Is it time to move Mike Green? (aka the equally confused thread) x2

[BobRouse]

Lots got into GMGM, BB and Green's head. I think they let the media get to them.

Then Hunter came in and Green was not allowed to cross center ice and our ace Dennis Wideman was the goto guy for PK and PP.

Oates has loosened the reigns on all our guys and thats good to see.

 

[g00n]

I still think Green needs to be paired with a guy who can watch his back. That means Erskine or Oleksy, and Erskine is slower so he won't be able to get back and cover as well when Green pinches or gets caught up ice (the Bourque Rule is obviusly out the window, thank god).

Can't remember if this messes up Oates' handedness scheme, tho

 

[BobRouse]

I still think Green needs to be paired with a guy who can watch his back. That means Erskine or Oleksy, and Erskine is slower so he won't be able to get back and cover as well when Green pinches or gets caught up ice (the Bourque Rule is obviusly out the window, thank god).

Can't remember if this messes up Oates' handedness scheme, tho

It wouldn't mess it up with Erskine as he is a LD.

Again I wouldn't mind that but there is concern about whether Erskine can keep up with Green's minutes.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

It wouldn't mess it up with Erskine as he is a LD.

Again I wouldn't mind that but there is concern about whether Erskine can keep up with Green's minutes.

Normally I would call you an idiot for suggesting Erskine see 20+ minutes, but he's taken like nine steps forward as a defenseman. To the point where I could see him playing like a Hal Gill lite in that role. Possibly.

 

[Lawrencejame]

Normally I would call you an idiot for suggesting Erskine see 20+ minutes, but he's taken like nine steps forward as a defenseman. To the point where I could see him playing like a Hal Gill lite in that role. Possibly.

Yeah, Erskine has been an amazing surprise this season. A ton of people used to bash him (not as much as Schultz, but right after him on the chopping block), but I always liked Erskine. It's really nice to see how far hes come.

 

[BobRouse]

Normally I would call you an idiot for suggesting Erskine see 20+ minutes, but he's taken like nine steps forward as a defenseman. To the point where I could see him playing like a Hal Gill lite in that role. Possibly.

Erskine is far more physical than Gill ever was but I see your point. Erskine has improved greatly and is having a great year.

I've liked him from day 1 I am not going to lie. But really he was never given a fair shake with BB and Hunter who valued guys like Schultz and Wideman strongly.

 

[g00n]

I've always been in Erskine's corner and would like to see him with Green, I just worry about his speed. I don't doubt that he can handle the minutes. Green's minutes are so high partially because of the PP, during which Erskine will be on the bench, resting.

SOMEONE has to be out there at all times to protect Green

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

Everyone loves Erskine. He's been my advitar forever. Well, almost everyone loves Erskine. George McPhee's #1 fan here doesn't much care for him.

 

[Ajax1995]

I've liked him from day 1 I am not going to lie. But really he was never given a fair shake with BB and Hunter who valued guys like Schultz and Wideman strongly.

I think Erskine has gotten a decent amount of chances to play 2nd pairing minutes in the past but he has failed fairly miserably at it for the most part IMO.

He has without a doubt taken huge strides forward this year though and at this point while I would still prefer someone more proven in that role ideally in the absence of someone like that he is the obvious choice.

 

[BobRouse]

Everyone loves Erskine. He's been my advitar forever. Well, almost everyone loves Erskine. George McPhee's #1 fan here doesn't much care for him.

I wouldn't say everyone. There are plenty that always want to dismiss him as a good #7.

I've always been in Erskine's corner and would like to see him with Green, I just worry about his speed. I don't doubt that he can handle the minutes. Green's minutes are so high partially because of the PP, during which Erskine will be on the bench, resting.

SOMEONE has to be out there at all times to protect Green

Good point about the PP time Green plays. Again I would not mind what you suggest one bit.

I've always said Green needs his "Jeff Buekeboom". Green is very comprable to Leetch actually.

Leetch broke into the league playing with a quality vet in James Patrick. But the Rags did realize he need a tougher guy so they went out and got Buekeboom and Leetch took a great step in his game.

When Buekeboom went down they didn't take long to bring in Ulf Samuelsson.

It would be nice to see the Caps do something like that for sure.

I think Erskine has gotten a decent amount of chances to play 2nd pairing minutes in the past but he has failed fairly miserably at it for the most part IMO.

He has without a doubt taken huge strides forward this year though and at this point while I would still prefer someone more proven in that role ideally in the absence of someone like that he is the obvious choice.

We agree on the last part of what you said.

The first part I wouldn't say he failed miserably. He definitely had his good moments but never had the leash guys like Shamo, Jurcina, Pothier or Schultz did. It would usually be Green/Poti and some combination of 2 of those 4 scrubs as the top 4.

For me it was blasphemy that Corvo got time over him in the Montreal series. The excuse made was that they worried about his foot speed vs a quick team. I felt then it was absurd mainly b/c he more than makes up for it with his ornery play.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Everyone loves Erskine. He's been my advitar forever. Well, almost everyone loves Erskine. George McPhee's #1 fan here doesn't much care for him.

 

[BobRouse]

Another strong game from 52 all around.

Sniped a sweet GW shot and made Skinner look the fool.

Green takes one stride and he is sprung forward 20 feet ahead on opposing player. Sick stickhandling continues to be sick.

Thread title needs to be changed from "Hator" to "Rational Observer" to "Fanboy".

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

Green looks healthy and his offense is locked in. Is this the year (sixth time's the charm) he brings offense to the postseason?

 

[ChibiPooky]

Green looks healthy and his offense is locked in. Is this the year (sixth time's the charm) he brings offense to the postseason?

Maybe, but at least this year he looks ready to bring defense to the postseason.

 

[BobRouse]

Maybe, but at least this year he looks ready to bring defense to the postseason.

I could have swore he did that last season. Him and Hammer were our best D pairing along with Carlzner.

 

[Ajax1995]

Green looks healthy and his offense is locked in. Is this the year (sixth time's the charm) he brings offense to the postseason?

I love how Green is playing in pretty much every aspect of the game these days but I just can't bring myself to expect, or even hope for that matter, Mr. Glass to be able to keep this up for long in the playoffs.

If the Caps do make it in there won't be a bigger target on anyone in the league's back than the one that will be on Green.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

I love how Green is playing in pretty much every aspect of the game these days but I just can't bring myself to expect, or even hope for that matter, Mr. Glass to be able to keep this up for long in the playoffs.

If the Caps do make it in there won't be a bigger target on anyone in the league's back than the one that will be on Green.

Ditto. Green is playing as well defensively as he did in 2010 and he's scoring like it's 2009 (granted the sample size is TINY).

He's gotta find a way to play through the shots in the playoffs. Ever since freaking John Stevens figured out how to shut him down, he hasn't been able to.

 

[BobRouse]

Green was very durable in his first 4 seasons. Just some tough break injuries the last couple. Hopefully he is over them.

We have more Dmen to contend with now so it will be hard to focus on Green as much in the playoffs.

Again I believe in him. Others not so much. At 27 he is just entering the begining of his "i figured things out" role when it comes to Dmen development.

 

[RandyHolt]

In a blowout playoff game perhaps, Green would be well served to just take a simple 2 for CC and crunch someone on a mission to destroy him right in the chest.

Green mega offense went to mega defense and is now finding that happy medium. Oates has given him the simple easy to follow directive shoot by the dot - I think that coincides with his recent hot run. It's like Oates is pure genius. Hockey grade genius, of course, following the KISS acronym.

Keep it simple stupid

 

[Liberati0n*]

'Hopefully' he's over them. Rationally, it's crazy to expect that he is. I'm swooning as hard as anyone over his recent play, but cooler heads have to prevail (not that they will). This is the best thing that could have happened for his trade value. Swindle Feaster or someone into thinking he's gotten past his groin problem. In the past he was injury prone but suffered a bunch of different injuries. Now he has an underlying issue that I see no reason to believe is just healed now.

 

[BobRouse]

'Hopefully' he's over them. Rationally, it's crazy to expect that he is. I'm swooning as hard as anyone over his recent play, but cooler heads have to prevail (not that they will). This is the best thing that could have happened for his trade value. Swindle Feaster or someone into thinking he's gotten past his groin problem. In the past he was injury prone but suffered a bunch of different injuries. Now he has an underlying issue that I see no reason to believe is just healed now.

Again Liberation...if you were Shero you'd probably be in favor of moving Crosby as well?

If you were Poile you would have been in favor of moving Tinordi?

If you were Bruce Allen would you trade RGIII b/c of his knee injuries?

Why would you possibly think a groin injury is career ending?? Plenty of players have had them and while it can take time to get over them they do eventually.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Brian Sutherby would argue that a groin injury is career ending.

 

[BobRouse]

Brian Sutherby would argue that a groin injury is career ending.

Eric Lindros would argue concussions are career ending. Trade Crosby.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

Again Liberation...if you were Shero you'd probably be in favor of moving Crosby as well?

If you were Poile you would have been in favor of moving Tinordi?

If you were Bruce Allen would you trade RGIII b/c of his knee injuries?

Why would you possibly think a groin injury is career ending?? Plenty of players have had them and while it can take time to get over them they do eventually.

Can you name some skill players who came back from a serious groin injury? Gaborik and Briere are all I'm coming up with. And I'd argue that they came back weakened.

 

[Liberati0n*]

Can you name some skill players who came back from a serious groin injury? Gaborik and Briere are all I'm coming up with. And I'd argue that they came back weakened.

Also Gaborik had surgery on a hip injury that had caused his groin issues. Green had surgery to fix a sports hernia that was supposedly similarly responsible, and his groin is still screwed up.

We covered the Crosby thing already. For one thing, trading him probably is a good idea. Second, the injuries are not similar and Green's is more predictable. Moreover, Crosby and Green are not comparable. A comparable situation would be Ovechkin injured circa 2009.