Michael Pachla: Ralph Krueger's handling of Rasmus Dahlin plus line notes

The team is off to a great start. That does not mean complacency should set in regarding making continuous roster improvements.

The team is off to a great start. That does not mean complacency should set in regarding making continuous roster improvements.
- kingcong39

what changes/improvements are we talking about?

Good call on the line mixing. Housley did it a ton and Disco with his "pairs" and mixing the third guy. I still dont agree with the Sobotka placement but I admire Ralph's patience

In other news, Lehner is already throwing teammates under the bus


"We've got to tighten it up. We definitely have to tighten it up. Again, it's time to stop making excuses. We've got to do our assignments, we've got to take care of the puck. We've got to tighten it up. We definitely have to tighten it up."

Has an excuse for himself though:


“The first goal is unfortunate,” Lehner said. “It squeaks through. But I was where I wanted to be in position, and somehow it goes in. Got to try to clean that up.”

what changes/improvements are we talking about?
- Michael Pachla

Mainly the logjam at defense that will begin with Montour will come back, but also regarding upgrading at wing/center by using the surplus of defense.

The eventually be in that mix comment is a joke considering they coughed up a 2 goal lead using the veterans.

Why is it a joke, Dahlin has been bad defensively.

The kid is gonna be good, but he needs work on his defensive game

Mainly the logjam at defense that will begin with Montour will come back, but also regarding upgrading at wing/center by using the surplus of defense.
- kingcong39

I addressed some of that when I said forces will eventually change the Sobotka situation, and that included the possibility of a trade...

and, is Montour back on the ice?

The eventually be in that mix comment is a joke considering they coughed up a 2 goal lead using the veterans.
- kingcong39

he was not playing well vs. florida...plus, and I forgot to put this in the blog, he's taken four lazy penalties the last three games--three interference and one slash

he was not playing well vs. florida...plus, and I forgot to put this in the blog, he's taken four lazy penalties the last three games--three interference and one slash
- Michael Pachla

That's all well and good, but they coughed up a pair of 2 goal leads the last two games.

They should try new closers rather than waiting until they cough up another lead and actually lose before trying.

I'll begrudgingly admit that Sobotka has played well and is earning his spot in the lineup, however he does not belong in the top 6.

Promote Thompson and/or Lazar, demote Erod, shuffle up lines 2 & 3. Vesey to the press box.

Skinner/Eichel/Olafsson
Reinhart/Mojo/Thompson
Sobotka/Mitts/Sheary or Lazar
Girgs/Larsson/Okposo

Skinner/Reinhart can be flipped as well

he was not playing well vs. florida...plus, and I forgot to put this in the blog, he's taken four lazy penalties the last three games--three interference and one slash
- Michael Pachla

Wennberg deserved 2 for diving on one of them

The only thing I would do right know is flip Vesey and Sobotka, see if you can get Vesey going. Or concede right know that Mitts is not ready for 3c and put him at Rw on the 2nd line and Sobotka at 3c.

The team is off to a great start. That does not mean complacency should set in regarding making continuous roster improvements.
- kingcong39

Or improvements within the system, also, as I think they're still running around too much in their own end of the rink.

The only thing I would do right know is flip Vesey and Sobotka, see if you can get Vesey going. Or concede right know that Mitts is not ready for 3c and put him at Rw on the 2nd line and Sobotka at 3c.
- Buff36

Agree w this.

Or improvements within the system, also, as I think they're still running around too much in their own end of the rink.
- Powerslave

They still struggle with wall hockey, which is why they had trouble with the Blue Jackets game around the boards.

That's all well and good, but they coughed up a pair of 2 goal leads the last two games.

They should try new closers rather than waiting until they cough up another lead and actually lose before trying.
- kingcong39

Not sure why you'd put a struggling 19 yr old defenseman in a situation like that. Especially against a big, talented veteran team like the Cats.

The only thing I would do right know is flip Vesey and Sobotka, see if you can get Vesey going. Or concede right know that Mitts is not ready for 3c and put him at Rw on the 2nd line and Sobotka at 3c.
- Buff36

Mitts is on a slow curve right now. But he's been getting a real good feel for his defensive responsibilities as an NHL center

Not sure why you'd put a struggling 19 yr old defenseman in a situation like that. Especially against a big, talented veteran team like the Cats.
- Michael Pachla

Because he's a tremendous player and the guys they leaned on didn't get the job done?

Because he's a tremendous player and the guys they leaned on didn't get the job done?
- kingcong39

He hasn't looked tremendous defensively especially against C bus and the Cats.

Because he's a tremendous player and the guys they leaned on didn't get the job done?
- kingcong39

Agreed and if you want Dahlin to improve in those scenarios, then giving him a chance and see what happens is worth it. I feel as though we are trying to not lose and that is the problem. Where Dahlin will try to move the puck up ice and create offense, which did not seem like that was in the game plan at that time. And showcasing our aging D only works if they get the job done, which they did not.

Agreed and if you want Dahlin to improve in those scenarios, then giving him a chance and see what happens is worth it. I feel as though we are trying to not lose and that is the problem. Where Dahlin will try to move the puck up ice and create offense, which did not seem like that was in the game plan at that time. And showcasing our aging D only works if they get the job done, which they did not.
- Lilroot9

He was terrible in his own zone below the goal line his last shift in the third. Watch the replay. Imo, and by the way Kreuger addressed it post game, Dahlin looked mentally spent and it showed

He wad terrible in his own zone below the goal line. Watch the replay. Imo, and by the way Kreuger addressed it post game, Dahlin looked mentally spent and it showed
- Michael Pachla

I am not saying to put him out there for the majority of the time, but 0 in the last 7 minutes? That just puts the other D out there too long when playing prevent D. I’m not worried about Kureuger or Dahlin, they will both be fine. I don’t want my team going into a shell at the end of games anymore, I want my team to continue to play and try to score more.

The bills lost today .....