What are your thoughts on the development of Hockey sense?
- YuenglingJagr

At that age? About as unlikely as bonerfide69 earning his PhD in Theoretical Physics. I think it's something mostly set in stone. I mean, it's intelligence......just on the ice. Do you think someone actually gets smarter? And I don't mean intelligence as in simply learning more.

You can refine your game or mature your game or improve within your limits, but I don't think you can find a case of a dumb player becoming smart. I'm not talking about maturation or improved structure -- those are natural improvements every player is trying to make. I feel like we've talked about this before and my definition of what "hockey sense" is, but I think I'm good at identifying it. It's just the ability to consistently read plays and make smart, aware decisions on and off puck; so much of it is just instinct or ingrained ability to understand game flow. You don't have to be a 2-way stud to have strong hockey sense. Jonatan Berggren has incredible hockey sense as more of a flashy, offensive player. It's the hardest single thing and most important thing for which to evaluate a player, and it's often why opinions get split.

If I thought it was not great but okay relating to an NHL level, in Kupari's case or whoever, I'd have said "average." Veleno is another guy like Kupari -- and another player in our range I'm not a big supporter of -- but at least his physicality and on-ice motor allow him to have more of a presence out there. That's the other thing with Kupari: he can play on the passive side. Merkley I think has horrendous hockey sense. Last year I thought Owen Tippett was actually lobotomized on the ice. You can name any players you want; I can give you a 20-80 scale or something, if you're having trouble parsing this out.

Miller is really starting to grow on me the more I read about him and things analyst say. His upside seems crazy if you can give him some time.

At that age? About as unlikely as bonerfide69 earning his PhD in Theoretical Physics. I think it's something mostly set in stone. I mean, it's intelligence......just on the ice. Do you think someone actually gets smarter? And I don't mean intelligence as in simply learning more.

You can refine your game or mature your game or improve within your limits, but I don't think you can find a case of a dumb player becoming smart. I'm not talking about maturation or improved structure -- those are natural improvements every player is trying to make. I feel like we've talked about this before and my definition of what "hockey sense" is, but I think I'm good at identifying it. It's just the ability to consistently read plays and make smart, aware decisions on and off puck; so much of it is just instinct or ingrained ability to understand game flow. You don't have to be a 2-way stud to have strong hockey sense. Jonatan Berggren has incredible hockey sense as more of a flashy, offensive player. It's the hardest single thing and most important thing for which to evaluate a player, and it's often why opinions get split.

If I thought it was not great but okay relating to an NHL level, in Kupari's case or whoever, I'd have said "average." Veleno is another guy like Kupari -- and another player in our range I'm not a big supporter of -- but at least his physicality and on-ice motor allow him to have more of a presence out there. That's the other thing with Kupari: he can play on the passive side. Merkley I think has horrendous hockey sense. Last year I thought Owen Tippett was actually lobotomized on the ice. You can name any players you want; I can give you a 20-80 scale or something, if you're having trouble parsing this out.
- Mononoke

how confident are you that Berggren will be there at 19? do you take him at 14 just to be safe?

Lol what a dumbass intro.

Let’s announce the other team name by name so we can boo them.

Lol what a dumbass intro.

Let’s announce the other team name by name so we can boo them.
- flyer_nutter

Brandon McNabb... Lmaooo

Dann good save by MAF on OVI

At that age? About as unlikely as bonerfide69 earning his PhD in Theoretical Physics. I think it's something mostly set in stone. I mean, it's intelligence......just on the ice. Do you think someone actually gets smarter? And I don't mean intelligence as in simply learning more.

You can refine your game or mature your game or improve within your limits, but I don't think you can find a case of a dumb player becoming smart. I'm not talking about maturation or improved structure -- those are natural improvements every player is trying to make. I feel like we've talked about this before and my definition of what "hockey sense" is, but I think I'm good at identifying it. It's just the ability to consistently read plays and make smart, aware decisions on and off puck; so much of it is just instinct or ingrained ability to understand game flow. You don't have to be a 2-way stud to have strong hockey sense. Jonatan Berggren has incredible hockey sense as more of a flashy, offensive player. It's the hardest single thing and most important thing for which to evaluate a player, and it's often why opinions get split.

If I thought it was not great but okay relating to an NHL level, in Kupari's case or whoever, I'd have said "average." Veleno is another guy like Kupari -- and another player in our range I'm not a big supporter of -- but at least his physicality and on-ice motor allow him to have more of a presence out there. That's the other thing with Kupari: he can play on the passive side. Merkley I think has horrendous hockey sense. Last year I thought Owen Tippett was actually lobotomized on the ice. You can name any players you want; I can give you a 20-80 scale or something, if you're having trouble parsing this out.
- Mononoke

Love me some 20-80 scale. My farm draft starts this week.

I think we have talked about it. I understand what hockey sense is just think it can get lumped into other things. I’m not convinced it can’t improve and as you’ve acknowledged it is difficult to read in the first place.

I can think of recent examples of players who were knocked for hockey sense but haven’t been paying attention to know long term examples.

What would you say Voracek grades out at right now (apologies in advance for making you think about an older man)

Lol what a dumbass intro.

Let’s announce the other team name by name so we can boo them.
- flyer_nutter

LOL sooo much better than Vegas.

They should have had Vanna White out there turning each player around as he called their names.

Caps really running around. Only a matter of time before they went shorthanded.

Caps fans booing the most blatant goaltender interference call.

LOL sooo much better than Vegas.

They should have had Vanna White out there turning each player around as he called their names.
- MBFlyerfan

Rumors are that cirque du solei (however you spell it) might own the Sens? Or partly?

That could be interesting.

Brandon McNabb... Lmaooo
- Yosimar89

Coulda been worse, coulda said Donovan.

Damn this game is off the hook

Thoughts

http://phillysportsnetwork.com/2018/06/02/coup/
- wcorvette

Who's man's is this?.

At that age? About as unlikely as bonerfide69 earning his PhD in Theoretical Physics. I think it's something mostly set in stone. I mean, it's intelligence......just on the ice. Do you think someone actually gets smarter? And I don't mean intelligence as in simply learning more.

You can refine your game or mature your game or improve within your limits, but I don't think you can find a case of a dumb player becoming smart. I'm not talking about maturation or improved structure -- those are natural improvements every player is trying to make. I feel like we've talked about this before and my definition of what "hockey sense" is, but I think I'm good at identifying it. It's just the ability to consistently read plays and make smart, aware decisions on and off puck; so much of it is just instinct or ingrained ability to understand game flow. You don't have to be a 2-way stud to have strong hockey sense. Jonatan Berggren has incredible hockey sense as more of a flashy, offensive player. It's the hardest single thing and most important thing for which to evaluate a player, and it's often why opinions get split.

If I thought it was not great but okay relating to an NHL level, in Kupari's case or whoever, I'd have said "average." Veleno is another guy like Kupari -- and another player in our range I'm not a big supporter of -- but at least his physicality and on-ice motor allow him to have more of a presence out there. That's the other thing with Kupari: he can play on the passive side. Merkley I think has horrendous hockey sense. Last year I thought Owen Tippett was actually lobotomized on the ice. You can name any players you want; I can give you a 20-80 scale or something, if you're having trouble parsing this out.
- Mononoke

*Looks at Mono's wall of text*

Is the Coffin open? How do I get myself on the list?

Good hit. That should have been a Vegas PP for the retaliation.

LOL sooo much better than Vegas.

They should have had Vanna White out there turning each player around as he called their names.
- MBFlyerfan

Lol

Holtby lol

Holtby lol
- Mordecai

Can't be doing that Holtby but as a fan of hockey should set us up for a great 15 mins plus a point for PEB.

Can't be doing that Holtby but as a fan of hockey should set us up for a great 15 mins plus a point for PEB.
- opeth_pa

yeeeet

Nick Backstrom is one of my favorite players ever and Ovi is awesome but i'd love to see Vegas troll everyone and win it all

yeeeet

Nick Backstrom is one of my favorite players ever and Ovi is awesome but i'd love to see Vegas troll everyone and win it all
- Mordecai

i want 7 games just to see more ridiculous pre-game ceremonies

Good grief Holtby. Capitals look really solid this whole game. A couple posts to boot. Vegas is starting to come on a bit now though. Savage board/corner battles. Real heavy hockey being played.

Vegas with some momentum after that PK. Cody Eakin wow.

i want 7 games just to see more ridiculous pre-game ceremonies
- Nucker101

this is a hot take that i can get behind

how confident are you that Berggren will be there at 19? do you take him at 14 just to be safe?
- Mordecai

Reasonably confident. I don't think his consensus hype is enough where he won't be there at #19. Ideally we can draft someone like Farabee at #14, perhaps Kravtsov or someone. Would I be against taking Berggren at #14 if Farabee was off the board? No, though I don't think it's the best "value." I have them back to back at 8 and 9 on my board fwiw. Otherwise, I certainly wouldn't mind taking Berggren at #14, then trading back #19 to pick up an early-mid 2nd. I think you can get an otherwise similar player at #23-25 as #19, then some steals with the 2nd. Berggren and Farabee are the apple of my eye though. Pulling both would be insane.