11/9 Practice Tid Bits

[DewsSox79]

bolland centering a line with kane and hossa as wing mates....interesting.

 

[derosabomb]

bolland ftw

 

[Capt. Serious]

Q with his usual musical chairs lines...weeeeeeee

 

[Matthew]

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane looked sub-par to start the season on separate lines and once Coach Q reunited Batman and Robin they began to dominate once again. I have no idea what he is thinking splitting them up again not only that but those two also drastically improved the play of Stalberg. This seems like change for the sake of change and I disagree with it.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Well, that's what Q does.

 

[Matthew]

Well, that's what Q does.

Normally Coach Q shakes the lines up once they become stagnant. Not only had Toews and Kane gotten back to the all star level we expect from them but they also made Stalberg look like a consistent top 6 player. I understand shuffling lines when shit is not working but those three were great and now he is throwing the chemistry they were developing together out the window.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Q is trying everything. Nothing is working...consistently.

 

[DewsSox79]

q needs to stick with some lines, even if they arent working well in a game, it seems like he has no patience this year...but i still love coach q

 

[Capt. Serious]

Put his avy back then sir.

 

[southern_cross_116]

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane looked sub-par to start the season on separate lines and once Coach Q reunited Batman and Robin they began to dominate once again. I have no idea what he is thinking splitting them up again not only that but those two also drastically improved the play of Stalberg. This seems like change for the sake of change and I disagree with it.

I think, it sort of shows that Quenneville is probably as confused about his personnel as anyone else is - what I think this is geared towards is trying to spread the personnel around and hopefully get more than a single guy going on a line at any given time. In October they did have 2 guys that were extremely hot -but on different lines. However, they were also the only guys putting the puck in the net on a consistent basis which may have created some line match up problems -as the other teams would only have needed to focus on a single guy on a line -as opposed to the line as a whole.

But yes, I think he does the change for the sake of change thing - I really had a problem at the end of last season when he seemed to be sticking with Huet (who had gone ice cold) and trying desperately to get him going - and at the same time having Niemi sit (who was going to be the only viable option if Huet didn't ever click ... ) -ok, so it turned out to work for him ... but in my mind it was pretty risky. The point being he seems to have that sort of mindset.

I don't know that constant line juggling will work in situations where there has been as much turnover as this team has had - it is one thing when you have a lot of guys that have played together for a few years -but I think it gets tougher to pull off when you don't have that situation.

Ok- time will tell...

 

[Matthew]

I think, it sort of shows that Quenneville is probably as confused about his personnel as anyone else is - what I think this is geared towards is trying to spread the personnel around and hopefully get more than a single guy going on a line at any given time.

I understand that side of the argument of spreading your talent out but you also need talent to be surrounded by other talent to maximize production. Kane has already shown he cannot raise the level of Bolland and Brouwer by himself. A good example is Evgeni Malkin, on paper he is off to an awful start for a player who is a top 5 talent in this league. But look at the players he is playing with.

Even if we did keep Toews and Kane together it is not like we don't have Sharp and Hossa to give us another top scoring line.

 

[southern_cross_116]

Interesting comments; sounds reasonable to me (plus I think you're right about Toews/Kane - they have played well together consistently). I am not sure about the line juggling habit, as no one really gets much of a chance to get into a rhythm -if that makes sense.

You now have 2 lines 2/3rds set up - who are the other guys you'd use on these lines, just out of interest? (Use anyone, even guys sent down).

-I got the idea that they don't really have a checking line or a decent 2nd penalty kill unit that seems to be really causing the top guys to get the idea that they literally have to do it all - and it isn't working out so well.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane looked sub-par to start the season on separate lines and once Coach Q reunited Batman and Robin they began to dominate once again. I have no idea what he is thinking splitting them up again not only that but those two also drastically improved the play of Stalberg. This seems like change for the sake of change and I disagree with it.

Agreed, though maybe Q just wants to jump-start Bolland's season (something that is desperately needed).