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 Skookum Jim
Messages: 6158
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
6 Cups
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Minnesota didn't even have one of their best D-men last night (Brodin).. Oilers defense is not good at defense.. (except IMO Ekholm) Bouchard is good within the offensive zone blue line .. and mediocre to not good beyond .. that goal where Boldy snuck behind Bouchard can't happen.. but it's just an example of what happens way too often in coverage.. A good defenseman should be able to provide the offense he's capable of (i.e. Bouchard) without the exclusion of playing smart, capable defense in your own zone and neutral zone.. they are not mutually exclusive ..
And the offense is pop-gun excluding the top 3 in 97, 29, 18 ..
93, 92 work hard and are complimentary pieces to the top 3.. but are not snipers.. 28 can shoot but has gone cold ( I hope they hold off on paying him 4x4) .. and the rest have not represented much of a scoring threat .. at all.
Despite not getting goals from outside 97, 29, 18.. they can still win games.. but not if they give away free goals on stupid, weak plays.. then they have to chase and its 97+29 time.. all the time.. they are able more often than not to supply the required heroics to win games.. but it shouldn't have to get to that point as frequently as it does.. symptom of a weak defense and too many gift goals.
Overall the team needs more speed through the line up, in order to create a forecheck and offensive pressure.. and turn overs.. this team doesn't have a credible forecheck outside the super stars.
JMHO
[Updated on: Sun, 01 February 2026 14:16]
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