Spooky Halloween Practice Notes

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

What is a high danger chance? Inside the circles? The xGF looks about right maybe it's a lack of finish blinding the fact we are still generating.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/glossary.php?lines

Shots from inside the home plate area, rush shots / rebounds / deflections get a adjustment as well I think to be defined as more risky.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I’m pretty sure he meant the Pizza Pigout that Francis is hosting. If my sarcasm meter is off then nvm carry on.

Ohhh that's what he was talking about? Sutter going to an event hosted by Francis does make more sense than Sutter going to an event with Francis.

(Although, he does seem nicer to Francis in scrums and conferences lately.)

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1587165008366108683

It does make me laugh that Sutter continually says "It about how we play as a team, not individual players"

And then every day the media asks questions about specific players...not even really lines at times but specific players.

You get way more insight when you ask about a line or a d-pair, than when you ask about a singular player from him.

[Hack&Lube]

Lucic has been really good this year at carrying the puck through the neutral zone and into the boards. The only problem is the play usually dies there.

Lindholm last year had Gaudreau as the puck carrier into the offensive zone and Tkachuk as the guy who fights down along the boards. Lucic is kind of a weird abomination of those but he really needs someone to support him since he usually loses the puck right after making it in.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Lucic has been really good this year at carrying the puck through the neutral zone and into the boards. The only problem is they play usually dies there.

Lindholm last year had Gaudreau as the puck carrier into the offensive zone and Tkachuk as the guy who fights down along the boards. Lucic is kind of a weird abomination of those but he really needs someone to support him since he usually loses the puck right after making it in.

Is that Lucic's fault, or is it a function of the fact that he plays on the 4th line?

Maybe his skill set is better served with some line mates who can do something with the puck after he bowls over the defenseman

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Is that Lucic's fault, or is it a function of the fact that he plays on the 4th line?

Maybe his skill set is better served with some line mates who can do something with the puck after he bowls over the defenseman

I have really liked the 4th line this year. They've done a good job of getting pucks deep and punishing other teams defenses down low. It has lead to turnovers and chances in the slot, usually off a really sweet pass by Looch, which probably has a lot to do with why Brett Ritchie has 3 goals so far this year.

I can see why Sutter is trying Looch with Lindholm and Toffoli.

Both those guys seem off, Lindholm more than Toffoli. Lindholm is at his best when he's engaged in the guts of the game. Lindholm is an uber competitive player and putting him on a line with Looch may drag him out of his sluggish start.

That line just needs to get pucks deep, punish down low, and win battles on the boards. Simple game. Then hopefully one of the snipers can slip into the slot and get a chance.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It does make me laugh that Sutter continually says "It about how we play as a team, not individual players"

And then every day the media asks questions about specific players...not even really lines at times but specific players.

You get way more insight when you ask about a line or a d-pair, than when you ask about a singular player from him.

Yeah if I were an interviewer I'd always go with

What did you think about your PK, your special teams, etc.

Or an aspect of their play - how did you like your neutral zone coverage, cycling down low in the o zone etc

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I've heard/read/seen multiple things from media and players about how deceptive Looch's speed is. Apparently he's actually a really fast skater, he just takes longer to get there.

Like Bowser/DK in Mario Kart for SNES.

[bubbsy]

I like the new top line, but would have preferred Dube - kadri - tofolli on the second line. Curious how this looks on the ice.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Interesting shake up. Unfortunately, it really illustrates that they are one forward short.

I'm fine with the Lucic promotion as he's been carrying the puck and passing really well this season so far. Hopefully he can go on another production run like he did early in the season last year and buy some time to accumulate cap space.

The Dube-Backlund-Coleman line is going to be really good, I think. So much speed and competitiveness, along with more talent than they had with Lewis there.

Finally, Huberdeau with Kadri and Mangiapane is an awesome line. Mang should be scoring more and unfortunately Huberdeau and Toffoli/Lindholm just didn't click.

Sutter has probably had this line in his sights for awhile, he is a motivator and this is him dangling a carrot. Mangs and Kadri are hungry , motivated. Lindholm will likely have to work harder as he didn’t do enough with his opportunity. The opportunity was there and he didn't take it.

[MrMike]

It was nice to try and spread the skill around, but just like before with Gaudreau and Tkachuk together, better to have one absolutely dominant line than two okayish ones.

Whoever clicks with Kadri and Huberdeau is going to have one hell of a season.

[Sandman]

Looch looks like he worked extra hard over the summer- he's playing with energy and some speed. I'm biased because I've been a big Looch fan since he entered the league, but it's nice to see him get rewarded, and I hope he excels.

[agulati]

Wouldn’t mind seeing Ruzicka dressing for the game tomorrow. Has a higher ceiling than our entire fourth line and Lewis, so why not get him involved and see what he can do.

[Sandman]

It's certainly not doing Ruzicka any good to sit out. I think he has serious upside, and he needs to play. I understand that everything should be earned, but it would be a shame to waste his talents.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Looch looks like he worked extra hard over the summer- he's playing with energy and some speed. I'm biased because I've been a big Looch fan since he entered the league, but it's nice to see him get rewarded, and I hope he excels.

I still worry that it’s unsustainable for a big man his age. I can’t help but think his energy (which I agree is good) might fade over the season unless he is spelled off some.

Wasn’t he quite good off the bat last year? All those 5 hole goals?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I still worry that it’s unsustainable for a big man his age. I can’t help but think his energy (which I agree is good) might fade over the season unless he is spelled off some.

Wasn’t he quite good off the bat last year? All those 5 hole goals?

Yup, many of us were disappointed with how he started and tailed off last year. Hard to picture Looch playing second-line minutes for any significant length of time, unfortunately.

[Bingo]

Remember Lucic had an AC joint sprain to conclude the season. Not sure when it happened, but it likely played a role in him tailing off last season.

[Always Earned Never Given]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Remember Lucic had an AC joint sprain to conclude the season. Not sure when it happened, but it likely played a role in him tailing off last season.

Now named the AC Milan.....