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 Kr55
Messages: 12884
Registered: May 2002
Location: Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Adam wrote on Wed, 29 October 2025 22:27 |
| PlusOne wrote on Tue, 28 October 2025 20:49 |
The struggles of 2 and 25 have been well documented. It seems to hide the fact that Troy Stecher has been brutal this year. He loses ever battle, every race and every play dies as soon as he gets the puck.
My thoughts on Bouchard differ from his detractors.
Nurse is not great but I dont think he is as bad as some believe.
For anyone that wants them benched or traded be careful what you wish for. More minutes for Stecher is the last thing the team needs.
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I've been thinking a bit about this point. Basically almost no one on our defence HAS looked good to this point in the season. Lots of mistakes from everyone. People have been talking about Nurse and Bouchard, but Ekholm has also been dreadful to the point where there's been people musing about whether he has lingering injury concerns from last season.
I wonder though if a new set of assistant coaches haven't introduced something new to the system that has taken a while to adjust to? They had a couple years of Paul Coffey and probably understood the expectations there. What's different now?
We know this group historically has been good at shot suppression, so hopefully they can rally soon.
The one adjustment I wish they WOULD make is to stop wasting pucks by sending long unscreened shots on net. Nurse and Ekholm are so bad for this. I don't mind the one-timer, they score sometimes there (as Ekholm did last night), but there are so many times where they have control without a ton of pressure and just throw a shot in on goal. It's basically never going to go in and without traffic in front there's no chance for tips or rebounds. It just kills plays. Kulak's done it a bunch this year too. Nurse and Ekholm way up the list on SOG to this point (I think both in the top 7) but I'd rather we hold there and try to find ways to get more dangerous looks (I also think we aren't getting enough shots from most of our wingers and that those two things are somewhat related).
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Think Nurse is just gonna Nurse.
The play of Ek and Bouch to start this year though has been very concerning. But last game they both had a strong game. Hopefully a little sign they are figuring it out again. If that pair can't get back to their old ways though, it's gonna be a tough year. Could be adjusting to a new coach, or just a hangover. Last year lots of guys had a heck of a time getting it together to start the season. People were all screaming to trade Bouch around this time last season too.
Walman has looked pretty good so far. One of the only D that has looked pretty good in all his time this year. Of course he missed a chunk of it.
"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013
"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015
5 x $5,000,000
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