Pre-Game Talk: Week 19: Will This Miserable Roadie Ever End? @Caps, @TBL

[Bill Peckerskull]

Who's got GDT tonight? Game time is in roughly 25 min.





Avs are just as bad if not worse. Basically a 1st line, a 3rd line, and two 4th lines.

 

[wayninja]

GDT is out day-to-day with a LBI

 

[AllAboutAvs]

GDT is out day-to-day with a LBI

It looks like you talked to the trainers....I didn't think that was possible.

 

[wayninja]

It looks like you talked to the trainers....I didn't think that was possible.

Imagine thinking I needed to talk to trainers for that

 

[expatriatedtexan]

It looks like you talked to the trainers....I didn't think that was possible.

Security screwed up. They meant to give him access to the 3rd floor vending machines but someone unlocked the trainers instead.

 

[The Merchant]

Well the measuring stick road trip resulted in abject failure. This FO has some work to do.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[The Moops]

The 2C we deserve

 

[Metallo]

I guess Olofsson will be scratched soon or Wagner fills in for Dermy while we wait for LOC.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

He averaged 8:14 TOI for us over 4 games in 2015. Let's hope he sees considerably less in 2023.

 

[the_fan]

And you guys were worried about not having a 2C

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Beautiful bottom six, the Avs special

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[sethro109]

Still no LoC on those line rushes is very concerning. Does anyone know when his last shift was? Did it look like he got hurt?

 

[Balthazar]

Still no LoC on those line rushes is very concerning. Does anyone know when his last shift was? Did it look like he got hurt?

He's supposed to be sick, not injured.

 

[dahrougem2]

He's supposed to be sick, not injured.

They said lower body recently.

 

[sethro109]

He's supposed to be sick, not injured.

That's exactly how Bednar phased it when it was first reported he would miss a game. "Not feeling well" can be interpreted a few ways, but every one always uses it as meaning sick. He apparently had a lower body injury. Bednar does this a lot, and I hate it.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

In CMac's defense when he took over he had to deal with:

1. Cap crunch due to winning a Cup. Guys get paid when you win it all.
During his first year as GM:
2. Losing Landy. Not sure if he was coming back during the season or playoffs or not at all.
3. Nuke was in and out of the lineup during the regular season. When playing he was not 100%. Then he lost him during the playoffs.
During his seacond year as GM:
4. Landy still out for the entire regular season.
5. He lost Lehky, Girard and Nuke for considerable length.
6. His 2C gamble failed. That one is on him although I get why it took that gamble. He just need to find a way to fix that.

I'll probably hear about "all teams have injuries" but it is important to note that all guys that he is missing/missed are his most important defensive forwards so it will certainly affect the team defensively. And even with that the team has had very good defensive numbers, 2nd overall in scoring goals, and were 3rd to 5th overall in the standings. I have said it in the past a few times this team cannot afford to lose both Landy and Nuke at the same time for long period of time. They can make it work for a few games but eventually it catches up with them. They are too important defensively, and offensively they miss them terribly to win battle in the corners, cycling, and in front of the net as screens and tipping pucks. They need at least of one of those guys.

 

[Metallo]

In other words, way too cute offensively.

 

[Metallo]

They lack commitment to defense and were reminded by the coach.

Also it seems that Bednar breaks down the schedule in 10-game segments with specific goals for segments. It's a way to alleviate the monotony of a long season and to keep the guys engaged.

 

[SirLoinOfCloth]

Also it seems that Bednar breaks down the schedule in 10-game segments with specific goals for segments. It's a way to alleviate the monotony of a long season and to keep the guys engaged.

It's also a good way when he loses the room, he can find it again in the next 10-game segment.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

In CMac's defense when he took over he had to deal with:

1. Cap crunch due to winning a Cup. Guys get paid when you win it all.
During his first year as GM:
2. Losing Landy. Not sure if he was coming back during the season or playoffs or not at all.
3. Nuke was in and out of the lineup during the regular season. When playing he was not 100%. Then he lost him during the playoffs.
During his seacond year as GM:
4. Landy still out for the entire regular season.
5. He lost Lehky, Girard and Nuke for considerable length.
6. His 2C gamble failed. That one is on him although I get why it took that gamble. He just need to find a way to fix that.

I'll probably hear about "all teams have injuries" but it is important to note that all guys that he is missing/missed are his most important defensive forwards so it will certainly affect the team defensively. And even with that the team has had very good defensive numbers, 2nd overall in scoring goals, and were 3rd to 5th overall in the standings. I have said it in the past a few times this team cannot afford to lose both Landy and Nuke at the same time for long period of time. They can make it work for a few games but eventually it catches up with them. They are too important defensively, and offensively they miss them terribly to win battle in the corners, cycling, and in front of the net as screens and tipping pucks. They need at least of one of those guys.

I think the thing about #6 is that nobody (at least I'm not) blaming him for taking the gamble. It's the lack of a backup plan that could cost him his job.

That being said, the season's not over and the deadline hasn't passed... But the ball has been in CMac's corner since the second game of the season. You might quibble and say that it wasn't obvious that RyJo wasn't going to cut it until the 3rd game of the season, but still for the vast majority of the season it has been obvious the Avs needed an upgrade at 2C.

It's his response, or lack thereof, that will define the entire season. With us being in win-now mode, if his decisions cost us a chance at the cup this season, he should not be given the chance to do so again next. Forfeiting the playoffs for a second year in a row with this core should cost anyone their job.