Maltsev looked great. Noticed him every shift and along with Sharo, brought tons of speed.

- bikeguy99

I also like the fact that they aren't afraid to shoot the puck.
These two have been a real nice surprise so far this year.

PK has been pretty effective this year and you can see that he isn't trying to force things like he did last year. Ruff has him playing a more simplified game and it's working

Is he worth his contract no but he isn't a disaster this year.
- dmarsden2988

For sure he is improved from last year. I do have a chip on my shoulder regarding him. I was thrilled at this trade initially, then saw a product that looked nothing like what I was expecting. He may as well have been ordered off of that WISH website. The guy as a humanitarian is A1. He has done so much for the kids.

That being said, he still fails the eye test in my books. He still does force passes, and I counted at least 7 direct turnover in our last game. I know we need some D to step up and drive plays, but he is still making some bad choices. I don't expect him win another Norris, nor do I expect him to live up to the hype of 3rd highest paid D in the NHL. I do expect him to improve on the simple things, and stay out of the box. I am fine with him running his mouth, but he should expect to drop the mitts if he keeps it up.

Do you fellow buzz'rs actually think I am throwing him under the bus when I say Vats, Severson, Smith, Murray are all better than him? I like the way those 4 are playing, and consider them to be better player today than P.K. Butch looked good last game, and hopefully he can build off of that as well.

For sure he is improved from last year. I do have a chip on my shoulder regarding him. I was thrilled at this trade initially, then saw a product that looked nothing like what I was expecting. He may as well have been ordered off of that WISH website. The guy as a humanitarian is A1. He has done so much for the kids.

That being said, he still fails the eye test in my books. He still does force passes, and I counted at least 7 direct turnover in our last game. I know we need some D to step up and drive plays, but he is still making some bad choices. I don't expect him win another Norris, nor do I expect him to live up to the hype of 3rd highest paid D in the NHL. I do expect him to improve on the simple things, and stay out of the box. I am fine with him running his mouth, but he should expect to drop the mitts if he keeps it up.

Do you fellow buzz'rs actually think I am throwing him under the bus when I say Vats, Severson, Smith, Murray are all better than him? I like the way those 4 are playing, and consider them to be better player today than P.K. Butch looked good last game, and hopefully he can build off of that as well.
- bikeguy99

All current 7 D have played well this season, they all deserve to be in the lineup, PK included. You are absolutely throwing him under the bus when you consistently nit pick at every little thing he does wrong but don't do it for the other D. Does he make mistakes? Of course he does, everybody in our line up does but he has played well this season and he deserves credit for bouncing back after the disaster of a season he had last year. You talk about his turnovers but i have yet to see you bring up and scold the turnover machine that Severson has been this season like you do with PK, when Sevo has 3x more giveaways than Subban. He's played a far more simple game and hasn't forced the puck nearly as much as last season, he's stopped focusing purely on offense and he's been all-around better because of it. You're clearly biased against PK and you don't even try to hide it. But in the end, this team is a defense by committee, and all of the current 7 D have done their part so far

Ryan Murray will be available this weekend! Good situation to be in where we have 7 quality NHL D that all deserve to be in the lineup!

Zajac should get back in this weekend as well! Hopefully Nico gets off the covid list by the end of the weekend and can get back into the lineup next week. So close to being able to finally see this team play at full strength!

Ryan Murray will be available this weekend! Good situation to be in where we have 7 quality NHL D that all deserve to be in the lineup!

Zajac should get back in this weekend as well! Hopefully Nico gets off the covid list by the end of the weekend and can get back into the lineup next week. So close to being able to finally see this team play at full strength!
- vlongo4419

They keep winning and forcing me to root full-on for wins. Gona be tough to knock out one off Washington, Pitt, islanders, but if they keep winning they will. You never know.

They keep winning and forcing me to root full-on for wins. Gona be tough to knock out one off Washington, Pitt, islanders, but if they keep winning they will. You never know.
- MartysBetter88

Yeah i mean im full rooting for wins. I'll never root for losses/tanking until theyre completely out of it and can't realistically climb back in. I'm now expecting this team to either make the playoffs or miss by single digit points and be the 1st team out. They're doing this well without their 1C, Blackwood missing half of their games, all the covid issues, and arguably the worst performing special teams in the league(both pp and pk). They just battle hard and seemingly always bounce back/respond if something goes against them. Lindy has them believing too.

The improvement, or lack thereof, of the special teams will likely determine the fate of their season

Looks like Nico is close to returning based on his newest instagram post! LFG!

Looks like Nico is close to returning based on his newest instagram post! LFG!
- vlongo4419

it's going to be refreshing and relieving at all the same time to see him out there. our boy. big decisions on the lineup for Ruff.

it's going to be refreshing and relieving at all the same time to see him out there. our boy. big decisions on the lineup for Ruff.
- MartysBetter88

For sure, definitely a good situation to be in though! Im not sure if he'll play tomorrow but i can see Sunday or Tuesday!

Looks like Nico is close to returning based on his newest instagram post! LFG!
- vlongo4419

I wonder where he is with his fitness and all, I'm sure he will get some practice in before he gets back

I wonder where he is with his fitness and all, I'm sure he will get some practice in before he gets back
- dmarsden2988

Trav is in and Nico is an option for today!

Trav is in and Nico is an option for today!
- vlongo4419

It’s hApPeNiNgGg!!!

Per Kevin Weekes, Nico is being named the captain, Masisak confirms

Let's go!!!

All current 7 D have played well this season, they all deserve to be in the lineup, PK included. You are absolutely throwing him under the bus when you consistently nit pick at every little thing he does wrong but don't do it for the other D. Does he make mistakes? Of course he does, everybody in our line up does but he has played well this season and he deserves credit for bouncing back after the disaster of a season he had last year. You talk about his turnovers but i have yet to see you bring up and scold the turnover machine that Severson has been this season like you do with PK, when Sevo has 3x more giveaways than Subban. He's played a far more simple game and hasn't forced the puck nearly as much as last season, he's stopped focusing purely on offense and he's been all-around better because of it. You're clearly biased against PK and you don't even try to hide it. But in the end, this team is a defense by committee, and all of the current 7 D have done their part so far
- vlongo4419

He has the worst +/- on the team, most pims (all minors, no fights), most SOG and highest TOI, yet zero goals, and just 4 apples. He fails the eye test, as well as the analytics in my opinion. He threw himself under the bus last year, and hopefully he can get back to where he was 4 years ago, but I do not believe that is in the cards for p.k. It's not a personal attack on P.K. so much as it is a frustration over TOI alotment. I feel ice-time should be reflected by their play/results. I don't have P.K ahead of Sev/Vats/Smith/Murray, and would like to see those guys logging the big minutes.

I agree the remaining committee on the back-end have done their part. Blackwood sure helps them look better as well.

Per Kevin Weekes, Nico is being named the captain, Masisak confirms
- vlongo4419

Dang. I am a Nico fan, but Zajac should be wearing it for what will likely be his final season

Lines in warmups:

Bratt-Nico-Palms
Johnsson-Hughes-Zajac
Sharangovich-Zacha-Kuok
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Smith-Sevo
Butcher-Subban
Kuli-Vats

Mac im net

Dang. I am a Nico fan, but Zajac should be wearing it for what will likely be his final season
- bikeguy99

They were never going to name someone the captain for 40ish games then need to name a completely new one next season if he doesn't come back. There's only 2 people who were going to be captain of this team. It was either Nico or nobody this season. Or it would've been Jack in a year or two if he kept developing and fully became THE guy. Im sure Ruff talked to the guys about it, especially Zajac, and im all assuming they've all said this is Nicos team

Dang. I am a Nico fan, but Zajac should be wearing it for what will likely be his final season
- bikeguy99

People have been getting rid of Zajac for years. Don't be surprised if he's back next year if he's willing to take a paycut.

Lines in warmups:

Bratt-Nico-Palms
Johnsson-Hughes-Zajac
Sharangovich-Zacha-Kuok
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Smith-Sevo
Butcher-Subban
Kuli-Vats

Mac im net
- vlongo4419

Not sure if Zajac on Hughes wing is the answer.

Not sure if Zajac on Hughes wing is the answer.
- rmdevil313

Maybe to bring zajac in slowly with not having center responsibility coming back from covid and zacha playing well at center

Can sharongovic play rw?

Not sure if Zajac on Hughes wing is the answer.
- rmdevil313

Yeah not a fan. It helps for faceoffs but i don't think he'll he able to keep up. I trust Lindy though, if its not working he'll change it

I think I get it, Hughes plays center in the offensive zone and Zajac plays center in the defensive end. Not sure that's how we want to try to generate offense though with Zajac not being productive there. But I imagine we'll see the combos shift throughout the game seeing this is the first time we have a healthy lineup.

Great PP

4/33 on the power play lol. how many years are we going to be poop on the pp before they actually get a real coach to figure this poop out.