Is it time to shuffle the defense pairings?
by DanInDubai on Nov 7, 2011 4:31 PM EST
Email
Print
Based on a single game sample, the re-mixing of the lines seemed to spark the forwards against the Capitals.
Do you think that a similar shuffle would help the defensemen? I am thinking particularly about MacDonald and Hamonic.
We were all pleasantly surprised by how effective these two were last year, but I have seen many comments that reinforce my feeling that they are not playing as well this year as last.
I would like to see them split, at least for a few games, to see if it jump-starts either of their games. Put one of them with Streit for a little while and see what happens.
This is my first try at a FanPost, so any feedback on whether I did it right or not is welcome.
Submitted FanPosts do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog or SB Nation. If you're reading this statement, you pass the fine print legalese test. Four stars for you.
13 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Our D has been one of our best assets, why change it?
On an unrelated note, do you really live in Dubai? If you do, that’s pretty cool dude.
Stainer of mountaintops.
I live in Dubai, but it is not as cool you think it is.
I work US hours to cover the markets, so my clock is upside down. It is a very superficial place.
So you work nights and sleep days?
That’s some sort of hell.
Stainer of mountaintops.
by Chairman Meow on Nov 7, 2011 5:34 PM EST up reply actions
I agree that the defense has played pretty well
I think that MacDonald and Hamonic have not played as well as last year. Part of that is probably the A-Mac is not yet 100% from his surgery.
I think that sometimes just changing things up can light a spark.
If we were giving up a bunch of goals a game, I would agree.
But now, I see no reason to change anything.
Stainer of mountaintops.
by Chairman Meow on Nov 7, 2011 5:35 PM EST up reply actions
We are not giving up a bunch of goals
But at the end of last year Travis and A-Mac were pretty big contributors to the offense.
I know that they are not the top pair now, so they are not getting the same amount of time on the PP as last year, but we need someone beside Streit contributing to the offense from the back end.
I prefer
…to look at them as the top “shut-down” pair which frees Streit up to do offense and hopefully have Staios cover his forays a bit.
I share the feeling that AMac-Hamonic aren’t quite as dominant as they were last year, but so far I think (if my eyes are even accurate on this) that’s quite possibly more to do with a few goofs from Hamonic and AMac not being totally 100%.
So I wouldn’t split them up right now.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I'd think
the best reason to split them up is that it could potentially make us stronger across all three pairings (although without a true shutdown pair).
Something like:
Streit/Staios
Hamonic/Eaton
Amac/Jurcina
I think Hamonic/Eaton could actually do some pretty heavy lifting on defense, but I know I’m in the minority on what Eaton has left in the tank.
Tavares is Tavares.
I like that idea.
They aren’t getting it done, together…Why not split them up?
I'd like to see what Wishart could do in the mix relatively soon as well.
I may be one of the few that think Eaton may actually be better than Staois and Jurcina, so at this point I would have him supporting AMAC who has struggled, but not like Mottau or Jurcina. The problem with that is Hamonic is then stuck with Jurcina and that limits the amount of ice time you can put him out there. So maybe I stick with your idea and just use the AMAC/Jurcina duo in a lesser role.
Once Nino comes back up, the Islanders have to look at waiving Rolston or Mottau to bring up Wishart. Ideally, you swap out a defenseman for a defenseman to keep your offensive depth. I’m not looking for a world of shakeups, but we need to get younger and more mobile on the backend and Wishart may be the most NHL ready of the guys down in BPT. Not sure why his pre-season play was so poor and how he has been perfoming in the AHL, but it is either him or Reese in terms of defenseman that have at least some NHL experience.
I think the goaltending has made the defense look better than it has and the low offensive output total is also indicative of a defense that is not moving the puck out of the zone very well either, so I’m not at all concerned with disrupting the defensive chemistry.
I agree...The defense hasn't helped the offense one bit... Except for Streit, of course...
The D has been a detriment…
I would also like to see Wishart back up
I have not seen much about him, good or bad, in the Bridgeport reports or in Fornabaio’s blog.
I agree that Eaton is probably better than he gets credit for based on his partners.
I would really like to see Travis with Streit for a couple of games and maybe Eaton with A-Mac and minimize the 3 pair minutes of some combination of Staios, Jurcina, Mottau and if possible Wishart.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Lighthouse Hockey
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Islanders Schedule
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- NHL Playoff Beard Watch: Blood, Sweat and Beards of unsung unshaven heroes
- Devils guarantee they’ll downplay 1994 conference finals for Game 6 vs. Rangers
- Dodger Stadium Winter Classic; 10 worst NHL fans; ‘While The Men Watch’ debate (Puck Headlines)
- Lightning GM Yzerman suggests he won’t be trading for Luongo, strengthens position for Luongo trade
- Marek Vs. Wyshynski Radio: Ron Hextall, Luke Richardson and Rangers/Devils
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Despite loss, Phoenix Coyotes build solid foundation in the desert with run to West finals
- Coyotes finish off best season ever
- Maple Leafs sign defensive prospect Petter Granberg to entry level deal
- Talented Sea Dogs show they can defence as well as attack at Memorial Cup
- Connecticut players create video to tell gay players they are welcome on their team
SBNation.com Recent Stories
1979-80
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
