Player Discussion Neal Pionk: Part II

[offdacrossbar]

I actually think he played one of his better games against NJ. having said that I think he's an awful player that is also being overplayed because he tries hard. I think he's an AHLer quite frankly. At best a raphy diaz that kind of hangs around waivers or in and out of lineups. he has no business playing the mins or the games he's played this year at this level

hes weak.

weak on the puck
weak on playing along the wall
weak on decisions with the puck. easily panicked and rushed into blind dumps.
weak on defensive gap control
weakly surrenders the blue line by backing in

his shot is effective and he gets it on net and he has good wheels. everything else he does average to below average.

hes a AAAA player and on a good team a 7th guy or on this team a 3rd pair PP2 guy. at best.

 

[duhmetreE]

hes weak.

weak on the puck
weak on playing along the wall
weak on decisions with the puck. easily panicked and rushed into blind dumps.
weak on defensive gap control
weakly surrenders the blue line by backing in

his shot is effective and he gets it on net and he has good wheels. everything else he does average to below average.

hes a AAAA player and on a good team a 7th guy or on this team a 3rd pair PP2 guy. at best.

You essentially described Ruff's system. A passive zone defense. North-South dump/bang off the boards.

The defense as a whole, gives up WAY too much space and time. It's an antiquated system.

 

[Machinehead]

There's simply too much he needs to improve. It's not like this guy is 18.

Strength sucks, skating sucks, brain sucks, passing sucks, positioning sucks.

He shoots good. That's about it.

 

[romba]

He's gotten better at not completely sucking at defending 2 on 1's...it's something