Confirmed with Link: Devils Acquire Andrei Loktionov

[Volodya Krutov]

The fact he doesn't want to play wing is news? We already knew this.

My thoughts exactly, hence the sarcasm smiley in my previous post....


Devils shouldn't act surprised at all.

 

[Cowbell232]

I'm sure they knew, but look at the guys we have in the line up. They shift around a lot, and do it pretty well... I'm just sayin' is all.

 

[britdevil]

I wouldn't read into that comment too much. I work with a lot of Eastern Europeans and they do tent to over emphasize when they speak English.

Having said that, you have to be versatile to be a Devil. We'll see, good luck to the boy.

 

[Cowbell232]

I wouldn't read into that comment too much. I work with a lot of Eastern Europeans and they do tent to over emphasize when they talk.

Having said that, you have to be versatile to be a Devil. We'll see, good luck to the boy.

Good point on the translating thing... His true intentions could be hard to read.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

He's not a good center. You have to win faceoffs to be one of those. 42%.

I'm sorry but this is completely overrating the importance of FO. Elias is useless on FO and he was a top 10 center in the league last year.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Good point on the translating thing... His true intentions could be hard to read.

True. He very well could have meant to say "wing doesn't matter to me because I'm going back to the KHL anyways".

 

[CerebralGenesis]

True. He very well could have meant to say "wing doesn't matter to me because I'm going back to the KHL anyways".

well done

 

[DevilsAnimal*]

Then why would Lou get him? He knows what he's doing, he knows where Loki is going to fit and he knows how he's going to play. Unless you guys know something he doesnt

 

[Getzo5]

@TGfireandice
Loktionov actually said that playing wing was "a huge problem for me."

Not okay... Just, not okay.

Having wingers that play at center? Not okay, just not okay.

Having center that wants to play only at center? Not okay, just not okay.

Et tu, Steve?

 

[Cowbell232]

I'm sorry but this is completely overrating the importance of FO. Elias is useless on FO and he was a top 10 center in the league last year.

Elias is a superb play maker. A great center he is not. Those two used to be closely linked, but not so much anymore.

True. He very well could have meant to say "wing doesn't matter to me because I'm going back to the KHL anyways".

Turn about is fair play.

 

[OOOOIIIO]

Kovy doesnt want to play RW and defense 2 years ago... just saying

 

[JK3]

Hope he makes it so I can swap out Zharkov for him in my Red Alert 3 photoshop with Kovy and Volch.

 

[Wingman77]

Well if he only wants to play center he's only going to make it tougher on himself in trying to stick here

What value is he if he can only play or only wants to play a single position? It limits the coaching staff's decisions when it comes to moving guys around and they are absolutely not going to go out of their way to make it work because it is what he wants - what is more valuable a guy who can only play one position that has a handful of roster spots, or a guy who can play any forward position and can play in a dozen different roster spots

Maybe he'll come around and the coaching, friends, countrymen, etc can help him become comfortable at playing wing, but not the greatest words to chose on your first day with up with a new organization

 

[Getzo5]

OK so now being honest is bad. What the hell is happening on here today?

You act like he`s the first center to be born and raised at that position and sucking at others. There`s gazillion of them out there in the NHL, they just don`t say it out loud. Coaches don`t even challenge them to change their natural position. Just because we`ve almost always had the luxury of having a versatile group of forwards/interchangable parts doesn`t mean that having a pure center is a bad thing. Gotta agree with Wingman though, he`s making it tougher on himself, but that`s the point. It`s his career, his responsibility.

If he said something like our Swedes use to say "I`ll try to adjust if the coaches put me there" you`d all be like "kid`s not confident enough, he does feel bad about playing at wing yadda yadda".

For ****`s sake, stop flipping the coin how you like it.

 

[DevilsAnimal*]

Yes, versitility is more valuable

but do we have anyone to call up? Matt Anderson? Teddy?

Let him play a rutting game before you tear his gorram head off for playing only centre

 

[CNS]

@TGfireandice
Loktionov actually said that playing wing was "a huge problem for me."


Not okay... Just, not okay.

I pointed this out and was VERY strongly telling you this for a reason.

He just can't play wing.

I'm not sure what role your system will call for him but if you want him on your 4th line and expect him to play any sort of checking role, you're playing yourself right in to the issue LA had with him. He's far too weak to play that role. Hopefully that isn't how the Devs use him because he has all the tools to be a very good player in this league. He's just never had a REAL shot to impress.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

Elias is a superb play maker. A great center he is not. Those two used to be closely linked, but not so much anymore.

Really ? I'm shocked you would think that. But let's agree to to disagree here, it's off-topic.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Elias is not particularly good defensively at center

at wing, thats a different story.

 

[MartyOwns]

he can play center for a few games. if he can skate with the big boys, im more than willing to add JJ to a trade package. this whole Swede experiment (minus larsson) aint working out

 

[CerebralGenesis]

Really ? I'm shocked you would think that. But let's agree to to disagree here, it's off-topic.

He's a good playmaker, just not a good center.

 

[Chessarmy]

he can play center for a few games. if he can skate with the big boys, im more than willing to add JJ to a trade package. this whole Swede experiment (minus larsson) aint working out

I want another old english style pre-game speech from you! I showed all my friends your last one, they're ****ing hilarious

 

[Volodya Krutov]

We seem spoiled because our current forward corps is off the charts in terms of versatility. A player unable to change position is routine in the NHL and nobody should think it's just bad behavior.

Last time I remember nobody took offense at Parise when he stated he was uncomfortable playing center. That doesn't make a worthless winger.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

He's a good playmaker, just not a good center.

How could Elias be a "not good" center and our best player at the same time last season, a top NHL 10 scorer that centered the shutdown line and turned Sykora into a decent 2nd liner ?

He was awesome to watch and his advanced stats were outstanding... I still don't get it. I love when Elias plays center.

 

[Telos]

Because of his size and lack of strength, he isn't effective along the boards, and will struggle mightily on the wings; he will get tossed around by NHL'ers, he himself doesn't have an NHL frame. However, once in the open ice, he is shifty, elusive, and can make great passes. It was clear early on with the Kings, that he was a pure natural center, and not a winger, which is the very reason why the Kings traded him. He would be playing with us now if he could play wing.

 

[Bleedred]

Like I already said maybe it will get Matteau off the first line, and we could put Henrique on that wing. Lokti centers Patty, and Clarkie? I mean if he's any good it's gotta be better than Matteau on the first line. Matteau on the first line is a joke.