I don't understand why he was bench most of the 2nd period against Van? People say that it's because of all the penalties, but most of the penalties came in the 3rd, and why would we play Hendricks and Gordon on a 4v4? Why is hunt playing 21 min a night? Why is Petry a healthy scratch? Why is Marincin in the AHL?
- SpoiledByOil

8 mins being shorthanded in the second
6 in the 3rd
so this makes complete sense why yakupov wasn't out there much in the second. can we put this to bed now?

although our 4th isn't much of a threat to truly score, I think its probably been our best line. solid downlow and forecheck--a few shifts of offensive zone cycling. strong defensively.

i assume cause mact and Eakins didn't think marincin had as strong a camp as some of his counterparts. and he isn't established enough to get a pass just yet

Well I better bust out the #17 jersey for tonights game for even if we do lose I can just stare at it and remember the 80s

Sure. My 'untouchables' list is pretty short. I can see improving at Center , but getting not 1 but 2 d men and a legit starting goalie if need be is going to be tough.
- Jeropotato

Yes sadly #1 defensemen do not grow on trees but I would be willing to trade off Ebs if it gave us a shot at one....well Ebs and a pick coz I dont think Ebs would be enough....if we had a better defense maybe the goaltending wouldnt be such a priority but who knows

Oh for sure this team still needs some adding(players) but improvement still needs to be see this season and the next one for Eakins to remain the coach.
And I still believe that the First Line will not succeed the way it's with Hall-Nudge-Eberle, they might dominate when playing at home against weak teams or PP but when playing in the road is a different game.
- AlEx_OiL

I think the lone positive last year was the top line. Not sure if it's Hall and Nuge or Hall and Ebs or all 3 but it looked good against Anaheim, if I remember correctly.

You might be right. I think as GM , Mac T just couldn't relate to Krugers fluffy philosophies on coaching. Gotta be on the same page or you're doomed for failure. If that's the case, why prolong the agony?
- Jeropotato

If you mean why keeping Eakins if the team still failing, well I can only say that Pride could be one of the reason's but as well it could be that MacT still believe that Eakins is the proper Coach for this team, I mean MacT committed to Eakins by giving him 4 year deal so as a GM you have to hope that you made the right call.

Yes sadly #1 defensemen do not grow on trees but I would be willing to trade off Ebs if it gave us a shot at one....well Ebs and a pick coz I dont think Ebs would be enough....if we had a better defense maybe the goaltending wouldnt be such a priority but who knows
- RatedR80

Agreed. Hopefully Ebs puts up another 70 pts and we can flip him + for a 1D (or something close). I don't think the goaltending is an issue, outside of Scrivens looking pretty soft in Game 1.

Yes sadly #1 defensemen do not grow on trees but I would be willing to trade off Ebs if it gave us a shot at one....well Ebs and a pick coz I dont think Ebs would be enough....if we had a better defense maybe the goaltending wouldnt be such a priority but who knows
- RatedR80

Who is the best available DMan that might be on the Market? Phaneuf? Buff?

If you mean why keeping Eakins if the team still failing, well I can only say that Pride could be one of the reason's but as well it could be that MacT still believe that Eakins is the proper Coach for this team, I mean MacT committed to Eakins by giving him 4 year deal so as a GM you have to hope that you made the right call.
- AlEx_OiL

I don't think there's any doubt he believes that.

and as far as last year, he set him up with a league worst defence and a goalie tandem that couldn't stop a beachball.
the addition of goalies alone made this team abit better. around .500 I believe. u put scrivens fasth in from the start, we're certainly not out of it by November.
I think he wants to see what he can do with am nhl quality roster

If you mean why keeping Eakins if the team still failing, well I can only say that Pride could be one of the reason's but as well it could be that MacT still believe that Eakins is the proper Coach for this team, I mean MacT committed to Eakins by giving him 4 year deal so as a GM you have to hope that you made the right call.
- AlEx_OiL

No I mean if Mac T's gut told him Kruger was not the guy, it would be bad to keep him around.
Having said that, he can't be afraid to make a decision on Eakins if improvement doesn't happen soon.

I don't think there's any doubt he believes that.

and as far as last year, he set him up with a league worst defence and a goalie tandem that couldn't stop a beachball.
the addition of goalies alone made this team abit better. around .500 I believe. u put scrivens fasth in from the start, we're certainly not out of it by November.
I think he wants to see what he can do with am nhl quality roster
- hugefemale dog77

NHL quality roster? He's about 3 players short of that.

Just trying to help you out there champ, so the next time you call someone a (frank)ing idiot, you won't look like an even bigger (frank)ing idiot doing it.
- ruttager17

Try a little harder

Who is the best available DMan that might be on the Market? Phaneuf? Buff?
- Jeropotato

Very good question I dont know who is out there that could help us right now that is on the market....usually teams what a kings ransom for a stud defensemen as is

Agreed. Hopefully Ebs puts up another 70 pts and we can flip him + for a 1D (or something close). I don't think the goaltending is an issue, outside of Scrivens looking pretty soft in Game 1.
- NugentHallberle

I dont want to be hard on Ebs but it is what it is and its not like he is the Ebs of a few years ago....I dunno what happened to that guy I wish he would come back

NHL quality roster? He's about 3 players short of that.
- Jeropotato

this essentially drove the real crux of my point home even further.
merci

Very good question I dont know who is out there that could help us right now that is on the market....usually teams what a kings ransom for a stud defensemen as is
- RatedR80

Yup. I honestly believe that when and if this team is competitive, it's because Marincin, Klefbom, Schultz and Nurse develop into a studly top 4. So....2016-17?

No I mean if Mac T's gut told him Kruger was not the guy, it would be bad to keep him around.
Having said that, he can't be afraid to make a decision on Eakins if improvement doesn't happen soon.
- Jeropotato

Well we won't know because he made the call but like I was saying next 20 games are going to tell lot's about the team and eakins.

I am just saving you a lot of money and bullpoop. Can't have this broad affecting my experiments on you.
- ruttager17

Thanks home. ... I'll return the favor one day.... you know... if you ever get layed...

8 mins being shorthanded in the second
6 in the 3rd
so this makes complete sense why yakupov wasn't out there much in the second. can we put this to bed now?

although our 4th isn't much of a threat to truly score, I think its probably been our best line. solid downlow and forecheck--a few shifts of offensive zone cycling strong defensively.

i assume cause mact and Eakins didn't think marincin had as strong a camp as some of his counterparts. and he isn't established enough to get a pass just yet
- hugefemale dog77

My mistake, i apologize.

Eakins prides himself on conditioning, so when the team asked Marincin to put on some weight he should know that bulking and putting on weight is going to affect conditioning. So if that's really the reason it makes it worse IMO. He's punishing him for doing what the team asked him to do

I dont want to be hard on Ebs but it is what it is and its not like he is the Ebs of a few years ago....I dunno what happened to that guy I wish he would come back
- RatedR80

Huh? Ebs was always a floater. a few years ago he had that sick and unsustainable shooting %, remember? 18% with Renny, closer to 11% the rest of the time.

I dont want to be hard on Ebs but it is what it is and its not like he is the Ebs of a few years ago....I dunno what happened to that guy I wish he would come back
- RatedR80

He just needs to battle and show some heart. He could be back in my good books pretty quick if he just looked like he wanted it out there.

My mistake, i apologize.

Eakins prides himself on conditioning, so when the team asked Marincin to put on some weight he should know that bulking and putting on weight is going to affect conditioning. So if that's really the reason it makes it worse IMO. He's punishing him for doing what the team asked him to do
- SpoiledByOil

Or for doing it improperly.

Huh? Ebs was always a floater. a few years ago he had that sick and unsustainable shooting %, remember? 18% with Renny, closer to 11% the rest of the time.
- Jeropotato

Seemed like he was battling a lot more before he picked up the big contract...

He just needs to battle and show some heart. He could be back in my good books pretty quick if he just looked like he wanted it out there.
- NugentHallberle

He's gonna have to if he ever wants to get to that 30+ goal mark again. No way he can do it without increasing his shot total dramatically.

Seemed like he was battling a lot more before he picked up the big contract...
- NugentHallberle

I like ebs for sole reason he a home town hero... got to support the local boys...

Or for doing it improperly.
- Jeropotato

Have you ever bulked up to put on muscle? You lose conditioning, there's really no way around it

Edit: grammar for scholar