All things Ilya Kovalchuk

[Dr. Doom]

Well our defensive minded dmen aren't exactly getting the job done.

As for using 7 dmen, I personally am not a fan of it. Putting a guy out there cold in important situations, like a power play, just creates more problems in my opinion.

The defenseman wouldn't be cold if he was periodically given a shift. It also allows for someone that is having a tough game to sit for a while and calm down. This wouldn't require the defense to carry the slack and be tired while someone is sitting.

[Clarkson Falls Down]

Well our defensive minded dmen aren't exactly getting the job done.

As for using 7 dmen, I personally am not a fan of it. Putting a guy out there cold in important situations, like a power play, just creates more problems in my opinion.

I don't see where we can lose at this point. The PP has no where to go but up. If this keeps up, our PP will be operating at a minus within no time. I understand maybe having a fear of giving up shorties, but that's already going on. It's not like he's not going to play at all 5 on 5. If you manage his minutes right, he can easily get 13, 14 minutes a night.

[devilzrule27]

I guess I'd just like to keep using a 6 man D with Tao in it. The end result is the same, lets get Tao up here and on the PP and Kovy off the point.

[Devilsfanatic]

Kovalchuk absolutely cannot play the point anymore. It was never a good idea, nor will it ever be. Zajac at the point makes the most sense to me, when he comes back.

[Dr. Doom]

Kovalchuk absolutely cannot play the point anymore. It was never a good idea, nor will it ever be. Zajac at the point makes the most sense to me, when he comes back.

I really want this, but I just have a feeling it won't happen.

[devilzrule27]

I don't forwards at the point in general but yeah if Tao isn't up here then TravTrav and Larsson at the point would be a drastic improvement. In the mean time I wouldn't be against Fayne sliding up to the first unit and play opposite point to Larsson, assuming the roster stays the same.

[Devilsfanatic]

Almost every team seems to go with a forward at the point. They just have to have hockey smarts to do so. Brad Richards being a key example.

[devilzrule27]

Doesn't mean I have to like it! I'm a nonconformist dammit!

[Clarkson Falls Down]

I really want this, but I just have a feeling it won't happen.

I'll be shocked if it ever happens, but I don't understand how they are letting this go on. Just gotta reduce his responsibilities a little bit - let him become just a shooter and a finisher on the PP. Let other players do the heavy lifting on the points.

[Dr. Doom]

I'll be shocked if it ever happens, but I don't understand how they are letting this go on. Just gotta reduce his responsibilities a little bit - let him become just a shooter and a finisher on the PP. Let other players do the heavy lifting on the points.

I think the problem is that when you are so close it is a lot more difficult to look at things objectively. The coaches see a lot of close chances and think to themselves "it is so close, eventually it will work".