Well, he did continue to develop in the Q after being drafted. Led the league by defensemen in goals. And he was invited by Canada to play for them in the World Juniors. Those aren’t at the expense of our system.

He’s got talent. It’s there. He just regressed. I think it was a bit too much too fast. He really should have been getting his feet wet on lower pairings and with less minutes.
- Hesh_

Exactly and that's in a structured system of play on the ice with support.

We have a 180 game sample of pro hockey to draw an opinion from on Myers before last season. What needs to happen is that a young player needs to be developed properly. Some need more time than others. Some can jump right in to a top 4 spot, some can't.
- MJL

I'm on your side, if its just confidence he will be good this year. But him not hitting or pushing someone out of the way thats right in front of him, cant happen.

I prefer to gauge his NHL experience, as NHL is a completely different beast than the AHL.

I'm on your side, if its just confidence he will be good this year. But him not hitting or pushing someone out of the way thats right in front of him, cant happen.

I prefer to gauge his NHL experience, as NHL is a completely different beast than the AHL.
- bradster

Yes, the periods where he is non competitive on the puck is completely unacceptable. You can look at his AHL play and see if they player has a hockey IQ. You can see if he is competitive.

Morin definitely brought a physical edge but he was not good overall and was not very effective in any manpower situation. His minutes were limited because he was just not very good. Not because of injuries. He needs to improve drastically but that can be said about almost every player on the team last season. So he'll get a fresh start and we'll see what happens.
- MJL

Was Morin signed?

Was Morin signed?
- SuperSchennBros

Nope. UFA

Well, he did continue to develop in the Q after being drafted. Led the league by defensemen in goals. And he was invited by Canada to play for them in the World Juniors. Those aren’t at the expense of our system.

He’s got talent. It’s there. He just regressed. I think it was a bit too much too fast. He really should have been getting his toes wet on lower pairings and with less minutes.

That’s what makes me a little nervous about putting York in the top 4 so fast
- Hesh_

Never said he didn't have any talent. What I know is he has been inconsistent so far in his NHL career. Is he top 4? Is he a bottom pair guy?

Never said he didn't have any talent. What I know is he has been inconsistent so far in his NHL career. Is he top 4? Is he a bottom pair guy?
- hello it's me 2050

mmmm…let’s say bottom 4.

He should have probably been a bottom pairing guy for longer in preparation of eventually being a solid second pairing guy. I think with proper coaching, system, and introduction to the league, he could’ve been just that. A reliable 2nd pairing guy you had confidence in.

I don’t think that’s out of reach, but the clock is ticking.

We screwed that up, but almost with little choice, I suppose

mmmm…let’s say bottom 4.

He should have probably been a bottom pairing guy for longer in preparation of eventually being a solid second pairing guy. I think with proper coaching, system, and introduction to the league, he could’ve been just that. A reliable 2nd pairing guy you had confidence in.

I don’t think that’s out of reach, but the clock is ticking.

We screwed that up, but almost with little choice, I suppose
- Hesh_

don't disagree.

I think hagg stinks. Yet Morin didn't do enough to replace him imo.
- hello it's me 2050

I honestly will never get the Hagg hate by some here

Is he a top 4 dman , lulz , no.
Is he a viable 5-7 dman , 100% yes.

I honestly will never get the Hagg hate by some here

Is he a top 4 dman , lulz , no.
Is he a viable 5-7 dman , 100% yes.
- opeth_pa

6/7 guy who you can replace at any given time. In that role he is ok. I just don't think he is good.

I honestly will never get the Hagg hate by some here

Is he a top 4 dman , lulz , no.
Is he a viable 5-7 dman , 100% yes.
- opeth_pa

Maybe if he could complete a pass to get out of our zone there wouldn't be so much dislike. I wouldn't call it hate.

Any thoughts on the Bean thing?

Going after him before the Expansion Draft may not make any sense, but if we wait until after, and Carolina happens to resign Hamilton at a price slightly higher that they had hoped, I wonder if he can be taken away. If nothing else, Carolina will have to pay a little more than they wanted to keep him.

This is all moot if Seattle takes him for themselves. Might be likely.

Maybe if he could complete a pass to get out of our zone there wouldn't be so much dislike. I wouldn't call it hate.
- bradster

Haag is one of the best 5/6 defenseman in the league. People just don’t like him because they have no clue. He doesn’t do anything flashy so he stinks. He plays tough, blocks shots, is good defensively a perfect bottom pairing defenseman yet everyone wants to say he stinks should be a 7th defenseman. It’s hilarious

Haag is one of the best 5/6 defenseman in the league. People just don’t like him because they have no clue. He doesn’t do anything flashy so he stinks. He plays tough, blocks shots, is good defensively a perfect bottom pairing defenseman yet everyone wants to say he stinks should be a 7th defenseman. It’s hilarious
- Fopa21

Best 5/6th defensemen? Seriously? I dont know about the fancy stats, but i dont see it when i watch. I see alot of failed zone clears. And that equals more time in our own end. Maybe an average #6, but best top 5......I'm not buying what you are selling.

Haag is one of the best 5/6 defenseman in the league. People just don’t like him because they have no clue. He doesn’t do anything flashy so he stinks. He plays tough, blocks shots, is good defensively a perfect bottom pairing defenseman yet everyone wants to say he stinks should be a 7th defenseman. It’s hilarious
- Fopa21

Look at the 4 teams left. Look at their 5 and 6. Where do you rank him in that group?

Best 5/6th defensemen? Seriously? I dont know about the fancy stats, but i dont see it when i watch. I see alot of failed zone clears. And that equals more time in our own end. Maybe an average #6, but best top 5......I'm not buying what you are selling.
- bradster

fancy stats have him as the worst dman in the league I believe. Or right their near it.

The leverage that Columbus has is that they are trading a very valuable commodity in the NHL and there will be many teams bidding to acquire the player.
- MJL

Exactly.

Haag is one of the best 5/6 defenseman in the league. People just don’t like him because they have no clue. He doesn’t do anything flashy so he stinks. He plays tough, blocks shots, is good defensively a perfect bottom pairing defenseman yet everyone wants to say he stinks should be a 7th defenseman. It’s hilarious
- Fopa21

lol so you poop on giroux one day, eichel another day, then choose to pump hagg's tires?

yikes.

All the resident tough guys keep screaming about excuses. But I am still a little leery about throwing the entire team under the bus after the extraordinary circumstances that last season presented.

yeah yeah yeah every team had to deal with it blah blah blah, but does that make it any less a fact?

I dont think we were as bad as it looked. I still think we need the help we need, but I dont think we are as big a trainwreck as it ended up being.

If we even got an average Carter Hart season for example, this team would have been right in the playoff hunt.

The Athletic did an article on Myers.

https://theathletic.com/2...-turned-into-a-step-back/

Almost every example they use of an egregious decision he makes, and there are many, are snowballed by a really poor effort by the goalie where he simply does not make a save he should have made.

Myers specifically needs to be better, but I know from experience in my own life that sometimes your confidence can be rescued when a teammate bails you out. BUt if every mistake you make ends up in the back of the net, goodbye confidence.

Its all related.

I've said over and over, this team played like they had no confidence in themselves or each other. That spirals in to a never ending cycle. In the future both the staff and the players need to be better in breaking that cycle.
- MBFlyerfan

read that article, I think Myers while on the ice had one of the lowest save % in the league. Now that is part of blowing coverage and leaving a slam dunk but still plenty of blame to go around.

Best 5/6th defensemen? Seriously? I dont know about the fancy stats, but i dont see it when i watch. I see alot of failed zone clears. And that equals more time in our own end. Maybe an average #6, but best top 5......I'm not buying what you are selling.
- bradster

I've like Haag in the past and he is generally serviceable. Like most players he had a down year and he was terrible with the puck last season. Like most he can play better and is a decent NHL #6 when he does.

Haag is one of the best 5/6 defenseman in the league. People just don’t like him because they have no clue. He doesn’t do anything flashy so he stinks. He plays tough, blocks shots, is good defensively a perfect bottom pairing defenseman yet everyone wants to say he stinks should be a 7th defenseman. It’s hilarious
- Fopa21

Hagg has a thankless job. Being a purely defensive defenseman is the most thankless job in all of sports.

I’m curious as to how much people are taking into account the youth and inexperience of these young guys? It’s growing pains. When you ice a team with so many young players that are good and skilled but not elite you will have extended periods of hard lessons to be learned. Especially at the key positions. Even hart experienced it last season. That’s why goalies generally are not brought up so early. IMO he will be fine unless he mentally breaks from it. Which is a concern because he is so young. Sanheim Myers hart tk even provy bee York Oscar. These guys all 25 or under. The growing pains will continue for a bit. Enjoy the good play and give them time to let it click. That’s a lot of youth. But they all show skill and positives also. Remember also they aren’t slotted properly and add that extra on them. It’s not setting them up to progress quickly but hindering them a bit. If you can land a #1 which Jones and Hamilton are you do it. It would slot them much better and just let them concentrate on specific areas.

lol so you poop on giroux one day, eichel another day, then choose to pump hagg's tires?

yikes.
- Ftown19125

Lol we actually agree on something

Haag is one of the best 5/6 defenseman in the league. People just don’t like him because they have no clue. He doesn’t do anything flashy so he stinks. He plays tough, blocks shots, is good defensively a perfect bottom pairing defenseman yet everyone wants to say he stinks should be a 7th defenseman. It’s hilarious
- Fopa21

Hagg is the type dman a true cup contender picks up at deadline for insurance in case they have injury or 2 on blue line in playoffs. Nothing more. If hagg is looked upon as some grand piece in your top 6 well then, your top 6 as a whole isn’t very good

I’m curious as to how much people are taking into account the youth and inexperience of these young guys? It’s growing pains. When you ice a team with so many young players that are good and skilled but not elite you will have extended periods of hard lessons to be learned. Especially at the key positions. Even hart experienced it last season. That’s why goalies generally are not brought up so early. IMO he will be fine unless he mentally breaks from it. Which is a concern because he is so young. Sanheim Myers hart tk even provy bee York Oscar. These guys all 25 or under. The growing pains will continue for a bit. Enjoy the good play and give them time to let it click. That’s a lot of youth. But they all show skill and positives also. Remember also they aren’t slotted properly and add that extra on them. It’s not setting them up to progress quickly but hindering them a bit. If you can land a #1 which Jones and Hamilton are you do it. It would slot them much better and just let them concentrate on specific areas.
- Stayin alive

I think there is a difference between being a young player and experienced player. TK and Provy have enough experience where to me, that young excuse doesn't work. But I'm sure we will have differing opinions on this. Regardless if we think everyone bounces back and has a good year, i still think changes need to be made, our players don't compliment each other enough, and still need to be harder to play against.