I keep reading on so many places about how "Seabrook has fallen."

I guess my eyes missed that or they had fanboy glasses on.

I don't need season numbers or incidence reports for anyone on the blog, I am willing to watch the season unfold and find the evidence or not by watching closer.
- wiz1901

Seabs is my favorite player, so I might be biased, but as far as his fancy numbers and possession is concerned, yeah, he has totally dropped off, but there are reasons. His deployment and responsibility has changed.

Seabs used to be one of the best blue line breakup guys in the NHL. He actually still was at least by January last year (top 5 in the league). His style is a strong positioning game, active stick, and great use of his body and size. That style compliments Keith perfectly.

The problem now is that he's not paired with Keith, or any D-man who has that kind of responsibility. He's paired with Kempny, Gustafsson, Svedberg, etc because he's the mentor. This is a problem for a big positioning player who is not fast. He can't get back fast enough to cover for a guy like that, and Seabs has never been great at 2 on 1s. His signature 2 on one move is to lay down and swing his stick to block the passing lane (how many times have you seen that in the past 2 season?) It's not a bad strategy when it works, but it completely takes him out of the play after that. His role has also transitioned more offensive after he had the stint as our number 1 when Keith was out with knee surgery, a time when he looked fantastic, I'll point out.

My hope for this season is that 7-2 are reunited, but if not, I hope they can have Kempny play more meaningful minutes and get better so Seabs isn't always left to cover for him when he messes up.

I realize you said you don't need anything form us on the blog, but I can't let the "Sebas has dropped off" thing be mentioned without being triggered, I paid attention to him the most of all players, and I play defense myself, so I wanted to see if I could tell what was happening.

The Hawks will be on national TV a league leading 17 times. Only one 11:30 start.

An interesting take on the offer sheet issue:

https://theathletic.com/8...heets-are-so-rare-in-nhl/

Seabs is my favorite player, so I might be biased, but as far as his fancy numbers and possession is concerned, yeah, he has totally dropped off, but there are reasons. His deployment and responsibility has changed.

Seabs used to be one of the best blue line breakup guys in the NHL. He actually still was at least by January last year (top 5 in the league). His style is a strong positioning game, active stick, and great use of his body and size. That style compliments Keith perfectly.

The problem now is that he's not paired with Keith, or any D-man who has that kind of responsibility. He's paired with Kempny, Gustafsson, Svedberg, etc because he's the mentor. This is a problem for a big positioning player who is not fast. He can't get back fast enough to cover for a guy like that, and Seabs has never been great at 2 on 1s. His signature 2 on one move is to lay down and swing his stick to block the passing lane (how many times have you seen that in the past 2 season?) It's not a bad strategy when it works, but it completely takes him out of the play after that. His role has also transitioned more offensive after he had the stint as our number 1 when Keith was out with knee surgery, a time when he looked fantastic, I'll point out.

My hope for this season is that 7-2 are reunited, but if not, I hope they can have Kempny play more meaningful minutes and get better so Seabs isn't always left to cover for him when he messes up.

I realize you said you don't need anything form us on the blog, but I can't let the "Sebas has dropped off" thing be mentioned without being triggered, I paid attention to him the most of all players, and I play defense myself, so I wanted to see if I could tell what was happening.
- JRoenick97

Great post

Was gonna say the same thing. The "Q hates young guys" argument is junk. It ignored Saad, Leddy, Tuevo, and more recently, Schmaltz, Hinostroza, and Kero. All of those guys got meaningful NHL playing time. Schmaltz and Kero were staples last year.
- JRoenick97

And Shaw, Kruger and Hjalmarsson. Who all were young and inexperienced when they became fixtures in the line-ups.

The reality is that Q doesn't play young guys that some fans think should be in the line-up. Like Pirri, Hayes, Morin, etc. All guys who wear out there welcomes very quickly in other places.

And Shaw, Kruger and Hjalmarsson. Who all were young and inexperienced when they became fixtures in the line-ups.

The reality is that Q doesn't play young guys that some fans think should be in the line-up. Like Pirri, Hayes, Morin, etc. All guys who wear out there welcomes very quickly in other places.
- TTtime

A team with championship pretensions can't be developing players in the Show - that has to be done in the "A" (or Europe).

A player brought up to the NHL should only need to be acclimatized to the size, strength, and speed of the players (including those on his own team) in the ultimate league.

And Shaw, Kruger and Hjalmarsson. Who all were young and inexperienced when they became fixtures in the line-ups.

The reality is that Q doesn't play young guys that some fans think should be in the line-up. Like Pirri, Hayes, Morin, etc. All guys who wear out there welcomes very quickly in other places.
- TTtime

Boom.