So one of the issues I have had (I know, there are many) with this team is who has shown improvement either from the previous regime to this one or from last season to this?
Reinhart? While his point and shot production has seen more plays converted, it seems like his in-zone puck security has definitely taken a hit. The points are there, puck possession is there, but it seems like only an incremental improvement from last season IMO.
Jack's grown. Then again, it's his fourth year which is traditionally a point that players hit their peak seasons.
Rodrigues? Eh, in and out of the lineup and his production isn't even to last year's standards.
Larsson? I'd argue he's had the biggest bounce back from last year to this, though that may be that his arm/elbow/wrist is reasonably back to normal.
Beaulieu is the only other guy I'd consider in this conversation and his ass got benched despite better play and he's now a Jet.
Nelson? Can a bit part #7/8 defenseman actually be considered the winner, concept-wise, in this?
So... why are they not getting even incremental improvement from 18 or 19 guys. No one is getting better. McCabe still makes bad puck decisions. Bogosian... Ristolainen... bad decision making. Ullmark and Hutton make the same sort of bad technique decisions Johnson and Lehner made.
For two years, what is the improvement? Where? Who?
Reinhart? While his point and shot production has seen more plays converted, it seems like his in-zone puck security has definitely taken a hit. The points are there, puck possession is there, but it seems like only an incremental improvement from last season IMO.
Jack's grown. Then again, it's his fourth year which is traditionally a point that players hit their peak seasons.
Rodrigues? Eh, in and out of the lineup and his production isn't even to last year's standards.
Larsson? I'd argue he's had the biggest bounce back from last year to this, though that may be that his arm/elbow/wrist is reasonably back to normal.
Beaulieu is the only other guy I'd consider in this conversation and his ass got benched despite better play and he's now a Jet.
Nelson? Can a bit part #7/8 defenseman actually be considered the winner, concept-wise, in this?
So... why are they not getting even incremental improvement from 18 or 19 guys. No one is getting better. McCabe still makes bad puck decisions. Bogosian... Ristolainen... bad decision making. Ullmark and Hutton make the same sort of bad technique decisions Johnson and Lehner made.
For two years, what is the improvement? Where? Who?