Connor, Ehlers, Laine, Morrissey..........

Maurice's job is to win. Chevy's job is to give him the pieces to work with. If Chevy gives him vets, he has to play the vets.
- bennythehat

Connor: demoted twice when obviously ready. Got an opportunity only due to injury, and has arguably not developed at all since, while struggling away from Scheifele.

Ehlers: spent half a season with Thorburn. Got promoted due to injury, and went off. Was later demoted, struggled on a stagnant line for most of the last two seasons, and has never been given big minutes.

Laine: I mean... really? Maurice has so blatantly screwed the pooch here, I don’t even have to say anything.

Morrissey: was hand picked by Byfuglien in camp to be his partner. Never got powerplay time. Had his minutes limited for entire seasons when he was better than the Chairot playing ahead of him whenever Toby was out. It only picked up last season with the Trouba partnership.

I literally can’t name a single young player in this organization who has been handled properly without having already established themselves here under Noel.

This conversation began with me stating that the KHL is not the #2 pro league. It then moved over to Kovie, who had been "dominating" the KHL, and my point was that Kovie would not do much in the NHL, when he came back. You chose to disagree and now since I was proven right, you have all kinds of excuses.
- bennythehat

In Kovalchuk's defense, players normally begin to decline in their early thirties. See Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little as other examples. Byfuglien's decline if/when he returns will be on display as well.

This conversation began with me stating that the KHL is not the #2 pro league. It then moved over to Kovie, who had been "dominating" the KHL, and my point was that Kovie would not do much in the NHL, when he came back. You chose to disagree and now since I was proven right, you have all kinds of excuses.
- bennythehat

A: the KHL is the #2 league. It’s not even really close.
B: I did say I was wrong, and then explained why. Your argument makes it sound like I expected domination. He’s been half decent, just not enough to stick with that contract.

Connor: demoted twice when obviously ready. Got an opportunity only due to injury, and has arguably not developed at all since, while struggling away from Scheifele.

Ehlers: spent half a season with Thorburn. Got promoted due to injury, and went off. Was later demoted, struggled on a stagnant line for most of the last two seasons, and has never been given big minutes.

Laine: I mean... really? Maurice has so blatantly screwed the pooch here, I don’t even have to say anything.

Morrissey: was hand picked by Byfuglien in camp to be his partner. Never got powerplay time. Had his minutes limited for entire seasons when he was better than the Chairot playing ahead of him whenever Toby was out. It only picked up last season with the Trouba partnership.

I literally can’t name a single young player in this organization who has been handled properly without having already established themselves here under Noel.
- Rexypoo

Since Patrik Laine's big 5 goal game last November 24, 2018. The man has 17 goals in his last 81 games. Rexy those definitely are "generational" numbers. I am unclear as to how Maurice has screwed him since, this year he's been put on the top line and seen his overall powerplay time increase.

Since Patrik Laine's big 5 goal game last November 24, 2018. The man has 17 goals in his last 81 games. Rexy those definitely are "generational" numbers. I am unclear as to how Maurice has screwed him since, this year he's been put on the top line and seen his overall powerplay time increase.
- TheUltimateJet

Well, yeah. Last year was totally on coaching. Little and Laine? Again! Again! Again!
This year? He’s been unbelievable. Creating chances, driving play, defending very well. Shockingly well rounded. He’s shooting often and from everywhere, which means there’s an unholy dam bursting coming soon

Think the NHL owes the Jets an apology after that second Stars goal last night.

That play was s-o-o-o-o off-side, one of the worst calls by an off-ice official ever. And these guys get to look at it slowed down. Possession of puck when the puck is two feet behind the player, and not on his stick. Wow!

No, it may not have cost the Jets the game, who knows? But it was the 2-0 goal in what was basically a one-goal game.

Well, yeah. Last year was totally on coaching. Little and Laine? Again! Again! Again!
This year? He’s been unbelievable. Creating chances, driving play, defending very well. Shockingly well rounded. He’s shooting often and from everywhere, which means there’s an unholy dam bursting coming soon
- Rexypoo

Granted that he has missed 2 games, but Laine is about even with Connor and Ehlers for most shots (unless you want to add in the # of shots that he has missed the net with).
Nice generational goal last night !

In Kovalchuk's defense, players normally begin to decline in their early thirties. See Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little as other examples. Byfuglien's decline if/when he returns will be on display as well.
- TheUltimateJet

Of course Kovie was in decline. Leading the KHL in scoring was just a bit of an overrated accomplishment.

Some players decline faster than others. Crosby, Ovechkin,.....still going strong !

Connor: demoted twice when obviously ready. Got an opportunity only due to injury, and has arguably not developed at all since, while struggling away from Scheifele.

Ehlers: spent half a season with Thorburn. Got promoted due to injury, and went off. Was later demoted, struggled on a stagnant line for most of the last two seasons, and has never been given big minutes.

Laine: I mean... really? Maurice has so blatantly screwed the pooch here, I don’t even have to say anything.

Morrissey: was hand picked by Byfuglien in camp to be his partner. Never got powerplay time. Had his minutes limited for entire seasons when he was better than the Chairot playing ahead of him whenever Toby was out. It only picked up last season with the Trouba partnership.

I literally can’t name a single young player in this organization who has been handled properly without having already established themselves here under Noel.
- Rexypoo

You should end your reply with "in my opinion".....it would be less comical, if you did that.

Granted that he has missed 2 games, but Laine is about even with Connor and Ehlers for most shots (unless you want to add in the # of shots that he has missed the net with).
Nice generational goal last night !
- bennythehat

You’re damn right that was a generational goal.

You should end your reply with "in my opinion".....it would be less comical, if you did that.
- bennythehat

I literally described what happened.
Connor hasn’t really improved since he made it full time, and his numbers reflect that. He was also held back until Perreault went down. This is known.
Ehlers has almost always been underplayed from the start. This is known.
Morrissey was requested by Byfuglien to be his partner in camp. He hasn’t seen special teams time until this year. This is known.
Laine has been constantly jerked around and mishandled. Little and Laine never worked. He hadn’t been allowed to play top minutes for literally an entire season. They changed absolutely nothing when his entire line was in a drought for like 60 games. They haven’t fed him a proper pass on the powerplay in our last 4 games, for Christ sakes.

Of course Kovie was in decline. Leading the KHL in scoring was just a bit of an overrated accomplishment.

Some players decline faster than others. Crosby, Ovechkin,.....still going strong !
- bennythehat

Is Postma still " lighting up that 3rd tier league (KHL ). Wait....he no longer can cut it there and is now in some low tier Swedish League.

..and how is 1.2 Pts per game KHL player Nikita Gusev doing now he is in the NHL.....how about less than a 1/2 point per game with top talents on his lines like Hischier and Hughes.

Kovalchuk....enough said.

KHL has become a bush league. Heck, most Finnish tier teams could beat any KHL team . So could many AHL and OHL teams, and some US college teams.

I literally described what happened.
Connor hasn’t really improved since he made it full time, and his numbers reflect that. He was also held back until Perreault went down. This is known.
Ehlers has almost always been underplayed from the start. This is known.
Morrissey was requested by Byfuglien to be his partner in camp. He hasn’t seen special teams time until this year. This is known.
Laine has been constantly jerked around and mishandled. Little and Laine never worked. He hadn’t been allowed to play top minutes for literally an entire season. They changed absolutely nothing when his entire line was in a drought for like 60 games. They haven’t fed him a proper pass on the powerplay in our last 4 games, for Christ sakes.
- Rexypoo

Little was on Laine's line when he scored a career high 5 goals.

Little was on Laine's line when he scored a career high 5 goals.
- TheUltimateJet

Who works with Laine ? He now has Scheifele for a center and the goals still are not coming. But he is getting assists and is growing as a player.

He had a great view of the winning goal last night.

You’re damn right that was a generational goal.
- Rexypoo

Who works with Laine ? He now has Scheifele for a center and the goals still are not coming. But he is getting assists and is growing as a player.

He had a great view of the winning goal last night.
- bennythehat

Great view and primary assist?

Is Postma still " lighting up that 3rd tier league (KHL ). Wait....he no longer can cut it there and is now in some low tier Swedish League.

..and how is 1.2 Pts per game KHL player Nikita Gusev doing now he is in the NHL.....how about less than a 1/2 point per game with top talents on his lines like Hischier and Hughes.

Kovalchuk....enough said.

KHL has become a bush league. Heck, most Finnish tier teams could beat any KHL team . So could many AHL and OHL teams, and some US college teams.
- jetsnation

Hard to respect a league that Patrice Cormier can be an offensive force in.

Is Postma still " lighting up that 3rd tier league (KHL ). Wait....he no longer can cut it there and is now in some low tier Swedish League.

..and how is 1.2 Pts per game KHL player Nikita Gusev doing now he is in the NHL.....how about less than a 1/2 point per game with top talents on his lines like Hischier and Hughes.

Kovalchuk....enough said.

KHL has become a bush league. Heck, most Finnish tier teams could beat any KHL team . So could many AHL and OHL teams, and some US college teams.
- jetsnation

You do realize Gusev isn’t playing with those two at all, right? No powerplay time either.

Kovalchuk is an aging sniper on a bad team. Not his fault, nor is it the KHL’s.

Little was on Laine's line when he scored a career high 5 goals.
- TheUltimateJet

And Ben Chairot was Byfuglien’s partner for like 4 Norris-level Big Buff seasons in a row.

Even ignoring that, Little wasn’t the reason he scored 5. Laine was.

Hard to respect a league that Patrice Cormier can be an offensive force in.
- bennythehat

A: Cormier isn’t a force there.
B: Cormier has never been a bad player at any level but the NHL.
C: Cormier was the main piece in a trade for prime age Ilya Kovalchuk, which speaks to the level of player he was expected to become before that elbow.

And Ben Chairot was Byfuglien’s partner for like 4 Norris-level Big Buff seasons in a row.

Even ignoring that, Little wasn’t the reason he scored 5. Laine was.
- Rexypoo

Yes, agree that not-so-gentle Ben was a pretty damn good NHL d-man. Not surprising he got a very good contract.

Yes, agree that not-so-gentle Ben was a pretty damn good NHL d-man. Not surprising he got a very good contract.
- grahamzky

He was below replacement level every year after his 14-15 run. He will continue to be bad, and carried by Petry or Weber, until decline hits him.

He was below replacement level every year after his 14-15 run. He will continue to be bad, and carried by Petry or Weber, until decline hits him.
- Rexypoo

Disagree. Always liked Ben

Chiarot was just fine as #6 d-man.

TSN came out with their U-24 rankings.....where is the "generational scorer" ?
He is # 34 .
Connor is #17 and Ehlers is #49.

You do realize Gusev isn’t playing with those two at all, right? No powerplay time either.

Kovalchuk is an aging sniper on a bad team. Not his fault, nor is it the KHL’s.
- Rexypoo

Nonsense. Gusev has been on the second PP most of the season. Early in the season he played on lines with Taylor Hall and Hischier and is currently on the second line with Coleman and Zajac where he has spent most of his time. Check your facts next time .


https://frozenpool.dobber....com/players/nikita-gusev

...and the point everyone is making with regards to Kovalchuk is that he is over a point a game player in the KHL right until the minute he comes back to the NHL. Perfect demonstration of how bush-league the KHL has become. Cormier is an excellent example as well. Kempe , who the Kings just cut will be the next example.

...and Postma was just plain bad in any league.