GAME NIGHT: Sens @ Oilers - Thursday, Nov 13, 9:30pm (TSN5, RDS2)

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:If Karlsson is as rancid as he's been lately, we don't even need to bother.  He needs to wake up - now.

Like many an other very young player thrust into the captaincy role, the weight of the position is clearly pressing on Karlsson. It's going to take him time to figure out how to handle that weight. He's just playing tentative right now, for the most part, more afraid to make a mistake than he is to push and to lead the offence. He's just got to get back to who he is.

I'm actually surprised it's affecting his on ice play. He needs to be pushed to rush that puck up the ice and dominate players that he's clearly better than - ie, most of the entire Oilers team.

I liked when they put Boro with him because Boro knows to stay back a bit and let him do his thing. I hope he settles down and begins playing up to his potential soon -because we're right Cussed without him.

wprager wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:If Karlsson is as rancid as he's been lately, we don't even need to bother.  He needs to wake up - now.

Like many an other very young player thrust into the captaincy role, the weight of the position is clearly pressing on Karlsson. It's going to take him time to figure out how to handle that weight. He's just playing tentative right now, for the most part, more afraid to make a mistake than he is to push and to lead the offence. He's just got to get back to who he is.

He also needs a steady partner, not musical chairs.  I realize that Phillips cannot play the same minutes, so if you insist on playing them as a pair, get Phillips off the PK and PP.  On the PP they are going with one D anyway, and on the PK Phillips has lost a step and a half.  

I agree, that will help. And Phillips as his partner has not worked.

wprager wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:If Karlsson is as rancid as he's been lately, we don't even need to bother.  He needs to wake up - now.

Like many an other very young player thrust into the captaincy role, the weight of the position is clearly pressing on Karlsson. It's going to take him time to figure out how to handle that weight. He's just playing tentative right now, for the most part, more afraid to make a mistake than he is to push and to lead the offence. He's just got to get back to who he is.

He also needs a steady partner, not musical chairs.  I realize that Phillips cannot play the same minutes, so if you insist on playing them as a pair, get Phillips off the PK and PP.  On the PP they are going with one D anyway, and on the PK Phillips has lost a step and a half.  

For sure. Karlsson has the luxury of time. He can take all year to find his game or whatever other excuse you can find because players like Phillips are always around to take the heat.

SpezDispensed wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:If Karlsson is as rancid as he's been lately, we don't even need to bother.  He needs to wake up - now.

Like many an other very young player thrust into the captaincy role, the weight of the position is clearly pressing on Karlsson. It's going to take him time to figure out how to handle that weight. He's just playing tentative right now, for the most part, more afraid to make a mistake than he is to push and to lead the offence. He's just got to get back to who he is.

I'm actually surprised it's affecting his on ice play.  He needs to be pushed to rush that puck up the ice and dominate players that he's clearly better than - ie, most of the entire Oilers team.  

I liked when they put Boro with him because Boro knows to stay back a bit and let him do his thing.  I hope he settles down and begins playing up to his potential soon -because we're right Cussed without him.

He's got to get back to what made him a Norris winner in the first place -- and that was being the most dominate puck possession Dman in the league. When Karlsson is on, the puck is on his stick a lot and he's leading the rush and driving the offence. We haven't seen that consistently from him yet this year.

If you ask me, it's because he's got some mistaken sense that a captain needs to be something that he isn't, a more complete player and a more defensive presence. But the fact is that Karlsson dominates when he drives puck possession, and he's smart enough, fast enough, and good enough with his stick that he can be a good defensive presence ala Lidstrom without having to modify him game. He's forgotten how good he is, frankly.

Karlsson will figure out what makes him successful and that could take some time, same with Zibanejad, these guys aren't even 25 and are being asked to play major roles on the team without any real experienced depth behind them, it's going to be a 2, 3 year process for this team to get to where they want to be and form that identity they were looking for.

That said I like this team a hell of a lot better than last years, more effort, more physical, faster, and more responsible. There are tangible things to hold to here and the biggest being a clear direction of the team, youth, speed, and a complete game with and without the puck. The Sens are a team that is going to struggle early then come on mid season and late and even then, the struggles haven't been that bad. Growing pains are part of it and patients by the fans is needed, it's been 15 games and people are already questioning the players and the coach. People need to give it a rest.

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:If Karlsson is as rancid as he's been lately, we don't even need to bother.  He needs to wake up - now.

Like many an other very young player thrust into the captaincy role, the weight of the position is clearly pressing on Karlsson. It's going to take him time to figure out how to handle that weight. He's just playing tentative right now, for the most part, more afraid to make a mistake than he is to push and to lead the offence. He's just got to get back to who he is.

I'm actually surprised it's affecting his on ice play.  He needs to be pushed to rush that puck up the ice and dominate players that he's clearly better than - ie, most of the entire Oilers team.  

I liked when they put Boro with him because Boro knows to stay back a bit and let him do his thing.  I hope he settles down and begins playing up to his potential soon -because we're right Cussed without him.

He's got to get back to what made him a Norris winner in the first place -- and that was being the most dominate puck possession Dman in the league. When Karlsson is on, the puck is on his stick a lot and he's leading the rush and driving the offence. We haven't seen that consistently from him yet this year.

If you ask me, it's because he's got some mistaken sense that a captain needs to be something that he isn't, a more complete player and a more defensive presence. But the fact is that Karlsson dominates when he drives puck possession, and he's smart enough, fast enough, and good enough with his stick that he can be a good defensive presence ala Lidstrom without having to modify him game. He's forgotten how good he is, frankly.

Yep, exactly this.

Karlsson has seemed to pass the puck earlier than he used to...a lot of the time, it's off his stick before he even gets out of his own zone.

The weight of the Captaincy, the revolving door of partners, the possible injury... have we travelled back in time to when Statspadzza donned the "C"?!?!?!?!

SeawaySensFan wrote:The weight of the Captaincy, the revolving door of partners, the possible injury... have we travelled back in time to when Statspadzza donned the "C"?!?!?!?!

Don't forget his broken marriage....although that one is a legit excuse. Believe me I kinda know the feeling

tim1_2 wrote:Karlsson has seemed to pass the puck earlier than he used to...a lot of the time, it's off his stick before he even gets out of his own zone.

Could be a case of them wanting him to join the rush instead of leading it... I haven't noticed this personally but maybe. I think he's just trying to find some balance to his game but truth be told I think he's forcing things when he shouldn't be (pucks up the middle, keeping the puck in at the blueline when he should be retreating a little) and not being assertive when he should be, being harder on the puck even if that means swatting it away into a spot on the ice where the other team won't get a scoring chance.

Again, give it time, give it the season, maybe even two. Great players figure it out, he's a great player.

SeawaySensFan wrote:The weight of the Captaincy, the revolving door of partners, the possible injury... have we travelled back in time to when Statspadzza donned the "C"?!?!?!?!

Like I said in the other thread, having a guy like Methot with him could be huge and even if I don't believe Methot is much more if anything more than Boroweicki fact is Karlsson is comfortable with Methot and the value in that alone is probably more important than rating player A, B, and C. Like Ev said, Methot is going back in the second he is ready and that could be a game changer for Karlsson... just the comfort level and the trust. Not sure that's worth 5 x 5 on a contract but that's not here nor there.

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:If Karlsson is as rancid as he's been lately, we don't even need to bother.  He needs to wake up - now.

Like many an other very young player thrust into the captaincy role, the weight of the position is clearly pressing on Karlsson. It's going to take him time to figure out how to handle that weight. He's just playing tentative right now, for the most part, more afraid to make a mistake than he is to push and to lead the offence. He's just got to get back to who he is.

I'm actually surprised it's affecting his on ice play.  He needs to be pushed to rush that puck up the ice and dominate players that he's clearly better than - ie, most of the entire Oilers team.  

I liked when they put Boro with him because Boro knows to stay back a bit and let him do his thing.  I hope he settles down and begins playing up to his potential soon -because we're right Cussed without him.

He's got to get back to what made him a Norris winner in the first place -- and that was being the most dominate puck possession Dman in the league. When Karlsson is on, the puck is on his stick a lot and he's leading the rush and driving the offence. We haven't seen that consistently from him yet this year.

If you ask me, it's because he's got some mistaken sense that a captain needs to be something that he isn't, a more complete player and a more defensive presence. But the fact is that Karlsson dominates when he drives puck possession, and he's smart enough, fast enough, and good enough with his stick that he can be a good defensive presence ala Lidstrom without having to modify him game. He's forgotten how good he is, frankly.

It's also because of his injury. Teams are exploiting him because when he is at a stop, they can easily get around him since he can't pivot well. He also doesn't seem as fast.

NEELY wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:The weight of the Captaincy, the revolving door of partners, the possible injury... have we travelled back in time to when Statspadzza donned the "C"?!?!?!?!

Like I said in the other thread, having a guy like Methot with him could be huge and even if I don't believe Methot is much more if anything more than Boroweicki fact is Karlsson is comfortable with Methot and the value in that alone is probably more important than rating player A, B, and C.  Like Ev said, Methot is going back in the second he is ready and that could be a game changer for Karlsson... just the comfort level and the trust.  Not sure that's worth 5 x 5 on a contract but that's not here nor there.

I don't think it is. Besides, if things are as bad on D as we are led to believe than you probably need Methot AND an upgrade on someone else.

Michallica wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:The weight of the Captaincy, the revolving door of partners, the possible injury... have we travelled back in time to when Statspadzza donned the "C"?!?!?!?!

Don't forget his broken marriage....although that one is a legit excuse.  Believe me I kinda know the feeling

He's moved on from that. The house is sold, and he's got a new one. "Women weaken legs" might be a factor.

My woman strengthened my legs, if you know what I mean (I don't know what I mean)>

Fact of the matter is we have no legit top-pairing left defenceman. We have a bunch of guys that, talent-wise, are 2nd and 3rd pairing at best.

Well with the cap not going up you can pretty much bet Methot won't be getting 5 x 5 from anyone, teams are going to be trying to move guys with that kind of cap hit, not sign them.

tim1_2 wrote:My woman strengthened my legs, if you know what I mean (I don't know what I mean)>

Fact of the matter is we have no legit top-pairing left defenceman.  We have a bunch of guys that, talent-wise, are 2nd and 3rd pairing at best.

Don't argue with Mickey.

Women. Weaken. Legs!

The Scrivver faces The Gregger. Try to top that storyline, Hollywood.