I think fans are always too hard on coaches, especially on playing young players. I think understanding among fans has greatly improved in the ability to notice and understand how underlying processes and flows -- 5v5 play vs powerplay production, expected goals, etc. -- impacts the final score and who wins. I think that all of us, even those who played at relatively high levels, still do not understand very well the level beneath that of individual skills and fits into systems. I think thats why its easy for us to see McMichael last year or Mantha this year have great xG% and complain that they aren't getting time, meanwhile coaches and players care much much more on for example how well a winger performs on the half-wall on breakouts. While I understand and generally agree with the sentiment of "play young guys who might be good instead of old guys you know aren't good" I also think that development isn't linear and that throwing in young guys who aren't ready for it can form bad long-term habits if they are constantly getting caved in -- look at guys recently like Colin White and Ty Smith, even guys like Ristolainen, Bjugstad, Jenner who have had stable NHL careers arguably were thrown into the fire way too early and suffered for it (I think you could make a very good argument for Fehervary being one of those guys!!!!). There was an interesting quote from Rasmus Andersson last week giving an actual NHL player's perspective on it too (https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/its-a-learning-process-for-everyone-flames-andersson-on-young-players-being-scratched/).

I would love to see guys like Protas or McMichael get looks over Sheary, Smith, NAK, etc. especially given we are not in the playoff race anymore. That being said, there's a whole lot we as fans don't really understand, and I would not criticize too much coaches whose job it is to win games -- not develop prospects -- for playing vets.

I saw the highlights of the game so I’m gonna give some thoughts.

Lindgern didn’t have his best night. Some of those were brutal but whatever.

Jensen is better than Cale Makar

Sandin had a nice battle to that lead to the Sheary goal.

And that’s all.


Milano goal was sick.

Ovi got lucky

Anyone feel we pulled the trigger to soon on the Nak extension

Imagine

Milano Strome Keller

Sandin Jensen out on the ice at the same time.

Kinda wish I could replace Milano with Vrana but you can’t rewrite history

I highly doubt Arizona would even consider moving Keller though

A 2023 10oa pick would be interesting in the mix. It would 100% be a comp to the Debrincat trade a few years ago.

Alexyev just sent someone into space

Crazy to me that Carlson gets so much hate, but just look at the difference between Caps w/ Carlson and w/out. Yes, he makes plenty of mistakes, but he is certainly a top 10 RHD that is very meaningful for the team.

Crazy to me that Carlson gets so much hate, but just look at the difference between Caps w/ Carlson and w/out. Yes, he makes plenty of mistakes, but he is certainly a top 10 RHD that is very meaningful for the team.

it's insane to me that people talk about guys like Letang and Doughty as some of the best defenseman of all time while Carlson has had basically their exact same careers and consistently gets disrespected by even his own fanbase. A borderline HoF candidate and still a top 10 defenseman in the league

Best thing for us


Strome
McMike
Backy
Dowd

Then we can move Mantha and kuzy and have enough money for two elite scoring wingers

This explains a lot because he hasn’t gave a sh*t in a couple of months or this year for that matter

How awesome was Mantha’s turnover? That is a man who knows how to tank

Once we trade Mantha dude is going to pop off again.