2nd line success

[burana800]

We all know they are playing extremely well right now.

Okposo is giving 100%, working hard and creating chances.

Bailey is shooting the puck and playing with "wonderful athmosphere around his body"

How about Frans Nielsen? Am I the only one who thinks he is as important - if not even most important - part of the line. Some say that he is 3rd line center at best and he could be traded etc etc. I think he is:

a) the best two-way forward in this team
b) good skater, has a decent shot
c) good passer

most importantly

Allows Bailey and Okposo do what they are doing cause he is so smart and eliminating odd man rushes.

At least people who play hockey should know. Or am I just Wrong?

ps. not even gonna mention his SO%.

 

[19NYSports91]

You're not wrong at all, people don't give enough credit to Frans. He's an awesome player to have. People say he's soft on here, which I think is dumb, but whatever.

 

[13th Floor]

We all know they are playing extremely well right now.

Okposo is giving 100%, working hard and creating chances.

Bailey is shooting the puck and playing with "wonderful athmosphere around his body"

How about Frans Nielsen? Am I the only one who thinks he is as important - if not even most important - part of the line. Some say that he is 3rd line center at best and he could be traded etc etc. I think he is:

a) the best two-way forward in this team
b) good skater, has a decent shot
c) good passer

most importantly

Allows Bailey and Okposo do what they are doing cause he is so smart and eliminating odd man rushes.

At least people who play hockey should know. Or am I just Wrong?

ps. not even gonna mention his SO%.

I agree with your whole post, but the bolded parts don't contradict each other (except for the traded part). So... everyone is right. He is one of the most important players on this team because he is our best 2 way player and shuts down the opposing team's top line. But that is what a 3rd line center does. He doesn't put up enough offense to be considered a legitimate 2C. That doesn't diminish his importance though.

My biggest knock on him is he is awful at the dot.

 

[TheWhiteWhale30]

Fran's is my favorite player behind JT and Nabby, hope Fran's retires here

 

[InformTheMasses]

Nope, you are not alone. Frans is the straw that stirs the drink on that line. Personally I think people put too much emphasis on the 2nd line and 3rd line labels. give my a couple of lines that work hard and play well in all three zones and play 16+ minutes a night along with a legit #1 scoring line and a 4th line that bangs, and I'm a happy man. You can call the middle two lines whatever you want.

I have to agree with the poseter above, that Nielsen is BRUTAL on faceoffs. WOuld prefer Bailey or Okposo take them. Also Nielsen IS soft, but so what, hes very effective defensively and offensively playing the way he plays. He's a very nice hockey player and has helped carry us through this season.

 

[bstash19]

You're not wrong at all, people don't give enough credit to Frans. He's an awesome player to have. People say he's soft on here, which I think is dumb, but whatever.

same people who voted lee as 1st star in his first game.

 

[KyleBailey12]

same people who voted lee as 1st star in his first game.

Those two things aren't correlated. I voted Lee as a star in his first game because it was his first and he score his first. He had his defensive problems here and there, but its just a poll.

Voting Lee first star in his first game doesn't mean I don't appreciate Nielsen. The guy is such an defensive asset for this team.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

You're not wrong at all, people don't give enough credit to Frans. He's an awesome player to have. People say he's soft on here, which I think is dumb, but whatever.

He used to be underrated, then people gave him his due and now he is underrated again. I'm just talking Islander fans!

 

[PK Cronin]

Frans has been great, but as others have mentioned, he doesn't score enough to be a legitimate 2nd line center. What I'm hoping will happen is that our 2nd line will eventually become our 3rd line. Wouldn't that be nice

Also, a lot of the teams current success I think is based around the the change in system. I'm fairly certain that they have abandoned the 2-1-2 forecheck and have been playing much higher on the half way with the 2nd forechecker. I could be mistaken, I'll be paying closer attention to the next game on what exactly they changed.

 

[tokr]

a) the best two-way forward in this team
b) good skater, has a decent shot
c) good passer

d) Excellent zone entries

Regarding faceoff's, I think the "no hands" rule has really hurt Frans ?