It would be much less alarming if it was a defensive system that wasn't good enough. Or that the defenseman as a whole aren't all that good. However, what is alarming is when you take our best line which is Kakko-Chytil-Cuylle that hasn't been scored upon at even strength all season, what is the thing that stands out the most? They are all young. Who was our best playoff performer other than Shesterkin last year? Lafreniere who is very young. The veteran core forwards are starting to show their age. Especially with their skating and defensive play. Zibanepansy spent all off-season DJ'ing in Spain. He's out of shape and slow to go with this no balls. Kreider doesn't look like a top even strength winger any longer. Panarin still looks OK on offense but Trochek looks a step slower this season. Very soon we are going to need Othmann, Perreault, Berard, Laba and Sykora to give this team a much needed facelift with the forwards.
Why is it alarming? Young players are more motivated, since they need a big time contract. The vets feel comfortable and don’t need to prove anything at this point. They need to upgrade from Lindgren and/or Trouba. You need defensemen who can move the puck out of the zone. These guys spend most of the game chasing opposing forwards in their own zone.
You can't be that dense. It's alarming numb nuts because the veteran core gets the majority of ice time on this team and virtually all the PP time. Wake up Stepan. It's day time.
I was proposing a solution to improve the current situation. What you’re doing is stating the obvious. We know the vets aren’t getting any younger and showing their age. The age isn’t the only problem. It’s the defenseman as a whole. There’s not much you can do about the current roster for at least next two years. That’s more alarming to me than the vets showing their age.
Practice lineup: Panarin – Zibanejad – Lafreniere Cuylle – Trocheck – Smith Kreider – Chytil – Kakko Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey Lindgren – Fox Miller – Trouba Jones – Schneider Vesey is back, and Rempe was sent to the AHL. Seems like Mancini might be odd man out as they go back to the traditional D pairs.
Yeah, as unfortunate as it is for Jones they should be rolling with Mancini and trying to trade Jones.
