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 Adam
Messages: 7757
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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| HamBlaster wrote on Tue, 20 January 2026 12:40 |
I know that it wasn't the toughest of competition that we just beat handily, however two shutouts and a compete level from this team that we don't typically see...
And I have to point out... there was no shortage of scoring and effort, and who was out of the lineup?
I've moved between being a big fan and big detractor of Draisaitl's game over the years, and this year he's been back to his substandard play. The points have been there... absolutely, but he's almost always slow on the backcheck, slow to complete a line change, the first to show bad body language when things aren't going his way, and that rubs off on the team. Connor busts his ass almost every single shift, is quick to get off on a line change, and demands excellence from his team. He leads by example, and so does Drai. To me, it's no surprise at all that the team has looked better with him gone the last couple of games.
I know that Leon is gone for personal reasons and I'm not writing this to heap more negativity on his pile... but I'm hoping Leon takes a moment while he's gone to realize that THIS TEAM GOES as he and Connor go. He has to be a leader, not a lazy example for the team to emulate.
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I completely disagree with this.
Like everyone, Draisaitl's game is not perfect, but he sure adds a lot more on the asset column than the liability one. His contributions go way beyond the scoreboard.
I think large, long-strided players often look like they're less engaged than smaller guys with choppier strides. That's why we've had so many examples of guys with the one body type being classified as "lazy" or "uncaring" by fans and pundits. This goes way back too - Mahovlich got this kind of comment. Sundin got it. Here in Edmonton, we said similar things about Krushelnyski and Penner.
I am not without some concerns about McDavid & Draisaitl - I wonder how much impact they have on team decisions. I wonder how welcoming they are and how easy they are to integrate with for new players (we've had several flame out who theoretically could have added value). But A) I don't have enough information to fully judge there and B) I think the good FAR outweighs the bad.
Draisaitl's scoring in the playoffs, along with McDavid & Bouchard, is basically at 1980s levels. It's outrageous how much those guys have elevated their game in the post-season the last several years. He plays through substantial injuries. He plays with an edge. He backchecks and cares about his own end.
I just don't see what you're seeing that requires blasting him game after game after game and I wonder if it doesn't all start with his skating stride and the impression that he doesn't work hard enough because he doesn't chop up the ice when he moves.
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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