Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
G28 Capitals @ Red Wings 7:00pm Sat Nov 30, 2019 NBCSWA, NHLN, FS-D
PUCKNRUSH:
--- Quote from: Beaglefan2 on Monday December 02, 2019, 10:08:25 PM Eastern ---
Rush - good analysis.
I'm actually starting to warm to GMBM. He has made some good moves and I think he has a knack for the blueliners. For instance, I hated giving up Bowey in the Jensen deal, but Ziggy has developed way more than Bowey who was scratched by the worst team in the league the other night. His Nisky-for-Gudas deal is looking great as well. We all saw Nisky making more and more stupid mistakes in the last couple of year and Gudas has played well.
It looks like part of out dilemma on the extra players is going to be solved by Stephensons departure soon. It will be interesting to see if we get anything for him or just lose him through waivers. I had high hopes for him and at one point thought he could be the next Beagle, but he just doesn't have the desire. He has the skills, just not the competitive drive.
--- End quote ---
It took a while Beags, after that Shattenkirk fiasco, to start warming up to GMBM, for me!
Probably around the time we got Kempny, (which I still believe GMBM picked up, mainly to carry out the heavier defensive responsibilities, that our beloved Carlson couldnt handle),😁 who is an excellent fit for our D strategy, was when I started to reconsider my take on GMBM.
Since then, through much of the second-guessing about him, GMBM has proven to have begun to successfully fill, several of the big voids that have plagued our team over the years, especially on defense!!
To be honest, it’s starting to look like some of the negative aspects of that old “Kettler culture“, we used to talk about, are starting to erode away as well!! Either by design or by accident, but nonetheless he deserves much of the credit for that, given that this newer team attitude, we’ve been witness to this year, continues!!👍
As far as Nisky, well, i’ve always really liked him… A lot!
I think Nisky is just one of those guys that, when he ages, his overall performance dwindles off more quickly than some other guys!! Hey, there are a lot of players in the NHL, some of them age well and some of them do not!
No honest assessment of his total play last year, would even come close to claiming he played like the Matt Niskanen, we had come to know and love!! Even Niskanen would say so himself! I think GMBM saw the writing on the wall, and with a little luck, in timing, made a fairly brave and intelligent decision for the Capitals team he manages!! No doubt he made a great decision, period!
Not really upset about the Stephenson trade, to be honest. Like you, Beags, I was much higher on him before, but that has slowly been dwindling since last year. And I agree with you about his mediocre attitude. It’s not that it’s bad, it just doesn’t seem to match as much where the team is today!! He’s become sort of the outsider name that you don’t hear about too much, anymore.....Until today!!😁
It’s not that I dislike Stephenson. I like the guy! But we’ve got some young fellas on this team that are HUNGRY! Who I guess, have caused Stephenson to be given a little wake up call!!!
MOVIN’ FORWARD BOYS!!!👍👍😁
Rush
richkrt99:
Rush, I agree with you on Djoos. I have never really been against him and admit he plays very well for his size and uses his smarts and other skills to the best of his ability. His level of play is decent, but hindered by his size. Nothing he can do about it, but try hard which I believe he does. He is just simply too small to be a great D man in today's NHL. He can't out muscle guys when he needs to. His positioning and stick work are good, as well as his puck moving, so he can survive in most situations and can be a help to moving the puck up. I don't recall frequently yelling at the TV because Djoos made some bonehead (Orlov-esque) play up the middle and turned the puck over for an easy great scoring chance. His play is pretty sound. He just isn't big enough.
I think his struggles are in a game where the opponent has a good forecheck and lots of grit. He can't go in the corners and muck it up well. Playoff series always tighten up and roughen up and I don't think Djoos thrives well in that situation. I wonder if he might do better in one of the Euro leagues with bigger ice.
and I fear he will get caught in the corner someday with a bone crushing hit from a guy like Willy or Ovie and it will simply break him in half and end his career.
I always kind of liked Ziggs. He has made good on his opportunity. You can never really tell how a young guy will perform. Typically I think the Caps are very conservative with letting younger guys (especially D) get decent NHL playing time and it hinders their growth. Caps have mostly had a pretty good roster so young guys didn't get as much a chance as they might on other weaker clubs. Ziggs timing was just right...Caps were short on D last couple seasons and Caps were forced to rely on one of the younger guys and then Djoos salary made some difference this year so Ziggs got more opportunity and he took advantage by stepping up. I think his game has improved because of the playing experience, so that's good on him and coaching - they both made the best of the opportunity.
As much as we doo-doo on Rierden, his staff does pretty well with coaching the young guys. I think some of the youthful exuberance and drive is what was missing in years past. You need some guys fighting for jobs and who just want to play. It's nice to have super stars, but it's also nice to see some young guys with drive and the opportunity to show it.
SOrry...turned into another rant. Must be catching up from my Caps board hiatus of trytophan and carb comas
4 Caps:
--- Quote from: PUCKNRUSH on Monday December 02, 2019, 10:57:03 PM Eastern ---
Always appreciative of your “inside scoops”, from practice, 4Caps!
From what you’ve reported, it looks like they’re also keeping Eller at 2nd line center. I’m guessing until Backstrom returns.
At whatever point Nicky returns, I assume he’ll go back up the first line, and Kuzy will drop to second line with Vrana.
I like Eller and Hagelin together on 3rd line! Paired with Leipsic or Hathaway, as either of those combinations, although not the heaviest production guys, ALL of them possess never-quit quickness, and can frustrate opponents in good measure, ESPECIALLY during those fragile few seconds when, just prior to blue line entrance, into our zone, and our opponent is just beginning to try and set something up!! That’s one of the big strenghts for our healthy third line!!
Thanks for the update!
Rush, I don’t think when Backstrom returns he will go back on the top line. If you recall, before Backstrom got hurt Rierden had flipped Backstrom and Kuznetsov and I assume when he comes back he will be between Vrana and Oshie.
Rush
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PUCKNRUSH:
You’re right 4caps. I had forgot that Rierden had recently flipped Backy and Kuzy before Backy got hurt.
Part of me may be a bit sentimental about the old Ovi/Backy line!
I guess it’s kind a hard to know whether Kuzy had earned the #1 line spot, or Rierden may have moved Backy down to help maximize Vrana.
Rush
PUCKNRUSH:
Rich, definitely agree that Djoos’ value tends to drop at playoff time.
Recently, I’ve moved from crapping on Rierden so much. It’s not that Rierden is doing anything different, but more that I’ve had to RELUCTANTLY, change my perspective on today’s NHL.
I either stay grumpy about how soft the NHL has become, in a quick nutshell, and hold fast to my sentiments, OR, adapt, so that I can minimize my frustrations while watching, and continue to enjoy the game.
Obviously, I’ve moved to the latter!😤😤😁
It is from this backdrop that I can truly say Rierden does an excellent job, especially when you take it in the context of what NEEDS to be done in the NHL today to be a successful head coach!! Rierden is hitting on ALL cylinders!
Rush
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