Roster Building (& Training Camp) XXIII: Re-signings, Re-considerations, Recriminations

[baconandbread]

Couple of things that explain:
Blake is a rookie and RBA similar toJarvis is willing to give Jackson a window to learn
Blake appears to be physically ready whereby FUS could use a couple of years to gain strength/weight


Minute eaters but with Carrier I'm excited to think that the trio are going to represent one of the NHL's best ball buster lines. Hope they all stay healthy.

Blake hasn't shown even close to what Jarvis showed right away imo. He's being given the leeway because he showed commitment in the gym. The situation reminds me more of Drury except that Blake is being given an opportunity right away instead of playing in the AHL. Jarvis wasn't eligible to play in the AHL and was too good for junior.

 

[bleedgreen]

Blake hasn't shown even close to what Jarvis showed right away imo. He's being given the leeway because he showed commitment in the gym. The situation reminds me more of Drury except that Blake is being given an opportunity right away instead of playing in the AHL. Jarvis wasn't eligible to play in the AHL and was too good for junior.

Yeah I don’t think Blake blew the doors off. He did enough to make Rod change his original concept of adding a kid to the top six to putting one in the bottom six despite vets being there. Young legs help.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Pretty high praise from Brindy

I only watched a couple of games, but what surprises me about this move, and this statement from RBA, is that the mistakes Blake was making were the type of mistakes that RBA would never forgive/allow in the past. Turning a puck over at the exact wrong spot/time, trying to do to much, not making the safe play at a time when it's warranted, etc.

Granted, in pre-season young guys frequently try to do too much and it can lead to this, but unlike FUS last year, who seemingly made all the right plays at the right times, Blake was more high risk IMO.

Maybe Necas has worn Rod down and he's softening on stuff like this?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Totally agree. I guess Rod's comment about mistakes bothered me more than anything. He has no problem dropping people that aren't his favourites to the 4th line after one mistake but Staal and Martinook could go a whole season without scoring and be praised.

IMO, Rod doesn't hate mistakes. Rod hates risky plays that lead to mistakes when there was a safe play alternative. Trying to make a play at our own blue line vs. chipping it out which leads to a turnover. Being the last guy back on their blue line and making a risky play leading to a turnover. Those are the mistakes Rod hates.

Right or Wrong, Martinook, Staal, Fast almost ALWAYS make the safe play, which lowers a coaches blood pressure and thus why they don't get demoted.

As far as "not scoring", over the past 2 seasons, Martinook and Staal are 5th and 6th in 5v5 scoring on the Canes. In fact, Martinook has 2 less points than Jarvis in only 1 less game. The last 2 seasons, Jarvis and Necas had 27 and 26 goals 5v5 vs. 24 and 23 for Staal and Martinook, and we know Staal and Martinook play much tougher minutes.

"Going a whole season without scoring" is a bit of an exaggeration, as they don't play on the PP.

 

[A Star is Burns]

There's also the fact Rod has watched these kids every day and might have slightly more insight into these players than the average hfboards poster catching a few preseason games. FUS seems clearly well thought of and his chance will come.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

There's also the fact Rod has watched these kids every day and might have slightly more insight into these players than the average hfboards poster catching a few preseason games. FUS seems clearly well thought of and his chance will come.

I'm sorry, I take exception to your assertion that my 5 minutes of watching Blake and FUS in the pre-season doesn't give me the same insight of a team's coach.

Get outta here with that!

 

[cptjeff]

i think it probably has more to do with wanting FUS to work at developing as a C in chicago with high minutes than anything else.

for the franchise's long term sake, i like it.

This is what I'm at. If I just want best player available to put on the roster as a winger this year, I take FUS. I truly think he could comfortably play in the NHL right now as a 1:1 replacement for Turbo. But they want to convert him to center, and it's going to be a lot better for him and for the team if he takes his lumps learning how to play C in the AHL. And if he bulks up a bit and learns to use his body in a way that Turbo never could, so much the better!