The Koekkoek trade would seem to result in keeping Matthew Spencer in Orlando as the Lightning organization has added a RHD.
Spencer wasn't our top RD. I'd say that was Cody Donaghey, who is recalled. Michael Brodzinski was also good (and is also recalled).Yeah, he is doing well down there but not good enough to be called up to Syracuse. I don't get why they called up Sosunov though as he's behind Gaunce, Masin, Valleau and Labrie on the left side. The right side is really strong now with Foote, Rutta and Thomas. We need to move out a vet status player though to make room for Rutta so I expect someone to go soon.
Spencer wasn't our top RD. I'd say that was Cody Donaghey, who is recalled. Michael Brodzinski was also good (and is also recalled).
It's sort of hard sometimes for a guy to come in midseason. It's not like you can put them right out there on special teams when they don't know the Bears systems and how Drake wants things done.
I don't watch college hockey so I wouldn't know this stuff but how good is Walker in the NCAA? Is he a top 20 player in the league?Sammy Walker scored quite the goal mid-air deflection on the backhand.
I don't watch college hockey so I wouldn't know this stuff but how good is Walker in the NCAA? Is he a top 20 player in the league?
I don't watch college hockey so I wouldn't know this stuff but how good is Walker in the NCAA? Is he a top 20 player in the league?
I was trying to contextualize your statement for the Lightning/Crunch fans who don't follow the Bears, especially the ones who are of the mindset that any guy sent down is automatically the best guy in the ECHL.I didn't say Spencer was the top RD I just said he's playing a lot down there and should continue to the rest of the year. There's no need to yo yo him between the two teams anymore so now maybe he can get into a nice groove. He needs steady games and minutes and this allows him to do that for the Bears.
If a player is clearly better/more useful than the guy with the 'correct' handedness, they'll get put in the lineup, but I don't see the tier/situations Koekkoek & Rutta fit would be what Sosunov would play. Sosunov, right now, under normal circumstances seems like he'd play like on like the 3rd pair and maybe 2nd PK unit. Rutta is probably more of a big minute, pp guy.Righty / Lefty. Acquisition of a righty should have no bearing on a LD’s minutes now that the D numbers are balanced. He has to climb above Masin, Gaunce, Labrie, and Valleau. Conversely Foote, Thomas, Spencer, and Rutta compete for minutes. Sosunov and Spencer have to earn their minutes and play well.
I would agree with the assessment that Spencer is better than Sosunov at the moment.Sosunov is not better than Valleau or Labrie right now, or anybody for that matter in Syracuse. I'd take Spencer over him too. He should be in Orlando with Spencer because he's not going to be playing much for Syracuse. Though with Rutta coming and being a veteran I can see Syracuse trade Valleau or Labrie for a non veteran forward. Syracuse really could use another top forward because they are a two line team, they need some bottom 6 scoring or to split the lines up a bit.
I would agree with the assessment that Spencer is better than Sosunov at the moment.
From an Orlando perspective, plz don't trade Valleau. We liked him down here.
Instead of trading Valleau, could the solution be to send him to Orlando? He was OSB's all-star last year, and we're light on LHD (and the youngest team in the league). The Crunch could PTO a guy since there are not many AHL contracts that exist in the first place.
I wouldn't say he was 'too good'. I've seen Jason Blake (IHL) and Garret Sparks with the Solar Bears who were a class above, and I've seen guys like Valleau and Donaghey who can be top pair defensemen. Donaghey has 9 goals already this season and it's not like the Bears can't get by without him. Even Archambault as an opponent I'd give that assessment to. He's not out of the ECHL talent range.The problem is Valleau seems too good for the ECHL so would suck for him to be sent down or be a healthy scratch. I think he could be a good piece for a team and get us a nice forward back. Valleau will lose his PP2 spot to Rutta most likely so his minutes and production will go down and now is the time to move him if we can. Labrie could be sent down but would be better just to send Sosunov.