Gushchin was throwing passes to Kostin too. He’s been showing he can produce offense with depth players. Isn’t that what the team and coaches want?
Hell yeah he did. He said he'd be planting his seeds everywhere! (OK, I made that up)Did Jumbo ever say what he would do if he had 5 apples???
I think he should be asked this important question!Did Jumbo ever say what he would do if he had 5 apples???
Part of my reasoning is listening to what Warsofsky had to say last night. It sounds like he thinks, for now at least, that Smith can do some of his hard learning at the NHL level:Im not deciding for sure what he is in any way. Im just saying hes not ready yet.
Your post is spot on. He's played two preseason games and he is not used to the speed, physicality, etc. Yes, I agree!! That's exactly why hes not ready yet, and exactly why the AHL exists. Its the stepping stone between college/Jr and the NHL. VERY few players successfully go from jr or college straight to the NHL and belong, and ever fewer are still teenagers, rather than 21 or 22 having spent 3 years in college (see matt Carle). The vast majority do a stint in the A, even if only 20-30 games.
Pavs: Winconsin star--> Worcester for 16 games (where he put up 26 pts)--> NHL forever
Seto played 23 games in the A before his call up.
Cooch: Ottawa jr star--> 42 AHL games, then called up.
Im not saying that Smith doesnt get NHL time this year. Just he breaks camp at the #1 and top PP guy with the cuda. Have him put up 20 pts in 15 Cuda games and prove he's ready. Then he'll come up MUCH better prepared, far more confident, and far more ready in late november or early december.
I thought he was good at times. Again, another guy that’s just learning the pace and how fast that the tempo is out there.
They’re deep down the middle with their four centers.
Obviously, matching up against McTavish at times, he’s going to be in a learning curve of how heavy these centers are in this league and how you can’t take your foot off the gas. But some really good teaching points for him tonight.
He also gets to face easier minutes and gets to play with players who are very solid defensively. There are arguments on both-sides of the development debate.Why are we hurting our 2nd most important player's development by putting him on a line with two guys who can't finish?
After watching Smith in college, this has been my take on him, and honestly, he is ahead of where I expected, as you can already see the growth happening.Part of my reasoning is listening to what Warsofsky had to say last night. It sounds like he thinks, for now at least, that Smith can do some of his hard learning at the NHL level:
Discount Zetterlund contract strategy.I'd go:
Eklund - Celebrini - Toffoli
Gushchin - Granlund - Smith
Goodrow - Wennberg - Zetterlund
Grundstrom - Sturm - Kunin
Dellandrea, Kostin/Smith/Cardwell (but probably Kostin)
Takes pressure off Smith having to be a center right away and gives him a top 6 NHL center to learn from. Plus that line gets all the easy matchups and offensive starts. Will get caved defensively but will likely produce.
Top line has two-way matchup eat a ton of minutes all over it, but will still get beat by actual NHL top lines. Either way Eklund and Celebrini can keep on developing into all-situations top sixers together with Toffoli potting goals.
Third line takes some harder matchups with some jam in Zetterlund and Goodrow, and has enough skill to get points. Rotate Zetterlund up if Gushchin or Smith are struggling.
Fourth line is a rotating cast of PKers, locker room guys, hard checking defensive guys.
There's room here for them.
He did once while he was still with Boston(2001 against Florida).did jumbo ever have 5 apples?
Anyone that can turn luke kunin into a net positive offensive threat is an absolute magician
We don't need our bottom six to produce. We need them to be physically taxing to play against, reliable defensively, consistent from game to game and willing to take on tough minutes, heavy defensive zone deployment and PK duties. None of that describes Gushchin's game.If Goose doesn’t make the team, it’s like… what precedent is that setting? The whole mantra has been it’s a competition, if young guys beat out the vets, they get a spot, etc etc. It’s not like Gushchin has had empty calorie points, either, that last goal was all hustle AND skill. He’s easily been the best player in the preseason, he needs to get a chance with the big club or it all starts feeling a little like bullshit.
I think he’s also proven he can play on the third line and still produce, so he can sorta slot in wherever.
We don't need our bottom six to produce. We need them to be physically taxing to play against, reliable defensively, consistent from game to game and willing to take on tough minutes, heavy defensive zone deployment and PK duties. None of that describes Gushchin's game.
If one of our top six forwards gets injured then by all means call up Gushchin or Graf or Cardwell. But if Celebrini and Granlund are good to go, there's really no need to shoehorn Gushchin into the lineup.
Yeah. I love Gush but no way should we put Smith with Goodrow and Wennberg.Why are we hurting our 2nd most important player's development by putting him on a line with two guys who can't finish?
Unfortunately, this is a situation where a player forces your hand unless you decide you don’t want to be a credible voice in that locker room.We don't need our bottom six to produce. We need them to be physically taxing to play against, reliable defensively, consistent from game to game and willing to take on tough minutes, heavy defensive zone deployment and PK duties. None of that describes Gushchin's game.
If one of our top six forwards gets injured then by all means call up Gushchin (or Graf or Cardwell). But if Celebrini and Granlund are good to go, there's really no need to shoehorn Gushchin into the lineup.
Is he the next Kucherov?I think the most actual question about Gushchin is will he become a HoFer one day...