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I think Housley just isn't a fan of him![]()
That is just silly.
Housley is just trying to spread the offence around without loading up on one line. It is more of a compliment that he is relying on Galchenyuk to carry a line as he is the only player on the team that can do so.
Pittsburgh for years has always given Malkin the most talented linemates while Crosby is expected to carry his line. This is just more of the same strategy.
OK – just re-watched Russia-US game on PVR. Here is the break down by period with some comments:
1st Period
5 shifts – 4:35 ice time (approx.)
- Main impression is that Kuraly sucks. Kuraly does not seem comfortable on his back hand, definitely favors distributing the puck to Barber.
- One PP – very long shift (1:30) but had very little impact.
- I have not seen him play with Sarnia this year but I can’t imagine he spends as much time as he does on the boards waiting for a pass. On the fourth shift you see home much time he spends standing still waiting for an outlet pass.
- He was nearly perfect in either passing the puck or not losing it.
2nd Period
6 shifts - 5:05 ice time (approx.)
- Dominated in two PP occasions
- On second PP – had the puck for a lot of the PP that ultimately lead to Trouba’s goal. Obtained primary assist.
- Had a couple of bad plays in 5 on 5 shifts. I have him with 2 puck possession losses and a couple of bad passes.
- Still notice that line mates are not helping. Barber is practically non-existent and Kuraly is not having a good game.
3rd Period
6 shifts – 5:00 minutes (approx.)
- Had some of his least effective shifts, especially his 4th shift of the period, which lasted about 1:25 mostly chasing puck in defensive zone.
- Lots of uneventful shifts, not getting the puck.
- Last shift, on the PP, he controlled the PP again. Lack of finishing by US.
General comments
- I thought he received his fair share of ice time - go to guy on PP, no PK.
- On this team and tournament, he would greatly benefit from playing center and not having to wait for the puck. I assume that Housley does not want him to free wheel.
- At the very least, put him on the first line instead of Gaudreau. Miller is a much better distributor and finisher and Gaudreau is pretty much useless.
- I understand we want to see Gally dominate each game, but this was a quality opponent with size and speed. IMO, he played as well as the other major players on the ice, no one stood out – with the exception of Nichushkin – who took over in the 2nd and 3rd period. I think he will start being mentioned with the top 3-5 of the draft.
- Grigs does play with a slower pace, but he often has the puck on his stick.
That is just silly.
Housley is just trying to spread the offence around without loading up on one line. It is more of a compliment that he is relying on Galchenyuk to carry a line as he is the only player on the team that can do so.
Pittsburgh for years has always given Malkin the most talented linemates while Crosby is expected to carry his line. This is just more of the same strategy.
That is just silly.
Housley is just trying to spread the offence around without loading up on one line. It is more of a compliment that he is relying on Galchenyuk to carry a line as he is the only player on the team that can do so.
Pittsburgh for years has always given Malkin the most talented linemates while Crosby is expected to carry his line. This is just more of the same strategy.
It has nothing to do with who is like and who is dislike....or sort of. Meaning that how he is used right now, on the 2nd line, isn't when the problem started. It's the composition of the team in itself. They don't believe in the Lucia, Biggs, Vesey big pluggers, so your 2nd line is filled with Kuraly and Barber. This is incredibly weak for me. So to upgrade your "2nd line", you have to mix it with maybe your best talent in Gally. 'Cause the other line with a underwhelming Miller so far, you have 2 high real midgets in Gaudreau and Grimaldi, who frankly would not be able to do a better job on the 2nd line either if you had to upgrade Gally on the supposed 1st.
Problem is that they didn't entirely seem to believe in matchups by not bringing Boucher around. You also have to deal with underachieving players like Trocheck who is suppose to give way more than he's doing and I'd also put AHL'er Miller in that category.
Add the Noesen suspension and some calls that were maybe questionable (at least give Samuelsson, Nelson and Kerdiles a greater shot...) and you might have had a better offensive firepower. As of now, it might change, but there's no offensive game on that team.
He shouldn't roll all 4 lines especially late in the game when he needs a goal, that is going to come from his top players. Also he cut his ice time against Germany cause everyone figured it was to use him more in the Russia game, which he didn't really
When the Pens need a goal, they don't send out Matt Cooke on the ice. Bylsma will double shift Sid and Malkin and even send them out together for a few shifts
OK – just re-watched Russia-US game on PVR. Here is the break down by period with some comments:
1st Period
5 shifts – 4:35 ice time (approx.)
- Main impression is that Kuraly sucks. Kuraly does not seem comfortable on his back hand, definitely favors distributing the puck to Barber.
- One PP – very long shift (1:30) but had very little impact.
- I have not seen him play with Sarnia this year but I can’t imagine he spends as much time as he does on the boards waiting for a pass. On the fourth shift you see home much time he spends standing still waiting for an outlet pass.
- He was nearly perfect in either passing the puck or not losing it.
2nd Period
6 shifts - 5:05 ice time (approx.)
- Dominated in two PP occasions
- On second PP – had the puck for a lot of the PP that ultimately lead to Trouba’s goal. Obtained primary assist.
- Had a couple of bad plays in 5 on 5 shifts. I have him with 2 puck possession losses and a couple of bad passes.
- Still notice that line mates are not helping. Barber is practically non-existent and Kuraly is not having a good game.
3rd Period
6 shifts – 5:00 minutes (approx.)
- Had some of his least effective shifts, especially his 4th shift of the period, which lasted about 1:25 mostly chasing puck in defensive zone.
- Lots of uneventful shifts, not getting the puck.
- Last shift, on the PP, he controlled the PP again. Lack of finishing by US.
General comments
- I thought he received his fair share of ice time - go to guy on PP, no PK.
- On this team and tournament, he would greatly benefit from playing center and not having to wait for the puck. I assume that Housley does not want him to free wheel.
- At the very least, put him on the first line instead of Gaudreau. Miller is a much better distributor and finisher and Gaudreau is pretty much useless.
- I understand we want to see Gally dominate each game, but this was a quality opponent with size and speed. IMO, he played as well as the other major players on the ice, no one stood out – with the exception of Nichushkin – who took over in the 2nd and 3rd period. I think he will start being mentioned with the top 3-5 of the draft.
- Grigs does play with a slower pace, but he often has the puck on his stick.
They have???
First off, which talent are we talking about? Malkin played with Neal last year, but before that he didn't have anybody. He played with the same caliber of wingers as Crosby did. The main reason why Neal played with Malkin is also because Crosby was injured all year, had he not been, I wouldn't have been surprised if they were placed together.
I understand spreading the offense, but it's the wrong strategy to employ in the third period down a goal. You also don't have to keep putting your best players together. Just do it every now and then, hoping to get something. If you're still down by 1 at the 10min mark of the 3rd period, then stick with it.
- I disagree with the need for Galchenyuk at C. This is pure speculation on my part, but possibly the reason Housley doesn't have Galchenyuk on the PK is because his explosiveness in his skating is not as good as some of the others and he's also coming from an off-season have a bad knee injury. Beaulieu in Sarnia also has him playing wing - he does take face-offs on special teams but quickly converts back to wing. It could just be to make it easier on Galchenyuk, to take away the defensive responsibilities that come with playing centre.
- Agreed. He logged 15+ minutes (going by my ice time logs) and he added an assist to his total. He played good. He also now leads the US in both assists(3) and points(4), despite playing under 30 minutes over the last two games.
- Grigorenko plays a very controlled game. I like it. Yakupov on the other hand... boy am I glad the Habs didn't take him. He plays a high-tempo, quick game but he loses the puck too easily, I saw him bumped easily off of the puck on a few occasions and he also gets frustrated quickly, which turns into him being a puck hog and wanting to do everything himself. I saw the talent and why he went 1st overall, but I also saw the ugly side to his game and I didn't like it at all.
Crosby's regular line mates were Dupuis and Kunitz for most of the time he's played the last 2 seasons. Those are fringe 2nd liners on most teams.
the entire Team USA looked intimidated.