News & Notes Thread Part VI: "Where the Hell is the News Thread?" Editon

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Play new-Boychuk with Eric and Semin for 82 games and this year's version of Tlusty with Eric and Semin for 82 games and I'm not sure we see a difference.

Maybe, but I think there is a lot more to Tlusty's game than scoring and a lot of the early season struggles were as much Staal and Semin as they were Tlusty. He has typically been the first guy in on the forecheck (and is strong enough to make it mean something), is often the guy who stays high, is harder to knock off the puck than Boychuk, better along the boards than Boychuk, and is better defensively than Boychuk.

Not saying Boychuk won't have success, particularly on the scoreboard, but Tlusty is a more complete player.

 

[What the Faulk]

Maybe, but I think there is a lot more to Tlusty's game than scoring and a lot of the early season struggles were as much Staal and Semin as they were Tlusty. He has typically been the first guy in on the forecheck (and is strong enough to make it mean something), is often the guy who stays high, is harder to knock off the puck than Boychuk, better along the boards than Boychuk, and is better defensively than Boychuk.

Not saying Boychuk won't have success, particularly on the scoreboard, but Tlusty is a more complete player.

Granted, it was a very small sample size, but that's the type of played Boychuk looked like in his most recent stint up here. It might sound dramatic, but if Boychuk can become a Tlusty-lite type of NHL player (15/15?), it would be HUGE for this franchise. They need more cheap players that can contribute.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

It might sound dramatic, but if Boychuk can become a Tlusty-lite type of NHL player (15/15?), it would be HUGE for this franchise. They need more cheap players that can contribute.

I agree and I am starting to actually think he can.

 

[PaulProteus]

And Khudobin was just named the NHL's first star of January.

 

[Wolfpuck]

And Khudobin was just named the NHL's first star of January.

Awesome sauce! He's been a beast for us! Glad to see him get the recognition he deserves!

 

[Oenatzu]

JR caught napping in the wrong time again:

@PaulBranecky
If anyone was wondering, deadline to assign eligible NHL players to play in AHL over Olympic break has passed. So no Lindholm for Checkers.

 

[Lucky Lindy]

JR caught napping in the wrong time again:

@PaulBranecky
If anyone was wondering, deadline to assign eligible NHL players to play in AHL over Olympic break has passed. So no Lindholm for Checkers.

 

[rocky7]

eh....I don't think that's a big deal. let him rest too and stay healthy.

they could send Skinner down there for all I care right now though.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I guess it depends on when the deadline was. If it was anytime before yesterday's game, I can't fault JR for wanting to keep him up here.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I guess it depends on when the deadline was. If it was anytime before yesterday's game, I can't fault JR for wanting to keep him up here.

I believe it was afterwards, but maybe they want him to rest up? He was banged up a lot during the start of the season, then went an played in the world jrs, then has been playing steady minutes ever since. For all we know, he could be nursing something like a lot of NHLrs do. He's still a pretty slight guy and there are a lot of games left.

 

[Vagrant]

Yes, you don't want a young prospect playing at any opportunity. I know that might sound facetious, but there are guys his age and older playing only 60 or so games in Juniors a season until they're 19-20 like Brock McGinn. For Lindholm to have gone from the SHL, World Jr. x2, NHL, AHL, all in the span of 18 months... it's a little much. Give him a few weeks off to rest and recuperate. Put some good weight back on and get ready for the stretch run. He hasn't been healthy in a while, it would seem. Totally healthy. That shoulder still concerns me. I never trust a shoulder is totally good unless its been cleaned out.

 

[What the Faulk]

Peters sent to Charlotte for conditioning stint:

http://ihockey.blogspot.com/2014/02/justin-peters-assigned-to-charlotte-on.html?spref=tw

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has assigned goaltender Justin Peters to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) on a conditioning stint.

Peters will join the Checkers as they travel to Austin, TX, for back-to-back games against the Texas Stars on Friday and Saturday.

Peters, 27, was recalled from Charlotte on Oct. 14, and has posted a 7-9-4 record, a 2.50 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 21 NHL games played with Carolina this season.

 

[gocanes88]

Are we to make anything of that? Or is it still wait and see?

 

[bleedgreen]

I imagine it's just to get him moving, get in some games. He hasn't played much, and it may be a chance for him to show the other gm's he's still worth acquiring.

I still have to think peters is the one to go. I don't see jr giving up on this season prior to the deadline.

 

[TheOllieC]

I assume the Oilers want him to get into game shape before they trade us Yakupov for him. Makes sense.

 

[daikan]

In other news, our friend Nic Wallin could be seen in the Swedish tabloids today, talking about drugs.

 

[daikan]

Select quote:

Niclas Wallin has tried it very occasionally himself, but is not a fan. Instead, Wallin used to share an ammonia capsule with a teammate.

"You sniff it like a weightlifter. That's not good either, you ruin your mucous membranes. It turns into a thing, that does, you sure as hell don't need to keep doing that. Simple food and everything else, that works just fine."

So who is this mystery druggy, dopey teammate, I wonder?!

 

[bleedgreen]

Interesting article from Luke today. Talking about this 5 game swing possibly being a franchise changer. If we don't make the playoffs he thinks there could be big roster and front office changes. I couldn't help but wonder how many of us would like to see those changes and therefore would be ok with these five games going poorly.

I think they'll go essentially .500 leaving no choice in his mind but to stay the course. He will likely trade a young piece or pick off for a mid to low level rental and we'll miss by a point or two.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

chad

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Select quote:



So who is this mystery druggy, dopey teammate, I wonder?!

Just about anyone. The ammonia capsules they're talking about are the smelling salts you see just about every hockey player at just about every level use from one time or another.

 

[bb99]

1-3-1.

Trade.

8-10-2.

Golf.

 

[Sasha Cares]

1-3-1.

Trade.

8-10-2.

Golf.

 

[rocky7]

1-3-1.

Trade.

8-10-2.

Golf.

and so it goes...

 

[Vagrant]

Select quote:



So who is this mystery druggy, dopey teammate, I wonder?!

Erik Cole used the salts after every shift it seemed. But there again, a lot of guys did. I actually remember Wallin using them fairly frequently. I think he talks from experience.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Erik Cole used the salts after every shift it seemed. But there again, a lot of guys did. I actually remember Wallin using them fairly frequently. I think he talks from experience.

Years ago, my son playing youth hockey at one of the minor league arenas (think it was Fayetteville, but could have been one of the arenas in SC or VA as well, can't remember) and it was the night after the minor league team played. He told me there were so many empty little packets of smelling salts that the floor of the bench looked like it was covered in confetti. I thought he was exaggerating so went down and took a look for myself, and there were literally hundreds.

I later heard there were a lot of fights the night before also.