Bridgeport Sound Tigers Discussion Part V

[Jester9881]

It's the ahl, in a prefect world it's a development league, why not try some things.

You're right, but you don't move a RH defenseman to his off side for the same reason you don't experiment with a center at defense. RH defensemen are rare, especially offensive ones. You move LHD to the right side because there are a ton of them and often teams don't have enough RHD. You don't do it the other way around. Can you even think of a single example of a RHD playing LD? There's a reason for it.

 

[Renbarg]

You're right, but you don't move a RH defenseman to his off side for the same reason you don't experiment with a center at defense. RH defensemen are rare, especially offensive ones. You move LHD to the right side because there are a ton of them and often teams don't have enough RHD. You don't do it the other way around. Can you even think of a single example of a RHD playing LD? There's a reason for it.

I know there's a reason, I made the same point here. But sometimes it happens. Ultimately you want the 6 best d out there, no? And if a right handed dman can play the left, or vice versa, and is better than a potential strong side replacement, then go for it.

Better for those guys to learn in the ahl than the nhl. You can also figure out whether or not that's even an option (if he just can't do it, then he can't).

 

[WangMustGo]

I know there's a reason, I made the same point here. But sometimes it happens. Ultimately you want the 6 best d out there, no? And if a right handed dman can play the left, or vice versa, and is better than a potential strong side replacement, then go for it.

Better for those guys to learn in the ahl than the nhl. You can also figure out whether or not that's even an option (if he just can't do it, then he can't).

Agreed. I like seeing Pulock learn the left side a bit, you never know when a guy is gonna go down in the middle of a game and someone has to play on their offside. There should be no rush with Pulock, Mayfield, or Pelech. Let them learn everything they can in the AHL. The more they learn now the better they will be later.

 

[Jester9881]

Agreed. I like seeing Pulock learn the left side a bit, you never know when a guy is gonna go down in the middle of a game and someone has to play on their offside. There should be no rush with Pulock, Mayfield, or Pelech. Let them learn everything they can in the AHL. The more they learn now the better they will be later.

Well, I hope they learn as much as they can..... the day where they're out of options is quickly approaching. I'd personally feel better if they had more NHL experience at this point. Give the a few games, send them down with more knowledge of what they need to work on and bring them back up when the time is right.

 

[Jester9881]

Understand that if we lose another RHD at this point, we will be tossing a completely untested rookie into serious NHL time, during a stretch where teams are playing their best hockey and the Islanders will likely be fighting for a PO spot. Instead of doing the right thing at the start and easing them into the role when we had 7 healthy NHL tested defensemen.

 

[Renbarg]

Well, I hope they learn as much as they can..... the day where they're out of options is quickly approaching. I'd personally feel better if they had more NHL experience at this point. Give the a few games, send them down with more knowledge of what they need to work on and bring them back up when the time is right.

Both pelech and pulock have one more year after this one of waiver exemption. You gotta make a choice on mayfield after this year.

 

[JPIsles21]

Both pelech and pulock have one more year after this one of waiver exemption. You gotta make a choice on mayfield after this year.

Somebody needs to explain this to me. Perhaps somebody who watches the Sound Tigers. Because I do not at all. I have a question:

Has Pelech truly been better than Pulock and/or Mayfield?

When Boychuk went down, I thought to myself that if this is long term, it will allow the Isles to see what Pulock could do. It made sense to me on multiple fronts:

1) Boychuk is RD, Pulock is RD
2) Boychuk has a heavy shot, Pulock has a heavy shot
3) Keeps Strait on the bench, and this is always a good thing (according to War On Ice, Strait has the worst scoring chance differential of any defenseman in the last 3 years to play at least 100 games).
4) Production from the dmen has been pitiful this season. Wouldn't it make sense to bring a dman that can move the puck?

I don't always understand what this team is thinking. There are times Snow flashes genius and focuses in on possession players. There are other times he is ok with playing one of the worst dmen in the NHL (Strait) in a regular role. If this is a coaching decision, then Snow needs to fire his coach for incompetence. Part of coaching is understanding which players stink and have a negative impact on your team. With Strait there is no mystery or controversy. Both the eye-test and stats people thinks he's awful. If Cap disagrees, you fire him on the spot.

 

[charlie1]

Somebody needs to explain this to me. Perhaps somebody who watches the Sound Tigers. Because I do not at all. I have a question:

Has Pelech truly been better than Pulock and/or Mayfield?

When Boychuk went down, I thought to myself that if this is long term, it will allow the Isles to see what Pulock could do. It made sense to me on multiple fronts:

1) Boychuk is RD, Pulock is RD
2) Boychuk has a heavy shot, Pulock has a heavy shot
3) Keeps Strait on the bench, and this is always a good thing (according to War On Ice, Strait has the worst scoring chance differential of any defenseman in the last 3 years to play at least 100 games).
4) Production from the dmen has been pitiful this season. Wouldn't it make sense to bring a dman that can move the puck?

I don't always understand what this team is thinking. There are times Snow flashes genius and focuses in on possession players. There are other times he is ok with playing one of the worst dmen in the NHL (Strait) in a regular role. If this is a coaching decision, then Snow needs to fire his coach for incompetence. Part of coaching is understanding which players stink and have a negative impact on your team. With Strait there is no mystery or controversy. Both the eye-test and stats people thinks he's awful. If Cap disagrees, you fire him on the spot.

Regarding Mayfield vs Pelech-- IMO no, he's like Mayfield-lite.

Pulock vs Pelech is a different comparison. Pelech is much more of a defensive specialist. Does not bring anything near the amount of offense that Pulock does. Shot is night and day different, no comparison.

My guess is that Strait is in and they'd rather have Pelech sit than Pulock / Mayfield.

 

[Jester9881]

Somebody needs to explain this to me. Perhaps somebody who watches the Sound Tigers. Because I do not at all. I have a question:

Has Pelech truly been better than Pulock and/or Mayfield?

Handedness aside,

My personal opinion is of you want a defensive defenseman, of the three it's got to be Pelech all the way. You're not going to get much if any offense out of him, but he will give you the most solid defense out of the three.

Pulock is no slouch defensively, but will at times take more chances offensively and has a booming shot. He's easily the best of the three on offense.

Mayfield is more of a hybrid between the two, and he's the most physical of the three by far. Right now I feel he's the best option of the three.

When Boychuk went down, I thought to myself that if this is long term, it will allow the Isles to see what Pulock could do. It made sense to me on multiple fronts:

1) Boychuk is RD, Pulock is RD
2) Boychuk has a heavy shot, Pulock has a heavy shot
3) Keeps Strait on the bench, and this is always a good thing (according to War On Ice, Strait has the worst scoring chance differential of any defenseman in the last 3 years to play at least 100 games).
4) Production from the dmen has been pitiful this season. Wouldn't it make sense to bring a dman that can move the puck?

And you wouldn't be alone on that.... it makes no sense at all.

I don't always understand what this team is thinking. There are times Snow flashes genius and focuses in on possession players. There are other times he is ok with playing one of the worst dmen in the NHL (Strait) in a regular role. If this is a coaching decision, then Snow needs to fire his coach for incompetence. Part of coaching is understanding which players stink and have a negative impact on your team. With Strait there is no mystery or controversy. Both the eye-test and stats people thinks he's awful. If Cap disagrees, you fire him on the spot.

It's without question that for whatever reason, the coaching staff has an irrational love of Brian Strait. The man can seriously do no wrong in their eyes, and probably plays more than any other "7th" defenseman in the NHL. I mean, they have him playing in the top 4 now on his off side and in all situations (PP and PK).... and bringing up Pelech instead of a RHD facilitated that lunacy.

My guess is that Strait is in and they'd rather have Pelech sit than Pulock / Mayfield.

That's what it seems like.... they would rather play Strait in all situations in the top 4 on his off side than give one of their deserving prospects a shot. In order to facilitate this, they have to move one of their prospects to his off side in the AHL, as well as sit another of their prospects in the NHL. This is the type of idiocy that would normally get people fired.

 

[Islesfan22]

Makes me think the Islanders are not that high on Pulock if Pelech a left defenseman is being called to replace a right defensman.

 

[charlie1]

Nice move by Pulock on Saturday (no goal though).

 

[charlie1]

Whitney with the game-winner on Sat in OT. Nice snipe. Two point night for him, and he is 3rd in scoring in the AHL at just under ppg.

Edit: Final 4-3, Mayfield +2 on the night.

 

[SDIsles34]

Whitney with the game-winner on Sat in OT. Nice snipe. Two point night for him, and he is 3rd in scoring in the AHL at just under ppg.

He deserves a game or two.

 

[SI90]

He deserves a game or two.

Career AHLer. He's skilled for sure but I can't see him adding anything in the NHL.

 

[SDIsles34]

Career AHLer. He's skilled for sure but I can't see him adding anything in the NHL.

Difficult to make that determination when the player only has 5 career games under his belt but I understand what you are saying, lack of size will always hold him back.

 

[PK Cronin]

Difficult to make that determination when the player only has 5 career games under his belt but I understand what you are saying, lack of size will always hold him back.

When I saw him in the AHL he danced with the puck a lot, doing things that wouldn't work with his size in the NHL. I wouldn't mind giving him a few games if we needed to, but I don't think he'd be anything special.

 

[charlie1]

It's hard not to root for the guy though. A ton of heart. I hope he gets his shot.

 

[PROMputt]

It's hard not to root for the guy though. A ton of heart. I hope he gets his shot.

Unfortunately small players have to prove they can play while big players have to prove they cannot.

 

[charlie1]

Nice move by Pulock on Saturday (no goal though).

Just as an example, and I know this is anecdotal, but look how Whitney drives to the slot when Pulock makes this play. (Whitney is #9)

 

[Sparksrus3]

Career AHLer. He's skilled for sure but I can't see him adding anything in the NHL.

If brian strait can add nothing in the NHL for 60 percent of our games I see no reason not to bring the kid up and let his play determine if he can do the same. Or we can just bring him up and then play Bernier.

 

[Jester9881]

Whitney with the game-winner on Sat in OT. Nice snipe. Two point night for him, and he is 3rd in scoring in the AHL at just under ppg.

Edit: Final 4-3, Mayfield +2 on the night.

I really think that the next time Scott Mayfield gets called up he isn't getting sent back down. His decision making this year is like night and day.... doesn't get caught in a bad pinch anymore, uses his positioning and strength to his advantage.

 

[Lame Lambert]

I really think that the next time Scott Mayfield gets called up he isn't getting sent back down. His decision making this year is like night and day.... doesn't get caught in a bad pinch anymore, uses his positioning and strength to his advantage.

You underestimate the incompetence of Jack Capuano

 

[Frankie41987]

You underestimate the incompetence of Jack Capuano

If capuano is solely in charge of deciding who is brought up and sent down then the team has far bigger problems then the coach.

 

[xECK29x]

Cap doesn't make the decision to call up or send down, seems like Thompson / Snow drives that according to Staple.

 

[DarkHorse]

Cap doesn't make the decision to call up or send down, seems like Thompson / Snow drives that according to Staple.

According to Capuano, when it came time to replace Boychuck, he spoke to Thompson and they decided on Pelech.

Not having your scouts and GMs decide on call-ups is insane in my opinion. It's their job to evaluate talent. That's not why you hire a coach.