Player Discussion: Anthony Cirelli

[Byrddog]

This. He's a shut down guy, Columbus is very defence first mentality. While they have some dangerous players who can score, Cirelli's game is against big lines like Bostons, Washingtons and the Leafs to name a few.

While this is true he has had more than his share of gaffs this series. There is something up he is clearly not as quick as he has been. At first when they came back I wondered if it was conditioning, this far in now that does not seem plausible.

While he is defense minded we still need production out of him 1 point in 7 games one of which was a marathon where he had 41 minutes of ice time with no points and no shots is troubling. Johnson and Killorn playing with him have 3 and 4 points respectively.

Tony does some good things but right now it is brutal to see what he is doing. He is not gaining the zone like he should and has been dumping the puck into the zone and he or Killer have been chasing it. His presence in front of the net cleaning up goals there has been absent. He is not winning battles along the boards like he has the last two years as well. It will not surprise me at all to find out he has a health issue. But we are not going to know until after the playoffs conclude.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

While this is true he has had more than his share of gaffs this series. There is something up he is clearly not as quick as he has been. At first when they came back I wondered if it was conditioning, this far in now that does not seem plausible.

While he is defense minded we still need production out of him 1 point in 7 games one of which was a marathon where he had 41 minutes of ice time with no points and no shots is troubling. Johnson and Killorn playing with him have 3 and 4 points respectively.

Tony does some good things but right now it is brutal to see what he is doing. He is not gaining the zone like he should and has been dumping the puck into the zone and he or Killer have been chasing it. His presence in front of the net cleaning up goals there has been absent. He is not winning battles along the boards like he has the last two years as well. It will not surprise me at all to find out he has a health issue. But we are not going to know until after the playoffs conclude.

ahem

 

[Byrddog]

ahem

Ahemmm please read the middle of the last para where I talked about him not being on front of the net and he goes there and craps a goal in with his foot. So easy on being snarky there.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

What is with Tony? he looked horrible.

His tenacious forecheck was GONE
His speed GONE
Offensive Confidence GONE

Could he be injured? Could he have had Covid?

 

[Felonious Python]

What is with Tony? he looked horrible.

His tenacious forecheck was GONE
His speed GONE
Offensive Confidence GONE

Could he be injured? Could he have had Covid?

He's a center, so he's probably finding himself as the F3 pretty often, and needing to drop back instead of being the tip of the spear on the forecheck.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

He's a center, so he's probably finding himself as the F3 pretty often, and needing to drop back instead of being the tip of the spear on the forecheck.

he was a center all season so that makes no sense.

 

[DFC]

While this is true he has had more than his share of gaffs this series. There is something up he is clearly not as quick as he has been. At first when they came back I wondered if it was conditioning, this far in now that does not seem plausible.

While he is defense minded we still need production out of him 1 point in 7 games one of which was a marathon where he had 41 minutes of ice time with no points and no shots is troubling. Johnson and Killorn playing with him have 3 and 4 points respectively.

Tony does some good things but right now it is brutal to see what he is doing. He is not gaining the zone like he should and has been dumping the puck into the zone and he or Killer have been chasing it. His presence in front of the net cleaning up goals there has been absent. He is not winning battles along the boards like he has the last two years as well. It will not surprise me at all to find out he has a health issue. But we are not going to know until after the playoffs conclude.

I agree with this. He seemed to develop an extra gear in the regular season, and, if I remember correctly, he had it in the exhibition game against Florida. But it's gone now, and he looks pretty much the same as in his rookie year, in terms of speed. So something's probably up.

I do think he'll have a better series against whomever we play next. CBJ was a bad match up for him personally, and he looked over-matched a lot of the time. But yeah, the extra gear seems gone, much the way Point's extra gear was gone in last year's playoffs.

 

[DFC]

What is with Tony? he looked horrible.

His tenacious forecheck was GONE
His speed GONE
Offensive Confidence GONE

Could he be injured? Could he have had Covid?

Pretty good theory, really. I think it's mainly the speed that's gone though, and the other things are a consequence of that.

 

[Felonious Python]

he was a center all season so that makes no sense.

The regular season was a while ago, but I don't remember the 1-1-3. I seem to recall a 2-1-2 spread.

 

[Byrddog]

I agree with this. He seemed to develop an extra gear in the regular season, and, if I remember correctly, he had it in the exhibition game against Florida. But it's gone now, and he looks pretty much the same as in his rookie year, in terms of speed. So something's probably up.

I do think he'll have a better series against whomever we play next. CBJ was a bad match up for him personally, and he looked over-matched a lot of the time. But yeah, the extra gear seems gone, much the way Point's extra gear was gone in last year's playoffs.

You know I hope your right about the match up with the Jackets but he is going to have to be convincing soon and the Bruins are not that much of a step down from the defensive play of the Jackets.

Point was hurt during last years abortion in the playoffs so I can see that but it did effect his whole line. Kuch is just a better player when Point is 100%. The playoffs and the first of this year proved that. Point was not 100% back from the surgery until after the CoVid break.

If Cirelli is not hiding an injury waiting for Stamkos to come back I will be surprised. The difference in his game is drastically different. His one goal came from where he is rewarded in front of the net. He was absent from there much of the series. Last game he crapped one in off his foot and had an assist. So it will be important to watch him during the game tomorrow.

 

[DFC]

Yeah, it's hard to think he's 100% given the difference in speed alone.

That's one thing that concerns me though. I don't know if it's smart to match him against Bergeron if he's not outskating those three.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

I think he doesn't drive offense enough for him to make a presence against a team like CLB, and can still get himself roughed up a bit, especially in a series that let a lot of shit slide.

 

[Lightning1995]

Need stammer back BAD. Cirelli would really give the 4th Lin a boost....

no, I’m not kidding

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

@HoseEmDown would any young Detroit defensemen interest you in a trade around Cirelli? There's a RW fan that's curious on the trade board about a Hronek-Cirelli base.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Let’s call him Ghost

 

[HoseEmDown]

@HoseEmDown would any young Detroit defensemen interest you in a trade around Cirelli? There's a RW fan that's curious on the trade board about a Hronek-Cirelli base.

Both Seider and Hronek are very good young RD. I can't see Detroit moving Seider so that leaves Hronek who's a very offensive oriented one. The only issues I would have with a move for him would be that he's not expansion draft exempt. So there would need to be other moves lined up to make it work. No point in bringing him in if it means we're just going to lose him or Cernak in the ED. Hronek could make Sergachev expendable because he can QB the 2nd PP so Sergachev wouldn't be needed there, he has the offensive abilities to replace what Sergachev brings as well. He could make Cernak expendable as we can have him and Foote as the top 2 RD going forward. So a swap for Cirelli could work it would just require other moves first, maybe Sergachev for an ED exempt future 2C to replace Cirelli then you can move Cirelli and have Stamkos at 2C till said kid is ready.

 

[The Macho King]

Let’s call him Ghost

StamGhost is offended you'd steal his name.

 

[These Are The Days]

StamGhost is offended you'd steal his name.

Haven't heard that in a minute. Well done

 

[DFC]

Whatever's wrong with Cirelli is more than just skating. He was struggling to reach for pucks today. I know he finally got back on the scoresheet today, but he's pretty much a warm body right now.

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

He put a good hit on someone today.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

He looked a little better today, he seemed quicker out there. He still doesn't look as confident or aggressive as we're used to. I wouldn't mind seeing him playing with teammates other than Killorn/Johnson, but it's hard to justify with the other lines playing so well. Maybe when Stamkos comes back.

 

[Sky04]

That line was brutal during the Bruins push today. Maybe Cirelli should just move to wing on Paquettes line while Johnson and Killorn play with whichever one of Gourde/Point on the double shift since we're running 11 forwards.

Just not comfortable with that line out there as a unit.

 

[Stammertime91]

He put a good hit on someone today.

That was McAvoy he murdered behind the net. Great hit.

 

[DFC]

He looked a little better today, he seemed quicker out there. He still doesn't look as confident or aggressive as we're used to. I wouldn't mind seeing him playing with teammates other than Killorn/Johnson, but it's hard to justify with the other lines playing so well. Maybe when Stamkos comes back.

There was one point he out-skated a Bruin and I got excited, but then I realized it was Chara.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Boston toyed around with Cirelli’s line for like 2 minutes straight in our zone in the 3rd. They’re just terrible and have no chemistry whatsoever.

Tony himself looked a bit better but still far away from what we’re used to.