I don't necessarily think they're a "slow team"...they have plenty of players who can skate well, but teams do know how to slow them down and being as young as they are, collectively, they haven't figured out how to counter that yet.

all-said, they have some pretty slow players
- Michael Pachla

I'll put it this way. They're a faster team than last year. They're still not near where they need to be.

Sam Gagner on waivers, wouldn't be surprised to see him get claimed. Wonder if Buffalo would have any interest.

Also, Firehouse Subs are pretty damn good.

Quotes not working, but i agree about keeping Larsson at 3C and getting 28 on the wing with Eichel. Girgs' game is so solid in that 3 role but we need to generate goals, and I think he can bring way more creativity, physicality, and finish than Ennis (right now) or Gio or anyone else we've tried on line 2.

Great to hear Pysyk will be practicing soon, and Lehner as well. We seem to be a little steadier when Pys-pot is back there.

Can someone explain me who the old guy is in the Star Wars first scene who gets killed
- gerbe75pts

It's not very clear. Supposedly he's from the books.

If we can add a Boedker, and maybe a true puck rushing D, I think it will open the ice up for some players.

We might not be that slow, but it's not like our speed is helping the transition game. We rarely catch teams flat footed, or just plain out skate anyone
- sbroads24

The transition game and possession numbers have taken a HUGE hit with Pysyk out. Franson doesn't help the speed component at all. I'm fairly certain that the goalies can skate faster than him with all their equipment on.

Solo ?
- cabin

Nope not him

It's not very clear. Supposedly he's from the books.
- buffalofan19

I was confused when he said you got old etc

Quotes not working, but i agree about keeping Larsson at 3C and getting 28 on the wing with Eichel. Girgs' game is so solid in that 3 role but we need to generate goals, and I think he can bring way more creativity, physicality, and finish than Ennis (right now) or Gio or anyone else we've tried on line 2.

Great to hear Pysyk will be practicing soon, and Lehner as well. We seem to be a little steadier when Pys-pot is back there.
- LandlordTom

I always liked the idea of girgs on eichel's wing...he can really work the corners, is excellent without the puck and can play off of eichel's creativity...that said, Larsson/gus/Gionta has been a pretty effective shutdown line

Also, Firehouse Subs are pretty damn good.
- buffalofan19

They are good but they still can't beat Wegmans subs for me

Can someone explain me who the old guy is in the Star Wars first scene who gets killed
- gerbe75pts

I think they just needed someone from whom the resistance pilot, forget his name, was getting the information about Luke's whereabouts.

I have heard theories about the parallels drawn to Obi Wan being on the planet with Luke to watch over him as a child and the guy you are talking about possibly being there to watch over Rey.

When we find out more about Rey, who she is, why she was on that planet, etc. Maybe it will be explained.

Personally, I think the fact that they didn't give him a name and had him die 10 minutes into the movie means that he was just a necessary character to have the chip with the map that allowed for the story to start.

I always liked the idea of girgs on eichel's wing...he can really work the corners, is excellent without the puck and can play off of eichel's creativity...that said, Larsson/gus/Gionta has been a pretty effective shutdown line
- Michael Pachla

Girgs also drives the net, which is something that seems to be seriously lacking on this team. When Reinhart is the guy that does it most often, it's a problem. McGinn does it as well, which is probably why that line is working and the others aren't.

If we can add a Boedker, and maybe a true puck rushing D, I think it will open the ice up for some players.

We might not be that slow, but it's not like our speed is helping the transition game. We rarely catch teams flat footed, or just plain out skate anyone
- sbroads24

I have no idea what to think of Boedker i.e. his ultimate production level, and in turn the cost it would take to sign him this offseason, but I agree that he is what the team needs in terms of speed and skill.

If he continues scoring at his present pace and ends up with a near 30 goal 60 point season, his price is going to sky rocket, and I would be very, very wary of paying him decent dollars for a long term deal unless I am absolutely sold he is near top line RW duties.

They are good but they still can't beat Wegmans subs for me
- gerbe75pts

MMM wegmans subs.. Had one last week. Agreed. top of my list

The transition game and possession numbers have taken a HUGE hit with Pysyk out. Franson doesn't help the speed component at all. I'm fairly certain that the goalies can skate faster than him with all their equipment on.
- HonkFortheGoose

I don't think he is the sole reason our possession has tapered off. Remember, he wasn't even top 4 in ice time, and played against sheltered competition.

I agree getting him back will be a boost, but IMO teams have some film on Eichel and have been able to slow him down, and have been able to get Reinhart off of his game as well.

Even with how good Pysyk is at getting the puck to our forwards, they still have to do something with it. There are too many players right now contributing nothing to the score sheet on a nightly basis

It's not very clear. Supposedly he's from the books.
- buffalofan19

Cept the books aren't canon anymore. Though I did hear on a podcast they threw a bit of a tribute towards them, so you could be right.

And also, I think there's a book that came out a bit before the movie that explains the big fight that happened on that planet to leave it with the ships and things all crashed/blown up there.

I'll put it this way. They're a faster team than last year. They're still not near where they need to be.
- buffalofan19

they were at the beginning of the season...what happened?

I don't think he is the sole reason our possession has tapered off. Remember, he wasn't even top 4 in ice time, and played against sheltered competition.

I agree getting him back will be a boost, but IMO teams have some film on Eichel and have been able to slow him down, and have been able to get Reinhart off of his game as well.

Even with how good Pysyk is at getting the puck to our forwards, they still have to do something with it. There are too many players right now contributing nothing to the score sheet on a nightly basis
- sbroads24

Personally, I am getting sick of seeing the lead blocking, as I call it, when one of the oppositions forwards seem to somehow skate in the way of the attacking forward who is trying to get the puck from the opposition D when they have zero interest in getting the puck themselves and are only doing that to slow the attacking forward.

I would call that obstruction/intereference 100% of the time. That stuff is slowing the game down big time as it allows teams to set into defensive postures much more easily, and it needs to go.

Girgs also drives the net, which is something that seems to be seriously lacking on this team. When Reinhart is the guy that does it most often, it's a problem. McGinn does it as well, which is probably why that line is working and the others aren't.
- HonkFortheGoose

yeah, goosie, that too...the first time last night that gus and Gionta joined Eichel on a line, Eichel worked some puck-magic, danced in and got a shot off from in close...gus and Gionta were right there

they were at the beginning of the season...what happened?
- Michael Pachla

Teams are doing a really good job of clogging up the neutral zone. If you watch any game in the league right now, most games look very much like ours did last night. Instead of games being played in the ends, the majority of them seem to be getting played in the neutral zone. The look of them is starting to get very much back to the neutral zone trap games of the early 2000s.

Personally, I am getting sick of seeing the lead blocking, as I call it, when one of the oppositions forwards seem to somehow skate in the way of the attacking forward who is trying to get the puck from the opposition D when they have zero interest in getting the puck themselves and are only doing that to slow the attacking forward.

I would call that obstruction/intereference 100% of the time. That stuff is slowing the game down big time as it allows teams to set into defensive postures much more easily, and it needs to go.
- kingcong39

This. x1000000000

It's brutal.

MMM wegmans subs.. Had one last week. Agreed. top of my list
- cabin

What's your favorite? Mine is Danny's favorite

they were at the beginning of the season...what happened?
- Michael Pachla

They weren't that fast at the beginning of the season either. That fact is simply magnified at this point of the season.

Teams are doing a really good job of clogging up the neutral zone. If you watch any game in the league right now, most games look very much like ours did last night. Instead of games being played in the ends, the majority of them seem to be getting played in the neutral zone. The look of them is starting to get very much back to the neutral zone trap games of the early 2000s.
- HonkFortheGoose

kane mentioned that post-game...called it boring...totally agree

Personally, I am getting sick of seeing the lead blocking, as I call it, when one of the oppositions forwards seem to somehow skate in the way of the attacking forward who is trying to get the puck from the opposition D when they have zero interest in getting the puck themselves and are only doing that to slow the attacking forward.

I would call that obstruction/intereference 100% of the time. That stuff is slowing the game down big time as it allows teams to set into defensive postures much more easily, and it needs to go.
- kingcong39

It won't get called. The league is worried about head shots, and the worst hits seem to come from fore checkers chasing the puck into the corners