[robaur]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

After watching them yesterday, I think they're right in the playoff mix. They've still got underrated center depth with Horvat and McCann, good wing depth with Vrbata, Virtanen, Burrows. Their big 3 on defense - Hamhuis, Edler, and Tanev, are all still great, and Bartowski/Hutton look like very good additions. Goaltending is really the coin flip for them, I don't know what they can expect in net.

Really? He was on the ice for some goals against that I wouldn't blame him for, but I didn't think he looked "brutal". Just not "Norris Giordano", which in fairness was partly because Brodie is so good. The goal at the end of the 2nd period is one he'd like back, but that pass should have never made it to the front of the net in the first place. The fifth goal is all on Ramo and Backlund. Overall just a bad night by the team, not any one player.

It's funny though, I was just skimming the Blackhawks' fans PGT for their loss to the rangers and they're talking about how Duncan Keith was worse than David Rundblad.

Sam needs to play center to develop. He wasn't bad yesterday, people are just frustrated because he didn't get any grade A scoring chances. A lot of that is because the Canucks gave him no room to operate. Blaming Jooris is ridiculous. Sam needs to play center and Jooris is a perfectly fine complimentary winger in that role, though a second skill player never hurt, Jooris wasn't holding Sam back nor was playing center. If there's a problem with that line, it's this:

Hartley is uneasy about Sam's D-zone coverage, so he only sends Sam out there in the offensive zone. That means the defense is already in position. Teams don't usually get good scoring chances against a set defense. Most good scoring chances come in at least partial transition. Sam had maybe two shifts with any transition, and in both shifts he was angled wide and couldn't make a play. That's got less to do with playing center and more to do with adjusting to the NHL.

Could putting him back on the wing open up his offense? Sure, but that's not how he needs to develop. We drafted him to play center, not to win the Calder.

Norris Giordano has been around for the past calendar year. So to say last night was his worst game isn't inaccurate. I agree TJ Brodie makes him better.

I'm not blaming Jooris. The guy has his own skill set but it does not compliment Bennett. They shouldn't be lineamates. Bennett should be strictly playing with Frolik or Hudler. He needs more skilled wingers to play his game and to help him out. And yes, we did draft Sam to potentially win the Calder. That statement makes no sense. Case in point this morning, Bennett is now centering Frolik. Guess the coaches agree.