Red Wings @ Leafs - Jan. 21st, 7:00pm - SN

[CarltonTheBear]

I think that Robertson would be a better option than Cowan. He has speed, and some tenacity. He doesn't cough up the puck as much as he used to. I don't get it sometimes. It really does seem that Berube is just Carlyle 2.0.

Well Robertson did get a shift in overtime before Cowan last night, however on the entire season Cowan has played a little over twice more than Robertson in OT.

The team is now 7-8 in overtime. They have the most OT losses, but also tied for the most OT wins. 6 of their 7 overtime goals have come with OEL on the ice though so if he's out we're screwed there. McCabe and Rielly have the highest GA/60 in overtime among all defencemen with 10+ minutes played. On a random note Cale Makar is shockingly right behind them there.

 

[L K]

Well Robertson did get a shift in overtime before Cowan last night, however on the entire season Cowan has played a little over twice more than Robertson in OT.

The team is now 7-8 in overtime. They have the most OT losses, but also tied for the most OT wins. 6 of their 7 overtime goals have come with OEL on the ice though so if he's out we're screwed there. McCabe and Rielly have the highest GA/60 in overtime among all defencemen with 10+ minutes played. On a random note Cale Makar is shockingly right behind them there.

And Robertson made a bad turnover that got the team hemmed in on his shift last night.

What was Tavares doing on the ice as long as he was though just before that play. He had a shift that started poorly and then stayed out and got stuck on the ice for a while and then didn't immediately get off the ice when they had a chance to do a line change.

The bench management in OT is consistently bad with Berube.

Speed matters in OT. I know McMann is a little too north-south speed but he's also a guy who can beat a guy wide and cut back toward the net. Catching a team on tired legs seems like a great way to use that skill. Why is Laughton not featured in OT? Why are we not using Stecher more in OT.

This team desperately needs a guy who can move the puck.

The more I think about how to handle this team...the more I say screw it, make a trade. Cowan really just doesn't do much for me. I think he'll be a player some day but he has a lot of panic in his game for a guy who is also undersized. By the time he is able to bulk up and be harder to knock off the puck we are going to be looking at the end of Matthews deal. Danford....I just don't see him being a meaningful contributor in the next 2-3 seasons. This team either wins now or it gets scrapped for parts. Pick up a guy who can move the puck already.

 

[herman]

I don't think he was particularly noticeable tonight but still with his breakaway speed and shot (and size/strength) I don't get why McMann isn't going out in OT before any of Maccelli, Robertson, or Cowan.

OT play is about holding onto the puck, and those three little guys (and Domi) are much better puckholders than McMann, who is more of a move it and get it sort of player. The lack of Nylander for so many OT games is catching up.

Anyway, enjoy the gym this summer, Cowan.

Cowan has been too soft with his puck moving all season in contested ice. Lots of junior feather passes that just get swallowed up by NHL size and speed, but looks good if it's in open space and connects with a linemate. His stick is far too light on the ice in general, so the gym time and just understanding the environment of the NHL with firsthand experience will help. I think he will be fine if he can adjust quickly; it took Robertson like 3 off-and-on seasons though, so I can see the value in this sort of sustained trial by fire as Cowan's not the type of personality to wilt under adversity.

In this OT instance where he was victimized, that was poor decision making in not reading the pressure on him and trying to pull away as the last man back with traffic on top of him. A better option would be to bump to Woll to reset, or try a quick-up to the other guys sprinting wide.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The more I think about how to handle this team...the more I say screw it, make a trade. Cowan really just doesn't do much for me. I think he'll be a player some day but he has a lot of panic in his game for a guy who is also undersized. By the time he is able to bulk up and be harder to knock off the puck we are going to be looking at the end of Matthews deal. Danford....I just don't see him being a meaningful contributor in the next 2-3 seasons. This team either wins now or it gets scrapped for parts. Pick up a guy who can move the puck already.

It's tough for me to really judge Cowan too harshly for anything right now honestly. I always thought it made way more sense to keep him in the AHL to start the season and entertain a call-up later regardless of training camp performance. Despite his half-decent point totals so far I still think that's what should have happened. Doing the opposite and sending him down now would be a way bigger blow to him though. I'm curious to see how they handle him during the Olympic break though: does he get the time off or does he go down to get some games with the Marlies.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

OT play is about holding onto the puck, and those three little guys (and Domi) are much better puckholders than McMann, who is more of a move it and get it sort of player. The lack of Nylander for so many OT games is catching up.

Those three little guys (and Domi) are also the easiest to push off the puck and prone to turnovers so calling them better puckholders than McMann is a little debatable I'd say. I get what you mean though, confidently holding onto the puck and making plays in the offensive zone is the name of the game in OT which isn't really McMann's bread and butter.

I'd wonder with his speed and strength if it's something he'd look better at doing in OT with all the open ice vs. at 5-on-5. There's a lot of plays where a forward just curls around the defender in open ice and if you can get a step on him there's a clear shot. Heck even someone like Roy could excel at those types of plays with his reach and ability to hold onto the puck.

I think when it comes to the secondary duos past Matthews and Nylander there's value in having a shifty east-west guy and more of a straight forward north-south guy on the ice at the same time.

 

[Bender]

Why isn't Laughton taking the Tavares spot? I think he deserves a look just to change it up. I understand you need to put out guys you think are game breakers, but you need SOME defensive responsibility that can reasonably keep up with the other team.

 

[herman]

Those three little guys (and Domi) are also the easiest to push off the puck and prone to turnovers so calling them better puckholders than McMann is a little debatable I'd say. I get what you mean though, confidently holding onto the puck and making plays in the offensive zone is the name of the game in OT which isn't really McMann's bread and butter.

I'd wonder with his speed and strength if it's something he'd look better at doing in OT with all the open ice vs. at 5-on-5. There's a lot of plays where a forward just curls around the defender in open ice and if you can get a step on him there's a clear shot. Heck even someone like Roy could excel at those types of plays with his reach and ability to hold onto the puck.

I think when it comes to the secondary duos past Matthews and Nylander there's value in having a shifty east-west guy and more of a straight forward north-south guy on the ice at the same time.

I agree for the most part; there are many ways to take advantage of the space, but I can see what the coaching staff's idea is.

I would really like to see McMann out there with one of the puck holders or a defensive centre (Roy/Laughton) who could just airmail it to an open spot and McMann just goes zoom zoom boom. And if he misses, he has the wheels to get back and disrupt.

Domi and Maccelli actually have above decent puck holding under duress, but they both also have maybe too much confidence in cross-ice pass attempts. Robertson and Cowan have their hearts in the right place and the requisite toolkit, but short on experience. I maintain those two should just watch a 3-hr mixtape of Brad Marchand and Brayden Point going about their business.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014522665260752963

What the heck is OEL made of? Can it be cloned and integrated into Nylander and Matthews?

 

[rdowdall]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014522665260752963

What the heck is OEL made of? Can it be cloned and integrated into Nylander and Matthews?

I have three working theories:

1. As I alluded to earlier, he is a prima donna and he just likes to hear about how great and needed he is, so he randomly takes 2/3rd's of a game off.

2. He has hired Daniel LaRusso as his personal trainer to teach him all of Mr. Miyagi's tricks.

3. He has decided he really likes the drama and the intrigue that is produced in WWE wrestling. In his next interview he will show up in multi-colored sun glasses, a head bandana that reads "OEL MANIA!!!", and a muti-colored wife beater complete WITH tassels. His interview with Mark Masters will go something like this:

Masters: "Oliver, you were supposed to be out for weeks, what has allowed you to play in this game today?"

OEL: "Let me tell you something Brother!!! When I heard the screams and cries out there from all the little OEL-Maniacs, I couldn't possibly not show up for tonight's game. I couldn't let them all down knowing that they need to see me flex these 18 inch pythons. So I channeled those screams and cries into energy to fuel this unstoppable machine. I have risen up from the trainers table bathed in the glory of the OEL-maniac fandom. And now I am going to pick up my hockey stick with the 18 inch pythons, and I am going to skate faster than what has previously been thought possible, so the question isn't why I am playing today BROTHER!!! The question is what you gonna do when OEL-MANIA RUNS WILD ON YOU!!!!!

And then he walks into the dressing room.