Devils Vs Panthers - CC - 5th Oct 25 - FO 17:00
- Thread starter James
- Start date
My 2p worth...
The last few games have just highlighted a few things:
*Majority of players are playing hard and battling (WE HAVE A VERY VERY GOOD TEAM).....However.....
- 1st line is absolutely shocking with the exception of Olichefski who battles hard and is trying but is never going to be a prolific goal scorer (I actually feel a bit sorry for him atm playing with Sanford and Macdonald).
Sanford is just not at the races (we know what he is capable of)
Macdonald....wow since the second half of last season he has gone downhill rapidly. Showing little to no interest whatsoever. Something seems very off with him given his skill set.
- 2nd line (very frustrating)
Barrow...A TRUE CARDIFF DEVIL. As Thommo highlighted...we need a few more Ryan Barrows!
Yaremko started well and has shown exactly what hes capable of. Great game against Guilford but has now gone AWOL. For a big, 'tough' forward he hid in his shell against Manchester (both games) and has stayed there since. Looks like hes happy to glide around all night and pick up the odd assist here and there.
Kontos, despite his stats so far is very similar to Yaremko, in fact sometimes I cant tell them apart. He looks lazy most of the time and is not doing the Brodie Reid role well on the PP. Nottingham fans stated he'd one game be superb then go missing.
-3rd & 4th lines
Our most consistent and impactful lines. They do exaclty what you would expect and more. Work hard, disrupt and have been scoring some nice goals.
Lacroix is a proper team guy playing through a difficult injury and is doing the buisness in all aspects. He is a swiss army knife. Great pick up for us.
Brandt & Duggie you can't fault as they work hard all over the ice and always try to ignite the team where needed. Davies is grafting hard as always and could easily be moved up the lines with his ability.
Overall this team could be really special. Its the best defensive group we have had in a long long time and could arguably end up being the best we have ever had.
Estes is on another level both offensively and defensively. Fighting aside his skillset is above Hotham.
Oligny is liike a smaller version of Strachan, tough, intelligent and shuts down plays constantly. A true leader.
Helgesen is like the Dion Darling of the blue line but skates superbly, takes no sh#t and does his job perfectly.
Fournier looking wayyyyy better defensively (be nice if he could get his scoring boots on).
Mosey & Richie doing all the simple things well can't really fault them.
Bowns and Stovaer so far seem a great tandem and with this D in front of them makes their life so much easier.
The only big concern IMO is the top 2 lines. We are desperate for Joey back and he will make a huge difference (NO DOUBT), however I really don't see us as having a top top line. We need a prolific goal scorer who puts the puck away when given a sniff.
The few under performers mentioned above need a real boot up the arse because I can't see Thommo standing for the types of performances they are putting in. For me the are the reason we are losing games we should be winning.
The last few games have just highlighted a few things:
*Majority of players are playing hard and battling (WE HAVE A VERY VERY GOOD TEAM).....However.....
- 1st line is absolutely shocking with the exception of Olichefski who battles hard and is trying but is never going to be a prolific goal scorer (I actually feel a bit sorry for him atm playing with Sanford and Macdonald).
Sanford is just not at the races (we know what he is capable of)
Macdonald....wow since the second half of last season he has gone downhill rapidly. Showing little to no interest whatsoever. Something seems very off with him given his skill set.
- 2nd line (very frustrating)
Barrow...A TRUE CARDIFF DEVIL. As Thommo highlighted...we need a few more Ryan Barrows!
Yaremko started well and has shown exactly what hes capable of. Great game against Guilford but has now gone AWOL. For a big, 'tough' forward he hid in his shell against Manchester (both games) and has stayed there since. Looks like hes happy to glide around all night and pick up the odd assist here and there.
Kontos, despite his stats so far is very similar to Yaremko, in fact sometimes I cant tell them apart. He looks lazy most of the time and is not doing the Brodie Reid role well on the PP. Nottingham fans stated he'd one game be superb then go missing.
-3rd & 4th lines
Our most consistent and impactful lines. They do exaclty what you would expect and more. Work hard, disrupt and have been scoring some nice goals.
Lacroix is a proper team guy playing through a difficult injury and is doing the buisness in all aspects. He is a swiss army knife. Great pick up for us.
Brandt & Duggie you can't fault as they work hard all over the ice and always try to ignite the team where needed. Davies is grafting hard as always and could easily be moved up the lines with his ability.
Overall this team could be really special. Its the best defensive group we have had in a long long time and could arguably end up being the best we have ever had.
Estes is on another level both offensively and defensively. Fighting aside his skillset is above Hotham.
Oligny is liike a smaller version of Strachan, tough, intelligent and shuts down plays constantly. A true leader.
Helgesen is like the Dion Darling of the blue line but skates superbly, takes no sh#t and does his job perfectly.
Fournier looking wayyyyy better defensively (be nice if he could get his scoring boots on).
Mosey & Richie doing all the simple things well can't really fault them.
Bowns and Stovaer so far seem a great tandem and with this D in front of them makes their life so much easier.
The only big concern IMO is the top 2 lines. We are desperate for Joey back and he will make a huge difference (NO DOUBT), however I really don't see us as having a top top line. We need a prolific goal scorer who puts the puck away when given a sniff.
The few under performers mentioned above need a real boot up the arse because I can't see Thommo standing for the types of performances they are putting in. For me the are the reason we are losing games we should be winning.
agree,macdonald since after the continental cup final has gone missing and is having no impact what so ever.sanford is doing nothing apart from taking silly penalties in the offensive zone where theres no need to be taking penalties and costing us games.kontos to me isn't doing enough to get the offence clicking.if we are relying 0n these players for goals then we have big problems as all to often they don't turn up.i think tommo needs some serious words with some players and if they don't improve should be shown the door and replaced by players who will make a diffference.
At the beginning of the season I said on paper, my concerns for this season would be goal scoring if we come up against in form goalies and discipline due to the PIM records of some of the new signings. The team have largely proved me wrong on goal scoring until the nottingham game but we do take a lot more penalties than others. In the Coventry game stupid penalties definitely cost us a game we would have otherwise won and they also played a part in the Nottingham game. While we as fans have been loving this hard hitting, stand up for each other, no nonsense team, I fear it could be our achilles heel. Especially as our PK and PP seem to be struggling at the moment.
I see how you think it could be our achilles heel but when you really look at it we have a great balance of tough, hard nosed players and skill. Those like Sanford, Macdonald and Kontos who SHOULD be scoring goals. Both Sanford and Macdonald are two of the top goal scorers each year in the EIHL.
I just feel Kontos may have been a......he will have to do signing. Maybe the budget couldn't extend to a Joakim Thelin (played for Thommo) type player or that there weren't many available at the time. Who knows.
I just feel Kontos may have been a......he will have to do signing. Maybe the budget couldn't extend to a Joakim Thelin (played for Thommo) type player or that there weren't many available at the time. Who knows.
I agree with all the points about some players not living up to potential at the moment and that we shouldn't be relying on a 37 yo veteran, but I do hope Joey's return will enable the lines to be rejigged and might start to get the best out of Macdonald and Co. Fingers crossed, anyway.
On the grittyness aspect, I think wading in whenever there's an issue works well with some opponents, but Blaze didn't rise to it, so we kept going a man down - three roughing pens with none for Blaze. It looked a heavy hit by Buzoverya (?), but Duggan (not a fighter) throwing his gloves off to take on someone much bigger was never going to end well and the resulting Blaze PP got them firmly back in the game. As PT said, game management was very poor and it wasn't any better in the Panthers game.
Again, others' criticism of dump & chase and feeble shooting on Sunday are spot on. They looked tired already and the accuracy of passing and puck control were also poor. Panthers were a bit smoother, but overall it was a really scrappy low quality game.
We did stay to the end and found getting out of the car park easier than usual!
On the grittyness aspect, I think wading in whenever there's an issue works well with some opponents, but Blaze didn't rise to it, so we kept going a man down - three roughing pens with none for Blaze. It looked a heavy hit by Buzoverya (?), but Duggan (not a fighter) throwing his gloves off to take on someone much bigger was never going to end well and the resulting Blaze PP got them firmly back in the game. As PT said, game management was very poor and it wasn't any better in the Panthers game.
Again, others' criticism of dump & chase and feeble shooting on Sunday are spot on. They looked tired already and the accuracy of passing and puck control were also poor. Panthers were a bit smoother, but overall it was a really scrappy low quality game.
We did stay to the end and found getting out of the car park easier than usual!
Yes and Sully regularly used to check in with fans what their thoughts were on his brilliant music compilations. He also asked for any ideas the fans would like implemented. Sully knew how to nail a game musically, keeping the play list timely, appropriate and varied.
Can't abide all the constant drum and base overdubbed, voice enhanced tune after tune. I heard a snippet of Duran Duran 'Hungry Like the Wolf' with drum and base mix. SACRILIGE!!..a great song ruined. Play the original version FGS. Doesn't the DJ know that style didn't even exist when Duran Duran originally recorded that fantastic song! Doesn't happen consistently in NHL or AHL games. Their soundtracks are a pleasure and add to the atmosphere, appealing to ALL sections of the crowd.
Why not have a smattering of rock genre, British greats, boy bands, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s favorites. Not constantly churning out Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Billie Ailish, Charlie Xcx, R'n'B. We like hockey night music, not nightclub music! An eclectic mix of tunes, used to exist at the Arena....but has slowly, subtley, sneakily been replaced by vacuous garbage.
Can't abide all the constant drum and base overdubbed, voice enhanced tune after tune. I heard a snippet of Duran Duran 'Hungry Like the Wolf' with drum and base mix. SACRILIGE!!..a great song ruined. Play the original version FGS. Doesn't the DJ know that style didn't even exist when Duran Duran originally recorded that fantastic song! Doesn't happen consistently in NHL or AHL games. Their soundtracks are a pleasure and add to the atmosphere, appealing to ALL sections of the crowd.
Why not have a smattering of rock genre, British greats, boy bands, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s favorites. Not constantly churning out Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Billie Ailish, Charlie Xcx, R'n'B. We like hockey night music, not nightclub music! An eclectic mix of tunes, used to exist at the Arena....but has slowly, subtley, sneakily been replaced by vacuous garbage.
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This is our house
These are my people, listen, this is my town
This is our house
Ain't nobody know we're gonna knock it down
Played at least twice last night....losing badly and shut out - Really?
Oh and anyone know what times the players registered in the Cardiff Half Marathon yesterday - Looked like they had all participated prior to the game last night given how knackered they all appeared.....mentally and physically.
These are my people, listen, this is my town
This is our house
Ain't nobody know we're gonna knock it down
Played at least twice last night....losing badly and shut out - Really?
Oh and anyone know what times the players registered in the Cardiff Half Marathon yesterday - Looked like they had all participated prior to the game last night given how knackered they all appeared.....mentally and physically.
In the post game interview PT mentioned sending players down to the fourth line, and earning their spot, anyone know who he might be talking about? Seems like most of our gripes are with first liners, would he in any worlds send a Sandford/Macdonald down to the fourth line, or is he talking about a third liner? Only one I could think of is Brandt, for his penalties???
You are correct imo regarding "loving this hard hitting, stand up for each other, no nonsense team", I don't see it as an achiIles heel, I am thoroughly enjoying my hockey this season and it's day and night the difference from what was being served up for the last few seasons.
The team this season certainly will pick up more penalty mins than last season when we finished 4th in the league.
To me entertainment is the main reason I attend the Devil's games, it's not imperative that we win things although that is an added bonus. I don't want the players to be reeled in in the way they play the game and I believe we have started the season pretty well other than this weekend obviously.
The team this season certainly will pick up more penalty mins than last season when we finished 4th in the league.
To me entertainment is the main reason I attend the Devil's games, it's not imperative that we win things although that is an added bonus. I don't want the players to be reeled in in the way they play the game and I believe we have started the season pretty well other than this weekend obviously.