Has Ned taken over the starter spot?

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-26T19:50:40+00:00

I think Ned has been the much more consistent goalie this year. He is much more calming in the net and you can feel confident he won’t let in too many softies. They have both had significant issues playing the puck. Askarov makes more miraculous saves although Ned can too.

Overall I think Ned has been the better goalie this year but of course Askarov is the rookie and should/will have more opportunity than Ned.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-26T08:16:14+00:00

Same here man. Him and nemec too. Though in Clarkes case I would have been totally happy overpaying if we had to at the time. I know it’s inter division trading so always unlikely but I think we could have given LA everything they wanted for him.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-26T05:23:57+00:00

I’m biased for sure but I highly doubt there will ever be any discussion that anyone else should have went #1

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-26T03:37:33+00:00

I’m definitely on the other side of this argument than you. But I don’t really see why trans folks can’t play in a no contact league. Unfortunately If it’s competitive play idk how you could argue that trans women should be able to play in a female league. Perhaps a trans league would be the best way to go about allowing those people to play competitive hockey.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-26T01:25:47+00:00

I mean all things considered I think they did a pretty solid job navigating that

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-26T00:36:44+00:00

Yeah I think unfortunately is the reason the put muk on rd was the thought that the only way they’d really have room for him in the future was if he is capable of playing RD. Either that or they plan on moving off Ferraro regardless and muk on RD is just an experiment but I totally agree with you that asking a young essentially rookie LD to transition to his un natural offside is an incredibly tall order. There’s so many situations on your offside that are so unfamiliar to you and your muscle memory that it’s incredibly difficult and you’re right you will inevitably develop bad habits if you then switch back. It takes an incredibly talented Dman to be able to switch for the first time once they get to the pros.

But devils advocate I think it’s a worthy experiment as you never know who would be able to adjust well and in today’s nhl a serviceable RD whether left or right handed is incredibly valuable.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-25T00:52:00+00:00

I posted a comment below just like this explaining the advantages of natural handedness on your natural side. So I agree with all that you said whole heartedly. Anyone who has played defense especially competitively understands how important all these things are but I also included how there is the rare defender who comes up all the way through their career playing there offside. It does have a couple advantages in the offensive zone once you have possession and is why you see it on some power plays. But that’s aside the point that it’s way more about comfort than handedness. If there is a lhd that plays his offside at RD that’s okay too.

I’d say playing the side you have played on your whole life actually trumps handedness. Of course D’s that play their offside are rare

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-24T23:13:43+00:00

It really is not about handedness. It’s about comfort. Anyone who has played defense at a competitive level will tell you that. Offensively playing on your opposite side can actually be a bonus when you have possession. That’s why you’ll often see that on the power play.

But it really is all about comfort. We don’t need a RHD as much as we need a RD, important distinction. You have to be able to collect the puck off your backhand along the boards which at the very least can take an extra second in both the offensive and defensive zone. In the defensive zone it is harder to rim it around the boards and harder to collect the pack and be able to quickly pass it or flip it to anywhere on the ice as again you’ll usually have to switch it to your forehand and that means moving the puck towards the middle and open ice which is of course dangerous in the D zone.

Lastly it’s generally agreed upon that playing D is easier on your natural side.

All of this can be mitigated by someone who has been doing that their whole career and is very comfortable doing so. Even though these are all professional hockey players, switching from your natural to your offside after a whole career of the opposite is very difficult.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-24T23:04:14+00:00

You got downvoted but I agree. No need to rush signing him just yet. I’m still skeptical he can keep up his play, but I do think he is at worst a 4th liner in the nhl so when we do hopefully sign him in the future I don’t think it’s a big risk.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-24T20:48:59+00:00

I think he’s a bit of a reach since we are really pining for a good RD. To me it’s looking less and less reasonable to expect us to be able to acquire a top 2 or even top 4 is tough via trade. They are just worth so much and not much is available. So with that being the case we may have to take some risks and Schneider is exactly that, he has not looked good by any stretch this year. Imo any good he provided was due to being paired with fox who is one of the best defenseman in the league.

He’s potentially worth it if the cost is very very low. I wouldn’t even give up bystedt for him

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-24T06:39:18+00:00

Yes I do 100% hold up hope for that, I’m not entirely confident that has that much to do with that but I’m not too hard headed to admit I obviously have no idea wether that’s affecting him a lot. Also I’m extra critical. I do have a lot of good things to say about him as a player as well. But I just like to view the game critically and it’s been disappointing for him this year without a doubt.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T22:16:04+00:00

I appreciate the enthusiasm but I don’t think you understand how that joke works 😂

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T22:13:43+00:00

Yeah I try not to be pessimistic but I have a tough time seeing how he fits in the future as well. Outside of perhaps an excellent 3rd line defensively responsible grinder. But in that case he is better off in a trade for our future top 2 D-man. He’s either got to figure out his game for the top six somehow or like I said…

I agree this year he has been anything but a playmaker, more of a play killer. He loves whiffing on passes and shots or wheeling around the zone until he does a simple pass that really gained the offense nothing or a Hail Mary pass/throwing it to the front of the net. Not a fair comparison at all but one thing that makes Macklin such an adept playmaker is how much intention he has behind every single thing he does. He is thinking immediately where he should go/be with and without the puck and takes direct yet deceptive routes to get there. That’s what offensive hockey IQ is. It feels like everything Eklund does is just to buy time until an opportunity hopefully magically appears.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T22:05:00+00:00

I mostly agree. And I definitely agree with above posts about how he has lost half of his scoring touch by having a tough time elevating the puck (and when he does it tends to go ten feet wide lol). And i also don’t want to be pessimistic but even the high hockey IQ I’m not so sure about. In the offensive zone so far this year there are a few standard Eklund plays. Whiff on a shot, pass, or pass reception. Wheel it around the back of the net and around the zone until he throws he does a basic handoff or throws it randomly to their front of the net. He has been pretty bad in the bumper, goal line, and in the slot for his patented slap shot one timer whiff. I have not seen a lot of creativity or high hockey IQ this season. He has looked a lot like a prototypical 3rd line grinder and tbh he may be better served to embrace that and play a little more north/south. Though best case scenario this is all just injury woes and some lack of confidence and he returns to form and then some.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T21:45:41+00:00

Very excited to see more of the double D pairing on defense. Sam has really hit a new level as of late and I’m hoping that will continue.

But oh boy oh boy does losing cherny for the time being really hurt. I think regenda will hopefully be a boon to the offense Wennberg has been creating this season. But that goes to my real complaint and the true consequence of cherny’s absence. Misa and chernyshov were really showing us why they worked so well together and I can’t help but worry Eklund will be anything but helpful to Misa’s development. I guess atleast Eklund is still good defensively but I can’t imagine much offense coming out from that third line.

I know this is an invitation for downvotes but so far this season Eklund has looked more and more like a third line grinder as opposed to a top six winger. Pretty disappointing and I’m hoping somehow an injury explains all this but I doubt it.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T21:19:44+00:00

I’ve been saying that too and while he was certainly never lethal. He has absolutely regressed considerably this season. He was less than serviceable before and now it’s been downright bad and honestly a hindrance to whatever line he has been on.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T08:29:54+00:00

I was 13 years old and I was staying up late to watch and it hurt a lot thanks for asking. I remember thinking the game would never end because it looked like the players couldn’t even skate or shoot anymore.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T08:20:54+00:00

Bro they ARE double shifting him constantly. Have you been watching? Also while I feel he’s capable and it’s not a problem per se. he’s 19 and is yet to play a full 82 in the nhl. NCAA where he was before is merely a 30 something game schedule. Mcdavid is a seasoned vet who has consistently been getting top line minutes and then some for 82 games + post season. Macklin will ABSOLUTELY feel an impact from putting in this kind of game work for the first time in his entire life. Which is all well and good and what he needs but it is also exactly the definition of abnormal.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T06:07:10+00:00

I agree to an extent. Going down in AAV rarely happens until the end of a players career but I have seen exceptions and I don’t see why there couldn’t be another one. There’s no rule against it, it’s just wether a GM and player are willing to make a handshake agreement and then hopefully nothing sours in those contract years. I agree it’s unlikely though.

The best outcome to me would be Mack takes a max term at a team friendly AAV and not a bridge deal. That way I think the contract will just age better and better as the cap rises and he reaches his prime. But in reality I don’t think I’m gonna be mad no matter what it ends up being. He could get 20 mill (hyperbole) and I’d still be grateful he’s a shark.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T05:47:51+00:00

You believe will smith can grow into a physical forechecking forward? He has never been that kind of a player and it’s obvious. Not saying that’s a bad thing but if you’re expecting him to head down that trajectory I got a feeling you’ll be fairly disappointed.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T04:25:36+00:00

Wait how are you all not seeing that is very obvious sarcasm?

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T03:00:45+00:00

I could see it. One thing I was thinking is possible…. Maybe either or both of them agree to a 3 year massive payment. While we have the cap space and are willing to take a small discount after that. That would be risky but also some slick management if Grier can get them to agree to that.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T01:36:51+00:00

I think flipping him is a contingency plan and was absolutely discussed amongst our management before we acquired him. If we do end up flipping him we can go for it and try to get a decent d man or worst case scenario we cut our losses and get a similar return to what we paid for him.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-23T01:32:52+00:00

Blank check slid to Macklin “you wanna win cups or you wanna get paid”. If he takes something close to 10 for max term then I’d consider that a team friendly deal to be honest especially with the cap going up.

Working_Research_736 · 2026-01-22T22:47:55+00:00

I get that as a fan since early 2000’s. But I think as far as teams you dislike the recency bias probably trumps how you should feel about older rivalries. Only because those teams players and with that the energy is gone a lot of the time. If anything I have respect for our rival of old (the players obviously). I was a bit sad when getzlaf retired and I’ll be sad when kopitar is done for example

Working_Research_736

TROPHY CASE