And Smith with another point on Hughes goal woooo
- dmarsden2988

Early Calder Trophy candidate sleeper pick?

Wedgewood has better stats now then Igor Shesterkin! Better save percentage and lower GAA. More wins! Not saying he’s better but that’s funny as (frank) right there.

Kuokkanen and Johnsson still didn’t show much.
Still like Bastian’s game. McLeod at least puts in good effort. Merkley was definitely active. Tennyson with a good game and grit. Yes I wrote that poop!! Haters can hate but he held down the fort.

Wedgewood has better stats now then Igor Shesterkin! Better save percentage and lower GAA. More wins! Not saying he’s better but that’s funny as (frank) right there.

Kuokkanen and Johnsson still didn’t show much.
Still like Bastian’s game. McLeod at least puts in good effort. Merkley was definitely active. Tennyson with a good game and grit. Yes I wrote that poop!! Haters can hate but he held down the fort.
- Queenie_5_hole

don't overanalyze bro.. it's only 1 game from Merkley, come on.

don't overanalyze bro.. it's only 1 game from Merkley, come on.
- MartysBetter88

Sorry. I do that. The wins make me all happy and optimistic...

don't overanalyze bro.. it's only 1 game from Merkley, come on.
- MartysBetter88

Did you actually watch the whole game this time? I hope Jack is doing well enough for you.

Did you actually watch the whole game this time? I hope Jack is doing well enough for you.
- Pomegrant

I did. Most impressed with Jack’s shot because that’s not considered his best attribute. Nice goal and good to see him pull the trigger.

I’m SHOCKED at the difference from last year; and he’s still just 19.

I did. Most impressed with Jack’s shot because that’s not considered his best attribute. Nice goal and good to see him pull the trigger.

I’m SHOCKED at the difference from last year; and he’s still just 19.
- Queenie_5_hole

He is special and special players adapt quicker. Amazing what one year makes and its only the beginning.

We’re 2-1-1 good god the negativity. Nico and bratt coming soon will only improve the lines.
- drew18

DOOMED

He is special and special players adapt quicker. Amazing what one year makes and its only the beginning.
- Devils Advocate

You're right, but he looks so elusive now and so many parts of his game are miles ahead of last year. He was such a mess last season, I was scared he'd never be a legit NHL player. This year his edgework, skating and elusiveness is amazing. I coach 14U hockey and we occasionally play a team with a players who just skate around everyone at this level; but you so rarely see that at the NHL level.

don't overanalyze bro.. it's only 1 game from Merkley, come on.
- MartysBetter88

But last year he played hard (in his 4 games) also and had some decent games until he got hurt. Injuries always seems to halt his progression in the NHL.

Hughes has looked great and that is exciting

Smith has been better than I expected through the first few games. His goal was flukey but he is making things happen

Our faceoffs are terrible
Our PK is scary so far

But the team does look better

I wonder with Nico coming back if that will have any change on how Hughes is playing

Did you actually watch the whole game this time? I hope Jack is doing well enough for you.
- Pomegrant

is there a particular reason you're so petty at times? Again, I'm allowed to state my observations on what I see, especially when clearly stating how much of the game I saw. No harm or foul. Yes, Hughes has been playing better than last year, and like last year, I'm looking forward to hopefully further development.

Sorry. I do that. The wins make me all happy and optimistic...
- Queenie_5_hole

I'm being sarcastic.

Hughes has looked great and that is exciting

Smith has been better than I expected through the first few games. His goal was flukey but he is making things happen

Our faceoffs are terrible
Our PK is scary so far

But the team does look better

I wonder with Nico coming back if that will have any change on how Hughes is playing
- dmarsden2988

I'd like to think it would just mean good things for Hughes. I haven't noticed if Hughes is seeing top Dmen, but Hischier should take some of that away from him, if that's the case. Nico coming means good things for everyone else for that reason.

I'd like to think it would just mean good things for Hughes. I haven't noticed if Hughes is seeing top Dmen, but Hischier should take some of that away from him, if that's the case. Nico coming means good things for everyone else for that reason.
- MartysBetter88

Jack keeps his play at this level, teams will have no option BUT to throw their best dmen at him every shift. Kid is lights out and has been skating with the puck on his stick like nobody can take it from him. Nico will be able to get acclimated against 2nd tier D lines and it will open the door to him/bratt/goose or Johnson to become a dangerous 1b line.

This was always the vision. Pick your poison, nico or Jack!

Who wants to own the statue design project for the Peru Center? Haha

is there a particular reason you're so petty at times? Again, I'm allowed to state my observations on what I see, especially when clearly stating how much of the game I saw. No harm or foul. Yes, Hughes has been playing better than last year, and like last year, I'm looking forward to hopefully further development.
- MartysBetter88

you just hit me back with the overanalyze bit. is this not just banter? what's the problem.

I'm being sarcastic.
- MartysBetter88

I have bad interpersonal skills....

you just hit me back with the overanalyze bit. is this not just banter? what's the problem.
- Pomegrant

yes, hitting you back so you can see how stupid it is. It's really all in gest, nbd. I agree- banter concluded.

don't overanalyze bro.. it's only 1 game from Merkley, come on.
- MartysBetter88

Merkley played the same way in his audition last year, why did his good play in his first came come as such a surprise, why are you so down on him?

Merkley played the same way in his audition last year, why did his good play in his first came come as such a surprise, why are you so down on him?
- Banana_Hammock

It's the porno stash he's sporting. You just can't take him seriously. It's like he's always saying "I like to play ice hockey, but when I'm not scoring on the ice I'm scoring with the groupies. Watch me on MerkleyTV.'

Merkley played the same way in his audition last year, why did his good play in his first came come as such a surprise, why are you so down on him?
- Banana_Hammock

how is saying it's just 1 game being "down on him"? And I don't mean to critique you. I'm jabbing at another poster who told me I was overanalyzing last week.

And now Bahl is on the taxi squad as well.
- Devils Advocate

Rememer all the grief I was given for saying P.K. should start on the 3rd pairing. I don't care what his cap hit is, he is a horrible D. Worst on our starting roster in almost every situation. Smith has 6 points, +5 rating trough 5 games playing a limited role. P.K has almost double the TOI, 1 point, -2 rating, leads the team in minors, and that Trent Frederick soundbite basically sums up his toughness.

Let the kid's play. P.K has proven that he doesn't belong in the top 4, and Butch ain't far behind. I don't expect a ton from this squad, and seeing the young guys thriving is a win as far as I am concerned, but it would be nice for the big $$$ guys to at least show up.

Rememer all the grief I was given for saying P.K. should start on the 3rd pairing. I don't care what his cap hit is, he is a horrible D. Worst on our starting roster in almost every situation. Smith has 6 points, +5 rating trough 5 games playing a limited role. P.K has almost double the TOI, 1 point, -2 rating, leads the team in minors, and that Trent Frederick soundbite basically sums up his toughness.

Let the kid's play. P.K has proven that he doesn't belong in the top 4, and Butch ain't far behind. I don't expect a ton from this squad, and seeing the young guys thriving is a win as far as I am concerned, but it would be nice for the big $$$ guys to at least show up.
- bikeguy99

But PK has been fine actually, hes been the 3rd best D behind Kuli and Sevo. We just need to keep him off the PP. You can tell he started to re-focus on just playing an all-around game instead of pure offense and hes been much better than last season. I would like to run a top 4 of Murray/Subban and Smith/Severson but Kulikov has been very good, and the Kuli/Sevo pairing has been our best this season so no reason to break them up. Our top 4 in general has actually been solid tbh, Murray and Kuli have been very good adds so far, hopefully they can keep it up. I have no issues at all with how the D are being run/paired. Just keep running the D exactly how we're doing it, and Tenny comes out for Sami once hes over here and ready to go

But PK has been fine actually, hes been the 3rd best D behind Kuli and Sevo. We just need to keep him off the PP. You can tell he started to re-focus on just playing an all-around game instead of pure offense and hes been much better than last season. I would like to run a top 4 of Murray/Subban and Smith/Severson but Kulikov has been very good, and the Kuli/Sevo pairing has been our best this season so no reason to break them up. Our top 4 in general has actually been solid tbh, Murray and Kuli have been very good adds so far, hopefully they can keep it up. I have no issues at all with how the D are being run/paired. Just keep running the D exactly how we're doing it, and Tenny comes out for Sami once hes over here and ready to go
- vlongo4419

What????? He has the worst shot diff, scoring chance diff, and pim stats on the team? I know he is logging the most minutes, but he has not looked good. He was on the ice for every single goal in our last loss, and could easily be held accountable for 2 of those goals. Happy they bounced back with a shutout, but he is not a top 4 D on any competitive team.

What????? He has the worst shot diff, scoring chance diff, and pim stats on the team? I know he is logging the most minutes, but he has not looked good. He was on the ice for every single goal in our last loss, and could easily be held accountable for 2 of those goals. Happy they bounced back with a shutout, but he is not a top 4 D on any competitive team.
- bikeguy99

Pims are completely irrelevant to me, one of his penalties was literally him just being stronger than the guy he forearm shivered. And you're wrong about him being the worst on scoring chance difference. Actually look at the analytics which tell the story. He's 3rd on our D in all of CF%, SF%, SCF% and most importantly xGF% at 5v5, behind only Kuli and Sevo in all of those stats. xGF% is by far the most important and Kuli/Sevo lead our D at 62% and 58% respectively, then PK is 3rd at 45%. Ty Smith is sitting at the 2nd worst on the entire team at 37% playing in a sheltered/limited role, only ahead of Gusev. I dont get the slander on PK this season, hes been fine. Last season? Sure, he was brutal, but hes been better so far this season