Grabner's Ice Time?

[luki here]

The islanders have capable bottom 6 players when reasoner and boulton dont dress. Keeping playing time more balanced throughout the lineup makes more sense now.

 

[PK Cronin]

Embarrassing are other things in this organization, but not Grabner's breakaways. They are a bonus, and he does finish a fraction of them, it's just a very small fraction. If it was a much bigger fraction his total goals would be huge, as he does already score a lot in "normal" situations. In fact, he would be a star and would have never landed on the Island, as he wouldn't have been put on waiver in the first place.

I'm just saying it's something he should be practicing and asking for tips or something from better breakaway shooters. He doesn't have any real move and looks awkward almost all the time when he goes in.

When Okposo got stopped last night on his breakaway, his move seemed to be a natural reaction to him being on a breakaway, I have yet to see Grabner do anything like that. He'd have a higher success rate with even just 1 move since he can shoot it well.

 

[boredmale]

I'm just saying it's something he should be practicing and asking for tips or something from better breakaway shooters. He doesn't have any real move and looks awkward almost all the time when he goes in.

I just noticed recently a bunch of goals he got were high up between the faceoffs circles with a wrist shot so I was making a joke about it.

 

[viggen]

Game against Winnipeg was a prime example that the 1. Linie is playing too much too long...

and despite most people here I think Grabner should be in a Power Play line, he scores more and more goals from the slot, has the sense to know where the puck is going to be, and even if it is only to rotate with one of the 1. Liners that seem to be at times totally overplayed...

 

[MrRuin]

More powerplay time might be debateable, but I really like where Grabner is at. In the role he is having and getting he is a major boon to the team, still scoring with his diminished minutes and doing it on the third line. He has excellent chemistry with CMac and Aucoin, those three complement each other well.

The only thing I did not understand yesterday was why Capuano took him off the crucial PK when the Jets scored their 4th goal and put Okposo out there instead with Nielsen.

But long story short, I agree he might be a valuable asset on the PP. After all he is the second best goal scorer on this team.

 

[Islanderfan17]

More powerplay time might be debateable, but I really like where Grabner is at. In the role he is having and getting he is a major boon to the team, still scoring with his diminished minutes and doing it on the third line. He has excellent chemistry with CMac and Aucoin, those three complement each other well.

The only thing I did not understand yesterday was why Capuano took him off the crucial PK when the Jets scored their 4th goal and put Okposo out there instead with Nielsen.

But long story short, I agree he might be a valuable asset on the PP. After all he is the second best goal scorer on this team.

I agree. Capuano doesn't make sense sometimes. Nielsen and Grabner are notoriously a great PK duo, I'd call them one of (if not the) best PK duos in the league.

 

[tag0519]

Capuano doesn't make sense sometimes.

This

 

[Renbarg]

I agree. Capuano doesn't make sense sometimes. Nielsen and Grabner are notoriously a great PK duo, I'd call them one of (if not the) best PK duos in the league.

I get it. Cappy wanted that faceoff drawn to the corner. That's okposos strong side as well. Additionally, that late in the game you probably want two men capable of taking a faceoff out on the ice.

 

[Macch]

I always thought Grabner had a great shot and that he didn't use enough. If he can get to the slot more and use it, he can be more effective. I still think he plays too much on the peremiter. Goals are scored in dirty areas.

 

[IslesNorway]

If Grabner gets to play with centerman who can get him the puck more, he'll score more. Still getting 16 goals playing 12 mins a night is awesome

 

[SI]

I always thought Grabner had a great shot and that he didn't use enough. If he can get to the slot more and use it, he can be more effective. I still think he plays too much on the peremiter. Goals are scored in dirty areas.

Because he didn't drive to the net last night to score that goal.

Maybe if he got enough minutes he'd get the chance to shoot more.

 

[SI]

If Grabner gets to play with centerman who can get him the puck more, he'll score more. Still getting 16 goals playing 12 mins a night is awesome

Yeah, if we only had a center he can play with - Oh wait maybe we can try our own Hart trophy candidate?
Maybe next season, the isles don't resign Boyes - Cappy can see what Moulson - JT and Grabner can do together.

 

[SI]

Part of me thinks that Grabner is scoring BECAUSE of the exact amount of ice time and that more ice time might actually be worse for him.

Part of me thinks just put him out there and realize that his 5 on 5 defense is abominable and hope that the other forwards can recover.

Lastly, anybody else about to call Grabner for who he really is....Mariusz Czerkawski

NO. Why? Are you saying Grabner plays a similar game?

I mean really some of the comments/analysis about this dude's game is mindboggling -

 

[PK Cronin]

Game against Winnipeg was a prime example that the 1. Linie is playing too much too long...

and despite most people here I think Grabner should be in a Power Play line, he scores more and more goals from the slot, has the sense to know where the puck is going to be, and even if it is only to rotate with one of the 1. Liners that seem to be at times totally overplayed...

He doesn't posses the puck well enough to be on the PP, and Moulson is better in front of the net than he is. As poor as Boyes may be, he's definitely better at possessing and controlling the flow of the PP than Grabner.

The only thing I did not understand yesterday was why Capuano took him off the crucial PK when the Jets scored their 4th goal and put Okposo out there instead with Nielsen.

I thought the same exact thing, it just didn't add up to me.

I get it. Cappy wanted that faceoff drawn to the corner. That's okposos strong side as well. Additionally, that late in the game you probably want two men capable of taking a faceoff out on the ice.

Yeah, you'd like to have two guys capable of winning the draw...but I think it's more important to have two guys capable of actually PKing. I just hope Cappy doesn't make that mistake again (not that it was Okposos fault).

Because he didn't drive to the net last night to score that goal.

Maybe if he got enough minutes he'd get the chance to shoot more.

He had more minutes, and that wasn't the case.

Yeah, if we only had a center he can play with - Oh wait maybe we can try our own Hart trophy candidate?
Maybe next season, the isles don't resign Boyes - Cappy can see what Moulson - JT and Grabner can do together.

Grabner isn't a top line player. He's soft and doesn't have good hands, he also doesn't do as well with more minutes.

 

[InformTheMasses]

Great Points TriCycleDriveBy. I agree on all counts.

I'm a big Grabner fan, he has his faults but he also has incredible assets. For me he is a terrific 3rd line winger that gives you an added scoring threat from a non scoring line. I mean this guy since being acquired has averaged a 30 goal per 80 game pace. All while not really contributing on the PP or top 2 scoring lines. That is something I am comfortable saying No other NHL team has. Add to that, that he is a defensively responsible forward and does a good job in his own end in all situation (ES, PK).

It has become obvious that he is at his best when he gets 15 minutes a night in 30-45 second shifts. He is also one of the leagues best Penalty Killers, and 4 on 4 players (he needs to play more 4 on 4 cappy!!!).

He's Benny Hougue, Bobby Bourne version 3.0 and he really may be the best version, at least the most gifted edition yet. Do what you did with the former two (put him on the third line and play him on PK and 4 on 4) and forget it. I wish he played with a better Center. I would love to see Cizikas promoted to 3rd line, he has earned it.

Grabner is a special player but also a situatiuonal player. You want him to be special? Put him in the right situations.

Also his Breakaway abilities are unfairly knocked. No he doesn't convert on a majority of them, but he isn't as bad at them as many make him out to be. He has a high end wrist shot and release.

 

[MrRuin]

Grabner is a special player but also a situatiuonal player. You want him to be special? Put him in the right situations.

This is key and I dare say the Isles have found those situations for him this year. I really hope for a strong Playoff performance if the Isles make it. He has had Playoff experience with the Moose so hopefully he still remembers...

 

[PK Cronin]

Great Points TriCycleDriveBy. I agree on all counts.

I'm a big Grabner fan, he has his faults but he also has incredible assets. For me he is a terrific 3rd line winger that gives you an added scoring threat from a non scoring line. I mean this guy since being acquired has averaged a 30 goal per 80 game pace. All while not really contributing on the PP or top 2 scoring lines. That is something I am comfortable saying No other NHL team has. Add to that, that he is a defensively responsible forward and does a good job in his own end in all situation (ES, PK).

It has become obvious that he is at his best when he gets 15 minutes a night in 30-45 second shifts. He is also one of the leagues best Penalty Killers, and 4 on 4 players (he needs to play more 4 on 4 cappy!!!).

He's Benny Hougue, Bobby Bourne version 3.0 and he really may be the best version, at least the most gifted edition yet. Do what you did with the former two (put him on the third line and play him on PK and 4 on 4) and forget it. I wish he played with a better Center. I would love to see Cizikas promoted to 3rd line, he has earned it.

Grabner is a special player but also a situatiuonal player. You want him to be special? Put him in the right situations.

Also his Breakaway abilities are unfairly knocked. No he doesn't convert on a majority of them, but he isn't as bad at them as many make him out to be. He has a high end wrist shot and release.

I think next year he'll get a better center on that line. Though Aucoin has been serviceable this year and I can't really knock him. He's better than I had expected from a career AHL player.

 

[SI]

He had more minutes, and that wasn't the case.
Grabner isn't a top line player. He's soft and doesn't have good hands, he also doesn't do as well with more minutes.[/QUOTE]

He had 3 shots with 12:30 of ice time. Not bad.

15 min. A game - I wish - he doesn't even touch that.