Go With 7 Defensemen

[RxBandit66]

Now that Letang and Martin are back, it makes sense to go with 7 defensemen. Especially considering Scuderi's age and recent ineffectiveness, and the fact that Engelland and Bortuzzo are grittier than any of the forwards in the bottom 6. I'm not suggesting playing Bortuzzo at wing; perhaps Engo there occasionally, but going with 7 adds some much needed grit and allows the coaches to cut down on the minutes of the other defensemen. Thoughts?

[Crankshaft]

Good and bad...

[Chirpin' Grinder]

Great post. Congrats to Letang and his family and the team. Maybe the tide will turn and they will get healthy at the right time. Definitely agree with 7 D, especially for these last three games. A smart way to "rest" certain guys would be to keep the minutes down in the final regular season tilts. Nobody should be playing over 20 minutes in these games.

Martin/Orpik
Niskanen/Maatta
Despres/Letang
Bortz or Engo.

Time to do the right thing and bench Scuderi.

[RxBandit66]

It just makes no sense to have guys like Bortuzzo and Engelland, even Despres in the press box when rookie midgets like Gibbons and Megna skate around in circles. Pyatt adds some size, and may do well in the playoffs as he'll be able to grapple along the boards without getting called for a penalty...but still I'd rather see them go with 7 D. Bortuzzo and Engo have played well this season and deserve a shot.

[bwyant32]

I like Engo because he can play both.

[no name]

I like Engo because he can play both.

If your at all worried about his ice time you have to dress Engelland. You will be covered on both ends if you feel you need to limit Tangers ice time plug in Engo , if you put out your 4th line put Engo out there with them.

Ba-da-boom Ba-da-Bing

[shmenguin]

engelland should be playing forward right now for a lot of reasons.

...or if he's still too unknown, he should have been playing forward for the last several months so he could get used to it

[columbia]

engelland should be playing forward right now for a lot of reasons.

...or if he's still too unknown, he should have been playing forward for the last several months so he could get used to it

Nah, don't want to hurt his feelings.

[RxBandit66]

engelland should be playing forward right now for a lot of reasons.

...or if he's still too unknown, he should have been playing forward for the last several months so he could get used to it

[sil]

engelland should be playing forward right now for a lot of reasons.

...or if he's still too unknown, he should have been playing forward for the last several months so he could get used to it

Nah, don't want to hurt his feelings.

DB: "But Iginla...YOU PLAY LEFT SIDE!"
JI: "But coach, I'm better on the rig...."
DB: "YOU PLAY LEFT!!!!"

[DesertPenguin]

First off, I'm very happy for Tanger on a personal level that he has recovered physically and mentally in order to return to the ice.

I'm not worried about his conditioning. He has been at full practice over 3 weeks, and when healthy was capable of playing huge minutes. He should not have a conditioning problem playing 20 a night.

I am worried about the mental side of his game. If he is playing timid or is unsure of himself, that fraction of a second of hesitation is all it takes to miss a defensive play. He never was a cerebral player, and I'm worried this will only compound the problem.

We talk about the quality of our coaches a lot, but this is a big test for them. If they can get him to play responsible, defense first hockey and pick his spots to use that talent of his, Kris will be a huge boost to our team. If he goes run and gun, any semblance of team defense is going to fall apart, and quickly.

Get your popcorn ready.

[sil]

What if all this (what he's been through) turns him into a better, more cautious, and more dependable player? What if this actually gets his head to stay in the game and not wander through flowery fields at times?

[DelPen]

What if all this (what he's been through) turns him into a better, more cautious, and more dependable player? What if this actually gets his head to stay in the game and not wander through flowery fields at times?

That's kind of what was happening when he was with Despres. He was forced to play a better two way game and we looked better in his own end.

Should play Engellend if for only because if someone gets hurt an already tired and banged up defense won't have to play a man down.

[shmenguin]

What if all this (what he's been through) turns him into a better, more cautious, and more dependable player? What if this actually gets his head to stay in the game and not wander through flowery fields at times?

he was playing very cautiously this year, especially early on. which is why his offensive production plummeted. i don't think we want cautious. i think we want, "situationally aware".

[sil]

What if all this (what he's been through) turns him into a better, more cautious, and more dependable player? What if this actually gets his head to stay in the game and not wander through flowery fields at times?

he was playing very cautiously this year, especially early on. which is why his offensive production plummeted. i don't think we want cautious. i think we want, "situationally aware".

I don't know if I'd say it plummeted. He might not be near a point per game as he has been the last few years...but the guy is still has over half a point per game average this season...and he's played in all of 34 games.

[sharpshootr55]

It just makes no sense to have guys like Bortuzzo and Engelland, even Despres in the press box when rookie midgets like Gibbons and Megna skate around in circles. Pyatt adds some size, and may do well in the playoffs as he'll be able to grapple along the boards without getting called for a penalty...but still I'd rather see them go with 7 D. Bortuzzo and Engo have played well this season and deserve a shot.

Megna is 6'1"...

[shmenguin]

What if all this (what he's been through) turns him into a better, more cautious, and more dependable player? What if this actually gets his head to stay in the game and not wander through flowery fields at times?

he was playing very cautiously this year, especially early on. which is why his offensive production plummeted. i don't think we want cautious. i think we want, "situationally aware".

I don't know if I'd say it plummeted. He might not be near a point per game as he has been the last few years...but the guy is still has over half a point per game average this season...and he's played in all of 34 games.

erm...38 points in 35 games last year...18 points in 34 games this year.

i'll stick with "plummeted"

[MRandall25]

"Size" is extremely overrated. You can have size, but if you can't use it properly, it means nothing (see Tangradi, Eric)

[Beveridge]

"Size" is extremely overrated. You can have size, but if you can't use it properly, it means nothing (see Tangradi, Eric)

Pyatt, Taylor

[meow]

What if all this (what he's been through) turns him into a better, more cautious, and more dependable player? What if this actually gets his head to stay in the game and not wander through flowery fields at times?

he was playing very cautiously this year, especially early on. which is why his offensive production plummeted. i don't think we want cautious. i think we want, "situationally aware".

I don't know if I'd say it plummeted. He might not be near a point per game as he has been the last few years...but the guy is still has over half a point per game average this season...and he's played in all of 34 games.

erm...38 points in 35 games last year...18 points in 34 games this year.

i'll stick with "plummeted"

He's tied his career high in goals, though.

[shmenguin]

What if all this (what he's been through) turns him into a better, more cautious, and more dependable player? What if this actually gets his head to stay in the game and not wander through flowery fields at times?

he was playing very cautiously this year, especially early on. which is why his offensive production plummeted. i don't think we want cautious. i think we want, "situationally aware".

I don't know if I'd say it plummeted. He might not be near a point per game as he has been the last few years...but the guy is still has over half a point per game average this season...and he's played in all of 34 games.

erm...38 points in 35 games last year...18 points in 34 games this year.

i'll stick with "plummeted"

He's tied his career high in goals, though.

he's been scoring well on the PP. he has 4 goals and 3 assists at even strength in 34 games. he's not roaming, so he's not scoring.

we want him to roam. he's not worth anything close to his contract otherwise. he just needs to learn when to dial it back in certain situations.

[RxBandit66]

It just makes no sense to have guys like Bortuzzo and Engelland, even Despres in the press box when rookie midgets like Gibbons and Megna skate around in circles. Pyatt adds some size, and may do well in the playoffs as he'll be able to grapple along the boards without getting called for a penalty...but still I'd rather see them go with 7 D. Bortuzzo and Engo have played well this season and deserve a shot.

Megna is 6'1"...

He may be listed at 6'1" but man does he play smaller than that. Give me Tanner Glass over him in a playoff game every time.

[RxBandit66]

Pyatt and Adams took ANOTHER minus last night, they are now both -15.

Get these guys off the ice!!! Go with 7 D.

[SoupOrSam]

Not to mention Adams yet again failed to clear the zone on the PK with as much as 2-3 seconds of his stick touching the rubber. The guy is garbage and is no longer reliable. Not even for the salary he makes. He's a liability and is going to cost us.

[DropEmJayBird]

Adams game played streak has not helped this team.
It would have been nice to kill two birds with one stone given the injuries we've had.
Dress engo to play 4th line wing, and despres to get ice time.

We'd be going into the playoffs better off.