Banni
Rejoint: juin 2018
Messages: 19,215
Mentions "j'aime": 4,837
if they are healthy and not good enough to win this year, this team won't win next year.
I looks like a deep team on paper, but people said the same thing last year when it obviously was not.
It sort of has the same problems now. I think not getting delusional about what is there is the first step.
I think it starts by making Blueger the 3C with better talent around him.
They will need to bring in Caulfield. Which will help the 4th line. He's bigger, physical. He's not bad on the dot.
I like ZAR, I have this feeling his time here is done.
He's a good defensive player, and probably deserving of 3rd line time on a lot of teams. But this team will need to bring in some size and speed. They have to do better.
They will also have to get more out of their blueline and for that reason Ceci will be gone and so will Matheson.
Maniscalco got over his injury and is getting regular time in WBS now. They are working on his defensive game down there. They know he can move the puck. I think he's gonna make the jump next year.
I said this before the season, he's more seasoned than POJ. People on here argued it to no end. But POJ is coughing up goals in WBS, and he was benched up here. He doesn't look anywhere near NHL ready. I know he keeps getting penciled in there, I've done it myself, but I also know he'll be sheltered and frankly, they don't need that right now. I actually think he's one piece they should move. Because I don't see him really contributing next year.
Maniscalco should get ice time before him. He's still adjusting but right now he's still their best defensive prospect. He's able to hold his own. As far as a 3RD is concerned, he should get a long look next year.
Then you got Carter, Zucker, and McCann. I hope Carter retires. It opens spaces for Caulfield on the 4th line at C. I don't think he has the legs.
Zucker and McCann may need upgrades. I'm not sure how one pulls that off. Maybe a hockey trade or just move them for picks and test the market. The reality is, we need consistency and a guy who can carry a line. We don't have that. This team has been trying to win with one arm tied behind it's back with no 3rd line all year. And frankly, after a couple games I'm not all that impressed with McCann, Carter and Zucker on that line. If anything I think they played better when McCann was centering it.
McCann is very inconsistent as a player. He's a guy you just want to see put it all together. Much like Rusty did. He's only 24. But he's right in that bubble where he is either gonna explode or fizzle out to a run of the mill 3rd liner. I think he has the talent but as of now he's just a piece. It's his 5v5 play that is really killing me. He's got 4 goals. His even strength is 6, His 5v5 pace is lower than it was last year when he had that long streak of nothing. His Close stats are very low. Could be for a number of reasons but it is what it is.
It's like he's stuck there, unable to break out and actually be an effective player capable of doing something to help the team at 5v5. Because he's been there at the same place for some time. He is really starting to strike me as the guy that gets moved to bring someone else in. As they need better 5v5 play there and that is apparent.
Then there is Zucker. Who's netting goals at a good pace at 5v5 play. But whatever line he's on is losing on the ice. They are giving up more than they are putting in.
Is it him, is it everyone else? Here in lies the problem with him. I think it ends up being the reason he might end up being moved. I know Malkin at center is not bad at 5v5. He's roughly even when he's on the ice. His goals are down, he had a rough start. But I start to question if it's him or the line mates. He didn't catch on fire till he got a RW. I think that's important for 2 reasons. 1st is it shows him and Zucker just aren't able to figure it out together. 2nd is he can't carry two wingers anymore. He's 34. They need to give him another young fast physical winger to play with like Rust or Kap. Someone who is a problem on the ice. That isn't McCann and it isn't Zucker. Could it be Poulin? I don't know. Brock McGinn comes to mind as the guy who maybe is the right fit. Bertuzzi if DET wants to move him. But it's not like PIT has assets to give away. He's coming off injury as well. To be honest I don't think he's worth what DET wants for him. What I do know is, if the goal is going into next season with Poulin as his LW that's a mistake. He should start on the 3rd line. Because Malkin need help.
I see 6 guys off this team next year if they don't win.
Matheson, Ceci, Carter, Zucker, ZAR, McCann.
I'm gonna say in that order.
Possible people coming in Poulin, OConnor, POJ, Caulfield, Maniscalco.
Probably in that order too.
Depends if Caulfield signs. If he does, he instantly jumps POJ.
I think after a year in WBS OConnor will replace ZAR. He's bigger. If he can figure out his role, he helps transform the look of the team.
Is there a role for Zohorna there too. He's one odd cat.
He gets 9 minutes a night. Now you would think they are hiding him. But 8 of those minutes are in 5v5 close. And he's got 2 goals and the team is 5 for and 0 against in that time.
I'm not sure what the hell to think of that, especially watching him play. Which is just kind of odd as he's so deceptive on the ice. But he's clearly being disruptive from an analytics standpoint.
I'd like to see him be more physical. He needs to hit more. Establish himself as a presence. Be a pain in the ass on the ice. I think that changes things if he can do that. It's not hard, just belt a few guys.
But I think it's clear this team needs to bring in at least 2 middle 6 guys next year with speed and good 5v5 play. Because it's lacking in the middle.