Lack offensive talent

[ManitobaBlues]

I think we have plenty of offensive talent, we’re just not allowed to use it. We’re back to boring Bannister hockey.

What do you mean they are not allowed to use it? Bannister’s style and Montgomery’s style are completely different. The real issue with this team is that they are not establishing a presence in front of the net. Our defense is pinching far too aggressively, and our forwards are not filling the gaps. Our faster forwards need to carry the puck into the offensive zone rather than relying on drop passes or dumping the puck.

We are also struggling in the faceoff circle, and our power play has been ineffective because we are focused too much on making the extra pass for a highlight-reel goal. We continue to lose battles in the middle of the ice, and our board play and forechecking are virtually nonexistent.

It is not a coaching issue, it starts with the Top Paid Vets on this team to establish some leadership and accountability.

[netboy65]

I think we have plenty of offensive talent, we’re just not allowed to use it. We’re back to boring Bannister hockey.

What do you mean they are not allowed to use it? Bannister’s style and Montgomery’s style are completely different. The real issue with this team is that they are not establishing a presence in front of the net. Our defense is pinching far too aggressively, and our forwards are not filling the gaps. Our faster forwards need to carry the puck into the offensive zone rather than relying on drop passes or dumping the puck.

We are also struggling in the faceoff circle, and our power play has been ineffective because we are focused too much on making the extra pass for a highlight-reel goal. We continue to lose battles in the middle of the ice, and our board play and forechecking are virtually nonexistent.

It is not a coaching issue, it starts with the Top Paid Vets on this team to establish some leadership and accountability.

Agreed! The thing is they’re told to dump the puck though. It’s a defense first philosophy, dump it in, cycle, back to the point, hope for a tip.

[Old_Goat]

It's also regression of offensive talent.

Thomas is not the same player. Not sure what is going on with him but his compete is off, his passing is off -- his whole game is off. Almost floating around the ice and not setting up great scoring chances. He missed about 4 games, but still.

After a career-high 86 points in 2023–2024, Thomas posted 81 points in the 2024–2025 season. Early into the 2025–2026 season, he is on a pace for a significantly lower point total: 47. Not going to cut it.

Surely there are others...

He is a very good player, but he pouts when things do not go well. Likely was always the best player growing up, so his skills and constant happy slaps on the back propelled him... but he probably never had to deal with adversity, until he got to this league. He needs to learn to deal with that, forget it, get over it when he misses a shot, or has the puck taken away, or when a coach calls him out...and keep on playing hard.
He is a valuable asset, but we need another as good and ideally better center to take the pressure off of him. Dvorsky could be it, but he himself needs a full year at this level to be that much better. I think it is okay that Thomas has an A, but I would not give him the C when the time comes. Again, I'm to saying he is bad nor should be traded.

[Old_Goat]

I think we have plenty of offensive talent, we’re just not allowed to use it. We’re back to boring Bannister hockey.

Relieve Steve Ott of his responsibilities and replace him with someone else. He is the constant; and I think there are too many voices.

[Cahokanut]

I think we have plenty of offensive talent, we’re just not allowed to use it. We’re back to boring Bannister hockey.

What do you mean they are not allowed to use it? Bannister’s style and Montgomery’s style are completely different. The real issue with this team is that they are not establishing a presence in front of the net. Our defense is pinching far too aggressively, and our forwards are not filling the gaps. Our faster forwards need to carry the puck into the offensive zone rather than relying on drop passes or dumping the puck.

We are also struggling in the faceoff circle, and our power play has been ineffective because we are focused too much on making the extra pass for a highlight-reel goal. We continue to lose battles in the middle of the ice, and our board play and forechecking are virtually nonexistent.

It is not a coaching issue, it starts with the Top Paid Vets on this team to establish some leadership and accountability.

I don't buy it. No gm is going to hire a coach that doesn't agree with his own philosophy. So while not the same. Yes the same.

You claim they don't established net front. But that's not from a lack of trying. They are clearly coached too, and the lines are built too. But the same lines and players have defensive responsibility that is demanded of them and most important for the coach.
This net front game is also junk.
It's been proven over and over that a majority of es goals are scored in the rush or without net front presence. To coach four lines to play a system that accounts for less then 20%? of goals. Is Moronic.
This type of system, along with our defensive first game also takes the skill and speed out of the teams most skilled players. As play goes to the boards, then back to the point and skill is to stand still while Sunny lumbers up to the paint.
Playing this style needs a dump and a board battle. Can't get no one to the front of the net or in other positions if Kyrou is taking the puck to the net.

Most things you talk about as, what's going wrong. Goes back to coaching, and what gets one to the dog house(6pt/5gm streak) and what gets extra ice time(Buchs defense)

Coaching is the problem. From turtling in the second period, to wanting Kyrou in a Corner. From 2 lines immediately setting up for defense, to Sunny on the pp. Monty pops with pressure. And when players walk on eggshells, the only goal is not to get hurt.

Agree on leadership. Who was picked for showing loyalty to Army

[Harry S Deals]

None of the "isnt allowed to use it" makes any sense based on anything this franchise has said. The management isnt thwarting offense at all, they set the forecheck scheme, they set the defense responsibilities but its nothing any other team would want. Perhaps we could say that the forwards are spending more time in their own end killing plays then the shift is over. Without trying to find stats that could be a thing.
When i watch offensively more often than not the team looks disjointed and even when they are playing well they pass into skates, they fumble pucks, they shoot wide. And this when they actually get in on the forecheck and win pucks which is not very common.
Last night the Rags were desperate for a win, they checked harder and wanted it more. Idk now the Blues go into NJ, not likely to get a win there either and here we are at Thanksgiving and the Blues are near the bottom on the NHL

I would advocate shooting the cancer dog and drop the dead weight on this roster sooner than later. Find a way to move Buch, Schenn, Binnie and bring up Stenberg, either Kaskimaki or Peterson, Zherenko this isnt a playoff team. i dont see a magical 12 game win streak coming

[BalotelliMassive]

I think we have plenty of offensive talent, we’re just not allowed to use it. We’re back to boring Bannister hockey.

Relieve Steve Ott of his responsibilities and replace him with someone else. He is the constant; and I think there are too many voices.

How many coaching changes has this guy survived? 3?

[netboy65]

I think we have plenty of offensive talent, we’re just not allowed to use it. We’re back to boring Bannister hockey.

What do you mean they are not allowed to use it? Bannister’s style and Montgomery’s style are completely different. The real issue with this team is that they are not establishing a presence in front of the net. Our defense is pinching far too aggressively, and our forwards are not filling the gaps. Our faster forwards need to carry the puck into the offensive zone rather than relying on drop passes or dumping the puck.

We are also struggling in the faceoff circle, and our power play has been ineffective because we are focused too much on making the extra pass for a highlight-reel goal. We continue to lose battles in the middle of the ice, and our board play and forechecking are virtually nonexistent.

It is not a coaching issue, it starts with the Top Paid Vets on this team to establish some leadership and accountability.

I don't buy it. No gm is going to hire a coach that doesn't agree with his own philosophy. So while not the same. Yes the same.

You claim they don't established net front. But that's not from a lack of trying. They are clearly coached too, and the lines are built too. But the same lines and players have defensive responsibility that is demanded of them and most important for the coach.
This net front game is also junk.
It's been proven over and over that a majority of es goals are scored in the rush or without net front presence. To coach four lines to play a system that accounts for less then 20%? of goals. Is Moronic.
This type of system, along with our defensive first game also takes the skill and speed out of the teams most skilled players. As play goes to the boards, then back to the point and skill is to stand still while Sunny lumbers up to the paint.
Playing this style needs a dump and a board battle. Can't get no one to the front of the net or in other positions if Kyrou is taking the puck to the net.

Most things you talk about as, what's going wrong. Goes back to coaching, and what gets one to the dog house(6pt/5gm streak) and what gets extra ice time(Buchs defense)

Coaching is the problem. From turtling in the second period, to wanting Kyrou in a Corner. From 2 lines immediately setting up for defense, to Sunny on the pp. Monty pops with pressure. And when players walk on eggshells, the only goal is not to get hurt.

Agree on leadership. Who was picked for showing loyalty to Army

Here here!!

[DawgDad]

The frustrating aspect of this team is we saw the core play very well together late last season. This season it's been one thing after another with injuries, breakdowns, and a few player flameouts layered in.

The veteran on-ice leadership issues are indisputable. They perform in isolated moments and spend far too long stretches doing absolutely nothing productive. Some of the issues may be injury related, some likely undisclosed. The result is a core currently lacking any player who can spark the team.

They are working four younger players into three lineup spots (Snuggerud, Dvorsky, Mailloux, Kessel). A case can be made that Snuggerud is holding his own but as a group their production is lacking, they aren't (yet?) moving the needle in the right direction with any consistent bottom-line impact. Tucker, Holloway, Toropchenko, and Hofer have struggled to find last season's peak form. Of the younger players only Broberg and Neighbours have played near or beyond expectaions and even so Neighbours went down injured for a stretch.

Throw it all together and the team remains an under-performing mess, perhaps closing the gap a bit now but still undone by the constant pressure applied by a lack of offense and mental breakdowns.

[Younghopp1991]

Im sure thomas isnt healthy.
I dont care if he is healthy or not really but im guessing they brought him back early to stop the landslide…. Didnt help tho. I wouldnt doubt if jake did the same.

[DawgDad]

Im sure thomas isnt healthy.
I dont care if he is healthy or not really but im guessing they brought him back early to stop the landslide…. Didnt help tho. I wouldnt doubt if jake did the same.

Agree. Neighbours is getting beat to a pulp as well. It's looking at Buchnevich, Fowler, Parayko where I wonder about undisclosed injuries.

[skeezix]

When does Kyrou start producing offensively? He's a big liability defensively, so that's what he must do, to justify his salary.

Buch is this forum's Carl Brewer, but at least he checks.

[theograce]

Our top C and best player looks to be a 20 Goal scorer. Maybe he gets 30 one year, but it appears he’s a 20 goal guy.

[Younghopp1991]

When does Kyrou start producing offensively? He's a big liability defensively, so that's what he must do, to justify his salary.

Buch is this forum's Carl Brewer, but at least he checks.

If its virtually impossible for you to score at 5v5 then you have no choice but to check. Buch has ti do te absolute most to score on basically a empty net. He gets so pumped for his “gimmee”

[netboy65]

When does Kyrou start producing offensively? He's a big liability defensively, so that's what he must do, to justify his salary.

Buch is this forum's Carl Brewer, but at least he checks.

When does anyone? Kyrou tied for team lead in points.

Who’s Carl Brewer??? Do you mean Eric Brewer?

[MiamiLaw]

This team is lacking in almost every single facet. I'm struggling to come up with anything they are doing well with any modicum of consistency.