Penguinzilla*
Guest
Sadly, other than Malkin and Crosby, Jefferey is the only one with any offensive creativity; he should be given every chance to succeed. Yes, Neal can shoot, but other than that he lacks good hockey sense.
Agree. Thomas Hickey was interviewed in the same fashion and he didnt have any negativeness or bitterness directed toward the Kings he was just happy the NYI are giving him a chance. I dont think Strait was throwing DB under the bus i just think he was answering the question honestly. Hickey was picked #4 overall as opposed to Straits third round status.
Bort can do a number of things for this team if he would just be allowed to. The guy is a really good player. He is a bigger, better version of Strait with more offensive upside.
He has a huge wingspan and he can play a shutdown role very well. He also isn't naturally mean, but he can take his game there when need be. He can be a crease clearing blueliner if asked to be.
He just needs to be put in and given some time to adjust. By the end of the season I'm willing to bet he will be the Pens most reliable blueliner, if given a shot.
There is a reason I was afraid of losing him to waivers and hopefully he can show people why.
How's his skating? We know that's the only thing Bylma values in a D man.
Brian Strait to Shelley Anderson in the Post-Gazette:
"Any call-up I had the last couple of years, I was playing sparingly -- 12 minutes, 10 minutes," he said. "I'm getting a good opportunity here.
"It's nice when you have a coaching staff that shows trust in you. It was a different situation the last couple of years, only playing for 10 minutes and not knowing if I was going to go back out for another shift after I made a mistake."
Annnnnd, there you have it. Confirmation that Bylsma refuses to let players develop the right way once they're ready for the NHL / always deferring to veterans if a young player has a bad game or makes a mistake. More fuel for the lynch mob.
Not saying Strait would be our savior. He wouldn't even crack our Top 4 but the point is, he was ready to contribute and was not allowed to do that. Being replaced instead by Lovejoy, an arguably lesser D talent, but one with more games under his belt and took a puck to the face and so he's the guy.
At what point does DB fear for his job?
I hated giving up Strait for Lovejoy as much as anyone, but I'm sure any waiver wire pick-up would say the same thing...including Thomas Hickey, recently of the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.
That's the whole point of the waiver process. If guys can't crack a good team, they get to leave and get better opportunities on a lesser team.
Burkle and Lemieux won't accept another first round exit.
If that happens, he is gone for sure. Zero doubts about that.
Especially if Shero corrects the roster uh.... Deficiencies.
Bort can do a number of things for this team if he would just be allowed to. The guy is a really good player. He is a bigger, better version of Strait with more offensive upside.
He has a huge wingspan and he can play a shutdown role very well. He also isn't naturally mean, but he can take his game there when need be. He can be a crease clearing blueliner if asked to be.
He just needs to be put in and given some time to adjust. By the end of the season I'm willing to bet he will be the Pens most reliable blueliner, if given a shot.
There is a reason I was afraid of losing him to waivers and hopefully he can show people why.
Shero may have his own problems with another one and done whether or not he corrects them. Bylsma is his call.
I think the issue is more specifically about why Lovejoy cracked the lineup than generally about the waiver wire process.
Shero has a longer leash. If they flame out this year and next, he is done.
If they make the second round and show well, both will be safe. I'm almost certain of that.
Crosby and Malkin are a blessing and a curse. They are fun to watch, but they mask problems that should of been corrected by now.
Shero has a longer leash. If they flame out this year and next, he is done.
If they make the second round and show well, both will be safe. I'm almost certain of that.
Crosby and Malkin are a blessing and a curse. They are fun to watch, but they mask problems that should of been corrected by now.
Crosby and Malkin are a blessing and a curse. They are fun to watch, but they mask problems that should of been corrected by now.
Now we know what Washington has been going through the past few years, where their coaches have the talent, but that talent isn't playing well enough to mask their issues.
I don't see how anyone can watch last night's game and think the players aren't dogging it. There's a difference between execution and effort. We didn't have either last night.
Brian Strait to Shelley Anderson in the Post-Gazette:
"Any call-up I had the last couple of years, I was playing sparingly -- 12 minutes, 10 minutes," he said. "I'm getting a good opportunity here.
"It's nice when you have a coaching staff that shows trust in you. It was a different situation the last couple of years, only playing for 10 minutes and not knowing if I was going to go back out for another shift after I made a mistake."
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I know, easy to say what with the Islanders not having nearly as many established NHL D-men. But still.
I hope a lot of people in the front office sees this.
Brian Strait to Shelley Anderson in the Post-Gazette:
"Any call-up I had the last couple of years, I was playing sparingly -- 12 minutes, 10 minutes," he said. "I'm getting a good opportunity here.
"It's nice when you have a coaching staff that shows trust in you. It was a different situation the last couple of years, only playing for 10 minutes and not knowing if I was going to go back out for another shift after I made a mistake."
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I know, easy to say what with the Islanders not having nearly as many established NHL D-men. But still.
Well, Strait just brought up what some thought.