Finish 30 your still guaranteed 29th pick for "15, the lottery changes for '16.
Thank you for the response
Finish 30 your still guaranteed 29th pick for "15, the lottery changes for '16.
I'm wondering about McCormick. I've never been high on him but he's a good soldier. However, he's been invisible for these first two games. Against the Blue Jays that was true for the entire 4th line, but last night I thought both Mitchell and Delauriers (especially the latter) had some good energy shifts where they finnished checks and reminded Blackhawks defensemen to keep their heads up. McCormick? Not so much.
Is it about a role he's being asked to play, to kind of stay back and be more of a responsible center? Because if that's the case, I would rather they just promote Larsson. Is he perhaps battling some sort of injury? Because he didn't get much ice time in the pre-season and from what I understand, Flynn took his place in practice.
It's very early to draw any conclusions, of course, but I just feel that McCormick doesn't have a lot of tools, so if he's not using those he has, he's pretty much useless.
That whole fourth line needs a shake-up. I think Flynn needs to go in and I wouldn't object to him going in at center, with McCormick at wing or scratched for a couple games. There's nothing wrong with rotating those guys around to see what shakes out, especially with how long a season it is for a guy like McCormick.
I agree. But Nolan is about as loyal as it comes. To a fault. I don't see McCormick being scratched any time soon.
Hodgson was moved to wing to reduce his defensive responsibility. So far he has been disappointing on that front. Several times I've seen him back check only to stop hustling once he got to our zone. Its as if he is allergic to defensive play in our zone. Why hustle to get to our zone only to stop once you get there? I can live with the disjointed offensive play since he's still adjusting to wing and changing line mates. But his defensive game is no where near where it needs to be right now.
One thing that really pisses me off about Nolan (and remember I'm a huge fan of him) is the fact he doesn't match up lines AT ALL.
I remember when their 1st line in the first period was up against our 4th line, and Hossa just went ape ***** on them and almost scored like 3x in one shift, and ended up at least drawing a penalty (i think on deslauriers)
Another thing is his absolute love and man crush of veteran players. Just because they've been in the league longer doesn't mean they're better. The prime example of this is playing Meszaros and Benoit over Ristolainen a lot more. I seriously don't get it. Let him frecking play and learn. There's one thing to "slow cook" a prospect, and there's another to baby and shelter them which might end up hurting them when in reality they should be playing more minutes.
And if Zadorov is scratched over guys like Benoit and Meszaros, why not just send him back to juniors so he can play 25 minutes a night? Rather than just sitting in the press box.
Play him for 9 games, and if you wanna send him back then do it right after, other wise play the kid. He's already better than Mes and Benoit by a mile. Let him learn.
If he tries to play too ridiculously patient then Nolan's gonna end up gone in 2 years. I do NOT want that. i think he's a good coach, but this one thing of his just really sets me off.
I guess I'm happy that it's a tank season anyways, if we're actually competing I guess it would matter, but I just wanna see these young guns develop and play a full season.
Really hope Grigorenko comes up and plays soon. I'd rather see Girgensons on his wing and Stewart on the other wing, and push Foligno to the 3rd/4th lines...that's what kind of player Foligno is. He's not a 2nd liner, he's a 3rd/4th line grinder...and I think he can be a pretty darn good one at that.
His defensive game probably won't improve any further, at least how I see it. Either that or he just doesn't care. I cannot fathom the coaching letting him do this or telling him how to play this way.
Does anyone knows if coaches past or present or players have said he's hard to coach or shape? Maybe he is like that, or he just doesn't have the defensive IQ/awareness. And to me, he still is very weak on his skating. I think he's going to end up getting less icetime/moved if he doesn't fix that.
Its confusing because the hard part with offensive players is usually to get them to haul ass to get back. Hodgson actually does that for the most part. Then bizarrely stops skating once he gets in our zone or near the guy he is responsible for. Then he starts starts reaching for them. Many times taking a bad angle thus reducing his chances of making a play further.
Its confusing because the hard part with offensive players is usually to get them to haul ass to get back. Hodgson actually does that for the most part. Then bizarrely stops skating once he gets in our zone or near the guy he is responsible for. Then he starts starts reaching for them. Many times taking a bad angle thus reducing his chances of making a play further.
Loving Mike Weber's game this year. Definitely a bright spot.
I agree thus far. That pairing should be rewarded with more ice time.
Afinogenov-itis? He tries, but has no ****ing clue what to actually do?