Byrral
Registered User
I'm with CBJWennberg10 and Cyclones on this one. Not feeling it. Too many question marks.
Ya, its not that easy to claim they suck, when they don't. You don't think the team is good, I/we get it. But, why force it? You just throw everything out there until something sticks, highlighted there, as major called you out on contradicting yourself in a matter of a couple sentences and during the same "point" being made.
I've enjoyed so many articles in The Athletic and Dom's piece may have been my favorite yet. His model and assessments seem strong - spot on in pretty much every aspect. And I think he nailed it with the top heavy nature of this team, which is particularly pronounced at the forward. Indeed the second and third lines look interchangeable and NOT in a particularly good way.I find it interesting that his model has us as being the 3rd most "top heavy" team in the league. It makes sense, thinking about how much we struggled last year, but I really thought our depth was better at F.
I've enjoyed so many articles in The Athletic and Dom's piece may have been my favorite yet. His model and assessments seem strong - spot on in pretty much every aspect. And I think he nailed it with the top heavy nature of this team, which is particularly pronounced at the forward. Indeed the second and third lines look interchangeable and NOT in a particularly good way.
Just using your assessment/reaction to that piece (which I agree was a great read) as a jumping off point, not to take issue with anything you specifically have said...
But I do find it interesting that until a couple seasons ago, the strength of the team was its depth and that it wasn't over-reliant on any one player or line for its scoring, and now, with the addition of an elite scorer (and all-around player, but that's not the point of this post) and the emergence of PLD alongside Panarin and the team's elite top D pairing, that all of a sudden its top-heavy.
I'm sure there are explanations for said (the drop-off of the veteran guys like Foligno and Dubi, the stalling of guys like Wennberg, Bjorkstrand and Jenner, etc), but in a macro sense it's funny to me.
My view was pessimistic, and I stand by it, but you have the right way of looking at this. We're a good team. Until we're not.1. PIT (because, why not?)
2. WSH (may have a little Cup hangover but will be good)
3. CBJ (best goalie in the league, best top pair in the league, legit first line)
4. NJD (better than they seem)
5. PHI (terrible head coach/goaltending)
6. CAR (bad goaltending, can't put the puck in the net)
7. NYR (will be close to the middle of the league, but will get eaten by the division)
8. NYI (zero defense/goaltending, only one line that is threatening)
Again, this is a business. They finish this high because they don't trade Bread or Bob, because playoffs and ticket sales = $$$
I always come in low, and this year's no different. The questions around this team have me anxious. I don't see us making the playoffs because aside from Panarin, and to a lesser extent Cam and PLD, I don't see guys willing/able to be consistent threats. I hope to be very wrong and for some magic to happen, though.
Zach Werenski.
Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones....We got a thing...going on....Who?
Oh, the Norris candidate, Jones.
I hope I am wrong but I get the feeling that if Bob and Panarin both abandon ship that the morale will plummet and the team will sink to the bottom, then others will want out.
How do you recover from that? This will be an organizational low point imo. I hope I am wrong.