▼
New York Problems Back To Preseason Showing Up/Offense
September was the most memorable preseason for me likely ever which is writing a lot for a fan back to the earliest day of this franchise.You could see the teams using mostly prospects outskating/beating NYI veterans, but Schaefer, Horvat, then Heineman produced enough goals to let them hang around with Barzal lately getting some goals, plus they have had the goaltending/defense to hang around. But here we are back in preseason and aside from Heineman (back on RW after Roy stopped his offense moving him to LW) you look through this lineup, and even the hope of scoring is not there.
So here we are again, expecting goals from 27-11-44 (who kills this team with his penalties/defense) 32-16-53. (who can't score to save themselves) 20-49 (who have disappointed on offense) 7-who has not gotten a fair chance over players who are members-only who can't produce, and the question has to be asked where is the next goal coming from? The question I had back during preseason as we keep seeing the goals total rarely over three in regulation, and other teams know it. Goaltending not getting bombarded and doing a very good job.
And on defense which has been good/great in overtime, why was Mitchell sent down so Boqvist could make his usual mistakes? Why are we getting Warren forced on NYI because he has LI roots? Isaiah George was out for a month/returned for a week/appears out again. Other teams make minor trades, not Mr Darche.
Then there is Drouin, who lumbers along, eats minutes, and gives this team nothing but maybe a second assist. His defense is mediocre at best, he has no offensive skills, and can't score to save himself with three goals all season. But Roy likes him, so he's a member of that country-club who gives this team nothing. Meanwhile we have the ping pong player with his freak shorthanded winner on 11/15 at Vegas as his last goal to date, who like 53 is played like Trottier, and also gives this team nothing but watching other teams score with their powerplay.
Whatever is up with Horvat would seem much longer term then anyone is allowed to write about, and they need three guys who can put the puck in the net. I give them credit for getting up to Doug Weight's 2017-18 high water mark, and did prove me wrong with wins they were not expected to get, but the scoring is not here. 11 is not tradable with his term/dollars, 27 should not be back despite a few fringe goals lately. 44-53-29-32-16 they cannot unload fast enough. Keep Holmstrom, Shavanov. (who needs a kick in the pants)
Buffalo has been bad since 2007, they draw 19k. The failed Belmont experiment cannot draw flies fighting for first which is now over likely for good, while Cheeseman wants NYC fans vs teams LI spam campaign which is the usual total failure.
I did this again on X/Twitter Sunday. Dolan's guy who founded Oakview, Tim Leiweke, was pardoned by Trump on 12/3. Oakview named a new permanent president. Dolan's other guy, Irving Azoff, with 110 exclusive booking dates at Belmont approved of the hiring.