My guess all year was that the groin injuries from last year never healed properly. That's the feeling I get. Just the way he moves in net is so sluggish. He can't make a lateral push to save his life and it's been like that all year.I honestly think he's had some kind of injury that never healed right, that's the only thing that can explain this level of drop off this fast (plus a spiral of self confidence to boot). That plus the pad changes more than likely was just a confluence of things that led to his complete collapse. Hopefully, if thats true, it's not the end of his career and he can find a way to fix whatever is wrong and rebuild his confidence. Honestly, I feel pretty bad for the guy, he must be really having a hard time with this.
Dell just sucks.
If this was indeed the case then its even worse that DW made no move at the TDL.My guess all year was that the groin injuries from last year never healed properly. That's the feeling I get. Just the way he moves in net is so sluggish. He can't make a lateral push to save his life and it's been like that all year.
If this was indeed the case then its even worse that DW made no move at the TDL.
Well. I agree that Dell has not looked like a league backup this year. And Jones has not looked like a league starter.IMHO the worst move was not replacing Dell (hell it was quite apparent early in the year Dell was no longer serviceable). With Jones history of stepping up in the playoffs and that massive contract I don't blame him for giving Jones a shot. Where DW failed in my eyes is that he didn't acquire a servicable backup. A goalie with a league average save percentage would have been plenty.
As far as Jones goes long term you have to hope he can bounce back. Lots of good goalies have had poor years (Price, Holtby, Rinne for examples). Some of his issues like bad angles and improper positioning through screen are definitely coach-able. Who knows where his body and head are at though.
Well. I agree that Dell has not looked like a league backup this year. And Jones has not looked like a league starter.
You know what is the most surprising part to me? The fact that Korenar and Bibeau who were lighting it up in the AHL got a total of 0 starts this year in the NHL? They were ok with the absence of even mediocrity in our goalies and kept expecting them to turn a leaf through the season. TDL came and went and nothing. As the team was slumping you would think they would atleast give one of Korenar and Bibeau a look. But no.
I just don't get it. You can continue to have faith that Jones turns it around but still like to get an upgrade on Dell if possible in Korenar or Bibeau. But the fact that they still have not tried them is just ...
There was a week where they were getting blown up 8-1 for 5 games in a row. People watching the games were saying that the defense were leaving them out to dry. Getting outshot and what not.I could be wrong but I think both Bibeau and Korenar had a cold stretch late in the year which made them hesitant to try them out in the big league.
I could be wrong but I think both Bibeau and Korenar had a cold stretch late in the year which made them hesitant to try them out in the big league.
This is exactly what I meant.Even after the TDL, they could've tried them out during the final 10 game stretch when we already lost the division.
Should've gone after someone like Howard. Not to replace Jones right away, but to replace Dell so we'd have an adequate goalie backup when Jones predictably sucked.
Just bringing a 3rd goalie in wouldve at least been enough to settle the debate on if our goaltending or out defensive system is worse.This is exactly what I meant.
Not making a move at the TDL AND not giving one of Korenar/Bibeau a shot during the last 10 game stretch when it was obvious Jones/Dell was not instilling confidence was just pure stubbornness. Can you imagine if one of Korenar/Bibeau steal the job from Jones at the start of next season? All the 'what ifs' ...
Bring in 4Just bringing a 3rd goalie in wouldve at least been enough to settle the debate on if our goaltending or out defensive system is worse.
Just watching every other goalie this playoffs, Jones looks worse than anybody else, other than maybe Vasilevskiy and Hellebuyck. I've already counted more stoppable goals on him than any of the other goalies other than Vasilevskiy and it's a tie between the two of them. I've got both down for 6.Just bringing a 3rd goalie in wouldve at least been enough to settle the debate on if our goaltending or out defensive system is worse.
Just watching every other goalie this playoffs, Jones looks worse than anybody else, other than maybe Vasilevskiy and Hellebuyck. I've already counted more stoppable goals on him than any of the other goalies other than Vasilevskiy and it's a tie between the two of them. I've got both down for 6.
I have Hellebuyck down for 5 and he's only allowed 10 goals in total, but his save percentage isn't that bad. He's really failing my eye test though.
I don't agree on Vasilesvskiy, at least not for the first 2 games.Vasilevskiy and Hellebuyck had their bad moments. They also made several giant, timely, important saves. They made several "unsaveable" saves. They constantly gave their team a chance to win every night.
Is there any way that Boughner is not back on the staff next year? Need an upgrade from Hedberg as well, but with Zettler being just an absolutely horrid hire from the start along with his demotion from bench to video, I see zero way that PDB does not rehire Boughner to bring structure back to the defense (where Spott has been an absolute disaster). If PDB is sticking around (sadly he is), I would argue that no one on the current staff should be brought back next year.Contract is untradable
Dell had his shot and mostly bombed
Imo only option for next year is to fire Hedburg, bring in a head coach that can actually coach defense, bring in a cheap backup option whose ceiling is league average with the prospects as plan C
I don't see any reason not to hire Boughner if DeBoer is back next year. Unless Boughner can get a head coaching job in the AHL. I don't think he's getting an NHL head coaching job this offseason and probably won't for a while.Is there any way that Boughner is not back on the staff next year? Need an upgrade from Hedberg as well, but with Zettler being just an absolutely horrid hire from the start along with his demotion from bench to video, I see zero way that PDB does not rehire Boughner to bring structure back to the defense (where Spott has been an absolute disaster). If PDB is sticking around (sadly he is), I would argue that no one on the current staff should be brought back next year.