Player Discussion Nick Cousins (C)

[h2]

We need him back asap, Gaudette and Highmore need to get out of the lineup.

 

[OD99]

I'm torn. If they play TO and win..well TO always loses...if TO wins...same old OTT loses to TO jinx continues. But if they play one of the Florida teams and win...that's an accomplishment ...if they lose it's a learning experience to build on. Does this make sense?

I see it the opposite way.

If we beat TO then the jinx is broken and all is right with the world from our side. On the flip side, losing to Ottawa while being the division winner is the final straw and they dismantle the team, beginning with Marner.

If we lose. We never had a chance to begin with and the Leafs now have to come off the relative high of beating Ottawa, only to lose after, like they have in every other playoff they beat the Senators.

Tampa is too savy for us.

 

[Icelevel]

We need him back asap, Gaudette and Highmore need to get out of the lineup.

It will probably be crookshank coming out
But I’d definitely put Macewen in. Hope he gets some games at some point at least.

 

[Micklebot]

It will probably be crookshank coming out
But I’d definitely put Macewen in. Hope he gets some games at some point at least.

So, right now we have the cap to worry about, along with waivers I guess, but...

Over the last 5 games, 5v5

Gaudette: 37:22
Crookshank: 40:15
Highmore: 42:13

I think if they are comfortable with Cousins as a center (big if) then we could see Gaudette come out. Highmore seems locked in with both more 5v5 toi and as a PK guy, although we do still inexplicably use Gaudette on the PP despite him having zero PP pts in the last 59 games.

Either Amadio or Pinto should be getting that PP time, both are far better options imo.

 

[lang006]

It will probably be crookshank coming out
But I’d definitely put Macewen in. Hope he gets some games at some point at least.

Agreed. I would have MacEwen and Cousins both dressed, if both are available. If stupid stuff starts happening in a series, which is usually the case in the first round, be nice to have MacEwan around and not have the Captain needing to deal with it all.

I'd also like to see Crookshank in over Gaudette or Highmore but I think we can probably forget about that happening.

 

[h2]

Agreed. I would have MacEwen and Cousins both dressed, if both are available. If stupid stuff starts happening in a series, which is usually the case in the first round, be nice to have MacEwan around and not have the Captain needing to deal with it all.

I'd also like to see Crookshank in over Gaudette or Highmore but I think we can probably forget about that happening.

It's absolutely wild to me that we won't be dressing Crookshank over Gaudette and Highmore in a playoff game because our coach has a bias with his former Canuck players that happen to be scrubs compared to Crookshank.

 

[Masked]

It will probably be crookshank coming out
But I’d definitely put Macewen in. Hope he gets some games at some point at least.

Crookshank should be coming out for Brady.

 

[bert]

We need him back asap, Gaudette and Highmore need to get out of the lineup.

Personally I dislike Highmores game way more than Gaudette. He makes peewee level mistakes every game. Terrible turnovers at bad parts of the ice, that change last night against Columbus... You get benched in jr for that type of stuff. Why cant Amadio kill penalties? I don't get it. Amadio is way smarter, has a way better stick and never turns pucks over.

So in short I hope its Highmore that comes out but I dont think he will because for some strange reason he is on the PK.

 

[bert]

Crookshank should be coming out for Brady.

Should be Highmore.

 

[jbeck5]

Should be Highmore.

Just watching them skate for one shift, you can tell crookshank is better than Highmore and Gaudette.

That being said, all 3 should be scratched come playoff time.

You're third line should be Nick cousins with Zack MacEwan and whoever doesn't play in your top 9...Amadio?

I feel like cousins and MacEwan would muck things up while Amadio would be great with his stick...could have a nice energy line that keeps things down low in the offensive zone and forchecks hard with crash and bangs.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Ouch

I took it to be a complement towards him.

 

[bert]

Just watching them skate for one shift, you can tell crookshank is better than Highmore and Gaudette.

That being said, all 3 should be scratched come playoff time.

You're third line should be Nick cousins with Zack MacEwan and whoever doesn't play in your top 9...Amadio?

I feel like cousins and MacEwan would muck things up while Amadio would be great with his stick...could have a nice energy line that keeps things down low in the offensive zone and forchecks hard with crash and bangs.

There is no scenario for me that I break up Greig Pinto Amadio. Its better than the sum of its parts and tilts the ice every time they are on. Pinto and Amadio are really good together.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Should be Highmore.

I agree. The problem is that he kills penalties. Having lost Norris and Gregor at the deadline we don't really have many options for forward PKers. The lack of PK options is a problem because it keeps Highmore in the lineup due to his PKing, even though I don't find him exceptional at it.

Zetterlund did some PKing for San Jose last year maybe he can fill the role.

 

[jbeck5]

There is no scenario for me that I break up Greig Pinto Amadio. Its better than the sum of its parts and tilts the ice every time they are on. Pinto and Amadio are really good together.

Sure. I'm just saying whoever you throw on the 4th with a cousins and MacEwan would be much better than what we have for a heavy first round.

 

[Micklebot]

There is no scenario for me that I break up Greig Pinto Amadio. Its better than the sum of its parts and tilts the ice every time they are on. Pinto and Amadio are really good together.

Yeah, that line has been great and is an identity line for us imo.

 

[Big Muddy]

When is Cousins going to play in a game? For some reason, I thought he’d play last night against CBJ.

 

[ottawagm]

When is Cousins going to play in a game? For some reason, I thought he’d play last night against CBJ.

Playoffs, or last game of the year maybe, as we need the LTIR capspace.

 

[bert]

I agree. The problem is that he kills penalties. Having lost Norris and Gregor at the deadline we don't really have many options for forward PKers. The lack of PK options is a problem because it keeps Highmore in the lineup due to his PKing, even though I don't find him exceptional at it.

Zetterlund did some PKing for San Jose last year maybe he can fill the role.

Why can't Amadio PK exactly? He's way better defenisvely. Has a better stick.

 

[Cosmix]

Why can't Amadio PK exactly? He's way better defenisvely. Has a better stick.

I think Amadio is too slow on the PK; he gets beat by the D at the points. He seems to have developed some chemistry with Pinto and Greig on the 3rd line so I would keep him there.

Pinto and Greig can do the PK along with Cousins and Highmore. I wish we had a better PK person than Highmore but we don't.

 

[hansottawa]

When is Cousins going to play in a game? For some reason, I thought he’d play last night against CBJ.

No, he is still in a non-contact jersey. The good news is that he is hitting the ice now for training. So, it won't be far away for his return. Finger crossed.

 

[bert]

I think Amadio is too slow on the PK; he gets beat by the D at the points. He seems to have developed some chemistry with Pinto and Greig on the 3rd line so I would keep him there.

Pinto and Greig can do the PK along with Cousins and Highmore. I wish we had a better PK person than Highmore but we don't.

Highmore is awful I don't see any scenario that he is a better fit than Amadio. Amadio has amazing hockey sense and the best defensive stick on the team. Highmore turns over way too many pucks. If Giroux is fast enough to PK Amadio certainly can.

 

[Boud]

I think Amadio is too slow on the PK; he gets beat by the D at the points. He seems to have developed some chemistry with Pinto and Greig on the 3rd line so I would keep him there.

Pinto and Greig can do the PK along with Cousins and Highmore. I wish we had a better PK person than Highmore but we don't.

When Cousins enters the lineup I can almost guarantee you that Highmore will be out.

Maybe not if we’re resting guys but in the playoffs I don’t see Highmore playing.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Why can't Amadio PK exactly? He's way better defenisvely. Has a better stick.

Not sure. He just doesn't. He's the slowest guy on the ice 99% of the time he's out there so maybe Green doesn't like that for The PK, despite him being a smart defensive player. Who knows?

 

[bert]

Not sure. He just doesn't. He's the slowest guy on the ice 99% of the time he's out there so maybe Green doesn't like that for The PK, despite him being a smart defensive player. Who knows?

Giroux pk's he is slower. Highmore isn't much faster if at all his legs are moving but he isn't going anywhere quickly.

Stone isn't fast he is great on the PK. Amadio is basically temu Stone.

 

[Tuna99]

I agree. The problem is that he kills penalties. Having lost Norris and Gregor at the deadline we don't really have many options for forward PKers. The lack of PK options is a problem because it keeps Highmore in the lineup due to his PKing, even though I don't find him exceptional at it.

Zetterlund did some PKing for San Jose last year maybe he can fill the role.

Hugh ore draws penalties and I like his game, he’s tenacious and I think he was caught up trying to create goals when he just needs to chill out a bit and we see that now with him he’s much better recently.

Cozens also P.K.s but he’s kind of doppie out there so not sure Green wants to give him increased minutes especially with the playoffs coming.

And then who plays #4 C is Gaudette has been there the entire season and has great hands and can score big goals like he’s done all year

But Cousins kills penalties so you could do:

Cousins - Highmore - Z
Cousins - Gaudette - Highmore