Defense is not any tougher and would still get pushed around. You need a guy like Oleksiak who’s a big body and hard to move. Skill and finesse doesn’t go as far in the playoffs and your defense got out muscled by Vegas. Get nastier on the backend.

EJ will help, if he's around. and Byram's puck-moving was missed. If EJ doesn't play, then Oleksiak is a great option. But given how EJ was practicing without restrictions, I'd bet he's on the team

And yet Nemeth and Graves were 2 of their 3 worst D in the series. The lack of puck skills and puck movement with pressure was there demise.

Graves played scared after he got jumped. They got out worked in front of their net as far as I’m concerned.

Agree to disagree. Bednar not adjusting tactically until Game 5 ( 2 games too late) to roll 4 more-balanced lines, costly turnovers (Nemeth and Graves especially) and an inability to break Vegas' trap did them in in my eyes.