I think they have to put Tanev with Gio, Andersson with Hanifin. I read it was Valimaki - Andersson but that is too much pressure on young guys.
I realize Tanev - Hanifin was working fantastic but it's about balancing the pairings so you can cover the ice and cover for each other. I love all the D but everyone has strengths and weaknesses and the above pairings, IMO, cover some weaknesses by having more mobile added to give some security.
Nesterov - Valimaki is good but I understand you want to move Vali up because he's playing well but splitting the Tavev - Hanifin (for now) is best way to keep some balance.
I think Tkachuk is playing through something - he's not moving the same and the abundance quick touch passes reaffirms that to me.
Ward sounded on the verge of blowing a gasket in his post game to me. Good. He needs to be more ruthless and more tactical. The hard thing to say is Backlund and Gio are below their level. With Backlund he seems not mentally into it sadly. I've seen in previous games he doesn't even handle easy pucks and it leads to zone time against. He just isn't mentally into it and if it's because of ego and TOI that is total BS (though I obviously don't know what he's thinking).
Gio and Backs are 900 and 700 games and they are not getting the job done right now. Hate to say it but everyone can see it.
Ward needs to, instead of going to blender, reduce ice time, skip shifts for guys who keep making the same mistakes because different linemates doesn't change the repeating of mental errors or poor performance.
As I stated elsewhere, the Peters first season team was able to beat any style of opponent on the way to second in the league. I don't think Ward has made drastic changes to style of play (other than defensive zone) it's just that the players are not executing - I think it's because they have too much leash and Ward needs to be harder on them and more ruthless.
I don't think you can play any line and pairing vs top line opponents so the coaches need to be more tactical. Need some hard driving decisions and if it bruises the pride of players that's on them. It should be all about winning games not about keeping some guys feeling involved.
If guys are being outworked it's because they feel no concern about losing ice time. If guys keep making the same mistakes it's because they feel secure. Hartley used to say the word comfortable is bad in hockey and they guys look comfortable.
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