PP is a joke lately no one can argue that. When Barzal is in one of his funks it’s worse imho. Everyone makes mistakes on the PP that why teams with the best % are at ~25%. The fact is when your most dynamic player is brutal in his decision making it is exaggerated IMO. When he’s playing like this he makes the PP worse and it’s better without him. He goes through this season after season and it’s not because of Leo or anyone else. He has no one to blame but himself.
- nyisles7

Sure and I agree. When he’s “pressing” it effects his overall game including the PP which was kind of mine and every other posters point. Not to tit for tat that’s not what I’m doing but do you think Bailey is awesome when he’s sitting on the half boards motionless and dishes the puck and forces a low percentage pass to the opposing team only to have it come back the other way on us every powerplay? That happens consistently. I’m saying this as an analogy not to bust your balls. Do you think the powerplay is better without Bailey or do you think he has to work through it? If you say work through it I’ll tell you he has been doing this since he has been on the pp which is true yet you want to pull Barzal off the pp? I get it. When Barzal is pressing and in a funk he’s bad but if you pull him off the powerplay you just made our pp exponentially worse and easier to defend against.

Sure and I agree. When he’s “pressing” it effects his overall game including the PP which was kind of mine and every other posters point. Not to tit for tat that’s not what I’m doing but do you think Bailey is awesome when he’s sitting on the half boards motionless and dishes the puck and forces a low percentage pass to the opposing team only to have it come back the other way on us every powerplay? That happens consistently. I’m saying this as an analogy not to bust your balls. Do you think the powerplay is better without Bailey or do you think he has to work through it? If you say work through it I’ll tell you he has been doing this since he has been on the pp which is true yet you want to pull Barzal off the pp? I get it. When Barzal is pressing and in a funk he’s bad but if you pull him off the powerplay you just made our pp exponentially worse and easier to defend against.
- Cptmjl

I think Bailey makes bone headed errors so does everyone else. As far a Barzal on the PP the unit without him has been consistently better earlier this year which was Bailey, Nelson and Beau.
Barzal when in his funk actually helps kill the penalty by skating around not passing and everyone else is watching him stationary because they don’t know what the (frank) he’s going to do next and the twists and turns and turns over the puck. Again he’s dynamic and has great talent but he needs to keep it simple or it falls apart.

BTW Bailey leads all forwards in PPP, pulling him of the PP might not be a good idea either

I think Bailey makes bone headed errors so does everyone else. As far a Barzal on the PP the unit without him has been consistently better earlier this year which was Bailey, Nelson and Beau.
Barzal when in his funk actually helps kill the penalty by skating around not passing and everyone else is watching him stationary because they don’t know what the (frank) he’s going to do next and the twists and turns and turns over the puck. Again he’s dynamic and has great talent but he needs to keep it simple or it falls apart.

BTW Bailey leads all forwards in PPP, pulling him of the PP might not be a good idea either
- nyisles7

Let’s cut through all of this BS and get to the point. So you’re saying Komarov is a good option for the last 10-15 or however many games he has been on the first line with Barzal? That’s your position? This has been going on long enough

I think Bailey makes bone headed errors so does everyone else. As far a Barzal on the PP the unit without him has been consistently better earlier this year which was Bailey, Nelson and Beau.
Barzal when in his funk actually helps kill the penalty by skating around not passing and everyone else is watching him stationary because they don’t know what the (frank) he’s going to do next and the twists and turns and turns over the puck. Again he’s dynamic and has great talent but he needs to keep it simple or it falls apart.

BTW Bailey leads all forwards in PPP, pulling him of the PP might not be a good idea either
- nyisles7

Serious question. Do you really have any friends because you are quite possibly the biggest douche that I can think of in all my 74 years on earth.

Sure and I agree. When he’s “pressing” it effects his overall game including the PP which was kind of mine and every other posters point. Not to tit for tat that’s not what I’m doing but do you think Bailey is awesome when he’s sitting on the half boards motionless and dishes the puck and forces a low percentage pass to the opposing team only to have it come back the other way on us every powerplay? That happens consistently. I’m saying this as an analogy not to bust your balls. Do you think the powerplay is better without Bailey or do you think he has to work through it? If you say work through it I’ll tell you he has been doing this since he has been on the pp which is true yet you want to pull Barzal off the pp? I get it. When Barzal is pressing and in a funk he’s bad but if you pull him off the powerplay you just made our pp exponentially worse and easier to defend against.

Let’s cut through all of this BS and get to the point. So you’re saying Komarov is a good option for the last 10-15 games he has been there on the first line with Barzal? That’s your position?
- Cptmjl

Ok let me say this one more time so you get it. I don’t think Leo is the answer to replace Lee but with Leo and Zajac or others like them they play the game the right way. I’m saying it’s not their fault Barzal goes into a funk. We have seen this in the past with Lee, Eberle and others on his line.
The team seems to be playing well right now so I wouldn’t change much. Would I give Bellows or Wally a shot sure. But they need to play a complete game which they haven’t been lately imo. You can put Brett Hull on Barzals line and if he’s in his funk he would have trouble producing. It’s him not others that’s my point and of course my opinion.

Now let’s move on

Serious question. Do you really have any friends because you are quite possibly the biggest douche that I can think of in all my 74 years on earth.
- floridaronnie

None Ronnie, 74 and still picking oranges?
Say hi to Mom from me Gramps.😘

Ok let me say this one more time so you get it. I don’t think Leo is the answer to replace Lee but with Leo and Zajac or others like them they play the game the right way. I’m saying it’s not their fault Barzal goes into a funk. We have seen this in the past with Lee, Eberle
The team seems to be playing well right now so I wouldn’t change much. Would I give Bellows or Wally a shot sure. But they need to play a complete game which they haven’t been lately imo. You can put Brett Hull on Barzals line and if he’s in his funk would have trouble producing. It’s him not others that’s my point and of course my opinion.

Now let’s move on
- nyisles7

Thanks so much for explaining. This was so enlightening. You have once again taught us all so much with your incredible hockey acumen. Who would’ve thought that players (some)have to play a complete game under trotz? Ground breaking stuff. Those pros must have rubbed off on you. Literally I’m guessing.

Dal Colle and Komarov are certainly not the same player, agreed. However the approach to using them on scoring lines is very similar. Naturally all players and lines are subject to chemistry based on specific skills or tendencies of their linemates. The comparison is more based on the simplistic approach of adding guys with no offensive skill to lines with skilled players whose jobs are to score. It's certainly far worse having Komarov on the top line than Dal Colle on the second line, but I would say that neither belong in those roles. The highest compliment we can pay to Dal Colle is he 'keeps' the puck in the zone. That's something I want to say about our checking line and fourth line, not a player on our second scoring line.

To me this is most certainly more about Komarov on the top line that MDC on the second, but the point is that you neuter the top line by putting Leo on there. To a lesser degree, you do the same to Brock with MDC there. Now you have two scoring lines that have less skill in the name of taking on a grinder's mentality. That most certainly will catch up to you as your team fails to score a single goal in 65 minutes of hockey.
- keaner17

Keaner the caps have tons of talent on their top two lines and haven't scored a goal in 2 straight vs the isles

If he wants to be aligned with the true stars of the game he needs to be consistent with his puck management and start driving the net and shooting instead of Richarding around.
He turns the puck over constantly on the Pp and he has the best players on the ice with him. We will agree to disagree on the point that Barzals TO are because of someone else he’s playing with.
I can just hear the conversation on the bench.
Hey Barry, “I’m sorry I turned the puck over there and missed my back check but hey remember Leo’s on my wing now”.
“Oh that’s true Barzy I forgot about that”.
Yeah, that conversation isn’t happening.
- nyisles7

It is on here daily........

I'm saying that neither pp unit has been effective and both are turning the pucks over. To me, the pp is struggling because it's way too static. There's no movement or urgency. That makes it easy for teams to defend if there's no cycling or movement. Rather than players trying to react and find soft areas, they wait for passes to go through defenders. Whether it's tactical or a matter of guys just not moving their feet, the pp is a team problem right now
- keaner17

Agreed most teams move the puck quickly and the caps have 3 or 4 set plays they use, the isles throw it to Bailey or barzal who do figure 8s while everyone stands there and is easy to cover

He apparently left with about 2:50 to go or something along those lines. Didn't play in OT or the SO. No clue when it happened. But the door could be open to potentially take the next two, if they can figure out how to deposit a few in the net.
- eichiefs9

Well remember when they were missing oshie Kuznetsov ovie orlov samsonov and Wilson and beat is 2 straight?

Thanks so much for explaining. This was so enlightening. You have once again taught us all so much with your incredible hockey acumen. Who would’ve thought that players (some)have to play a complete game under trotz? Ground breaking stuff. Those pros must have rubbed off on you. Literally I’m guessing.
- Cptmjl

Well when you ask the same (frank)ing question over and over again what did you want me to say. Bottom line is you think Barzal is in a funk due to Leo and or Zajac being on his line and I don’t. It can’t get any simpler than that. So I hope you understand. Now to bring the BS about players up, speaking for everyone and all the other shat proves your just a big Twat.

And yes just like you rubbed off on Casy and MM the time you had a beer with them

It is on here daily........
- Upstate_isles

Which is sad and funny as hell in the same breath.

Well remember when they were missing oshie Kuznetsov ovie orlov samsonov and Wilson and beat is 2 straight?
- Upstate_isles

Yup with all the Russian players out on Covid protocol. I know Wilson was hurt but was Oshie out as well?

Keaner the caps have tons of talent on their top two lines and haven't scored a goal in 2 straight vs the isles
- Upstate_isles

I think this is an important point. Keeping the opponent from scoring a goal is just as important as scoring a goal.........regardless of what number line it is.

Serious question. Do you really have any friends because you are quite possibly the biggest douche that I can think of in all my 74 years on earth.
- floridaronnie

I find this shocking, because:

1. There's someone on this site older than me; and,
2. You have lived such a sheltered life that 7 is the biggest douche. I am younger than you and I can think of at least 2 or 3 people I have known who are bigger douches than 7.

I find this shocking, because:

1. There's someone on this site older than me; and,
2. You have lived such a sheltered life that 7 is the biggest douche. I am younger than you and I can think of at least 2 or 3 people I have known who are bigger douches than 7.
- JohnScammo

Only 2 or 3

I find this shocking, because:

1. There's someone on this site older than me; and,
2. You have lived such a sheltered life that 7 is the biggest douche. I am younger than you and I can think of at least 2 or 3 people I have known who are bigger douches than 7.
- JohnScammo

At my age I probably forgot the others.

Keaner the caps have tons of talent on their top two lines and haven't scored a goal in 2 straight vs the isles
- Upstate_isles

And yet we went 1-1 in those games. Plus, let's not pretend that their not scoring was due to Leo on the top line. That matchup didn't happen. No one is saying the defense first mentality of the Isles system is a bad idea, it's the approach that a guy like Leo suddenly belongs on the top line because he brings balance that seems silly.

Only 2 or 3
- nyisles7

obvious response, but made me laugh none the less

I think this is an important point. Keeping the opponent from scoring a goal is just as important as scoring a goal.........regardless of what number line it is.
- JohnScammo

So if I told you our top line will go the first round of the playoffs without scoring or giving up a goal, do you feel our chances are now better or worse to move on?

So if I told you our top line will go the first round of the playoffs without scoring or giving up a goal, do you feel our chances are now better or worse to move on?
- keaner17

I have to be honest. This is one of the dumbest debates we’ve ever had on here and that says a lot.

I have to be honest. This is one of the dumbest debates we’ve ever had on here and that says a lot.
- Cptmjl

LOL...It's just about happy hour..I think we can strive for new heights..(or depths)

LOL...It's just about happy hour..I think we can strive for new heights..(or depths)
- keaner17

I’m going to save all of my energy for vilifying Bailey and Komarov on Saturday.

So if I told you our top line will go the first round of the playoffs without scoring or giving up a goal, do you feel our chances are now better or worse to move on?
- keaner17

When Ross Johnston is centering Leo and DalColle on the top line, then I like our chances.