I would line to see Holloway and Bolduc with Thomas. Move Buch down a line with Schenn and Kyrou. Kids have looked good and thought they played well together with SunmyD.
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Regardless of who is better, I think Bolduc has played well enough to warrant getting a look on Thomas’s wing.
On another note, DoPS continues to be a clown show with no punishment being issued to Bennett.
On another note, DoPS continues to be a clown show with no punishment being issued to Bennett.
ChicagoBlues
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I don’t understand the notion that criticizing an aspect of a player’s game equates to whipping boy.
It’s hyperbolic and weird.
It’s hyperbolic and weird.
ChicagoBlues
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Celtic Note
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It’s not whipping boy unless it’s the only thing that comes out of one’s mouth. If it’s also accompanied, at some point, with praise where deserved or acknowledgment that it’s just one facet of play being critiqued then it shouldn’t be considered such.
ChicagoBlues
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Agreed wholeheartedly. I know people were eager to send him down early in the season, but I think this time has been a lot more valuable learning to be a pro and doing all the small things right like he has than stat padding in the AHL ever would be. I'd love to see him get a good look on Thomas' wing.
Reality Czech
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Bolduc looks like a middle six player to me from what I've seen. Third line doesn't seem unreasonable for him. Holloway has been given top six minutes unless he's asked to play 3c. But sure, give them a shot if it will stop people from talking about it constantly.
I'd say the bigger issue is not having a capable 3c to allow Bolduc more scoring opportunities. I bet his advanced stats look better because his usage is skewed towards offensive situations. I also don't think coaches trust him enough defensively to put him on the first line. If Thomas is matched against the other team's top line, Bolduc probably couldn't keep up defensively.
How long till fans turn on Monty for not making the lines the way they want him to? People just never stop complaining around here.
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Reality Czech
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That's true. As I put in my last post, I'd guess one big reason Bolduc isn't in the top six is because they get a lot more difficult defensive matchups than the bottom six does. Especially if he's on Thomas's line. Not sure Bolduc is ready for that kind of responsibility even if he's doing better offensively compared to the start of the season.
But clearly the coaching staff has considered the options and they must have a legitimate reason to have Bolduc as the 5th winger on the depth chart. Not sure why people wanna rush him onto the top line so much though.
Thomas was a much better prospect and he played his entire first season on the third line. It was a deeper team sure, but normally rookies have to earn their way into the top six. I don't actually remember when Thomas solidified himself in the top six but I bet it took a couple of seasons. How long until Kyrou solidified himself in the top six? People need to be more patient.
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Celtic Note
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To clarify, I am not sure if he is better than Neighbours right now. It’s hard for me to say a guy who has scored like Neighbors isn’t better than Bolduc. But I am more impressed with his all around game than Neighbours in their rookie seasons.
This year I see a more complete game from Bolduc than Neighbours. Neighbours has more higher event hockey with his motor and hitting. These are certainly pluses. He looks more noticeable. But what am not sure that has translated in being a more effective player this year.
Neighbours has hurt us defensively this year and in years past by just not thinking the defensive side particularly well. It’s an area he has to improve. I would also like to see his creativity and distribution improve. I think he has it in him to improve and is eager. I would just hope to see more by now.
Bolduc on the other hand has been better than I thought in the defensive and neutral zones. The advanced and regular stats reaffirm what the eyes see. What’s impressive about Bolduc is that he has reinvented his physical, forecheck and defensive game since junior. I just hope it wasn’t at the expense of his offense, but we need to be patient with Bolduc. He was always more raw at those other facets. Plus, he is still young.
I would like to see him with better players than we have seen. If that means moving up to second or first line, I think it would be perfectly fine. He is the kind of guy who I could see looking better with higher end players.
Thomas was also on a Cup team his first year. There really wasn’t room for him to be much higher. I would wager if Thomas was playing a team like this one he would have seen more time in the top six.
and Thomas was 2 years younger in Cup year than Bolduc is now. Bolduc should absolutely get some top 6 ice time. He is far better all around player than I anticipated. I thought he was gonna be more like a Hoffman or Vrana; I wasn't sure he had it in him to be this conscientious. He has made himself into a guy who, as he gains experience, coaches will be able to trust. Kudos to him. The offense should come, especially as he gets opportunity with legit top 6 center.
BadgersandBlues
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I've been banging on the Bolduc-should-play-with-Thomas drum for awhile now, here's my reasoning @Reality Czech
1. Bolduc has one of the best shots on the team. Perhaps even the best 1 timer currently on the team. I'd really like to try playing our best shooter with our best playmaker, ya know, just to see how it looks
2. I think Buch and Thomas play the best together of any "forward pairing" we have. I think Buch elevates Thomas as much as Thomas elevates Buch. So I'm always loathe to take Buch off that line. I find that Neighbors and Buch play a fairly similar game, and it becomes redundant when they play together, leading to less overall scoring.
3. I think Neighbors is a good player. I think he brings a lot of intangibles to the team. I also think offensively he's a fairly one trick pony. He struggles during the rush with the puck on his stick to make quality plays. He struggles with the IQ to play a movement oriented set-zone offense. He's amazing at getting to the net and causing havoc. But far too often, plays die on his stick during rush opportunities and he doesn't think the game at a high enough level to understand where to go to open himself up/find space/support the puck when he's with Thomas. Far far too many possessions are lost in the offensive zone due to Neighbors when he plays with Thomas/Buch.
Now, should we try Neighbors - Thomas - Bolduc? I'm not opposed to that either. But I'd really like to see the guy with the best one timer on the team, who also seems to understand a little better how to get lost in traffic then pop out into space for a quick chance, play with our best playmaker.
1. Bolduc has one of the best shots on the team. Perhaps even the best 1 timer currently on the team. I'd really like to try playing our best shooter with our best playmaker, ya know, just to see how it looks
2. I think Buch and Thomas play the best together of any "forward pairing" we have. I think Buch elevates Thomas as much as Thomas elevates Buch. So I'm always loathe to take Buch off that line. I find that Neighbors and Buch play a fairly similar game, and it becomes redundant when they play together, leading to less overall scoring.
3. I think Neighbors is a good player. I think he brings a lot of intangibles to the team. I also think offensively he's a fairly one trick pony. He struggles during the rush with the puck on his stick to make quality plays. He struggles with the IQ to play a movement oriented set-zone offense. He's amazing at getting to the net and causing havoc. But far too often, plays die on his stick during rush opportunities and he doesn't think the game at a high enough level to understand where to go to open himself up/find space/support the puck when he's with Thomas. Far far too many possessions are lost in the offensive zone due to Neighbors when he plays with Thomas/Buch.
Now, should we try Neighbors - Thomas - Bolduc? I'm not opposed to that either. But I'd really like to see the guy with the best one timer on the team, who also seems to understand a little better how to get lost in traffic then pop out into space for a quick chance, play with our best playmaker.
Reality Czech
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I've been banging on the Bolduc-should-play-with-Thomas drum for awhile now, here's my reasoning @Reality Czech
1. Bolduc has one of the best shots on the team. Perhaps even the best 1 timer currently on the team. I'd really like to try playing our best shooter with our best playmaker, ya know, just to see how it looks
2. I think Buch and Thomas play the best together of any "forward pairing" we have. I think Buch elevates Thomas as much as Thomas elevates Buch. So I'm always loathe to take Buch off that line. I find that Neighbors and Buch play a fairly similar game, and it becomes redundant when they play together, leading to less overall scoring.
3. I think Neighbors is a good player. I think he brings a lot of intangibles to the team. I also think offensively he's a fairly one trick pony. He struggles during the rush with the puck on his stick to make quality plays. He struggles with the IQ to play a movement oriented set-zone offense. He's amazing at getting to the net and causing havoc. But far too often, plays die on his stick during rush opportunities and he doesn't think the game at a high enough level to understand where to go to open himself up/find space/support the puck when he's with Thomas. Far far too many possessions are lost in the offensive zone due to Neighbors when he plays with Thomas/Buch.
Now, should we try Neighbors - Thomas - Bolduc? I'm not opposed to that either. But I'd really like to see the guy with the best one timer on the team, who also seems to understand a little better how to get lost in traffic then pop out into space for a quick chance, play with our best playmaker.
Fair points and you're obviously entitled to your opinion. I just don't see the rush to put him on the top line. He's played 55 NHL games up to this point and is still getting comfortable at this level. If he keeps playing well then he will probably get a shot but I just don't see why it needs to happen right now. Bolduc has 4 goals in 29 games, so I'm not really seeing these elite offensive skills you speak of. He's got potential sure, but he's got a ways to go to realize it.
As I said, it's likely more because of defensive reasons and not offensive. People can talk about how good his defense is but I'm not really buying that. Few if any rookies are able to play solid all around defense and could easily get exposed against top competition.
BadgersandBlues
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I hear what you're saying. I think I forgot point #4 - we saw Bolduc have a lot of success last year with Thomas and Schenn in the last 7-9 games of the season, so it's not like we don't have -something- of a track record to go on, and I believe Buch is a huge step up compared to Schenn.
At the end of the day, the only real playmakers we have on this team are Thomas and Kyrou. I watch Bolduc and I see a young guy who's clearly still figuring it out, but shows flashes of good skill and solid IQ to find space - that one timer goal he had about 5 games ago from Holloway is a great example of the "Finding space" I keep talking about. Thomas has a way of getting the puck on to the tape of guys like magic, and since we're struggling to score why not give the kid with the best shot on the team another chance to play with out best playmaker, since it seemed to work out OK last year
