GDT: Game 68: Columbus vs. Carolina | 3/18 7PM EDT

[jackets4life]

He's a good writer and all, but sometimes Portzline, sometimes.

 

[Fro]

He's a good writer and all, but sometimes Portzline, sometimes.

controversy leads to page hits...

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

Perhaps you should ask Portzline to explain this apparent dual standard.

Porty blocked me on twitter for pointing out just such things.

...and the less said about his "chats" the better.

But if anyone else can tweet and get an answer out of him, would love to see his explanation of such an obvious dual standard

 

[skimp]

Perhaps you should ask Portzline to explain this apparent dual standard.

Lots of people already did. Here's his response:

@Aportzline
*sigh* Twitter.

It's only a dual standard if it's Richards' actual explanation. I'd be willing to be it's just Porty being Porty, though. (He forgot to add #journalism.)

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Lots of people already did. Here's his response:



It's only a dual standard if it's Richards' actual explanation. I'd be willing to be it's just Porty being Porty, though. (He forgot to add #journalism.)

Agreed, which is why Porty should be called on it, either to clarify his own opinion or get that of the head coach - ostensibly his job.

His actual response, if indeed that's all there was, is... lacking.

 

[blahblah]

We going to compare the Atkinson and Horton situations? Maybe we're the ones with the issue? Just perhaps.

Boy that Cam situation is one hell of a bone that people can't just let go of isn't it?

You're not going to get a direct answer out of Richards on that. Certainly not one you'd like or accept (thus why you wouldn't get a direct answer). If I were Richards I would just look at you and roll my eyes if a beat writer even asked it.

Reading that, it's just Porty. He answer random questions all the time.

You've gotten all your going to get from Richards on Cam; get over it already. He hardly gave us jack on Johansen and Erixon.

Can someone make another thread in which we discuss JD/JK/Richards in context of "goal scorers" and "east/west" guys; in addition to Richards latest dog house player so I can put it on ignore? I can't escape it right now.

 

[blahblah]

Porty blocked me on twitter for pointing out just such things.

...and the less said about his "chats" the better.

But if anyone else can tweet and get an answer out of him, would love to see his explanation of such an obvious dual standard

I'm also not a fan of his chats (or him in general). What is obvious to you isn't obvious to everyone. I don't find the Cam/Horton situations a direct comparable. As far as Porty blocking you; I doubt Porty blocked you because you pointed out inconsistencies or double standards.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

I'm also not a fan of his chats (or him in general). What is obvious to you isn't obvious to everyone. I don't find the Cam/Horton situations a direct comparable. As far as Porty blocking you; I doubt Porty blocked you because you pointed out inconsistencies or double standards.

Well what is obvious to you isn't obvious to everyone, blahblah.

 

[blahblah]

Well what is obvious to you isn't obvious to everyone, blahblah.

Never said it was. You were the one that used "obvious". Not everyone agrees with you; just as not everyone agrees with me.

This isn't as cut and dry and you are trying to make it out to be. This is just another thing for you to complain about. Your complaints on the Gaborik and "goal scorer" thing didn't pass the basics of logic test. Your on to this now. It's about attacking the man at this point. It's not whether your attacks have much merit.

Your comparing a player with 127 games of experience to a guy 620 games, not including his 36 points in 43 games of playoff experience. One player is healthy, the other is trying to get his game back after an injury. One is still producing at a top six pace the last handful of games, even if he hasn't scored a goal (come on, let me hear the secondary assist argument - can't wait!). The other a 4th line pace.

I could go on and on.

I'm not saying I like where Horton is at. However, I can say he didn't have a great regular season with Boston last season either.

I'm not defending Richards, as I've said over and over and over. However one simple reflection I can see where Richards is going. If you think he's going to scratch Horton over Cam, you are barking up the wrong tree.

You are going to take any opportunity you have to rip JK/JD/Richards any chance you can get.

 

[Viqsi]

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 2h

RT @ohiotom: @Aportzline Could Horton be a candidate for a game off? Seems invisible, maybe hit a wall. / Can't find touch in press box.


Horton gets to play through his slump and re-find his touch because he's Jarmo and JD's guy and has a big contract.

Cam is a Howson guy who dared to be friends with Gabby, hence he doesn't get to play through it and find his touch.

Could also have something to do with the fact that Horton is an established vet while Cam is a still-developing player, but that's not nearly as exciting.

 

[major major]

Have anything new to add that hasn't been said already by half a dozen others?

To clarify, just me however. I never said Cam should be scratched and certainly not for being "cold". I said Cam is bit one dimensional and if he's not good enough is his own end to justify his existence if he's not producing. His play before he got scratched wasn't very good. He was a bit of a liability. To be honest that whole line was a liability (Dubinsky included).

I'm not agreeing with Richards; I'm stating it's not as clear cut as the picture you and others are painting. I don't care who's in the lineup as long as we make the post season.

It sort of become that way over the last 6 or so weeks (though liability I think is too strong a word), but for most of the year that group was very good defensively. They dominated a lot of Metro teams in particular. It still shows up in the possession and plus/minus stats. Cam's got worse in the last month or so but his Corsi is still among the better numbers on the team. Please don't tell me that I'm the only one who remembers this?

 

[pete goegan]

...Your comparing a player with 127 games of experience to a guy 620 games, not including his 36 points in 43 games of playoff experience. One player is healthy, the other is trying to get his game back after an injury. One is still producing at a top six pace the last handful of games, even if he hasn't scored a goal (come on, let me hear the secondary assist argument - can't wait!). The other a 4th line pace....

Could also have something to do with the fact that Horton is an established vet while Cam is a still-developing player, but that's not nearly as exciting.

Obviously?

 

[major major]

Could also have something to do with the fact that Horton is an established vet while Cam is a still-developing player, but that's not nearly as exciting.

Is the tinfoil something you can just draw on anyone's head?

Yeah I think you're closer to the real explanation. That $5.3m contract from the new GM doesn't hurt, either. Horton's been weak, and I think its perfectly legit to ask why he doesn't draw the coach's ire as much as Cam does.

 

[pete goegan]

Agreed, which is why Porty should be called on it, either to clarify his own opinion or get that of the head coach - ostensibly his job.

His actual response, if indeed that's all there was, is... lacking.

Here is his reply to a question from "Fro" in yesterday's chat:

Cam being scratched - more to it than just not producing on the ice?

No. In fact, I don't even think it's a not-producing issue. The season elevates after the trade deadline, the games get so much more physical and combative. The open ice just isn't there like it is earlier in the season. Richards is really liking the competitive, clashing nature of Comeau and Tropp. Let's be honest, Atkinson can play has hard as he wants, and he's not that kind of player. Having said this, they're going to need Cam Atkinson at some point the rest of the way. Go with the hot hands all you want, but it doesn't make much sense to scratch your third-leading scorer long-term.


No apparent Cam hate in this, maybe the situation is just as it appears?

By the way, the "Pete Goegan" who asked in the chat about Tyutin was not me. I never capitalize it, it's not my name, it's just an internet identity.

 

[Viqsi]

It sort of become that way over the last 6 or so weeks (though liability I think is too strong a word), but for most of the year that group was very good defensively. They dominated a lot of Metro teams in particular. It still shows up in the possession and plus/minus stats. Cam's got worse in the last month or so but his Corsi is still among the better numbers on the team. Please don't tell me that I'm the only one who remembers this?

I remember it, but unfortunately it's not continued. I'd love to see it come back, but that seems dependent on Cam.

* * *​

Is the tinfoil something you can just draw on anyone's head?

Alas, it's extract-and-paste. I'm not that good.

Yeah I think you're closer to the real explanation. That $5.3m contract from the new GM doesn't hurt, either. Horton's been weak, and I think its perfectly legit to ask why he doesn't draw the coach's ire as much as Cam does.

He's not scoring goals, but he is producing here and there, so maybe he gets a bit of a pass. Or maybe HCTR must turn the Disapproving Glare Of Discipline on only one player at a time or otherwise risk burning it out and threatening the safety of the galaxy. Or it was aliens. Or both. I'm not really sure; everything seems plausible what with the information (or lack thereof) we have.

 

[pete goegan]

Another Q&A from yesterday's chat:

Q: Does it send the wrong message when a guy who doesn't earn his ice time gets to shoot in the shootout? Cam was only playing because of Blake's suspension and Arty becoming a baby daddy.

A: Not in this case. It sends the right message. This isn't a case of Cam Atkinson NOT earning ice time. It's a case of the coach preferring to go with a different look that other players can provide. If Atkinson is in your lineup, why wouldn't Richards use him in the shootout? He's only used four shooters all year - Anisimov, Atkinson, Johansen and Letestu. If Atkinson didn't earn his ice time, Frattin would have played or Skille would have been called up from minor-league Springfield.


Interesting! Only four shooters? Is that right?

 

[Jaxs]

Here is his reply to a question from "Fro" in yesterday's chat:

Cam being scratched - more to it than just not producing on the ice?

No. In fact, I don't even think it's a not-producing issue. The season elevates after the trade deadline, the games get so much more physical and combative. The open ice just isn't there like it is earlier in the season. Richards is really liking the competitive, clashing nature of Comeau and Tropp. Let's be honest, Atkinson can play has hard as he wants, and he's not that kind of player. Having said this, they're going to need Cam Atkinson at some point the rest of the way. Go with the hot hands all you want, but it doesn't make much sense to scratch your third-leading scorer long-term.


No apparent Cam hate in this, maybe the situation is just as it appears?

By the way, the "Pete Goegan" who asked in the chat about Tyutin was not me. I never capitalize it, it's not my name, it's just an internet identity.

The bolded is the answer, you have it right there. Also when I read the question from Pete Goegan, it didn't sound like something pete goegan would ask!

 

[major major]

Interesting! Only four shooters? Is that right?

I thought I'd seen Calvert, but it was from last year. Yep, only four.

 

[Robert]

Wow... lots of chatter about the game last night, does anyone work around here..

As for this game in retrospect, yes the CBJ played well and had a billion shots but if one analyzes those shots most were from spots of low scoring probability... i.e., the blue line..

Whatever, this game is over and Montreal tomorrow is a bigger fish now...

I'm on board with EDM, we need to get Cam back into the team, I hope his confidence is not totally shot after Richards scratched him so often... Comeau over Atkinson???? Crazy stuff right there..

Oh, big pronouncement here.. Horton is not getting it done... we know it, the coaching staff know it and he knows it... The dude has a nice smile but is doing close to nothing in this playoff push... (The cancelled Dallas game did not help his recovery)..

Horton better show up in Montreal!!!!!

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 2h

RT @ohiotom: @Aportzline Could Horton be a candidate for a game off? Seems invisible, maybe hit a wall. / Can't find touch in press box.


Horton gets to play through his slump and re-find his touch because he's Jarmo and JD's guy and has a big contract.

Cam is a Howson guy who dared to be friends with Gabby, hence he doesn't get to play through it and find his touch.

Because Portzline is obviously Todd Richards. Porty's answer is jut his opinion, not an informed fact. Cam's benching literally has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with his friendship of Gaborik. That's like saying Jake Voracek and Brassard got traded for befriending Mike commodore

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Could also have something to do with the fact that Horton is an established vet while Cam is a still-developing player, but that's not nearly as exciting.

Awesome post.

 

[Robert]

Because Portzline is obviously Todd Richards. Porty's answer is jut his opinion, not an informed fact. Cam's benching literally has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with his friendship of Gaborik. That's like saying Jake Voracek and Brassard got traded for befriending Mike commodore

I thought Portzline was a reporter??? Reporters report they don't opinion... Arace is a columnist, columnist’s opinion....

Just saying..

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I thought Portzline was a reporter??? Reporters report they don't opinion... Arace is a columnist, columnist’s opinion....

Just saying..

You seriously think Portzline has never stated his opinion in a single article he has ever written in his time as the CBJ beat reporter? Cmmon.

 

[db2011]

Have a 4 game point streak and nobody seems to mind, lose a game after dominating and everyone loses their minds.


Seems like very few people here actually realize what JK/JD were doing at the deadline.

A 4 game point streak that relied disproportionately on Bob. In 4 of the last 6 games the Jackets have scored only 1 goal.

I know what JK/JD were doing at the deadline, they were improving the chances that games like last night are going to happen, in which this lineup could put almost 50 shots on goal in a game and come away with one goal.

Cool.............................................................


What we see: 14 years of building with no success to speak of, and only 1 playoff appearance with no wins. The fanbase is anxious for this run, and they demand the playoffs because after years and years of futility, we finally have fielded a team that could compete.

What JD/JK see:

I'll just take a moment to point out that nobody knows what management sees. Nobody. So the rest of your "explanation" is the wishful thinking of a fan describing how he'd go about building the team those guys inherited. It's an after-the-fact defense of management's actions parading as "insightful".

A year and some change into the building process. They have only been here that long, and came to a team expected to pick high in the draft and start from the bottom up and restart the foundation. Turns out, they were left with a better foundation then once thought, but building still needed to be done. So, they let the team play and they got hot. So they wanted to help out the streak by not only acquiring Gaborik for the stretch run, a player they could have seen help them long term and short term, while also getting rid of players they felt didn't fit in or didn't seei n their future plans. It was worth the risk.

Anyway bringing it to this year. They brought in Horton, a guy to help them build long term who has a past history of winning and is good in the room. We had the slow start, but played their way out of their inconsistency and youth to get in the race. Now the TDD comes, and they're basically in the same spot as last year. They want to help the team, but without sacrificing the future.

Boilerplate. Thanks. And it's already been documented in this forum that a small handful of playmakers were had at a price that absolutely would not have sacrificed the future of this team. The Gaborik trade was not about not sacrificing the future, it was about enhancing the future- as in the future that starts after this year. It did nothing to help this team make the playoffs this year, in fact it could be argued that it hurt those chances.

So they dealt Gaborik away for a spare part who could play in case of injury, and draft picks for cap space to use later. They didn't want to absolutely take the team out of the race,

Thank god for that. Not only do I hope they didn't want to absolutely take the team out of the race, I also hope that they didn't at all for any reason want to take the team out of the race. I even hope they wanted to help the team in this race, except to hope that is to conclude that they failed.

because the goal is still the playoffs while maintaining the parts they have and building together, so they got Schultz to stabilize the back end due to the injuries.

Long story short, they want the playoffs, but they weren't going to sacrifice next year for it. They don't just want IN the playoffs, they want to make noise there. I know the old saying is once you get in you're dangerous, but seriously, this team MIGHT win a playoff round, but thats probably all the current group can do.

Aside from this being the worst kind of assumption, the idea that you think that's all the "current group" can do is the very reason management should have enhanced the current group.

They can be great, but they're not going to force or speed up the process in order to do it.

What they did is not the popular opinion of fans right now, but it was the best move for the future of the team. Fans demand success now due to the horrible past of the team and the failure they had, but JD/JK aren't going to speed up their building to make it up to the fans because of the previous management team failures. They will do it on their own time, because that's how to do it right.

We're sitting in the 2nd playoff spot now (thanks largely to Bob). We had the opportunity to reach out and grab one of a few cheap goal scorers at the deadline and passed. It sounds to me like you're already writing a defense for a pisspoor deadline day that could lead us to missing the playoffs. Again.

I know a lot of this has already come up, but it's games like last night's, when we again manage only 1 goal against a non-playoff team in Nationwide, that are the direct consequence of doing ****all at the deadline. We carried play last night against the Hurricanes and put 19 shots on goal in the 3rd alone; that just goes to show that this roster could have used a little help at the deadline.

I know there's a sense that this team is a good team sitting just outside of being a top-tier team. But combine missing the playoffs with our record against 85-win teams and we're nothing but pretenders.

 

[TaketheCannoli]

LOL. Yep. I think I'm calling it a night. Jesus. Such a chicken little board we have some times.

Ah for the good ole days. You haven't seen a sky is falling board like years ago. Where is the old crowd when you need a good anxiety attack?