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GDT #55 Caps vs Utah SOL 5-4
waynerivers:
--- Quote from: Mickstix on Monday February 10, 2025, 06:56:05 PM Eastern ---Definitely need to do something different on D. Our goalies are getting way over worked on high danger chances lately. Hopefully Carbs sees something on tape they can fix.
--- End quote ---
It won't happen but I'd try to trade for a bruising d-man if the right guy became available. I'd give up Sandin if necessary. We already have a good skating offensive d-man in Chychrun. We need more physicality on the backline. Guys are being allowed to skate around way too freely in our end without paying a price. You can only do so much stick checking before it ends up in your net.
richkrt99:
I'd like to see McIlrath get some games, and Alexeyev. See if they can provide some more grit. Give Carlson and TVR some rest. Carlson looks tired. They way overutilize him. I agree...sit him from PP and OT. We have better skaters and puck handlers than Dylan at this point
McIlrath was steady in playoffs last year. He's not the greatest skater, but he is a force in front of the net. I hate hate hate that we let Siegenthaler go for nothing years ago. Same for Dillan (although we got draft picks for him), but he's getting long in the tooth now.
But I agree...we have no defensive presence in our own end. Fever is about the only D that hits people and plays physical. Well...Chicklets is pretty tough and Matt Roy is solid enough, but Carlson, TVR, Sandin look like they playing D in the no check league...its all positioning and stick checks. Sandin is undersized so he does what he has to, but Dylan needs to at least hit someone with his purse now and again.
Beaglefan2:
Wayne and Rich - you guys are right. Our D has been really struggling and I couldn't figure out what was wrong because individually they seem to be playing well. We definitely need more physicality!!
I just don't get why they don't rotate in Alexyev or McIlrath - if nothing else, just to give some guys some rest. I think what they are doing to Alexyev is just a crime. They are wasting a prime year of development. Maybe they just have him eating a lot and getting in the weight room and at some point we will see a beast emerge, but I doubt it.
I say let TVR sit and bring in somebody.
richkrt99:
Some guys develop quicker than others, but Alexeyev isnt' a baby anymore. He and Fever are the same age, yet Fever has 3 solid NHL years behind him, this being his 4th year
Both guys were drafted in 2018....Alexeyev was actually picked higher (31st pick,1st round) than Fever (15th pick, 2nd round)
Fever has shown from early on he is ready, but yes, this year especially, they are ruining Alexeyev...he played 32 NHL games in 2022, 39 in 2023, and 5 this year.
He is 6'4", 213 lbs. He's bulky enough to play for sure - and we NEED some bulk on our D.
Caps absolutely need to get him some more games. He is an RFA after this season. With our record especially, there is no reason not to rest Carlson or TVR or ANY of the D when we have Alexeyev and McIlrath just riding the pine.
I'm curious if McIlrath is happy - making the NHL squad (which is great for him), but now just riding the pine - dude never sees game action.
waynerivers:
I think we should get both Alexeyev and McIlrath in there. I agree, rest Carlson and either TVR or Sandin a bit. McIlrath has shown he's physical and Alexeyev has the size to be a physical force as well. We just don't put any fear into opposing forwards at this point. The place to disrupt a team entering your zone is between the blueline and the tops of the circles. That's where you need some guys to stop backpedalling and put their skates in the ice and lay a few hits on people. If we do that enough, the other team will be happy to just dump and chase. Right now, they dispsy do all over while we try to keep up.
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