eco's bones
Registered User
much positive and some fair negative comments, thanks for it all.
What I am asking you and everyone else to admit to is in theory, on paper, it COULD work.
Kreider, who is not going anywhere, and Nieves, especially with some dedicated rehearsal, could be a dynamic duo enhanced b'c of their speed.
As to lack of offensive creativity, to a large extent -- but not entirely -- guilty as charged. However, I clearly said, in this role Nieves starts out with max support. He lets Kreider and the other W drive the offense. He doesn't shy away from a pass he has to make, and he goes to the net if/when necessary. But basically his job is keep the flow of play, which his speed enables. He also has a little extra def responsibility. Those modest duties are not above Nieves' ability.
If you recall, when he got here, he was on the 4th line, looked solid but unspectacular, and they upgraded him to Buchnevich + somebody else which clicked for a goal or two. IMO due to AV and deciding not to burn a year of elc and decision to give him more mins, the experiment was scrapped.
This would be similar.
Just as he responded positively to letting Buch drive the play, so he would likewise with Kreider and the right RW, more so, b'c he and Kreider can use their speed in tandem, complementary, to split defenses even further.
And it gets better. Kravtsov is Kreider-esque skating with sniper ability. Only concern with him paired at RW is that he is a lefty shot, but he is listed as RW.
When you get a complementary group like that, all big and fast, Kreider more strength, Kratsov more finishing scoring, and Nieves adequate binding piece to start, it is a recipe for success.
Why insist on not even giving it a solid try?
I'm more interested in what works on the ice Bern. Really I take no pleasure shooting you down on this and I like Nieves. I think he could be a player but if he is it will be a lot more modest than you're dreaming of. Nieves offensive upside is limited. It's not because he doesn't have size or skating or stick skills--it's because he doesn't have that spark of creativity that depends on instinctive play. When it comes to real point production those types that hesitate might produce some but they won't produce a lot. That is where Nieves is and actually that concern goes all the way back to his pre-draft pre-freshman year at college and it followed him all through his years in Michigan and his first two years a a pro. He's always underwhelmed the skills he possesses. It's at least 7 straight years of underwhelming and he's going to be 24 this year.
I'll say once again as well he doesn't shoot the puck enough. 42 shots on goal in 40 games in Hartford. Not only does his playmaking lack a bit on the creativity side but opposition defenses and goalies can cheat on him because they know that 9 (maybe even 9 and a half) times out of 10 when given the chance to shoot the puck or make that pass he makes the pass. Being selfish sometimes isn't a bad thing--being unselfish all the time is--at least when it comes to hockey. When it comes to the economy that's another story but I'd rather not go too far down that road in a hockey discussion.