Pre-Game Talk: GAME #20 - Canucks vs. Kings

[Bleach Clean]

I just don't get why we're demoting Schroeder (our 2nd best centre after Henrik with Kesler out), and swapping Raymond onto the second line. There are a number of other options (Higgins can also play centre for instance) that would keep Lapierre where he belongs on the fourth line.

Because he hasn't produced. That line he was on with Raymond and Booth was getting chances, but they failed to cash and now Schroeder is paying the price. They're leaning on him to produce and he hasn't, that's why you see the change.

I would have liked them to stick together for a few more games, but Schroeder really needed to give AV a reason to. As is, AV probably thinks a make-shift line has a better chance at potting one than keeping the other line intact. Let's see if he's right...

 

[Pip]

Because he hasn't produced. That line he was on with Raymond and Booth was getting chances, but they failed to cash and now Schroeder is paying the price. They're leaning on him to produce and be hasn't, that's why you see the change.

I would have liked them to stick together for a few more games, but Schroeder really needed to give AV a reason to. As is, AV probably thinks a make-shift line has a better chance at potting one than keeping the other line intact. Let's see if he's right...

I just don't understand why the lack of production is being overwhelmingly blamed on Schroeder. Shouldn't Raymond and Booth be able to convert as well?

 

[cc]

Wasn't Chris Higgins drafted as a center? Why wouldn't they try putting Higgins down the middle?

 

[jigsaw99]

Mason Raymond to Centre Higgs and Honey Badger

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=658096

AV

 

[Pip]

stupid, but I don't know if it's worthy of a thread, might just want this grouped in with the pre game talk

 

[luongo321]

Didn't higgins used to play centre at some time before playing with the nucks or am I making that up? i thought he was able to play wing and centre.

 

[PRNuck]

I guess this week he realized that no matter he does, he won't be fired. He's going to start showing up to work in cutoffs.

 

[Bleach Clean]

I just don't understand why the lack of production is being overwhelmingly blamed on Schroeder. Shouldn't Raymond and Booth be able to convert as well?

They should be able to. I'm not sure Schroeder deserves all the blame, but he's a factor. He's still doing some things out there is preventing him from producing. Maybe this shakes him out of some habits.

Simply put, they need Schroeder to produce with Kesler out. He needs to get going. Otherwise, it's going to be the same old juryrigged lines.

 

[jigsaw99]

I guess this week he realized that no matter he does, he won't be fired. He's going to start showing up to work in cutoffs.

he has the Kesler injury excuse for the rest of the year.

 

[BrandonL]

This seems like an atrocious idea for a couple of reasons. First, I don't see why you would split up Schroeder and Raymond. Outside of the Sedin line, those two have had the most offensive chemistry out of any of our forwards.

Second, I don't see how Mason Raymond is going to be able to handle other teams big centers down low. The Kings are going to eat him alive, guys like Kopitar and Fraser are going to grind him into the ground.

 

[LiveeviL]

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=658096

AV

Cool it, Raymond sounds legit as a centre:

it's nice that you can look both sides and check the wings

 

[BrandonL]

Because he hasn't produced. That line he was on with Raymond and Booth was getting chances, but they failed to cash and now Schroeder is paying the price. They're leaning on him to produce and he hasn't, that's why you see the change.

I would have liked them to stick together for a few more games, but Schroeder really needed to give AV a reason to. As is, AV probably thinks a make-shift line has a better chance at potting one than keeping the other line intact. Let's see if he's right...

I could understand this logic if there were other dynamic options out there, but a line of Higgins-Raymond-Hansen doesn't exactly scream offensive production. Personally, I have seen very little from either Hansen or Higgins offensively this year that should warrant an opportunity in the top six.

 

[deadinthewater]

Ugh...

This team's center depth just sucks.

 

[y2kcanucks]

Because he hasn't produced. That line he was on with Raymond and Booth was getting chances, but they failed to cash and now Schroeder is paying the price. They're leaning on him to produce and he hasn't, that's why you see the change.

I would have liked them to stick together for a few more games, but Schroeder really needed to give AV a reason to. As is, AV probably thinks a make-shift line has a better chance at potting one than keeping the other line intact. Let's see if he's right...

So Schroeder hasn't produced and is demoted to the 4th line, but Lapierre has produced and deserved a 3rd line promotion? That makes no sense.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Ugh...

This team's center depth just sucks.

In fairness, two of our team's centers (Kesler, Malhotra) are injured. We still have three NHL-level centerman in spite of that in Hank, Schroeder and Lapierre.

 

[luongo321]

Cool it, Raymond sounds legit as a centre:

Raymond is going to take Kesler's 2nd line spot.

 

[deadinthewater]

In fairness, two of our team's centers (Kesler, Malhotra) are injured. We still have three NHL-level centerman in spite of that in Hank, Schroeder and Lapierre.

Well we shouldn't even be mentioning Manny. He isn't coming back (and he hasn't been the same player since that injury).

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Well we shouldn't even be mentioning Manny. He isn't coming back (and he hasn't been the same player since that injury).

I know, but the fact remains that he was supposed to be one of the team's four centers heading into the season. This whole situation didn't play out until a few weeks in.

 

[Grumbler]

If Malhotra wants to play we should just waive him. Other teams will definitely claim him.

 

[Bleach Clean]

So Schroeder hasn't produced and is demoted to the 4th line, but Lapierre has produced and deserved a 3rd line promotion? That makes no sense.

Sure it does because their roles are different. Their attributes are also different. Lapierre can be hard matched vs better lines (in theory, he's struggled early). Schroeder is still touch and go in this regard, and his size is still a question mark. Basically, for Schroeder to secure his spot, he must produce. That's why he's been demoted.

I don't agree with it. That line has been close, but they failed to cash. Now Schroeder is paying the price.

 

[Tiranis]

Sure it does because their roles are different. Their attributes are also different. Lapierre can be hard matched vs better lines (in theory, he's struggled early). Schroeder is still touch and go in this regard, and his size is still a question mark. Basically, for Schroeder to secure his spot, he must produce. That's why he's been demoted.

I don't agree with it. That line has been close, but they failed to cash. Now Schroeder is paying the price.

To me it seems ridiculous to do it after Lapierre cost us 2 goals against in the Phoenix game. Seems like they're rewarding poor play more than pushing Schroeder to do better.

 

[TruGr1t]

To me it seems ridiculous to do it after Lapierre cost us 2 goals against in the Phoenix game. Seems like they're rewarding poor play more than pushing Schroeder to do better.

My take as well. It would be one thing if Lapierre was playing well, but he clearly isn't. It just makes the demotion of Schroeder to the fourth line look weird ... if anything those two guys should just switch lines.

 

[Grub]

A request to the mods, you know after every game instead of turning the GDT into the PGT, you should just make a separate PGT.

Saves effort and time to see where the PGT started. I don't want to skim through pages of the game, I want to go directly to the part where most of us scream "FIRE AV".

 

[deadinthewater]

To me it seems ridiculous to do it after Lapierre cost us 2 goals against in the Phoenix game. Seems like they're rewarding poor play more than pushing Schroeder to do better.

Exactly. Something tells me it won't last a shift anyways...

 

[CherryToke]

crazy pills all around for the front office..