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Claesson4Norris

Member Since
Jan. 24, 2018
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Ottawa Senators
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Forum: Armchair-GM13 hours ago
Thread: My Lines for Game 2 Plus Game 1 Thoughts
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>BruinsCharlies</b></div><div>D.J Smith was the defense coach in Windsor when the Spits won consecutive Memorial Cups. They had structure and were rock solid because they had good players with EXPERIENCE.

Another good defenseman or two along with one- or two more-years' experience for the good young ones already in place and this team will be Cup contenders. Right now be happy with being playoff contenders.</div></div>

I don't really care what kind of assistant coach he was in the OHL. I've watched every game he's coached as an NHL head coach, and so far his defensive systems seem to include a lot of puck watching and scrambling. It's not just a lack of quality personnel (though it certainly exaggerates the problem), you can play with structure without a great roster.
Forum: Armchair-GMYesterday at 3:38 p.m.
Thread: Opening Night
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Melnyk_0ut</b></div><div>They'll probably start Kastelic in the AHL and he'll gradually become the 4th line centre throughout the season. Gamnbrell isn't good but he isn't necessarily bad either. He only had 7 points last year but somehow still had a plus rating. Nothing happens when he's on the ice</div></div>

He IS bad though. He's not bad in an obvious, in your face way like Zaitsev is, but he's definitely still bad. He has some defensive utility, but any value he adds defensively, he takes away tenfold by being one of the biggest drags on team offense in the league. He's simply incapable.

Brassard is hardly an offensive dynamo either at this stage of his career, but he's got way more offense to give than Gambrell, and he was meaningfully better defensively too. He also crushes Gambrell in the dots, being over 51% on draws in each of the last three seasons vs Gambrell who is well below 50%. Brassard also dominates Gambrell on the vibes test.

Again it might be a minor upgrade, and I think Kastelic beats both by end of season, but I'd much rather Ottawa puts their best foot forward, and to me having another guy ahead of Gambrell in the depth chart is a good thing. Gambrell can be fine, but the further you can push him down the depth chart the better. If Gambrell is the guy you play when you've got two or three guys out I think you're in a pretty good spot. If he's you 1st option or God forbid your regular option I think you're much worse off.
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