Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
GDT#72 Capitals @ Lightning 7:00pm Sat Mar 16, 2019 NBCSWA, NHLN, SUN
Beaglefan2:
--- Quote from: DC_1908 on Sunday March 17, 2019, 10:22:01 AM Eastern ---Nothing. He has 45 assists and Ovie has 48 goals.
I really can’t think of any other “1st Line Center” on a defending or even serious Cup contending team that would keep his spot/moved to wing with <40% FO and the continued issues you mentioned above.
--- End quote ---
Yes, Kuzy can generate assists and some of them are incredible. I think the issue is that he has the ability to do so much more. He can literally take over games and dominate and he can do it for multiple games in a row. We have seen him play games where he made the other team look like they were standing still and you would swear he was the top player in the league. He had a few games like that earlier in the year - lets just hope that he gets it back for the playoffs.
Beaglefan2:
Did anyone else notice how smart TB was on their penalty kills? There were several times that they played keep-away and killed a bunch of time. They were smart enough (and well coached) so they realize that when they have plenty of open ice that they can actually pass it backward and make us chase them before they send it down the ice. It has been a lost art in the NHL for a while and I would like to see the Caps get smarter on the PK.
BlackIce:
--- Quote from: Beaglefan2 on Sunday March 17, 2019, 04:33:55 PM Eastern ---
Yes, Kuzy can generate assists and some of them are incredible. I think the issue is that he has the ability to do so much more. He can literally take over games and dominate and he can do it for multiple games in a row. We have seen him play games where he made the other team look like they were standing still and you would swear he was the top player in the league. He had a few games like that earlier in the year - lets just hope that he gets it back for the playoffs.
--- End quote ---
Kuzy has said in interviews this season, in almost exactly the words, that he tries things in the regular season he wouldn't in the playoffs, and he isn't able to concentrate consistently in the same way as when the season is on the line in every game, every shift. Like it or not, that is part of his person: He is laid back and prone to concentration lapses that can look pretty egregious. That is disappointing, but it is also cause for hope, because it DOES suggest that he has another gear he can engage when the playoffs begin, AND he understands that he needs to engage that higher gear.
BlackIce:
--- Quote from: Beaglefan2 on Sunday March 17, 2019, 04:40:04 PM Eastern ---Did anyone else notice how smart TB was on their penalty kills? There were several times that they played keep-away and killed a bunch of time. They were smart enough (and well coached) so they realize that when they have plenty of open ice that they can actually pass it backward and make us chase them before they send it down the ice. It has been a lost art in the NHL for a while and I would like to see the Caps get smarter on the PK.
--- End quote ---
Eh, Winnipeg did it to us a couple of times in our last home game. Teams do it when they have the chance. But you'd better make sure if you send the puck into your own zone that you can get it out when the pressure starts coming.
DC_1908:
--- Quote from: Beaglefan2 on Sunday March 17, 2019, 04:33:55 PM Eastern ---
Yes, Kuzy can generate assists and some of them are incredible. I think the issue is that he has the ability to do so much more. He can literally take over games and dominate and he can do it for multiple games in a row. We have seen him play games where he made the other team look like they were standing still and you would swear he was the top player in the league. He had a few games like that earlier in the year - lets just hope that he gets it back for the playoffs.
--- End quote ---
Sure, but on most teams contending, let alone defending a championship that just isn NOT good enough, and rightfully so. Regardless, the best player in the league is not a center with <40% faceoffs, doesn’t play PK, and still doesn’t score 30 goals, not just a pretty skater I’m a league that handcuffs defenseman.
Even at his best, he isn’t Bergeron, Towes, Kopitar, and certainly not Nick by longshot.
Whether or not he will develop into an elite player or not remains to be seen, but he has long way to go. He may be on Ovies line, but as long as Nicks here, he will be The Caps #2 at best.
In the mean time, he simply needs to be better and not just think he can be.
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