Connolly/Good, Bad, and Ugly vs NJ/
Posted 4:24 AM ET | Comments 0
What a mess. First Connolly goes down at the world junior camp with an injury (although we are told it is nothing serious, and he was back at it Monday playing in an intrasquad game for Team Canada), and then we see yet another game lost by the Lightning. Watching the Lightning/Devils game, you have to think it was a good thing to get Connolly out of this environment. He is in strong competition, and is expected to be a force since he is one of few returning players from last year's team. Boucher has been hard on him at times, drastically reducing his playing time over his defensive game, and on Team Canada he is being asked to play more physical than before. He certainly got the message, but ended up injuring fellow returnee, Quinton Howden (Panthers prospect), in a controversial hit that resulted in a 2 minute penalty to Connolly for boarding.
As for the game, how about the good, the band, and the ugly?
The good:
- The Blair Jones goal was great to see, although you have to blame Hedberg a little on that one. Still a beauty though.
- Some depth guys provided some energy. I liked Tyrell in particular.
- The team battled back, and even late in the game Stamkos scored to bring the game within one goal. I love it when something like this happens at the end of the game, when the part time fans are on their way to their cars. I've never understood that thinking. Didn't you spend the money to see a hockey game? Anyway, thats a different rant altogether.
The Bad:
- Roloson
- The lack of effort which lead to so many goals for the Devils
- Garon
- We get to see two, TWO!, 2-on-1/2-on-0's and Clark is there both times doing absolutely nothing. If nothing else, that's the time to take a penalty and nobody will blame you for doing it. The second one felt like they just rewound the game and played it back again.
The Ugly:
- The Lightning's record. If they don't turn this around, and quickly, this season is getting very close to write off territory, where there is no chance of making the playoffs. In that case, you almost just want to wait until the offseason to make your moves, and collect a top prospect in the summer from the dismal season that this has become. Luckily, the draft is deep for defensemen.
No matter what, it seems that there isn't a good trade available, or it would've been made by now. Obviously Kaberle was available, but I'm glad Yzerman didn't go that route. At this point, it seems like you either overpay, or you take on a player and contract that you don't really want anyway, and will likely hurt the team come next year, for a small relief this year (and then it likely still won't get us deep into the playoffs, or even into them). The future has to be considered in bringing any player in, not just this season.
I'm glad to see that Yzerman is still doing something and signing a player out of the KHL, Antti Miettinen, who is a low risk and could add some depth scoring and shake up the roster a bit. The message to the players is that you can be replaced, and you will be if you don't play up to standards. It could also be the precursor to a trade.
I wish we could see something done on defense as well, although when you watch these games, it is pretty evident that a good goaltender could do wonders for this team. It seems like they lack confidence, and that likely comes from the goaltending issue.
Good news for St.Louis: He is making progress, and plans to wear a visor when he returns. I just hope he keeps it on until he retires.
As for the game, how about the good, the band, and the ugly?
The good:
- The Blair Jones goal was great to see, although you have to blame Hedberg a little on that one. Still a beauty though.
- Some depth guys provided some energy. I liked Tyrell in particular.
- The team battled back, and even late in the game Stamkos scored to bring the game within one goal. I love it when something like this happens at the end of the game, when the part time fans are on their way to their cars. I've never understood that thinking. Didn't you spend the money to see a hockey game? Anyway, thats a different rant altogether.
The Bad:
- Roloson
- The lack of effort which lead to so many goals for the Devils
- Garon
- We get to see two, TWO!, 2-on-1/2-on-0's and Clark is there both times doing absolutely nothing. If nothing else, that's the time to take a penalty and nobody will blame you for doing it. The second one felt like they just rewound the game and played it back again.
The Ugly:
- The Lightning's record. If they don't turn this around, and quickly, this season is getting very close to write off territory, where there is no chance of making the playoffs. In that case, you almost just want to wait until the offseason to make your moves, and collect a top prospect in the summer from the dismal season that this has become. Luckily, the draft is deep for defensemen.
No matter what, it seems that there isn't a good trade available, or it would've been made by now. Obviously Kaberle was available, but I'm glad Yzerman didn't go that route. At this point, it seems like you either overpay, or you take on a player and contract that you don't really want anyway, and will likely hurt the team come next year, for a small relief this year (and then it likely still won't get us deep into the playoffs, or even into them). The future has to be considered in bringing any player in, not just this season.
I'm glad to see that Yzerman is still doing something and signing a player out of the KHL, Antti Miettinen, who is a low risk and could add some depth scoring and shake up the roster a bit. The message to the players is that you can be replaced, and you will be if you don't play up to standards. It could also be the precursor to a trade.
I wish we could see something done on defense as well, although when you watch these games, it is pretty evident that a good goaltender could do wonders for this team. It seems like they lack confidence, and that likely comes from the goaltending issue.
Good news for St.Louis: He is making progress, and plans to wear a visor when he returns. I just hope he keeps it on until he retires.