked great with the kids despite being new to the team and getting 0 training camp time with Schwartz.
PREDICTION: I expect him to be a big part of the reason Schwartz and Tarasenko lead our team in scoring this year (thus my name).
Without him, Stastny is our only offensive center, and our team looks a lot less scary. Plus, we haven't gotten to see Steen and Lehtera work their magic yet.
I would disagree that the Euro game is "faster" than the NHL. In the NHL, the rink is smaller and there is much less time to make any decision.
Vincenzo Arelliti
He Can't Play Center
I assumed he meant faster, as in 'requires more physical speed', not requires faster reactions and quicker thinking.
Multimoodia
Sicker Than Usual
That's still incorrect. You can be quite a bit slower on international ice due to the increased width of the ice. It's one of the reasons why Berglund is so dominant in international play.
Playing on the larger ice surface requires a slightly different skillset and a better understanding of how to move both east-west and north-south whereas in the NHL you can get away with just north-south (MPS is a great example of this).
But speed really isn't the name of the game so much, an intelligent player can flourish as long as they understand positioning and timing which is more pronounced on international ice than in the NHL.
Playing on the larger ice surface requires a slightly different skillset and a better understanding of how to move both east-west and north-south whereas in the NHL you can get away with just north-south (MPS is a great example of this).
But speed really isn't the name of the game so much, an intelligent player can flourish as long as they understand positioning and timing which is more pronounced on international ice than in the NHL.
Vincenzo Arelliti
He Can't Play Center
Thanks for clarifying! 
So, one of the reasons why European players have trouble transitioning is there's just less room to move East-West?
So, one of the reasons why European players have trouble transitioning is there's just less room to move East-West?
Multimoodia
Sicker Than Usual
Yes to a large extent which was one of the concerns a lot of us had with Lehtera.Thanks for clarifying!
So, one of the reasons why European players have trouble transitioning is there's just less room to move East-West?
That extra 15 ft across does not seem like much but it may as well be a mile especially for some players.
Then the closing speed (and intent) of defensemen in the NHL is a lot different than it is in the international game which is very much aided by the lesser size of an NHL rink.
Bunch of other stuff going on too obviously, but in regards to a particular type of player, rink size and the resulting changes from the differing size rinks is very much a major factor.
BladesofSTEELwFIRE
Registered User
- Feb 15, 2010
- 1,570
- 3
How is it that Oshie is a master at the shootout yet a below average player on the ice? I barely noticed him out there tonight against the Nucks!
Plus I should add Oshie has missed his only shootout attempt this season.
Plus I should add Oshie has missed his only shootout attempt this season.
Note Worthy
History Made
Okay...some things to understand...
A shootout and playing in a game situation are completely different so there's no reason to think one has to do with the other. An 0/1 shootout record is okay, it's fine. He's not going to have a 100% shootout record.
Oshie is going through a rough patch along with the rest of the team. Whether its because of the virus or Stastny being out or new players adjusting to the team and the NHL; this team is having a slow start, it happens.
I'm sure Oshie will be just fine.
Note Worthy
History Made
The problem so far in this short amount of time isn't just the virus or Stastny being out. It's that Oshie, Backes, and Steen aren't playing to what they were last year. I'm sure they will eventually except for maybe Steen.
But at this time last year those guys were killing it, especially Steen. So we had those three plus Schwartz and Tarasenko just ripping it up and now we only have Schwartz and Tank. That's been the difference so far this season.
It's nothing to worry about...yet. It's very early and they're off to a slow start which they didn't have last year.
But at this time last year those guys were killing it, especially Steen. So we had those three plus Schwartz and Tarasenko just ripping it up and now we only have Schwartz and Tank. That's been the difference so far this season.
It's nothing to worry about...yet. It's very early and they're off to a slow start which they didn't have last year.
Thallis
No half measures
The thing that makes me worry about Steen is how eager he is to shoot the puck. He's taking pretty bad shots often from non scoring areas and it's hurting us a lot, especially on the powerplay. The amount of times he's taken the shot from the point and missed the net leading to a turnover and clearance by the defense is a non-trivial number. Our PP has been focused on movement of Steen and Shattenkirk on the point instead of spreading the box and creating space for someone in the slot. I don't think that's a formula for a successful powerplay.
With the other guys who are struggling, the number one thing that needs to change is our success around the goalmouth. We are not picking up many rebounds and when we do, we rarely create another chance from it. Against teams that take away our options in the slot we need to be able to crash and pick up the rebounds and do something with the puck. If Berglund is to score 20 this year, he'll likely need to figure out that area of the ice and how to score from those second chances.
Right now, besides Tank and Schwarts there is a lot of struggle going on, but it's early and I feel very confident they will get into their groove and turn things around! No need to worry unless we are still talking about them struggling a couple weeks from now, then it will be panic mode in today's every team gets a point almost every night NHL! I hate the loser points teams get.
Note Worthy
History Made
They kind of are. Yes, more production is needed but their defensive aspect is a big part of their paycheck.
Vladys Gumption
Colt55
Sure they need to produce more offensively, but both are absolutely beng paid for their defensive abilities. There's no doubt about that whatsoever.
It's not a blanket statement. Lapy is being paid mainly for his Def role / agitator.
Oshie is at 4.175/yr.
Can you break down how much of that salary the Blues think they're paying for his Def play? It's impossible. The same with Berglund. But if you were to try the price would be a fraction of the overall salary not the majority or anywhere close to it.
My point was and is that they are under substantial contracts to produce points and neither are.
Oshie looks lost at times. He's always fallen down a lot but it looks like it's his first year skating on ice.
Vincenzo Arelliti
He Can't Play Center
Bergland has been fine. He's one of our best defensive forwards, and has really done everything except score goals. PLUS, everyone has been sick and the line mates are not used to each other, especially Bergland's line (he's been moved to Center, too). All the Bergland hate has little merit.
As for TJ, he's on the front page of ESPN.com right now. That's just silly. Obviously, the media has given him the 'franchise face' of the team title, and that's not Oshie's fault.
Oshie does need to be playing better, but it will come with time. Defensively, he's been a rock. His skating just needs to get back in it. Once the legs start working again, he'll be back to his old self. Give him some time where he's not being asked to defend AND score against the top lines while not having consistent line mates, and he'll be better than last year.
As for TJ, he's on the front page of ESPN.com right now. That's just silly. Obviously, the media has given him the 'franchise face' of the team title, and that's not Oshie's fault.
Oshie does need to be playing better, but it will come with time. Defensively, he's been a rock. His skating just needs to get back in it. Once the legs start working again, he'll be back to his old self. Give him some time where he's not being asked to defend AND score against the top lines while not having consistent line mates, and he'll be better than last year.
Dbrownss
Registered User
- Jan 5, 2014
- 31,359
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I'm not sure what's up with Oshie, from what I seen over the summer on twitter, he didn't really take time off. But as others said, with the sickness going around no one has been solid offensively. It's been big spikes in production from the kids. Oshie had such a solid season last year, no way is it a fluke. Claude Giroux was terrible to start last year and he finished in the top. Just saying let's not get on them too much this early.
BluesTraveller
Registered User
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