Exactly what it was. They had to be embarrassed by the lack of effort. I'll settle for a stinker in a series if that puts them back on track to win.
They're going to have issues with Sens speed, and the Rangers suck at recovering the dump ins.
Thoughts?
- Fenrir

As long as they dont try to skate through the whole team(which seems to be a player issue, not coaching) I think they will be ok. Have enough speed on the team to recover pucks dumped in. I'm sure AV is going over all this now, but it will be up to the players to execute.

I would say getting the lead will be extremely important this series. It will open Ottawa up a little more defensively. If Ottawa gets a lead its going to be a little more difficult.

Nashville is fully awesome. I still can't believe McPhee traded Forsberg for (frank)ing Martin Erat.

Imagine a line that was Backstrom centering Ovechkin and Forsberg.

Ekholm is probably top-3 most underrated defenseman in all of hockey.
- eichiefs9

that trade is almost as bad as the Mcdonagh trade

All, trying to determine how best to do the blogs leading up to Thursday's game. Should I just do one that covers forwards, defense, goalie etc. or separate ones by position or something else? Open to thoughts. No guarantee I follow the suggestions but willing to listen to all.
- airjan23

Whatever you come up with is always great.
I'm thinking one on the forwards matchup and one on D including goal should do it.

All, trying to determine how best to do the blogs leading up to Thursday's game. Should I just do one that covers forwards, defense, goalie etc. or separate ones by position or something else? Open to thoughts. No guarantee I follow the suggestions but willing to listen to all.
- airjan23

Personally, unless you have some quota for blogs that you have to put up, I would do a series preview blog, like you normally do, and be done with it. No reason to just make work for yourself.

All, trying to determine how best to do the blogs leading up to Thursday's game. Should I just do one that covers forwards, defense, goalie etc. or separate ones by position or something else? Open to thoughts. No guarantee I follow the suggestions but willing to listen to all.
- airjan23

Let Dundee decide, Jan. Probably best for your health

Nashville is fully awesome. I still can't believe McPhee traded Forsberg for (frank)ing Martin Erat.

Imagine a line that was Backstrom centering Ovechkin and Forsberg.

Ekholm is probably top-3 most underrated defenseman in all of hockey.
- eichiefs9

That's what I admire David Pollie most for. Look at Nashville's current D-core and then look a what other teams have. Fanson, Weber, Suter, Klein, Jones. Just crazy.

Kevin Kurz‏ Verified account
@KKurzNBCS


DeBoer says Joe Thornton was playing through a torn MCL and ACL
- jimbro83

Criticize him all you want, but that's a warrior and leader type effort right there

Let Dundee decide, Jan. Probably best for your health
- 21peter

Ha, good one, kidding, I hope, I think,

All, trying to determine how best to do the blogs leading up to Thursday's game. Should I just do one that covers forwards, defense, goalie etc. or separate ones by position or something else? Open to thoughts. No guarantee I follow the suggestions but willing to listen to all.
- airjan23

If you can slip in the phrase "fleshlight" or "butt chugging" I would be much obliged Jan.

If not I understand, and just do what works best for you.

Ha, good one, kidding, I hope, I think,
- airjan23

that trade is almost as bad as the Mcdonagh trade
- mrn22

I think it was even worse. That's not a slight to McDonagh either. I just think Forsberg is that good.

All, trying to determine how best to do the blogs leading up to Thursday's game. Should I just do one that covers forwards, defense, goalie etc. or separate ones by position or something else? Open to thoughts. No guarantee I follow the suggestions but willing to listen to all.
- airjan23

My Advice: Crayons, construction paper, pictures and lots of shiny things... know your audience and know what keeps their attention.

That's what I admire David Pollie most for. Look at Nashville's current D-core and then look a what other teams have. Fanson, Weber, Suter, Klein, Jones. Just crazy.
- tomburton99

They have easily been the best identifiers of defensive talent. The guys you named plus Ekholm, Ellis, Josi...it's unfathomable how many talented-to-elite defenseman that they have managed to dig up. Hell, the best ones all came outside the first round too.

On the flip side, it's equally as impressive how little offensive talent they've been able to draft. Not a single star forward on that team was drafted by them. Forsberg, Neal, Johansen...all acquired via trade. It's funny to see a GM/staff do unbelievably well drafting at one position and so poor at another.

They have easily been the best identifiers of defensive talent. The guys you named plus Ekholm, Ellis, Josi...it's unfathomable how many talented-to-elite defenseman that they have managed to dig up. Hell, the best ones all came outside the first round too.

On the flip side, it's equally as impressive how little offensive talent they've been able to draft. Not a single star forward on that team was drafted by them. Forsberg, Neal, Johansen...all acquired via trade. It's funny to see a GM/staff do unbelievably well drafting at one position and so poor at another.
- eichiefs9

Like Left Handed Defensemen vs Right handed Defensemen?

They have easily been the best identifiers of defensive talent. The guys you named plus Ekholm, Ellis, Josi...it's unfathomable how many talented-to-elite defenseman that they have managed to dig up. Hell, the best ones all came outside the first round too.

On the flip side, it's equally as impressive how little offensive talent they've been able to draft. Not a single star forward on that team was drafted by them. Forsberg, Neal, Johansen...all acquired via trade. It's funny to see a GM/staff do unbelievably well drafting at one position and so poor at another.
- eichiefs9

I guess that is better than no being to draft any position for poop.

Let Dundee decide, Jan. Probably best for your health
- 21peter

Like Left Handed Defensemen vs Right handed Defensemen?
- MiloslavHorava

I guess that is better than no being to draft any position for poop.
- Pete V

Their success drafting defensemen is impressive considering how historically difficult it is to draft/project top d-men.

Their success drafting defensemen is impressive considering how historically difficult it is to draft/project top d-men.
- eichiefs9

Looks like you guys are set for next season on D.

Looks like you guys are set for next season on D.
- mdw7413

Yeah we've got a Dickhead with a capital "D" for a GM. All set.

Yeah we've got a Dickhead with a capital "D" for a GM. All set.
- eichiefs9

Meh, it isn't that bad as long as he is 6th/7th depth guy. Weight likes giving the younger players a shot.

Criticize him all you want, but that's a warrior and leader type effort right there
- airjan23

I think he is taking that beard to Vegas

Meh, it isn't that bad as long as he is 6th/7th depth guy. Weight likes giving the younger players a shot.
- mdw7413

I've said exactly this every offseason for like the last 4 or 5 of them.

There's always one "don't make such a big deal out of it, he's just going to be a depth defenseman" signing and that signing always ends up playing 60+ games and taking the spot of someone younger and better.

I gave them the benefit of the doubt for a long time, now I'm just assuming the circus continues until it doesn't.

I understood the trade when it happened, but didn't like it

they got manhandled in the 1995 series vs the Flyers and were looking at years of facing the Legion of Doom line and getting Ulf Samuelsson was a direct product of that

looking back, oh god was it bad
- jimbro83

Also letting (I know he was old, but still very productive) Pat Verbeek walk after 96 & the dealing of Ferraro after singing him to a 5 yr deal along with Nordstorm & Lappy for 2 goons & a 40 yr old Yarri Kurri. that was one awful year for Neil Smith.

Also letting (I know he was old, but still very productive) Pat Verbeek walk after 96 & the dealing of Ferraro after singing him to a 5 yr deal along with Nordstorm & Lappy for 2 goons & a 40 yr old Yarri Kurri. that was one awful year for Neil Smith.
- RustyKuntz

I loved Verbeek. Absolutely hated that move. He was a beast in NY