Alexei Emelin

[Sorinth]

As a general rule yes. But again like I said, you have to factor in reality, ex Markov never playing RD in his life, wher as Emelin has played RD most of his KHL/NHL career.

But yes, that is my position in regards to why Emelin should play RD over Gorges, because Gorges isn't as good as a pucker mover as Emelin is.

Again, you keep talking about putting ppl in the best situation, who can you say yet then say, ya lets put Gorges in a tougher spot, its ok if he screws up.


I understand where you are coming from, but I think you need to see the reality that unless you have a perfect Righty RD lefty LD match, somene is not going to be put in the best situation.

Yes someone will not be in an ideal position and it should be the guys who aren't as good with the puck to begin with.

It's not that Gorges will screw up anyways so who cares it's that Markov being on his good side will more than make up for any additional screw ups. And that goes for pretty much every defenceman who can move the puck.

 

[habs03]

Yes someone will not be in an ideal position and it should be the guys who aren't as good with the puck to begin with.

It's not that Gorges will screw up anyways so who cares it's that Markov being on his good side will more than make up for any additional screw ups. And that goes for pretty much every defenceman who can move the puck.

Sometimes the cons of a guy like Gorges just for example playing their offside, far out weights the pros a guy playing his proper side ex Markov. Just using them as an example.

Also while playing your offside is tougher, for good puck moving dmen it's made easier because they are able to make the tougher passes, dmen are on their back hand more when playing your offside when clearing the puck, and board battles. You are still passing the puck on your forehand, it's just the passing angles that change.

Like BaseballCoach said, look at the list of elite dmen that played their offside

Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe, JC Tremblay
Bobby Orr
Brad Park
Raymond Bourque
Borje Salming
Scott Neidermayer

How many more Elite defencemen do we need to find through history who shot left and played right D?

 

[No More Subban]

Thank god, the real Emelin is back! He's looking more like the top 3 dman we seriously need. Just need Gorges back and our top 4 will be more solid.

 

[PsychoticHab]

Thank god, the real Emelin is back! He's looking more like the top 3 dman we seriously need. Just need Gorges back and our top 4 will be more solid.

To be fair to Emelin, he was coming back from major knee surgery. It takes time to be back to 100% physically and mentally which he seems to have done now.

 

[Sorinth]

Sometimes the cons of a guy like Gorges just for example playing their offside, far out weights the pros a guy playing his proper side ex Markov. Just using them as an example.

Also while playing your offside is tougher, for good puck moving dmen it's made easier because they are able to make the tougher passes, dmen are on their back hand more when playing your offside when clearing the puck, and board battles. You are still passing the puck on your forehand, it's just the passing angles that change.

Like BaseballCoach said, look at the list of elite dmen that played their offside

The cons will always be worse for the better PMD unless the other guy simply can't use his backhand at all (In which case he's probably not an NHL defenceman).

Sure being great means you can do can make tougher passes, but the stuff that was already going to be tough will now be impossible. So we lose out on something. Gorges is going to make the "safe" play 99% of the time so backhand/forehand doesn't matter because he's making the easy play even when he could try for a harder/better option.

The game has changed since the guys on BaseballCoach's list. It's much quicker and you have less time to make a play. Not too mention a list of some of the best defenceman ever is not really relevant to Gorges/Emelin.

 

[habs03]

The cons will always be worse for the better PMD unless the other guy simply can't use his backhand at all (In which case he's probably not an NHL defenceman).

Sure being great means you can do can make tougher passes, but the stuff that was already going to be tough will now be impossible. So we lose out on something. Gorges is going to make the "safe" play 99% of the time so backhand/forehand doesn't matter because he's making the easy play even when he could try for a harder/better option.

The game has changed since the guys on BaseballCoach's list. It's much quicker and you have less time to make a play. Not too mention a list of some of the best defenceman ever is not really relevant to Gorges/Emelin.

Just look around the league, in most cases where they have 2 lefted handed dmen, its usually the one better with the puck that plays his offside.

For the Habs, when they was a Gill-Gorges pairing, Gorges played his offside. When Hamrlik and Spacek were put together, Marint said he put Spacek on the RD because he was better with the puck and it would be easier for him to do it, even tho put only played in their career.

Heck Beaulieu when called up recently, when paired with Murray, he played RD, both him and Tinordi when paired with Murray played RD.

And both Tinordi and Beaulieu never played RD before, even in juniors, and the AHL.

And before you think its just the Habs, look around the league and its the same.

Morgan Rielly in with the Leafs, was put on RD even tho he never played it before too, so they can plair him with Gleason, same thing for Gardiner on the leafs.

 

[beowulf]

To be fair to Emelin, he was coming back from major knee surgery. It takes time to be back to 100% physically and mentally which he seems to have done now.

Agreed, loved this guys play before he was on the Habs and kept hoping every summer that he would be coming over. Since he finally did I have not been disappointed with what he brings the team overall.

 

[JAVO16]

Sometimes the cons of a guy like Gorges just for example playing their offside, far out weights the pros a guy playing his proper side ex Markov. Just using them as an example.

Also while playing your offside is tougher, for good puck moving dmen it's made easier because they are able to make the tougher passes, dmen are on their back hand more when playing your offside when clearing the puck, and board battles. You are still passing the puck on your forehand, it's just the passing angles that change.

Like BaseballCoach said, look at the list of elite dmen that played their offside

Experience plays a role here too. Emelin might not have the vision and overall passing skill that Markov has, but since he's played a lot on the right side, he's developed good back-hand passing skills and he recognizes more quickly situations where he'll be in trouble as a lefty playing on the right side.