Cin
Eurosnob.
No man I'm not saying HE needs to score one out of every 5. But that group for sure does.
Ongoing Powerplay Discussion
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No man I'm not saying HE needs to score one out of every 5. But that group for sure does.
glovesave_35
Name
Morrow perhaps, but suggesting Fiddler is a viable PP option is absurd. Even the veteran-loving Dave Tippett didn't use him in that role. None of that actually matters though because it's impossible to say whether Eakin or R. Smith would be better or worse than Morrow/Fiddler without ever being given a chance...even in training camp.
I predict that even if this team makes the playoffs this year Gulutzan will be judged on his handling of more nuanced aspects of how the team and its young players progress. The organization's goal should be to make the playoffs this year but even if that goal is accomplished I really hope they don't just dust off their pants when it's all over and pat themselves on the back. Thus far, Gulutzan hasn't instilled just a ton of confidence that he's more than a good AHL coach.
Stars99Lobo37
Registered User
Cin
Eurosnob.
It's what Glen told me on our conference call the other day. He said all these rookies are just going to disappoint again. You know. Like every year.
glovesave_35
Name
Yeah, Eriksson, Benn, Larsen...those guys suck. Did "Glen" have any other pearls of wisdom when you had him on the line?
I was kidding, but have we moved Larsen into the Eriksson and Benn category now? I thought the jury was still out on him.
I think it would be a nice change of pace to see the worst power play in history not score from an alternate configuration.
NFKappaB
Mo Money Mo Problems
Fiddler doesnt get enough love on these forums. That 3rd line was the most consistent last season.
Fly Like a C5
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Then to make things worse, the duo actually scores a fluke PP goal in the first game and solidifies their position as the #1 PP unit for the rest of the season.
BigG44
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- Jul 12, 2007
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At getting beat ....
They failed every way possible at shutting down other team's top lines. That's why GMJN and Tom Gaglardi have all mentioned he'd be in a more appropriate position on the 4th line this year.
piqued
nos merentur hoc
- Nov 22, 2006
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Personally I have. I consider him to be an equally important part of the core of this team going forward. Having a #1 C and #1 W is nice but your team isn't going to get anywhere without a top pairing D. I don't think there's much risk at this point of him backsliding in his development. He's proven to be a good player in whatever situation and whatever league he's been in. There are only 2 questions that remain when it comes to Larsen: Just how good can he get? and, Can he stay healthy?
And as far as this topic goes, Larsen really ought to be on the 1st unit. I have trouble seeing the team having any significant success on the PP without him playing a major role in it.
His line actually took on a huge responsibilty last year. They were played often and in very key situations defensively to take the pressure off all the creampuffs who dominate our scoring lines.
It had mixed results.
Towards the end, those guys started to break down a bit and weren't as good.
BigG44
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I don't feel this accurate. Fiddler was paid well to be a shutdown center on the checking line. The responsibility to shutdown players didn't come by default. In fact, that responsibility started to fall to the Top 6 when Fiddler was a total bust.
Instead of Benn playing with offensive players and in scoring situations late in the year, he was with Ott and Burish going against #1 lines.
BigG44
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Let's say that is entirely true because I'll admit the only thing I can think about when it comes to Fiddler is his miserable play down the stretch.
It's still not good enough to play an 82 game season in the role you were signed to fill. I can live with him being an overpaid 4th liner and a decent faceoff option. He can also fill in just fine for a few games if injuries his.
The thing that draws me offside is him on the PP honestly. That's just nutty, and that's not even his fault. He's not an offensive forward.
NFKappaB
Mo Money Mo Problems
I don't disagree that they shouldn't be on the PP as they are a shutdown line. But to say they weren't effective is blasphemy. Towards the middle stretch and end of the season our top 6 were unable to produce goals. Based on what i observed, Gully relied on that 3rd line more for their offense than their forechecking.
I think you will see a much more effective third line than last season.
I think you're being perhaps a tad extreme on this, though. He definitely was not excellent down the stretch, but few were. And not giving him responsibilty clearly did not improve the team anyway.
There really isn't a defensive specialist who reliably shuts down first liners in the NHL. It's not a thing. They're first liners for a reason. And it's only 1 player. Occasionally, you get together a line of specialists that does a great job, but even that is not commonplace. The worst power play in history and I find it hard to blame the checking line of cycle guys -- at least one of whom was basically a randomly acquired spare -- for not shutting down the most talented players in the world. It seems very odd. Quite honestly, our 5 on 5 differential was absolutely fine anyway. You can win with that.
I think he'll do fine in a 3rd line role. He's absolutely good enough.
There really isn't a defensive specialist who reliably shuts down first liners in the NHL. It's not a thing. They're first liners for a reason. And it's only 1 player. Occasionally, you get together a line of specialists that does a great job, but even that is not commonplace. The worst power play in history and I find it hard to blame the checking line of cycle guys -- at least one of whom was basically a randomly acquired spare -- for not shutting down the most talented players in the world. It seems very odd. Quite honestly, our 5 on 5 differential was absolutely fine anyway. You can win with that.
I think he'll do fine in a 3rd line role. He's absolutely good enough.
In Mark's season preview, he mentioned that Curt Fraser is running the powerplay this season.
Feel free to direct all upcoming PP woe blame to him.
Feel free to direct all upcoming PP woe blame to him.
BigG44
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I was shocked to hear Owen Newkirk on the Texas broadcast say the team is just under 20% on the PP and 7th in the league. The PP start wasn't as bad as the PK start, but they definitely had a hole to dig out of.
That's impressive, and Willie is running that PP down there. I wonder how the PP would have looked had Willie ran it the entire time in 2011-12. It's conceivable that by the time he took over confidence was so shot he had no chance of pulling that PP out of the nosedive.
That's impressive, and Willie is running that PP down there. I wonder how the PP would have looked had Willie ran it the entire time in 2011-12. It's conceivable that by the time he took over confidence was so shot he had no chance of pulling that PP out of the nosedive.
LT
Global Moderator
- Jul 23, 2010
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Martin Hanzal and Sean Couturier say hi. Obviously we don't have one, but there are players like that.
LT
Global Moderator
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Hanzal shuts down Getzlaf, Thornton, Kopitar, Sedin, etc. consistently.
Couturier shut down Malkin among others.
Not sure how those guys aren't 3rd liners shutting down 1st liners...
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