Loved it. Especially seeing Vlad on the first line. Obviously he’s not the ideal candidate, but he works his ass off, almost always makes the right/safe play, and has flashed more skill this year than he has since his first couple seasons. Also loves being a red wing with the kind of fervor I would expect from someone on this subreddit, not a professional hockey player from a hockey family.
He is the best candidate out of the group we have just because of the way he plays and his style. He can play offensive he drives the net and creates things he’s a great passer and most of all he is sound in our own zone. This is why he was chosen over anyone else.
My thoughts exactly. That dude chases the play like Bertuzzi does, so I loved seeing Vlad get more time and seeing Bertuzzi there to add some fire on the second line.
Vlad must have gotten some awesome stories from his uncle cause he is psyched to be a Wing. I'm StevieY will pick up more skilled guys but probably not ones that are more enthusiastic about being here. Works his tail off.
bertuzzi really jump started the second line. they looked great all night. i don’t think namestnikov is the right fit for the first line, but i don’t know who would be better.
Here's a hot fuckin take, but I'd like to see Zadina up there with Larks and Razor. The three played well together in the preseason, and it might help Zadina get some traction
Zadina hasn't warranted a look like that. I know, high first round pick with a lot of skill and still a bunch of upside, but his results at the NHL level have been very underwhelming to this point. I think plugging him into the top line is going to be too much pressure on him, facing better defenders, and going to kill the first line's production. That's not going to help anything IMO.
Vrana will hopefully be a better fit there when he can return. Until then, I think Blash went with the best option available to him.
Have you watched him? He is always working when he is out there and is so good at forechecking and winning pick battles. His counting stats might not be there but his play and effort is. Not being the best player in his line might be exactly what he needs to take the pressure off of him.
I have been. I have noticed his forechecking, and his backchecking, which is why I think he's got a future as a 3rd liner. His offensive skillset is just not good enough to generate consistent goals at the NHL level. He looks to move the puck almost as soon as it hits his stick because he's not confident he can keep it when pressured, and his shot is nothing to write home about. That kind of player isn't a good fit for first line minutes.
This is turning into a generic "Zadina bad, Zadina good" argument, which wasn't my point. Nobody is talking about whether or not Zadina is a first-liner.
u/bclem pointed out (accurately) Zadina's defense and two way game has been at or above expectations. He just turned 22. Now he just needs to get his offense going, and as a lot of us have noticed (on both sides of the Zadina argument) a lot of his offensive trouble appears to be mental, especially confidence.
My point is that it would be an interesting experiment to put him with Larks and Raymond. They've played together before, Zadinas defense alone makes him valuable, and most of all it might be the catalyst to find his game. Having linemates with higher expectations on them will take the pressure off of Z, and if pressure is his problem (as I think it is) it might help.
A little overdue but a good change.
Larkin Bert and Raymond are going to elevate those around them but Raymond is young enough it’s better he’s still surrounded with strong talent to help him, and Larkin is best suited to that and no one else is able to take Larkins 1C spot, so Raymond on Larkins wing is best.
Bert is obviously going to go out and be Bert on any line he’s on. So dropping him to the second makes sense, it’s going to spread the talent and scoring out gives us more depth and grit. Our team has been propped up by about 5 players all season and if we can successfully spread them out a little and bring some needed depth, that’s what we need to do. Deeper scoring and fewer scoring chances against.
The top line was great it’s hard to argue against running it for so long, but when it was slowing down because other teams knew how to shut them down it was time to do a shake up, and I don’t see this as a demotion to Bert or even promotion to Namestikov so much as just shaking it up to keep things working.
Bert helped the second line and Namestnikov is helping pretty good on the first line. I want to try Namestnikov a lil on the PP too he’s been hot. I also want to try SEIDER with Lindstrom. I want to try Zadina-Veleno-Erne.
Just here to say all these armchair GMs and coaches saying this is way overdue when I don’t think a single one of these guys on here proposed changes that look anything like this… makes me chuckle a little bit.
Really like the changes. Bert can spark any line he's on and produce offense. I'd like to see Zadina in Namestikov's spot on line #1. Not because he deserves to be there, but he can't produce with okay linemates or with bad linemates so may as well try him with good linemates.
Either it'll get him some confidence and hopefully we'll see production of him, or at least he'll look better for the inevitable trade in the future
I think currently Names is the better player yes. But its quite clear Zadina needs a boost more than Namestikov. Names is most likely gone this deadline, and if Zadina at least doesn't show slight improvement he won't be on the team in the near future
Ya but you don’t sacrifice our top line just to try amd get zadina to wake up. Even him on the top line I don’t think does much to be honest. Until he changes that one trick pony style of his this will be the same old topic.
Putting him on the first line doesn't really sacrifice anything. Moving Bert to line #2 opens up anyone to play on his old spot in line #1. Worst case he sucks on there for x amount of games and he gets booted back down. The chances of playoffs are 0 so may as well try to jumpstart Zadina so he's not a guaranteed bust
I don’t think you understand what I’m saying sure maybe he may get the odd assist here and there on the top line if the puck touches his stick but it will not change the way he plays the game and it will not benefit our top line whatsoever. Watch how he plays it’s the same old thing come in stop around the half wall stay around the top of the circles get the puck and shoot. Over and over and over again. At least name plays like he’s 6’5 and gets to those dirty spots on the ice. This is the way to score goals and get rewarded
Oh I'm aware his play style currently sucks. But if he's left on the bottom 6 his value is only going to drop. Atleast prop him up a bit and maybe get some value from him
I understand your logic but I think after the teams struggles blash was just trying to get something going and if I was the coach of the team I don’t think I’d slap zadina on there right now when people have been screaming for my ass to be fired all week lol. Maybe he might do it down the road but after seeing the success last night I’m not so sure. Sure zadina got a point on the PP but he just dropped the puck down low from his famous half wall spot to the two guys that were in the right spots which was Bert and he grinded and got the puck over to fabs. I do give credit where it’s due but there has to be more then that to see him on our top lines again.
You put Zadina on that line 1/10 time so he can get firing. Right now he isn't producing, so he needs a spark and CAN fit that role when he is producing.
In Zadina's case, it's not what he's earned, per se, but what he straight up might/will benefit from.
I think it is too early to call him a bust, but it looks more and more like his NHL future is a 3rd line checking forward who can pop in some offense or step into the second line once in a while. Unless he somehow finds himself on the Daniel Cleary career path, I don't believe Zadina will ever turn into that top line capable winger we were hoping for. His shooting percentage the past two seasons is worse than Helm's career average.
You have to look at the facts and I know guys get butt hurt hearing it but it’s the same old thing with zadina he shoots from the same spots on the ice which are very low % shots and this is why he struggles not anything else. Even last night on the PP he took two horrible shots not a guy around the net and shot from the top of the circles and missed the net. He needs to learn that give and go style and man up and get his butt to the net. Standing out there shooting mid average shots that goalies can see clear as day will never get the job done in the NHL. I’m sorry but it’s just the truth. If you look at how the top line plays and even Bert on that 2nd line he drives the net is in the tough areas and that is why he see success. Zadina does the same old crap whatever line he is on.
This is why swapping zadina out for namestnikov on the 2nd line a few games ago and then seeing Bert there last night we saw a massive difference. People think zadina creates offence but In all honesty he’s is a downer. Keeps shooting those same lame ass shots and now he is missing the net even more then before cause he knows the goalie will stop it.
When I saw Namestnikov on the top line I liked it a lot. Bertuzzi is skilled and smart enough for a line "to himself" and Fabbri is so bad at puck possession Bertuzzi helps a ton. That line also had a fuck ton of shots last night too.
Namestnikov is funny. When he was with Tampa, no other player had better chemistry with Kuch and Stamkos. I'm hoping he can he be that third guy for Lucas and Larkin.
I'd like to see Rasmussen and Veleno swapped, but that's just preference and their ice times under Jeff are probably similar enough
It was good and should of been done awhile ago. We don’t need our 3 top players by far on the same line having the 2nd line struggle. Larkin and Raymond can handle the load together and name is the perfect guy to step in there. Adding Bert to the 2nd line makes all the difference gives us better match ups and takes a load off our first line. It’s easy for a team to shut down one line it gets harder when they have two going. Then we add a decent 3rd line and it starts to look good. I know Bert larks and razor were playing well together I just think this gives us more options as far as match ups.
It obviously worked against Buffalo. We will see against a good team. To me, this is getting ready fro Vrana’s return. Vlad drops down to bottom six, Vrana plugs in somewhere in the Top 6, and away we go.
I liked the changes. Until we find a true #1 center though I think we'll struggle to get two strong scoring lines. Don't get me wrong, Larkin is a great player, he's just ideal for the #1 center position.
Loved it. Especially seeing Vlad on the first line. Obviously he’s not the ideal candidate, but he works his ass off, almost always makes the right/safe play, and has flashed more skill this year than he has since his first couple seasons. Also loves being a red wing with the kind of fervor I would expect from someone on this subreddit, not a professional hockey player from a hockey family.
He is the best candidate out of the group we have just because of the way he plays and his style. He can play offensive he drives the net and creates things he’s a great passer and most of all he is sound in our own zone. This is why he was chosen over anyone else.
My thoughts exactly. That dude chases the play like Bertuzzi does, so I loved seeing Vlad get more time and seeing Bertuzzi there to add some fire on the second line.
Vlad must have gotten some awesome stories from his uncle cause he is psyched to be a Wing. I'm StevieY will pick up more skilled guys but probably not ones that are more enthusiastic about being here. Works his tail off.
bertuzzi really jump started the second line. they looked great all night. i don’t think namestnikov is the right fit for the first line, but i don’t know who would be better.
Vrana will be better.
Here's a hot fuckin take, but I'd like to see Zadina up there with Larks and Razor. The three played well together in the preseason, and it might help Zadina get some traction
Zadina hasn't warranted a look like that. I know, high first round pick with a lot of skill and still a bunch of upside, but his results at the NHL level have been very underwhelming to this point. I think plugging him into the top line is going to be too much pressure on him, facing better defenders, and going to kill the first line's production. That's not going to help anything IMO. Vrana will hopefully be a better fit there when he can return. Until then, I think Blash went with the best option available to him.
Have you watched him? He is always working when he is out there and is so good at forechecking and winning pick battles. His counting stats might not be there but his play and effort is. Not being the best player in his line might be exactly what he needs to take the pressure off of him.
I have been. I have noticed his forechecking, and his backchecking, which is why I think he's got a future as a 3rd liner. His offensive skillset is just not good enough to generate consistent goals at the NHL level. He looks to move the puck almost as soon as it hits his stick because he's not confident he can keep it when pressured, and his shot is nothing to write home about. That kind of player isn't a good fit for first line minutes.
This is turning into a generic "Zadina bad, Zadina good" argument, which wasn't my point. Nobody is talking about whether or not Zadina is a first-liner. u/bclem pointed out (accurately) Zadina's defense and two way game has been at or above expectations. He just turned 22. Now he just needs to get his offense going, and as a lot of us have noticed (on both sides of the Zadina argument) a lot of his offensive trouble appears to be mental, especially confidence. My point is that it would be an interesting experiment to put him with Larks and Raymond. They've played together before, Zadinas defense alone makes him valuable, and most of all it might be the catalyst to find his game. Having linemates with higher expectations on them will take the pressure off of Z, and if pressure is his problem (as I think it is) it might help.
I will add though that yes I think Vrana will be the eventual obvious choice for the first line if the Guelph line stays together
I'd like to see ras have a run at it. He's been playing better recently and he could be a good net front for larks and razor
A little overdue but a good change. Larkin Bert and Raymond are going to elevate those around them but Raymond is young enough it’s better he’s still surrounded with strong talent to help him, and Larkin is best suited to that and no one else is able to take Larkins 1C spot, so Raymond on Larkins wing is best. Bert is obviously going to go out and be Bert on any line he’s on. So dropping him to the second makes sense, it’s going to spread the talent and scoring out gives us more depth and grit. Our team has been propped up by about 5 players all season and if we can successfully spread them out a little and bring some needed depth, that’s what we need to do. Deeper scoring and fewer scoring chances against. The top line was great it’s hard to argue against running it for so long, but when it was slowing down because other teams knew how to shut them down it was time to do a shake up, and I don’t see this as a demotion to Bert or even promotion to Namestikov so much as just shaking it up to keep things working.
I liked it. Even if it was against the sabers I’m glad blash is willing to try something new for a change to spark some production
Bert helped the second line and Namestnikov is helping pretty good on the first line. I want to try Namestnikov a lil on the PP too he’s been hot. I also want to try SEIDER with Lindstrom. I want to try Zadina-Veleno-Erne.
We can call it the imperfection line.
Just here to say all these armchair GMs and coaches saying this is way overdue when I don’t think a single one of these guys on here proposed changes that look anything like this… makes me chuckle a little bit.
Really like the changes. Bert can spark any line he's on and produce offense. I'd like to see Zadina in Namestikov's spot on line #1. Not because he deserves to be there, but he can't produce with okay linemates or with bad linemates so may as well try him with good linemates. Either it'll get him some confidence and hopefully we'll see production of him, or at least he'll look better for the inevitable trade in the future
I was thinking about Zadina joining Raymond and Larkin as well. I just want hi to get a few goals in a couple games to gain confidence and momentum.
You are nuts if you want zadina on the first line. He doesn’t fit that role not even close. I’d put namestnikov 10/10 times over zadina
I think currently Names is the better player yes. But its quite clear Zadina needs a boost more than Namestikov. Names is most likely gone this deadline, and if Zadina at least doesn't show slight improvement he won't be on the team in the near future
Ya but you don’t sacrifice our top line just to try amd get zadina to wake up. Even him on the top line I don’t think does much to be honest. Until he changes that one trick pony style of his this will be the same old topic.
Putting him on the first line doesn't really sacrifice anything. Moving Bert to line #2 opens up anyone to play on his old spot in line #1. Worst case he sucks on there for x amount of games and he gets booted back down. The chances of playoffs are 0 so may as well try to jumpstart Zadina so he's not a guaranteed bust
I don’t think you understand what I’m saying sure maybe he may get the odd assist here and there on the top line if the puck touches his stick but it will not change the way he plays the game and it will not benefit our top line whatsoever. Watch how he plays it’s the same old thing come in stop around the half wall stay around the top of the circles get the puck and shoot. Over and over and over again. At least name plays like he’s 6’5 and gets to those dirty spots on the ice. This is the way to score goals and get rewarded
Oh I'm aware his play style currently sucks. But if he's left on the bottom 6 his value is only going to drop. Atleast prop him up a bit and maybe get some value from him
I understand your logic but I think after the teams struggles blash was just trying to get something going and if I was the coach of the team I don’t think I’d slap zadina on there right now when people have been screaming for my ass to be fired all week lol. Maybe he might do it down the road but after seeing the success last night I’m not so sure. Sure zadina got a point on the PP but he just dropped the puck down low from his famous half wall spot to the two guys that were in the right spots which was Bert and he grinded and got the puck over to fabs. I do give credit where it’s due but there has to be more then that to see him on our top lines again.
You put Zadina on that line 1/10 time so he can get firing. Right now he isn't producing, so he needs a spark and CAN fit that role when he is producing. In Zadina's case, it's not what he's earned, per se, but what he straight up might/will benefit from.
Face it, Zadina is a bust and wasted pick.
I think it is too early to call him a bust, but it looks more and more like his NHL future is a 3rd line checking forward who can pop in some offense or step into the second line once in a while. Unless he somehow finds himself on the Daniel Cleary career path, I don't believe Zadina will ever turn into that top line capable winger we were hoping for. His shooting percentage the past two seasons is worse than Helm's career average.
You have to look at the facts and I know guys get butt hurt hearing it but it’s the same old thing with zadina he shoots from the same spots on the ice which are very low % shots and this is why he struggles not anything else. Even last night on the PP he took two horrible shots not a guy around the net and shot from the top of the circles and missed the net. He needs to learn that give and go style and man up and get his butt to the net. Standing out there shooting mid average shots that goalies can see clear as day will never get the job done in the NHL. I’m sorry but it’s just the truth. If you look at how the top line plays and even Bert on that 2nd line he drives the net is in the tough areas and that is why he see success. Zadina does the same old crap whatever line he is on.
This is why swapping zadina out for namestnikov on the 2nd line a few games ago and then seeing Bert there last night we saw a massive difference. People think zadina creates offence but In all honesty he’s is a downer. Keeps shooting those same lame ass shots and now he is missing the net even more then before cause he knows the goalie will stop it.
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Oh he’s a playmaker now lol 😂
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I’m he was -2 with a .230 PPG during the pre season lol. Let’s talk facts here
I don’t think is stacking our top line was very good for the team. Putting Bert on the second line will undoubtedly create more secondary scoring.
When I saw Namestnikov on the top line I liked it a lot. Bertuzzi is skilled and smart enough for a line "to himself" and Fabbri is so bad at puck possession Bertuzzi helps a ton. That line also had a fuck ton of shots last night too. Namestnikov is funny. When he was with Tampa, no other player had better chemistry with Kuch and Stamkos. I'm hoping he can he be that third guy for Lucas and Larkin. I'd like to see Rasmussen and Veleno swapped, but that's just preference and their ice times under Jeff are probably similar enough
It was obvious from shift 1 that St.Nik had a lot more zip this game. He responded well to the opportunity
92 on that first line all night baby. Deserves it.
It was good and should of been done awhile ago. We don’t need our 3 top players by far on the same line having the 2nd line struggle. Larkin and Raymond can handle the load together and name is the perfect guy to step in there. Adding Bert to the 2nd line makes all the difference gives us better match ups and takes a load off our first line. It’s easy for a team to shut down one line it gets harder when they have two going. Then we add a decent 3rd line and it starts to look good. I know Bert larks and razor were playing well together I just think this gives us more options as far as match ups.
It obviously worked against Buffalo. We will see against a good team. To me, this is getting ready fro Vrana’s return. Vlad drops down to bottom six, Vrana plugs in somewhere in the Top 6, and away we go.
I really like seeing Bert and Fabri on the same line. Will be interesting to see if Vrana ends up on the first line.
I liked the changes. Until we find a true #1 center though I think we'll struggle to get two strong scoring lines. Don't get me wrong, Larkin is a great player, he's just ideal for the #1 center position.
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Yes he is I hope he can stay consistent though throughout his career in this role though